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India recorded 136,115 cases of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) and 1,813 related deaths between Monday and Sunday, data from the Union ministry of health and family welfare shows. India recorded less than 19,500 cases over the past week and its weekly death toll due to Covid-19 remained below 260, on average, as its case fatality rate remained unchanged at 1.45%. Its coronavirus disease tally climbed to 10,305,788 and its death toll stood at 149,218 on Sunday morning, according to the health ministrys data.

India has also seen a drop in the number of daily deaths over the past week as the daily toll remained below 300. India recorded the highest number of cases on September 12, 2020, when more than 97,000 infections were recorded in a period of 24 hours. And, the last time the countrys death toll was below 300 was during early June last year.

India recorded 20,021 new cases on Monday within 279 casualties. The number of recovered patients in India also reached 97,82,669 pushing the national recovery rate of 95.83%. The recovery rate rose to 95.92% on Tuesday when India recorded 98,07,569 recoveries along with 16,432 new infections and 252 deaths.

India reported 20,549 new infections on Wednesday with 286 deaths. Indias Covid-19 caseload continued to remain below 300,000. The national recovery rate rose to 96.04% on the last day of the year when recoveries surged to 98,60,280. India recorded 21,822 new infections on December 31 with 299 fatalities.

On New Years Day, India reported 20,035 new infections and 256 new deaths. Indias daily cases tally remained below 30,000 for 22 days in a row when the health ministry reported on Saturday that India recorded 19,079 cases. The death toll touched 149,218 with 224 new fatalities. On Sunday, India maintained a similar trend as it recorded 18,177 fresh cases of Covid-19 and 217 deaths. The recovery rate reached 96.15% as 9,927,310 patients of the coronavirus disease were cured so far.

The government has instructed state governments and local authorities to keep a strict vigil as the new mutated variant of the Sars-Cov-2, which was first detected in the United Kingdom, entered India. According to the government, 29 individuals have been diagnosed with the UK variant of Covid-19, described as more infectious compared to the non-mutated variant. The discovery of the new variant also led to the imposition of strict curfews during New Years celebrations in major Indian cities.

India had also banned flights to and from the United Kingdom in the last month of 2020 after the cases of the new mutated variant were discovered. Flight operations between both nations will now resume in a graded manner from January 8.

The government this week took firm steps to ensure that every citizen receives the coronavirus vaccine as it conducted dry runs in several states. Mock vaccination drives in all state capitals were held to assess the central and state governments readiness for inoculation drive, which is slated to begin soon.

Indias drugs regulator on Sunday gave final approval for the emergency-use of two coronavirus vaccines developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University and the other by Bharat Biotech. The overall efficacy of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine was 70.42%, while Bharat Biotechs Covaxin was safe and provides a robust immune response, Drugs Controller General of India VG Somani said.

The Oxford-AstraZeneca shot is being made locally by the Serum Institute of India (SII) and will be branded Covishield and Bharat Biotech has teamed up with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). India, the worlds second-most populous country is now expected to start a massive immunisation programme within weeks.
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The diamond industry commenced the 2020 year on a very positive note having faced a challenging 2019.

There was an improved sentiment in the global rough diamond market with a pick-up in mid-stream demand and rough prices.

However, the positive sentiment was short-lived as the COVID-19 pandemic caused widespread uncertainty and disruption across the world.

To curb the spreading of the virus, governments across the globe introduced lockdowns and closed their borders.

This resulted in several diamond operations being mothballed or had their production capacity reduced late in March or early April 2020.

In this article, I explore how junior diamond miners with operations in Africa, are doing or have done to preserve their businesses amid the COVID-19 pandemic and how successful (or lack thereof) are they?

Lucapa Diamond

Lucapa Diamond has two operations in Africa an alluvial mine in Angola and a kimberlite mine in Lesotho.

At its 40%-owned Lulo mine, operations were reduced to essential services on 1 April 2020 and activities were resumed at Lulo to approximately 50% capacity on 1 May 2020.

The carats recovered in the second quarter were impacted by the State of Emergency implemented in Angola as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The company's second-quarter output at Lulo eased 24% to 2,944 carats compared to 3,868 carats, a year earlier.

Although slowed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Lucapa's auger drilling programmes in Angola in the third quarter continued to delineate additional alluvial diamond-bearing gravels, in both the terraces and leziria areas along the Cacuilo River.

During the Quarter 1,479 auger holes were completed for a total of 13,191m.

Priority was given to drilling terraces in Mining Blocks 28 and 46 to the south, to better define additional mining areas ready for the approaching wet season.

In Lesotho, Lucapa placed its 70%-owned Mothae mine on care and maintenance following the imposition of a 21-day lockdown in South Africa from 26 March 2020.

Lesotho is an enclave, surrounded by South Africa.

The care and maintenance programme implemented at Mothae ensured the asset is preserved and well-positioned to recommence mining operations when health protocols permit and the global markets recover.

Lucapa only re-commenced scaled mining operations at Mothae in October.

"Mothae is an important contributor to the Basotho nation and Lucapa and the Government of Lesotho are excited to have most of our teams and contractors back at the mine," said Lucapa managing director Stephen Wetherall at the time.

"We too look forward to implementing recently approved marketing initiatives that will see additional value derived for the Mothae high-value production."

Mining operations will be scaled to approximately 75% of nameplate capacity due to the COVID-19 protocols in place.

Lucapa also said no work was undertaken at the Orapa Area F kimberlite exploration project, in Botswana during the third quarter, in line with the company's focus on maximising revenue generation at its operating mines as a primary objective and the cash preservation measures brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

BlueRock Diamonds

BlueRock Diamonds, which has operations at the Kareevlei mine in the Kimberley region of South Africa, placed its mine on care and maintenance when Pretoria imposed a nationwide lockdown on March 26.

The company reduced costs to an absolute minimum with all but essential staff furloughed.

It also removed its products from the March 2020 diamond tender due to an absence of international bidders.

BlueRock, however, resumed both mining and processing operations at Kareevlei on 11 May 2020.

The AIM-listed diamond producer said at the time that expansion plans would remain on hold.

It had been reviewing its sales strategy before the COVID-19 pandemic to gain access to the Antwerp diamond market, which attracts significantly more buyers than the local South African diamond market. The COVID-19 situation precipitated this move as it agreed with Bonas-Couzyn N.V, part of the Bonas Group, to market the Kareevlei diamonds through its Antwerp facility.

BlueRock said the total cash cost of the COVID-19 lockdown had been significant in large part because the company has had to settle all of its creditors to restart operations without having any diamond sales. It, however, expected some of this impact to reverse in due course as working capital levels normalise.

Southstone Minerals

The Southstone Minerals, which owns the Oena Diamond Mine in South Africa, was forced to temporarily halt mining operations between March 26, 2020, and May 3, 2020, due to the COVID-19 lockdown.

It said its operations had since resumed although diamond tender prices remained under pressure as a result of the adverse effect on the world economy and the international travel ban.

For the three months ended May 31, 2020, the Company incurred a loss of $212,889 from continued operations, compared to a loss of $638,050 for the comparative period.

The main reason for the loss is related to the stoppage of operations and limited diamond tender sales for the third quarter.

Diamcor

Diamcor suspended and placed its Krone-Endora at Venetia project in South Africa into care and maintenance when a lockdown associated with the COVID-19 virus was imposed in March 2020

The company also implemented short-term operational changes and cost reduction efforts at the project since the lockdown directive.

"During these unprecedented times, our focus remains the health and safety of our employees, consultants, and their families, and on doing our part to control the spread of this Covid-19 virus", said company chief executive Dean Taylor last March.

"We have overcome many challenges over the years, and in this case, we will continue to evaluate and revise our plans in the coming weeks so we may resume operations as soon as possible, and continue to build on the positive momentum we established entering 2020."

The company only resumed operations in October with reduced staffing levels.

Diamcor Mining recently said that it sold 2,426.63 carats of rough diamonds from Krone-Endora at Venetia project, generating revenue of $339,280 in the second quarter compared to $730,692, a year earlier.

The company said the diamonds sold were held in inventory as of March 31, 2020, and it realised an average price of $109.32 per carat in the six-month interim period ended September 30, 2020.

Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished
A 31-year-old man was shot Saturday afternoon in Treme, New Orleans police said.

The Police Department said the shooting occurred at 5:11 p.m. in the 1900 block of St. Ann Street. Paramedics took the man to a hospital.

Police did not immediately release more information.
Khaama Press, January 1, 2021

By Mohammad Haroon Alim

Head of Sada-e-Ghor Radio, Journalist and civil society activist, Bismillah Adil Aimaq was killed in unknown gunmen attack in Feroz Koh city, the central part of Ghor province, local confirmed to media.

Mohammad Aref Abir, a spokesman to Ghor governor, said that Adil was killed in an attack by unknown armed men, in Dara-e-Taimoor village on the outskirts of the city.

Adil is among many journalists like Rahmatullah Nikzad, Yama Siawash, Elyas Dae, Malala Maiwand, and Fardin Amini were killed in different incidents since November 2020.

This comes as Reporters Without Borders stated that 50 journalists were killed in the year 2020 across the world, much of them were killed in countries that are not at war.

United States of America National Security Council on Thursday, condemned recent attacks on Afghan journalists in Afghanistan and called it disgraceful.

In a Tweet USNSC said we stand with brave Afghan journalists. Targeted attacks against them are disgraceful and cowardly, adding that all who care about Afghanistan and its people should strongly condemn these senseless acts,

Meanwhile, Mohammad Masoom Stanekzai the head of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistans negotiating team says that saving the lives of journalists will be the first priority in the next round of Intra-Afghan talks.

This is our first discussion, and we are really worried because those who raise the voices of the people, Stanekzai said.
NEW YORK, Jan. 3, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Alibaba Group Holding Limited ("Alibaba" or the "Company") (NYSE: BABA) and certain of its officers. The class action, filed in United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and docketed under 20-cv-10267, is on behalf of a class consisting of all persons and entities other than Defendants that purchased or otherwise acquired Alibaba securities between July 20, 2020 and November 3, 2020, inclusive (the "Class Period"). Plaintiff pursues claims against the Defendants under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder.

If you are a shareholder who purchased Alibaba securities during the Class Period, you have until January 12, 2021 to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com. To discuss this action, contact Robert S. Willoughby at [email protected] or 888.476.6529 (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 7980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased.

[Click here for information about joining the class action]

Alibaba is an online and mobile commerce company. Alibaba owns a 33% equity interest in Ant Small and Micro Financial Services Group Co., Ltd. ("Ant Group"), a financial technology company that is best known for operating Alipay, one of the largest mobile and online payments platforms.

On July 20, 2020, Ant Group announced that it had begun the process of a concurrent initial public offering ("IPO") on the Shanghai and Hong Kong stock exchanges. On October 26, 2020, Ant Group priced its IPO and was set to raise $34.5 billion, making it the largest public offering in history.

The complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements, as well as failed to disclose material adverse facts about the Company's business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, Defendants failed to disclose to investors that: (i) Ant Group did not meet listing qualifications or disclosure requirements for certain material matters; (ii) certain impending changes in the Fintech regulatory environment would impact Ant Group's business; (iii) as a result of the foregoing, Ant Group's IPO was reasonably likely to be suspended; and (iv) as a result of the foregoing, Defendants' positive statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis.

On November 2, 2020, Financial Times reported that Chinese regulators had met with Ant Group's controller Jack Ma, executive chairman Eric Jing, and Chief Executive Officer Simon Hu. The article stated that, though regulators did not provide details, "the Chinese word used to describe the interview  yuetan  generally indicates a dressing down by authorities." The article also included a statement from Ant Group that it will "implement the meeting opinions in depth."

On November 3, 2020, the IPO was suspended because Ant Group "may not meet listing qualifications or disclosure requirements due to material matters" related to the meeting with regulators the previous day and "the recent changes in the Fintech regulatory environment."

On this news, Alibaba's American Depository Share price fell $25.27 per share, or 8%, to close at $285.57 per share on November 3, 2020, on unusually heavy trading volume.

The Pomerantz Firm, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Paris is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, the Pomerantz Firm pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 80 years later, the Pomerantz Firm continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomerantzlaw.com.

CONTACT:

Robert S. Willoughby

Pomerantz LLP

[email protected]

888-476-6529 ext. 7980

SOURCE Pomerantz LLP

Related Links

www.pomerantzlaw.com


"New intelligence from Iraq indicate that Israeli agent-provocateurs are plotting attacks against Americans-putting an outgoing Trump in a bind with a fake casus belli," Xinhua news agency quoted Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif as saying on social media.

Tehran, Jan 3 (IANS) Several Iranian political and military officials issued warnings over possible hostile movements against Tehran as the country marked the first death anniversary of Qasem Soleimani, the former commander of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC).

Iran's chief diplomat called on the US President Donald Trump to "be careful of a trap".

Major General Hossein Salami, commander in chief of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), also issued a warning against hostile action taken against Iran.

"We have shown it in practice, and we announce that we will respond to any action taken by the enemy against us with a reciprocal, decisive and solid blow," Salami said.

Soleimani, 63, and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, deputy head of Iraq's Hashd al-Shaabi, were killed on January 3, 2020, in a US airstrike that targeted their convoy near the Baghdad International Airport.

As the head of the elite Quds Force, Soleimani had for years wielded his country's influence across the wider Middle East, strengthening Shia militias from Lebanon to Iraq and coming to the aid of Tehran's allies, including Syrian President Bashar Al Assad.

He had been on the ground in Syria and Iraq supervising militias backed by Tehran.

The Quds Force holds sway over a large number of militias across the region ranging from Lebanon to Syria and Iraq.

--IANS

ksk/
Comes after authorities concentrate on far right figures to appease critics who say focus is too much on Islamic extremists

OAPs suspected of being terror threats have rocketed by 90 per cent in three years - after authorities focused on far-right figures 'to appease critics of the scheme'.

In 2020 alone 97 over 60s were flagged up to Prevent, the Government's strategy for identifying those who could be at risk of becoming dangerous extremists.

It is nearly double the 53 reported to the organisation back in the twelve months spanning 2017 and 2018.

But experts believe the majority of them are what would be considered far-right terror suspects, sparked by a push by some of the UK's most senior forces.

And it comes as the Prevent strategy is under investigation itself after it was branded 'toxic' amid allegations it mainly targeted those from Muslim backgrounds.

Terror and extremism expert Colonel Richard Kemp, who chaired the government's Cobra Intelligence Group, told MailOnline he believed the increase was down to two new drives.

He said: 'I know that the authorities are trying to emphasise far-right extremism rather than Islamic extremism.

'I can tell you that the threat between the two is not comparable. Of course there is a marginal threat from the left and right, but not comparable.

Data analysed by MailOnline show significant increases in the numbers of over 60s referred

'In the interests of trying to appear even-handed and appease people that criticised the Prevent programme for focusing on Islamic extremists, I know they are looking at far-right extremism more to counter those accusations

'The authorties have tried to inflate that threat to try and appease critics of those policies.'

'What it also shows that perhaps there is now a greater understanding of where Islamic extremism comes from

'Younger people are certainly involved in attacks and plots generally, but I think there is the increased understanding that older people imams, elders or community leaders may be extremely important when it comes to radicalising them.

'The numbers are encouraging, because despite people in Islamic communities being heavily critical of Prevent, this seems to show that more people within those communities are referring older people. I think the older referrals must be coming from inside the community itself.'

In 2019 to 20 latest figures showed 97 over 60s were referred to Prevent, 18 were discussed by a Channel panel and five going on to be proper cases.

Prevent figures show how different areas of concern have changed over recent years

Referrals to prevent that have been adopted as Channel Cases have gone down from 2017 high

What is Prevent? Prevent is part of the government's counter-terrorism initiative and was created by the then ruling Labour party in 2003. It is intended to support and identify people vulnerable to becoming terrorists and has a statutory element that compels authorities including the NHS and schools to report people. After referral, cases are assessed and if appropriate they can be escalated to something called the Channel programme. Channel offers different types of support, which can even include mental health interventions if appropriate. Prevent has been accused by critics of concentrating more on people of Muslim faith or background. Advertisement

Earlier in the year spanning 2017 to 18 there were a total of 53 over 60s referred to Prevent, of which seven were discussed at Channel panel, but none were adopted as a Channel Case.

Then in 2018 to 19 there were 75 of the older generation Prevent referrals, while 15 were discussed by Channel and four becoming an official case.

Home Office data showed there were a total of 6,287 referrals this year, with 697 taken on by the government's Channel programme for specialist support

Risks from older extremists were brought to the fore in 2017 when the then 52-year-old Khalid Masood launched a terror attack in Westminster, killing five people.

The fanatic  who still is the oldest Islamic terrorist in Britain  drove into four people before stabbing to death an unarmed police officer.

Until then it had been widely-thought teenagers and younger people were most at risk of radicalisation and becoming a threat.

At the time David Videcette, a former senior counter terrorism officer said authorities had to think about who could become a danger.

He said that year: 'There is a tendency to try to profile what a typical terrorist is, but this can be very problematic because, of course, not every terrorist fits the profile.

'Just because he had reached his fifties does not mean that he was no longer a danger.'

Westminster terrorist Khalid Masood, 52, is the oldest in Britain convicted over an attack

Masood killed PC Keith Palmer, Aysha Frade, Leslie Rhodes, Andreea Cristea and Kurt Cochran

The sequence of events when someone is referred to the counter-terror Prevent programme

Research carried out by ICM Unlimited on behalf of the Home Office suggested 58% of the general public viewed Prevent favourably compared to just 8% who disliked the scheme.

Prevent was first introduced five years ago and has seen changes in how many cases are referred and then adopted year-on-year.

Terror attacks that have been carried out in the UK have led to greater public awareness of who could turn to extremism and in turn members of the public flagging suspicions.

Of those initially referred that do not become Channel cases, around half are passed to other services for intervention.

An independent review of Prevent is being carried out and had been due to finish this year, although the coronavirus pandemic has put it back a further year.

The review was welcomed by the Muslim Council of Great Britain when it was announced.

Then Harun Khan, the organisation's secretary-general, said: 'For far too long, the Prevent strategy has affected the lives of innocent families, been criticised for mainstreaming discrimination and lost the trust of communities around the UK.'

A Home Office spokesperson told MailOnline the older referrals made up a small part of the total.

They added: 'The latest statistics clearly show Prevent is tackling the threat from radicalisation  an essential part of our counter-terrorism strategy  and helping to keep our communities safe.

'Safeguarding is at its heart and since the introduction of the Prevent duty in 2015, 2,352 referrals have resulted in individuals identified as vulnerable to radicalisation receiving support to turn them away from a dangerous path.

'Although the number of referrals for over 60s has increased since the year ending March 2018, referrals for this age group remain comparatively low. Referrals for over 60s accounted for only 2% of all referrals to Prevent within the year ending March 2020 - 97 out of 6,287.'


Akshay Kumar was the first superstar to start a film post lockdown in Bollywood with Bell Bottom. And looks like hes one of the first to start a big project in this new year in tinsel town. The actor is all set to begin shooting for Bachchan Pandey and the team has already started the journey.





Akshay Kumar will join the team shortly and the shooting commences from January 6th. The film also stars Jacqueline Fernandez. Akshay Kumar is said to be playing a dreaded gangster who aspires to become an actor, while Kriti plays the role of a journalist.

Yesterday producer Warda Nadiadwala took to her social media to share a picture where we see the cast and the team of Bachchan Pandey flying off to Jaisalmer. The film is going to be shot there for 30 days and the team looked super excited to begin this fun ride. Seen in the picture is Sajid Nadiadwala with his wife Warda, Kriti Sanon, Arshad Warsi and Prateik Babbar. The actors are all smiles and excited for this new venture. Kriti Sanon later even took to her social media to share clicks from the flight and later once she reached Jaisalmer she gave us a glimpse of the warm welcome they received from a group of ladies doing the folk dance. Kriti Sanon teams up with Sajid Nadiadwala and Akshay Kumar again post the success of Housefull 4.

Minutes after two vaccines for Covid-19 -- Pune-based Serum Institute's Covishield and Bharat Biotech's Covaxin -- received emergency approval from the country's drug regulator on Sunday, Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain has said that healthcare and frontline workers will be vaccinated in the first phase.

Speaking to news agency ANI, Jain said, "There are three lakh healthcare workers and six lakh frontline workers in Delhi who will be administered with the Covid-19 vaccine."

On Saturday, the Delhi Health Minister said that coronavirus vaccines will be given for free in the national capital once it arrives in the city and confirmed that the Delhi government has made preparations for the vaccination drive.

"Yes, medicines and treatment are being provided for free in Delhi, anyway," Jain said on being asked if the vaccine will be given for free.

Union health minister Dr Harsh Vardhan has also said that in the first phase of coronavirus vaccination, free vaccine shall be provided across the country to most prioritised beneficiaries that include one crore healthcare and two crore frontline workers.

India approves Serum, Bharat Biotech vaccines

The country's Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) on Sunday formally approved the Covid-19 vaccines of Oxford-AstraZeneca, manufactured by the Serum Institute, and Bharat Biotech, saying they will be administered in two dosages each.

DCGI's VG Somani has said that both the firms have submitted data on their trial runs of the Covid-19 vaccines and both have been granted permission for "restricted use" in emergency situations.

He also said that the vaccine trial was conducted on 23,745 participants and the overall efficacy of the vaccine was found to be over 70%. "The Indian data was also found to be comparable with overseas clinical studies," the DCGI said.

The approval by the drug regulator was given on the basis of recommendations submitted by a coronavirus subject expert committee (SEC) of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO).

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A headteacher in Berkshire has told parents not to send their children to school tomorrow amid soaring cases of the more-infectious Covid variant - despite assurances from Boris Johnson that schools are 'safe'.

Slough headteacher Gil Denham said she can't 'guarantee that pupils or staff will not be exposed to the virus' if they return on Monday and parents should only send their children in if they feel the risk is not 'too high'.

Most primaries in England are expected to re-open their doors tomorrow, while secondary schools will reopen on a staggered basis later this month with a weekly-testing scheme.

But in a series of embarrassing blows to Gavin Williamson's plans, councils across the country are defying Government orders and demanding their primaries continue to teach remotely as the new Covid mutation wreaks havoc.

Britain today recorded a further 54,990 coronavirus cases in 24 hours - marking the sixth day in a row that daily infections exceeded 50,000.

Cumbria, Brighton, Kent, Birmingham and Wolverhampton have asked the Department for Education for permission to keep primaries closed tomorrow, demanding learning be delivered remotely.

In the mean time, Brighton and Hove City Council has ordered primary schools in the area to shut, while several schools in Wolverhampton, Derbyshire, Merseyside and Nottinghamshire have also refused to open.

And this afternoon, Essex County Council ordered all schools in the only three districts earmarked by the Government for reopening to move to online learning only.

Colchester, Tendring and Uttlesford have been told to open classrooms on Monday - but the council has now written to Mr Williamson demanding 'urgent clarity' over whether they should still do so as infections continue to soar.

Ms Denham - headteacher of the Marish Academy Trust which operates two primary schools in Slough - wrote a letter to parents saying they can keep their children at home if they feel it is safer, Berkshire Live reports.

The letter read: 'As a parent and grandparent myself, if I feel that the risk of my child or someone else in my family contracting Covid-19 is too high, if they attend school from Monday, I would keep them at home.

'It may be that this is the decision some of you come to for your own families.'

She stressed that online teaching will be available to parents who refuse to send their children in.

She added: 'Neither I, or any other school leader in Slough can guarantee that pupils or staff will not be exposed to the virus in school or on the way to or from school, when our experience has already shown us that Covid-19 can easily spread through a community.'

Slough Borough Council later said it will allow individual schools to make the call about whether or not to open.

Norfolk, Greater Manchester and Southampton have also allowed schools to make their own decisions about sending pupils back.

Their defiance came as the Prime Minister today told parents that it was 'safe to send their children back but refused to rule out a full shutdown to control the mutant coronavirus strain - as Keir Starmer demanded a new national lockdown within 24 hours.

In another welter of coronavirus developments today:

Another 54,990 cases of coronavirus have been recorded in the UK over the last 24 hours, and 454 deaths - although the latter figure is incomplete as Scotland does not report on Sundays;

The Scottish Parliament is being recalled early from its Christmas break tomorrow as Nicola Sturgeon considers ramping up restrictions;

Officials leading the UK vaccination programme defended the decision to extend the gap between the two doses, insisting it is 'the way we save lives';

Tony Blair has warned getting towards five million vaccinations a week might be the only way to keep schools open and avert crippling lockdowns;

Health bosses admitted a few procedures could be moved from London to ease pressure, but urgent cancer operations will not be scrapped to ease the strain on hospitals;

Labour's shadow culture secretary Jo Stevens is being treated in hospital for coronavirus, her aides have announced;

A Labour frontbencher has apologised for 'wrong and irresponsible' tweets suggesting vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi had jumped the queue for jabs .

A headteacher in Berkshire has told parents not to send their children to school tomorrow amid soaring cases of the more-infectious Covid variant despite assurances from Boris Johnson that schools are 'safe' (file image)

The PM insisted there is 'no doubt in my mind' that schools are 'safe' as he insisted there would be no further U-turn on reopening most primaries this week

This map shows how the coronavirus variants have been tracked as they spread around the world

The PM insisted there is 'no doubt in my mind' that schools are 'safe' as he insisted there would be no further U-turn on reopening most primaries this week, despite more councils saying they wanted to keep pupils at home.

However, pressed in a New Year interview on the BBC's Andrew Marr show whether there will be a wider closure, he merely said everything was being kept 'under review'.

Challenged to guarantee that secondaries will be back up and running as planned on January 18, Mr Johnson said he would be looking at the impact of the Tier 4 restrictions over the coming weeks.

The premier also accepted that harsher measures will 'probably' be needed to contain the more infectious variant of the deadly virus, saying the situation was set to get 'bumpy'.

Asked what else the Government might do to stabilise the situation, Mr Johnson said: 'There are obviously a range of tougher measures that we would have to consider... School closures is one of those things.'

Official figures show there had been a further 54,990 lab-confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UK, up 80 per cent from last week's case figure of 30,501, while the number of deaths had increased by 43 per cent from last Sunday to 454

But Labour leader Sir Keir this afternoon dramatically called for immediate action rather than 'hints'. 'The virus is clearly out of control,' he told reporters, saying a squeeze should take effect tomorrow. 'It is no use the PM hinting that more restrictions are coming. I say bring in those restrictions now.'

He added: 'The longer you delay the decisions the worse it is.'

He insisted that vaccines were the way to get the UK out of the crisis, saying 'tens of millions' would be given jabs over the next three months - although he refused to give specific figures.

Mr Johnson also dismissed criticism that the Government had handled the pandemic badly, saying: 'What we could not have foreseen reasonably was the arrival of the variant.'

He added sharply: 'The Retrospectoscope is a magnificent instrument.'

The grim comments came amid a growing row over education.

The head of England's schools watchdog warned today that pupils cannot be 'furloughed' as Left-wing councils joined the revolt against Government plans to keep schools open.

PM refuses to rule out cancelling exams Boris Johnson today refused to rule out cancelling GCSE and A-Level exams this year. Asked about the possibility, the PM said: 'We've got to be realistic, we've got to be realistic about the pace of which this new variant has spread 'We've got to be realistic about the impact that it's having on our NHS and we've got to be humble in the face of this virus.' Advertisement

Ofsted chief inspector Amanda Spielman said school closures should be kept to the 'absolute minimum', revealing that the first lockdown disrupted children's learning and wider development.

Writing in the Sunday Telegraph, she said Ofsted had found some younger children had 'forgotten how to hold a pencil or use a knife and fork, and had regressed in basic language numbers'.

In older children, Ms Spielman said the schools watchdog had noted 'increases in eating disorders and self-harm, and anti-social behaviour at some schools' during the coronavirus crisis.

Yesterday the UK's largest teaching union advised members it was not safe to return to the classroom and demanded a move to online teaching.

And more councils broke cover today to make clear they wanted to keep children away from school.

Cumbria has asked the Department for Education for permission to keep primaries closed tomorrow.

The rural county is one of the areas outside London and the South East hardest hit by the virulent new strain of Covid-19.

Colin Cox, the director of public health at Cumbria County Council, in a series of tweets, said: 'Following extensive discussions over the last 48 hours, the CCC Exec Director (People) and I have this morning jointly written to DfE formally requesting that Cumbrian primary schools are added to the Contingency Framework of schools not expected to open tomorrow.

'Driven by the new strain, rates in Carlisle and Eden are now very high, and are rising fast in other parts of the county - rates in Barrow, Copeland and Allerdale are doubling every 4-5 days. And hospitals are under pressure.

Tougher Covid curbs will be needed, warns SAGE expert It is 'pretty clear' tougher coronavirus curbs will be needed, a leading SAGE member warned today. Professor Sir Mark Walport, a former government chief scientific adviser, suggested Tier 4 will not be enough to contain the new mutant strain. Asked if the highest bracket was sufficient, Sir Mark told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show: 'It's the Tier 4 restrictions, it's obeying them. 'It is thinking about breaking essentially every possible route of transmission we possibly can. 'Those are the things that are absolutely necessary and it is pretty clear we're going to need more.' Advertisement

'We don't have the capacity in the NHS to respond easily to further increases in rates.

'So while primary children may not themselves be at high risk, we have to reduce opportunities for transmission wherever possible to protect the wider community.

'We await the DfE decision and either way will of course continue to support schools to enable children to learn safely.'

The leader of Kent County Council has urged ministers to keep all primary schools closed in the county.

Younger pupils in Thanet, Canterbury, Dover and Folkestone and Hythe are expected to return tomorrow, while the other districts in Kent will learn remotely for the first two weeks of term with arrangements being reviewed on January 18.

Council leader Roger Gough and cabinet member for education and skills Richard Long wrote to Mr Williamson, saying: 'We recognise and share the strong arguments about the damaging impact of learning loss and social isolation on children from not being in school, as well as the impact on families.

'It is therefore with considerable regret that we urge that the deferral of primary school opening that Government has already decided for much of the county be applied to the remaining four districts  Thanet, Canterbury, Dover and Folkestone and Hythe  where primary schools are currently scheduled to reopen on Monday.'

Seven schools in Wolverhampton will remain shut, it was revealed this evening, after the council asked the Department for Education to allow primaries to move to online learning.

And this afternoon, Essex County Council ordered all schools in the only three districts earmarked by the Government for reopening to remain shut.

Colchester, Tendring and Uttlesford have been told to open their doors on Monday - but the council has now written to Mr Williamson demanding 'urgent clarity' over whether they should still do so.

Pupils will remain at home on Monday and Tuesday while a review takes place, council leader David Finch said.

A council spokeswoman told the BBC: 'The move has the support of the county council's director of public health and regional Public Health England.'

Southampton City Council has told parents that no fines will be issued should they choose to keep their children at home.

A letter from officials to parents, and reported in The Sun, read: 'The Government has not shown clear leadership and refuses to engage with headteachers and trade unions' legitimate concerns.

'It's becoming apparent that there will not be enough teachers in all schools to reopen safely.'

This evening, a West Sussex school told parents that staff don't feel safe doing in-person lessons so it cannot open. It joined Brighton and Hove City Council who has also ordered primary schools in the area to shut amid concerns over rising cases.

Headteachers are urging the Government to scrap this summer's GCSE and A-level exams amid outrage over Education Secretary Gavin Williamson's plans to keep schools open.

Asked whether he could guarantee schools will open on January 18, Mr Johnson said: 'Well, obviously, we're going to continue to assess the impact of the Tier 4 measures, the Tier 3 measures.'

On whether GCSE and A-Level exams should be cancelled, the Prime Minister said: 'We've got to be realistic, we've got to be realistic about the pace of which this new variant has spread we've got to be realistic about the impact that it's having on our NHS and we've got to be humble in the face of this virus.'

Mr Johnson indicated even more stringent restrictions may be introduced, saying the tiering system is 'alas, probably about to get tougher,'

'It may be that we need to do things in the next few weeks that will be tougher in many parts of the country,' he said.

'I'm fully, fully reconciled to that.'

Mr Johnson refused to be drawn on whether they could include a new Tier 5 or curfews, but made clear that school closures are on the table.

'There are obviously a range of tougher measures that that we would have to consider,' he said.

Health chiefs say some younger people will die from coronavirus Health officials today warned that people as young as 30 'will die from Covid' as NHS hospitals in the West Country brace for an overspill of critically-ill patients from London under emergency plans. Trusts in London and the south-east at the centre of the UK's epidemic are preparing to transfer patients to hospitals in the south-west while patients in the east of England will be moved to the Midlands. The massive Nightingale hospital at the London Excel Centre, which was created in record-time early in the pandemic only to be swiftly mothballed, is also expected to reopen within a fortnight, the Times reports. National pairing arrangements have been put in place amid warnings from doctors that hospitals in the South have come under 'immense pressure' due to a surge in cases of 'mutant' Covid, with hospitals across the UK being told prepare to face the same Covid pressures as the NHS in the capital. Chris Hopson, chief executive of NHS Providers, said just a small number of patients from London would be transferred to the south-west and Midlands when space in neighbouring hospitals was exhausted. Dr Alison Pittard, the dean of the Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine, today hinted the NHS could collapse because 'very, very tired staff' may not have the energy to handle the deluge in 'mutant' virus cases. Speaking on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show, she also claimed that she had heard of cases of people as young as 30 suffering from coronavirus in ICU wards and claimed that 'younger people will die from Covid'. Advertisement

'I'm not going to speculate now about what they would be, but I'm sure that all our viewers and our listeners will understand what the sort of things clearly school closures, which we had to do in March is one of those things.'

The stark warning came as health officials warned that people as young as 30 'will die from Covid', with NHS hospitals in the West Country brace for an overspill of critically-ill patients from London under emergency plans.

Trusts in London and the south-east at the centre of the UK's epidemic are preparing to transfer patients to hospitals in the south-west while patients in the east of England will be moved to the Midlands.

The massive Nightingale hospital at the London Excel Centre, which was created in record-time early in the pandemic only to be swiftly mothballed, is also expected to reopen within a fortnight.

National pairing arrangements have been put in place amid warnings from doctors that hospitals in the South have come under 'immense pressure' due to a surge in cases of 'mutant' Covid, with hospitals across the UK being told prepare to face the same Covid pressures as the NHS in the capital.

Chris Hopson, chief executive of NHS Providers, said just a small number of patients from London would be transferred to the south-west and Midlands when space in neighbouring hospitals was exhausted.

He said: 'Hospitals are doing a great job creating extra surge capacity in London and the south-east to treat the critically ill. If it gets more difficult, we will find other ways to treat people within the region but we know there are some patients that can be moved to where the pressure is slightly less, for example the south-west and Midlands.'

Dr Alison Pittard, the dean of the Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine, today hinted the NHS could collapse because 'very, very tired staff' may not have the energy to handle the deluge in 'mutant' virus cases.

Speaking on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show, she also claimed that she had heard of cases of people as young as 30 suffering from coronavirus in ICU wards and claimed that 'younger people will die from Covid'.

Ms Spielman rubbished calls for remote education, arguing that it would maximise the disparities in the circumstances of the home lives of children.

She added that schools 'have become society's collective eyes and ears, keeping a caring watch over those who need it most' as she warned 'risks of abuse, neglect or exploitation increase' when schools stay closed.

The Ofsted boss wrote: 'There is a real consensus that schools should be the last places to close and the first to re-open, and having argued for this since last spring, I welcome it. Because it is increasingly clear that children's lives can't just be put on hold while we wait for vaccination programmes to take effect, and for waves of infection to subside.

'We cannot furlough young people's learning or their wider development. The longer the pandemic continues, the more true this is.'

Former PM Tony Blair urged the government to target five million vaccinations a week - saying it was hard to see how schools could stay open otherwise.

He told Times Radio: 'If I was the prime minister right now I would be saying to the team in Downing Street, 'I need you to give me a plan to get this up to five million (vaccinations) a week'.

Alarm bells for Boris with Labour on track to reclaim 'Red Wall' The big MRP poll carried out by Focaldata will set alarm bells ringing in Downing Street after a tumultuous first year in power Boris Johnson faces losing most of the 'Red Wall' seats that delivered his historic election victory a year ago, according to a massive poll. The PM's own constituency also looks to be on the line as Labour makes a comeback, with the government struggling to contain the coronavirus crisis. The research, carried out by Focaldata, will set alarm bells ringing in Downing Street after a tumultuous first year in power - although there is still a long way to go until the next Westminster showdown. The firm surveyed more than 22,000 people over the course of December, when Christmas 'bubbles' were dramatically scaled back due to the mutant Covid variant and ministers were fighting to strike a deal with the EU. It used an MRP method, which matches the life characteristics of people polled to the profiles of individual constituencies in order to produce detailed results in a theoretical election. The technique is considered more accurate than traditional surveys, that cannot account for local variations. The outcome, published in the Sunday Times, indicated that neither the Conservatives nor Labour are in a position to win an outright majority. The Tories would lose 81 seats, wiping out the 80-strong majority Mr Johnson secured in December 2019, and leaving them with 284 seats. Labour would win 282, an increase of 82. That would include 41 seats in the north of England, Midlands and Wales that voted Labour in 2017 before turning blue in 2019. Advertisement

'Provided we've got the vaccine available and we should have them available. I mean AstraZeneca will, not this week or next week but the week after, be able to get up to two million doses a week, that's just AstraZeneca.

'They could probably do more if they knew that the system was capable of absorbing the amount of vaccines that they would produce.

'You should get clearance for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine at the end of January, that's when they complete their trials and then we should be able to get that on stream as well in February.'

Mr Blair said a 'step change' in the vaccination programme was the only real prospect of keeping children in schools.

He said: 'On the one hand, it's a disaster for school children, particularly poorest school children if they're not getting educated.

'But it's also completely understandable that teachers and parents say, not because they think their children the risk to children is very, very small, it's the risk to transmission rates and it's the risk to teachers and parents, and therefore to those that their parents mix with.

'So for all of those reasons, it just emphasises yet again why it's so important to get vaccination under way.'





The National Education Union, which has 450,000 members, said the Government was 'failing to protect children, their families and our communities', adding that their members had a legal right to refuse to work.

The move has put them on a collision course with Education Secretary Gavin Williamson, who said it was imperative that the nation's children were back in class to stop them falling behind.

Writing in The Mail on Sunday, the father-of-two has urged teachers and parents to 'move heaven and earth', adding the young must not 'bear the heaviest cost' of the pandemic.

He said: 'Both of my daughters, one of whom is in an exam year, have had to self-isolate. I know how difficult the last year has been, because I have seen them miss being in the classroom, where they want to be.

'So I want my children, and all children, to be able to get back to school and stay in class  we will continue to prioritise making this happen where we can.'

Asked what his message was to councils in England who have said that their schools should close, Mr Johnson said: 'My message to such councils is that they should be guided by the public health advice, which at the moment is that schools are safe in those areas where we're not being driven by the new variant to close them.

'That the priority has got to be children's education but obviously we want to work with them. I mean we've got to be humble in the face of the impact of this new variant of the virus.

'Let's face it, we face a very difficult few weeks and months until the vaccine comes on-stream.'

The PM said he hopes lateral flow tests will help permit the return of schools.

He said: 'We're going to work with local authorities, work with schools and those responsible up and down the country.

'Our advice remains the same, which is that for public health reasons we think in the large majority of the country, large parts of the country, it is sensible to continue to keep schools open, primary schools, as you know secondary schools coming back a bit later.

Tony Blair: 'Step change' in vaccines is the only way to save schools Tony Blair urged the government to target five million vaccinations a week - saying it was hard to see how schools could stay open otherwise. The former PM told Times Radio: 'If I was the prime minister right now I would be saying to the team in Downing Street, 'I need you to give me a plan to get this up to five million (vaccinations) a week'. 'Provided we've got the vaccine available and we should have them available. I mean AstraZeneca will, not this week or next week but the week after, be able to get up to two million doses a week, that's just AstraZeneca. 'They could probably do more if they knew that the system was capable of absorbing the amount of vaccines that they would produce. 'You should get clearance for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine at the end of January, that's when they complete their trials and then we should be able to get that on stream as well in February.' Mr Blair said a 'step change' in the vaccination programme was the only real prospect of keeping children in schools. He said: 'On the one hand, it's a disaster for school children, particularly poorest school children if they're not getting educated. 'But it's also completely understandable that teachers and parents say, not because they think their children the risk to children is very, very small, it's the risk to transmission rates and it's the risk to teachers and parents, and therefore to those that their parents mix with. 'So for all of those reasons, it just emphasises yet again why it's so important to get vaccination under way.' Advertisement

'And the second thing is that we are going to be ramping up testing across the whole of the system and I don't think people have focused enough on this, if I may just for a second.

'One of the things we didn't have when we went into the first lockdown, where we sadly did have to close schools, was we didn't have this huge number of lateral flow tests.

'We now have hundreds of millions of lateral flow tests which I believe and hope can be used, deployed, particularly in secondary schools to assist the return of schools.'

Anne Longfield, the Children's Commissioner for England, has called for teachers to be vaccinated 'as a priority', as she said that any school closure should be for 'the absolute minimum of time and that time must be used very well'.

She told BBC News Channel: 'Schools need to be a priority for children, not only for their education but also for their wellbeing.

'Schools should be the last to close and the first to open, so it is a serious moment for children.

'If there have to be closures, we have already seen closures in secondary schools for two weeks, but if there have to be any closures at all it must be for the absolute minimum of time and that time must be used very well.

'I would like teachers to be offered vaccination as a priority. That is something we haven't heard yet from Government, but it is something that I think is very, very necessary.'

Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham suggested it could be a 'chaotic situation' tomorrow with the return to school of most primary children in England.

He told the BBC's Breakfast programme: 'There are many parents in Greater Manchester waking up quite anxious this morning, teachers as well of course and support staff in schools, and children.

'So there's a lot of people who are worried about what's happening and I think the really important thing is this doesn't become a big political row today.

'What we need to find is a practical way through all of this. I would say that the current course is not going to work.'

He added: 'It will be quite a chaotic situation tomorrow I think given all of the anxieties that people have.'

Ofsted chief inspector Amanda Spielman said school closures should be kept to the 'absolute minimum' as Education Secretary Gavin Williamson urges teachers and parents to 'move heaven and earth', adding the young must not 'bear the heaviest cost' of the pandemic

In a New Year interview on the BBC's Andrew Marr show, Boris Johnson urged parents to send children back to primary schools - but refused to rule out a full shutdown to control the mutant coronavirus strain

PM vows 'tens of millions' of jabs by March and crackdown on red tape Boris Johnson today vowed that 'tens of millions' of coronavirus vaccine doses will be given by March - as he admitted ministers must get rid of 'absurd' red tape stopping retired medics joining the effort. The PM refused to give exact figures for how many people will be vaccinated, beyond saying the government wants to be deploying two million jabs a week. But he said: 'What I can tell you is that we do hope that we will be able to do tens of millions in the course of the next three months.' The Oxford University and AstraZeneca vaccine is due to start being administered from tomorrow, with the UK's process so far among the fastest in the world. Experts have warned that the UK's exit from crippling lockdown depends on inoculating at least 25million vulnerable people by the spring. The gap between first and second doses of vaccines is being extended in a bid to reach more people. Meanwhile, there have been concerns that tens of thousands of recently retired GPs, surgeons, and nurses are being put off helping out due to the bureaucracy involved. Criticism has been mounting of 'ridiculous' demands such as a requirement to be certified in fire safety, or trained in preventing radicalisation. Asked about the complaints, Mr Johnson said: 'I think it's absurd and I know that the Health Secretary is taking steps to get rid of that pointless bureaucracy.' Advertisement

Mr Burnham called for local decision making to be enabled ahead of the return of primary schools in England.

He said: 'I think there are two options in front of the Government. One is to give the decision making to councils working with local schools so that decisions can be made on the reality of what's happening in different communities.

'The other would be to put primary schools and special schools on the same path as secondaries and that would be a slightly delayed opening.

'What I would say to the Prime Minister, who I know is going to come on BBC this morning, is it has to be one of those options.

'Local flexibility or a delay to the opening because I think just to plough ahead would cause quite a lot of anxiety amongst people today.'

Mr Burnham suggested that a 'blanket approach' to the reopening schools is not the right approach.

Asked what he would say to a headteacher in South Manchester who did not want to open on Monday, the Greater Manchester mayor said: 'I would say to the headteacher: contact the director of public health in your local authority.

'So if it's Trafford in the case of South Manchester or Manchester itself, that would be the best thing for people to do.

'And what I am saying to the Government today is directors of public health, working with council leaders and with individual schools, make the right decisions for those schools.

'Let the head come to a balanced judgment based on what's happening. Greater Manchester is currently below the England average when it comes to the number of cases.

'So the position is different in different parts of the country and I think a blanket approach either to say blanket reopening or blanket closure in some ways is causing the problem, local flexibility might just be the way through this.'

Mr Johnson today vowed that 'tens of millions' of coronavirus vaccine doses will be given by March - as he admitted ministers must get rid of 'absurd' red tape stopping retired medics joining the effort.

The National Education Union tweeted earlier today: 'Our Executive is meeting this morning and we will announce new guidance shortly afterwards'

Headteachers call for GCSE and A-Level exams to be scrapped this summer amid school closure chaos Headteachers are calling on the Government to scrap this summer's GCSE and A-level exams amid outrage over Gavin Williamson's plans to keep schools open. Most primaries in England are expected to re-open their doors tomorrow, while secondary schools will reopen on a staggered basis later this month with plans to test every student weekly. Yesterday, however, the UK's largest teaching union advised members it was not safe to return to the classroom - with several left-wing councils demanding their primary schools move to online teaching only. And in another blow to the Education Secretary 's plans, UK headteachers are now calling for this year's exams to be scrapped to prioritise 'wider public health, pupil and staff safety'. They also claim it would be unfair to force students to sit exams when those whose schools were open earlier would have more contact time than those with later start dates. The WorthLess? campaign group - a collection of 2,000 headteachers in 80 local authorities - said: 'Wider public health, pupil and staff safety should be prioritised ahead of examinations. 'Public safety should not be risked or driven by an inflexible pursuit of GCSE and A-levels.' Headteacher of Tanbridge House School in Horsham - and one of the WorthLess? leaders - told The Times : 'There is great scepticism that exams can now go ahead fairly.' Advertisement

The PM refused to give exact figures for how many people will be vaccinated, beyond saying the government wants to be deploying two million jabs a week.

But he said: 'What I can tell you is that we do hope that we will be able to do tens of millions in the course of the next three months.'

The Oxford University and AstraZeneca vaccine is due to start being administered from tomorrow, with the UK's process so far among the fastest in the world.

Experts have warned that the UK's exit from crippling lockdown depends on inoculating at least 25million vulnerable people by the spring.

The gap between first and second doses of vaccines is being extended in a bid to reach more people.

Meanwhile, there have been concerns that tens of thousands of recently retired GPs, surgeons, and nurses are being put off helping out due to the bureaucracy involved.

Criticism has been mounting of 'ridiculous' demands such as a requirement to be certified in fire safety, or trained in preventing radicalisation.

Asked about the complaints, Mr Johnson said: 'I think it's absurd and I know that the Health Secretary is taking steps to get rid of that pointless bureaucracy.'

Pressed on whether he would remain in Downing Street after finally taking the UK out of the EU, the Prime Minister insisted: 'Yes.'

Mr Johnson continued: 'I think you should break out of your characteristic gloom, if I may say so Andrew.

'Things are very tough, we're going through a very tough period as a country, but I really think people should focus on the amazing fact this country has created a room-temperature vaccine which can be used around the world.

'And we now have freedoms that we haven't had for 50 years and there are lots of reasons to be very positive about this otherwise grim new year.'

As the schools row rages, NAHT general secretary Paul Whiteman urged for a return to schools that is 'sustainable' as he accused the Department for Education of 'making last-minute decisions because they didn't take proactive action'.

'There is nobody more committed to the care and education of children, next to parents of course, than school leaders and their teams,' he told BBC Breakfast.

'And anybody that's trying to paint the picture that we're against the care and education of children is simply doing that, simply misleading the public, for political purposes.

'What we're talking about is understanding the risks. Having a short break so that we can agree the right mitigations in schools to make them Covid-secure, make sure that staff and teams are vaccinated and that we can get a properly supported testing regime in schools to make them as safe as possible.

'And then have an orderly return to school that's sustainable, rather than the chaos that we have experienced throughout the pandemic, with the DfE making last-minute decisions because they didn't take proactive action.

'So, we agree with everybody that school is the best place for children, we just want to do that well, we want to make it a sustainable return.'

Boris insists he is not quitting Downing Street Boris Johnson today insisted he will not be quitting No10 despite speculation he might opt to walk away. Pressed on whether he would remain in Downing Street after finally taking the UK out of the EU, the Prime Minister told BBC1's The Andrew Marr Show: 'Yes.' Mr Johnson continued: 'I think you should break out of your characteristic gloom, if I may say so Andrew. 'Things are very tough, we're going through a very tough period as a country, but I really think people should focus on the amazing fact this country has created a room-temperature vaccine which can be used around the world. 'And we now have freedoms that we haven't had for 50 years and there are lots of reasons to be very positive about this otherwise grim new year.' Advertisement

The start of the new academic term has been mired in confusion as Covid rates continue to rise, driven by the new variant.

Recent notes from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) revealed scientists have warned that schools may need to be closed to bring down transmission.

But Children's Minister Vicky Ford yesterday told MPs there was no evidence that the new strain caused more serious illness in either adults or children.

Senior Government sources said that Mr Williamson had tried to keep schools open but has been overruled by Health Secretary Matt Hancock and Michael Gove.

The pair have pushed for tighter measures until more people have been vaccinated, but critics accused them of 'natural authoritarianism'.

Last week, Mr Williamson announced all primaries would return on Monday. Ten London boroughs were told to open their schools but after a revolt by eight Labour-led councils, Mr Williamson was forced into a U-turn.

Now all schools in the capital will operate remote learning for the first two weeks.

The rebellion was led initially by Haringey, once dubbed the first 'Corbyn council' because of its large number of Left-wing Momentum councillors.

Council leader Joseph Ejiofor said he would back head teachers who wanted to defy the Government and he was later followed by Harrow Council.

Social distancing signs displayed at Coldfall Primary School in Muswell Hill, London, today as Covid cases across the capital city have been putting rising pressure on the NHS

Liverpool's Labour-run city council calls for another national lockdown to stop spread of mutant Covid strain Liverpool's council leaders today called for a third national lockdown to contain the new 'mutant' strain of Covid and prevent a 'catastrophe'. The city's acting mayor, Wendy Simon, and the Labour-run city council's cabinet say the speed of the rise in coronavirus cases have reached 'alarming levels' and urgent action is now required to save lives and the NHS. The new 'mutant' strain of Covid is thought to have a higher rate of transmission and is most prevalent in London and the South East, where health bosses say hospitals have become stretched. It is believed the strain is spreading from south to north, leading to increasing pressure on the NHS. Cases in Liverpool have almost trebled in the past two weeks to 350 per 100,000, despite the city leading on the pilot for community testing which led to it being the first city to be moved from Tier 3 down to Tier 2. Advertisement

Chris McGovern, chairman of the Campaign for Real Education, has accused the Left of politicising the issue saying: 'This is about knocking the Tories. Keeping schools open should be non-negotiable.'

Last night, the Department for Education said remote learning was 'a last resort' and classrooms should reopen 'wherever possible' with appropriate safety measures to help mitigate the risk of transmission.

'As we've said, we will move to remote education as a last resort, with involvement of public health officials, in areas where infection and pressures on the NHS are highest,' the spokesperson said.

More than one million four to 11-year-olds will now start the academic term with lessons online.

In advising members to work from home, Dr Mary Bousted, the NEU's joint general secretary, said: 'If Government does not act to follow the science, we must.' Her views were echoed by the NASUWT union.

Ministers are considering proposals to make teachers a higher priority in the vaccine roll-out as a way to keep physical classrooms open.

Hundreds of new vaccination sites are due to be up and running this week as the NHS ramps up its immunisation programme with the newly approved Oxford University and AstraZeneca jab.

Some 530,000 doses of the vaccine will be available for rollout across the UK from Monday and more than a million patients have already had their first dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine which was the first to be approved by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the vaccine roll-out was 'our great hope', adding: 'I want the Government to throw everything it can at this, harnessing the extraordinary talents of our NHS so we can be vaccinating at least two million Brits a week by the end of the month.'

But, writing in the Sunday Mirror, he criticised 'a chaotic last minute U-turn on schools', adding: 'Confusion reigns among parents, teachers and pupils over who will be back in school tomorrow and who won't.'

Plans for schools reopening differ across the four nations of the UK. In Scotland, most pupils will have online learning for the week of January 11. In Wales, schools are expected to provide face-to-face learning for the majority of their pupils by January 11.

And in Northern Ireland, secondary school years eight to 11 will be taught via remote learning throughout January while primary pupils will return to the classroom on January 11.

Linda Bauld, a professor in public health at the University of Edinburgh, said transmission among primary school pupils was 'still very limited' while secondary school pupils, particularly older teenagers, can pass on the virus in the same way as adults.

But health professionals have warned of growing pressure on services with Professor Andrew Goddard, president of the Royal College of Physicians, telling the BBC current case figures are 'fairly mild' compared to what is expected in a week's time.

GAVIN WILLIAMSON: We must all move heaven and earth to get children back into the classroom

By Gavin Williamson, Secretary of State for Education

I remain optimistic that with the roll-out of the Covid-19 vaccine, 2021 will be the year we overcome coronavirus. At the same time, as a dad, it is clear to me that while this takes place, I want my children to be at school.

Keeping our kids out of classrooms is damaging. We know that as parents and we know it from the data. It is for this reason that keeping schools open has been a national priority.

Naturally, as parents would expect, this includes taking a proportionate response and considering the clear damage that we know is caused to young people's education and wellbeing by closing education.

With the new variant, the goal posts have shifted as we fight this horrible virus, but I want to assure parents that we have been working throughout the holidays to make the return as safe as possible.

This means pushing back the staggered start date for all secondary schools by one week.

Writing in The Mail on Sunday, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson, said it was imperative that the nation's children were back in class to stop them falling behind. He urged teachers and parents to 'move heaven and earth', adding the young must not 'bear the heaviest cost' of the pandemic

It also means triggering our contingency plans, so that in some areas where there are high transmission rates of the virus or those rates are rising quickly, schools should offer face-to-face education to exam year groups, vulnerable and critical-worker children, and remote education to all other students  so no child misses out on education.

We have identified the areas where primary schools must move to this system from tomorrow and will do the same for secondary schools before pupils are due to return on the 18th.

Our fantastic teachers have already worked tirelessly to make schools Covid-secure, and it remains the case that schools are safe.

For secondary schools and colleges, we are also rolling out mass testing to make schools, the pupils attending them, and the wider community even safer. I want to be clear what this means: all secondary school students and staff will be offered tests before they go back to school  whether their school is open to all pupils or to some.

This kind of mass testing will help protect not just children and young people, it will benefit everyone in the community because it will break the chains of transmission that are making infection rates shoot up.

This in turn will make it safer for more children to physically return to school.

Teachers are not expected to carry out the tests themselves, and 1,500 members of the armed forces will provide support to schools and colleges in this important mission.

While this takes place, schools and colleges will stagger the return of their students.

Those in exam years will be educated remotely during the first week of term, and face-to-face beginning on January 11, with other secondary schools and college students returning full time on January 18, in areas where we have not had to apply the contingency framework.

Vulnerable children and the children of key workers should be educated face-to-face from the start of term in all circumstances.

For now, given how prevalent the virus is in London and after engagement with London leaders, primary schools in our capital will only open for vulnerable and critical worker children tomorrow.

We will continually review the data and allow more pupils to return as soon as possible.

During this time we are taking unprecedented action to ensure remote education is delivered to all children.

We will deliver over 50,000 laptops and tablets to schools across the country tomorrow, and over 100,000 in total during the first week of term. In total, we've delivered over 500,000 and are on our way to our target of nearly one million.

We are taking these measures because it is what we need to do to overcome and suppress the transmission of the virus in communities.

These decisions are not political calculations, they are concrete steps to support our children's education, futures and dreams  which must not be put on hold.

The safety of teachers and pupils will always be paramount, but we must all move heaven and earth to get children back to the classroom where they best thrive.

Both of my daughters, one of whom is in an exam year, have had to self-isolate. I know how difficult the last year has been, because I have seen them miss being in the classroom, where they want to be.

So I want my children, and all children, to be able to get back to school and stay in class  we will continue to prioritise making this happen where we can.

In all of this, we must all face up to the fact that, unfortunately, there is a new variant of Covid and that this is spreading across the country.

But it remains our duty to provide a future for our children that is full of hope and opportunity.

This year, my admiration for teachers and all that they do has reached an even higher level, and it gives me faith in how we will continue to fight this virus.

The fight has already been a long one, and many have lost so much, but we must remain steadfast in our final push. As a nation we are in this together and we will overcome it together, as our country always does.

During this time, I remain determined to do all I can to protect our children, protect education and ensure the youngest in our society do not bear the heaviest cost while beating this virus.
In two separate incidents in Bhiwandi, gram panchayat election candidates were attacked recently.

Two unknown bikers opened fire on Deepak Mhatre, 48, Shiv Sena shakha chief in Kalher, Bhiwandi, early on Sunday while he was exiting his car with his wife. The Sena leader escaped the firing.

The incident was captured on CCTV cameras near his house, and police are searching for the two accused.

R Wani, inspector, Narpoli police station, said, The incident occurred around midnight on Sunday. Deepak Mhatre is safe, and no one was injured in the incident. We have registered a case and our team is searching for the accused.

I noticed that a biker was following me, but I didnt realise that they have this intention. After we parked the car and got out, the pillion rider fired one round at us. I first tried to make sure my wife was safe. Later, I tried to throw stones at them till then they fired two more rounds before fleeing. I dont know who these people were but only know that they have done this because of the election, said Mhatre.

In the second incident, panchayat member Bhanudas Patil, 51, and his brothers Santosh and Vinod were beaten up by 20 youngsters and are receiving treatment in hospital. Santosh is contesting in the upcoming gram panchayat election. Narpoli police are investigating both matters.

The brothers were on their way to the hospital to meet their aunt on Saturday when the group of attackers beat them and threatened to shoot them for opposing their party leader. Narpoli police have registered a case but are yet to arrest the accused.

In 2017, Congress corporator from Bhiwandi, Manoj Mhatre was murdered at his residence before the civic elections. Seven accused persons allegedly fired at him, and also assaulted him with a sharp weapon on February 16.

The conspiracy was allegedly planned by Mhatres cousin Prashant Mhatre who was later arrested by police along with the other accused.
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The administration in Bengals Murshidabad district has investigated a unique case of misappropriation of government funds in which at least Rs 7 lakh was collected for beneficiaries of rural employment schemes under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act 2005 (MNREGA) and part of the money was sent to people in Bangladesh, officials said. Fake job cards were created to make the withdrawals.

The main allegation is against the upa-pradhan (deputy head) of the Trinamool Congress-run Gurapashla gram panchayat in the Nabagram police station area.

It has been alleged that Samsul Arfin, the upa-pradhan, made the fake job cards for his relatives, as many as 13 of whom are Bangladeshi nationals, officials said.

Jobs were allegedly created in various areas by changing the names of the same beneficiaries and the money was withdrawn from banks and post offices. ATM cards were also used to make withdrawals.

Officials said that the former community block development officer (BDO) of Nabagram completed an internal probe on the basis of a written complaint. The internal probe concluded that Arfin and some staff members of the gram panchayat were involved in the alleged fraud.

The former BDO lodged a police complaint against which a first information report (FIR) was registered in December 2019. However, there has been no progress in the police probe although a year has passed.

HT has also seen the copy of the FIR as well as the list of the Bangladeshi nationals who received the money.

Officials said that after the FIR was registered, Arfin moved the Calcutta high court for anticipatory bail. The court rejected the petition but the accused was not arrested, a senior district official said on condition of anonymity. Arfin could not be contacted despite several attempts.

Pankaj Das, the present BDO of Nabagram, said, After joining duty, I got to know that the former BDO completed the internal probe and lodged an FIR against the accused at Nabagram PS under Sections 486,406,409,420 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code.

It is for the police to complete the probe and take legal action. I cannot say why the police did not make any arrest, Das added.

Muslims comprise 66.28 % of Murshidabads population, making it the highest among all districts in Bengal. The district shares its eastern border with Bangladesh.

District TMC spokesperson Apurba Sarkar said, If the upa-pradhan is involved in the alleged embezzlement of government funds the administration has the right to take legal action against him. We are not going to shield him.

Nabagram block Congress president Mir Badam Ali said, Arfin embezzled government funds with help from some staff members. Some of the beneficiaries are even minors. The TMC leader helped Bangladeshi nationals make money out of a Central government project.

No senior officer of the district police was ready to comment on the issue. An officer said on condition of anonymity that Arfin is on the run and will be arrested soon.
The last year in the life of Jimi Hendrix (1942-70) has always represented something of a puzzle for fans of the guitar great. Hendrixs Experience, which hit a commercial peak with the release of Electric Ladyland (1968), had announced its breakup by early 69.

Later that year, Hendrix thought of recording with Miles Davis, and even invited Paul McCartney to join in on bass. By the close of 69, Hendrix played with Billy Cox on bass and Buddy Miles on drums in the New Years shows that made up the Band Of Gypsys album.

But while Miles had his strengths as a drummer, he didnt fit in the band with his overbearing vocals. Soon after, Hendrix brought Experience man Mitch Mitchell back into the fold for studio sessions and performances. That included the live sets Hendrix played in Hawaii in July 70.

In what became his final U.S. shows, Hendrix (with Cox and Mitchell) played to small audiences on Maui as part of the Rainbow Bridge film project. And Hendrixs work on Voodoo Child (Slight Return) stands as some of the most explosive work of the guitar masters career.

Jimi Hendrix soared as only he could on Voodoo Child (Slight Return) at his 1970 show in Maui

Jimi Hendrix performs at the Newport Pop Festival on June 20, 1969. | Vince Melamed/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

RELATED: The Only Jimi Hendrix Record That Hit No. 1

Voodoo Child (Slight Return), which closed out Electric Ladyland, almost immediately became one of Hendrixs signature tracks. The song is built for extended guitar improvisations, and Hendrixs sound on record might be the purest expression of his work. At live shows, it could get even better.

Ace guitarist Joe Satriani considered it the greatest electric guitar work ever put on record. The whole song could be considered the holy grail of guitar expression and technique, Satriani said, via MusicRadar. It is a beacon of humanity.

At the Maui show in July 70, Hendrix and his band tore into an uptempo version of Voodoo Child (Slight Return). And once Hendrix shredded his way through the intro, first verse, and chorus, he really let loose. Somehow, engineers got a clear recording of his performance.

Around 1:45, Hendrix takes flight, and words like ecstatic and otherworldly pop into your mind and immediately sound inadequate. By 2:25, hes well beyond the point of god-like. And by 3:05, if were to believe the audio and visual synching, Hendrix has brought himself to his knees with his playing.

Recording problems necessitated the dubbing of Mitch Mitchells drum part

Jimi Hendrix and band perform on THE DICK CAVETT SHOW. in 1969. | Walt Disney Television via Getty Images Photo Archives

While the film and sound appear to match completely in Hendrixs case, the drums of Mitchell were a different story. (Notice the sound of fills you dont see him perform.) For the Live in Maui (2020) release, engineer Eddie Kramer had to draw on recordings of Mitchells parts the drummer made after the Maui gig.

Mitch did a tremendous amount of work on the overdubs, Kramer said, via the Jimi Hendrix official site. He was determined to fix what suffered on the recordings due to the 50 mile-an-hour winds because they were playing on the side of a bloody volcano!

While you might get confused trying to follow the concert concept and related post-production work, the audio is mesmerizing. Hendrix found himself searching for a new musical direction in the last year of his life. But at Maui, playing Voodoo Child (Slight Return), he sounded near or at the height of his powers.
More than 20,000 Covid-19 swabs processed since full testing was resumed after Christmas are positive for the virus according to new figures published by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) which has declared the third wave is now as bad as the first peak of the pandemic in Ireland.

Also read: NPHET announces 39 new cases in Longford and 3,394 cases nationally

In its daily statement, NPHET has included a table to show tests processes, positive tests, confirmed cases in the past 14 days.

Normally, it says the number of confirmed cases reported on a given day correlates with the number of positive tests the preceding day, allowing for validation and removal of duplicates.

The table (see at end of story) shows that tests taken began to surge in the week to Christmas Day. Positive results have surgeed since the day after St Stephen's Day in parallel with the continued rise in processed tests.

Since December 27 a total of 20,511 swabs have shown positive for Covid-19. That is nearly 20% of the 114,641 tests processed in the six days up to and including New Year's Day.

Also read: 'Every individual needs to act as if they are infectious and stay at home' advises Dr Tony Holohan

The number of confirmed cases is well behind the positive cases because of a backlog due to the surge to testing being paused on Christmas Day and St Stephen's Day. There have been 8,148 confirmed Covid-19 results returned in the six days.

NPHET only published the confirmed number of cases on January 2 but this was the highest number of confirmed cases over Christmas and New Year period at 3,394.

The table published by NPHET also shows that the number of tests processed rose from 13,458 on December 18 to 22,884 on the day before Christmas Eve. The highest number of tests processed was recorded on New Year's Eve when 27,049 swabs were examined in laboratories.

NPHET has announced since Christmas that close contacts will no longer be tested. Team members have acknowledged that this will mean a true reflection of the incidence of the virus will not be shown in the daily figures.

However, the head of NPHET Dr Tony Holohoan announced on January 2 that the virus incidence "is now as high or if not higher than March" when the pandemic's first wave reached Ireland.

NPHET says that once the delays that have arisen in recent days have been resolved, we will no longer report the laboratory test results. It began publishing the lab results on New Years Day.

Table below from January 2.
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TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) -- Since the 1970s The Wabash Dragway has brought racing to Terre Haute. Just recently the previous owners of the drag strip's lease came up. Instead of watching it sit for an entire year, four friends got together to make sure racing in the community continued.

Troy Mann, Tom Grover, Jay Eversole, and Doug Smith are four drag racers who are now track operators. They told News 10 they've found themselves in a very unique situation.

Mann said, "The previous people that just got finished with their contract did this for 12 years did a good job. You know, they had a passion for it and stuff like that, but you know sometimes things just have to come to an end. So, you got to move forward."

Just like the sport, they're hoping to quickly move forward.

Looking ahead to this new year they already have dates set for drag racers and spectators alike. However, first, a few things have to happen before they're ready to start those engines.

Grover said, "We've been on the other side of this wall, this is our first time on this side of the wall, so we got a lot of things to learn there. We've got a little touch-up, and clean up we want to do with the facility to kind of help it face-lift wise a little bit."

But once all is complete they're hoping the community will come out to experience the sport they love.

These new owners said they're grateful for the opportunity to be able to keep this tradition of racing going in the community.

Grover said, "We want to continue to see Terre Haute have this opportunity, but we still want to pay homage to the history of the track and keep it going."

Grover and Mann said the first race is scheduled for April 4th.

For more information on the Wabash Valley Dragway, you can click here.
Rome: From his newsstand at the bottom of two hilly streets in Rome, Armando Alviti has been dispensing newspapers, magazines and good cheer to locals from before dawn till after dusk nearly every day for more than a half-century.

Alviti chuckles as he recalled how, when he was a young boy, newspaper deliverers would drop off the day's stacks at his parents newsstand, sit him in the emptied baskets of their motorbikes and take him for a spin.

Since he turned 18, Alviti has operated the newsstand seven days a week, with a wool tweed cap to protect him from the Italian capital's winter dampness and a tabletop fan to cool him during its torrid summers. A mighty battle therefore ensued when the coronavirus reached Italy and his two grown sons insisted that Alviti, who is 71 and diabetic, stay home while they took turns juggling their own jobs to keep the newsstand open.

Armando Alviti, 71, insists on working in the news stand in Rome he's run for 50 years. Credit:AP

They were afraid I would die. I know they love me crazy, Alviti said.
Can you imagine the Indiana Jones movies without Harrison Ford? It might be hard to picture now, but Ford wasnt the first choice to play the whip-wielding archaeologist. The part almost went to another well-known actor, but a scheduling conflict meant series creator George Lucas and director Steven Spielberg had to find someone else to play the key role. Ford  whod already worked with Lucas on Star Wars  was an obvious choice. But Lucas was initially reluctant to team up again with the actor who played Han Solo.

George Lucas had concerns about casting Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones

Harrison Ford in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade | Murray Close/Getty Images

RELATED: Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom Did Not Age Well By Todays Standards

Finding the right actor to play the rakish Dr. Henry Indiana Jones would be key to the success of Raiders of the Lost Ark, the first movie in the franchise. Ford seemed like an obvious candidate.

He has that great quality of appealing to both men and women, Alison Doody, who played Elsa Schneider in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, told Empire in 2012. And also he has that dry humor. Indy needed to be real, with flaws  thats what endears him to the audience.

But Lucas was hesitant to work with Ford again. As he explained in Empires oral history of the making of Raiders of the Lost Ark, he didnt want himself and Ford to become known as a pair like actor Robert DeNiro and director Martin Scorsese.

I was wary of Harrison and I becoming like Scorsese and De Niro. I thought, Lets create a new icon, Lucas told the magazine.

Tom Selleck was supposed to play Indiana Jones

A 1981 ad for Magnum, P.I. with Tom Selleck |CBS via Getty Images

Having rejected the idea of working with Ford, the quest was on to find the man who would be Indiana Jones. Soon, they settled on Tom Selleck. But there was a problem.

We found Tom Selleck, but as soon as the network heard, his option on Magnum P.I. got picked up, Lucas shared.

Selleck elaborated on the circumstances that caused him to miss out on playing Indiana Jones in a 2020 interview with Rachael Ray. He made it clear that he was keen to play the globe-trotting adventurer, but CBS wouldnt allow it.

I didnt turn it down! Selleck said. I earned the part. I did a screen test. And Steven Spielberg and George Lucas said, Youve got the part. And I said, Well, Ive done this pilot. I dont know whether its a conflict.  It was Magnum.

CBS basically said, No, you cant do both, Selleck added.  But Harrison kind of did a good job.

Harrison Ford was quick to sign on for Raiders of the Lost Ark

With Selleck no longer available, Lucas and Spielberg had to scramble to find their Indiana Jones. Fords name came up again. This time, they decided to reach out, though Lucas said he wasnt confident the Return of the Jedi actor would be willing to sign on for three films.

We were running short of time and Steven said, Theres always Harrison, Lucas recalled. I doubted hed go for a three-picture deal  he didnt want to on Star Wars. And we had three pictures. Steven said to try anyway. I went to Harrison and he read the script and said, Yeah, Ill do a three-picture deal. Id love to.
Saturday update: Oswego County virus cases up 132 since Friday to 3,881; deaths up five to 41
Rescue workers have uncovered a seventh body from a landslide that buried homes in a village near Norway's capital, police said Sunday, with a two-year-old girl and her father among the dead.

The tragedy occurred early on Wednesday when houses were destroyed and shifted hundreds of metres under a torrent of mud in the village of Ask, 25 kilometres (15 miles) northeast of Oslo.

Police spokesman Bjorn Christian Willersrud told journalists they hoped to find more survivors in the landslide zone. "It is still a rescue operation until we decide otherwise," he said.

Earlier Sunday, the head of the rescue operation, Goran Syversen, told reporters:

"We are working hard in the depression created by the landslide.

"We have five teams working at the same time. They are doing very difficult work which is not without risk. Nevertheless, we are making good progress."

Police said the latest body was found near where two others had been recovered, but gave no further details. The teams, backed up by sniffer dogs, helicopters and drones, have now found three bodies on Sunday, one on Saturday and three on Friday.

Local residents left candles near the site of the tragedy.

Five of the recovered victims have been identified, including a woman in her fifties and her 29-year-old son, and a 40-year-old man and his two-year-old daughter.

The first victim to be recovered, on January 1, was a 31-year-old man.

Earlier police published the names of all 10 people, including the two-year-old and a 13-year-old, who went missing on Wednesday.

Ten people were also injured in the landslide, including one seriously who was transferred to Oslo for treatment.

About 1,000 people of the town's population of 5,000 have been evacuated, because of fears for the safety of their homes as the land continues to move.

"It is a completely surreal and terrible situation," one of the evacuees, Olav Gjerdingen, told AFP.

- Royal visit -

The rescuers received a visit Sunday from King Harald, his wife Sonja and Crown Prince Haakon, who lit candles for the victims in a local church.

Story continues

"I'm having trouble finding something to say, because it's absolutely horrible," the king said after the visit.

"This terrible event impacts us all. I sympathise with you who are beginning the new year with sadness and uncertainty," he said in a televised statement.

The authorities have banned all aircraft from the disaster area until 3 pm Monday as they conduct aerial searches.

The teams, who are also seeking to rescue family pets, were digging channels in the ground to evacuate casualties.

The Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE) said the disaster was a "quick clay slide" of approximately 300 by 800 metres (yards).

Quick clay is a sort of clay found in Norway and Sweden that can collapse and turn to fluid when overstressed.

On the recommendations of the NVE, the authorities decided to narrow the evacuation, allowing some local people to return to their homes.

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A farmer and his son were found hanging from a tree under suspicious circumstances in an agricultural field in Jabalpur district, 370 km east of Bhopal, on Saturday morning, said police.

In the preliminary investigation, it was found that the 52-year-old farmer and his 28-year-old son died by suicide. They had a fight with each other on Friday night as the son spent a part of the payment received after selling paddy crop on unimportant things, said Anni Lal, town inspector of Majhgawan police station.

The farmers wife said recently her husband had sold paddy crops and received payment. She didnt know the exact amount. But her son spent some money without asking his father. On Friday night when the farmer came to know about it, they had a fight over this issue, said the police officer.

Also Read: 70-year-old dies by suicide at UP Gate protest site

On Saturday morning, the son went to an agricultural field and allegedly took his own life by hanging himself from a branch of a tree. A few minutes later, the farmer reached the field and hung himself too. Later, villagers informed the police, said the officer.

Police are investigating the matter.

(with inputs from Monika Pandey from Jabalpur )

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Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-03 05:05:13|Editor: huaxia

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KHARTOUM, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- Sudan, Egypt and Ethiopia will hold a new round of talks on Sunday over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) issue under the patronage of African Union (AU), official SUNA news agency reported on Saturday.

"This meeting will discuss Sudan's proposal aimed at reactivating the negotiations via giving a greater role for the AU experts to reach a binding legal agreement on the GERD according to Sudan's previous request and then look into the draft of understanding prepared by the AU experts to reach a satisfactory deal for the three parties," the agency quoted a responsible source as saying.

Ministers of foreign affairs and irrigation of Sudan, Egypt and Ethiopia are expected to participate in the talks on Sunday. Enditem
Champaign, IL (61820)

Today

Showers this evening, becoming a steady rain overnight. Low around 65F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%..

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Showers this evening, becoming a steady rain overnight. Low around 65F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%.
Ghaziabad, Jan 3 : At least 25 people were killed and 20 others were injured as the roof of a structure in a cemetery in Muradnagar area here collapsed while they were sheltering under it amid heavy rains after attending a funeral on Sunday, officials said.

The incident was reported in the morning when around 50 people, who came for the last rites of a fruit-seller, took shelter under the roof of a recently-built corridor to save themselves from getting drenched. However, minutes later, the roof of the structure collapsed.

Teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were called to join the police and district administration for the operation to rescue those trapped under the debris as well as extricate the bodies of the deceased victims.

Ghaziabad Superintendent of Police Abhishek Verma said that of the 20 injured, eight are in a critical condition and are being treated in different hospitals.

"The corridor was almost 25 feet long and prima facie it seems it came down because of the heavy downpour," Verma said.

Police have lodged an FIR against the contractor and officials of the Municipal Corporation of Muradnagar under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), officials told IANS.

The FIR has been lodged against contractor Ajay Tyagi, engineer Niharika Singh, junior engineer Chandra Pal, supervisor Ashish, and an unnamed official of the corporation involved in the construction, under Sections 304 (punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 337 (Causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety), 338 (Causing grievous hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others), 409 (Criminal breach of trust by public servant) and 427 (Mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees).

After the directions from Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, an investigation into the matter, under the supervision of Meerut Divisional Commissioner and Inspector General of Police is underway. The officials of Ghaziabad Municipal Corporation (GMC) and Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) are also assisting them.

IANS has sourced a copy of the work order from the Muradnagar Municipal Corporation issued to Tyagi for the construction of the structure that collapsed. The work order, issued on February 4, mentioned the structure as beautification work of the crematorium.

While the deadline to finish the construction stated in the order was 60 days from the date of commission of the contract, Muradnagar MLA Ajit Tyagi said that it was completed just a couple of months ago.

"The waiting area was built only a couple of months back. It is a big question on the quality of the material used in the construction as a single downpour washed away the whole structure. Those guilty of laxity would not be spared," he said.

The locals present on the spot also raised concerns over the material used in the construction. They said the rubble showed that very little cement was used in construction.

The state government has announced an ex-gratia sum of Rs 2 lakh each to the kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to people injured in the incident. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Ram Nath Kovind also expressed grief about the incident.
Volunteers wearing face masks as a precaution against the coronavirus clear the debris left over by tourists at Maidan, the city's largest open space in Kolkata, India, Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021. India authorized two COVID-19 vaccines on Sunday, paving the way for a huge inoculation program to stem the coronavirus pandemic in the world's second most populous country. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

India authorized two COVID-19 vaccines on Sunday, paving the way for a huge inoculation program to stem the coronavirus pandemic in the world's second-most populous country.

The country's drugs regulator gave emergency authorization for the vaccine developed by Oxford University and U.K.-based drugmaker AstraZeneca, and another developed by the Indian company Bharat Biotech.

Drugs Controller General Dr. Venugopal G. Somani said that both vaccines would be administered in two dosages. He said the decision to approve the vaccines was made after "careful examination" by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization, India's pharmaceutical regulator.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the vaccine approval a "decisive turning point to strengthen a spirited fight."

"It would make every Indian proud that the two vaccines that have been given emergency use approval are made in India!" Modi tweeted.

AstraZeneca has contracted Serum Institute of India, the world's largest vaccine manufacturer, to make 1 billion doses of its vaccine for developing nations, including India. On Wednesday, Britain became the first country to approve the shot.

India, however, will not allow the export of the Oxford University-AstraZeneca vaccine for several months, Adar Poonawalla, Serum Institute's CEO, said Sunday. The ban on exports means that poorer nations will probably have to wait a few months before receiving their first shots.

Volunteers wearing face masks as a precaution against the coronavirus clear the debris left over by tourists at Maidan, the city's largest open space in Kolkata, India, Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021. India authorized two COVID-19 vaccines on Sunday, paving the way for a huge inoculation program to stem the coronavirus pandemic in the world's second most populous country. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

The move was made to ensure that vulnerable populations in India are protected and to prevent hoarding, Poonawalla said in an interview with The Associated Press.

But questions have been raised by health experts over the vaccine developed by Bharat Biotech. They point out that clinical trials began only recently, making it almost impossible for the firm to have analyzed and submitted data showing that its shots are effective in preventing illness from the coronavirus.

India has confirmed more than 10.3 million cases of the virus, second in the world behind the U.S., though its rate of infection has come down significantly from a mid-September peak. It also has reported over 149,000 deaths.

The country's initial immunization plan aims to vaccinate 300 million peoplehealthcare workers, front-line staff including police, and those considered vulnerable due to their age or other diseasesby August 2021. For effective distribution, over 20,000 health workers have been trained so far to administer the vaccine, the Health Ministry said.

But the plan poses a major challenge. India has one of the world's largest immunization programs, but it isn't geared around adults, and vaccine coverage remains patchy. Still, neither of the approved vaccines requires the ultra-cold storage facilities that some others do. Instead they can be stored in refrigerators, making them more feasible for the country.

Volunteers wearing face masks as a precaution against the coronavirus clear the debris left over by tourists at Maidan, the city's largest open space in Kolkata, India, Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021. India authorized two COVID-19 vaccines on Sunday, paving the way for a huge inoculation program to stem the coronavirus pandemic in the world's second most populous country. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

Although Serum Institute of India doesn't have a written agreement with the Indian government, its chief executive, Adar Poonawalla, said India would be "given priority" and would receive most of its stockpile of around 50 million doses.

Partial results from studies for the Oxford-AstraZeneca shot in almost 24,000 people in Britain, Brazil and South Africa suggest that the vaccine is safe and about 70% effective. That isn't as good as some other vaccine candidates, and there are also concerns about how well the vaccine will protect older people.

The other vaccine, known as COVAXIN, is developed by Bharat Biotech in collaboration with government agencies and is based on an inactivated form of the coronavirus. Early clinical studies showed that the vaccine doesn't have any serious side effects and produces antibodies for COVID-19. But late clinical trials began in mid-November. The second shot was to be given 28 days after the first, and an immune response prompted two weeks later.

That time frame means that it isn't possible that the company submitted data showing that the shots are effective in preventing infection from the virus, said Dr. Gagandeep Kang, an infectious diseases expert at the Christian Medical College at Vellore.

All India Drug Action Network, a public health watchdog, issued a statement demanding greater transparency.

A roadside barber wearing mask as a precaution against the coronavirus gives hair cut to a man as others wait for their turn in Mumbai, India, Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021. India authorized two COVID-19 vaccines on Sunday, paving the way for a huge inoculation program to stem the coronavirus pandemic in the world's second most populous country. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)

Somani, the regulator, said that "the vaccine has been found to be safe," but refused to say whether any efficacy data was shared.

The Health Ministry said in a statement that permission was granted for Bharat Biotech's shot for restricted use in the "public interest as an abundant precaution in clinical trial mode, especially in the context of infection by mutant strains."

But Kang said that the claim that the vaccine could help against a mutant variant of the virus was "hypothetical" and without any evidence.

Indian regulators are still considering approvals for other vaccines, including one made by Pfizer.

Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 3)  Officials covering up for the unauthorized vaccination of President Rodrigo Duterte's security personnel and some Cabinet members should just step up and make themselves accountable for the issue, which sends a "wrong message" about the government's priorities, Vice President Leni Robredo said Sunday.

In her weekly radio show Biserbisyong Leni, Robredo lamented how officials closest to the President managed to be the first ones to violate the laws in receiving the vaccine doses, which were not even regulated by the Food and Drug Administration.

"Sana walang panlilinlang na gawin sa tao. Sana maging very transparent kasi ayaw nating magduda ang tao," Robredo said. "Kung iyong mga pinakamalalapit sa Presidente, iyon pa iyong nag-violate ng mga existing protocols, ng mga batas, eh hindi ito nakakatulong."

[Translation: I wish they do not deceive the people. I hope they just become very transparent because we don't want people to have doubts. If those who are the closest to the President manage to violate existing protocols, the laws, then this is not helping.]

"Bakit hindi sinunod iyong protocols? Bakit may viniolate na batas? Bakit hindi sinunod iyong prioritization na ginawa ng IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force), ng DOH (Department of Health), ng vaccine czar?" she added.

[Translation: Why were the protocols not followed? Why was a law violated? Why wasnt the prioritization laid down by the IATF, the DOH, and the vaccine czar not followed?]

Robredo then commented on the recent admission of Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana that the vaccines were "smuggled" and that the move was "justified" in line with the militarys duty to protect the President.

"Ang problema, ano iyong mensahe? Iyong mensahe dito pwede pala iyon kung meron kang means, kung meron kang pambili, pwede pala iyon," Robredo said. "Madaling sabihing justified. Kung meron akong sakit...justified ba iyon dahil may sakit ako?"

[Translation: The problem is -- what was the message? The message being sent was that as long as you have the means, and you have the capacity to buy, it's acceptable. It's easy to say it's justified. If I were illcan we say it's still justified because Im sick?]

The Vice President also expressed support for the Senate's call to investigate the vaccination of members of the Presidential Security Group, but stressed that the probe can be resolved faster if the officials involved would just be transparent and honest with their answers, so the government could move on with bigger priorities in its COVID-19 response.

RELATED: Drilon: Call PSG chief to Senate vaccine probe

"Sana maging transparent na lang tapos akuin na lang iyong kasalanan, wala nang cover-up. Kasi imbis na nakatutok tayo sa mas importanteng mga bagay, iyan na naman ang aasikasuhin natin," Roberedo said.

[Translation: I wish they would just be transparent and take responsibility, no more cover-ups. Because instead of us focusing on more important things, we have to deal with the issue.]

The FDA, the Bureau of Customs, and the National Bureau of Investigation's Special Action Unit are also holding separate probes on the distribution and use of unregistered COVID-19 vaccines in the country.

In a radio interview on Saturday, Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa defended the PSG, claiming that they even deserve credit for treating themselves as "guinea pigs" when they received the unauthorized vaccine ahead of others.

READ: Dela Rosa: PSG risked lives for being 'guinea pigs' in COVID vaccination

The FDA has not yet authorized any COVID-19 vaccine for use in the Philippines. The agency's director general warned against the use of unauthorized vaccines, saying their safety, quality, and efficacy are not guaranteed.

Uniformed personnel are supposed to be fifth in line among groups prioritized for vaccination, following health workers, senior citizens, indigent senior citizens, and the rest of the indigent population.
New Delhi:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarks on four-nation tour of Germany, Spain, Russia and France on Monday. PM Modi said that his four-nation tour is aimed at boosting Indias economic engagement with these nations and inviting more investment.

In the first leg of his six-day trip, he will visit Germany, where he will hold talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel under the framework of India-Germany Intergovernmental Consultations (IGC).

He will also call on German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

Modi said he and Merkel will chart out a future roadmap of cooperation with focus on trade and investment, security and counter-terrorism, innovation and science and technology, skill development, urban infrastructure, railways and civil aviation, clean energy, development cooperation, health and alternative medicine.

Describing Germany as a valuable partner, the prime minister said, German competencies fit well with my vision for Indias transformation.

In Berlin, Modi and Merkel will also interact with top business leaders of both the countries to further strengthen the trade and investment ties.

I am confident that this visit will open a new chapter in our bilateral cooperation with Germany and further deepen our Strategic Partnership, he said in a Facebook post.

On Tuesday, Modi will travel to Spain for an official visit, the first by an Indian prime minister in almost three decades.

He will call on King Felipe VI and hold talks with President Mariano Rajoy.

We will discuss ways to enhance bilateral engagement, especially in the economic sphere, and cooperation on international issues of common concern, particularly in combating terrorism, he said.

The prime minister said there is significant potential for deepening bilateral trade and investment ties.

We seek active participation of Spanish industry in various Indian projects including infrastructure, smart cities, digital economy, renewable energy, defence and tourism, he added.

He will also meet top CEOs of the Spanish industry and encourage them to partner in the Make in India initiative.

I look forward to their valuable recommendations for strengthening India-Spain economic partnership, he wrote.

Delhi: PM Narendra Modi departs for Berlin in Germany, on his six-day, four-nation tour of Germany, Spain, Russia and France pic.twitter.com/nYzhw8CU6s  ANI (@ANI_news) May 29, 2017

From Spain, the prime minister will travel to St. Petersburg in Russia from May 31 to June 2 for the 18th India-Russia Annual Summit.

...I will be conducting detailed discussions with President Putin to take forward our dialogue from the last Summit in Goa in October 2016, he said.

The two leaders will also be interacting with CEOs from the two countries.

On June 2, Modi and Putin will address the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) where India is the guest country.

In a first meeting of its kind, I will also have the opportunity to engage with Governors from various Russian regions to further broad base bilateral cooperation and more actively involve States/Regions and other diversified stakeholders, he said.

At the beginning of his visit, he will go to Piskarovskoye Cemetery to pay homage to those who perished during the siege of Leningrad.

He will also visit the world famous State Hermitage Museum and the Institute of Oriental manuscripts.

I greatly look forward to my visit to St. Petersburg in this special year for the bilateral relationship as both countries celebrate the 70th Anniversary of our diplomatic relations, Modi said.

In the last leg of the tour, he will visit France from June 2 to 3 for an official meeting with the newly-elected French President Emmanuel Macron.

France is one of our most important Strategic Partners. I look forward to meeting President Macron and have discussions on issues of mutual interest, Modi said.

I would be exchanging views with the French President on important global issues including UN Security Council reforms and Indias permanent membership of the UN Security Council, Indias membership of the various multilateral export control regimes, counter-terrorism cooperation, collaboration on climate change and International Solar Alliance, he added.

France is Indias 9th largest investment partner and a key partner in its development initiatives in the area of defence, space, nuclear and renewable energy, urban development and railways.

I am committed to substantially strengthening and advancing our multi-faceted partnership with France, the prime minister said.

Also read: Bond between India, Mauritius extend to people who take pride in shared roots, says PM Modi

Also read: Sri Lanka floods: Death toll rises to 92; PM Modi condoles loss of lives, Indian ships dispatched with relief materials



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By Moussa Aksar

NIAMEY (Reuters) -One hundred people were killed on Saturday in attacks on two villages in western Niger, Prime Minister Brigi Rafini said following one of the deadliest days in recent memory for a country ravaged by Islamist violence.

Rafini announced the death toll in remarks broadcast on national television on Sunday from a visit to the zone, near the border with Mali. He did not say who was responsible.

Security sources said on Saturday that at least 70 civilians had been killed in simultaneous raids by suspected Islamist militants on the villages of Tchombangou and Zaroumdareye.

Niger has suffered repeated attacks by militants linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State near its borders with Mali and Burkina Faso. The violence is part of a wider security crisis in West Africa's Sahel region that has unnerved Western allies like France, who have poured troops and resources into the region.

Niger has also seen tit-for-tat killings between rival ethnic communities that have been stoked by the jihadist violence and competition for scarce resources.

Saturday's attacks came on the same day that the electoral commission announced the results from the first round of the election to replace President Mahamadou Issoufou, who is stepping down after a decade in power.

Ruling party candidate Mohamed Bazoum, who finished in first, expressed his condolences on Sunday to the victims.

The attacks, he said in a video he posted on social media, "remind us that terrorist groups constitute a grave threat to cohesion within communities unlike any other".

Bazoum will face former President Mahamane Ousmane in a second round run-off expected on Feb. 21.

(Reporting by Moussa Aksar; Writing by Aaron Ross, Editing by Timothy Heritage and Chris Reese)
New Delhi:

The results of the ICSE Class X and ISC Class XII examinations will be announced at 3 PM on Monday.

The Council for Indian School Certificate Examinations, which conducts the exams, will introduce a DigiLocker facility to store digitally signed certificates and marksheets.

In another first, the Council has also made a provision for candidates to apply for rechecking of marks.

The Council will announce the results at 3 PM on May 29, a statement by CISEC Chief Executive and Secretary Gerry Arathoon said.

Steps to check ICSE Class 10 and ISC Class 12 results 2017:

-Go To the official website of CISCE, cisce.org or log on to www.examresults.net.

-Click on the results link given in the homepage

-Enter the Course Code, Candidate UID and the Captcha, in the next page open

-Click on the Show Result button to get the results.

-Take a print out of the same for future convenience.

The results will be made available on the career portal of the council and its website, as well as through SMS.

To receive the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) or Indian School Certificate (ISC) results by SMS, the candidate will need to type ICSE or ISC followed by their seven digit unique ID code and send the message to 09248082883.

With PTI inputs

Also read: CBSE Class 12 2017 results declared, check them here
The United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley has thousands of dollars of grant funds to distribute to businesses and people hurt by COVID-19.

The Easton area has worthy Black-owned businesses and nonprofits that could use a hand.

The problem was figuring out how to pair the relief organization with those who need help.

That inspired the creation of the African American Coalition of Easton. The organization is a clearinghouse of information about Black-owned businesses and nonprofits and what they do in the Easton area.

One of the challenges for the African-American community in Easton and the Lehigh Valley is that were very fragmented. Theres not a lot of connectivity between Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton, said the Rev. Phillip Davis, senior pastor at Greater Shiloh Church of Easton. Hes also on the coalition.

The coalition launched Wednesday. One of its first tasks was to create a website, blackconnectionsofeaston.com, where you can find information about Black-owned businesses and resources in Easton.

The group has $30,000 in United Way funds, most of which will go to businesses and organizations that can each apply for up to $5,000 in grants. (You can apply on the groups website.) Some of the money will go toward the creation of a phone app that works in conjunction with the website to spread the word about the Black community.

Sometimes the traditional means of outreach arent always the most effective, particularly with COVID, said Marvin Boyer, the political action committee chairman of the Easton branch of the NAACP and a member of the coalition.

This is about connections, said Dean Young, executive director of the Boys and Girls Club of Easton. His organization got the first grant from the African American Coalition of Easton, a $2,665 grant to provide masks, blankets and supplies for families in need around the holidays.

The grant will complement the recent donation of 135 sneakers for Boys and Girls Club children through Access Networks.

Davis and the other organizers hope the coalitions mission can grow over time.

We want to be funders, Davis said. Were not going to be out there fighting social justice issues but we will be funding projects, we will be an information clearinghouse, an events calendar. Were not overlapping what the NAACP does.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to Lehighvalleylive.com.

Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @RudyMillerLV. Find Easton area news on Facebook.
SAGE adviser Mark Walport said tighter curbs may be needed to suppress Covid

He suggested UK had struggled because it was a 'western liberal democracy'

Sir Mark also said 'mutant' Covid was transmitting rapidly among young children

A SAGE adviser today hinted a third national lockdown including mass school closures may be required to suppress Covid as he insisted 'keeping people apart' stops the virus from spreading.

Professor Sir Mark Walport claimed the 'mutant' strain of coronavirus was transmitting rapidly among children, with those aged between 12 and 16 seven times more likely to 'infect' a household.

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Speaking on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show as Liverpool's leaders called for a blanket shutdown, he said it would be 'very, very difficult' to keep the disease under control 'without tighter social distancing measures'.

Sir Mark also suggested the UK has struggled to keep cases down because it is a 'western liberal democracy', hinting that draconian countermeasures adopted in unfree countries like Vietnam had suppressed the virus.

Asked if Tier 4 restrictions were enough, the former Chief Scientific Adviser today said: 'It's the Tier 4 restrictions, it's obeying them.

'It is thinking about breaking essentially every possible route of transmission we possibly can. Those are the things that are absolutely necessary and it is pretty clear we're going to need more.'

Talking about 'mutant' Covid, he said: 'We now have a much more transmissible variant and I'm afraid this is the natural evolution of viruses.

'The ones that can transmit most effectively have an advantage over other variants and so it is clear this variant is transmitting more readily. It's transmitting more readily in younger age groups as well.

'It's good to note it doesn't appear to cause worse disease or that it is going to be more resistant to the effects of the vaccine, but it is going to be very, very difficult to keep it under control without tighter social distancing measures.'

Sir Mark continued: 'The thing that actually stops the virus, and we know that it can do, is keeping people apart. The virus can only get from one person to another through proximity, and so it really is about doing everything we possibly can to keep ourselves as safe as possible.'

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It comes as Boris Johnson today refused to rule out a total shutdown, telling Marr he is 'reconciled' to imposing further restrictions on public life as the number of coronavirus cases rises.

In the latest twist and turn of the pandemic:

Boris Johnson told parents to send children to schools in Tier 4 areas tomorrow, but hinted he would close schools if cases rise in those areas;

Ofsted boss Amanda Spielman said children's learning cannot be 'furloughed';

Headteachers called for this summer's GCSE and A-level exams to be scrapped;

Experts leading the UK vaccination programme defended the decision to extend the gap between the two doses, insisting it is 'the way we save lives';

Health bosses last night insisted urgent cancer operations in London will not be scrapped to ease the strain on hospitals inundated with Covid patients;

Labour's shadow culture secretary Jo Stevens is being treated in hospital for coronavirus, her aides announced last night;

Another 57,725 had positive test results and recorded 445 deaths yesterday;

A London children's hospital consultant blasted 'irresponsible' nurse who gave a BBC interview claiming her hospital has a 'whole ward of children' with Covid;

Young non-voting women are most likely to turn down a Covid vaccine if it were available tomorrow, the Find Out Now poll has found;

The PM faces losing most of the 'Red Wall' seats that delivered his historic election victory a year ago and his own seat, according to a massive poll.

SAGE adviser Sir Mark Walport today hinted a third national lockdown may be required to suppress Covid as he insisted 'keeping people apart' stops the virus from spreading

Two thirds of England's population is now in Tier 4, with the remainder living in Tier 3 lockdowns. Only the Isles of Scilly, off the coast of Cornwall, is in the looser Tier 2

The UK recorded a record 57,725 Covid-19 cases yesterday, the most since the pandemic began and the fifth day daily cases surpassed 50,000. The country also saw 445 deaths

Boris Johnson today refused to rule out a total shutdown, telling Marr he is 'reconciled' to imposing further restrictions on public life as the number of coronavirus cases rises

Sir Mark also claimed that locking down earlier would have reduced cases and deaths, telling the Andrew Marr Show: 'It's absolutely clear we can see other countries, Vietnam for example, which has managed to keep its cases down.

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'But we can see that western liberal democracies much harder. The UK is not alone in this, but that doesn't necessarily make it any better.'

He also urged people who have had a coronavirus vaccine not to 'go out and party' as he admitted 'there are lots of things we don't know about the vaccines'.

Sir Mark's interview comes as the PM signalled that anti-Covid measures were likely to get tougher.

Asked whether he could guarantee schools will open on January 18, Mr Johnson told Marr: 'Well, obviously, we're going to continue to assess the impact of the Tier 4 measures, the Tier 3 measures.'

On whether GCSE and A-Level exams should be cancelled, the PM said: 'We've got to be realistic, we've got to be realistic about the pace of which this new variant has spread... we've got to be realistic about the impact that it's having on our NHS... and we've got to be humble in the face of this virus.'

Click here to resize this module

Mr Johnson indicated tougher restrictions may be introduced, saying: 'It may be that we need to do things in the next few weeks that will be tougher in many parts of the country. I'm fully, fully reconciled to that.'

He added: 'There are obviously a range of tougher measures that that we would have to consider... I'm not going to speculate now about what they would be, but I'm sure that all our viewers and our listeners will understand what the sort of things... clearly school closures, which we had to do in March is one of those things.'

Mr Johnson said: 'What we are doing now is using the tiering system, which is a very tough system... and, alas, probably about to get tougher to keep things under control. But, we will review it.'

He added: 'And we have the prospect of vaccines coming down the track in their tens of millions. And that, I think, is something that should keep people going in what I predicted, back on your show in in October, will be a very bumpy period right now. It is bumpy and it's going to be bumpy.'

Meanwhile, Liverpool's council leaders today called for a third national lockdown to contain the new 'mutant' strain of Covid and prevent a 'catastrophe'.

The city's acting mayor, Wendy Simon, and the Labour-run city council's cabinet say the speed of the rise in coronavirus cases have reached 'alarming levels' and urgent action is now required to save lives and the NHS.

The PM today signalled that anti-Covid measures were likely to get tougher. Asked whether he could guarantee schools will open on January 18, Mr Johnson told Marr: 'Well, obviously, we're going to continue to assess the impact of the Tier 4 measures, the Tier 3 measures'

Cases in Liverpool have almost trebled in the past two weeks to 350 per 100,000, despite the city successfully leading on the national pilot for community testing which led to it being the first city to be taken out of Tier 3 and into Tier 2, according to official figures

London is now the epicentre of the outbreak and its hospitals are being stretched with the flood of patients. The weekly rate of cases is double the national average at 858 per 100,000

The new 'mutant' strain of Covid is thought to have a higher rate of transmission and is most prevalent in London and the South East, where health bosses say hospitals have become stretched.

Headteachers call for GCSE and A-Level exams to be scrapped this summer amid school closure chaos Head teachers are calling on the Government to scrap this summer's GCSE and A-level exams amid outrage over Gavin Williamson's plans to keep schools open. Most primaries in England are expected to re-open their doors tomorrow, while secondary schools will reopen on a staggered basis later this month with plans to test every student weekly. Yesterday, however, the UK's largest teaching union advised members it was not safe to return to the classroom - with several left-wing councils demanding their primary schools move to online teaching only. And in another blow to the Education Secretary 's plans, UK head teachers are now calling for this year's exams to be scrapped to prioritise 'wider public health, pupil and staff safety'. They also claim it would be unfair to force students to sit exams when those whose schools were open earlier would have more contact time than those with later start dates. The WorthLess? campaign group - a collection of 2,000 head teachers in 80 local authorities - said: 'Wider public health, pupil and staff safety should be prioritised ahead of examinations. 'Public safety should not be risked or driven by an inflexible pursuit of GCSE and A-levels.' Head teacher of Tanbridge House School in Horsham - and one of the WorthLess? leaders - told The Times : 'There is great scepticism that exams can now go ahead fairly.'

It is believed the strain is spreading from south to north, leading to increasing pressure on the NHS.

Cases in Liverpool have almost trebled in the past two weeks to 350 per 100,000, despite the city leading on the pilot for community testing which led to it being the first city to be moved from Tier 3 down to Tier 2.

The call for a new lockdown was made in a statement from Cllr Wendy Simon and Cabinet Member for Public Health Cllr Paul Brant.

The current mayor of the city, Joe Anderson, is on police bail on suspicion of conspiracy to commit bribery and witness intimidation.

The statement said: 'It is clear that the country is now at a crossroads with Covid-19. The stark reality is that today this virulent new strain of the virus is very much on the rise and we need to act now to prevent a crisis that will unleash even more pain and anguish.'

A spokeswoman for the Department of Health said the Government would 'not hesitate to take actions necessary to protect local communities'.

England is edging closer towards a blanket shutdown after government efforts to reopen schools were thrown into disarray by Left-wing councils and teaching unions.

Gavin Williamson confirmed on Friday that all London primary schools will remain shut to most pupils next week - rather than just those in certain boroughs as set out earlier in the week - but teaching unions say all schools should close for the next two weeks.

Last night, the Department for Education said remote learning was 'a last resort' and classrooms should reopen 'wherever possible' with appropriate safety measures to help mitigate the risk of transmission.

'As we've said, we will move to remote education as a last resort, with involvement of public health officials, in areas where infection and pressures on the NHS are highest,' the spokesperson said.

Hundreds of new vaccination sites are due to be up and running this week as the NHS ramps up its immunisation programme with the newly approved Oxford University and AstraZeneca jab.

Some 530,000 doses of the vaccine will be available for rollout across the UK from Monday and more than a million patients have already had their first dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine which was the first to be approved by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.

But Ofsted chief inspector Amanda Spielman said children's education cannot be 'furloughed' for months while vaccinations are rolled out and time absent from the classroom should be kept to an 'absolute minimum', the Sunday Telegraph reported.

Children's Commissioner Anne Longfield told the newspaper that schools should be the last to close and first to open, when safe to do so, adding: 'I hope, for children and parents' sake, that is measured in days not weeks and I would be particularly keen for primaries to stay open if at all possible.'

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the vaccine roll-out was 'our great hope', adding: 'I want the Government to throw everything it can at this, harnessing the extraordinary talents of our NHS so we can be vaccinating at least two million Brits a week by the end of the month.'

But, writing in the Sunday Mirror, he criticised 'a chaotic last minute U-turn on schools', adding: 'Confusion reigns among parents, teachers and pupils over who will be back in school tomorrow and who won't.'

General secretary of the National Education Union (NEU), Mary Bousted, said schools should stay closed for two weeks to 'break the chain' of transmission and prevent the NHS becoming overwhelmed.'

The union, which represents the majority of teachers, has advised its members it is not safe to return to classrooms on Monday.

NAHT general secretary Paul Whiteman said the union had started preliminary steps in legal proceedings against the Department for Education, asking it to share its scientific data about safety and transmission rates.

Unions have also called for the reopening of schools in Wales next week to be delayed with Laura Doel, director of school leaders' union NAHT Cymru, saying 'the latest data shows that in large parts of Wales, control of infection has been lost'.

From January 4, all London primary schools will be required to provide remote learning for two weeks to all children except vulnerable children and those of key workers, who will be allowed to attend.

Mr Williamson said the January 1 decision to expand closures to the nine remaining London boroughs and the City of London was a 'last resort'.

Under the Government's initial plan, secondary schools and colleges were set to be closed to most pupils for the first two weeks of January, while primary schools within 50 local authorities in the south of England, including 23 London boroughs, were also told to keep their doors shut until January 18.

Green Party-led Brighton and Hove City Council has advised primary schools in the Tier 4 area not to return in person, except for vulnerable children and those of key workers, until January 18 despite the Government's plan for most schools to open in person.

Linda Bauld, a professor in public health at the University of Edinburgh, said transmission among primary school pupils was 'still very limited' while secondary school pupils, particularly older teenagers, can pass on the virus in the same way as adults.

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But health professionals have warned of growing pressure on services with Professor Andrew Goddard, president of the Royal College of Physicians, telling the BBC current case figures are 'fairly mild' compared to what is expected in a week's time.
Haryana Police on Sunday evening fired teargas canisters to thwart a march of a group of agitating farmers towards Delhi at Masani barrage in Rewari district.

Farmers first broke police barricades put up near Bhudla Sangwari village and then started moving towards Delhi in the evening.

They have been camping at the service lane of the Delhi-Jaipur highway for the past few days, police said.

When the farmers group reached Masani barrage where the barricades were put up, police used teargas to disperse them.

We have stopped them (farmers) at Masani, Rewari Superintendent of Police Abhishek Jorwal said over the phone.

On December 31, a group of farmers had broken police barricades at the Shahjahanpur border with Rajasthan, trying to move towards the national capital.

Police had then too resorted to teargas shelling as well as using water cannons to stop them.

A large number of farmers from Rajasthan, Haryana and some other places have been protesting on the Jaipur-Delhi highway for the past several days, demanding the repeal of new farm laws.

They have been camping at the Rajasthan-Haryana border point after police had earlier stopped them from proceeding towards Delhi as part of their Delhi Chalo march against the new farm laws.
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The Week

After publicly expressing "grave concerns" over Arizona's audit of the 2020 election results, Secretary of State Katie Hobbs (D) was "stripped" of her ability to "defend election lawsuits" by the state's Republican-led House Appropriations Committee, reported Arizona's ABC 15 on Tuesday. The duty was transferred "exclusively" to Attorney General Mark Brnovich (R) through the end of the 2023 fiscal year. Democrats say the move is retaliation against Hobbs' defense of Arizona voters in "lawsuits filed by the State Republican Party and others challenging Arizona's election results," per ABC 15. "It can't be just a coincidence" that Republicans are blocking a "vocal critic of the audit," writes Elvia Diaz for azcentral.com. Democratic State Rep. Randy Friese reportedly called the move "troubling," "disturbing," and "quite nefarious." Furthermore, the Appropriations Committee removed Hobb's "oversight of the Capitol Museum," ABC 15 reports, after Hobbs angered state lawmakers when she "flew a gay pride flag from the building's balcony" in 2019. Katie Hobbs has conscientiously supervised elections in Arizona. Republicans there just stripped her of some powers -- including her ability to litigate election lawsuits. They gave control of that process to the state AG, a Republican. This is how democracy gets dismantled. https://t.co/VamVgXfxgR  Tim O'Brien (@TimOBrien) May 25, 2021 In an article for azfamily.com, Hobbs labeled the entire audit "a political stunt," adding that it is "dangerous to people's safety and to the integrity of our democracy." She later tweeted a photo on Tuesday of a fruit basket sent by Stacey Abrams and Fair Fight, saying that's how "you know you're doing it right." When @staceyabrams, @gwlauren, and their crew at @fairfightaction send you a fruit basket, you know you're doing it right. pic.twitter.com/yQ11UdmXso  Katie Hobbs (@katiehobbs) May 25, 2021 Read more at azfamily.com. More stories from theweek.comBiden says he underestimated Trump's ability to spread 'the big lie'Biden needs some braggadocioKristen Clarke confirmed to lead DOJ's Civil Rights Division
Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah accused Republican colleagues planning to object to President-elect Joe Bidens Electoral College victory of a playing dangerous game of political ambition in defiance of common sense and the Constitution.

The egregious ploy to reject electors may enhance the political ambition of some, but dangerously threatens our Democratic Republic. https://t.co/jKEvoXskbl  Senator Mitt Romney (@SenatorRomney) January 3, 2021

Romney, the former Massachusetts governor and 2012 GOP presidential nominee, admonished his colleagues on Saturday night after Sen. Ted Cruz and nearly a dozen Republican senators pledged to object to the certification of electoral votes on Wednesday, citing unprecedented allegations of voter fraud, violations and lax enforcement of election law.

Romney called the move an egregious ploy that may enhance the political ambition of some, but dangerously threatens our Democratic Republic.

The senator noted that neither President Donald Trump, nor his campaign, nor Cruz and a host of other challengers have produced any hard evidence backing up claims of widespread voter fraud that would have impacted the outcome of the presidential race. Former Attorney General William Barr, one of Trumps most loyal Cabinet members, said no evidence of widespread voter fraud was found. The Trump administrations own election security team, at the Department of Homeland Security, called the 2020 election the most secure in U.S. history.

The congressional power to reject electors is reserved for the most extreme and unusual circumstances. These are far from it, Romney said. More Americans participated in this election than ever before, and they made their choice. President Trumps lawyers made their case before scores of courts; in every instance, they failed. The Justice Department found no evidence of irregularity sufficient to overturn the election. The Presidential Voter Fraud Commission disbanded without finding such evidence.

The move by the GOP lawmakers to shake up the final formality before Bidens inauguration will prove yet another defeat for Trump and his allies after dozens of losses and dismissals in local, state and federal courts. Both houses of Congress must support Republicans objections in order for any electoral votes to be tossed. With Democrats in control of the House and several Republican senators, including Romney and Sen. Ben Sasse, calling the efforts in favor of Trump a mere publicity stunt, Wednesdays debate will only delay the outcome already certified in all 50 states.

Cruz and his co-signers have argued that certification should be delayed until an audit is completed to restore trust in the election, a claim Romney described as nonsense.

Were Congress to actually reject state electors, partisans would inevitably demand the same any time their candidate had lost, he said. Congress, not voters in the respective states, would choose our presidents.

Romney, a frequent Trump critic and the only Republican who voted to convict Trump on an impeachment charge, has repeatedly encouraged the president to move on from the lost election. Earlier this month, he told CNN that Trump should be championing the administrations efforts to assist the rapid production of two COVID-19 vaccines instead of advancing loopy election conspiracies that flied in the face of facts.

I understand the president is casting about trying to find some way to have a different result than the one that was delivered by the American people, Romney said two weeks ago. But its really sad in a lot of respects, and embarrassing.

Trump, who often lashes out at GOP lawmakers who dont fall in line behind him, tweeted Great! on Sunday morning in response to a tweet that suggested Romney, along with Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Pat Toomey, would face primary challenges over their decision to defend the election results. Murkowski and Toomey have also said they would not support doomed efforts to overturn the election. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has also urged Republicans to certify the vote.

Sasse pointed out last week that not a single electoral vote has been thrown out by Congress since the 1887 Electoral College Act. He accused Trump and Republicans of running a fundraising campaign  not a sincere effort guided by law.

The single-most telling fact is that there a giant gulf between what President Trump and his allies say in public  for example, on social media, or at press conferences outside Philadelphia landscaping companies and adult bookstores  and what President Trumps lawyers actually say in courts of law, Sasse said in a statement. And thats not a surprise. Because there are no penalties for misleading the public. But there are serious penalties for misleading a judge, and the presidents lawyers know that  and thus they have repeated almost none of the claims of grand voter fraud that the campaign spokespeople are screaming at their most zealous supporters. So, heres the heart of this whole thing: this isnt really a legal strategy  its a fundraising strategy.

The president has encouraged supporters to gather in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, as Congress debates the objected electoral votes.

I will be there. Historic day! https://t.co/k6LStsWpfy  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 3, 2021

This has the predictable potential to lead to disruption, and worse, Romney argued. I could never have imagined seeing these things in the greatest democracy in the world. Has ambition so eclipsed principle?

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The medic said following the rules on face masks and social distancing can stop coronavirus spreading (Andrew Matthews/PA)

People need to follow guidance on hand washing, social distancing and face coverings to stop the entirely preventable spread of coronavirus, a senior medic has warned.

Adrian Boyle, vice-president of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, said staff are tired, feel helpless and at risk of burnout.

He told the PA news agency the idea that coronavirus cannot be controlled just doesnt wash.

Dr Boyle added: We are worried about staff burnout, staff are tired, they have worked really hard over the summer, they have put up with a lot of disruption.

This time people are frustrated, this is now an entirely preventable disease, we know what we did in spring made a lot of this go away. Theres also now a vaccine.

The idea that we are dealing with something that cant be controlled doesnt wash, this is a preventable disease and we need to be preventing it.

Dr Boyle said washing hands, wearing face coverings and keeping your distance from others stops the spread of the infection, and he also thanked people for not partying on New Years Eve.

He added: There are a lot of things we could be doing as a society to stop this spreading and a lot of it is simple stuff around washing your hands, keeping your distance, wearing a face covering.

Thank you 2 everyone who stayed home last night & saw New Year in safely. Sadly, a small number of people still didnat follow the rules. Reckless & irresponsible behaviour puts themselves & others in danger & will inevitably add 2 pressure on our staff at this tough time #teamCNO  Ruth May  (@CNOEngland) January 1, 2021

In the NHS we need to thank all those people who gave up their New Years Eve parties to stay at home, which was the vast majority.

His echoed comments from NHS Englands chief nursing officer Ruth May, who thanked people for staying at home and celebrating the start of 2021 safely.

She tweeted: Thank you 2 everyone who stayed home last night & saw New Year in safely. [sic]

Sadly, a small number of people still didnt follow the rules. Reckless & irresponsible behaviour puts themselves & others in danger & will inevitably add 2 pressure on our staff at this tough time #teamCNO.

Ken Marsh, chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation, said New Years Eve was quite quiet in London, where Tier 4 restrictions mean most places are closed.

He told BBC Breakfast: I think the public have really cottoned on that this is really serious, the position that we are in, and we did not see the numbers we thought we would.

Meanwhile, the Government said there had been a further 53,285 lab-confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UK as of 9am on Friday, with another 613 deaths within 28 days of a positive test.

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This was down from a new record high of 55,892 cases reported on New Years Eve  the highest since mass testing began in late May.

NHS England on Friday said that a further 420 people who tested positive for coronavirus had died in hospital in England, including an eight-year-old child.

All except 12, aged between 55 and 90, had known underlying health conditions, it added.

Separate figures published by the UKs statistics agencies for deaths where Covid-19 has been mentioned on the death certificate, together with additional data on fatalities that have occurred in recent days, show there have now been 90,000 deaths involving Covid-19 in the UK.

More than a million people have now received their first coronavirus vaccination, and a joint statement from Englands chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty and his counterparts in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland said the public will understand and thank them for a plan to give first jabs as a priority, delaying the follow-up vaccination for others.

The deployment of the newly-approved Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine will begin on Monday, almost a month after the rollout of the Pfizer/BioNTech jab, but second doses of either will now take place within 12 weeks rather than 21 days as initially planned.

Expand Close A nurse prepares the first of two injections with a dose of the Pfizer/BioNtech Covid-19 vaccine (Kirsty OConnor/PA) PA / Facebook

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Professor David Salisbury, a former director of immunisation at the Department of Health, said he backs the revised Covid-19 vaccine strategy.

The associate fellow at the Chatham House think tank told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: Of course I accept it is inconvenient and isnt helpful to have to change appointments and explain to people (about the delay in receiving a second jab), but the reason for doing this is to save lives.

We know how many have been vaccinated, and across the whole country it isnt all that many, but every time we give a second dose right now, we are holding that back from someone who is likely, if they get coronavirus, to die, and much more likely to die than somebody who has already had a single dose.

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Figures published on New Years Eve show just less than a third of acute trusts have more Covid-19 patients than at any point since the pandemic began, with union leaders warning about staff burnout, soaring sickness levels and intolerable pressures.

The situation is dire in Northern Ireland, where bed occupancy in the health service is now at 100%, with ambulance crews braced for long delays.

All of mainland Scotland and Skye remained under the highest coronavirus restrictions as 2021 began.

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North India is likely to witness an intense wet spell till Tuesday, with a fairly widespread precipitation accompanied with thunderstorm, lightning and hailstorm at isolated places, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Sunday.

The activities will peak on Sunday and Monday over the plains (Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, west Uttar Pradesh and north Rajasthan) and on Monday over the western Himalayan region (Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Gilgit-Baltistan and Muzaffarabad, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand), it added.

After the wet spell, fresh northerly-northwesterly winds are likely to set in over the plains of northwest India, causing "cold wave to severe cold wave conditions" at isolated places in Punjab, Haryana and north Rajasthan from January 7 onwards, the IMD said.

An active western disturbance lies as a middle-and-upper-level cyclonic circulation over central Pakistan and neighbourhood, with its induced cyclonic circulation over southwest Rajasthan and neighbourhood at lower levels.

A north-south zone of wind confluence was also observed on Sunday from north Punjab to northeast Arabian Sea, with a strong interaction between southwesterly in association with the western disturbance and lower-level moist southeasterlies.

"All these favourable meteorological features are likely to persist till January 5 and continue to cause a moderate to intense wet spell with a fairly widespread to widespread precipitation accompanied with thunderstorm, lightning and hailstorm at isolated places over northwest India till the night of January 5, with peak activities on January 3 and 4 over the plains (Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi, west Uttar Pradesh and north Rajasthan).

"...and on January 4 and 5 over the western Himalayan region (Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Gilgit-Baltistan and Muzaffarabad, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand)," the IMD said.

lashed the national capital in the morning. According to a MeT department official, heavy rainfall was reported in areas across Delhi and the minimum temperatures have increased due to clouds and easterly winds.

"The Safdarjung observatory recorded a minimum temperature of 9.9 degrees Celsius, an increase of 6.7 degrees with 25 mm rain. The Palam observatory recorded a minimum temperature of 11.4 degrees Celsius with 18 mm rain. Rain with hailstorm is expected until January 6," the official 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.)
WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, as the 117th Congress formally convened in the nations capital, Oregons U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after being sworn in for his third six-year term serving Oregonians in the U.S. Senate:

This is one of our nations darkest winters. More than 300,000 Americans have lost their lives to this pandemic over the last twelve months. Another twenty million have been sickened, and while many have been fortunate enough to recover, tens of thousands are still fighting for their lives. Businesses have shuttered, and millions of hardworking Americans have lost their livelihoods.



But amid this darkness, we have the power to turn this new year and Congress into a harbinger of hopeto turn the page and deliver the resources to help our families weather this storm, frontline health workers do their jobs and stay safe, and Main Street businesses stay afloat. I will keep doing all that I can to keep the pressure on Congress to do so, from pressing for more investment in rapid vaccine distribution and personal protective equipment for our dedicated health care heroes, to fighting for utility shut-off moratoriums, stimulus checks, and loans for our businesses.



While addressing the pandemic must remain our top priority, it would be irresponsible for Congress to simultaneously ignore the other urgent crises that are knocking on our doorattacks on the very heart of our democratic republic, the threat of climate chaos, and the lack of opportunity for working families across the country.

Between the capturing of our courts, massive sums of dark money in politics, the suppression of votes, the gerrymandering of districts, and an electoral college system that erodes the power of hundreds of millions of Americans votes, our government has been hollowed out by powerful special interests dead set on rigging our government to benefit the most powerful and privileged among us. If we really want to deliver for the peoplefrom improving health care, to putting housing and education within reachwe must pass the For the People Act and put the power back in the hands of the American people without delay.



We must also deliver bold and decisive action to address the climate crisis: the global emergency that has already leveled towns in Oregon, cost countless lives across America, and continues to threaten the security, health, and well-being of our families and economy. But the good news is that we can harness the climate challenge as an opportunity to build a green economy made up of reliable, good-paying jobs, and Im going to keep a steady drumbeat on the need to pass bills and take bold executive action to pave the way for that transition.



And we cant sit idly by as the opportunity crisiswhich is rooted in rising costs and stagnating wages, and is keeping countless families from the solid foundations they need to thrivedeepens. No hardworking Oregonian should have to choose between keeping a roof over their head and putting food on the table, be forced to take on crippling debt to get a degree or workforce training, or have to ration their medicines or put off needed health care. Thats why Im going to keep up the fight for innovative policies to put affordable housing, good-paying jobs, quality health care, and a well-rounded education within reach for Oregonians in every corner of our state.



Serving the people of Oregonparticularly during this tumultuous and challenging timeis the honor of my lifetime. I am determined to do all that I can to ensure that our We the People government is restored, and that it delivers the action and support our families need to survive this pandemic and to thrive in the chapters ahead.



In his first two terms as a U.S. Senator, Merkley emerged as a national champion for middle-class jobs, consumer and environmental protection, and reform of the U.S. Senate. He also gained a national profile as a leading proponent of LGBTQ civil rights legislation and as a vocal voice for human rights along Americas southern border, as well as in Burma, Hong Kong and the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Zone. Merkley also secured a host of local victories for Oregonians in every corner of the state, including drought relief in the Klamath Basin, increased support for Oregons small ports, and passage of legislation implementing a major water-sharing agreement in Central Oregon.
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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.  Sue Housers new book for middle-graders is an absorbing historical novel containing characters and events based on Housers family remembrances.

The coming-of-age book is titled Wilmettie, which is the first name of the brave, warm-hearted 12-year-old protagonist, the only girl, and the oldest child, of four siblings.

The story begins in the west-central Texas town of Luling where Wilmetties family, including her maternal grandmother, raises cotton.

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The drama begins when Wilmetties stepfather decides to relocate the family to the New Mexico Territory where he plans to claim a homestead.

The announcement deeply hurts Wilmetties feelings because shes so attached to her grandmother, who is staying behind. There are moments throughout the story that Wilmettie feels so homesick that shes determined to return to Texas to be with her beloved grandmother.

The novel is set in 1905, seven years before the territory achieved statehood. Most of the action occurs during the familys westward journey by covered wagon. The trip is studded with sandstorms, heavy rains and close calls: Pete, one of their two horses, is spooked and runs off; Wilmettie saves baby brother Adney Jason from drowning in a treacherous Pecos River crossing; and the mother, Fern, suffers a bad fever.

The author crafts scenes with the right doses of tension and descriptions of hardship that hold the interest of young readers.

One particular scene is sure to give readers a scare. It involves a rattlesnake. Wilmettie is minding her baby brother when an ominous buzzing startles her. Next, we see Wilmettie jerking her head around. A snake was now coiled next to the wagon wheel  rattling, ready to strike.

She shouts that no one should move. Ignoring it, brother Willard picks up a rock and throws it at the snake, killing it.

Willard is awarded the rattles for his good aim. Stepfather Orville skins and smokes the snake meat for dinner over a fire of burning dried cow chips. However, a briefly disappointed Wilmettie gets no credit for having quickly warned the family about the snake.

Before reaching their destination, the family rests awhile in the territorys booming town of Willard. There Wilmettie has a few cross-cultural experiences. She meets Ana, a young Hispanic girl whose family has a sheep ranch. Wilmettie learns about tortillas and home remedies from Ana and her mom. Meanwhile, she gets Anas brother Juan released from jail. Juan may be a petty thief but Wilmettie knows Juan didnt rob and assault a local bank official.

Houser, the author, said the book is largely based on stories about her own maternal grandmothers childhood that she related to Housers mother and aunt. They talked about how traumatic the move was for her.  For the most part the book is her story. I fictionalized it. It needed more embellishments, said Houser.

An Albuquerque resident, Houser grew up on a farm between Estancia and Mountainair, not far from where Wilmetties  and Housers own  families homesteaded.

After retiring as a social worker and a therapist, Houser took an interest in writing books for young readers. Shes received help from SouthWest Writers, the Society of Childrens Writers and Illustrators, and Green River Writers.

Johnna Scalias black-and-white illustrations and the earth tones of the cover of Wilmettie heighten the austerity of turn-of-the-century life in the Southwest that Housers words convey.

Scalia, who lives in the Washington, D.C. area, illustrated the novel using the painting and drawing app Adobe Fresco.

Theres a four-page glossary of many period words and phrases such as blue john milk, camp meeting and sodbuster. After the glossary are two pages of basic Spanish vocabulary (e.g. gracias, manana, and Vaya con Dios) and English translations.
Hanako Abe seemed excited about what the new year might bring.

#PeaceOut2020. Physically apart, yet closer than EVER to family and friends this year, the Japanese-born San Francisco resident wrote New Years Eve on her Instagram page, accompanied by a selfie with a beaming, wide smile. Also taught me so much of perseverance, gratitude and self-love. We are resilient.

But Abe, 27, would not live to see the new year. Later that day, she was one of two people who were fatally struck and killed walking in San Francisco. Also killed was Elizabeth Platt, 60.

Authorities said the driver of the car that hit Platt and Abe, 45-year-old Troy Ramon McAlister, was intoxicated and driving a stolen gray Honda when he hit the two women on Mission Street about 4 p.m. Thursday. He fled the scene and was arrested by police who found him hiding in a nearby commercial building, authorities said.

The deaths of Platt and Abe ignited a furor directed at San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin, whom critics have accused of not holding criminals accountable. McAlister was on parole for robbery at the time of the crash, having been released in April. In the months between his release and the crash, McAlister was arrested several times, on suspicion of crimes including car theft, possession of burglary tools and violating the terms of his parole. But the District Attorneys Office did not charge him with any new crimes and instead referred the matter to state parole agents.

Just before the crash, police said, McAlister committed a burglary nearby.

The tragedy has led to finger-pointing among law enforcement agencies. Boudin said his office referred those cases to state parole agents instead of charging McAlister  but conceded Friday that it was a mistake to think parole supervision would be adequate.

A spokesperson for the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, though, said the agencys parole office followed all procedures after these incidents, including conducting investigations and making appropriate referrals for the individual.

None of the parolees arrests following his 2020 release have yet to result in the filing of criminal charges by the district attorney, the corrections spokesperson said.

Without mentioning Boudin or the District Attorneys Office by name, San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott said in a statement that we must all be held equally accountable for the decisions we make, because they can have serious implications for the safety of those we serve.

San Franciscans deserve nothing less, Scott said, and thats what theyre demanding from all of us in the criminal justice system.

Abe had worked as an analyst for commercial real estate firm JLL since 2018, according to her LinkedIn page. She graduated from the University of Central Arkansas in 2018 with a bachelors degree in computer science and previously attended Campbellsville University in Kentucky.

She volunteered frequently, including at the Arkansas Foodbank, as a referee at robotics competitions and as a judge for youth art competitions, her LinkedIn page said.

Details about Platts life were not immediately available Saturday. A man who answered the door of a Mission District residence listed under her name said she may have been a previous tenant.

McAlister declined to be interviewed at a San Francisco jail, where he is being held on charges including manslaughter, hit and run, burglary, resisting arrest and driving under the influence.

Michael Williams and Steve Rubenstein are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: michael.williams@sfchronicle.com, srubenstein@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @michaeldamianw, @SteveRubeSF
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Alex Wong/Getty Images; Sarah Silbiger/Getty Images

Nearly half of Americans believe that "Republicans in Congress and Senator Mitch McConnell" was to blame for the inability to pass the $2,000 stimulus checks, according to a new poll published by the progressive think tank Data for Progress.

Nearly one-third said the failure to pass the $2,000 checks was due to "Democrats in Congress and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi," according to the same poll.

House lawmakers voted in favor of bumping the second round stimulus checks to $2,000 from $600, but Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell refused to consider a standalone bill to increase the check amount.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Nearly half of respondents to a newly released poll blamed Republican lawmakers and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell for Congress' inability to agree on $2,000 stimulus checks.

The new poll, published Friday by the left-leaning think tank Data for Progress, revealed that 47% of 1,166 people surveyed responded that "Republicans in Congress and Senator Mitch McConnell" were to blame for the delay in reaching a consensus on the checks.

In comparison, 32% said it was "Democrats in Congress and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi." Just 15% of respondents said President Donald Trump was to blame.

Don't miss: Sign up here for our live event on January 5 to learn how to make the most out of PPP

After months of failures and stalled negotiations, lawmakers finally came to a consensus on a new coronavirus relief package at the end of December. President Trump initially refused to sign the deal, complaining about various provisions and urging that Congress include $2,000 stimulus checks, before eventually signing the bill on Sunday. The signed bill includes $600 stimulus checks.

After the bill was signed, House lawmakers voted on a separate bill to bump the $600 stimulus checks up to $2,000. But the bill faces a roadblock in the Senate - McConnell recently rebuffed efforts to pass a standalone bill to increase the stimulus checks, Business Insider's Oma Seddiq reported.

Story continues

Read the original article on Business Insider
The Covid-19 death toll has crossed 400 with the deaths of 18 more people yesterday.

The death toll now stands at 408, with 96 of those occurring in the last seven days alone.

The Ministry of Health reported the deaths in its daily update yesterday evening.
The Regional Transport Authority (RTA) of Gurugram on Saturday arrested two men from the border, at the Sirhaul toll plaza, for allegedly collecting entry road tax from commercial vehicles and issuing forged receipts.

The suspects were identified as Lalit and Johny. Two more of the group have been identified and all four of them are from Mohna in Ballabhgarh of Faridabad, said officials.

Dhaarna Yadav, secretary, RTA said that the incident came to their notice when a road tax slip produced by a commercial vehicle operator did not match their records and seemed to be forged. The teams checked the slip and brought him to my office. We were shocked to find that a gang was issuing fake RTA road tax slips to commercial drivers and duping the government, she said.

Aas Mohammad, the cab driver, of Palam in Delhi, during a check on November 19 at Iffco Chowk, produced a slip, which also had a QR code, but did not match with the departments record when scanned, said officials. Mohammad was penalised Rs 20,000 and he appealed to the officials to look into the matter as many drivers were being duped by the criminals.

Yadav said that teams started conducting more checks and found that many such fake online road tax certificates were being produced, causing a loss to the state.

I have been quietly following this for over 10 days getting surprise checks done and identifying these frauds. All we knew initially was that someone comes in a private car occasionally and indulges in this fraudulent business. A taxi driver gave me information, she said.

Yadav said it took 10 days to identify the vehicle and on Saturday, they found two of the gang members selling the fake slips from a car near Ambience Mall. One of them was sitting with a laptop on a rear seat and his system was connected to a printer. He was printing fake slips from inside the car and was duping drivers posing as RTA officials, said Yadav.

A team led by sub-inspector Praveen Kumar, along with the RTA officials, reached the spot on Saturday and arrested them. The team also recovered fake slips, the laptop and printer from their possession.

Yadav said during a preliminary probe, they found that the suspects used to con the drivers into believing them to be RTA officials.

A case under sections 420 (cheating),467 (forgery of valuable security), 468 (forgery for purpose of cheating) and 471 (using as genuine a forged document) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) was registered at the DLF Phase-3 police station.

The extent of their operation and the estimated loss the government is yet to be calculated, said officials. They said that at least 60 fake slips were issued every day.
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By Jason Lange and Timothy Gardner

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Senator Ted Cruz on Saturday said he will spearhead a drive by nearly a dozen Republican senators to challenge President-elect Joe Bidens victory when Electoral College results are tallied in Congress on Jan. 6  a largely symbolic move that has virtually no chance of preventing Biden from taking office.

Cruz's effort is in defiance of Senate Republican leaders, who have argued that the Senate's role in certifying the election is largely ceremonial and had been looking to avoid an extended debate on the floor about the outcome.

In a statement, Cruz, the U.S. senator from Texas, and the other 10 senators said they intend to vote to reject electors from states that have been at the center of President Donald Trumps unproven assertions of election fraud. They said Congress should immediately appoint a commission to conduct an emergency 10-day audit of election results in those states.

"Once completed, individual states would evaluate the commission's findings and could convene a special legislative session to certify a change in their vote, if needed," they said.

It was not immediately clear which states would be subject to the proposed audit, Cruz's office said.

Democrats and some moderate Republicans blasted the move by the senators as undemocratic. A spokesman for the Biden campaign, Michael Gwin, dismissed the move as theater that is not supported by any evidence.

"This stunt wont change the fact that President-elect Biden will be sworn in on Jan. 20, and these baseless claims have already been examined and dismissed by Trumps own attorney general, dozens of courts, and election officials from both parties," he said.

The push for an audit is a political stunt that will not affect the outcome of the election, said Derek Muller, a law professor at the University of Iowa.

Muller said that, while the 1887 law governing how lawmakers validate the election is murky, most scholars believe that Congress lacks the legal authority to require the audit.

Story continues

 Even if lawmakers had that power, a majority of both chambers would need to support the audit, and there is virtually no chance of the proposal having that level of support, he said.

Biden beat Trump by a 306-232 margin in the Electoral College.

Under the Electoral College system, "electoral votes" are allotted to states and the District of Columbia based on their congressional representation.

Trump has been encouraging Republicans to prevent Biden from taking office, although there is no viable mechanism for them to do so.

Legal challenges by Trump and his allies in the courts to overturn the election results have met with resounding failure. On Friday, a federal judge threw out a lawsuit brought by Representative Louie Gohmert that sought to allow Vice President Mike Pence, who presides over the Congressional tally, to declare Trump the victor on Jan. 6.

Pence's chief of staff, Marc Short, said in a statement on Saturday that lawmakers have the right to raise their objections.

"The Vice President welcomes the efforts of members of the House and Senate to use the authority they have under the law to raise objections and bring forward evidence before the Congress and the American people on Jan. 6," Short said.

The effort by Cruz and other Republicans comes days after Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri became the first sitting member of the Senate to announce he would challenge the election result. A number of Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives also plan on contesting the vote tally.

Cruz was joined in the statement by Senators Ron Johnson, James Lankford, Steve Daines, John Kennedy, Marsha Blackburn, Mike Braun, along with Senators-elect Cynthia Lummis, Tommy Tuberville, Bill Hagerty, and Roger Marshall, all of whom will be sworn in as senators on Sunday in the new Congress.

In Cruz's statement, the senators said they did not necessarily expect their gambit to succeed.

"We are not naive. We fully expect most if not all Democrats, and perhaps more than a few Republicans, to vote otherwise," they said.

Several Republicans senators have said they do not support any effort to derail the certification of the Electoral College vote.

Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, the Senates top Republican, acknowledged Bidens victory on Dec. 15 and has urged other Republicans to refrain from objecting on Jan. 6.

Republican Senator Pat Toomey of swing state Pennsylvania, who is set to retire, criticized Cruz and others for undermining the will of voters to choose their leaders and said Trump's loss in his state is due to the decline in suburban support for the president and loss of support in most rural counties, not fraud.

"I intend to vigorously defend our form of government by opposing this effort to disenfranchise millions of voters in my state and others," he said.

Utah Senator Mitt Romney, the only Republican to vote to impeach Trump for seeking help from a foreign government to investigate his political rival, expressed dismay at his party's support of the effort to overturn election results.

"I could never have imagined seeing these things in the greatest democracy in the world. Has ambition so eclipsed principle?" Romney said in a statement.

(Reporting by Jason Lange, Tim Gardner, Jan Wolfe, Trevor Hunnicutt and Valerie Volcovici; Writing by James Oliphant; Editing by Noeleen Walder, Diane Craft, Daniel Wallis and David Gregorio)
PORTLAND, Ore.  Minority community leaders want to make sure COVID-19 distribution in Oregon is equitable.

On Tuesday, Muslim Educational Trust (MET) and New Portland Foundation hosted an online panel discussion. Dozens of representatives from other minority groups joined to lend perspective.

Elected leaders from multiple county and state offices also joined to answer questions and address equity concerns.

"Too often, the immigrant and refugee and the minority communities  our marginalized communities  are left out of the civic engagement process and discussion," Wajdi Said of MET said.

The livestream discussion lasted more than two hours, including recorded remarks from Oregon's US Sen. Ron Wyden and Rep. Suzanne Bonamici.

"It's especially important that communities without power and clout in so many instances are prioritized," Wyden said.

BIPOC (Black, indigenous, people of color) have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. Many minority communities have seen higher COVID infection rates per capita. One example is Oregon's Hispanic and Latinx communities, which make up about 13% of the state population, but have represented 30-40% of overall cases in 2020.

This is due in part to many BIPOC working essential jobs on the frontlines with higher risk of COVID exposure.

"Our communities aren't able to work virtually," explained Veronica Leonard of Latino Network.

To help bridge these gaps, advocacy groups have worked with state and county health departments for months to develop culturally specific outreach, covering dozens of languages.

"I can't think of a more important conversation to be having right now," said Multnomah County Commissioner Susheela Jayapal. "Universal general strategies don't work in order to reach our most underserved communities."

During the panel discussion, speakers said BIPOC communities tend to have less access to health care and COVID testing. Sometimes those groups also do not have trust in government systems.

"There are many instances of racial discrimination and frankly abuse in our history and not so distant past," said Washington County Commissioner Pam Treece. "It lays bare what your strengths and weaknesses are."

Oregon Health Authority Director Patrick Allen was also on the call. He said at the beginning of 2020, the state had an initiative to better reach underserved minority communities. Then, the pandemic hit.

He said the public health crisis expedited the need for connections with minority advocacy groups to reach those communities.

"A foundational reimagining of everything we do as an agency," Allen described.

While the initiative was put somewhat on hold, the pandemic opened new dialogue between local health agencies and advocacy groups.

Such groups have received millions in CARES Act funding to help provide accurate information and COVID testing. They act as trusted buffers between marginalized groups and the government.

Latino Network is one example, working with Multnomah County to provide weekly free testing to the Latinx community. It is pushing for vaccine priority for essential workers and hopes to provide the vaccine at its Rockwood office.

"Because our community members come into contact with other community members and could potentially spread [the virus]," Leonard said.

Many of these leaders joined the 600 applicants vying for a spot on the state's vaccine advisory committee.

On Thursday, OHA announced 27 people who made the cut. They will meet for the first time Jan. 7, to discuss equitable vaccine priority following health care workers and older, more vulnerable communities.

With so many voices and agencies involved, vaccine rollout is complicated.

"This is an unprecedented undertaking," said Jessica Guernsey, Multnomah County Health Department Public Health director.

Patrick Allen at OHA agreed. For context, he explained Oregon had a relatively high rate of flu vaccinations in 2020 of about 1.2 million people.

"Which is pretty good," Allen said. "We need to vaccinate more than three million people twice for COVID."

Some community leaders on the panel admitted uncertainty about the vaccine. Pastor Matt Hennessee from Vancouver Avenue First Baptist Church of Portland said he had purposely not received a flu shot in the last 15 years, but that he was on board with the COVID vaccine to protect others.

"My mind has changed a lot. I think the science is great," Hennessee said. "And I absolutely think we should be doing this."
The Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Association (PHHCBA) will observe a hunger strike on Monday demanding resumption of physical hearings that have been suspended since March 21 due to the pandemic.

PHHCBA president GBS Dhillon said that virtual hearings will take place as per schedule announced by the administration on Monday. However, Bar executive members and employees of the association will observe a hunger strike between 10am and 4pm. As many as 250 lawyers and 100 clerks have announced their participation.

The cases listed for hearing in January have been adjourned for April and May. Cases are being taken up through video-conferencing only. The lawyers body, with 4,000 members, has for nearly six months now been demanding for partial opening of courts for physical hearings.

Future strategy, too, will be decided that day by the general house of the Bar, Dhillon said, adding that not only lawyers but litigants and employees had also been badly hit due to non-resumption of physical hearing in courts.

Out of 25 high courts, only 15 were holding virtual as well as physical hearings: In a phased manner, we want that the high court should also start physical hearings, he said, adding that almost every other sector had been reopened either partially or completely.
Im 78 years old, with diabetes and kidney issues. When COVID-19 first arrived, Gov. Kate Brown asked us to do many things. Flatten the curve was the theme to ensure our hospitals could best treat those afflicted and save lives. Like most others, I followed those recommendations, limiting trips outside the household and forgoing spending the holidays with friends and loved ones. Were all in this together, she said, and we bought into that idea.

When a vaccine was distributed, nobody objected when it went to medical professionals who have worked so tirelessly and with such dedication to save every life possible. I was encouraged to read that people 75 and older and those with preexisting conditions were among those also prioritized for vaccination. The Oregon Health Authority says people older than 70 account for 76% of all deaths, so this priority seemed likely to save the most lives. But Brown has indicated teachers should move to the front of the essential workers group and seems to be suggesting they should be vaccinated ahead of older Oregonians. (Oregon teachers and school workers should be next in line for coronavirus vaccine, Gov. Kate Brown says, Dec. 22) I understand and appreciate the need to get our students back in the classroom and read of the reluctance of teachers to return, but this cant be accomplished with disregard for the lives it will cost. Unless the governor can produce science to prove this move will truly save the most lives and isnt just for political expediency, the Oregon Health Authority should focus on those must vulnerable.

Michael G. Peters, Portland
1. Yes. The public must have assurances that ethical standards are met by everyone.

2. Yes. As long as an independent board hears the grievances, its a worthwhile idea.

3. No. The concept is too broad. It should be limited to the citys elected officials.

4. No. There are plenty of stipulations in place already. An ordinance is a waste of time.

5. Unsure. Its hard to say without seeing how it would be structured and applied.

Vote

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Talk show veteran Larry King is being treated in hospital with Covid-19, according to multiple US sources.

The 87-year-olds past employer CNN have reported that he has been in hospital for a week, according to a source close to the family.

They said he has been hospitalised at Cedars Sinai Medical Centre in Los Angeles and due to protocols Mr Kings three sons have been unable to visit him.

ABC News reported a source close to the family told them the following: Larry has fought so many health issues in the last few years and he is fighting this one hard too, hes a champ.

In 2020 he had an incredibly difficult year as he lost two of his children. His son Andy died of a heart attack in July and his daughter Chaia died of lung cancer in August.

Mr King has been open about his many health issues. In 2017 he revealed he had been treated for lung cancer while in 2019 he has angioplasty and suffered a stroke. Back in 1987 he survived a major heart attack.

The veteran talk show host has had a career spanning six decades where he interviewed many political leaders including Nelson Mandela and every US president from Nixon to Trump.

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The First Trek from Here to There and Back Again

The Trestle over the Pamlico River at sunset is often a moving landscape of some ocular reward: Above. No Gators here in Beaufort County, but down at Orton Pond in Brunswick County, gators are quite prevalent: Below. photos by Stan Deatherage Click images to expand.

The gates to the Governor's Mansion in Raleigh: Above. Nectar is everywhere in North Carolina when it is warm, even on the Blue Ridge Parkway: Below. photos by Stan Deatherage Click images to expand.

A mountain glade is a fine place to hammer out a Bluegrass reel: Above. They really know how to do public buildings in Asheville in Buncombe County: Below. photos by Stan Deatherage Click images to expand.

Bodie Island Light Station bids goodnight with much work ahead: Above. Now, say good day to a bright morning at Jennette's Pier in Nags Head: Below. photos by Stan Deatherage Click images to expand.

This is the first of a new series of images from across North Carolina from my travels, and from the long intervals that I have spent with my camera making a record of where I have been. Upon examination of these random images, I concluded that best format would be the one page arrangement, where I cut the images to 1280 pixels wide, arrayed in a wide viewed 'fancybox' series, where there is a title of explanation, and maybe a bit more, but mainly, the photo should speak rather than my words. In fact, I plan to put my words on hold for a bit here, which will be to the fine relief of a great many.Each series will be random and varied; however, most will center from here in eastern North Carolina, which is closer to my home in northeastern North Carolina, in the county of Beaufort, and the county seat of Washington, my home. From this perspective, we will reach out beyond the myriad waters: fresh and calm, brackish and moving, salty with powerful waves, and get to see North Carolina, where we may know it a little better, if only through images.This random display of images of North Carolina, made by the Tar Heel traveler, may have been revealed earlier in BCN, and when I can remember a relative series, I shall link to it; however know that this series of ongoing themes will remain that there is no theme. In this random projection of unrelated images, the series will seek its relevance, its beauty and its strength of purpose.This travelogue of random images continues unabated, but a bit to the west.Back east, about as far east as one can go in North Carolina, It is complete dusk at Bodie Island, near Oregon Inlet on North Carolina's Outer Banks ... and I'm there.
Unions urge Welsh Government to re-think its plans for school return following Christmas break

This article is old - Published: Sunday, Jan 3rd, 2021

The Welsh Government has been urged to re-think its plans for education to resume following the Christmas break.

Pupils at some schools in Wales are expected to return to the classroom this week, however after a staggered approach was announced before Christmas, some schools will be doing online learning and a phased return.

The the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) said in December that it is their expectation that schools will be providing face to face learning for the majority of their pupils by 11th January, leading to a full return in the days before 18th January at the latest.

However, with a new variant of the coronavirus spreading across Wales, teachers unions want face-to-face teaching to be suspended until schools are able to review their risk assessments.





Wrexham currently has seen a sharp increase in coronavirus cases in recent weeks, with the county boroughs rolling seven day average currently at 669.3 cases per 100,000.

Laura Doel, director of school leaders union NAHT Cymru, said: We understand that the Welsh Government is seeking to strike a balance between minimising the risk of transfer of COVID-19 and providing face to face education for all children.

However, the latest data shows that in large parts of Wales, control of infection has been lost and the lack of understanding regarding the new strain has now created intolerable risk to many school communities.

It is simply unacceptable for schools to remain open when there is such a question mark over the impact the new variant will have and we will not sit back and let this happen without calling the Welsh Government to account, for the sake of the whole school community.

The union has asked the government to take the following steps:

Move all schools to home learning for a brief and determined period for most children.

During this time, proper support to make the home learning experience as good as it can be should be provided. That includes technology and learning resources but also the flexibility for school leaders to respond to their circumstances.

The government should then establish a lateral flow testing regime for schools in place of the proposal which would see school staff leading the testing effort.

Work should be undertaken with school leaders and Public Health Wales to establish and agree new Covid-related safety measures in schools during the temporary restriction.

Urgently review its approach to special schools to protect all staff and pupils in those communities.

Immediately prioritise vaccinations in education

Then agree an orderly return

Ms Doel continued: We believe that it is wrong to keep people in harms way whilst the implications of the new variant of the virus are still being discovered.

The currently available information contains no solid scientific evidence regarding the impact of the new variant on schools.

In particular, there is nothing that outlines the risks to pupils and teachers of maintaining in-person tuition.

With this in mind we had begun legal proceedings against the government to force them to disclose the scientific information they are withholding.

We have asked the Welsh Government to share the evidence justifying the distinctions drawn between primary and secondary schools, the geographical distinctions between Wales and England and the evidence that is being used to underpin the decision that schools plans do not need to change despite the emergence of the new variant of Covid in the UK.

Speaking on BBC Radio Wales Sunday Supplement, first minister Mark Drakeford said: We reached an agreement with our local education colleagues in Wales that we will have a phase and flexible return to school.

That means that over the first two weeks there will be flexibility for local authorities and head teachers to assess the situation in their own individual context, see how many teachers have themselves been affected by the virus, for example.

Then to phase a return in a way that is safe, but also continues to place a priority on the needs of our young people whose lives have been so badly disrupted, whose education has suffered through 2020, and whose needs we have to continue to put at the front of our priority list.

While we are all learning more about this variant, there is no evidence that young people get the illness more severely as a result of the new variant.

Our technical advisory group (TAG) will be looking at all the evidence again early next week and of course we will continue to make decisions in the light of the best knowledge, research and information thats available to us at the time.

In an update on social media, Education minister Kirsty Williams tweeted: We agreed before Christmas a flexible return to school in January, so that local decisions can be made based on local circumstances.

Some schools return next week, with the majority open fully by 18 January, with remote learning until then.

We continue to monitor and publish the latest evidence, and our science advisory group TAG meets again this week.

Coronavirus testing is to be rolled out in schools and colleges this month.

Unions say they are supportive of the concept of the use of lateral flow tests in schools.

A joint statement from teaching unions in Wales said: It is our view that due to the chaotic and rushed nature of this announcement, the lack of proper guidance, and an absence of appropriate support, the Welsh Governments proposals will be inoperable for most schools and colleges.

Schools and colleges in Wales simply do not have the staffing or building capacity to carry this out themselves.

It is not the responsibility of either teaching or support staff to administer the tests and the Welsh Government must confirm as a matter of urgency who will be undertaking that task as schools.

Mark Drakeford said that serial testing using the new forms of lateral flow devices were used successfully in secondary schools in South Wales as part of a mass testing programme, so we know it can be done.

The tests will allow more children and more teachers to stay safely in the classroom without having to be sent home because another child or another staff member has tested positive, he said.
Farmer leaders protesting at Delhis Singhu border on Sunday said they will celebrate the festival of Lohri on January 13 by burning copies of newly introduced agriculture laws.

They also said they will observe the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on January 23 as Azad Hind Kisan Diwas We will celebrate the Lohri festival on January 13 by burning the copies of farm laws, farmers leader Manjeet Singh Rai said.

Rai also urged people to hold protests in support of farmers across India from January 6 to 20.

Lohri is mostly celebrated in north India, marking the beginning of the spring season. Bonfires are a special characteristic of the festival Another farmers leader Onkar Singh said, Today is the 37th day of our protest. The government should leave its stubbornness. In these conditions, the farmers, including elders, have been sitting on protest, but the government is not concerned about it. Braving the cold, thousands of farmers, mainly from Punjab and Haryana, are protesting at various borders of the national capital for more than a month against the three farm laws.

The farmers leaders said they are ready for Mondays meeting with the government.

The next round of talks between the government and protesting farmer unions is scheduled to be held on January 4, Monday. On Friday last, the unions had announced that they would have to take firm steps if the meeting fails to resolve the deadlock.

As the temperature is decreasing, we have tried to arrange the waterproof tents. We are also trying to arrange the blankets and warm water. Arrangements for 1,000 women have been made near the KFC with a tent and the mattresses, farmers leader Harmeet Singh Kadian said.

The protesting farmer unions on Saturday had said they will take out a tractor parade towards Delhi on January 26, when the country will celebrate Republic Day if their demands are not met.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will be in the national capital on January 26 as the chief guest at the Republic Day parade, which will be held at Rajpath.

In a statement, the All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC) said the success of Mondays talks depends entirely on the repeal of three farm laws.
Heiress Francesca Packer Barham went public with her new boyfriend Adam Cooper just after Christmas.

And on Friday, the 29-year-old niece of billionaire businessman James Packer cosied up to her beau as they celebrated New Year's Day.

Francesca and the Pilates instructor were seen walking hand-in-hand in the rain after disembarking a cruise on Sydney Harbour.

Loved up! Billionaire heiress Francesca Packer-Barham (left) cosied up to her new Pilates instructor boyfriend Adam Cooper (right) after a Sydney Harbour cruise on New Year's Day

Romance: The couple walked hand-in-hand in the rain after disembarking the cruise on Sydney Harbour together

The brunette beauty looked cool and casual in a pair of leopard-print flared trousers and a black jumper.

Francesca completed the ensemble with a pair of black strappy heels, and accessorised with a silver necklace and earrings.

The 29-year-old tied her long brunette locks in a high bun and wore a neutral palette of makeup for the outing.

Stylish: The brunette beauty looked cool and casual in a pair of leopard-print flared trousers and a warm black jumper

Beauty: The 29-year-old tied her long brunette locks in a high bun and wore a natural palette of makeup as she walked alongside her beau

Final touches: Francesca completed her ensemble with a pair of black strappy heels, and accessorised with a silver necklaces and earrings

Meanwhile, Francesca's personal trainer beau wore white track pants and a navy T-shirt as he held an umbrella over Francesca's head as they departed the yacht.

He accessorised his outfit with white sneakers and held a black Louis Vuitton duffle bag, which retails at $2,930.

Last month, in an interview with The Daily Telegraph, Francesca confirmed her new relationship.

'Adam is a really great guy. We've been dating for a while,' she told the publication.

What a gentleman! Francesca's personal trainer beau held an umbrella over Francesca as the couple departed the yacht

Accessories: Adam wore crisp white sneakers and held a black Louis Vuitton duffle bag, which retails at $2,930

It's official! Last month, in an interview with The Daily Telegraph, Francesca confirmed her new relationship with Adam

Adam is the Head of Training at Performance Vive Active, which has studios in Double Bay and Brookvale.

He is also a Reformer Pilates trainer and personal trainer, as well as a member of the North Bondi Surf Life Saving Club.

Over the years, the heiress has had relationships with Van Hoorn guitarist Joshua Mullane and Melbourne property developer Kelli Holland.

Francesca reportedly recently split from Sam Zacharia, the personal trainer son of celebrity plastic surgeon Michael Zacharia, who she was believed to to have been dating since last year.

Confirmation: 'Adam is a really great guy. We've been dating for a while,' she said

Successful: Adam is the Head of Training at Performance Vive Active, which has studios in Double Bay and Brookvale

Relationship: Francesca went public with her new boyfriend Adam Cooper just after Christmas

However she told Private Sydney: 'We're just good friends, in fact he is a very old friend of mine. I promise you there is nothing to announce.'

After the alleged split, the brunette is said to have spent a whopping $9,000 on a cavoodle puppy, according to the Sydney Morning Herald - meaning that both she and Adam are fans of the breed.

The grandaughter of the late Kerry Packer and daughter of Gretel Packer and her ex-husband, English financier Nick Barham, was born in Sydney but spent the first five years of her life in Surrey, England.

History: Over the years, the heiress has had relationships with Van Hoorn guitarist Joshua Mullane and Melbourne property developer Kelli Holland
Early this week, Lori Loughlin's daughter, Olivia Jade, plans to take a bold move days after her mother's prison release.

After a hiatus from YouTube, the 21-year-old plans to return to to the platform while responding to fans' comments on TikTok.

One fan commented, "Please post again," and then the former beauty influencer promised there would be new content on her channel soon.

Olivia Jade said in the clip, "First of all, comments like this make my day, and I'm just really grateful."

She added, "And also, okay. I will. I guess I will come back to YouTube."

According to a source who spoke to Hollywood Life, the eldest daughter of Lori Loughlin and fashion designer Mossimo Giannulli believes that now is the time to get back on YouTube but wanted to return when the "Full House" star was out of prison.

"She wanted her mom to get back home first. And then get back to work in the new year."

Lori has a tight-knit bond with her daughters Olivia and Isabella Rose, and it was reported that the former had a tough year watching her parents go through this.

With what the entire Giannulli family has been through, Olivia Jade wasn't ready, with the insider explaining, "She's always been close with her parents. So the entire situation was hard on her, and she's ready to put herself back out there."

"Good Vibes"

After spending two months at the Correction Institution in Dublin, California, for her mom's role in the college admissions scandal, Olivia Jade is hopeful that 2021 will be bringing in more "good" vibes than bad for her and her family, despite their legal battles.

In a clip she posted on her Instagram, she captioned it, "2021, let's just keep the vibes good, k?"

The short videos showed her wearing a little black dress as she watched the sunset from a seaside deck.

She was joined by some of her male friends and appeared to have a great time amid Lori Loughlin's early prison release and a few more remaining days of her dad in lockdown.

It has also been reported that the 56-year-old mom of two was emotional as she returned to her daughter and is "beyond relieved that she can put her prison sentence behind her."

A source told People, "It's the most stressful thing she has ever dealt with. She plans on spending New Year's with Olivia and Bella. She is still worried about Mossimo, though, and can't wait to have him home."

Lori Loughlin and her husband Mossimo Giannulli served nearly two months in prison and five months in prison, respectively.

The couple admitted to paying $500,000 to get their daughters into the University of Southern California as crew recruits even though they both don't know how to row.

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Delhi received light showers in the wee hours on Sunday as the temperature is expected to dip further in the national capital, which is battling bone-chilling cold. The rainfall will be accompanied by hail precipitation, said the India Meteorological Department on Sunday morning.

"Thunderstorm with light to moderate intensity rain would occur over Kurukshetra, Bhiwani, Meham, Rohtak, Gohana, Gannaur, Bhiwadi, Sohna, Nuh (Haryana), Nagaur, Laxmangarh, Rajgarh, Alwar, Dausa, Mehndipur (Rajasthan), Khataoli, Aligarh, Atrauli, Siyana," the IMD said.

Besides, the afore-mentioned cities, the IMD also mentioned that during the next two hours, rainfall is also expected to lash Loni-dehat, Hindon-AF station, Jahangirabad, Khurja, Etah, Kashganj, Amroha, Moradabad, Bhajoi, Chandausi, Iglas, Deeg, Agra, Mathura, Hathras, Narora (UP).

Parts of the national capital received light rain on Saturday morning, while the minimum temperature rose to 7 degrees Celsius due to a cloud cover over the city, the IMD said.

At 441, the air quality index (AQI) of Delhi was recorded in 'severe' category for the second day in a row. The monitoring stations in many parts of the city including ITO, Mandir Marg, Sirifort, RK Puram and Punjabi Bagh showed the AQI in 'severe' category.

"Moderate" fog lowered visibility to 201 metres at Safdarjung. A Met official said 1.2 mm rain was recorded at Safdarjung and Lodhi Road after 8.30 am. The maximum temperature was recorded at 19.2 degrees Celsius, he said.

On Friday, the mercury plummeted to 1.1 degrees Celsius, the lowest in 15 years for January, and "very dense" fog lowered visibility to "zero" metres. On January 8, 2006, the city had recorded a minimum of 0.2 degree Celsius. The all-time record is minus 0.6 degree Celsius registered in January 1935.

The lowest minimum temperature recorded in January last year was 2.4 degrees Celsius, the IMD said. Kuldeep Srivastava, the head of the IMD's regional forecasting centre, said the minimum temperature has started rising under the influence of the "intense" western disturbance, which will affect northwest India till January 6.

Light rain is expected in Delhi over the next two to three days, he added.

Meanwhile, thousands of farmers continued to stay put at their protest venues near Delhi's border, braving a severe chill as the mercury dipped to 1.1 degrees Celsius on the New Years Day, the lowest in 15 years, as talks with the government made little headway.
Three months ago, with great sadness, I terminated membership with my synagogue. I am not alone. This phenomenon is happening to thousands of religiously conservative Jews throughout our nation who are Republicans. What would cause thousands of Jews to feel so alienated they would break from tradition and be without a religious and spiritual home? How much sadness has this caused within this segment of the Jewish community? Even more importantly, When did Judaism stop being Jewish?

I joined a local synagogue in 2014 when I moved to Asheville, North Carolina. My initial conversation with my rabbi was welcoming and informative. Over time he became a trusted friend. I also enjoyed being a member for many years, and all seemed well.

In 2017, I befriended a Jewish woman who was a Democrat. She had no religious affiliation so I invited her to a Shabbat service. Surprisingly, she didnt kiss the Torah when it passed by us, and fell asleep during the service. I wondered why she came at all. Then during my rabbis sermon, I found out. That week there had been a community service with various clergy at a local mosque. My rabbi spoke at the service. My friend also attended.

After the service, she rudely asked why I didnt go to the mosque? I replied, I had another commitment. She thoughtlessly and antagonistically barked, Youre a racist! I was shocked for she knew I had an adopted Ethiopian-Jewish son. Because of her callous disregard for others, insulting me in my synagogue on this peaceful Shabbat, our friendship ended.

What is the significance of this unpleasant event? It was an omen of a changing Jewish culture where social justice/identity politics meant inclusivity, and nonconformity meant exclusivity.

Shabbat luncheon was a lovely time to visit with friends. To honor the sanctity of Shabbat, I preferred conversations that were dispassionate. This changed after President Trump was elected. When Democratic friends asked me political questions and I casually answered from a Republican viewpoint, their backs arched and they became confrontational. Youre a what? Youre a Republican? You mean you voted for Trump? How could you? And then the expletives started to fly. Hes a this, a that (some expletives were too offensive to write).

I refused to be confrontational on Shabbat and would calmly reply, The greatest thing about this country is we have the constitutional right to choose. Then Id ask three questions. Has your life changed in any way since President Trump was elected? They said no. Has your 401K improved? They said yes. If you own a business and you now have a 14% profit because President Trump lowered the corporate tax from 35% to 21%, isnt that a good thing? Yes. I explained that although I didnt vote for President Obama and disagreed with his policies, I didnt personally attack anyone like they were doing now. If their vitriol against President Trump didnt stop, I left the synagogue. The sanctity of Shabbat had disappeared.

P rogressive-left ideologies and social justice discourse monopolized conversations and email newsletters. Even sermons contained political references. Tikkun Olam (improving the world) by their definition, was not to be questioned. As a Republican, I didnt agree with their causes or agendas, so sadly the once peaceful feeling in my religious and spiritual home was vanishing. Many Republican friends were experiencing similar situations and ended their memberships.

Then a series of events occurred. When Tamika Mallory (a known anti-Semite) spoke at UNC, my Republican Jewish friends peacefully protested. In the next synagogue newsletter, they were publicly criticized. The author apologized to the black community and hoped it didnt hurt relations. My friends wrote a concerned letter to the Board of Directors asking that the newsletter not have political content. The letter was ignored, so they ended their membership. (After black radicals killed two Jews and their employee in New Jersey, and attacked Jews with machetes in New York, I asked the author if the black community apologized to the Jewish community so it didnt hurt relations? When I heard that members of my synagogue protested with BLM and one got arrested, why werent they publicly criticized in the newsletter?)

Some members even tried to convince me that BLM is an idea. You cant see an idea! Ideas dont destroy cities, loot and harm people. A Republican Christian friend sent me these videos and an article debunking and exposing the radical Marxist BLM doctrine because there is also a Christian exodus occurring.

Six months ago, an article appeared in the synagogue newsletter presenting, Jews of Whiteness and Jews of Color. This identity politics terminology upset me, since I have an Ethiopian son. When people ask me if he is black, I answer, I never noticed. Hes a Jew. Why is this divisive rhetoric in our community? What is this self-imposed segregation? It was so offensive I wrote an article called, Whiteness, the New Evil.

I sent this article to another Jewish liberal friend. After she read it, she ended our relationship. So saddened, I wrote another article called, Losing a Friend to Politics.

I met with the board of directors and addressed their messaging of inclusivity, diversity, equity and exclusivity; their social justice agendas supporting BLM and identity politics; Republican members being alienated and leaving; and to maintain neutrality keep the newsletter apolitical. Also, that there was more concern for people outside of Judaism than for fellow Jews in the community who needed to feel welcome in their religious and spiritual home. My concerns were ignored.

To retain equity, I asked to contribute links and articles to the synagogue newsletter from a Republican viewpoint. Instead of putting my organizations links and articles contiguous to other members social justice links at the top of the community section, my articles were rejected and my links were relegated to the very bottom. Social justice, identity politics and articles supporting BLM appeared (even after BLM vandalized synagogues), another about the Southern Poverty Law Center featuring a black fist. This wasnt what I signed up for when I became a member.

Because I didnt conform to Orwellian doublethink or Janiss groupthink, I was being censored, silenced, and squeezed out. This contradicts everything Judaism represents. Midrash (Rabbinic interpretations of the Bible) teaches differing viewpoints, exchange of ideas, dialogue, debate, inquiry, investigation, and interpretation. The direction and mentality of Jewish culture was drastically changing. Why remain here? Why work long hours on fundraisers for this synagogue and be disrespected and alienated.

The ethics of civility have disappeared. Virtue signaling, divisive rhetoric, personal attacks (verbal and written) meant to intimidate and silence you, and the altering of Tikkun Olam are tearing the Jewish people apart. The precious sense of community, cherished relationships and shared aspirations that once created unity are vanishing. Anti-Semitism is on the rise, yet social justice warriors (from Jewish elected officials on down) ignore the history of ill-treatment against the Jews and acquiesce to protect others.

To quote Chabad.org on the destruction of the Second Temple: Aside from the troubles caused by these external powers, the Jews were also plagued internally by tumultuous politics, and they divided into factions -- a phenomenon that ultimately led to the Temples destruction and our nations tortuous exile.

When did Judaism stop being Jewish? When it turned its back on its own.

Adrienne Skolnik is Chairman of the North Carolina chapter of the Conference of Jewish Affairs.

Image: Uoaei1
Waterlogged tents, soaked firewood and blankets, and cold conditions -- farmers camping at Delhi borders in protest against new farm laws had a difficult morning on Sunday due to overnight rains.

The continuous downpour led to waterlogging at agitation venues and waterproof tents did not help much, according to the protesters.

Farmer leader Abhimanyu Kohar, who is a member of Sankyukt Kisan Morcha, said farmers have waterproof tents but they cannot protect them from biting cold and waterlogging.

The situation is very bad at protest sites due to rain which has caused waterlogging. There is so much cold after the rains, but the government is not able to see our misery, he said.

Gurwinder Singh, who is camping at Singhu Border, said there is waterlogging at some places as civic facilities are not up to the mark but asserted that the weather will not dampen the spirit of farmers who have been protesting for over a month.

Despite facing several problems, we will not move from here until our demands are met, he said.

According to a MeT Department official, heavy rainfall was reported in areas across Delhi and minimum temperatures have increased due to clouding and easterly winds.

Safdarjung observatory recorded a minimum temperature of 9.9 degrees Celsius, an increase of 6.7 degrees with 25 mm rain. Palam observatory recorded a minimum temperature of 11.4 degrees Celsius with 18 mm rain. Rain with hail storm is expected until January 6, the official said.

Thousands of farmers, mostly from Punjab and Haryana, have been camping at three Delhi border points --- Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur -- for more than a month, demanding repeal of three farm laws and a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP) and other two issues.

Bharatiya Kisan Union Ugrahan leader Sukhdev Singh, whose Union is leading the protest at Tikri border, said arrangements made by farmers to brave the cold weather are not helping much because of rains and subsequent waterlogging. Veerpal Singh, a protesting farmer, said their blankets, clothes and wood are soaked.

Our clothes are soaked due to waterlogging caused by rains. Besides, we are facing difficulties to cook food as rain water has also soaked firewood. We do have an LPG cylinder but not everyone here has it, he said.

Dharmveer Yadav, who is camping at Ghazipur border protest site, said farmers will not move an inch from their agitation venues.

We are ready to face any problem, be it heavy or storm, but we will not leave this place in any condition until our demands are met, Yadav said.

Rainwater also entered camps at Burari ground and the protesters were seen draining the water out and rearranging their belongings to prevent from soaking in water.
Ghaziabad, Jan 3 : At least 25 people were killed and 20 others were injured as the roof of a structure in a cemetery in Muradnagar area here collapsed as they were sheltering under it amid heavy rains after attending a funeral on Sunday, officials said.

The incident was reported on Sunday morning when around 50 people, who came for the last rites of a fruit-seller, took shelter under the roof of a recently-built corridor to save themselves from getting drenched. However, minutes later, the roof of the structure collapsed.

Teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were called to join the police and district administration during the rescue operation.

Ghaziabad Superintendent of Police Abhishek Verma said that of the 20 injured, eight are in a critical condition and are being treated in different hospitals.

"The corridor was almost 25 feet long and prima facie it seems it came down because of the heavy downpour," Verma said.

Image Source: IANS News

Police are preparing to lodge an FIR against the contractor and officials of the Municipal Corporation of Muradnagar under miscellaneous charges of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), officials told IANS.

A senior Ghaziabad police official confirmed that the FIR is likely to be lodged late in the night.

After the directions from Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, an investigation of the case, under the supervision of Meerut Divisional Commissioner and Inspector General of Police is underway. The officials of Ghaziabad Municipal Corporation (GMC) and Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) are also assisting them.

As per the information received from the top police officials, an FIR is likely to be lodged against Ajay Tyagi, the contractor who built the structure, and officials of the Muradnagar Municipal Corporation.

IANS has sourced a copy of the work order from the Muradnagar Municipal Corporation issued to Tyagi for the construction of the structure that collapsed. The work order, issued on February 4, mentioned the structure as beautification work of the crematorium.

While the deadline to finish the construction stated in the order was 60 days from the date of commission of the contract, Muradnagar MLA Ajit Tyagi said that it was completed just a couple of months ago.

"The waiting area was built only a couple of months back. It is a big question on the quality of the material used in the construction as a single downpour washed away the whole structure. Those guilty of laxity would not be spared," he said.

The locals present on the spot also raised concerns over the material used in the construction. They said the rubble showed that very little cement was used in construction.

The state government has announced an ex-gratia sum of Rs 2 lakh each to the kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to people injured in the incident. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Ram Nath Kovind also expressed grief about the incident.

-- Syndicated from IANS
This goes beyond just a member of the government caucus or a member of the government cabinet  Minister Allard is in charge of emergency management. She has made an unforgivable error and must resign her position immediately.

"This goes beyond just a member of the government caucus or a member of the government cabinet  Minister Allard is in charge of emergency management. She has made an unforgivable error and must resign her position immediately."

 Alberta NDP municipal affairs critic Joe Ceci on Municipal Affairs Minister Tracy Allards holiday trip to Hawaii.

Stay home.

Thats been the narrative all throughout this holiday season. However, that narrative seems to only apply to those not in government positions.

Stories are popping up everywhere online from social media to news outlets where our countrys elected officials are giving their reasoning for their privileged travels.

Take former Ontario Finance Minister Rod Phillips, who intricately planned and covered up a trip to St. Barts over the holidays. He even went so far as to pre-record messages for his audience  in one he stands outside with pancakes and locally produced maple syrup for Maple Syrup Day. In Zoom meetings he goes so far as to wear sweaters in his elaborate cover-up.

Simcoe County Warden George Cornell travelled to Yukon with his wife to visit family giving the reasoning that his daughter, who is dealing with a high-risk pregnancy, was worth planning a "safe" trip.

"We chose to travel to the Yukon after weighing all factors carefully to ensure it was truly necessary and could be done safely," said Cornell in a recent interview with MidlandToday. "Our trip has been personal in nature as our daughter and her partner are living alone in the Yukon and our daughter is with a high-risk pregnancy."

Ontarios chief medical officer of health had advised that travel out-of-province during the holidays should only be for essential reasons. But, the rules have never been crystal clear and it seems that some in government positions are deciding what "essential" means based on personal opinion.

Alberta Opposition NDP is calling for Municipal Affairs Minister Tracy Allard to step down after she reportedly travelled to Hawaii over the holidays despite public-health recommendations against non-essential travel.

The "entitled" attitudes of government leaders speak to a larger problem with government in Canada.

Many Canadians heavily weighed safety over isolation and followed the recommendations of our elected officials over the holiday season. Many suffered anxiety over how the rules on visitation in the province would affect their holidays with family members.

With conflicting guidelines between provinces, many couldnt decide on visiting family during a time when feelings of loneliness are at an apex makes stories of these kind an even tougher pill to swallow.

Garner PC MP Michele Rempel choked up as she shared her thoughts on Twitter as to why she decided against travel to visit family in Oklahoma over the holidays even though her mother-in-law is dealing with Stage 4 breast cancer. Going so far as to say now she couldnt make plans to visit for fear of "vulturous CBC reporters" making her look bad.

"I knew if I went down to Oklahoma, I knew that I would have vulturous CBC reporters reporting on my whereabouts saying I was a bad example to the Canadian public ... I knew that if the Alberta government and my constituents were being asked to sit at home, then I had to sit at home," said Remple closing off her video message with a message to Phillips. "Thanks, Rod, I dont get to see my mother-in-law now because there will be a witch hunt if I go see my family  even though Im not going to St. Barts."

To have such disregard for those rules and recommendations set out by our leaders waved in our faces that some in government were simply ignoring or bending those recommendations only makes Canadians less likely to want to follow any restrictions and recommendations in the future.

Its uncertain how many of our government leaders in Manitoba have done the same, but as the NDP in Alberta has requested so should the Opposition in Manitoba to have information on how many of its caucus members have left the country for holidays. Pallisters government is after all  as it said last year  aiming for "transparency".

If we truly are "all in this together" then it shouldnt be an issue for the government of Manitoba to share that information with its electors.
Imagine, if you will, a place where everyone has the same goal and fundamentally agrees on the solution, yet they can't stop bickering long enough to hear one another.
Twenty-five people gathered Dec. 19 on Second Street in Napa to distribute gifts to children and families, according to Nottley. In all, more than 250 parents and children were given gifts ranging from jackets and shoes to bikes, skateboards, scooters and gymnastics lessons, and more than $5,000 in gift cards were distributed. Another 50 seniors were slated to receive gifts through Abode Services.

Nottleys off-hours work dates to well before COVID-19s arrival. For five years, she also has contacted Nextdoor acquaintances to garner donated furnishings  as well as transport them  for lower-income households moving into apartments, including five families who lost homes in this summers North Bay wildfires.

We have furnished at least 30 homes, from rugs on the floor to the beds  we go in and set up everything for them, put up bunk beds for the children, she said. One family (with three children) we heard about moved into a place with nothing, so what were doing now is to get the mother everything she needs.

In the earlier months of the pandemic, Nottley, knowing of the pressures facing those in fast-food, grocery and other low-wage jobs where working from home was impossible, again enlisted helpers to prepare and deliver meals to take the pressure off working women.
You are here: China

Xi Jinping, chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), has signed an order to release revised regulations on military equipment.

Focusing on war preparedness and combat capabilities, the regulations define the basic tasks, contents and management mechanisms for military equipment work under the new situation and system.

Comprised of 100 stipulations under 14 chapters, the document adheres to the general principle of "the CMC exercising overall leadership, theater commands responsible for military operations and the services focusing on developing capabilities."

It took effect on Jan. 1, 2021.
The Week

After publicly expressing "grave concerns" over Arizona's audit of the 2020 election results, Secretary of State Katie Hobbs (D) was "stripped" of her ability to "defend election lawsuits" by the state's Republican-led House Appropriations Committee, reported Arizona's ABC 15 on Tuesday. The duty was transferred "exclusively" to Attorney General Mark Brnovich (R) through the end of the 2023 fiscal year. Democrats say the move is retaliation against Hobbs' defense of Arizona voters in "lawsuits filed by the State Republican Party and others challenging Arizona's election results," per ABC 15. "It can't be just a coincidence" that Republicans are blocking a "vocal critic of the audit," writes Elvia Diaz for azcentral.com. Democratic State Rep. Randy Friese reportedly called the move "troubling," "disturbing," and "quite nefarious." Furthermore, the Appropriations Committee removed Hobb's "oversight of the Capitol Museum," ABC 15 reports, after Hobbs angered state lawmakers when she "flew a gay pride flag from the building's balcony" in 2019. Katie Hobbs has conscientiously supervised elections in Arizona. Republicans there just stripped her of some powers -- including her ability to litigate election lawsuits. They gave control of that process to the state AG, a Republican. This is how democracy gets dismantled. https://t.co/VamVgXfxgR  Tim O'Brien (@TimOBrien) May 25, 2021 In an article for azfamily.com, Hobbs labeled the entire audit "a political stunt," adding that it is "dangerous to people's safety and to the integrity of our democracy." She later tweeted a photo on Tuesday of a fruit basket sent by Stacey Abrams and Fair Fight, saying that's how "you know you're doing it right." When @staceyabrams, @gwlauren, and their crew at @fairfightaction send you a fruit basket, you know you're doing it right. pic.twitter.com/yQ11UdmXso  Katie Hobbs (@katiehobbs) May 25, 2021 Read more at azfamily.com. More stories from theweek.comBiden says he underestimated Trump's ability to spread 'the big lie'Biden needs some braggadocioKristen Clarke confirmed to lead DOJ's Civil Rights Division
CLEVELAND, Ohio  Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and CNNs Jake Tapper got into a momentarily tense exchange Sunday morning while discussing national voter security.

DeWine appeared on Tappers State of the Union program and talked about several topics, including Ohios COVID-19 vaccine rollout. The governor was remarking on concerns about voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election, of which  contrary to what President Trump has repeatedly pushed  there is no proof of widespread issues.

Are there some problems in the system as far as potential fraud or fraud that occurred? Yes, but... we have not seen anything that rises to the level that would have changed the outcome of the election, DeWine said, to start.

I think [Ohio GOP] Senator Portman has a good proposal. And that proposal is to get two very distinguished people in this country, Democrat and Republican, have a commission, and to take a hard look at voter security. We have a lot of people in this country who are very concerned about it, DeWine continued.

Tapper then interjected, saying, Because they have been lied to, Governor. They have been lied to by President Trump for weeks.

No, no, no. Jake, Jake, hold on. Jake, time-out a minute, DeWine said, asking Tapper to look at the big picture before continuing his support for Portmans voter security commission idea.

With changes in technology, potential hacking, all of these things, we need to have a commission, as Senator Portman says, that takes a long look at this, DeWine said. [Its] not something you can do in 10 days, but to take a look at this.

Congress is set to certify President-elect Joe Bidens presidential victory Wednesday, though a group of GOP senators has said they intend to object the Electoral College results.

Read related articles on cleveland.com:

Ohio Senators Sherrod Brown and Rob Portman eye chairmanships in 2021

Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown wants Senate vote on $2,000 stimulus check, criticizes Republican efforts to reject presidential electoral votes

Rebuilding economy and infrastructure after coronavirus are among New Years resolutions for Ohios Congress members
Call for illustrations for embassy's St. Patrick's Day greeting card 2021

News

Call for illustrations for St. Patrick's Day in Germany official greeting card

St. Patricks Day, Irelands National Day, is celebrated annually in Germany and across the globe by all Irish, friends of Ireland and those of Irish descent. St. Patricks Day 2021 in Germany and elsewhere will be different. The large gatherings, receptions and parties, which normally mark the period, will not be possible. The Embassy is exploring alternative ways of marking St. Patricks Day 2021 and as part of this effort would like to commission a special St. Patricks Day in Germany greeting card. We will use this card to reach out to our many German contacts, whom we cannot, as usual, invite to our St. Patricks Day reception in Berlin.

Against this background we are delighted to announce a competition for Irish illustrators based in Germany to help us to create the artwork for the card.

We are seeking artworks that reflect on St. Patricks Day, St. Patricks Day in Germany and broader Irish-German relations.

Competition Guidelines:

Applicants must be Irish and based in Germany.

There is no lower or upper age limit on those who may submit artworks or illustrations but this is not conceived as a Childrens art competition.

Each illustrator/artist is allowed to submit a maximum of three illustrations.

Applications should be submitted in digital format to the email address Berlin(at)dfa(dot)ie and marked St Patricks Day illustration  applicants name

The illustrations should be saved in JPEG or PNG format with a minimum resolution of 300dpi

Illustrations should ideally be submitted in landscape format / widescreen ratio (16:9)

Submissions must be received by close of business on 1 February 2021

All submissions must be accompanied by full contact details, address and telephone numbers to ensure that all applicants may be contacted promptly should their illustration be used.

Illustrations must be the original work of those submitting and not previously used in any similar campaign.

The artist whose artwork is selected as the 2021 Embassy of Ireland, St. Patricks Day greeting card image, will be paid 400 for usage rights. Upon payment of 400, the Embassy of Ireland in Germany will retain usage rights to the selected image, for a maximum period of three years, for the stated purpose and related uses and platforms, without additional permissions or fees

The artist will be credited on the back cover of the card/image whenever utilised.

GDPR

The Embassy of Ireland in Germany is committed to ensuring the security and protection of the personal information that we process, and to provide a compliant and consistent approach to data protection and will only store contact information for the duration of the competition.

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A shopper spotted diamond ring at Costco for half a million dollars in April 2018

Jennifer Bechwati shared a picture of the 6.55 carat ring at a Canberra store

More than two years later, she confirmed the ring is still available for sale

A shopper who spotted a diamond ring at Costco for half a million dollars has confirmed it's still available for sale more than two years later.

Political reporter Jennifer Bechwati shared a picture of the 6.55 carat engagement ring showing a $499,999.99 price tag at the Canberra warehouse in April 2018.

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'It's in the aisle between bulk AA batteries and dustpans,' she wrote in her Twitter post at the time which has since attracted nearly 11,000 'likes' and 2,100 'retweets'.

And on Sunday, she shared an update with her followers confirming the round diamond solitaire ring was still on display at the retailer.

A shopper who spotted a diamond ring at Costco for half a million dollars has confirmed it's still available for sale more than two years later. Jennifer Bechwati shared a picture of the 6.55 carat engagement ring at the Canberra warehouse in April 2018

Dozens of people quickly responded to the thread, with one man joking: 'Good, I wonder if they will hold it for me, I need that and a pack of AAA batteries.'

Some suggested the ring could be a 'replica' while one said 'surely they have a buyer after your tweet'.

Her post comes just two years after she shared the picture, with many sharing their opinion on the very expensive sparkler.

Click here to resize this module

'Imagine saying you got your engagement ring from Costco.. and it cost $499,999.99,' one wrote.

'How much is it at Aldi?' one joked, and another added: 'And you have to pay the annual membership fee to get in to buy it.'

On Sunday, she shared an update with her followers confirming the round diamond solitaire ring was still on display at the retailer

A Costco spokeswoman previously told the Daily Mail Australia that similar rings were available to purchase at all nine warehouse locations across the country.

'Each Costco warehouse has a "WOW" item in its jewellery department,' the spokeswoman said in April 2018.

'Each one is unique to that warehouse, but in each Australian warehouse the wow item is around that price.

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'We pride ourselves on selling the highest quality products at the best possible price, across a huge scope of departments, including high-end jewellery.'
The Reverend Thomas Henry Quamson, Head Pastor Assemblies of God, Holy Ghost Worship Centre Ashaiman, urges Ghanaians especially Christians, to cultivate the culture of planning to become more productive in the new year.



Preaching at the Churchs New Year Thanksgiving Service, he advised them to sit and carefully plan their lives before they embark on any action in order to achieve goals set for the year.



"It's sad that most people have lost the culture of planning; how can God bless you if you don't plan," he said.



He said God blesses according to what we plan, adding that, those who plan according to the will of God remained candidates of His divine blessing.



"If you fail to plan then you are surely planning to fail," said the Head Pastor.



Reading from Proverbs chapter three, he said the book served as a good resource for planning one's life according to the expectations of God.



The Reverend Minister said one of the keys to excel and meet one's target in the New Year was to set targets, write down guidelines, and follow them diligently to achieve one's expectations.



He said planning ensured that one made judicious use of time and resources to maximize productivity.



He said they should seek counsel from experienced persons in their targeted areas to avoid repeated mistakes.



Rev Quamson said social media and other media platforms were platforms which could divert their focus and should be guided by what they watched or listened to.



Speaking to the Church's theme for the year, "Revive us again, Lord ... For growth; Rev. Quamson said they should change their ways to experience a change.



He said they could not see a significant change in their life if they continued to do the same things as they did in the past.

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
Chile iGaming

The fast-growing South American market plays host to the Chile iGaming event in March, with operators, suppliers, and regulators attending.

On 4th-5th Match, 2021, the Sun Monticello Casino and Hotel in Chile plays host to the Chile iGaming event. It's a chance for everyone involved in the industry to get together and discuss the fast-growing Latin American market and the challenges and opportunities it offers.

Networking, Speakers, And More

Some 200 operators, regulators, investors, and suppliers are due to attend. Around 30 speakers are lined up and 7 networking sessions are scheduled. Topics will include current and future online gambling legislation in Chile, how to enter and develop a business in Latin America, and analysing the local market.

Attendees will be able to gain from the experience of those already serving Chile and other countries in this increasingly important region.
More than 30 countries have reported cases of the highly transmissible British COVID-19 strain, raising fears of increased global spread of the virus, even as countries begin to unroll vaccination programs in the new year.

New Zealand on Sunday was the latest nation to find the variant onshore - six cases of the mutant strain were detected among 19 new coronavirus cases in hotel quarantine.

Turkey has now barred people arriving from Britain. Credit:AP

Travellers heading to New Zealand from Britain or the United States will, from January 15, need a negative test result for COVID-19 before entering the country.

New Zealand's COVID-19 Response Minister, Chris Hipkins, said work was already underway to extend the requirement to other long haul flights to New Zealand.
A firefighter who heard the "wailing and crying" of family and neighbours outside a 2011 house fire in Logan that killed 11 people inside  including eight children  has lost a compensation case against Queensland Fire and Emergency Services worth almost $290,000.

Peter Giles, 66, claimed in the Brisbane District Court that QFES was negligent in its duty of care to him after he developed PTSD and was forced to retire on medical grounds six years before he was due to retire because of his age.

The scene of the 2011 Slacks Creek blaze, in which 11 people of Samoan origin, including eight children, lost their lives. Credit:Robert Shakespeare

Judge David Reid delivered his decision last month and ruled in favour of QFES, ordering Mr Giles to pay its legal costs dating back to March 5, 2015.

On August 24, 2011, 11 people of Samoan origin, including eight children, lost their lives in a house fire at 60 Wagensveldt Street in Slacks Creek, about 20 kilometres south-east of Brisbane's CBD.
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AFLW star Sharni Layton married her partner Luke Norder on New Year's Day.

The 32-year-old announced the happy news on Instagram, sharing photos of the couple's wedding day at Bell's Hotel in South Melbourne.

In her caption, the Collingwood AFLW player paid tribute to her 'best friend' and 'soul mate'.

Wedding bells: AFLW star Sharni Layton (picture) married her partner Luke Norder on New Year's Day. The 32-year-old announced the happy news on Instagram, sharing photos of the couple's wedding day at Bell's Hotel in South Melbourne

The former netball player wrote: 'Yesterday I married my soul mate, my best friend. The one who makes me laugh until I cry.

'The man who makes my life whole. I am so proud to be your wife baby, you complete me xo'.

In another post, she wrote: 'I'M A NORDER! Yesterday I married my best friend with my best friend. WHAT AN EPIC BLOODY DAY!!

In her caption, she wrote: 'Yesterday I married my soul mate, my best friend. The one who makes me laugh until I cry. The man who makes my life whole. I am so proud to be your wife baby, you complete me'. Pictured with Luke

In another post, she wrote: 'I'M A NORDER! Yesterday I married my best friend with my best friend. WHAT AN EPIC BLOODY DAY!! Can't wipe the smile off my face. I cannot wait to spam you all with wedding shots for weeks to come'

'Our wedding walked through like a bull in a China shop. Thanks to all made the day as incredible as what it was.

'Can't wipe the smile off my face. I cannot wait to spam you all with wedding shots for weeks to come'.

Sharni looked magnificent in a sleeveless, deep v-neck gown that reached floor length.

Wow! Sharni looked magnificent in a sleeveless, deep v-neck gown that reached floor length. Pictured with a bridesmaid

Lovely: It featured lace inserts and glamorous dangling tassels throughout, and ornate detailing at the waist

It featured lace inserts and glamorous dangling tassels throughout, and ornate detailing at the waist.

The couple had a small ceremony, after postponing their destination wedding that was to take place in Hawaii last year - which they had already finished planning when the pandemic hit.

'We were going to have it where Jurassic Park was filmed and we did it all within five days of being in Hawaii,' the footy star told the Herald Sun last year.

Cancelled: The couple had a small ceremony, after postponing their destination wedding that was to take place in Hawaii last year. Instead, they took the money they saved from cancelling the ceremony and buying a home together in Frankston

Instead, they took the money they saved from cancelling the ceremony and buying a home together in Frankston.

Sharni told the Herald Sun last year: 'We rescheduled the wedding for November back in April and we postponed again to a New Year's Day wedding in Melbourne. We decided to be real adults and we pulled the trigger and bought a house.'

She added: The amount of people who have said to us, 'we wish we bought a house instead of blowing it on a wedding', is pretty amazing. It's a silver lining.'
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 3) A new year symbolizes a fresh start, with citizens around the globe listing down resolutions and setting goals for the succeeding months of 2021.

Aside from establishing regular fitness regimes or learning new hobbies, some to-do lists also include a simple home decluttering.

If you're ready to bid farewell to your belongings that may not be useful anymore, here are some tips to effectively declutter your space.

Keep those that 'spark joy'

In an interview with CNN Philippines on Sunday, tidying expert Renelyn Tan-Castillejos advised people to keep things that "spark joy."

"Sasagutin lang natin 'yung katanungan na (we'll just have to answer the question) what sparks joy? Or ano ba 'yung nagpapasaya sa inyo (what makes you happy)?" Tan-Castillejos told Newsroom Weekend, referring to the "KonMari method" of tidying. The method, popularized by renowned tidying expert Marie Kondo, encourages organizing by category and not by location, and keeping "only those things that speak to the heart."

Tan-Castillejos also underscored the need to set personal goals, which in turn will also be the basis for your organizing priorities.

"Kung sakali, gusto nating mag-focus sa business, o kaya sa ating family, o kaya sa ating relationships. Aling mga gamit lang ba 'yung talagang makakatulong sa atin para sa goal natin na 'yun?" she raised.

[Translation: For example, we want to focus on business, or on our families, or on our relationships. Which things will be helpful for us to achieve these goals?]

Designate a 'parking space'

Having a "parking space" for your belongings will ensure that all items are organized and will not just be scattered around your homes, Tan-Castillejos noted.

For families, designating a separate common space and a personal space for your things is also highly encouraged.

Say thanks before bidding farewell

Are you having a hard time letting go of an item in your home? The tidying expert has one advice: express your gratitude.

"Bago mag-goodbye, magpasalamat. 'Yung pagpapasalamat, 'yun talaga 'yung magpapatanggal ng guilt para sa atin. Kasi minsan, ayaw na talaga natin siya pero tinatago pa natin siya," Tan-Castillejos said.

[Translation: Before saying goodbye, say thank you. Gratitude, giving thanks, it's what will help wash away the guilt for us. Because sometimes, we don't want the item anymore but we still keep it.]

Schedule your decluttering activity beforehand

Organizing can be a tiring, physical activity which is why Tan-Castillejos advised the public to schedule it beforehand.

Having a complete rest and eight-hour sleep the night before is also a must, she noted. Those decluttering their space are also encouraged to clear their schedule for the day to focus on the activity.

Donate, sell, care for the environment

Tan-Castillejos, however, stressed that decluttering does not necessarily equate to throwing away things. She listed down some environment-friendly ways for this process.

"Isipin natin saan siya mapupunta. Pwede natin siyang i-donate, pwede natin siyang ibenta, or pwede rin natin siyang ibigay sa mga kaibigan natin or kapamilya."

[Translation: Let's think of where they can go. We can donate them, sell them, or give them away to our friends or relatives.]
Getty

The coming year could be pretty bleak here on Earth as the economy tries to recover from the pandemic and vaccine-distribution hits snag after snag.

But in space, 2021 promises to be a banner year. New probes, landers, rovers and instruments are pushing deeper into the solar system and beyond, intensifying humanitys efforts to extract valuable resources, prepare for manned missions and, perhaps most intriguingly, search for evidence of extraterrestrial life.

These are some of the most exciting space stories of 2021.

THE MOON

It seems like everyone wants to get to the moon these days. Theres a lot of important science we can do on the dusty orb and valuable things we can build in the moons weak gravity, using the satellites own resources. The moons also a possible launching pad for follow-on missions to Mars.

Under Donald Trump, NASAs Artemis mission aimed to put astronauts on the lunar surface by 2024. That was never a realistic goal, and President-elect Joe Biden seems likely to delay the mission by a few years. China is hot on Americas heels with its own manned mission that could reach the moon in the 2030s. Experts expect Russia to kick-start its own moon-landing effort in 2021.

In the meantime, more and more robots are moon-bound. Thanks in large part to the fast-growing private space industry, lunar probes have gotten so small and cheap that its hard to keep track of them all. These days a refrigerator-sized lander sells for a couple hundred million dollars, launch included.

Among other 2021 moon missions, Pittsburgh space firm Astrobotic is planning to launch one of its Peregrine landers in July. That craft is bound for a huge lunar crater called Lacus Mortis, where it will deliver as many as 28 NASA instruments. The payloads include devices that will test new lunar navigation and landing technologykey systems for future moon missions. A few months later in October, Intuitive Machines in Houston plans to launch one of its Nova-C landers, carrying five NASA instruments, to a shadowy lunar dark spot called Oceanus Procellarum. The mission is a sort of dress rehearsal for a later manned mission that could touch down at a similar location.

Story continues

For moon-watchers, November should be huge. Thats when NASA plans to conduct the first test-launch of its decades-in-development Space Launch System rocket and Orion capsule, the main vehicles for Americas eventual manned mission to the Moon.

The U.S. space agency is taking advantage of the unmanned test mission to transport a bunch of shoe-box-sized cubesats to the moon. The idea is for the Lunar Flashlight, Lunar Icecube and LunaH cubesats to scan and map the moons dark south pole in the hope of pinpointing deposits of ice that future explorers could process into fuel.

The success of the rocket and those missions will be a big leap and a very long time coming, Matt Siegler, an astronomer with the Arizona-based Planetary Science Institute, told The Daily Beast.

MARS

Years of work by three countries are coming to a head on the red planet in the span of just a few days in early 2021. Thats when Mars gets competitive, University of Arizona astronomer Chris Impey told The Daily Beast.

NASAs Perseverance rover is scheduled to land in mid-February, kicking off a decade-long sample-collection effort thats part of a wider effort to find firm evidence of microbial life on Mars. (Although to be fair, at least one scientist believes we already found proof of life on the planet.)

Not to be outdone, the Chinese space agency has its own Mars probe, Tianwen-1. It should reach the red planet just a few days after Perseverance. Tianwen-1 is a combination orbiter-lander-rover, which Siegler described as cool. The orbiter scans potential landing sites before dropping the lander, which in turn deploys the rover.

Its also a huge political statement, Siegler added. China is on track to really lead in space-exploration and it will be a big decision for the U.S. as to how or if they will keep pace.

The United Arab Emirates first Mars mission also arrives over the red planet in February. The Hope orbiter packs sensors for analyzing Mars atmosphere and climate. Getting a probe to Mars is a huge achievement for a new spacefaring nation, Siegler said.

All this competition on Mars, each mission feeding a growing body of research, is nudging us closer to what many scientists consider an inevitable, and profound, conclusionthat life has evolved on other planets.

The Perseverance rover is at the heart of this possible historic moment. The big story for early 2021 wont be that the rover has found some tantalizing evidence for biology beyond Earthwe expect it will, Seth Shostak, an astronomer with the California-based SETI Institute, told The Daily Beast. The big story would be a failure to find any promising sites.

SPACE TELESCOPE

Since 1990, astronomers have relied on one multibillion-dollar instrument for many of their most important observations of other planets. The Hubble Space Telescope.

But Hubble is old, out of date and, frankly, falling apart. NASA has had to send astronauts to the 44-foot-long telescope to undertake repairs five separate times over the years.

Way back in 1996, NASA in conjunction with Northrop Grumman and Bell Aerospace began developing the new James Webb Space Telescope to replace Hubble. Ten billion dollars, multiple design hiccups and several launch-delays later, the 66-foot-long telescope is finally ready to go.

The mission is scheduled to blast off in October, 14 years later than NASA originally hoped.

The James Webb Space Telescopes main mission is to inspect far-away galaxies for clues about the origin of the universe. But there are also tantalizing possibilities closer to home. The big discovery of Webb might be to find a relatively nearby exoplanetsay, less than a few dozen light-years distantwith oxygen or methane in its atmosphere, Shostak explained.

That would be strong evidence that the talent of our solar system to cook up life is not terribly remarkable, and that biology is surely a cosmic infection, rather than a rare and semi-miraculous event.

With likely important developments on the moon and Mars and the new space telescopes planned deployment, the coming year could be a big one for humanity as it slowly expands into the cosmos and looks for proof that its not alone.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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While the ruling BJP accused Yadav of 'insulting' doctors and scientists', Omar Abdullah said vaccines don't belong to any political party, but humanity

Lucknow: Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday termed the anti- COVID-19 vaccine to be rolled out in the country a "vaccine of the BJP" and said he would not take the shot, prompting a sharp reaction not only from the ruling party but also from NC vice-president Omar Abdullah.

While the ruling BJP accused Yadav of "insulting" doctors and scientists, Abdullah said vaccines don't belong to any political party, but humanity.

Hours later after terming the anti-Covid vaccine as a vaccine of the BJP, Yadav, however, said in a tweet that he had full faith in scientists but not in the taali and thali wali unscientific thinking of the BJP.

"How can I trust the vaccine, which will be used for vaccination by the BJP? We cannot get vaccinated by the BJP's vaccine," he told reporters earlier in the day.

Yadavs remarks prompted an instant retort from BJP leader and Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya who termed his statement an "insult to the doctors and scientists of the country".

"Akhilesh Yadav does not have trust in the vaccine and people of Uttar Pradesh do not have the trust in Akhilesh Yadav. His raising questions on the vaccine is an insult to doctors and scientists of the country. He should tender an apology," Maurya told reporters.

Taking to Twitter, the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister too later said, "I don't know about anyone else but when my turn comes, I'll happily roll up my sleeve & get a COVID vaccine."

The more people get vaccinated, the better it will be for the country and the economy, the National Conference (NC) vice president said.

"No vaccine belongs to any political party, they belong to humanity and the sooner we get vulnerable people vaccinated the better," he tweeted.

During his press conference, Yadav also said his party will come to power in the state after 2022 elections and everybody will get the vaccine free.

Later in a tweet in Hindi, Yadav said, We have full faith in the efficiency of scientists but do not trust the unscientific thinking of the BJP and the medical arrangements of the BJP government administering vaccines which had been lying almost inactive during the corona times.

We will not take the political vaccine of the BJP. The SP government will provide free vaccines, he asserted later too in his tweet.

In reaction to his remarks, the president BJPs Uttar Pradesh unit, Swatantra Dev Singh also took aims at the SP chief in a tweet.

The 'BJP vaccine' has proved effective in eliminating corruption and hooliganism. What vaccine are you talking about? Swatantra Dev Singh asked, tagging Akhilesh Yadav too with his tweet.

A trial drill for distribution of COVID-19 vaccine began across the country on Saturday, officials said.

The Centre had on Thursday stated that the exercises aim to test the linkages between planning and implementation, and identify challenges.
(Natural News) Concerns have been raised regarding the performance of Dominion Voting System machines in the 2020 election. These concerns have led people to speculate that the company may be owned by foreign entities that acted as indirect investors to Dominion.

One company, in particular, has been at the center of election fraud claims concerning Dominion: Staple Street Capital Group LLC, a private equity firm based in New York that acquired Dominion Voting Systems Corporation in 2018.

Back in October of this year, Staple Street Capital was able to raise $400 million from investors for its third fund thanks to UBS Securities LLC, a New York-based subsidiary of UBS, a Swiss bank. Initially, nobody believed that there was anything out of the ordinary with these financial transactions  that is, until the recent election. (Related: Election was stolen using Automated Test Decks of pre-filled Biden ballot stacks that were fed into Dominion machines multiple times after Election Day.)

Financial and fraud analysts have begun to speculate that a Chinese corporation, or an intermediary affiliated with Chinese individuals, could have invested large sums of money into the fund, which would make them indirect owners of Dominion through Staple Street Capital.

According to investigations, only 24.99 percent of UBS Securities is directly owned by its parent company. The remaining 75.01 percent of the company are owned by four different Chinese entities.

Beijing Guoxiang Asset Management is an asset management subsidiary directly managed by the Beijing Municipal Peoples Congress, the organ of state power that controls the municipality of Beijing. They control 33 percent of UBS Securities.

Guangdong Provincial Communications Group Corporation is fully owned by the Peoples Government of Guangdong Province. They own 14.01 percent of UBS Securities.

China Guodian Corporation and COFCO Group are both state-owned enterprises that are directly administered by the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, a special commission directly controlled by Chinas State Council supposedly created to improve the management and regulation of state-owned assets. China Guodian and the COFCO Group own 14 percent each of UBS Securities.

Other connections between Dominion Voting Systems and business and government elements within China have been uncovered in recent weeks, such as how Dominions Core Infrastructure Manager of Information Technology, Andy Huang, worked for China Telecom for nearly four years.

China Telecom is a state-owned telecommunications company that was identified by the Department of Defense as being an active collaborator of the Chinese military for at least the past two decades.

The Department of Justice even flagged China Telecom for concerns that they are vulnerable to exploitation, influence and control by the Chinese government, and by how the nature of their work within the United States provides opportunities for Chinese state-actors to engage in malicious cyber activity enabling economic espionage and disruption and misrouting of U.S. communications.

UBS removes board members with ties to China

In response to the growing encroachment by U.S. regulators, and following the intense scrutiny placed upon Dominion Voting Systems after their disastrous performance during the recent election, at least three members on UBS Securities board of directors have been removed just this month.

According to a report made by alternative news broadcaster NTD TV that aired on Dec. 5, three members of the board appeared to be of Chinese descent: Ye Xiang, Mu Lina and Luo Qiang. This is according to the companys profile page on Bloomberg.

However, their names were immediately taken down from the profile page, which strongly suggests that they were taken out of the companys board of directors following the end of the election.

A limited liability company like UBS Securities is not required to have a board of directors, but it can still choose to have one. In their 2019 year-end report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, UBS Securities does not provide any information regarding their board of directors, which also suggests that every single member of their board is relatively new to their positions.

This has led investigative journalists working for alternative news outlet The Epoch Times to believe that the Chinese board members were appointed there for temporary compliance purposes, such as to get the board to sign off on specific transactions that otherwise may not have been approved, such as the fundraising of $400 million last October.

A closer look at these three board members also reveals further ties to China.

Ye has served on the board of UBS Securities LLC and UBS Securities Co. Ltd.  UBS affiliate corporation based in Beijing  until his name was removed from the boards of both entities. He previously worked for the Hong Kong Monetary Authority as a senior analyst before working for the state-owned Bank of China. He is also a founder of an asset management firm based in China.

Mu worked as head of fund operations and director of wealth management funds for UBS Beijing. Before this, she was a board member of China TransInfo Corporation, which develops and manufactures surveillance cameras and provides data and artificial intelligence services to Chinese authorities. The chairman of China Transinfo is a ranking member of the Chinese Communist Party. She left her position in September, shortly before she was supposedly appointed to the board of UBS Securities.

Luo, who has French citizenship, served on the board of UBS Beijing for eight years.

It should be noted that UBS Beijing became the first foreign-owned corporation to be granted a full securities operation license by the Chinese government back in 2018. The rest of their board. as well as most of their executives, are all Chinese nationals who have strong ties to the ruling party.

Learn more about the foreign entities that attempt to encroach upon America through institutions and corporations like Dominion Voting Systems by reading the latest articles at Corruption.news.

Sources include:

TheEpochTimes.com

Summit.news

BJRD.gov.cn

Ca.PracticalLaw.ThomsonReuters.com

TheNationalPulse.com

In.Reuters.com
New Delhi:

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Monday takes custody of former Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP Mohammad Shahabuddin in an ongoing investigation of case relating to murder of Siwan journalist Rajdeo Ranjan.

Shahabuddin was taken to CBI Headquarters for questioning in the murder case.

Earlier on May 26, the CBI named Mohammad Shahabuddin as accused in the journalist Rajdeo Ranjan murder case.

As per the CBI Special courts order, Shahabuddin was produced in the court of Special Judge Anupam Kumari through video-conferencing facility.

Shahabuddin is the 10th accused in the murder case.

The CBI Special court had on May 22 issued the production warrant against Shahabuddin on the plea of CBI to produce him through video-conferencing for trial.

The CBI had also filed the application the same day for making Shahabuddin as an accused in the case.

The premier investigating agency has already filed charge-sheet against seven accused persons in the case while two accused persons- Mohammad Javed and Mohammad Kaif- are on bail. Javed and Kaif are active members of Shahabuddin gang.

Also read: CBI names Shahabuddin as accused in journalist Rajdeo Ranjan murder case

The four-time RJD MP from Siwan is alleged to have been involved in the murder of Rajdeo Ranjan, a journalist of a prominent Hindi daily in Siwan last year.

Shahabuddin is facing trial in more than 45 criminal cases and was moved to Tihar Jail in February this year on a Supreme Court order on a plea by Siwan native Chandrakeshwar Prasad, whose three sons were killed in two separate incidents.

Rajdeo Ranjan, district bureau chief of a Hindi daily was gunned down on May 13 last year and his wife has accused Shahabuddin of having a role in the killing.

With PTI inputs

Also read: CBI seeks courts permission to quiz RJD strongman Shahabuddin in journalist Rajdeo Ranjan murder case

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
With both Covishield and Covaxin getting the Drug Control General of India(DCGI)s approval for restricted emergency use, vaccination drive now is only a matter of announcement as both Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech are prepared to supply the doses required for phase one vaccination.

In this phase, frontline workers will be vaccinated. The cost will be borne by the Centre. For vaccination process, Centre has brought in an application named Co-WIN (Covid Vaccine Intelligence Network).

Here is all you need to know

1. The Union health minister has earlier said that people would be able to self-register themselves for vaccine through this app. But that would happen at a later stage after the frontline workers identified by the local authorities are vaccinated.

2. The application is not yet launched. It is not available at present in the play store.

3. The application is in the pre-product stage being accessed by health officials who are uploading the data of the health workers who will get vaccines in the first stage. More than 75 lakh beneficiaries have already been registered during the dry run.

4. The Union health ministry and the ministry of electronics and information technology jointly announced a challenge inviting participants to take part where they will have to strengthen the final app.

5. As of now, the app can not be accessed by people and there is no self-registration going on. It is being only accessed by officials as the app was tested during vaccine dry run too.

6. Once launched, the app will have four modules: User administrator module, beneficiary registration, vaccination and beneficiary acknowledgement and status updation.

7. The module of beneficiary registration will be for people to use in case they want to register themselves. There will be three options under this: self registration, individual registration and bulk upload.

8. In self-registration, the beneficiaries can directly register themselves through the web as well as the mobile application. Photo identity will be required for registration. And if an individual registers himself or herself, the data will be verified to check whether he or she is above 50, or below 50 but with co-morbidity issues.

9. Surveyors and district administrators can also register multiple beneficiaries.

10. There will be no spot registration in any phase of priority group vaccination.

Only frontline workers will be vaccinated in the first two phases. Next, people above 50 years of age, who are at a greater risk of contracting Covid-19, will be vaccinated. People below that age group but with co-morbidity issues will be considered after that. Union health minister Dr Harsh Vardhan has clarified that vaccine will be free for frontline workers. It is not yet clear whether the vaccine for people above 50 years and people with co-morbidities will be free or subsidised.
Bigg Boss 14: Captain Of The Week Rahul Mahajan Evicted From The House? Heres What We Know

After the captaincy task was cancelled out, because Rakhi Sawant tore Rahul Mahajans dhoti and the latter showered her with derogatory words, Bigg Boss gave the contestants of season 14 another chance to elect a captain. On New Years Eve, Rakhi, Arshi Khan and Rahul Mahajan hosted parties. The contestant with the most number of housemates in their party would win captaincy. Well, Rahul Mahajan beat the two beauties and emerged as the captain of the week.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rahul Mahajan (@therahulmahajan)

Along with captaincy, Rahul Mahajan won immunity from nominations for the coming week. However, he was already nominated last week. Well social media buzz suggests that Rahul Mahajan will be evicted from the Bigg Boss 14 house this week due to lack of audiences votes. Netizens have very extreme reactions to this elimination. While some feel he deserved to leave the house as he was only sleeping in the captains room and wasnt giving any content to the show, others have called his eviction unfair.

EXCLUSIVE AND CONFIRMED#RahulMahajan has been Eliminated from the House  The Khabri (@TheRealKhabri) January 3, 2021

Well, this is not the only twist that the audience will get to witness in Weekend Ka Vaar with Salman Khan tonight. Jasmin Bhasin will be slammed for her behavior towards Rakhi in the past week, whereas Aly Goni will be reprimanded for accusing Vikas Gupta of blackmailing people.
Transition Year students from Ardscoil Rath Iomghain recently delivered over 30 gift hampers to the local day care centre for senior citizens in the community.

They organised a staff car wash to raise funds and Bank of Ireland and Comerfords Cakes came on board as sponsors.

On December 14, over 30 hampers were dropped off at the centre.

Each hamper contained a personal Christmas card to each person from the class.

As a project we decided to focus on linking with the elderly in our local community to show them some additional support after what has been a difficult year with Covid 19, said the class on social media.
Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) VG Somani on Sunday assured people about the safety of the two Covid-19 vaccines by Bharat Biotech and Oxford-AstraZeneca as he gave the final approval for the shots. Somani made the formal announcement approving Serum Institute of India-manufactured Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine and indigenously developed Covaxin of Bharat Biotech for restricted emergency use in the country.

After adequate examination, CDSCO has decided to accept the recommendations of the Expert Committee and accordingly, vaccines of M/s Serum and M/s Bharat Biotech are being approved for restricted use in emergency situations, Somani said during a press conference. Well never approve anything if there is slightest of safety concern. The vaccines are 100 per cent safe. Some side effects like mild fever, pain and allergy are common for every vaccine. It is absolute rubbish that people may become impotent, he was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

Also Read: Covishield vs Covaxin against Covid-19: All you need to know

Somani was trying to dispel rumours associated with vaccines as anti-vaccination groups continued to challenge the need and safety of the shots not only in India but also in several other countries despite rising Covid-19 cases and deaths. On Saturday, Samajwadi Party leader Ashutosh Sinha claimed that the vaccine against the coronavirus disease could make people impotent. Sinhas comments came after his partys chief Akhilesh Yadav said that he would not get vaccinated. He also discouraged people in Uttar Pradesh from getting vaccinated.

If honourable Akhilesh Yadav has said this, then there will be something serious. We do not believe in the machinery of the government. He has said this based on facts. If he is not vaccinating himself, then I think COVID-19 vaccine might contain something, which can cause harm. Tomorrow, people will say the vaccine was given to kill or decrease the population. You can even become impotent, anything can happen, Sinha said.

SP chief Yadav had said he will not take the Covid-19 vaccine at this moment. That too given by Bharatiya Janata Party. How can I trust the BJPs vaccine, no chance? When our government is formed, everyone will get a free vaccine. We cannot take the BJP vaccine. The inoculation programme under the BJP-led regime cannot be trusted, Yadav said.

The approval by DCGI was lauded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he congratulated the drugs regulator and scientists who he said worked hard to develop the Covid-19 vaccines. PM Modi also highlighted that both the vaccines were manufactured in India and shows that the countrys medical and scientific community are working hard towards making the nation self-reliant.

It would make every Indian proud that the two vaccines that have been given emergency use approval are made in India! This shows the eagerness of our scientific community to fulfil the dream of an Aatmanirbhar Bharat, at the root of which is care and compassion, Modi tweeted after DCGIs nod to the two vaccines.

Union health minister Harsh Vardhan on Saturday said that one crore healthcare workers and two crore frontline workers will receive free vaccine in the first phase.

He said, In 1st phase of COVID-19 vaccination free vaccine shall be provided across the nation to most prioritised beneficiaries that includes 1 crore healthcare and 2 crore frontline workers. Details of how further 27 cr priority beneficiaries are to be vaccinated until July are being finalised.
The tragic death of U.S. Rep.-Elect Luke Letlow from coronavirus complications last week leaves a hole in the hearts of those who knew and admired the longtime political aide-turned-winning candidate.

It also leaves a second vacancy to be filled in Louisianas Congressional delegation, just a short while after 5th District voters chose Letlow to replace his retiring boss, U.S. Rep. Ralph Abraham. Already on tap was a special election to replace U.S. Rep. Cedric Richmond in the 2nd District, who easily won his own reelection bid but was subsequently tapped for a high-level job in President-Elect Joe Bidens White House. Gov. John Bel Edwards has yet to call special elections for either seat, but is expected to set March primaries and April runoffs.

Neither election would qualify as a do-over of the one we just had, because the candidates will be new. Also different this time, it seems, is the mood among those wholl be setting the rules for voting itself.

This second development is an encouraging one.

Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin is out with his proposal for a voting plan to cover a legislative primary in February and on the March/April dates. And unlike the last couple of times state officials debated how much to accommodate voters impacted by the pandemic, it seems as if common sense and a spirit of compromise could prevail over political posturing.

To recap: State law requires emergency changes to voting procedures to be submitted by Ardoin, a Republican, and approved by both the Democratic governor and the Legislature, which is dominated by Republicans. In 2020, these requirements created a mess.

Ardoin and Edwards agreed on rules for the delayed summer presidential primaries that expanded the availability of absentee voting  already an option for those 65 and older and those meeting a list of other qualifications  to people with a number of specific worries over voting in person related to COVID-19.

The most permissive category covered those with a concern over being exposed to the deadly virus; in a legislative hearing, Ardoin explained that this would apply to people like his daughter, whose diabetes puts her in a high-risk category. It was a perfectly reasonable mid-point between adopting no-excuses mail balloting, as a number of other states did, and keeping restrictions tight.

And yet it died in the Legislature amid alarmist and evidence-free allegations by Republican senators that it could lead to widespread fraud.

Sound familiar? It should, because the allegations just happened to track President Donald Trumps baseless claims that mail balloting, which is thought to be more popular among Democrats than Republicans, is inherently insecure and open to abuse. And so Ardoin came back with a different plan that dramatically scaled back COVID-related conditions under which voters could cast ballots absentee.

Even that was too much for those who wanted to limit absentee voting for the fall election. Ardoin, citing the GOP legislators obstruction, wrote an even more restrictive plan. Edwards refused to go along, Ardoin shed public tears over the toxic partisanship that had overtaken the process, and the whole matter wound up in court, where U.S. District Court Judge Shelly Dick reinstated the summer protocols for the presidential election. In the end, there was more mail balloting than usual, but the bulk of it was from people who were 65 or older and would have been allowed to vote absentee anyway, and it all went quite smoothly.

So now Ardoins back with a plan for the spring elections that matches the mail-in eligibility from the fall, and this time, legislative Republicans appear inclined to go along.

State Sen. Sharon Hewitt, R-Slidell, who chairs the Senate & Governmental Affairs Committee and led the opposition to Ardoins plan over the summer, said she recognizes that absentee voting is a good option for elderly voters, and noted that the COVID-specific exceptions were little used in the end.

What Ardoin proposes isnt perfect. Unlike the summer and fall plans, it would not add additional days for early voting, a popular and non-controversial practice. It also continues to omit general concern over exposure as a valid reason for mailing ballots in (while allowing absentee voting for people who have pre-existing conditions such as diabetes or who have been exposed to COVID-19, plus a handful of other narrow groups), even though vaccines are still not widely available and cases are soaring.

But if officials in both parties can keep the political jockeying out of the process this time and just focus on how to help as many people as possible participate safely  without worrying about which party would be advantaged or disadvantaged  that would be a big step in the right direction.

Perhaps it could even be the start of something beautiful: A 2021 in which at least some political disputes can be resolved without resorting to all-out warfare.

This column has been updated to include information on which voters can cast ballots by mail under the proposed plan.




By Jun Ji-hye







Calls are growing for revoking college admissions of former Justice Minister Cho Kuk's daughter, after his wife was sentenced to four years in prison for forging the daughter's academic records to get her into a university and medical school.







Since the Seoul Central District Court found Chung Kyung-sim, Cho's wife and a Dongyang University professor, guilty on all charges related to academic fraud and some financial misconduct, Dec. 23, Korea University students have been raising calls on the university to revoke admission of Cho Min  Cho and Chung's daughter  as the court said Chung had colluded with her husband to forge internship certificates and citations for their daughter.







According to the court, Cho Min used forged certificates of internship at Dankook University, Kongju National University and Seoul National University for her Korean University admission, and used a forged Dongyang University presidential citation and a certificate of internship at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology for her admission to the medical school of Pusan National University (PNU) afterward.







"I am waiting for the university's follow-up measures," one student wrote on an online community of Korea University. Over 800 students supported the comments.







Critics cited an example that Chung Yoo-ra, the daughter of Choi Soon-sil who was at the center of the 2016 massive political scandal that led to the removal of former President Park Geun-hye, was expelled from Ewha Womans University over allegations that she had received special treatment in her admission.







Following the court ruling, Korean Medical Association President Choi Dae-zip has also asked the PNU medical school to revoke Cho Min's admission without delay.







The two schools have yet to make an official statement regarding the issue.


The last time Fort Bend County elected an African-American sheriff, four years after the Civil War, the racial caste system was so firm in the United States that Walter Moses Burton had to hire a white deputy to handle all arrests of white suspects.

That it took 150 years to elect another one, said new Sheriff Eric Fagan at his swearing-in ceremony Saturday morning, is a sign there is still much progress to be made.

We have work to do to show our children that they can hold any office, no matter what race, gender or faith, Fagan said. We have work to do to show the community that we serve that we in law enforcement are listening, and that we wont stand for police brutality or preferential treatment to our citizens.

Fagan, 60, pledged to supporters at the Fort Bend Church in Sugar Land that he would reform the Sheriffs Office, including by requiring all deputies to wear body cameras, banning chokeholds and creating a diverse citizen review board. He said has already hired a diverse command staff, whom he asked to stand in their pews.

He will represent people who are among the least, last and the lost, but he will also represent those who are among the well-off, the well-heeled and the well-to-do, said Rep. Al Green, D-Houston. He will represent all of the people of Fort Bend County.

The Democrat defeated Republican Trever Nehls, brother of incumbent Sheriff Troy Nehls, in November. His victory cemented a political shift in Fort Bend County, one of the fastest-growing and most diverse in the country. Once a stronghold for Republicans and the power base for former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, the county went for Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden by 10 points.

The countys elected officials are also starting to more closely resemble the countys population, which is nearly equal parts white, African-American, Hispanic and Asian. Voters elected the countys first Black district attorney and first Indian-American county judge in 2018. Fittingly, Fagans inauguration ceremony at a Christian house of worship included Muslim and Hindu prayers.

The elevation of leaders of color in Fort Bend County is particularly important to African-Americans, said U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Houston, because of its ugly role in the expansion of slavery in Texas. She noted how Stephen F. Austin encouraged slave owners to settle on the countys arable lands; by 1860, a majority of the county population was enslaved.

Sugar Land also was home to the Imperial Prison Farm, where until the 20th century private companies could lease the labor of Texas prison inmates, most of whom were Black  a practice nearly indistinguishable from slavery.

Yet Fort Bend County also produced Walter Moses Burton, who after a term as sheriff served a decade in the Texas Senate, where he helped create what would become Prairie View A&M University. A number of speakers Saturday noted Fagans lineal connection to Burton.

Fagan earned bachelors and masters degrees from Prairie View, graduating at the top of his class, and in a remarkable coincidence grew up next door to a girl who would later marry Burtons great-great-great-grandson.

In his brief speech, Fagan said he was eager to begin modernizing the departments tactics and training, and he outlined a seven-point plan with a focus on domestic violence, community outreach and youth programs.

He concluded by placing a Stetson on his head and leaving the lectern to the 1972 Isley Brothers hit Work To Do.

Brooke Lewis contributed to this report.

zach.despart@chron.com
THE residents of Rahan Road in Tullamore are calling for more people to object to a proposal by Dublin based Strategic Power to construct an Anaerobic Digester at Ballyduff.

The site is located near the Axis Business Park, close to Chadwicks Hardware, and opposite a site for a proposed Laois Offaly Training and Education Board facility.

The residents believe if the development is approved it will ''have a major detrimental impact on the whole town of Tullamore and not just the Rahan Road.''

Strategic Power first applied to Offaly County Council on July, 23, 2020,

However, the council put the application on hold last September while they sought further information which was provided on November 24. A new decision date has now been set for January 27, 2021.

The proposed facility will accept approximately 50,000 tonnes of feedstock, such as silage, farmyard manure and chicken litter, that will primarily be sourced from local farms within 10 kilometres of the site. It will not accept any municipal waste.

''A by-product of the production process -digestate will be used as an organic bio-fertiliser which will be returned to the supply farms, fully closing the circular economy model and reducing the requirement for imported chemical/synthetic fertilisers,'' Strategic Power state.

The residents are objecting on the grounds that the developer proposes to lorry a minimum of 30 loads of waste per day to the site. They say the digestate has to be transported back out from the plant via the network of roads in the town.

They are also concerned about the plant running on a 24/7 basis with some periods being unmanned.

The residents claim that ''odour from the plant will negatively impact the whole town.'' And there will be a risk of vermin and increased traffic throughout Tullamore.

They also fear noise from the plant and a risk of pathogens (salmonella, parasites, viruses, fungi) from the digestate.

In addition they claim there is a risk of fire and explosion from the plant and say there are numerous examples available from the UK.

Furthermore they assert that there can also be gas leaks, resulting in gas poisoning and a serious risk of pollution of underground water systems.

The residents state: ''Various residents associations throughout the town are not opposed, per se, to the development of this facility, but strongly object to the locating of this facility in a populated area and feel there are sites which are suitable and appropriate for such a facility, a position taken by Laois County Council.''

A number of local councillors along with Barry Cowen TD and Carol Nolan TD have added their names to objections to the proposal.

Paul Carson spokesperson for Strategic Power Limited said the plant ''will be heavily regulated by numerous government departments including CRU, [Commission for Regulation of Utilities] Gas Networks Ireland, Dept for Agriculture and the Environmental Protection Agency.''

A statement from the company said it has, ''gone above and beyond in the design of the Tullamore plant to include key elements such as a feedstock reception hall with an advanced odour filtration system which gives local residents additional security. This site will be an exemplar for the fledgling AD industry in Ireland which Strategic Power is pioneering,'' the company added.
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The head of England's schools watchdog today warned that education cannot be 'furloughed' as Left-wing councils joined the revolt against Government plans to keep schools open.

Ofsted chief inspector Amanda Spielman said school closures should be kept to the 'absolute minimum', revealing that the first lockdown disrupted children's learning and wider development.

Writing in the Sunday Telegraph, she said Ofsted had found some younger children had 'forgotten how to hold a pencil or use a knife and fork, and had regressed in basic language numbers'.

In older children, Ms Spielman said the schools watchdog had noted 'increases in eating disorders and self-harm, and anti-social behaviour at some schools' during the coronavirus crisis.

Most primaries in England are expected to open their doors tomorrow, while secondary schools will reopen on a staggered basis later this month with plans to test every student weekly.

But yesterday the UK's largest teaching union advised members it was not safe to return to the classroom and demanded a move to online teaching.

Headteachers are now urging the Government to scrap this summer's GCSE and A-level exams amid outrage over Education Secretary Gavin Williamson's plans to keep schools open.

Ms Spielman rubbished calls for remote education, arguing that it would maximise the disparities in the circumstances of the home lives of children.

She added that schools 'have become society's collective eyes and ears, keeping a caring watch over those who need it most' as she warned 'risks of abuse, neglect or exploitation increase' when schools stay closed.

The Ofsted boss wrote: 'There is a real consensus that schools should be the last places to close and the first to re-open, and having argued for this since last spring, I welcome it. Because it is increasingly clear that children's lives can't just be put on hold while we wait for vaccination programmes to take effect, and for waves of infection to subside.

'We cannot furlough young people's learning or their wider development. The longer the pandemic continues, the more true this is.'

In other coronavirus developments:

Officials leading the UK vaccination programme defended the decision to extend the gap between the two doses, insisting it is 'the way we save lives';

Health bosses last night insisted urgent cancer operations in London will not be scrapped to ease the strain on hospitals inundated with Covid patients;

Labour's shadow culture secretary Jo Stevens is being treated in hospital for coronavirus, her aides announced last night;

Another 57,725 had positive test results and recorded 445 deaths yesterday;

A London children's hospital consultant blasted 'irresponsible' nurse who gave a BBC interview claiming her hospital has a 'whole ward of children' with Covid;

Young non-voting women are most likely to turn down a Covid vaccine if it were available tomorrow, the Find Out Now poll has found.

The Government is keen to get children back to schools, but Left-wing councils have joined a revolt against plans as UK's largest teaching union advised members it was not safe to return

Ofsted chief inspector Amanda Spielman said school closures should be kept to the 'absolute minimum' as Education Secretary Gavin Williamson urges teachers and parents to 'move heaven and earth', adding the young must not 'bear the heaviest cost' of the pandemic

Another 57,725 had positive test results in the last 24 hours, meaning 2,599,789 have had the disease in the UK since the pandemic began. The country also saw an additional 445 deaths

Brighton and Hove City Council has followed eight authorities in London in demanding primaries teach remotely amid rising Covid cases.

The National Education Union, which has 450,000 members, said the Government was 'failing to protect children, their families and our communities', adding that their members had a legal right to refuse to work.

The move has put them on a collision course with Education Secretary Gavin Williamson, who said it was imperative that the nation's children were back in class to stop them falling behind.

Writing in The Mail on Sunday, the father-of-two has urged teachers and parents to 'move heaven and earth', adding the young must not 'bear the heaviest cost' of the pandemic.

He said: 'Both of my daughters, one of whom is in an exam year, have had to self-isolate. I know how difficult the last year has been, because I have seen them miss being in the classroom, where they want to be.

'So I want my children, and all children, to be able to get back to school and stay in class  we will continue to prioritise making this happen where we can.'

Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham suggested it could be a 'chaotic situation' tomorrow with the return to school of most primary children in England.

He told the BBC's Breakfast programme: 'There are many parents in Greater Manchester waking up quite anxious this morning, teachers as well of course and support staff in schools, and children.

'So there's a lot of people who are worried about what's happening and I think the really important thing is this doesn't become a big political row today.

'What we need to find is a practical way through all of this. I would say that the current course is not going to work.'

He added: 'It will be quite a chaotic situation tomorrow I think given all of the anxieties that people have.'

Mr Burnham called for local decision making to be enabled ahead of the return of primary schools in England.

He said: 'I think there are two options in front of the Government. One is to give the decision making to councils working with local schools so that decisions can be made on the reality of what's happening in different communities.

'The other would be to put primary schools and special schools on the same path as secondaries and that would be a slightly delayed opening.

The National Education Union tweeted earlier today: 'Our Executive is meeting this morning and we will announce new guidance shortly afterwards'

A tweet from the National Education Union today, saying: 'We have thousands of reps from all the country on our briefing right now. We must #MakeSchoolsSafe to #ProtectCommunities'

Children's Minister Vicky Ford yesterday told MPs there was no evidence that the new strain caused more serious illness in either adults or children

'What I would say to the Prime Minister, who I know is going to come on BBC this morning, is it has to be one of those options.

'Local flexibility or a delay to the opening because I think just to plough ahead would cause quite a lot of anxiety amongst people today.'

Mr Burnham suggested that a 'blanket approach' to the reopening schools is not the right approach.

Asked what he would say to a head teacher in South Manchester who did not want to open on Monday, the Greater Manchester mayor said: 'I would say to the head teacher: contact the director of public health in your local authority.

Headteachers call for GCSE and A-Level exams to be scrapped this summer amid school closure chaos Head teachers are calling on the Government to scrap this summer's GCSE and A-level exams amid outrage over Gavin Williamson's plans to keep schools open. Most primaries in England are expected to re-open their doors tomorrow, while secondary schools will reopen on a staggered basis later this month with plans to test every student weekly. Yesterday, however, the UK's largest teaching union advised members it was not safe to return to the classroom - with several left-wing councils demanding their primary schools move to online teaching only. And in another blow to the Education Secretary 's plans, UK head teachers are now calling for this year's exams to be scrapped to prioritise 'wider public health, pupil and staff safety'. They also claim it would be unfair to force students to sit exams when those whose schools were open earlier would have more contact time than those with later start dates. The WorthLess? campaign group - a collection of 2,000 head teachers in 80 local authorities - said: 'Wider public health, pupil and staff safety should be prioritised ahead of examinations. 'Public safety should not be risked or driven by an inflexible pursuit of GCSE and A-levels.' Head teacher of Tanbridge House School in Horsham - and one of the WorthLess? leaders - told The Times : 'There is great scepticism that exams can now go ahead fairly.' Advertisement

'So if it's Trafford in the case of South Manchester or Manchester itself, that would be the best thing for people to do.

'And what I am saying to the Government today is directors of public health, working with council leaders and with individual schools, make the right decisions for those schools.

'Let the head come to a balanced judgment based on what's happening. Greater Manchester is currently below the England average when it comes to the number of cases.

'So the position is different in different parts of the country and I think a blanket approach either to say blanket reopening or blanket closure in some ways is causing the problem, local flexibility might just be the way through this.'

NAHT general secretary Paul Whiteman urged for a return to schools that is 'sustainable' as he accused the Department for Education of 'making last-minute decisions because they didn't take proactive action'.

'There is nobody more committed to the care and education of children, next to parents of course, than school leaders and their teams,' he told BBC Breakfast.

'And anybody that's trying to paint the picture that we're against the care and education of children is simply doing that, simply misleading the public, for political purposes.

'What we're talking about is understanding the risks. Having a short break so that we can agree the right mitigations in schools to make them Covid-secure, make sure that staff and teams are vaccinated and that we can get a properly supported testing regime in schools to make them as safe as possible.

'And then have an orderly return to school that's sustainable, rather than the chaos that we have experienced throughout the pandemic, with the DfE making last-minute decisions because they didn't take proactive action.

'So, we agree with everybody that school is the best place for children, we just want to do that well, we want to make it a sustainable return.'

The start of the new academic term has been mired in confusion as Covid rates continue to rise, driven by the new variant.

Recent notes from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) revealed scientists have warned that schools may need to be closed to bring down transmission.

But Children's Minister Vicky Ford yesterday told MPs there was no evidence that the new strain caused more serious illness in either adults or children.

Senior Government sources said that Mr Williamson had tried to keep schools open but has been overruled by Health Secretary Matt Hancock and Michael Gove.

The pair have pushed for tighter measures until more people have been vaccinated, but critics accused them of 'natural authoritarianism'.

Last week, Mr Williamson announced all primaries would return on Monday. Ten London boroughs were told to open their schools but after a revolt by eight Labour-led councils, Mr Williamson was forced into a U-turn.

Now all schools in the capital will operate remote learning for the first two weeks.

The rebellion was led initially by Haringey, once dubbed the first 'Corbyn council' because of its large number of Left-wing Momentum councillors.

Council leader Joseph Ejiofor said he would back head teachers who wanted to defy the Government and he was later followed by Harrow Council.

Brighton and Hove has now advised all primary schools to teach remotely until January 18.

Social distancing signs displayed at Coldfall Primary School in Muswell Hill, London, today as Covid cases across the capital city have been putting rising pressure on the NHS

Liverpool's Labour-run city council calls for another national lockdown to stop spread of mutant Covid strain and prevent 'catastrophe' Liverpool's council leaders today called for a third national lockdown to contain the new 'mutant' strain of Covid and prevent a 'catastrophe'. The city's acting mayor, Wendy Simon, and the Labour-run city council's cabinet say the speed of the rise in coronavirus cases have reached 'alarming levels' and urgent action is now required to save lives and the NHS. The new 'mutant' strain of Covid is thought to have a higher rate of transmission and is most prevalent in London and the South East, where health bosses say hospitals have become stretched. It is believed the strain is spreading from south to north, leading to increasing pressure on the NHS. Cases in Liverpool have almost trebled in the past two weeks to 350 per 100,000, despite the city leading on the pilot for community testing which led to it being the first city to be moved from Tier 3 down to Tier 2. Advertisement

Chris McGovern, chairman of the Campaign for Real Education, has accused the Left of politicising the issue saying: 'This is about knocking the Tories. Keeping schools open should be non-negotiable.'

Last night, the Department for Education said remote learning was 'a last resort' and classrooms should reopen 'wherever possible' with appropriate safety measures to help mitigate the risk of transmission.

'As we've said, we will move to remote education as a last resort, with involvement of public health officials, in areas where infection and pressures on the NHS are highest,' the spokesperson said.

More than one million four to 11-year-olds will now start the academic term with lessons online.

In advising members to work from home, Dr Mary Bousted, the NEU's joint general secretary, said: 'If Government does not act to follow the science, we must.' Her views were echoed by the NASUWT union.

Ministers are considering proposals to make teachers a higher priority in the vaccine roll-out as a way to keep physical classrooms open.

Hundreds of new vaccination sites are due to be up and running this week as the NHS ramps up its immunisation programme with the newly approved Oxford University and AstraZeneca jab.

Some 530,000 doses of the vaccine will be available for rollout across the UK from Monday and more than a million patients have already had their first dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine which was the first to be approved by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the vaccine roll-out was 'our great hope', adding: 'I want the Government to throw everything it can at this, harnessing the extraordinary talents of our NHS so we can be vaccinating at least two million Brits a week by the end of the month.'

But, writing in the Sunday Mirror, he criticised 'a chaotic last minute U-turn on schools', adding: 'Confusion reigns among parents, teachers and pupils over who will be back in school tomorrow and who won't.'

Plans for schools reopening differ across the four nations of the UK. In Scotland, most pupils will have online learning for the week of January 11. In Wales, schools are expected to provide face-to-face learning for the majority of their pupils by January 11.

And in Northern Ireland, secondary school years eight to 11 will be taught via remote learning throughout January while primary pupils will return to the classroom on January 11.

Linda Bauld, a professor in public health at the University of Edinburgh, said transmission among primary school pupils was 'still very limited' while secondary school pupils, particularly older teenagers, can pass on the virus in the same way as adults.

But health professionals have warned of growing pressure on services with Professor Andrew Goddard, president of the Royal College of Physicians, telling the BBC current case figures are 'fairly mild' compared to what is expected in a week's time.

GAVIN WILLIAMSON: We must all move heaven and earth to get children back into the classroom

By Gavin Williamson, Secretary of State for Education

I remain optimistic that with the roll-out of the Covid-19 vaccine, 2021 will be the year we overcome coronavirus. At the same time, as a dad, it is clear to me that while this takes place, I want my children to be at school.

Keeping our kids out of classrooms is damaging. We know that as parents and we know it from the data. It is for this reason that keeping schools open has been a national priority.

Naturally, as parents would expect, this includes taking a proportionate response and considering the clear damage that we know is caused to young people's education and wellbeing by closing education.

With the new variant, the goal posts have shifted as we fight this horrible virus, but I want to assure parents that we have been working throughout the holidays to make the return as safe as possible.

This means pushing back the staggered start date for all secondary schools by one week.

Writing in The Mail on Sunday, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson, said it was imperative that the nation's children were back in class to stop them falling behind. He urged teachers and parents to 'move heaven and earth', adding the young must not 'bear the heaviest cost' of the pandemic

It also means triggering our contingency plans, so that in some areas where there are high transmission rates of the virus or those rates are rising quickly, schools should offer face-to-face education to exam year groups, vulnerable and critical-worker children, and remote education to all other students  so no child misses out on education.

We have identified the areas where primary schools must move to this system from tomorrow and will do the same for secondary schools before pupils are due to return on the 18th.

Our fantastic teachers have already worked tirelessly to make schools Covid-secure, and it remains the case that schools are safe.

For secondary schools and colleges, we are also rolling out mass testing to make schools, the pupils attending them, and the wider community even safer. I want to be clear what this means: all secondary school students and staff will be offered tests before they go back to school  whether their school is open to all pupils or to some.

This kind of mass testing will help protect not just children and young people, it will benefit everyone in the community because it will break the chains of transmission that are making infection rates shoot up.

This in turn will make it safer for more children to physically return to school.

Teachers are not expected to carry out the tests themselves, and 1,500 members of the armed forces will provide support to schools and colleges in this important mission.

While this takes place, schools and colleges will stagger the return of their students.

Those in exam years will be educated remotely during the first week of term, and face-to-face beginning on January 11, with other secondary schools and college students returning full time on January 18, in areas where we have not had to apply the contingency framework.

Vulnerable children and the children of key workers should be educated face-to-face from the start of term in all circumstances.

For now, given how prevalent the virus is in London and after engagement with London leaders, primary schools in our capital will only open for vulnerable and critical worker children tomorrow.

We will continually review the data and allow more pupils to return as soon as possible.

During this time we are taking unprecedented action to ensure remote education is delivered to all children.

We will deliver over 50,000 laptops and tablets to schools across the country tomorrow, and over 100,000 in total during the first week of term. In total, we've delivered over 500,000 and are on our way to our target of nearly one million.

We are taking these measures because it is what we need to do to overcome and suppress the transmission of the virus in communities.

These decisions are not political calculations, they are concrete steps to support our children's education, futures and dreams  which must not be put on hold.

The safety of teachers and pupils will always be paramount, but we must all move heaven and earth to get children back to the classroom where they best thrive.

Both of my daughters, one of whom is in an exam year, have had to self-isolate. I know how difficult the last year has been, because I have seen them miss being in the classroom, where they want to be.

So I want my children, and all children, to be able to get back to school and stay in class  we will continue to prioritise making this happen where we can.

In all of this, we must all face up to the fact that, unfortunately, there is a new variant of Covid and that this is spreading across the country.

But it remains our duty to provide a future for our children that is full of hope and opportunity.

This year, my admiration for teachers and all that they do has reached an even higher level, and it gives me faith in how we will continue to fight this virus.

The fight has already been a long one, and many have lost so much, but we must remain steadfast in our final push. As a nation we are in this together and we will overcome it together, as our country always does.

During this time, I remain determined to do all I can to protect our children, protect education and ensure the youngest in our society do not bear the heaviest cost while beating this virus.
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A politician who boasted about apparently breaching COVID rules by sneaking into New South Wales from Queensland despite border closures is under investigation.

The former managing director of the Australian Christian Lobby group Lyle Shelton took to Twitter on Sunday and shared a selfie and images of other locations in NSW.

'Sneaky run across the border and back. Avoided the CCP virus police,' he captioned the tweet.

The former managing director of the Australian Christian Lobby group Lyle Shelton took to Twitter on Sunday and shared a selfie and images of other locations in NSW

This prompted Queensland Police to investigate Shelton's alleged violation of the COVID rules in place

Social media users kicked up a storm for Shelton's apparent disregard for border closure and people's safety.

This then prompted Queensland Police to investigate Shelton's apparent violation of the COVID rules in place.

'We are aware of this tweet and making further enquiries,' they tweeted in response.

Twitter users called for a harsh penalty if Shelton is found to have actually breached rules and called on the police to check his phone location.

Lyle Shelton (pictured) shared a selfie after claiming to have snuck into New South Wales from Queensland

One of the images Shelton shared after claiming to have snuck into NSW on Sunday

'Make sure to access his phone to check his locations at certain times,' one wrote.

'Please don't let him off because of his connections. He endangers every one of us, so blatantly (and proudly) flouting the rules,' another commented.

''Please. Please. Make an example of this high profile #COVIDIOT,' someone else commented.

Due to the growing COVID-19 outbreak in the Northern Beaches and Sydney's west, Queensland has once again shut its borders to NSW residents.

Anyone who would like to enter has to apply for a border permit.

Fines of $4,003 apply to anyone found to be breaking the rules.

Shelton was a prominent voice during the gay marriage debate, when he advocated for the 'no vote'.

'I think there are millions of Australians who still believe that marriage is between one man and one woman and that is a public good,' he previously said

'And there may be a time in the future when we can persuade our fellow Australians to that position once again.'
Youve probably already guessed it: 2020 is the worst year in U.S. history. There is no other single year that contains so many crises, deaths and all-around bad news.

Last year saw staggering government corruption and illegality; impeachment of a president who then tried to overturn an election; 344,000-plus deaths from a preventable pandemic; crippling partisan stalemate; out-of-control wildfires and record-breaking hurricanes; widespread white supremacy violence; statewide lockdowns; and economy-shattering unemployment. And those are just the headlines.

The U.S. has seen some of those individual crises. Presidents Andrew Jackson, Warren Harding, Richard Nixon and George W. Bush were notorious for their criminality. Presidents Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton were impeached in 1868 and 1998, respectively; militant white supremacy flared in the 1830s, 1870s, 1920s and 1960s; the Great Depressions of the 1820s, 1870s and 1930s saw higher unemployment; and 675,000 deaths from the 1918 influenza pandemic still dwarf COVID-19. But never has the bad news been so calendar concentrated.

A strong runner-up is 1919. President Woodrow Wilson suffered a debilitating stroke, leaving the nation leaderless at the end of the Great War. Partisan intransigence led to the failure to ratify the Treaty of Versailles and join the League of Nations, a significant cause of World War II. Simultaneously, the U.S. saw the most dramatic wave of labor unrest in its history, as more than 4 million workers took to the streets in a Great Upheaval to protest deadly working conditions, inhuman workdays, employer brutality and low wages. Predictably, governments responded with violence, killing and imprisoning Americans by the hundreds. The Wilson administration, with its paranoid president, feared Communist revolution and resorted to wholesale violation of civil liberties in the Red Scare. Adding to that years woes was the passage of the 18th Amendment, prohibiting alcohol. Still, 1919 had one very bright spot: passage of the 19th Amendment that brought womens suffrage.

Other strong contenders for worst year are 1814 and 1877. The former saw the burning of Washington, D.C. by British forces and the panicked flight of the federal government, the humiliation of U.S. soldiers running away from battle at Bladensburg, the slaughter of hundreds of Indigenous Americans by Andrew Jackson and his Tennessee militia, and the subsequent Treaty of Fort Jackson, which robbed those same Americans of nearly 23 million acres of land. But there was also some good: U.S. troops beat back the British at Baltimore; U.S. naval forces saw victory on Lake Champlain in the Battle of Plattsburgh; and the British government agreed to a treaty ending the ill-conceived War of 1812.

The year 1877 was similarly awful. It also saw national labor unrest and brutal oppression by law enforcement. Strikes among starving workers brought the country to an economic standstill and threatened the enormous profits of the new Robber Barons. Blood ran in the streets: 20 miners hanged in Pennsylvania; 10 protesters killed, 16 injured, and 250 arrested in Baltimore; 25 murdered by U.S. troops with Gatling guns in Pittsburgh; 50 massacred in Chicago. And the bloodshed did not stop in U.S. cities. While the U.S. Army waged war on its own citizens, it also fought against Indigenous Americans on the frontier, burning villages, slaughtering women and children, and destroying buffalo herds. The year brought, too, the death of Reconstruction, the post-Civil War attempt to empower people of color who had been enslaved and oppressed for centuries. In 1877, whites both North and South agreed to abandon civil rights legislation, withdraw federal troops from the South, forsake people of color to white supremacy terrorism, and acquiesce to a rising Jim Crow color line. The long-term consequences of those actions are still being felt today.

There is no doubt that 1814, 1877, and 1919 were especially bad years, but none of them can compete with the near-daily woes and mass suffering of 2020. Although individual bad days  such as the Sept 17, 1862 (Battle of Antietam); Oct. 25, 1929 (stock market crash); Dec. 7, 1941 (attack on Pearl Harbor), Sept 11, 2001 (attack on World Trade Center and the Pentagon)  may rival any one day last year, 2020 as a whole is unmatched in its overall misery.

Michael Landis teaches history at Union College, serves on the board of trustees for the Saratoga County History Center, and is the author of Northern Men with Southern Loyalties: The Democratic Party and the Sectional Crisis. Twitter: @DrMichaelLandis
A year like no other for most of us around the world will be remembered in the US and international financial markets for five major features:

The Great Disconnect Between Wall Street and Main Street: Apart from a few weeks culminating in the market lows of March 2020, stocks managed to shrug off what has been a drastic collapse in global economic activity with significant immediate and longer-term consequences. This incredible decoupling has shown no sign of slowing even as markets trade at historically elevated valuation levels. If anything, an exceptional disconnect has become larger. Stocks have set one record after another, while economies have had to deal with another wave of covid.

Explanations Chasing Price Action: Unless you are, as I am, a great believer in the overwhelming influence on markets of ample and predictable central bank liquidity, particularly from the US Fed and European Central Bank, it has been difficult to find a durable narrative to explain and predict this years exceptional prices. Indeed, rather than narratives leading market action, market action has led to consensus explanations that often proved inconsistent. There are several examples, including three conflicting political narratives that were embraced widely in mid-2020 by market participants to explain" consistently rising stocks: High prospects for the re-election of President Donald Trump with a lower-tax, less-regulation agenda; a divided government that would keep it sidelined and allow business to flourish unhindered by interference; and a Democratic Party wave that would result in huge fiscal stimulus that would boost demand.

The Dual Liquidity Phenomenon: In 2020, investors experienced illiquidity in what are the biggest and traditionally the most liquid markets and liquidity in usually illiquid segments. Specifically, March will be remembered as the moment when even flows into US Treasury bonds were disrupted sharply. A few weeks later, the Feds intervention in markets, including surprise purchases of high-yield securities, injected liquidity far and wide, and induced cross over" investors to venture well away from their normal habitat. By year-end, the deep belief in an everlasting central bank put" meant that, of all risks facing investors, those associated with liquidity are back to being the most under-appreciated.

The Search for Risk Mitigation: The more central banks have succeeded in repressing market yields on risk free" government bonds (and confronted investors with little to no income and adversely asymmetric price risk), the more investors have searched for new and more attractive ways to mitigate riskso much so that a growing number of market commentators commented during 2020 on the prospective death of the traditional 60/40 stock-bond portfolio. Many investors, especially those facing negative yields on government bonds, have ventured to other areas of the fixed-income market in an attempt to offset the risks associated with their large equity positions. What began as purchases of short-maturity investment-grade bondson the correct premise that the Fed has put them under a protective umbrella with its own buyinghas evolved to include debt with far higher default risk, such as high-yield and some emerging-market bonds. Others have adopted more of a basket approach, adding gold, Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies to government bonds.

Lack of Emerging-Market Accidents: Emerging economies have found themselves in a perfect economic storm because of covid-related disruptions. Because of the global economic sudden stop" and the geographically uneven recovery that has followed, many have seen export revenues collapse, tourism earnings disappear and inflows of foreign direct investment evaporate, with some even facing the prospects of outflows. Yet, with the exception of preexisting condition countries such as Argentina, Ecuador and Lebanon, the vast majority of emerging markets avoided debt defaults and big restructurings. Indeed, with liquidity returning quickly to financial markets, and with investors hunting for greater yields, a record level of EM bonds was issued at exceptionally low risk spreads and overall yields.

Combined, these five factors add up to a year that has given investors a great deal of what they could wish forespecially in terms of handsome returns with notably low volatility (leaving aside March). They are also factors that speak to the dominant market influence of central banks, which anchors an unhealthy co-dependent relationship that most investors are keen to continue, regardless of the declining benefits for longer-term economic and financial well-being, together with mounting collateral damage and the spread of unintended consequences.

Mohamed A. El-Erian is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist, president of Queens College, Cambridge and chief economic adviser at Allianz SE

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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Gov. Andrew Cuomo is urging residents in Black and Hispanic communities across New York to get a coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine when it becomes available, dispelling mistrust with the government, based in part the nations infamous Tuskegee Experiment.

Now, I am not a doctor, but Ive spoken to all the experts around the globe and they say the vaccine is safe and smart to take, Cuomo said in a pre-recorded message that aired Sunday during a virtual service held by Harlems Abyssinian Baptist Church.

He addressed the Tuskegee Experiment, in which the U.S. Public Health Service enrolled hundreds of African-American men in Alabama infected with syphilis  many of whom where sharecroppers who never had been to a doctor  to study the full progression of the disease, over the course of about 40 years. They provided no effective care  despite Penicillin becoming available in the 1940s  in order to track the diseases progression until an autopsy could be performed. In the 1960s, PHS officials formed a committee to review the study, but opted to continue so autopsies could be performed and analyzed.

But Cuomo said this vaccine is different, as health experts have warned that between 70% and 90% of New Yorkers would have to take it in order for everyone to be safe.

Cuomo also cited a difficulty residents in impoverished neighborhoods have had in finding COVID-19 testing, and similar concerns in regard to being vaccinated. To help in that process, he announced mobile, pop-up vaccination sites at public housing authorities, churches and community centers.

To help in that effort, a task force is being led by Attorney General Letitia James, National Urban League president and CEO Marc Morial, Secretary of State Rossana Rosado and Healthfirst president & CEO Pat Wang.

I will not take the vaccine until the vaccine is available for my group in Black, Hispanic, and poor communities around the state, Cuomo said.

Data released earlier in the year by the Centers for Disease Control showed a disproportionate ration of Black residents on Staten Island becoming infected with the virus, as opposed to white residents.

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A Woolworths and local motel are flooded and the roof of an aged care facility partially collapsed after torrential rain in central western NSW.

Parkes received 31mm of rain in just 17 minutes during the Saturday afternoon downpour.

By Sunday morning, the town was drenched with 52mm of rain by the storm that also brought damaging winds and large hailstones.

Rain and storms will continue in most of NSW with warnings of flash flooding in some areas

Part of another roof blew off and residential properties also experienced flooding.

Thunderstorms across much of NSW prompted 45 calls for assistance between 6pm Saturday and 6am Sunday, the State Emergency Service said.

Broken Hill and Parkes have been hardest hit by the extreme weather over the past few days, with Wauchope and Taree on the mid north coast also affected.

Thunderstorms across much of NSW prompted 45 calls for assistance between 6pm Saturday and 6am Sunday. Pictured: Rocks Ferry Park in Wauchope

The biggest downpour on Saturday was at Okeh to the north, which copped more than 61mm to 9am Saturday.

The SES has responded to 300 incidents state wide since New Year's Eve, including four flood rescues.

Near Parkes, a person was trapped in a car in flood water.

A driver and passengers were stranded in their vehicle in Tibooburra, in the state's west, on New Year's Eve, while at Wauchope, on the mid north coast, two people had to be rescued from rising waters late on Friday.

SES has responded to 300 incidents state wide since New Year's Eve, including four flood rescues. Pictured: road in Wauchope

Persistent, unpredictable bad weather caused dangerous flash flooding around the mid north coast, closing bridges and roads, Ilana Pender-Rose of the SES told AAP on Sunday morning.

About 1640 residents remain circled by water and cut off in Taree, Harrington and Camden Haven.

Some are expected to be isolated for weeks, others for only a few days.

There are flood alerts for the Bellinger, Hastings, Paroo and Camden Haven rivers.

The wet weather has been caused by an inland trough with upper level system support, Shuang Wang of the Bureau of Meteorology said.

Rainfall will continue throughout the state as the trough moves east, with possible thunderstorms on Sunday afternoon.

Monday 'will be a big day' across the most eastern part of the state, potentially affecting Sydney and Canberra, Ms Wang said.

'We're asking people to get ready because this probably isn't over,' Ms Pender-Rose said.

She asked people to be aware of flood risks as they return from holidays around NSW but especially on the mid north coast, where SES volunteers have set up sandbagging stations.

Sydney will be experiencing a wet few days with no signs of it ending for at least a week

Meanwhile, some areas of Australia are experiencing a proper summer with blue skies and hot sun. Pictured: Scarborough Beach in Perth

'Please take it easy, think before you drive anywhere and be aware of the flood risk of wherever you are staying,' she said.

Sydney is also in for a rainy few days. The forecast has a very high chance of rain until Tuesday, with a good chance of showers beyond that.

Swimmers were warned to avoid Bronte Beach and Narrabeen Lagoon because of pollution caused by rain. Many other swimming sites throughout the city and the Illawarra are also affected.

Across Australia, the forecast will remain wet with Melbourne, Brisbane, Darwin and Canberra to have heavy showers and even possible storms over the week.

Perth and Adelaide will remain relatively dry and sunny with Hobart forecasted to have a possible chance of showers in the next couple of days.

'Please take it easy, think before you drive anywhere and be aware of the flood risk of wherever you are staying,' Ilana Pender-Rose of the SES urges all to take care and be ready. Pictured: Resident's front yard in Broken Hill
Champaign, IL (61820)

Today

Showers this evening, becoming a steady rain overnight. Low around 65F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%..

Tonight

Showers this evening, becoming a steady rain overnight. Low around 65F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%.
Sunday, January 3, 2021

In March 1967, a lab technician came forward to say that he met Clay Shaw at Berkeley on the day before the JFK assassination, or on the day of the assassination. Here is the first report from Garrison investigator William Turner:

Turner then issued a second memo:

Researcher Paul Hoch, who worked at Berkeley, did some of his own investigating and wrote this memo:

Hoch sensibly concluded that this was most likely a case of mistaken identity.

That might have been the end of the story, butt Breitner called Turner in September 1967 with additional information. Now, he remembered that Shaw introduced himself as Clay Bertram.

It seems clear that Breitner was just getting his information from the press. The only person to use Clem as the first name of Bertrand was Perry Russo. Breitner could only have gotten that name from the press - and its not surprising that the memo says he was keeping abreast of the Garrison investigation - in fact, it was the press reports that "refreshed his memory."

This was enough to put Breitner on the list of witnesses for the Clay Shaw trial. Here is one page from a memo that listed all the witnesses - the memo that Tom Bethell leaked to the Shaw defense team.

Once the Shaw defense team had this memo, their private detective did some research and submitted the following reports on Breitner.

Needless to say, Thomas Breitner did not testify at the Shaw trial.

By the way, here is a page from an HSCA document listing individuals from the Secret Service registry from 1977 on Thomas Breitner:

Of course, Thomas Breitner is now a witness that conspiracy authors use to try and prove that Clay Shaw was Clay Bertrand. On page 387 of Destiny Betrayed, James DiEugenio writes that "William Turner talked to a man named Thomas Breitner who said that, on Shaw's trip to San Francisco, he visited the University of California and he introduced himself as Clay Bertram." On page 122 of A Farewell To Justice, Joan Mellen writes that "In California, William Turner said he discovered a man named Thomas Breitner who claimed that on the day after the assassination Shaw was introduced to him as "Bertrand."

Later in her book, on page 299, she admits that "Turner had not included Thomas Breitner's claim that Shaw had been introduced to him as "Bertrand" in California in his first report of their interview. Garrison was dubious about using Breitner..."

It's a good thing that Garrison did not use Breitner as a witness - had he done so, Breitner would have been a second Charles Spiesel.


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Elvis Presley is perhaps one of the most discussed superstars to have ever lived. Forty years after his death, the King of Rock and Roll still holds a special place in his fans hearts. There are plenty of things that most people dont know about Presley.

The star was a religious person, and even interestingly got his foundation from attending church. Religion was a significant part of Presley and was even one of the topics he discussed with his personal hairstylist. The musician usually wore a Hebrew Chai symbol around his neck.

Elvis is still a celebrated icon

Elvis Presley | Getty Images

Presley was born in Mississippi and moved to Tennessee when he was 13 years old. The musician was born 35 minutes after his twin brother Jesse Garon Presley. Unfortunately, Jesse had been stillborn. Growing up, Presley formed a close bond with his mother.

When he was 3, Presleys father was arrested for altering checks, and the family ended up losing their family home. Presley and his family had to move in with their relatives. Presleys teachers always considered him an average student.

After performing Red Foleys country song in front of the class, his teacher encouraged him to sign up for a singing contest at the fair. The performance was his first-ever public performance, and he came in fifth. The following year, a young Presley received a guitar for his birthday, although he wanted a bike.

Presley recounts being very shy and not wanting to perform in front of people. He took guitar lessons from his uncles and pastor and learned to play some notes from watching his tutors play. In high school, Presley wasnt popular with his fellow teenagers.

The situation, however, changed when he decided to compete in the Humes Annual Show. No one knew he could sing, so when he got on stage and sang Till I Waltz Again with You, his status in school changed for the better.

Presley was a triple baptized Pentecostal

When the King of Rock and Roll was a child, he was baptized by a Trinitarian Pentecostal pastor in his birth town Tupelo. As a young teenager, Presley got re-baptized by a Oneness Pentecostal pastor in Memphis.

After his death, the star received a posthumous baptism from members of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Presley and his family always attended the Assembly of God. It is here where he received his music roots and also got guitar lessons from his pastor. There are, however, varying accounts that Presley might have been a Halakhic Jew through his great-great-grandmother, Nancy Burdine.

According to Chicago Tribune, Presleys manager Colonel Tom Parker encouraged Presley to moderate his Jewish ancestry for fear of the Southern anti-Semitism. Presley also had his mothers tombstone marked with a cross and a Star of David. His mother, Gladys Presley, passed on in August 1958.

Presley wore the Hebrew Chai symbol and the Star of David around his neck

RELATED: Priscilla Presley Knew Something Was Wrong Before Elvis Presley DiedHe Was Dealing With a Lot of Issues

Although Presleys father and manager feared that the star embracing his ancestry would expose him to potential danger, the musician didnt forget his roots. He, in fact, always wore a Hebrew Chai symbol and Star of David around his neck.

The pendant around the stars neck was engraved with the letters Yod and Het, which are Hebrew words for life. Presley is also said to have died wearing the chai symbol and cross. Whenever Presley was asked why he wore the pendants around his neck, he would say that he didnt want to miss a chance of entering heaven on a technicality.

Presley died on August 1977, in the bathroom of his Graceland estate.
Tens of thousands of Iraqis chanting anti-American slogans streamed to Baghdads central square on Sunday to mark the anniversary of the US killing of top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani and Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.

The gathering coincided with increasing tensions between Iran and the United States in the last days of President Donald Trumps administration, and many in the crowd demanded revenge.

Soleimani, leader of an elite overseas unit of Irans Revolutionary Guards, was killed on Jan. 3, 2020, in a US drone strike on his convoy at Baghdad airport, an attack that took US-Iranian hostilities into uncharted waters and stoked concern about a major conflagration.

Washington had accused Soleimani of masterminding attacks by Iranian-aligned militias on US forces in the region.

Demonstrators gathering at Tahrir square in response to calls by an assortment of militia groups known collectively as the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF), which are mostly backed and trained by Iran, waved the Iraqi flag and chanted anti-American slogans such as America is the Great Satan.

Reflecting continuing regional strains, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Saturday urged Trump not to be trapped by an alleged Israeli plan to provoke a war through attacks on US forces in Iraq.

An Israeli official dismissed the accusation as nonsense and said it was Israel that needed to be on alert for possible Iranian strikes on the anniversary of Soleimanis death.

The United States blames Iran-backed militias for regular rocket attacks on US facilities in Iraq, including near the US embassy. No known Iran-backed groups have claimed responsibility.

The US military flew two nuclear-capable B-52 bombers to the Middle East in a message of deterrence to Iran last week, but the bombers have since left the region.

On Saturday evening thousands of mourners gathered on the highway that leads to Baghdad airport, where Soleimani and Muhandis were killed, in a simulated funeral procession staged in tribute to the two men.
New Delhi:

BJP Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy claimed that the construction of a grand Ram temple in Ayodhya was a matter of faith for Hindus and that there could be no compromise on this issue.

He was addressing a public talk on 'Building Sri Ram Mandir in Ayodhya Through Legal Framework' organised by ViratHindustan Sangam at Hyderabad. "The Ram temple issue is very important for our (Hindus)existence and identity and there can be no compromise on this. I would like to tell you that Ram Mandir will be built at any cost and it will be built at the place where he (Lord Ram) was born and where 'pran prathistha puja' (consecration) has taken place.

"In a petition filed in the Supreme Court, I had said it was my fundamental right to pray to Ram. It is our faith that Ram was born there and hence the 'mandir' (temple) will come up only at that place...no one can question it," said Swamy.

ALSO READ: Centre might introduce bill to build Ram temple in Ayodhya: Subramanian Swamy

He said it had been proven by the experts of the Archaeological Survey of India that there existed a temple at that site. "Babri Masjid was built on the place where Ram was born and after demolishing the Ram Mandir, the Babri Masjid was constructed," claimed Swamy.

"In 1994, the then Narasimha Rao government in anaffidavit filed before the Supreme Court had submitted that ifit was proved that there was a mandir before the mosque came up at that place, all the land would be given to Hindus. Now I told (Prime Minister) Narendra Modi to cite this thing and give the land to Hindus.

"Masjid is only a place to read namaz and it can be readanywhere, but our temples, wherein once pran prathistha pujais done, it will forever remain a mandir," Swamy claimed.

READ: Subramanian Swamy on Ram Temple issue: If Muslims don't want compromise, court will resolve dispute

The saffron leader claimed that there have been instances where mosques have been demolished for road development works and shifted to other places in Saudi Arabia and Turkey. The Supreme Court will take up the case on the Ram temple issue soon, he said.

"I will request to take up the matter on a day-to-daybasis hearing and if it is done we will win the case in fourmonths by Diwali. "Now it is for the government and the Solicitor General to inform the Court that Swamy's fundamental right plea iscorrect. Ram Mandir will be definitely built by 2018," said the Rajya Sabha MP.

There is a need for Hindus to get united, Swamy stressed. On Kashmir issue, he said, "If Pakistan attacks India,its existence will be over and it will be divided into fourparts."

With PTI inputs

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Sardar Kashmir Singh, a native of Bilaspur in Uttar Pradesh's Rampur district, hanged himself in a mobile toilet using a rope, police said

Ghaziabad: A 75-year-old farmer protesting against the Centre's new agri laws died by suicide at the Uttar Pradesh-Delhi border in Ghazipur on Saturday morning.

Sardar Kashmir Singh, a native of Bilaspur in Uttar Pradesh's Rampur district, hanged himself in a mobile toilet using a rope, police said.

Deputy Superintendent of Police of Indirapuram Anshu Jain told PTI that a suicide note written in Gurumukhi was found on him.

Singh wrote in the suicide note that the government must repeal these farm laws as these are against the interests of farmers, according to a leader of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU).

The BKU and several other farmer unions have been spearheading the protest against the legislations at various border points of Delhi for over a month now.

In the purported suicide note, Singh expressed anguish that though some people from Punjab died during the agitation, no one from Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand has sacrificed his life for the cause.

He also requested the Sikh community to help his family marry off his two granddaughters and to address the domestic problems being faced by his married daughter.

His body was handed over to his grandchildren who too were part of the protest in Ghazipur, police officer Jain said.

BKU national spokesman Rakesh Tikait expressed his profound grief at the death of Kashmir Singh.

He demanded that the government provide an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh each to the families of Kashmir Singh and another farmer who died of heart attack at the protest site on Friday.

Tikait alleged that the government was testing the patience of farmers. Till now 47 farmers have sacrificed their lives during the protest in the country, he claimed, adding that their sacrifice would not go in vain.

Thousands of farmers have been protesting at various borders of the national capital for more than a month demanding repeal of the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act.

The government has presented these laws, enacted in September, as major agriculture reforms aimed at helping farmers and increasing their income, but the protesting unions fear that the new legislations have left them at the mercy of big corporates by weakening the MSP and mandi systems.

Meanwhile, BKU media in-charge Dharmendra Malik said in a press statement that they will gherao the Uttar Pradesh Assembly from January 10 if dues of sugarcane farmers are not paid immediately.

Arrears of Rs 4,000 crore of sugarcane growers are pending, but the government is not helping them and is favouring sugar mills, Malik claimed.

A collection of working suicide prevention helpline numbers is available here. Please reach out if you or anyone you know is in need of support. The All-India helpline number is: 022 2754 6669.
A United States Federal Court has given green light for the only woman on federal death row to be executed before President-elect Joe Biden takes office. The ruling came from a three-judge panel on the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. According to reports by AP, the US District Court Judge Randolph Moss had ruled the Justice Department unlawfully rescheduled Montgomerys execution. Also, he vacated an order from the director of the Bureau of Prisons scheduling her death for January 12.

To be executed

Attorney of Montgomery, Meaghan VerGow, said that her legal team would move to a full appeals court and ask them to review the case. The woman has been convicted of killing 23-year-old pregnant Bobbie Jo Stinnett during the year 2004. As per the reports by AP, she used a rope to strangle Stinnett. She also cut the baby girl from the womb with a kitchen knife and then took the child with her and attempted to pass the girl off as her own. Her lawyers have argued that she suffers from serious mental illness.

Read: US Registers Record-high 277,000 Cases Of Coronavirus In 24 Hours, ICU At 90% Capacity

Recently, the United Nations independent human rights experts wrote to the US government expressing concerns about the planned execution of Lisa Montgomery. The group of 10 rights experts has called on the US government to consider clemency for Lisa Montgomery amid concerns that she received inadequate legal assistance during her trial in 2007. The UN rights group has said that the United States government failed to provide Montgomery with adequate legal assistance and also failed to care for the mental health conditions she suffered from. Montgomery, who was a victim of child prostitution, rape, and incest, reportedly suffered from severe mental health problems at the time of the crime, which was not considered during her judicial trial.

Read: US Customer Tips Server $2,020 At Indian Restaurant Ahead Of New Year, Internet Lauds Act

Montgomery reportedly met Stinnett online and falsely claimed to be pregnant. After scheduling a meeting with Stinnett, Montgomery went to the latter's home and killed her by strangling her from behind. She then removed the unborn child from Stinnett's womb before fleeing from the crime spot. Montgomery then introduced the child as her own but was caught after police tracked her down through online prints that she had left while communicating with Stinnett.

(with inputs from AP)

Read: US, Iran Beef Up Military Activity In Gulf Ahead Of Soleimani's First Death Anniversary

Also Read: Anthony Fauci Says US Won't Be Following UK's Step Of Delaying COVID Vaccine's 2nd Dose

(Image Credits: AP)
California Gov. Gavin Newsom holds up a vial of the new COVID-19 vaccine at Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center in Los Angeles on Dec. 14, 2020. (Jae C. Hong/Pool/Getty Images)

Campaign to Recall California Governor Gains Momentum With Large Donations

The campaign to recall Gov. Gavin Newsom is picking up steam in California following two significant six-figure contributions, the largest donations made to the effort so far.

The campaign received a $500,000 donation from Prov 3:9, a little-known Irvine-based consulting firm, and roughly $100,000 from billionaire Sequoia Capital partner Douglas Leone and his wife, Patricia, according to a recent contribution report.

According to the reportfiled by political action committee Rescue California on Dec. 29the effort to recall the governor received $1,139,082 in contributions between Dec. 17 and Dec. 24.

Annie Hyde, Rescue Californias campaign manager and finance director, told The Epoch Times that the recall effort began with the states lockdown mandates, but really started to gain momentum after the governor was widely criticized for dining as part of a group at the high-end indoor French Laundry restaurant in November after telling Californians to stay home.

What started it was the random closures, and then the real capper and sort of the national attention-getting element was the French Laundry, Hyde said. You dont want to see that kind of bad judgment in an executive.

The $500,000 contribution from Prov 3:9 was likely the firms first major political donation; the group doesnt have a major filing with the secretary of state. According to Politico, the group filed paperwork with the state in 2018 listing attorney Gordon Schaller as its California agent, Thomas Liu as the manager, and an Irvine address shared by the White Nelson Diehl Evans CPA firm, where Liu is listed as a partner.

Rescue California needs to gather nearly 1.5 million signatures on a petition to start the recall process, but is aiming for 2 million to leave room for error. On Nov. 6, a judge granted the committee an extension to continue collecting signatures until March 17, 2021.

Hyde said the committee has so far collected approximately 950,000 signatures, and expects to reach 1 million by Jan. 4.

We just sent out a million and a half letters to registered Republicans, and weve started getting our returns, Hyde said. I expect that we will get to 2 million signatures sooner rather than later, and we are pretty excited about that.

Rachel Potucek, spokesperson for the Democratic Party of Orange County, told The Epoch Times in an earlier email: It is highly unlikely that a recall would ultimately succeed. This is clearly a political stunt.

Regarding the lockdowns, she said: To protect our businesses, we must stop COVID-19. To stop COVID-19, we must listen to health experts.

Hyde said she expected to receive up to 25,000 new signatures this week alone, adding that contributing factors include Newsoms inconsistency combined with the sort of punitive measures hes randomly taken against different counties, particularly Orange County.

She encouraged those who want to get involved to sign the recall petition, or visit Rescue Californias website to download a petition and circulate it to others.

Theres a lot to be done, she said.
NEW DELHI : In a massive clean up of legacy issues, nearly one-fifth of about 5 lakh entities locked in tax litigation with the government have opted for a dispute redressal scheme, helping settle around 83,000 crore of contested amount, a top finance ministry official said on Sunday.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had in her Budget for fiscal starting April 2020 announced a Vivad se Vishwas (VsV) Scheme to settle pending disputes relating to direct taxes. It was an attempt to release 9.32 lakh crore blocked in approximately 4.8 lakh appeals pending at various appellate forums.

"Out of the pending cases, 96,000 have opted for the scheme to settle about 83,000 crore (of disputed tax)," Finance Secretary Ajay Bhushan Pandey told PTI in an interview.

Considering the surge in VsV application that got filed in December 2020 and demands of taxpayers, he said the government has extended the scheme by a month till January 31.

The entities opting for the scheme have to pay requisite tax and litigations are closed and penal proceedings dropped.

"Under this exercise, more than 1 lakh crore tax demands, which arose because of incorrect entries, have been cleaned up," he said.

The litigation and appeal cases are before the Commissioner (Appeals) and tax tribunals to higher courts and in arbitration.

Once an entity opts for the VsV scheme and pays the due tax, the cases are deemed to have been withdrawn from the forums, interest, penalty and prosecution are also withdrawn.

"We have extended the date till January 31. So, we hope to achieve a much higher figure. So that substantial number of cases which are pending will get settled under Vivad Se Vishwas scheme," the Secretary said, adding a large proportion of entities opting to settle disputes is from the private sector.

The scheme provides for settlement of disputed tax, disputed interests, disputed penalty or disputed fees in relation to an assessment or reassessment order on payment of 100 per cent of the disputed tax and 25 per cent of the disputed penalty or interest or fee.

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SAN ANTONIO  Police cracked down on four dancers and two managers at a San Antonio gentlemans club last week after the strippers allegedly revealed a little bit too much skin in front of undercover police officers.

According to a San Antonio Police Department report, officers went to Sugar's on the Northwest Side on Feb. 5 to investigate a complaint for possible prostitution going on at the club.

When they went inside, they saw two dancers pulling down the waistband of their thongs to reveal the crevice of their buttocks, which is a violation of a city ordinance prohibiting nudity in sexually oriented businesses, according to the report.

City code defines nudity as a state of dress which fails to completely and opaquely cover human genitals, the pubic region, pubic hair, the crevice of the buttocks or anus or any portion of the female breast that is situated below a point immediately above the top of the areola.

The report said two other women who appeared to be entertainers were also showing their butt cracks while standing near a bar.

The four women, identified by police as Jessica Lynn Mastbergen, Julia Marie Marks, Aurora Junco and Nora Isela Geerdes, were arrested and charged with being in violation of the city ordinance.

Two managers of the club, Enrique Avelar and Albert Cortez were also arrested for failing to comply with the ordinance, which says managers must ensure employees are following the law.

Sugar's, located at 2731 NW Loop 410, was the 8th most lucrative bar in Bexar County last year.

mdwilson@express-news.net

Twitter: @MDWilsonSA
New Delhi: India will not allow the export of the Oxford University-AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine for several months, the head of Serum Institute of India, which has been contracted to make 1 billion doses of the vaccine for developing nations, said Sunday.

With rich nations reserving most of the vaccines that will be made this year, Serum Institute  the worlds largest vaccine manufacturer  is likely to make most of the inoculations for developing countries. The ban on exports, however, means that poorer nations will probably have to wait a few months before receiving their first shots.

The vaccine was granted emergency authorization by the Indian regulator on Sunday, but on the condition that Serum Institute doesn't export the shots to ensure that vulnerable populations in India are protected, Adar Poonawalla, the company's CEO, said in a phone interview with The Associated Press.

He said that the company also has been barred from selling the vaccine on the private market.

We can only give (the vaccines) to the government of India at the moment," Poonawalla said, adding the decision was also made to prevent hoarding.

As a result, he said, the export of vaccines for COVAX  the ambitious initiative created to ensure equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines set up by the World Health Organization, vaccines alliance GAVI and CEPI, a global coalition to fight epidemics  won't begin until March or April.

Poonawalla said that Serum Institute was currently in the process of signing a larger contract with COVAX for 300-400 million doses of the vaccine. That is apart from two existing orders of 100 million doses each for the vaccine developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca, and another one from Novovax. He said the deal would be finalized in the coming weeks.

He said the first 100 million doses of the vaccine were being sold to the Indian government at a special price" of 200 rupees ($2.74) per dose, after which prices would be higher. The vaccine will be sold on the private market at 1,000 rupees ($13.68) per dose. He said vaccines could be delivered to Indian states where they were needed within seven to 10 days of the company finalizing a deal with India's government.

Poonawalla said his company was planning to give 200 to 300 million doses of the vaccine to COVAX by December 2021. He acknowledged that the company would have to balance distribution of vaccines between India and COVAX.

We cant vaccinate everybody right now. We can prioritize," he said.

Serum Institute is also negotiating bilateral agreements with individual countries including Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia and Morocco, Poonawalla said. So that at least the most vulnerable in the states of our country or in other parts of other countries are taken care off," he said.

Poonawalla said that even if all the plans by different global vaccine manufacturers were to succeed, he still anticipates a global shortage for coronavirus vaccines over the next year.

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.

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As thousands of Tibetan refugees living in India and elsewhere around the world on Sunday cast votes to elect his successor, the outgoing political leader of the community, Lobsang Sangay, said that the global poll sent out a loud and clear message to China about the inevitability of democracy in Tibet.

It sends out a message to Beijing  no matter how much you repress the Tibetan people, democracy is inevitable (in Tibet), said Sangay, the outgoing Sikyong (President) of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile (TGiE), which is formally known as the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) and based in India. It also sent a message of hope to the Tibetans in Tibet.

Sangay himself cast his vote at the headquarters of the TGiE in Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh. So did thousands of others in India, the United States and other countries, participating in the preliminary round of elections. Two candidates, who will secure maximum number of votes in the primary election, will take on each other in the final round of polling on April 11 next and one of them will beat the other to take over as the political leader of the exiled Tibetans for a five-year-term till 2026.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama has given us democracy as a gift. The elder generation (of Tibetans) has preserved it and the younger generation is practising it. It will continue to be stronger and strengthen the Tibetan freedom movement, Sangay told the DH.

He was first elected to the top office of the TGiE in 2011 and was re-elected in 2016.

He is now set to pass on the baton to his successor, who would be elected through the two-stage polling that started on Sunday.

The polling for the primary and the final elections to the 17th Tibetan Parliament in Exile (TPiE) also took place on Sunday  simultaneously with that to elect the next Sikyong.

What has added to the significance of the polling to elect the TPiE and the Sikyong of the TGiE this year is that the democratic exercise by the exiled Tibetans recently got endorsement from the United States.

The US Congress earlier this month passed the Tibetan Policy and Support Act (TPSA) of 2020, acknowledging the legitimacy of both the TPiE and the TGiE, which is formally known as the Central Tibetan Administration or the CTA. The TPSA 2020, which the US President Donald Trump signed into law recently, acknowledged the CTA as the legitimate institution reflecting the aspirations of the Tibetan Diaspora around the world and Sikyong as its President.

Tibetans living in Tibet under the rule of the Chinese Government. Sangay, however, told DH on Sunday that the global poll to elect the next Sikyong of the TGiE and the TPiE had brought about a moment of pride for them too and sent out a very encouraging message of hope to them. They will be very proud to see Tibetans all over the world are working shoulder to shoulder with other democratic nations.

The Dalai Lama set up the TGiE or the CTA on April 29, 1959, just a few weeks after he arrived in India following his escape from Tibet, which had been occupied by the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army in 1950-51. He also started introducing the Tibetan refugees in India to democratic practices since 1960s. The CTA calls itself the continuation of the government of independent Tibet.

Beijing, however, does not recognize the elections to the Sikyong and the TPiE and repeatedly asked New Delhi to shut it down. It has been accusing Dalai Lama as well as the TGiE or the CTA of running a secessionist campaign against China. A spokesperson of the communist countrys embassy in New Delhi on Wednesday issued a statement, advising the media in India to look at the economic and social progress of Tibet Autonomous Region objectively and to do more to help China-India bilateral relations move forward instead of advocating playing Tibet Card to meddle in internal affairs of China and further damage the bilateral relations.

New Delhi officially never acknowledged the existence of the TGiE or the CTA. But it did tacitly encourage the Dalai Lama to lead the exiled community to embrace democracy gradually  starting with electing the Parliament-in-Exile and then moving on to directly elect the leader of the TGiE. It was during the 2011 elections that Dalai Lama officially announced that he would be delegating his political powers to whoever would be elected democratically to the top office of the TGiE  a move, which was apparently aimed at avoiding a leadership vacuum and keeping the struggle against Chinas rule in Tibet alive beyond the lifetime of the octogenarian monk.

China also strongly reacted when the Trump Administration in October 2020 for the first time hosted Sangay, the incumbent Sikyong (President) of the CTA, at the US State Department in Washington D.C. and thus made a subtle move to lend a degree of legitimacy to the entity based in India. Earlier, in July, the US Agency for International Development or the USAID started directly providing funds to the CTA. After Trump signed the TPSA 2020 into law on December 22, China accused the US of interfering into its internal affairs.
The Vatican said Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Minsk, who was briefly prevented from reentering Belarus after he criticized the Belarusian government's harsh crackdown on opposition protesters.



Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz was allowed to return to Belarus last month after being stopped from reentering the country following a trip to Poland in August.



While there, Kondrusiewicz criticized the crackdown on protests against the contested reelection of strongman Alyaksandr Lukashenka.



It was not immediately clear whether Kondrusiewicz's resignation was expected.



The resignation was in accordance with a code that allows bishops to retire at age 75, the Vatican said in a short statement.



While in Poland, Kondrusiewicz, who is a Belarus citizen, gave an interview to a radio station calling for an end to police violence against protesters and demanding the resignation of Lukashenka.



Lukashenka, who faces ongoing protests by the opposition against his rule, accused Kondrusiewicz in November of plotting to "destroy the country.



Tens of thousands of people have taken to the streets for months, declaring that opposition candidate Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya was the real winner of the country's contested August vote. More than 30,000 people have been taken into police custody.



Scattered protests were reported in Minsk and elsewhere on January 3, as opposition groups sought to keep pressure on Lukashenka and his government. There were no immediate reports of arrests.



Tsikhanouskaya wrote on Twitter on January 3 that the archbishop would preside over his last Sunday service later that day.



"Belarusians have been truly blessed" to be under his guidance "during this difficult time", wrote Tsikhanovskaya, who remains in Lithuania after fleeing Belarus following the election.



Catholicism is the second largest religious denomination in Belarus, after Eastern Orthodoxy.

With reporting by RFE/RL's Belarus Service, AFP and Reuters
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WINONA  A pastor was killed and two other people were injured in a shooting at an East Texas church Sunday, after the pastor pulled a gun on a suspect who had been hiding out in the church, a local sheriff said.

Police had been searching for the man late Saturday in woods near Winona following a car chase. The pastor of the Starrville Methodist Church discovered the suspect hiding in a church bathroom around 9:20 a.m., Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith said at a news conference.
A dentist who offered to become an NHS Covid vaccinator has slammed the 'overload of bureaucracy' involved in the application process.

Dentist Andy Bates revealed he 'gave up' after having to wade through a huge checklist of training modules so he could qualify to administer the Covid-19 vaccine.

The learning list involves 18 modules, including vaccine administration, vaccine storage and core knowledge about jabs.

But other modules needed to administer the vaccine include one on fire safety and another on 'preventing radicalisation' - an NHS course on how to safeguard vulnerable people from being radicalised towards terrorism.

A DBS check, a passport or proof of right to work, and a highest education certificate are also required.

The NHS says the 'appropriate training and checks are necessary to handle the vaccine'.

But Dr Bates, a 56-year-old dentist based in Skipton, North Yorkshire, said the 'huge list of documents' he was asked to complete put him off.

He told the BBC: 'I am a working dentist with a dental practice. I work four days a week which gives me a day off and the weekend, so I thought I could probably help out [with] explaining things to people, being able to use a needle, being able to relax people in an environment where you're giving them a jab.

Dr Andy Bates, a 56-year-old dentist based in Skipton, North Yorkshire, said the 'huge list of documents' he was asked to complete put him off applying to provide the vaccine

The learning list involves 18 modules, including vaccine administration, vaccine storage and core knowledge about jabs

'Some of the things [training modules] are really quite sensible - like resuscitation, and recognising and managing anaphylaxis - but then you get things like preventing radicalisation, level 1 certificate required [or] safeguarding children level 2.'

He added: 'I must admit, I gave up at the second hurdle, because I'm very busy as a dentist and I do get home quite tired at night. I thought 'good grief, If I have to go through all this', I'm not [doing it].'

Mr Bates said he believes a fast-track system for registered healthcare practitioners should be made available to help speed up the process.

Those applying to be an NHS vaccinator must already have previous healthcare experience.

Applicants must provide 21 pieces of documentation to prove they have undertaken the specified training in what one former GP has described as 'deeply patronising'

An NHS spokesperson said: 'It is categorically untrue that there are any delays in covid vaccination caused by accrediting volunteers or returners.

'We are delighted that former members of NHS staff have applied to become vaccinators and actually tens of thousands of people have already completed their online training - these are being processed as quickly as possible and vaccinators will be deployed as and when they are required.

'Regardless of a person's background in healthcare, appropriate training and checks are necessary to handle the vaccine, which is why important processes are in place to make sure that former members of staff are up to speed on protocols and delivery so that vaccinators are fully equipped with the skills to safely vaccinate patients in line with Public Health England standards.'

Mr Bates' comments come after former GP of 30 years Jessica Jones, 59, who retired from her practice in Sunderland, told The Times she had completed just a quarter of the modules needed to volunteer after six hours of work across two days.

She said: 'We were asked to do fire training, radicalisation recognition and things that make you wonder if the NHS is really desperate to have us back.

'Surely we are capable of giving an intramuscular injection. If they're really desperate, they will make it less ridiculous.'

Professor Martin Marshall told the Daily Mail that 'some of these bureaucratic demands are ridiculous' and 'a box-ticking mentality is thwarting would-be NHS returnees'.

The chairman of the Royal College of General Practitioners said: 'I fear that the heavy-handed approach is not just undermining the goodwill of applicants, but is acting as a worrying deterrent to badly needed recruitment.'

Former occupational physician Celia Palmer, from London, also blasted the health service over its 'bureaucratic' system of approval for volunteers.

Former occupational physician Celia Palmer, from London, blasted the health service over its 'bureaucratic' system of approval for volunteers

It comes as the NHS prepares to begin the roll-out the new Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine on Monday - after it was given approval to be used in the UK last week.

Ahead of the new jab roll-out, scientist leading the vaccination programme have defended the decision to extend the gap between the two doses, insisting it is 'the way we save lives'.

PFIZER HITS BACK AT UK PLAN TO GIVE PEOPLE ONE DOSE NOT TWO Pfizer warned yesterday there is 'no data' to show a single dose of its coronavirus vaccine provides long-term protection after the UK scrapped its original jab rollout plan. The UK medical regulator is now recommending Covid jabs are given in two doses three months apart, rather than four weeks apart, to allow millions more people to be immunised over a shorter time period. The strategy will apply to both Pfizer/BioNTech's vaccine and the newly approved jab by Oxford/AstraZeneca, despite limited data around the effectiveness of the initial doses. It is a direct response to spiking Covid cases and hospitalisations across the UK that are being driven by a new, highly infectious strain that emerged in the South East of England in September. Virtually the whole of England is facing brutal lockdown until the spring, with Covid vaccines the only hope of ending the devastation. Health bosses now want to give as many people as possible an initial dose, rather than holding back the second doses, so more of the population can enjoy at least some protection. AstraZeneca praised the move and revealed it had tested the three-month strategy on a small sub-group of trialists in its studies. But Pfizer said there was 'no data' in its studies to show its vaccine protects against Covid when taken 12 weeks apart. In a thinly-veiled swipe at the UK, the US firm warned that any 'alternative' dosing regimens should be closely monitored by health authorities. 'Data from the phase three study demonstrated that, although partial protection from the vaccine appears to begin as early as 12 days after the first dose, two doses of the vaccine are required to provide the maximum protection against the disease, a vaccine efficacy of 95 per cent,' Pfizer said in a statement. 'There are no data to demonstrate that protection after the first dose is sustained after 21 days.' Advertisement

Professor Jonathan Van-Tam says waiting 12 weeks between jabs rather than the original three will protect those most at risk of dying from Covid-19, adding that the focus must be 'to deliver first vaccine doses to as many people, in the shortest possible timeframe'.

As the first supplies of the Oxford vaccine arrived in the UK yesterday, the Deputy Chief Medical Officer  who has become the trusted face of Downing Street press conferences during the crisis  predicted that 'tens of millions of doses' will be available by the end of March.

A senior Government source last night said that the 15 million jabs needed to protect those most at risk could be delivered by mid-March.

Vaccinating that vulnerable group is seen as crucial in releasing Britain from the crippling effects of lockdown.

Writing exclusively in The Mail on Sunday, Professor Van-Tam today rejected criticism that changing the period between the two doses of the Oxford and Pfizer vaccines is confusing and potentially dangerous.

'Simply put, every time we vaccinate someone a second time, we are not vaccinating someone else for the first time,' he says.

'It means we are missing an opportunity to greatly reduce the chances of the most vulnerable people getting severely ill from Covid-19.'

In his article for this newspaper, Prof Van-Tam says the independent Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has found the Pfizer vaccine to be 89 per cent effective against Covid-19 from between 15 and 21 days after the first dose.

That rises to 95 per cent after a second dose, but he argues that extra six per cent comes at the cost of halving the number who can get a large degree of immunity from a single jab.

He adds: 'If a family has two elderly grandparents and there are two vaccines available, it is better to give both 89 per cent protection than to give one 95 per cent protection with two quick doses, and the other grandparent no protection at all. The virus is unfortunately spreading fast, and this is a race against time.

'My mum, as well as you or your older loved ones, may be affected by this decision, but it is still the right thing to do for the nation as a whole.'

In Britain, medics will start using the initial 530,000 doses of the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab from tomorrow. The first will be administered at the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

By the end of the week, vaccines will be available at 160 hospital sites and 800 GP surgeries. Community pharmacies will also be used to deliver jabs.

The programme cannot be rolled out fast enough for crisis-hit schools and hospitals. Half of the major hospital trusts in England are dealing with more Covid-19 patients than they were at the peak of the first wave in April, and 29 out of 39 NHS Trusts have postponed most elective surgery.
ALBANY  County Executive Dan McCoy walked back his statement from earlier in the weekend that urged schools to go remote, as the Capital Region Sunday continued to be one of the region's most impacted by COVID-19 surging in New York.

In a Saturday morning press conference McCoy said county officials would be talking to school superintendents about how in-person school should switch to remote learning this week as the county saw more than 300 cases a day for the first time in the pandemic. By Saturday evening, however, McCoy had softened his message.

Albany County cannot and is not shutting down local schools, and there is not a one-size-fits-all approach to this kind of decision, McCoy said in a statement released Saturday evening. There are unique circumstances that exist within each school district, and Im confident superintendents will use their best discretion to ensure the health, safety and well-being of their students, families, faculty and staff.

County officials met with school superintendents later Saturday to discuss whether schools should close. On Sunday, a number of county school superintendents put out statements affirming they would be resuming in-person learning as normal. Only Albany and Bethlehem schools switched to remote learning in Albany County for this week. Many other school districts in surrounding counties, however, had previously decided to delay in-person learning after the holiday break.

McCoys initial recommendation for schools to go remote was prompted by 300 new overnight cases of COVID-19 Saturday (following Fridays record-breaking 346 overnight cases) and a record number of hospitalizations  133. Hospitalizations hit another high Sunday, at 142, while daily cases dropped down into the 200s.

But compared to other regions statewide, the Capital Region hit a troubling metric Sunday - the lowest percentage of intensive care unit beds available, at just 17 percent, the state reported.

As county executive, McCoy does not have the power to shut schools down  only the state can do so  but he said Saturday morning that alarmingly, were seeing more and more kids that have COVID-19, so he hoped school superintendents in the county heed the data and take precaution by switching to remote-learning or postponing the start of classes.

However, with his later statement encouraging school administration to follow their instincts, he also encouraged parents to use the recently released guidance from the CDC on making the decision on in-person learning, and to utilize the remote learning option to the extent thats feasible.

Bethlehem Central School District and Albany city schools heeded McCoys initial plea, both announcing Saturday that they would be moving to remote learning until Monday, Jan. 11. Albany students in grades 7-12 had already been remote this school year, with sixth graders following suit in December. Bethlehem students in grades 6-12 had already been remote since mid-December.

"Albany County school superintendents met with representatives from the county and Albany County Health Commissioner Dr. Elizabeth Whalen on Saturday. During that meeting, it was made clear that all available data indicate that the rate of virus transmission in schools is low, and therefore, it is safe to reopen," Marie Wiles, superintendent of Guilderland Central School District, wrote in a letter to parents.

She continued, "Last spring, we saw the effects of closing schools for all in-person learning. So far this year, we have seen that schools can open safely amid this pandemic."

But on Sunday evening, Whalens office flatly disputed Wiles assertion: "Any representation that there was a specific recommendation made or that it was said that school opening was 'safe' is simply not true, and does not convey the complexity of the discussion or the many considerations laid out," Whalen said in a statement.

Cohoes Interim Superintendent Peggy OShea said in a note to the community, Unless staffing shortages require all-remote learning or there is evidence of broader virus transmission in schools, we will remain open for in-person learning.

Meanwhile, Albany County lost two more residents to COVID-19 since Saturday  a man in his 50s and a woman in her 70s.

The countys overnight cases saw a slight reprieve Sunday, down to 222 new positive cases, with a total of 1,844 active cases in the county. The five-day average for new daily positives also decreased from 271 to 267.4.

Of the countys new COVID-19 cases, 182 did not have a clear source of infection. Thirty-five had contact with other individuals who had COVID-19, and five were healthcare workers or residents of congregate settings.

There was also a record-breaking 24 patients in the intensive care unit Sunday, with two new additions overnight.

This comes just three days after we recorded our deadliest month since the outbreak began, McCoy said in a press release. This is clearly having an impact on our hospital capacity ... Compared to other regions in the state, these are nearly the lowest rates anywhere and below the state averages.

McCoy and Whalen warned Saturday that cases will likely continue to top 300 through the first couple of weeks of January, given the holiday seasons expected effect on COVID-19 spread in households and the community at large  especially with parties the county knows occurred on New Years Eve.

So what can we do, what should we do? And the answer is: stay home, stay at home if it is at all possible for you to do this," Whalen said. "We have to now put ourselves on individual responsibility for shutdown, and to the extent possible, that is the way we can currently flatten the curve before we have widespread availability of the vaccine.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks to the media in Washington, D.C., U.S., November 24, 2020. REUTERS-Yonhap



By Jacob Fromer





The United States and European Union both denounced China's court system on Tuesday after a citizen journalist who reported on the early coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan was sentenced to four years in prison.



"The United States strongly condemns the People's Republic of China's (PRC) sham prosecution and conviction of citizen journalist Zhang Zhan on December 28," US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement. "We call on the PRC government to release her immediately and unconditionally."



A court in Shanghai found Zhang guilty Monday of "picking quarrels and provoking trouble", a broadly defined offence which carries a maximum sentence of five years and is often used by police to stifle dissent.



"Her hasty trial, to which foreign observers were denied access, shows how fearful the CCP is of Chinese citizens who speak the truth," Pompeo said, referring to the Chinese Communist Party.





EU foreign policy spokesman Peter Stano. Screen capture from YouTube



Separately, an EU foreign policy spokesman, Peter Stano, also condemned the treatment of Zhang, saying that she had reportedly been "subject to torture and ill-treatment during her detention and her health condition has seriously deteriorated".



Zhang attended her trial in a wheelchair, her lawyer said on Monday, following reports that she had tried to engage in a hunger strike while in custody.



"It is crucial that she receives adequate medical assistance," Stano said.



Zhang's sentencing on Monday came on the same day that another trial was held in Shenzhen for 10 Hong Kong pro-democracy activists, among a group of 12 who had tried to flee the city via speedboat to Taiwan in August but were detained at sea by Chinese authorities.





In this photo taken April 14, 2020 and released by Melanie Wang, Zhang Zhan eats a meal at a park during a visit to Wuhan in central China's Hubei province. AP



The EU condemned that trial as well. The court said a ruling would be handed down at a later date.



"The defendants' rights to a fair trial and due process  in accordance with international human rights law and as provided by China's Criminal Procedure Law  have not been respected," Stano said in a separate statement.



"The European Union calls for the immediate release of these 12 individuals and their swift return to Hong Kong."



Both cases demonstrate the difficult position the US and EU find themselves in as they try to balance their trade interests with China while criticising Beijing's human rights record.



Even as it condemned the two court cases on Tuesday, the EU was moving to lock down a major new investment deal with Beijing.





Pro-democracy supporters protest to urge for the release of 12 Hong Kong activists arrested as they reportedly sailed to Taiwan for political asylum and citizen journalist Zhang Zhan outside China's Liaison Office, in Hong Kong, China December 28, 2020. REUTERS-Yonhap
The United States is calling on the Chinese government for the immediate and unconditional release of citizen journalist Zhang Zhan.

In a statement released Tuesday, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the government is condemning the "sham prosecution and conviction" of the 37-year-old Wuhan whistleblower.

He also criticized the Chinese Communist Party for silencing the voices that oppose it.

"The United States strongly condemns the People's Republic of China's (PRC) sham prosecution and conviction of citizen journalist Zhang Zhan on December 28," Pompeo said in a statement.

"We call on the PRC government to release her immediately and unconditionally," he said. "The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has shown once again it will do whatever it takes to silence those who question the Party's official line, even regarding crucial public health information."

He also said Zhang's "hasty trial" shows that the communist government is "fearful" of its citizens who speak out against its lies.

During the early days of the coronavirus outbreak, CCP "restricted and manipulated" information about what was really going on in Wuhan, Pompeo pointed out.

Zhang, a Christian who reported about the government's handling of the Wuhan virus and gave firsthand accounts of the people's real condition during the outbreak on ground zero, was sentenced to four years in prison for "picking quarrels and provoking trouble" and for posting fabricated information.

She traveled to Wuhan in February 2019 to report about the outbreak. She went missing on May 14, and the following day, police brought her to Shanghai where she was taken into custody. She had been in arbitrary detention for more than seven months before she was given a trial.

While on detention, Zhang went on an extended hunger strike to protest the injustice being done to others like her. When the authorities learned of her hunger strike, they inserted a feeding tube through her nose and force fed her.

The feeding tube remained in her body for more than two months, causing her health to deteriorate quickly. Zhang complained of dizziness, stomach ache, headache, and pain in her throat and mouth.

She was not the only one who posted information about the coronavirus on social media. In December 2019, Dr. Li Wenliang, a 34-year-old doctor at the Wuhan Central Hospital, tried to warn the people about the virus. He was reprimanded by the police for spreading "rumors."

In February, Li said he tested positive for the coronavirus. He died a few days later. His death triggered a national public outrage over the CCP's suppression of information related to the coronavirus.

Chen Qiushi and Fang Bin, citizen journalists like Zhang who reported about the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak, also went missing. Chen disappeared for a time, and there are conflicting reports about whether he is back with his family or not. Fang is still missing.

Pompeo slammed the Chinese government for its treatment of these whistleblowers.

"The CCP restricted and manipulated information about the COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan from the start and brutally silenced other brave truth-tellers, such as Dr. Li Wenliang, Chen Qiushi, and Fang Bin," Pompeo said.

"Because of the CCP's gross malfeasance, the rest of the world relied heavily on uncensored reports from citizen journalists like Zhang to understand the true situation in Wuhan after the CCP-imposed strict media controls were enforced and a controllable outbreak turned into a deadly global pandemic," he added.

Pompeo said the CCP's restriction and suppression of information is "a sign of weakness, not strength, and a threat to all of us."

He emphasized that the US will continue to support the rights of Chinese citizens to freedom of speech.
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Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

To paraphrase Walt Whitman, the controversial Soldiers Monument obelisk that stood in the center of Santa Fe Plaza for 152 years loomed large and contained multitudes. A time capsule buried beneath it included local newspapers and Masonic artifacts. A plaque on its base once celebrated the heroes who had fallen in battles with savage Indians in the New Mexico Territory. Calls for the monuments removal based on its offensive language and what the obelisk represented date back at least to the 1950s.

As monuments to Confederate generals, proponents of slavery and Christopher Columbus were removed around the country this summer, Santa Fe spent June to October waiting for Mayor Alan Webber to make good on his call for the removal of the Soldiers Monument, which he called long overdue.

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On Oct. 12, Indigenous Peoples Day, a crowd of protesters toppled the obelisk. But the 33-foot shadow it had cast over issues of conquest and colonization in New Mexico had already inspired Alicia Inez Guzman, and Santa Fe Art Institute (SFAI) Story Map Fellows Christian Gering and Diego Medina to begin working on a podcast series dedicated to the swirling narratives surrounding what they call the elephant on the Plaza.

The Unsettled series is part of SFAIs monthly podcast series, Tilt. Unsettled airs in nine episodes through February 2021 on SFAIs website. Interviews in Part 1, which premiered on Dec. 7, include Alma Castro, whose parents own Cafe Castro on Cerrillos Road. Darryl Wellington, a Black writer and activist, describes growing up in Charleston, South Carolina, with the giant statue of slavery defender John C. Calhoun, which was removed in June. And Virgil J. Vigil, president of the Union Protectiva de Santa Fe, explains why he views the removal of the obelisk as an erasure of Hispanic culture.

Guzman, Gering and Medina say that the podcasts goal is to unsettle what we think we know about Santa Fe and New Mexicos past to help envision a more just future. But, for each, the work is deeply personal. Guzman weaves in stories about her family, who have lived in Truchas for generations. Gering comes to SFAI as a Native American-Salvadoran multimedia artist from San Felipe Pueblo, and Medina is an Indigenous educator-artist from Las Cruces.

Guzman says, In a way, we are the subjects of what were writing and talking about. Medina adds that the trio are concerned with educating not only New Mexicans who were born here all their lives, as the local saying goes. They also hope to find listeners who have only recently moved to Santa Fe and are ignorant of its complex historical narratives.

Aside from the schisms were addressing in this podcast to try and reconcile, theres also a sense of urgency were all feeling in understanding New Mexico history and bringing the community together, Medina says. New Mexicos gone through so many waves of settlerism and gentrification and colonization, and I think were on the verge of another one.

On the second episode, a bantering conversation between Guzman, Gering and Medina leads to the realization that the obelisk itself is not from Santa Fe. From there, the trio explore the titular idea of Youre Not From Here with help from Institute of American Indian Arts professor and dean Porter Swentzell, Santa Fe youth poet laureate Artemisio Romero y Carver, and 2018 Story Maps Fellow Heidi Brandow.

Theres a media narrative that were all these monolithic groups and we dont have separate categorical identities. Thats just not true. Its far more complicated. Theres no way to tell where identities begin and end. Were all mixed, Guzman says, explaining the podcasts dive into narratives that the trio feel have been erased from New Mexico history.

Gering adds, American society benefits from our tricultural myth of Pueblo, Spanish and Euro-American people. I dont know when that existed. Its always been more complex than that.

Episode 3 is dedicated to Oga Pogeh (White Shell Water Place, the Tewa words for the original settlement in Santa Fe) and the importance of Native land acknowledgments. Gering and Medina created a coloring book devoted to Oga Pogeh last spring as part of the Culture Connects Midtown Project. The podcast producers are devoted to folding as many perspectives as possible into the Unsettled project, though they note that Mayor Webber has not responded to an interview request.

At the heart of Unsettled is a deep reverence, Medina says, for the land of New Mexico and the people who populate it. This podcast is going to be an awakening, I think. Its going to push people to understand their place in this landscape and how they want to move forward as the best relatives and community members they can be.

The Unsettled podcast airs new episodes every Monday in nine parts at: sfai.org/event/tilt-podcast-5.
Afghan Charge d'Affaires, Tahir Qadiry, on Sunday, December 3, applauded Indias decision to grant emergency use to Serum Institute of India for Covishield, that is, their COVID-19 vaccine. Taking to Twitter, Qadiry termed it as a good decision for science and India. Also, Serum Institute of India Chief Executive Officer Adar Poonawalla took to his Twitter as he said that the vaccine is safe, effective and ready to roll-out in the coming weeks.

Read: As India Approves 2 Covid Vaccines, Here's What DCGI Spoke On Serum Institute's Covishield

Good news for science and for India https://t.co/M06oflj7Lc  Tahir Qadiry   (@tahirqadiry) January 3, 2021

'Good news'

Adar also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan and Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI). With this, he also thanked the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Earlier today, Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) VG Somani announced that the vaccines of Serum Institue of India (Covishield) and Bharat Biotech (Covaxin) have been granted permission for restricted use in an emergency situation.

According to the reports by ANI, VG Somani, DCGI, during a media briefing said,  After adequate examination, CDSCO has decided to accept the recommendations of the Expert Committee and accordingly, vaccines of M/s Serum and M/s Bharat Biotech are being approved for restricted use in emergency situation and permission is being granted to M/s Cadila Healthcare for conduct of the Phase III.

Read: Dr. Naresh Trehan Says, 'No Doubt On Covishield', Praises Frontline Health Workers

Happy new year, everyone! All the risks @SerumInstIndia took with stockpiling the vaccine, have finally paid off. COVISHIELD, India's first COVID-19 vaccine is approved, safe, effective and ready to roll-out in the coming weeks. pic.twitter.com/TcKh4bZIKK  Adar Poonawalla (@adarpoonawalla) January 3, 2021

The massive development comes a day after the Subject Expert Committee (SEC) of the Central Drugs Standards Control Organisation (CDSCO) made recommendations to the Drugs Controller General of India to grant permission for restricted emergency use of the Serum Institute of India (SII) and Bharat Biotech's vaccines.

As per an official release, the SEC met on Friday and Saturday and made its recommendations in respect of the accelerated approval process request of the SII, Bharat Biotech International Ltd as well as about phase-III trials of Cadila Healthcare Ltd.

Read: Afghanistan Calls Out Pakistan On Taliban Presence, Says 'it Will Challenge Peace'

Also Read: Global Community Should Work To Remove Artificial Transit Barriers Of Afghanistan: India At UN

(Image Credits: ANI/Twitter)
The first of 530,000 Oxford jabs will be given out today as Matt Hancock hails a 'pivotal moment,' in the war on Covid - but professor warns UK won't two million weekly doses until February.

In the biggest UK mass vaccination drive ever, half a million doses of the Oxford AstraZeneca jab will be made available for vulnerable people this week with 'tens of millions' promised by April.

The first people have begun to be administered with the dose at Churchill Hospital in Oxford this morning.

Brian Pinker, 82, was first in line to get the jab, followed by Trevor Cowlett, 88.

Professor Andrew Pollard, director of the Oxford Vaccine Group, was third in line to be injected with the vaccine he helped to develop

Chiefs at AstraZeneca had previously suggested up to 2million doses a week could be ready by mid-January.

But that target could be further off than expected, Professor Andrew Hayward told Good Morning Britain today: 'Concern is that capacity issues in manufacturing mean that we don't get to those levels maybe until February for example.

'Of course the earlier we can vaccinate people the better and the sooner we will be able to move beyond this.'

Health Secretary Matt Hancock told Times Radio increasing the country's manufacture capacity was 'a big medium-term project'.

In a statement, Mr Hancock said today marked a 'pivotal moment,' in the country's fight against 'this awful virus'.

Brian Pinker, 82, was the first person to receive the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine during today's roll-out. Nurse Sam Foster administered the jab at Churchill Hospital in Oxford

Mr Pinker was quickly followed by Trevor Cowlett, 88, at the start of a 'pivotal' day in the fight against coronavirus, which will see more than half a million doses injected

Professor Andrew Pollard, director of the Oxford Vaccine Group, was third in line to be injected with the vaccine he helped to develop

Vaccines may not work against mutated South African Covid variant Coronavirus vaccines could be ineffective against the highly-infectious South African mutation, a scientist who helped develop the Oxford jab has warned. Sir John Bell, regius professor of medicine at Oxford University, said the African strain is more concerning than the Kent one. Vaccines are believed to be effective against the highly-infectious UK variant VUI-202012/01 currently causing a massive spike in cases across the country. But he said the South African variant 501.V2 - detected in two locations in Britain - has 'really pretty substantial changes in the structure of the protein' meaning vaccines could fail to work. The Covid vaccine protects against the disease by teaching the immune system how to fight off the pathogen. It creates antibodies - disease-fighting proteins made and stored to fight off invaders in the future by latching onto their spike proteins. But if they are unable to recognise proteins because they have mutated, it means the body may struggle to attack a virus the second time and lead to a second infection. Advertisement

Elderly and infirm people in Oxford, London, Brighton, Morecambe in Lancashire and Nuneaton in Warwickshire are due to be first to receive the jab.

A total of 530,000 doses will be made available at 540 GP vaccination sites and 101 hospitals this week.

The NHS has ordered 100million doses which it is hoped will free the country from Covid-19.

An army of current and former NHS staff have applied to give the jabs, with tens of thousands having already completed their training.

The vaccine is the second to be made available after a million Britons received the Pfizer-BioNTech jab.

The Oxford vaccine is easier to use, as it does not require storage at extremely low temperatures.

Yesterday Boris Johnson hailed the UK's vaccine progress. He told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show: 'The UK remains the first country to get a stage three approved vaccine into people's arms.

'Vaccinating a million people, as we have already, we exceed the whole of the rest of Europe put together.'

He also promised that 'tens of millions' of doses will be administered in 'the next three months'.

A total of 524,439 people already vaccinated are aged 80 and over  around one in five of that age group.

Supermarket giant Tesco and chemist Boots have offered to help with the rollout of the vaccines.

Boots is opening three Covid-19 vaccination sites in Halifax, Huddersfield and Gloucester while Tesco will help distribute the Oxford vaccine.

Mr Johnson has said there will be 530,000 doses of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine at around 540 GP vaccination sites and around 101 hospital sites tomorrow.

WHERE ARE THE UK'S MASS VACCINATION CENTRES The UK has approved 40 large-scale vaccination centres. Here is a list of those with finalised locations: 1. Edinburgh International Conference Centre 2. Newcastle, Centre for Life Science Park 3. Southern Trust  South Lake Leisure Centre, Craigavon 4. Northern Trust  Seven Towers Leisure Centre, Ballymena 5. Western Trust  Foyle Arena, Londonderry 6. Omagh Leisure Complex, Omagh 7. Lakeside Leisure Forum, Enniskillen 8. St Helens, Totally Wicked Stadium 9. Manchester Tennis & Football Centre 10. Derby Arena 11. Birmingham  Millennium Point and Black Country Living Museum, Dudley 12. Leicester Racecourse 13. Stevenage, Robertson House Conference Centre 14. London Nightingale Hospital at the ExCel Centre 15. Epsom Racecourse, Surrey 16. Bristol, Ashton Gate football stadium 17. Exeter, Sandy Park rugby stadium Advertisement

In total, there are 730 sites fit to administer the vaccine.

On top of this, there are 180 GP services and 100 hospitals which will all become operational this week.

By Friday, 1,000 locations will be up and running.

The Ministry of Defence has deployed 10 military planners to assist the Government's Vaccine Taskforce.

The army will also help on the ground - marking its biggest peacetime operation on British shores.

Upwards of 5,000 personnel will helping with distribution and testing.

Rollout of the Pfizer/BioNTech jab began almost a month ago.

But both jabs require second doses which will now take place within 12 weeks rather than 21 days as initially planned to 'protect the greatest number of people in the shortest time', health chiefs said.

The Government was yesterday forced to deny claims there was a 'postcode lottery' as GPs in some areas have not agreed to deliver the vaccine.

Vaccine Deployment Minister Nadhim Zahawi said: 'The overwhelming majority of GPs have opted to take part in delivering the vaccine through primary care networks.

'In areas where they have not yet agreed to take part, the NHS will deliver vaccinations in hospital hubs or dedicated centres.'

Earlier this month, AstraZeneca boss Pascal Soriot promised the firm will be able to deliver two million doses a week by mid-January - meaning 24million could be immunised by Easter.

But an insider has claimed that the target may be too big for the NHS to handle and said 'we have never said we will do two million jabs a week'.

The source told The Daily Telegraph: 'We have to manage expectations. You cannot vaccinate two million people a week from nothing.'

In the biggest UK mass vaccination drive ever, half a million doses will be made available for vulnerable people this week with 'tens of millions' promised by April. Pictured: Volunteer is given a dose of the Oxford Covid vaccine

The NHS says the logistics of the distribution - including training volunteers and preparing sites - may mean the two million-a-week target may take longer to hit than promised.

As it stands, around 250,000 people are getting the jab every seven days.

England's chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty this week warned that vaccine availability issues will 'remain the case for several months' and while a jab shortage 'is a reality that cannot be wished away.

The 530,000 doses ready for distribution tomorrow - along with a further 450,000 expected in the coming days - are a fraction of what was promised.

Officials initially said that 30million doses would be ready by the end of the year.

The UK's vaccine tsar toned the estimate down to 4million in November, citing manufacturing problems.

India, on the other hand, is preparing to deliver 50million doses of the Oxford vaccine that it has manufactured and stockpiled.

Official figures show there had been a further 54,990 lab-confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UK, up 80 per cent from last week's case figure of 30,501, while the number of deaths had increased by 43 per cent from last Sunday to 454

Elderly and infirm people in Oxford, London, Brighton, Morecambe in Lancashire and Nuneaton in Warwickshire are due to be first to receive the jab. Pictured: A volunteer is given the Oxford vaccine

Two thirds of England's population is now in Tier 4, with the remainder living in Tier 3 lockdowns. Only the Isles of Scilly, off the coast of Cornwall, is in the looser Tier 2

Doses of the Oxford University/AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine were logged as they arrived at the Princess Royal Hospital yesterday

The vaccine can be kept at normal fridge temperature. The jab from Pfizer and BioNTech, on the other hand, needs cold storage of around -70C. Pictured: Assistant Technical Officer Lukasz Najdrowski unpacks doses of the Oxford University/AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine yesterday

London is now the epicentre of the outbreak and its hospitals are being stretched with the flood of patients. The weekly rate of cases is double the national average at 858 per 100,000

Among those to be vaccinated with the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab from next week will be vulnerable NHS staff and social care workers who are at risk. Pictured: Assistant Technical Officer Lukasz Najdrowski unpacks doses on Monday

Hundreds of people are expected to be vaccinated per day at the Princess Royal Hospital site, with efficiency expected to increase after the first few days of the programme, according to Dr Findlay

Yesterday Sir John Bell, regius professor of medicine at Oxford, who was involved in development of the jab with AstraZeneca, said successive UK governments had left the nation unable to manufacture vaccine at the pace needed in a pandemic.

TONY BLAIR URGES GOVERNMENT TO STEP UP VACCINATION PROGRAMME Former PM Tony Blair urged the government to target five million vaccinations a week - saying it was hard to see how schools could stay open otherwise. He told Times Radio: 'If I was the prime minister right now I would be saying to the team in Downing Street, 'I need you to give me a plan to get this up to five million (vaccinations) a week'. 'Provided we've got the vaccine available and we should have them available. I mean AstraZeneca will, not this week or next week but the week after, be able to get up to two million doses a week, that's just AstraZeneca. 'They could probably do more if they knew that the system was capable of absorbing the amount of vaccines that they would produce. 'You should get clearance for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine at the end of January, that's when they complete their trials and then we should be able to get that on stream as well in February.' Mr Blair said a 'step change' in the vaccination programme was the only real prospect of keeping children in schools. He said: 'On the one hand, it's a disaster for school children, particularly poorest school children if they're not getting educated. 'But it's also completely understandable that teachers and parents say, not because they think their children the risk to children is very, very small, it's the risk to transmission rates and it's the risk to teachers and parents, and therefore to those that their parents mix with. 'So for all of those reasons, it just emphasises yet again why it's so important to get vaccination under way.' Advertisement

A Government spokesman said: 'We have long recognised the importance of vaccine manufacturing, having announced an innovation centre in 2018 and invested 93million [last year] to rapidly accelerate its construction.'

In a bid to ration supplies, the Government has pledged to give single doses of the Pfizer vaccine to as many people as they can - rather than give a second dose to those already vaccinated.

But manufactures of both the Pfizer and Oxford/AstraZeneca jabs have rubbished distribution concerns, saying there is no problem with supply.

There are 15 million doses of the Oxford vaccine waiting to be packaged up - while 'millions' of doses have been shipped over by Pfizer.

A total of 24 million vials are ready to be used or acquired on short notice - with a further 140 million doses of the two jabs on order from the Government.

Meanwhile, there have been concerns that tens of thousands of recently retired GPs, surgeons, and nurses are being put off helping out with the nation's vaccine drive due to the bureaucracy involved.

Criticism has been mounting of 'ridiculous' demands such as a requirement to be certified in fire safety, or trained in preventing radicalisation.

Asked about the complaints, Mr Johnson said: 'I think it's absurd and I know that the Health Secretary is taking steps to get rid of that pointless bureaucracy.'

Former PM Tony Blair urged the government to target five million vaccinations a week - saying it was hard to see how schools could stay open otherwise.

He told Times Radio: 'If I was the prime minister right now I would be saying to the team in Downing Street, 'I need you to give me a plan to get this up to five million (vaccinations) a week'.

'Provided we've got the vaccine available and we should have them available. I mean AstraZeneca will, not this week or next week but the week after, be able to get up to two million doses a week, that's just AstraZeneca.

'They could probably do more if they knew that the system was capable of absorbing the amount of vaccines that they would produce.

'You should get clearance for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine at the end of January, that's when they complete their trials and then we should be able to get that on stream as well in February.'
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Athens residents lined up to cast their votes for two U.S. Senate seats at polling places across Athens-Clarke County on Tuesday. The outcome of these runoff elections will determine whether Republicans continue to hold the Senate majority or Democrats gain control of both houses of Congress.
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The Week

After publicly expressing "grave concerns" over Arizona's audit of the 2020 election results, Secretary of State Katie Hobbs (D) was "stripped" of her ability to "defend election lawsuits" by the state's Republican-led House Appropriations Committee, reported Arizona's ABC 15 on Tuesday. The duty was transferred "exclusively" to Attorney General Mark Brnovich (R) through the end of the 2023 fiscal year. Democrats say the move is retaliation against Hobbs' defense of Arizona voters in "lawsuits filed by the State Republican Party and others challenging Arizona's election results," per ABC 15. "It can't be just a coincidence" that Republicans are blocking a "vocal critic of the audit," writes Elvia Diaz for azcentral.com. Democratic State Rep. Randy Friese reportedly called the move "troubling," "disturbing," and "quite nefarious." Furthermore, the Appropriations Committee removed Hobb's "oversight of the Capitol Museum," ABC 15 reports, after Hobbs angered state lawmakers when she "flew a gay pride flag from the building's balcony" in 2019. Katie Hobbs has conscientiously supervised elections in Arizona. Republicans there just stripped her of some powers -- including her ability to litigate election lawsuits. They gave control of that process to the state AG, a Republican. This is how democracy gets dismantled. https://t.co/VamVgXfxgR  Tim O'Brien (@TimOBrien) May 25, 2021 In an article for azfamily.com, Hobbs labeled the entire audit "a political stunt," adding that it is "dangerous to people's safety and to the integrity of our democracy." She later tweeted a photo on Tuesday of a fruit basket sent by Stacey Abrams and Fair Fight, saying that's how "you know you're doing it right." When @staceyabrams, @gwlauren, and their crew at @fairfightaction send you a fruit basket, you know you're doing it right. pic.twitter.com/yQ11UdmXso  Katie Hobbs (@katiehobbs) May 25, 2021 Read more at azfamily.com. More stories from theweek.comBiden says he underestimated Trump's ability to spread 'the big lie'Biden needs some braggadocioKristen Clarke confirmed to lead DOJ's Civil Rights Division
The distribution of over 36,000 doses of vaccine requested by the vaccination centers in each county starts on Sunday, the vaccination being thus extended, starting Monday, in all counties, the National Committee for the Coordination of Vaccination Activities against COVID-19 (CNCAV).

"Starting tomorrow, January 4, 2021, the Stage I vaccination will be extended throughout Romania. Thus, over 90% of the 376 vaccination centers serving medical staff and the staff from medico-social centers will become operational at national level. For the proper running of the vaccination process, the distribution of over 36,000 doses of vaccine requested by the existing vaccination centers in each county will kick off during the day. As per the instructions, the county public health directorates and the Public Health Directorate of the Municipality of Bucharest centralize the need for vaccines from all the assigned vaccination centers and convey it, until 13:00 hrs of the day prior to the actual vaccination, to the Regional Storage Center to which they belong," reads a press release sent on Sunday to AGERPRES.

The quoted source mentions that the Regional Storage Center prepares, in view of the distribution, the necessary quantity of vaccines, according to the received requests/schedules and distributes it, accordingly, to the DSPs and the vaccination centers.

The National Committee for the Coordination of Vaccination Activities against COVID-19 is an inter-ministerial body, without legal personality, under the direct subordination of the General Secretariat of the Government and the coordination of the Prime Minister.
At the time, Napa County Fire Chief Geoff Belyea remembers he believed there would never be another fire season like 2008.

But he thought the same after the Valley Fire in 2015, and again amid the Atlas and Tubbs fires in 2017. Asked if he now believed Napa County would see increasingly severe fire seasons going forward, Belyea paused.

I dont know if you can say that we have seen the worst, but I dont know if you can say the worst is yet to come, he said.

Its hard to speak in certain terms about what future fire seasons might bring for Napa County and the North Bay. What is for certain, experts say, is that warmer and drier conditions across California are giving way to wildfires more frequent, chaotic and destructive than ever before.

And as those conditions exacerbate wildfire risk, fires pose now not just a threat to rural communities, but to the more urban, densely populated portions of the state. In Napa County, more than 1,200 homes  not all of them rural  have been lost to wildfires over the past three seasons.

At a press conference amid the Glass Fire in early October, CalFire Director Chief Thom Porter warned that every acre in California can and will burn someday.

Its a nightmarish statement, but already true for some of the states communities. Paradise, a town of almost 27,000 in Butte County, burned down almost completely in the Camp Fire in 2018. The year before, the Santa Rosa neighborhood of Coffey Park had practically been razed by the Tubbs Fire. More than 1,200 homes were lost.

There have been some close calls in Napa County, too, over the last half-decade; just this last year, the Glass Fire burned three homes inside St. Helena city limits. Angwin, an unincorporated community to the countys northeast, was under evacuation order twice this last fire season alone, and Calistoga, the northern-most city in the county, has been evacuated in two of the last five fire seasons.

Predictions aside, Napa Countys cities have taken increasing interest  and urgency  in mitigating their fire risk. The city of Calistoga recently approved $80,000 for a contract with Anchor Point Group, a Colorado-based fire management company, to prepare state-of-the-art wildfire maps and response plans, according to Calistoga Fire Chief Steve Campbell.

The maps will show potential paths a fire could take toward the city, Campbell explained, taking into account fuel sources based on detailed digital reports. The project had been in the works even before this most recent fire season, though drafts had to be updated after this years Glass Fire to reflect burn areas near the city.

(The updated maps) will pretty much predict where the fire is going to go and how much time (well) have before it reaches the community, Campbell said, adding the maps should be ready by early 2021. Once we get a report, we can take a look at an area and say  lets go in and cut that swath of brush out, (eliminating) that threat. It will definitely help us do pre-planning and mitigation work.

Still, the cost of doing significant mitigation work can be prohibitive, according to Napa Communities Firewise Foundation Board Member Elaine Honig. The county has allocated $100,000 each year for the last 12 years to the foundation, she said, which is then divided between each of the 10 fire-safe councils in Napa County. Contextually, Honig said, thats a pittance.

It doesnt go very far  everyones been sort of nibbling around the edges, Honig said of the funding. We need something like $4 million to do the work. The $100,000 is not sustainable. When that (contribution) was set up, it was a different world.

St. Helenas Firesafe Council is currently seeking $10,000 to fund a study of how to prevent and limit the severity of fires in the region, the councils Grant Showley said, a quest that took on new meaning after the Glass Fire threatened the city to both its east and west. Additional funds would be needed to actually implement mitigation measures, like clearing of hillsides and improving existing fire roads, Showley said.

Asked if the county planned to increase its investment in fire mitigation for its cities, County Supervisor Diane Dillion said it was not clear the county had the financial capacity to make any additional contributions. County officials were intensifying their efforts with regard to working with our representatives in Sacramento on more funding for fuels mitigation, she added.

The county will also look at potentially changing the way it distributes the $100,000 annually, Dillion said, explaining thered been some discussion that dividing it between the 10 different Firesafe Councils makes the funding not as efficient or effective as it could be.

Conversations about mitigating fire risk will almost certainly shape the future of the city of Napa, according to new Napa Fire Chief Zach Curren; it is already changing the way the city is going about updating its general plan, he said, and will likely play a role in future conversations about the right level of development in the citys wildland areas.

At the city level, a big responsibility of the government is to provide as much education and resources to the community as possible, Curren said. A number of groups, backed by city officials, have sprung up over the past few years to further that mission, according to Curren, including Preparados, which works with the citys Spanish speaking community, and Napa Valley Community Organizations Active in Disaster (COAD), a network of local nonprofits and volunteers.

County and city officials have long worked in unison to promote steps individual homeowners can take to lessen their risk from wildfires, he added: that includes creating defensible space; clearing any dense, forested areas of brush; and choosing less-flammable materials when building or renovating a home. That messaging took on a new sense of importance after 2017, Curren said.

The fires then were very close to the city limits on both sides. It had been a long time since there was a fire of that magnitude so close to Napa, and it was a very intense feeling, he said. I think that brought general awareness to the threat of wildfire.

The Napa Communities Firewise Foundation is preparing a Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP), partially funded by a Cal Fire Climate Change Investment Fund Fire Prevention Grant, according to the foundations website. The cities of Calistoga and St. Helena have signed on as stakeholders; so has the Napa Fire Department. Supervisor Dillion, referencing the plan, said she believed state-level officials would soon ratchet up building code requirements and perhaps even require a certain amount of defensible space on private property.

Fire-proofing is not just for homes in rural areas of the county, Curren said; its also important even within the downtown core of the city of Napa, where he often sees trees that overhang roofs and stagnant piles of leaves or pine needles  all hazards in the event of a wildfire. Strong winds can blow live embers incredible distances, Curren explained, rendering even urban properties at risk.

We certainly urge people not to feel a false sense of security just because theyre deep within the city limits, he added.

PHOTOS: NAPA COUNTYS NEW FIRE REALITY

You can reach Sarah Klearman at (707) 256-2213 or sklearman@napanews.com.

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BERKELEY (BCN)

A man was arrested following a store robbery that led to an officer-involved shooting Saturday evening in Berkeley, police said.

Shortly after 8:20 p.m., officers responded to a robbery report of at the Walgreens store at 2190 Shattuck Ave.

Officers found and attempted to detain the suspect, a 51-year-old man, walking on Bancroft Way after the robbery.

The suspect evaded officers and walked into the courtyard of the Tang Center at 2222 Bancroft Way, and threatened officers with a chain, according to police.

A negotiator-trained officer took steps to de-escalate the situation with the suspect, who continued to speak and act in an erratic manner, police said.

When the officers attempted to take the man into custody, he approached them, leading officers to deploy less-than-lethal ammunition, and one officer using a firearm.

The suspect was injured and taken to a hospital, but is in stable condition.

The incident is being investigated by the Berkeley Police Department's Homicide Unit and its Internal Affairs Unit. Additionally, the District Attorney's Office will be notified of the investigations and the involved officer will be placed on administrative leave, police said.

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Bengaluru:

Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Monday said that the Goods and Services Tax, to be rolled out in just over a month, will not only check evasions but also help India evolve as a more tax-compliant society.



It certainly will be a more efficient tax and one of the important changes it will bring about is (that) it will not only check evasions, but also help in evolving India as a more tax complaint society, Jaitley said.



Jaitley was speaking after inaugurating the new campus of the National Academy of Customs, Indirect Taxes and Narcotics (NACIN) here, which will train officers of Central Board of Excise and Customs, besides officers of VAT department in the new GST regime, to be implemented from July 1.



He said training academies like Nacin have a very?vital role to play to forge a proper coordination between?taxation authorities of the Centre and the states, to implement GST, which is a product of Federal India.

ALSO READ: TV, AC to cost dearer while smartphones to get cheaper under GST regime



The new indirect tax is a product of Federal India. Therefore, the coordination between taxation authorities of? states and the Centre will be important. It is therefore extremely important that tax training academies such as? (NACIN) will have a vital role to play, he said.



The minister said the amalgamation of various indirect taxes under GST in one price is itself a monumental taxation change, which requires personnel to upgrade their skills and knowledge, as it evolves while administering.



The elimination of interaction between the assessing authority and taxpayer will minimise harassment and bring greater accountability into the system, Jaitley said. He also said that there probably would be a single interface of taxation authorities instead of multiple interfaces.



The all powerful GST Council had at the end of its two-day meet at Srinagar on May 19, finalised four tax rates of 5, 12, 18 and 28 per cent for services including telecom, insurance, hotels and restaurants in the biggest tax reform since Independence.



The rates are in line with those finalised for goods and with this, rates of all items except a handful including gold, have been decided ahead of the July roll out of GST.

ALSO READ: Mercedes to slash Made in India model prices by up to Rs 7 lakh to pass on GST benefits to consumers

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San Antonios coronavirus numbers continued to climb over the New Years holiday, and officials pounded the increasingly urgent drum beat to avoid large gatherings, wear that mask when in public and stay at home as much as possible.

COVID-19 is spreading at an alarming rate throughout our community, Mayor Ron Nirenberg said Saturday. We need to stop transmission of the virus because our hospitals are stressed.

After not reporting numbers Thursday or Friday because of the holiday, San Antonio Metro Health reported Saturday that a total of 469 new patients with COVID-19 had been admitted to hospitals over the previous three days, pushing the number in the hospital Saturday to 1,163.

And those in the hospital with the virus are becoming sicker, with 337 in intensive care Saturday, up from 286 a week ago, and 198 requiring ventilators to help them breathe, up from 156 last Saturday.

On ExpressNews.com: Get the latest update on coronavirus and a tracking map of U.S. cases

There were 1,298 new cases of coronavirus reported Saturday, bringing the seven-day average to 1,197. So far, 119,355 people in Bexar County have tested positive for the virus.

Metro Health numbers showed 970 new cases on New Years Day and 1,402 new cases Thursday.

Hospital leaders penned an open letter to San Antonians on Thursday, adding their voices to the call for residents to take precautions to slow the spread of the virus.

In their letter, the eight hospital presidents urged the same things health care officials and community leaders have been encouraging for months: wear a mask over nose and mouth when in public, keep at least 6 feet away from people who arent from your household, avoid large gatherings and wash your hands frequently.

We know some of these things are easy to do, they said. Others are hard, especially after such a long time.

On ExpressNews.com: Stay home and stick to COVID-19 safety rules, San Antonio, or risk overloading health care system, hospital leaders warn

Many residents have thanked nurses and doctors for their tireless work, the leaders noted, but the best way to demonstrate gratitude today is a collective commitment to do the things we all know can help prevent an even greater crisis.

These people have dedicated their lives to caring for your family members as they would their own. Without your help, they will face an extremely challenging surge of patients. No one wants that to happen, they added.

Hospitalizations reached their highest point to date July 13 with 1,267 coronavirus patients and the hospital presidents warned San Antonio is on the verge of surpassing that record.

That same day, there were 421 patients in intensive care with 257 patients using ventilators.

The health authority also reported eight new coronavirus deaths Saturday, which took place between Dec. 19 and Dec. 21. The deceased include an Anglo man in his 50s; one Hispanic man and one Anglo man in their 60s; four people in their 70s, a Hispanic man and woman, as well as an Anglo man and woman; and an Anglo woman in her 80s.

With these numbers, the death toll in Bexar County rose to 1,546.

On ExpressNews.com: It did not feel comfortable  San Antonios COVID-19 testing sites seeing larger crowds, patients worried about safety precautions

Lines of people were snaking across local testing sites up until New Years Eve, but those hoping to get free asymptomatic testing from the city will have to wait again until Monday. The testing sites at the Cuellar and Ramirez community centers and the AT & T Center closed for the holiday weekend.

However, the Cuellar and Ramirez sites, as well as the Freeman Coliseum, opened again Saturday for symptomatic testing. No appointment is required and all three are open Monday through Sunday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Additional testing sites and other information is available on the citys website, COVID19.SanAntonio.gov.
The state health department has decided to take penal action against the private pathological laboratories if they indulge in rapid tests for diagnosing dengue in violation of the guidelines of the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP).

According to the WHO and NVBDCP guidelines, NS1 Elisa and IgM Elisa are the only recognised pathological tests to detect the dengue virus. These tests are highly expensive and it takes at least 24 hours to get reports. But the rapid test is cheaper and virtually gives instant results within 15 to 20 minutes. The rapid test does not give accurate results always.

The director of health services (DHS), Dr BR Satpathi, held a meeting with the representatives of 30 premier private laboratories and Kolkata Municipal Corporations health officials at Swasthya Bhaban .

We have alerted the private labs not to indulge in rapid tests to detect the dengue virus. This type of test has not been approved by the WHO and the ministry of health. A section of private laboratories indulges in this type of unethical serological test just to earn more. We have asked them to conduct the NS1 Elisa and IgM Elisa tests to detect the dengue virus accurately, Satpathi said.

Several labs are also not regularly sending reports of dengue tests to the health department.

We have asked them to send the reports regularly to our department in order to keep a watch on the prevalence of the virus, the DHS said. The health department has asked the private laboratories to charge a uniform amount for the NS1 Elisa and IgM Elisa tests.

There is no uniformity in the dengue test charges. Several labs are also asking for exorbitant amounts for the same type of tests. Considering the plight of patients, we have proposed to them to ensure that the charge doesnt vary. I hope they will consider our proposal, he added.

The KMC is advocating these two types of Elisa tests approved by WHO and NVBDCP.

The government should launch a drive for carrying out a massive awareness programme on dengue diagnosis tests at a time when the viral outbreak is ravaging Delhi. Many patients rush for rapid tests but these cant give an accurate result. Its also a fact that the charge for the Elisa tests is too expensive for the poor and middle class patients, said a senior microbiologist attached with a staterun medical college in the city.

Private labs charge between Rs 1,500 and Rs 2,000 for a NS1 or IgM test.
A garda mole tipped off terror chief Michael McKevitt that his Dundalk home was to be raided by police, a damning collusion report revealed.

Details about how a rogue Dundalk-based cop warned the then Provo quartermaster to remove false passports from his house were contained within the Smithwick Tribunal report in 2013.

The investigation was set up in 2005 to examine allegations that Irish police officers had helped the IRA murder RUC Chief Superintendent Harry Breen and Superintendent Bob Buchanan in March 1989 following a meeting at Dundalk Garda Station.

The probe ruled there was collusion in the killings.

Gardai were tapping the Louth home phone of McKevitt when a caller who rang the line in January 1990 was recorded telling the republican: "You will be having visitors in the morning.

"Make sure they don't get that little booklet or what they are looking for."

When the Garda hit McKevitt's house, their search for false passports turned out to be unfruitful.

Giving evidence to the Smithwick Tribunal, Detective Inspector Dan Prentry said the IRA boss had received a message "sufficient to tell him that the guards were coming to his home".

The now retired cop said he did not recognise the voice that gave McKevitt the warning.

He added: "I have a clear recollection in my head of the incident and nothing will change my mind on that. I am 101 percent sure of that."

Judge Smithwick backed his claims, finding that the search of McKevitt's home was "compromised... by a deliberate and conscious act on the part of a member of the gardai in Dundalk".

McKevitt was not the only Provo who Judge Peter Smithwick heard was getting tip-offs from inside Dundalk Garda Station.

Former IRA chief of staff Thomas 'Slab' Murphy and bomber Patrick 'Mooch' Blair were also named as having received information.

Sunday Life
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-03 13:23:11|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

BEIJING, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- Ford Motor Company (China) will recall 1,339 Lincoln vehicles from the Chinese market, according to the country's top quality watchdog.

The recall, set to begin on Jan. 6, will involve imported Lincoln Aviator SUVs manufactured between Aug. 24 and Sept. 30, 2019, read a statement on the website of the State Administration for Market Regulation.

The automaker said the vehicle's rear driveshaft may fracture, causing it to lose power while in motion or move in ways the driver does not expect.

A rear driveshaft that detaches from the transmission system could damage the fuel tank and cause a fuel leak and possibly a fire, according to the statement.

Dealers will inspect the driveshafts of affected vehicles and replace them if necessary, free of charge, the statement read. Enditem
Hanako Abe seemed excited about what the new year might bring.

#PeaceOut2020. Physically apart, yet closer than EVER to family and friends this year, the Japanese-born San Francisco resident wrote New Years Eve on her Instagram page, accompanied by a selfie with a beaming, wide smile. Also taught me so much of perseverance, gratitude and self-love. We are resilient.

But Abe, 27, would not live to see the new year. Later that day, she was one of two people who were fatally struck and killed walking in San Francisco. Also killed was Elizabeth Platt, 60.

Authorities said the driver of the car that hit Platt and Abe, 45-year-old Troy Ramon McAlister, was intoxicated and driving a stolen gray Honda when he hit the two women on Mission Street about 4 p.m. Thursday. He fled the scene and was arrested by police who found him hiding in a nearby commercial building, authorities said.

The deaths of Platt and Abe ignited a furor directed at San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin, whom critics have accused of not holding criminals accountable. McAlister was on parole for robbery at the time of the crash, having been released in April. In the months between his release and the crash, McAlister was arrested several times, on suspicion of crimes including car theft, possession of burglary tools and violating the terms of his parole. But the District Attorneys Office did not charge him with any new crimes and instead referred the matter to state parole agents.

Just before the crash, police said, McAlister committed a burglary nearby.

The tragedy has led to finger-pointing among law enforcement agencies. Boudin said his office referred those cases to state parole agents instead of charging McAlister  but conceded Friday that it was a mistake to think parole supervision would be adequate.

A spokesperson for the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, though, said the agencys parole office followed all procedures after these incidents, including conducting investigations and making appropriate referrals for the individual.

None of the parolees arrests following his 2020 release have yet to result in the filing of criminal charges by the district attorney, the corrections spokesperson said.

Without mentioning Boudin or the District Attorneys Office by name, San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott said in a statement that we must all be held equally accountable for the decisions we make, because they can have serious implications for the safety of those we serve.

San Franciscans deserve nothing less, Scott said, and thats what theyre demanding from all of us in the criminal justice system.

Abe had worked as an analyst for commercial real estate firm JLL since 2018, according to her LinkedIn page. She graduated from the University of Central Arkansas in 2018 with a bachelors degree in computer science and previously attended Campbellsville University in Kentucky.

She volunteered frequently, including at the Arkansas Foodbank, as a referee at robotics competitions and as a judge for youth art competitions, her LinkedIn page said.

Details about Platts life were not immediately available Saturday. A man who answered the door of a Mission District residence listed under her name said she may have been a previous tenant.

McAlister declined to be interviewed at a San Francisco jail, where he is being held on charges including manslaughter, hit and run, burglary, resisting arrest and driving under the influence.

Michael Williams and Steve Rubenstein are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: michael.williams@sfchronicle.com, srubenstein@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @michaeldamianw, @SteveRubeSF
Cyclone Yaas: PM holds review meet, asks for timely evacuation of people; landfall expected on May 26

Who will be the next CBI chief? PM Modi-led panel shortlists these three names; Congress protests

HD Deve Gowda asks PM Modi to look into crashing prices of horticulture produce

PM to deliver keynote address on the occasion of Virtual Vesak Global Celebrations on Buddha Purnima

Congratulations India: PM Modi on emergency approval of vaccine

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

New Delhi, Jan 03: Prime Mnister Naredra Modi on Sunday congratulated Indians after DCGI gives approval to Oxford's COVID-19 vaccine Covishield and Bharat Biotech's Covaxin.

Taking to Twitter, the Prime Minister wrote, "It would make every Indian proud that the two vaccines given emergency use approval are made in India.''

PM Modi said that its a decisive turning point to strengthen a spirited fight. He said that DCGI granting approval to vaccines of Serum Institue of India & Bharat Biotech accelerates the road to healthier & COVID-free nation.

Covid-19 vaccines for India gets final approval by drug regulator

PM also congratulated the hardworking scientists & innovators:

A decisive turning point to strengthen a spirited fight!



DCGI granting approval to vaccines of @SerumInstIndia and @BharatBiotech accelerates the road to a healthier and COVID-free nation.



Congratulations India.



Congratulations to our hardworking scientists and innovators.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 3, 2021

The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) on Sunday approved the Oxford coronavirus vaccine and Bharat Biotech's Covaxin, making it India's first vaccines against the pandemic.

''Covid-19 vaccines- COVAXIN and COVISHIELD have been cleared for restricted use in emergency situation, DCGI, V G Somani said. "The vaccines will be administered in two dosages and Cadila will have three dosages ," Somani added.
Source: AP

The initiative, which appears certain to fail, flies in the face of rulings in dozens of courts and the findings by officials in several key states that there were no widespread voting problems.

The Republicans' statement, signed by Cruz and six other current senators along with four senators-elect, asserts that "allegations of fraud and irregularities in the 2020 election exceed any in our lifetimes."

The group said that when Congress convenes in a joint session on Wednesday -- for what normally would be a pro-forma certification of Biden's victory -- they will demand the creation of a special commission to conduct an "emergency 10-day audit" of the election results.

The statement says individual states could then convene special legislative sessions and potentially revise their vote totals.

"An attempt to steal a landslide win. Can't let it happen!" Trump tweeted Saturday.

Posting a list of the 11 senators, Trump added: "And after they see the facts, plenty more to come... Our Country will love them for it!"

They join Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri, who said earlier that he planned to raise objections on Wednesday.

A Republican member of the House of Representatives, Louie Gohmert, has also announced his plan to oppose certification, and more than 100 House Republicans reportedly will back his challenge.

Gohmert sought to further raise the stakes with a lawsuit that would have given Vice President Mike Pence -- traditionally in a ceremonial role in Wednesday's session -- the power to overturn the election result.

Pence opposed that effort, and a federal judge in Texas on Friday rejected the suit. On Saturday, a federal appeals court upheld that dismissal.

The Hawley and Gohmert challenges will ensure that Congress must meet to hear the complaints.

'The Electoral College has spoken'

The Congress sessions, sure to be contentious, will play out against a backdrop of pro-Trump rallies in Washington next week.

As with Trump's other attempts to reverse his election defeat, the latest political maneuvering appears doomed. Democrats control the House, and many Republicans are expected to vote Wednesday for certification.

The 11 senators conceded that most Democrats and "more than a few Republicans" would likely oppose their initiative.

Among them is Republican Senator Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania, a battleground state that helped Biden to victory. Its result is expected to be among those contested on Wednesday.

"A fundamental, defining feature of a democratic republic is the right of the people to elect their own leaders," Toomey tweeted.

"The effort by Sens. Hawley, Cruz, and others to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in swing states like Pennsylvania directly undermines this right."

He added: "I voted for President Trump and endorsed him for re-election. But, on Wednesday, I intend to vigorously defend our form of government by opposing this effort to disenfranchise millions of voters in my state and others."

Responding to Toomey late Saturday night Hawley criticized the "shameless personal attacks," and urged senators to avoid "making unfounded claims about the intentions of our fellow senators."

"I never claim to speak for another senator, but I do speak for my constituents when they raise legitimate concerns about issues as important as the fairness of our elections," he said in a message to the Senate GOP conference, first reported by Politico.

Earlier, Utah Senator Mitt Romney, a vocal Trump opponent, dismissed his colleagues' rationale as "nonsense."

"The egregious ploy to reject electors may enhance the political ambition of some, but dangerously threatens our Democratic Republic," Romney said.

"Members of Congress who would substitute their own partisan judgment for that of the courts do not enhance public trust, they imperil it," he added. "Has ambition so eclipsed principle?"

Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell also urged fellow Republicans to vote to certify and avoid a divisive political brawl.

Pence, however, is reportedly encouraging lawmakers to debate the baseless accusations of voting irregularities.

"Vice President Pence shares the concerns of millions of Americans about voter fraud and irregularities in the last election," his chief of staff Marc Short said in a statement to US news outlets.

Biden won in the all-important Electoral College by a vote of 306 to 232.

Cruz is considered a likely 2024 presidential candidate. Hawley is also said to be positioning himself for a 2024 run -- and so is Pence.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP)  A veteran Alabama lawman who led the states department of public safety and Birmingham Police Department has died from complications linked to COVID-19.

AL.com reports that Chief William Michael Mike Coppage had been fighting the coronavirus for several weeks before succumbing on Friday.

He was 71.

Coppage held various positions in law enforcement including as chief of the Birmingham Police Department and later the director of the Alabama Department of Public Safety.

Under Coppages leadership, Birmingham experienced five years of consecutive declines in crime including a 15-year low in overall crime rates in 2001.
Check out what you should not miss today:

Society

 Vietnams COVID-19 tally on Sunday morning reached 1,482, with 1,337 in treatment and 35 deaths, according to the Ministry of Health.

 A female medical worker at a quarantine zone in the southern province of Binh Duong has been praised by local netizens thanks to a viral photo capturing her fainting and being carried to the emergency room on Friday after long hours of working on the quarantine procedure for 251 people returing from Germany on a flight on December 31.

 The Border Guard High Command of the southern province of Tay Ninh has proposed installing cameras along the border with Cambodia amid increasing illegal entry into Vietnam on the occasion of Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year), which falls on February 12, Colonel Le Hong Vuong told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on Saturday.

 Traffic police in Hanoi on Saturday showed up in time and managed to stop a man from a suicide attempt by jumping out of the Chuong Duong Bridge.

 Border guards in the north-central province of Nghe An on Saturday said they have collaborated with the provincial police to break down a ring that transported drugs from Nghe An to other northern provinces and arrest three suspects, including two high schoolers who were caught carrying 12 packs of heroin, 54,000 synthetic drug tablets, and 1kg of meth by motorbike.

Business

 The Vietnamese market may see a rise in pork price due to increasing demand for Tet foods while the prices of other products like poultry, beef, seafood, and aquatic foostuffs remain stable thanks to abundant supply.

 The Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang invested more than VND645 billion (US$28.2 million) in fishing infrastructure in 2020, the Vietnam News Agency reported the local Department of Agriculture and Rural Development as saying on Saturday.

Education

 A COVID-19 warning system named BeCaked developed by a group of students from the Vietnam National University - Ho Chi Minh City which precisely predicts new cases and deaths has recently won the first prize in the biotechnology and biomedical engineering category of the 2020 Eureka Scientific Research Students Awards.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered condolences to the kin of the people who lost their lives after a roof at a crematorium in Ghaziabad district's Muradnagar collapsed on Sunday.

While expressing grief, PM Modi tweeted in Hindi, "The sad news of the unfortunate accident in Muradnagar, Uttar Pradesh, has caused great sorrow. The state government is engaged in relief and rescue work. I express my condolences to the relatives of those who lost their lives in this accident, as well as wish the injured to get well soon."



At least 19 people have lost their lives and nearly 40 were injured after a roof at a crematorium in Muradnagar collapsed on Sunday. National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team has rushed the spot and rescue operation is underway.

"We have started a probe and will take strict action against those found guilty," Anita C Meshram, Divisional Commissioner, Meerut told reporters.

Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister took the cognisance of the incident. "I have instructed district officials to conduct relief operations and submit a report of the incident. All possible help will be provided to those affected by the incident," he said.

Earlier today, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also expressed his condolences to the family of the deceased in the incident.

According to the people present at the spot, the victims went to the crematorium to perform the last rites of their kin.

BJP MP VK Singh, MLA Ajit Pal Tyagi, Uttar Pradesh minister Atul Garg also reached the spot after the mishap was reported.
Mark Wahlberg is bringing his US burger chain, Wahlburgers, to Australia.

The Hollywood actor, 49, revealed his latest venture with the owners of United Cinemas, in an interview with The Daily Telegraph on Sunday.

'I am partnering up with the Mustaca family and hopefully we will be not only bringing you Wahlburgers but wonderful cinematic experiences,' he told the publication.

'We will be not only bringing you Wahlburgers but wonderful cinematic experiences': Mark revealed to The Daily Telegraph on Monday his latest venture to bring the US chain to 15 locations across the country was in partnership with the owners of United Cinemas

The deal is worth more than $50million - and will employ 500 staff and see movie-themed restaurants open in 15 locations inside or next to the chain's cinemas.

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These locations include Sydney's Warriewood and Narellan, Melbourne's Craigieburn, Brisbane's Indooroopilly and Perth's Rockingham.

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'What we are really focusing on now is creating exclusive content just for the customers. So people will see movie trailers early and all that stuff,' Mark said.

The first store to open its doors will be in Sydney's Circular Quay in coming months, which Mark promised to return to Australia for.

Details: The deal is worth more than $50million and will employ 500 staff, and see movie-themed restaurants open in 15 locations. Mark pictured with founders Roy Mustaca (centre) and his son Sam (right) in December

Appearance: The Mile 22 star arrived in Australia on November 30 and was granted permission to self-isolate at a luxury retreat, instead of the mandatory two-week hotel quarantine

Locations: These locations include Sydney's Warriewood and Narellan, Melbourne's Craigieburn, Brisbane's Indooroopilly and Perth's Rockingham

The Mile 22 star arrived in Australia on November 30 and was granted permission to self-isolate at a luxury retreat, instead of the mandatory two-week hotel quarantine.

Mark quarantined at a private property in Byron Bay, a coastal town in New South Wales, which reportedly set him back $400,000.

The Good Vibrations hitmaker was required to stay at the retreat for 14 days, before flying into Sydney to film an ad for online betting agency Ladbrokes.

Mark also led an intense workout at an F45 gym in the city's Woolloomooloo on December 15, after investing in the Australian fitness franchise in 2018.
Many people have been brushing up on their cooking skills since lockdown this year, but one dish many amateur chefs have still not mastered is a traditional curry.

Pakistan-born author Sumayya Usmani and Indian chef Vivek Singh spoke to FEMAIL about the six essential steps everyone must follow if they want to whip up an authentic dish.

One of the biggest mistakes people make is adding spices to cold oil, according to the experts, while others don't leave enough time for the flavours to come through while cooking.

And, in a revelation that will shock takeaway fans, curries should not be served with poppadoms. Here, the six tips you need to know...

ADD WHOLE SPICES TO HOT OIL

Food experts shared their top tips for perfecting a traditional Asian curry at home, including not rushing to cook ingredients and ensuring oil is hot before adding spices (file image)

Vivek Singh who is CEO and Executive Chef of The Cinnamon Collection, revealed it is possible to add spices to the dish but be unable to taste them if they're added at the wrong time.

STIR GROUND SPICES FREQUENTLY 'When using ground spices its important to stir frequently and carefully so that the spices do not burn and cause the curry to acquire a burnt aftertaste,' Mr Singh said. 'This is a combination of frying and stirring together, called Bhunnao in Hindi, and there isnt an English equivalent of this technique.' Advertisement

He said: 'People add spices to cold oil - it does nothing! They need to be added to hot oil for the flavours to be released.

'Whole spices are frequently added at the start of making any curry, commonly cinnamon, cumin, cardamom, cloves etc. and they should always been added to oil which has first been heated up to release the aromas and make the most out of the flavours.

'This is unlike Italian cooking where extra virgin oil is cooked with cold and a common mistake in Indian cooking.

Sumayya Usmani who is the author of Summers Under the Tamarind Tree cookbook, shared an expert tip, adding: 'to make a curry aromatic and full of layers of spice, try and use whole spices in the base oil, flavour by heating through until aromatic, then add onions and other flavour enhancers.'

GET YOUR PREP OUT OF THE WAY - AND ADD THE INGREDIENTS SLOWLY

Sumayya said: 'Preparing all the ingredients, getting spices out prior to cooking makes the experience much more enjoyable. South Asian food is prep heavy, so its always advisable to have everything ready to go.'

Of common mistakes people make, she said: 'Not cooking each ingredients slowly, allowing all the spices and flavour enhancing ingredients (onions, ginger, garlic, tomatoes, yoghurt) to cook through, allowing the oil to rise, and flavours to infuse correctly.

'People add everything in one go, without being patient with process - this results in a one dimensional curry, which is has a watery undercooked flavour, and the raw taste of ginger, garlic or onions (or all three!), left on the palate.'

MAKE SURE TO COOK YOUR ONIONS ENOUGH

Sumayya continued: 'The second biggest mistake is that people often dont cook their onions enough. Lots of people try to take a short cut and add spices before the onions are ready but there is no way back from here to save your curry.

Vivek added: 'Onions form the base of most Indian curries with their sweet and subtle flavour, so properly cooking them is the first and most important step to ensure a curry full of flavour. If this is not done correctly, the raw taste never goes and leaves the curry unpalatable, pappy and sometimes bitter.'

DON'T BE TOO STRICT WITH THE RECIPE

Sumayya explained that the ingredients in a curry may vary depending on regional and personal preferences.

She said: 'Personally, I dont like cream in curries, there are other ways of adding creaminess to a curry - but that is a regional and personal preference.

'Authenticity is subjective - one dish can be cooked many different ways in different families, part of the country or Indian sub-continent.

'But if you were to spot a curry made by someone who knows what they are doing, I would say, its that the hero ingredient is cooked well, infused with spices, evenly, a balanced seasoning and visually looks like it was made by a labour of love.'

SELECT THE RIGHT SIDES

Speaking about what not to serve curry with, Sumayya said: 'Poppadoms - In all my life in Pakistan, no meal was ever served or started with pickle and poppadoms.
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The Duke of Sussex has 'discarded life as an action man to become an airy-fairy do-gooder' with a 'woke West Coast life', a royal biographer has claimed.

Prince Harry, 36, and Meghan Markle, 39, are currently residing in their $14million mansion in Santa Barbara with one-year-old son Archie, and have racked up as much as 100m in deals with Spotify and Netflix.

Royal expert Angela Levin, who wrote Harry: Conversations with the Prince in 2018, has claimed that the Duke has become a 'shadow of his former self' since moving to California.

Writing in The Sunday Telegraph, she said while Prince Harry 'balked at being "the spare" to Prince William, he seems to accept being second to Meghan'.

The Duke of Sussex has 'discarded life as an action man to become an airy-fairy do-gooder' with a 'woke West Coast life', a royal biographer has claimed

The biographer said Prince Harry's recent appearances were 'out of character' from the royal she once knew, who would instantly identify with everyone he spoke to.

She referenced his previous work with Help for Heroes, those with disabilities and teenagers from dysfunctional homes - but said it feels like a distant memory compared with the version of the prince she sees today.

The biographer also referenced this year's Remembrance Day, when Harry and Meghan celebrated by visiting the Los Angeles National cemetery to pay their respects to fallen Commonwealth soldiers.

The couple were slammed for arranging for celebrity fashion photographer Lee Morgan to capture their personal act of Remembrance, with many branding the visit as a 'publicity stunt'.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have racked up as much as 100m in deals with Spotify and Netflix

Angela said Harry in particular would have been a great source of comfort to Brits during the Covid pandemic, but felt regret that he's been hidden away in Santa Barbara throughout the pandemic.

Yet she commented that reports the pair want a 12-month extension to the Megxit deal indicate the Duke is missing 'all the privileges' of being a royal, including his honorary military titles and charity work.

She said: 'Perhaps he just realises that royalty is forever, but celebrity is not.'

Her comments come days after royal expert Hugo Vickers said Prince Harry is 'isolated from his family, the army, his friends, the Commonwealth' in the US, telling The Telegraph: 'Its a pointless existence in self-exile.'

She claimed that Harry, pictured doing a TIME 100 talk last year from his California home, has become a 'shadow of his former self' since moving to the US

The royal biographer compared Prince Harry's actions to those of Prince William, 38, and Kate Middleton, 38, adding: 'During the NHS clapping, I thought how, after the Cambridges clapped, it would have been great to have heard from him.'

Earlier this week, the Duke and Duchess launched the website for their non-profit organisation Archewell, and set out their goal to 'build a better world' in an open letter posted online.

But the site prominently plugs the couple's commercial ventures - Archewell Audio, the brand they have chosen for their 30m podcasting deal with Spotify, and Archewell Productions, their chosen name for their Netflix production tie-up said to be worth as much as 100m.

Since stepping down as senior royals in March and moving to the US, Harry and Meghan have been working towards this moment to officially launch, albeit softly, the website and the philosophy behind their organisation Archewell.

The royal expert said the Duke's recent actions had been 'out of character' for him (pictured, on Remembrance Day)

Their decision to leave was based as much about financial as personal freedom and the huge sums - thought to be well over 100million - they have earned from deals with Spotify and Netflix, gives them the capital to pursue their new lifestyle and public goals.

The announcement follows their first Spotify podcast on Tuesday which saw their son Archie make his broadcast debut.

Commentators have already speculated that Harry and Meghan will have to draw in large audiences if they are to justify the lucrative contract their production company Archewell Audio signed.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-03 05:11:22|Editor: huaxia

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People hold posters of Qassem Soleimani near his grave in Kerman, Iran, on Jan. 2, 2021. Several Iranian political and military officials issued warnings on Saturday over possible hostile movements against Iran, on the first anniversary of the killing of commander Qassem Soleimani. (Photo by Ahmad Halabisaz/Xinhua)

TEHRAN, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- Several Iranian political and military officials issued warnings on Saturday over possible hostile movements against Iran, on the first anniversary of the killing of commander Qassem Soleimani.

"New intelligence from Iraq indicate that Israeli agent-provocateurs are plotting attacks against Americans-putting an outgoing Trump in a bind with a fake casus belli," Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif wrote on social media, as quoted by official news agency IRNA.

Iran's chief diplomat called on the United States President Donald Trump to "be careful of a trap."

Major General Hossein Salami, commander in chief of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), also issued a warning against hostile action taken against Iran.

"We have shown it in practice, and we announce that we will respond to any action taken by the enemy against us with a reciprocal, decisive and solid blow," Salami declared, semi-official news agency Tasnim reported.
Madhya Pradesh home minister Narottam Mishra ha hit back at Samajwadi Party (SP) chief and former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav for saying he would not get vaccinated.

We cant even call him a misled youth. When he never listened to his uncle or father, why would he listen to the country? This is a policy of appeasement. Its not good to spread rumour about vaccine, Mishra was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

Speaking about the vaccine on Saturday, Yadav discouraged people in Uttar Pradesh from getting vaccinated. How can I trust the BJPs vaccine, no chance? When our government is formed, everyone will get a free vaccine. We cannot take the BJP vaccine. The inoculation programme under the BJP-led regime cannot be trusted, Yadav had said.

Also Read | How can I trust BJPs Covid-19 vaccine: Akhilesh Yadav wont get vaccinated for now

Keshav Prasad Maurya, the deputy chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, said that Yadav has insulted the countrys doctors and scientists.

Akhilesh Yadav doesnt trust the vaccine and people of Uttar Pradesh do not trust him. Questioning the vaccine is an insult to our doctors and scientists. He should apologise, Maurya said.

He also said that a person who has been chief minister should think twice before making such remarks.

Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) VG Somani on Sunday gave final approval to Covid-19 vaccines made by Bharat Biotech and Oxford-AstraZeneca for use in India. He also assured people about the safety of the two vaccines.

After adequate examination, CDSCO has decided to accept the recommendations of the Expert Committee and accordingly, vaccines of M/s Serum and M/s Bharat Biotech are being approved for restricted use in emergency situations, Somani said during a press conference. Well never approve anything if there is slightest of safety concern. The vaccines are 100 per cent safe. Some side effects like mild fever, pain and allergy are common for every vaccine. It is absolute rubbish that people may become impotent, he was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

The approval by DCGI was lauded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he congratulated the drugs regulator and scientists who he said worked hard to develop the Covid-19 vaccines.
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An Army drill sergeant in Texas has been found dead in a bullet-riddled car which was stopped in the fast lane of a Texas interstate.

Sgt Jessica Mitchell, 30, had been shot multiple times in her Dodge Challenger when the vehicle was found at around 3am on Friday along Interstate 10 in San Antonio, according to Army officials.

Authorities said they responded to the area after receiving reports of a car stranded in the fast lane.

Mitchell, who leaves behind a 10-year-old son, was a dental specialist assigned to the US Army Medical Center of Excellence on Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston.

Sgt Jessica Mitchell (left and right), 30, was found dead in her car on New Year's Day after being shot multiple times. Police said she was killed on Interstate 10 in San Antonio

Mitchell didn't have a pulse when she was found and was pronounced dead at a local hospital a short time later. Images from the scene show her white Challenger riddled with bullet holes (investigators at the scene)

She was assigned to the center in 2019 and previously served at the JBSA dental clinic.

Maj Gen Dennis LeMaster of the Center of Excellence told the San Antonio Express-News in a statement: 'We are devastated by the tragic loss of Drill Sergeant Jessica Mitchell.'

'Our sincere condolences go out to her family and friends. We are focused on supporting Drill Sergeant Mitchell's family as well as her soldiers during this extremely difficult time.'

Mitchell didn't have a pulse when she was found and was pronounced dead at a local hospital a short time later.

Images from the scene show her white Challenger riddled with bullet holes. Authorities were seen collecting evidence from the scene and said the bullets shattered one of her windows.

Mitchell was on holiday leave when she was killed.

Mitchell's death marked the second time in three years that the family has been struck by tragedy.

On June 26, 2017, her brother, Justice, 18, was gunned down at a Church's Chicken by Lamero Dunstan.

Mitchell leaves behind her 10-year-old son, according to family members who are demanding justice for their loved one

The Mitchell family is urging anyone with information to come forward. 'We heard there was no witnesses,' Mitchell's relative, Ashley, said. 'But it's a highway. Someone had to see something'

Mitchell's death marked the second time in three years that the family has been struck by tragedy. On June 26, 2017, her brother, Justice (pictured), 18, was gunned down at a Church's Chicken by Lamero Dunstan

Dunstan pleaded guilty to multiple charges including intentional second degree murder and attempted aggravated robbery.

Mitchell's heartbroken father, Mayo, told Fox 29 that: 'I told all my children, I want you to do better than what I have done. She and my children have so far and she wanted to be the best that she can be in her military career. But that was cut short.'

No arrests have been made in the case and authorities have not released any information about a possible suspect.

Family members and friends have come forward to speak out about their loved one's murder.

Francesca Toby, Mitchell's childhood friend, told News 4 San Antonio that: 'She was a beautiful, beautiful woman, she had a son and he's without his mom and I just want to give my prayers to his to her family, to her son, to her son's father.'

'Why would anybody want to do this,' Mitchell's sister, Ashley, asked. 'Why why why why? Why? Why do people do such heinous acts of crime for no reason? You know, like, human life is not material it cannot be replaced.'

The Mitchell family is urging anyone with information to come forward.

'We heard there was no witnesses,' Ashley, said. 'But it's a highway. Someone had to see something.'

The incident comes just days after partial human skeletal remains were found near Salado Creek at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston.

The remains were first seen on December 27 in the northeast part of the post. Air Force Office of Special Investigations did not disclose details on the body, including gender, personal effects or if the person had died recently.

'It's too premature at this time, and they were partial remains,' said Maj Kim Bender, a JBSA spokeswoman.

Air Force officials said they are working with San Antonio-area police agencies. Currently no one is missing from any of the services at the joint base.

It is unclear how a body would show up on Fort Sam's grounds. The post, like the other two joint bases in the area  Randolph and Lackland  is gated and closed to the public.

There's been no word from local law enforcement about whether the body may be connected with a Bexar County missing persons case.
People pose for the photographer during a wild party in a disused hangar in Lieuron about 40km (around 24 miles) on south of Rennes, on January 1, 2021. AFP-Yonhap



A French prosecutor said police detained seven people Saturday, including two alleged organizers, after a New Year's Eve rave party drew at least 2,500 people in western France despite a coronavirus curfew and other restrictions.



French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin tweeted that actions by police around the site at Lieuron, in Brittany, ''led to the end of the illegal party without violence'' on Saturday morning, 36 hours after it began.



Prosecutor Philippe Astruc said an investigation has been opened for ''endangering others' lives,'' ''deliberate violence'' against police officers and drug-related offenses. Investigators found that organizers requested a financial contribution to take part in the party and that illicit drugs were in plentiful supply, Astruc said.





A DJ plays music during a party in a disused hangar in Lieuron about 40km (around 24 miles) on south of Rennes, on January 1, 2021. AFP-Yonhap





Japanese governors demand state of emergency Vietnam reports first case of new coronavirus variant India approves AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine Police detained two people born in 1998 suspected of being organizers after a police search found money, illicit drugs and sound equipment in the Brittany town of Iffendic. Five other people were arrested as they were leaving the party for drug-related infractions and transporting sound equipment.



Emmanuel Berthier, head of the local state authority, said in a news conference Saturday that police issued at least 1,200 fines, including 800 for not respecting the virus curfew, not wearing a mask and illegally taking part in a gathering. Hundreds of people were also fined for using illicit drugs, he said.



Ravers from France and abroad converged on a hangar in Lieuron on Thursday night to party into the New Year. Officials said ravers attacked the police on the first night, torching one police vehicle and slightly injuring three officers with volleys of bottles and stones.



French Gendarmes break up a rave near a disused hangar in Lieuron about 40km (around 24 miles) south of Rennes, on January 2, 2021. AFP-Yonhap

Video images showed lines of ravers' trucks and cars leaving on Saturday morning.



The party took place despite France's nationwide night-time curfew, which seeks to dissuade people from gathering during the pandemic.



The Regional Health Agency of Brittany warned that party-goers had a high risk of spreading the virus and urged participants to self-isolate for a week and get a test in seven days.




US President-elect Joe Biden , scheduled to assume Americas leadership on 20 January, has vowed to build a coalition of like-minded countries to take on a belligerent China . Mint explores the possible coalition, and the challenges China poses.

What challenges does Beijing present?

China sees America as a nation in decline and, in its quest to emerge as the pre-eminent global power, has subverted international norms, conducted cyber espionage, and forced foreign MNCs operating on its soil to part with intellectual property and technological know-how. Its state subsidies to firms and questionable currency and trade policies have powered its exports. China under President Xi Jinping has wielded military threats and sanctions to bend its neighbours and has intimidated capitals in far off places. Its rising global influence, if left unchecked, could devour many civic, economic freedoms that we so cherish.

What kind of coalition is Biden talking about?

Biden is contemplating an alliance with liberal democracies across globe to compel China to change its behaviour. US President Donald Trumps diagnosis of China as a revisionist, predatory power was accurate and his trade and tech war, barring Chinese companies such as Huawei from supplying 5G telecom equipment or accessing American software, rattled Beijing. However, his propensity to bully allies and the America First" call dashed any hopes of a coalition against Chinas expansionism. That could change under Biden, who may forge a coherent strategy against China predicated on values of democracy and openness.

View Full Image Bully run

Where does India figure in this whole scenario?

India would be an important part of any coalition to counter China, given its liberal political culture. Besides, Beijing has sought to exercise leverage over Indias neighbouring countries such as Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Bangladesh through its debt-trap diplomacy, even as it refuses to budge from the Indian territory it has occupied in Ladakh.

Can such a coalition ever fructify?

It is not difficult to forge such a coalition, especially after the coronavirus that first emerged in China and soon swept the world. Global opinion, from Brussels to Canberra and New Delhi has turned against China. Beijings draconian national security law, which it imposed on Hong Kong, has raised alarm bells. However, the real question is whether such a coalition would endure and if Biden would stay the course. Also, how many Asian countries can withstand the bruising economic sanctions that China can slap?

What does the future look like?

Chinas rise looks inevitable. It has been able to swiftly curb the virus and is set to be the only major economy that would expand this year. It is expected to leap past the US to become the worlds largest economy in 2028, five years earlier than previously estimated. This rise wont be peaceful, though. We will see increased militarization and a bid to dominate resource-rich South China Sea. It will spike tensions, as about $3.4 trillion of global maritime trade passes via the Sea. The free world has little option than to confront China.

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India on Friday became the fourth country to approve a coronavirus vaccine developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca, authorising the vaccine's rollout in coming weeks in the country with the second highest number of infections.

The following is what we know about the race to deliver vaccines to help end the coronavirus pandemic, which has killed more than 1.8 million people worldwide:

WHO IS FURTHEST ALONG?

U.S. drugmaker Pfizer and German partner BioNTech have been the COVID-19 vaccine trailblazers.

On Nov. 18, they became the first in the world to release full late-stage trial data. Britain was the first to approve the shot for emergency use on Dec. 3, followed by Canada on Dec. 9 and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Dec. 11. Several other countries, including Saudi Arabia and Mexico, have also approved it.

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) approved the shot on Dec. 21 and India is accelerating its review.

The World Health Organization on Thursday listed the vaccine for emergency use, in a move seeking to speed access to it in the developing world.

WHAT ABOUT MODERNA?

Moderna Inc was a close second to Pfizer in many countries after it released a full data analysis for a late-stage trial on Nov. 30 showing a 94.1% efficacy rate for its vaccine.

The United States authorised Moderna's vaccine on Dec. 19, while Canada approved the shot on Dec. 23 and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) will do so on Jan. 6.

ASTRAZENECA

India approval of a two-dose version of AstraZeneca's vaccine, COVISHIELD, which has also been given the green light by Britain, Argentina and El Salvador, is a major win for a shot seen as crucial for mass immunisations.

Questions about the robustness of its trial data have complicated the approval process.

The British company announced interim late-stage trial data in November showing two full doses were 62% effective while a half-dose followed by a full dose had a 90% success rate  but UK regulators the more successful outcome had not stood up to analysis.

AstraZeneca is also in discussions with the European Union's European Medicines Agency, which is conducting a rolling review of the vaccine.

WHO ELSE IS IN THE RUNNING?

U.S. drugmaker Johnson & Johnson plans to deliver trial data in January, teeing it up for U.S. authorisation in February if its shot is effective. It reduced the enrolment target for its clinical trial to 40,000 volunteers from 60,000 on Dec. 9, potentially speeding results that are tied to how quickly participants become infected.

U.S. firm Novavax is running a late-stage trial in Britain with data due in the first quarter of 2021. It expects to start a large-scale trial in the United States this month.

France's Sanofi and Britain's GlaxoSmithKline, however, announced a setback on Dec. 11 in their attempts to develop a vaccine. The drugmakers said that it showed an insufficient immune response in older people in mid-stage trials and that they would start a new study in February.

WHAT HAPPENS IN THE TRIALS?

The companies usually test their vaccines against a placebo  typically saline solution  in healthy volunteers to see whether the rate of COVID-19 infection among those who got the vaccine is significantly lower than in those who received the dummy shot.

HOW ARE VOLUNTEERS INFECTED?

The trials rely on subjects becoming naturally infected with COVID-19, so how long it takes to generate results largely depends on how pervasive the virus is where trials are being conducted. Each drugmaker has targeted a specific number of infections to trigger a first analysis of their data.

HOW WELL ARE THE VACCINES SUPPOSED TO WORK?

The World Health Organization ideally wants to see at least 70% efficacy. The FDA wants at least 50%  which means there must be at least twice as many infections among volunteers who received a placebo as among those in the vaccine group. The EMA has said it may accept a lower efficacy level.

WHAT ABOUT RUSSIA AND CHINA?

Although Pfizer's shot was the first to be rolled out following the publication of full Phase III trial data, Russia and China have been inoculating their citizens for months with several different vaccines still undergoing late-stage trials.

China on Dec. 31. approved its first COVID-19 vaccine for general public use, a shot developed by an affiliate of state-backed pharmaceutical giant Sinopharm. The company said it is 79% effective against the virus.

Russia said on Nov. 24 its Sputnik V vaccine, developed by the Gamaleya Institute, was 91.4% effective based on interim late-stage trial results. It started vaccinations in August and has inoculated more than 100,000 people so far.

India plans to make 300 million doses of Sputnik V next year and Argentina has given the green light for emergency use of the shot, with some 300,000 doses arriving in the country on Dec. 24.

China launched an emergency use programme in July aimed at essential workers and others at high risk of infection. It has vaccinated about one million people as of mid-November using at least three shots  1 developed by the state-backed China National Biotec Group (CNBG) and one by Sinovac Biotech.

Trial data on a COVID-19 vaccine developed by China's Sinovac Biotech has varied: interim data from a late-stage trial in Turkey showed its CoronaVac shot is 91.25% effective, while researchers in Brazil say the shot was more than 50% effective.

The United Arab Emirates, meanwhile, said on Dec. 9 that one of the CNBG vaccines was 86% effective based on interim results from a late-stage trial in the Gulf Arab state.
There are three moments in the yearlong catastrophe of the COVID-19 pandemic when events might have turned out differently. The first occurred on January 3, 2020, when Robert Redfield, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, spoke with George Fu Gao, the head of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, which was modelled on the American institution. Redfield had just received a report about an unexplained respiratory virus emerging in the city of Wuhan.
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The American Express (Amex) platinum card offer in 2020 sought an offer of up to $40 monthly credits, including a $20 monthly streaming credit and a $20 monthly cell phone credit. Now that we are in the next chapter, Amex has introduced a new offer for the first half of 2021. The offer is also worth being aware of for anyone who is considering applying for Amex Platinum with its improved bonus.

New Amex Platinum monthly PayPal credit

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, card issues became creative on adding new limited-time perks, especially on travel rewards credit cards, since issuers urge people to maintain their cars.

According to Fintech Zoom, Amex platinum now offers a new $30 monthly PayPal credit, valid from January 1 to June 30, 2021. The latest offer is valid to the card's U.S. clients, but not for the business card. The $30 monthly PayPal credit does not require registration. However, you have to add your Amex Platinum to your PayPal account and select the card when checking out with PayPal.

Qualified consumers should make transactions in USD at U.S. merchants through a U.S. PayPal account. The new Amex Platinum offer does not allow person-to-person payments such as direct payments to merchants for goods and services or payments made to family and friends using the PayPal application.

The $30 monthly PayPal credit will be received by each primary card account, but it qualifies spending by additional card members. The offer also counts towards the primary cardmember's $30 credit.

"Eligible purchases does not include interest charges or fees,gift card purchases, purchases or reloading of prepaid cards, person-to-person payments for goods, services, purchases, or other cash equivalents," as per the company's terms and conditions.

Read also: Debit Card Companies Are Adopting These 5 Credit Card Perks

A $180 in value with the Amex Platinum

The One Mile At A Time says Amex should be given a lot of credit as the offer makes it easy to justify holding onto the Amex Platinum Card. In 2020, the $40 in monthly credits were worth more on the surfacer. However, a single $30 credit is easier to use and would give a consumer more flexibility.

There have been plenty of merchants that accept PayPal, that a client could maximize. Regarding the overall value proposition of the Amex Platinum, it has a $550 annual fee. This year, Amex Platinum credits include the following:

How to apply for a Amex Platinum Card?

According to American Express' official website, read first the Terms and Conditions before clicking the "Apply" button on the Credit Card page to start the application. If you have provided all the necessary information, your application should take less than ten minutes to complete.

As a new Amex Platinum Cardmember, you will receive up to 200,000 membership rewards points, 150,000 bonus membership rewards points when you apply online until January 27, 2021. If approved, you could spend up to $3,000 on your new card within the first three months, and an additional 50,000 bonus membership rewards points within two years of fee renewal.

Read also: Keeping up with Credit Card Bills: How Long Can Americans Last?

@ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Counties are responsible for about a quarter of the cost of these facilities, which serve youth given longer sentences. The burgeoning costs are mostly attributed to low occupancy rates, amid dramatic drops in youth crime over decades.

The portion counties have contributed to the cost of juvenile lockups was burdensome well before the coronavirus pandemic decimated local budgets. In Wyoming County, next-door to Erie, social services Commissioner Kimberley Barber noted in her 2020 budget narrative that the county had two youth in limited-secure facilities  part of the network of state youth prisons. But even the cost for just two youth, she wrote, will be a huge impact on our budget.

Barber didnt respond to requests for comment, and her budget narrative doesnt specify the cost. At the most recent state rates, the county would have been charged a combined total of between $1,062 and $1,276 a day for those two young people.

In Onondaga County, the latest state figures at the end of 2019 showed 14 kids in state lockups, or more than $8,000 a day. Cayuga County had one youth in a lockup at the end of 2019 at a cost of $638 a day.
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The United States has set yet another record for new COVID-19 cases with almost 300,000 people testing positive in a single day, as new CDC data suggests the nation's true death toll is actually approaching half a million.

As of Saturday, the total number of US deaths in the pandemic topped 350,000 after 2,398 new fatalities were reported by Johns Hopkins University.

However, according to CDC study measuring the amount of excess deaths in the country in 2020, the total number of deaths is estimated to be much higher.

The agency calculates the number of excess deaths in a year based on how many people died in the US in previous years. The report showed that up to 431,792 more people have died than expected since February, as of December 19.

At that time, the death toll was reported to be 316,000. Taking into account the additional 31,000 people that have died since then, the data suggests it likely the actual death toll is close to 470,000.

It comes as 299,087 new infections were reported across the country as of Saturday evening, marking the largest single day increase since the start of the pandemic in March, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

Hospitalizations remained above six figures once again, with 123,639 people currently being treated for the virus. Of those hospitalized, 23,152 are in intensive care and 7,918 are on ventilators, the data shows.

Daily deaths have fallen below 3,000 in the last two days, with 2,398 fatalities reported on Saturday.

However the changes could be a result of a backlog due to the holidays, meaning the true number could be higher.

Several states were not included in today's data and others did not update current hospitalizations figures, however these metrics are expected to stabilize over the next week, The COVID Tracking Project noted.

The health crisis has become especially dire in California, which was once a model in the fight against the outbreak, where hospitals are over capacity with COVID patients and funeral homes have run out of space for the bodies piling up.

Hospital doctors and nurses treat Covid-19 patients in a makeshift ICU wing on the West Oeste at Harbor UCLA Medical Center on Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2020 in Torrence, CA

Daily deaths have fallen below 3,000 in the last two days, with 2,398 fatalities reported on Saturday, however the changes could be a result of a backlog due to the holidays

At least 299,087 new infections were reported across the country as of Saturday evening - setting another record for daily reported cases in the US

Meanwhile in Florida, where cases are on the rise, residents flocked to the beaches and popular bars in Miami as they celebrated the new year.

On Saturday, hundreds of revelers were seen soaking up the sun on South Beach, as others flocked to a nearby hotel for a raucous pool party.

The revelers downed drinks and danced to music as their festivities spilled onto the sidewalk, seeming to alarm some elderly citizens who were making their way through the area at the same time.

On the same day, Miami-Dade County recorded more than 5,000 new cases of COVID-19, as well as 51 new deaths from the virus.

Miami has now clocked a whopping total of 304,000 coronavirus cases since the pandemic began early last year.

Health officials fear the recent holiday gatherings could fuel yet another rise in cases and lead to a surge in virus-related deaths to come later this month.

Funeral homes in Southern California have been forced turn away grieving families as they run out of space for the bodies piling up.

'I've been in the funeral industry for 40 years and never in my life did I think that this could happen, that I'd have to tell a family, `No, we cant take your family member,' said Magda Maldonado, owner of Continental Funeral Home in Los Angeles.

Continental is averaging about 30 body removals a day - six times its normal rate. Mortuary owners are calling one another to see whether anyone can handle overflow, and the answer is always the same: They're full, too.

In order to keep up with the flood of bodies, Maldonado has rented extra 50-foot refrigerators for two of the four facilities she runs in LA and surrounding counties.

Continental has also been delaying pickups at hospitals for a day or two while they deal with residential clients.

Bob Achermann, executive director of the California Funeral Directors Association, said that the whole process of burying and cremating bodies has slowed down, including embalming bodies and obtaining death certificates.

Funeral homes in the hot spot of Southern California say they must turn away grieving families as they run out of space for the bodies piling up. Magda Maldonado, owner of Continental Funeral Home in Los Angeles, is pictured above at her mortuary

An empty casket is delivered amid a surge of Covid-19 deaths to the Continental Funeral Home Thursday in East Los Angeles. The funeral home currently has about 150 families awaiting services for their loved ones

Maricela Arreguin Mejia (right) shares a video stream with family members as they mourn the death of her father Gilberto Arreguin Camacho, 58, due to Covid-19 during a viewing service at Continental Funeral Home

During normal times, cremation might happen within a day or two; now it takes at least a week or longer.

Hospitals in the area are overwhelmed, and are struggling to keep up with basics such as oxygen as they treat an unprecedented number of patients with respiratory issues.

Achermann said that in the southern part of the state, 'every funeral home I talk to says, "We're paddling as fast as we can."'

'The volume is just incredible and they fear that they wont be able to keep up,' he said. 'And the worst of the surge could still be ahead of us.'

Los Angeles County, the epicenter of the crisis in California, has surpassed 10,000 COVID-19 deaths alone.

Hospitals in the area are overwhelmed, and are struggling to keep up with basics such as oxygen as they treat an unprecedented number of patients with respiratory issues.

On Saturday, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers crews arrived to update some hospital's oxygen delivery systems.

North Carolina officials also reported a record 9,527 confirmed cases New Year's Day. That's more than 1,000 cases above the previous daily high.

In Louisiana, a funeral was being held Saturday for a congressman-elect who died of COVID-19 complications. Republican Luke Letlow died Tuesday at age 41.

His swearing-in had been scheduled Sunday. He leaves behind his wife, Julia Letlow, and two children, ages 1 and 3.

Meanwhile in Miami, revelers celebrated were out in force as the celebrated the end of the year despite rising coronavirus cases

On South Beach, locals and tourists packed onto the sand with sun loungers and drinks. They appeared to be in a celebratory mood despite the ongoing pandemic

Bikini clad revelers are celebrating the New Year in Miami, seemingly unperturbed by the city's rising number of COVID-19 cases. Maskless party animals are seen making their way along a sidewalk in the city, coming alarmingly close to an elderly citizen pushing along a walker

Revelers rang in the new year mingling and drinking on the streets while others attended a massive pool party at the SLS Hotel

Despite the start of a New Year, the pandemic shows no signs of abating, with Florida recording its highest ever daily number of coronavirus cases last Thursday. Youngsters partying in Miami appeared unbothered by the spike

In Texas, state officials say they have only 580 intensive care beds available as staff treat more than 12,480 hospitalized coronavirus patients, a number that has risen steadily since September and has set record highs this past week.

Following current trends, the University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation projects that the death toll will hit 456,238 by January 31.

The statistical model however claimed that universal wearing of masks and a rapid vaccine rollout could save about 13,000 lives in the next four weeks.

The sluggish and at times chaotic initial rollout of vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna has drawn sharp criticism from a range of political leaders, including President-elect Joe Biden and Republican Senator Mitt Romney.

A rapid vaccine rollout would only spare about 1,000 lives in January, according to the model. Since the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines both take several weeks to provide effective protection, their true impact would only be seen over a longer timeline.

As of Saturday, 3.49 million vaccine doses have been administered nationwide, according to a Bloomberg analysis. That accounts for just 28 percent of the vaccine doses that have been distributed top the states, and means that 1.1 percent of the total population has received a dose.

It was far short of the Trump administration's goal of vaccinating 20 million Americans with a first of two required doses by the end of 2020.

Senator Romney, a Utah Republican and frequent critic of President Donald Trump, issued an emotional statement on Friday urging the U.S. government to immediately enlist veterinarians, combat medics and others in a dramatic proposal to boost vaccination efforts.

Following current trends, the University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation projects that the death toll will hit 456,238 by January 31

Rapid vaccine rollout would have the biggest impact starting in February, as the vaccines take weeks to take effect. The IHME's projections of daily deaths are seen above

Healthcare workers wheel a patient into a hospital in New York on New Year's Day. The total number of COVID-19 cases in the United States since March topped 20 million on Friday

Fire Chief Colin Stowell (left) receives the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at the San Diego Fire-Rescue Training Facility on Thursday

'That comprehensive vaccination plans have not been developed at the federal level and sent to the states as models is as incomprehensible as it is inexcusable,' Romney said in a statement that was perhaps aimed as much at the incoming Biden administration as the outgoing Trump one.

'It was unrealistic to assume that the health care workers already overburdened with Covid care could take on a massive vaccination program,' Romney said.

He called on the government to 'enlist every medical professional, retired or active, who is not currently engaged in the delivery of care' to be drafted into a crash program of government-run vaccination sites across the country.

'This could include veterinarians, combat medics and corpsmen, medical students, EMS professionals, first responders, and many others who could be easily trained to administer vaccines,' he proposed.

Romney also proposed a scheme to 'Schedule vaccinations according to a person's priority category and birthdate: e.g., people in group A with a January first birthday would be assigned a specific day to receive their vaccination.'

Referring to his experience overseeing the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics, Romney also included what could be seen as a pitch to the Biden administration to offer his own assistance, saying: 'I have experience organizing a major logistical event,' though adding humbly that it was 'nothing on the scale of what is called for today.'

Hundreds wait in line to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in Fort Myers, Florida, on Thursday. Floridians over age 65 can get the vaccine on a first-come, first-served basis

Biden also took a swipe at the Trump administration's oversight in a tweet on Friday, writing: 'Let me be clear: The Biden-Harris Administration will spare no effort to make sure people are getting vaccinated.'

Biden has vowed to invoke the Defense Production Act and ensure that 100 million vaccines are administered in his first 100 days in office, though he has offered few concrete details on how this would be achieved.

California, the most populous state with 40 million residents, has become a leading U.S. flashpoint of the pandemic despite some of the nation's toughest restrictions on social gatherings and business activities.

The soaring COVID-19 case load has pushed hospitals in and around Los Angeles in particular to their limits, filling emergency rooms, intensive care units, ambulance bays and morgues beyond capacity, and creating staff shortages.

Briefing reporters on Thursday, Cathy Chidester, director of the Los Angeles County Emergency Medical Services Agency, called the situation a 'hidden disaster,' not plainly visible to the public.

Medical experts attribute the worsening pandemic in recent weeks to the arrival of colder weather and the failure of many Americans to abide by public health warnings and requirements to stay home and avoid unnecessary travel over the year-end holiday season.

Funeral services are held for grandfather Gilberto Arreguin Camacho, who died due to Covid-19, at Continental Funeral Home on Wednesday in East Los Angeles, California

The crisis faced by healthcare systems has become especially acute in Los Angeles County where one patient is dying every 10 minutes from the respiratory virus, according to county health officials.

Heightened demands of caring for those struggling to breathe has also left many hospitals in the region short on oxygen, both in supplies and the ability of older facilities to maintain adequate pressure flow through ventilators, Chidester said.

She also described ambulances forced to wait several hours at a time to unload patients, causing delays throughout the county's emergency response system.

To ease ER overcrowding, the county is denying ambulance transport to hospitals of emergency patients who are already under hospice care with do-not-resuscitate directives, according to Adam Blackstone, a spokesman for the Hospital Association of Southern California.

The leading U.S. infectious disease specialist, Dr. Anthony Fauci, said on Wednesday he was confident of overcoming early glitches in the vaccine campaign, saying America could still achieve enough collective immunity through vaccinations to regain 'some semblance of normality' by autumn 2021.
2020 in the rear view mirror? Good riddance! Looking back on the year, like some of my colleagues, I also have thoughts about the best smartphones of the year. So this is my own Top 5, but with a couple of twists.

First, I decided to stick to phones Ive used extensively this year, and ignored ones I just played with for a few days or less, as well as ones I havent even touched. So all of these opinions are based on spending some quality time with each of these devices. Thats why you wont see anything from OnePlus or Google or Apple on the list - I simply havent used them enough and thought it wouldnt be fair to mention them, even if they look great in a theoretical sense, based on spec sheets and other reviews.

Second twist: it was very hard for me to create an actual hierarchical Top 5, because everyones needs are very different, so what Ive done is singled out the things that most stood out to me (in a good way) about each of these devices. At the end Ill tell you which of them I would actually buy with my own money, for my personal use. Lets get right to it, then.

Best in-hand feel and best software: Oppo Find X2 Pro

The Oppo Find X2 Pro is, in my humble opinion, by far the most underrated flagship smartphone of the year - Ive said as much before in a dedicated feature, so make sure you read that for my full thoughts on it.

As we wrap up 2020, I keep remembering what a great positive influence the vegan leather back has been for this phone when it comes to handling and overall in-hand feel. No other phone Ive used this year can come even close, this is the one device I always felt 100% comfortable using without a case. Glass on the back looks premium (whatever that means), or so they say, but the faux leather on the Find X2 Pro isnt not premium feeling, and it makes holding this phone a dream, with zero anxiety about possibly dropping it.

Next up is probably the most surprising paragraph Ive ever written, to me at least. Had you asked me one or two years ago about my opinions on Oppos ColorOS, I could have ranted for (literal) hours about how bad it was compared to other skins, pushing an iOS like aesthetic and iOS-inspired functionality on Android users. But that all changed starting with ColorOS 7.x, which was the first version of the skin that I felt didnt get in your way at all, and just let you enjoy the hardware on offer.

ColorOS 11 then came and made things even better. So much so, in fact, that at the moment ColorOS 11 is my favorite Android skin. Its personalization options are far reaching without containing needless features no ones going to use, its speed is unmatched, and there are no lags or stutters anywhere, ever. Its fast, its smooth, and on the Find X2 Pro it truly augments the flagship hardware on offer with a flagship software experience. There are no weird idiosyncrasies anywhere (aside from the way the Settings menu is structured, but thats easy to get over or get used to in a few days), everything just works, all the time.

Finally, the ~35 minute fast charging from zero to full has made me care about the (admittedly not great) battery capacity way less than I thought I would, and so, with all these things considered, the Oppo Find X2 Pro is definitely worth a spot on my Top 5 list of 2020.

Best overall user experience: Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro

The Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro has everything a proper 2020 flagship needs, including a high refresh rate screen, fast charging, good cameras, and top of the line chipset. But what makes this phone worthy of its spot on my Top 5 of 2020 list is something thats very hard to describe, and impossible to see on a spec list, no matter how detailed.

And thats the general experience of using it. Ever since MIUI 12 came by, the Mi 10 Pro has consistently been one of the best phones to use - ever. Most of that feeling comes from the revamped animations, coupled with the gentle vibration nudges throughout the UI, which are simply amazing feeling thanks to what is one of the best vibration motors ever put into a smartphone. Speaking of things that are best ever, the Mi 10 Pros stereo speakers are, if not that, then pretty close.

The software itself still has a lot of small quirks and annoyances, and its not fully bug-free, but it does look exactly as modern as an Android skin should in 2020, and its just a joy to look at and use. The Mi 10 Pro doesnt have any big glaring downsides either, unless you absolutely need a periscope zoom camera, so you are getting a full flagship package on par with any other, but no other top of the line phone in 2020 has provided this level of pleasure of use to me. If you want to learn more about my experience with it, dont miss my long-term review of the Mi 10 Pro.

The What if? phone: Huawei Mate 40 Pro

The Mate 40 Pro has made this list even if, for most people in Western markets, its lack of Google services and apps is a no-starter. That I would have it here anyway is a testament to how good of a phone it actually is, in spite of what its missing. Thanks to its amazing camera system, it would have probably snatched my overall best of 2020 award from the jaws of its competitors, but its not all about cameras.

Battery life is outstanding, Ive already mentioned the cameras which are solidly among the best ever put into a phone, performance is amazing, and smoothness is the best Ive ever seen, even if its working with just a 90 Hz screen.

Oh, and speaking of that screen, I love the way it curves on the sides, and I also love the fact that despite this being the most waterfall-y design of 2020, you get zero accidental touch issues, thanks to how Huawei was able to pair hardware and software to achieve that.

I dont have anything bad to say about the Mate 40 Pro - aside from the weird lack of OIS on the main camera, although in fairness in 99% of the cases you dont actually feel that very much when shooting. Still, its the phones second biggest possible downside, because living without Google services and apps in 2020 isnt for everyone, and thats why the Mate 40 Pro is just part of a Top 5 list and not the best smartphone in my opinion.

Best looks: Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra

This one is easy and entirely subjective. The Mystic Bronze Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra is the best looking phone Ive ever seen or used. Ever. Its back is also the best feeling glass back Ive ever handled, with its satin-like vibes and almost entire lack of fingerprints. The camera island is huge, but unlike the S20 Ultras, I really like the way its designed. Its actually funny how I would rate the S20 Ultras back as probably the ugliest ever, while the Note20 Ultras is the nicest (to my eyes and taste). Clearly, Samsung has two different design teams for the S and Note lines, and you already know whose work I prefer.

But its not all about the back either. Everything about this phones looks screams premium to my eyes, which it should, given its price. But seriously, the lines, the gentle curves, the boxiness of the design compared to most of its competitors (while not going all in on boxy like Sony), the flat metal top and bottom, its just the epitome of good design in my book. Nothing else has come close this year, in terms of design, and the Note20 Ultra is just stunning every single time I look at it.

As for everything else about it, well.. Thats complicated. Stay tuned for my long-term review of it arriving in a few weeks with more details.

Best flagship killer: Realme X50 Pro

Flagship killers are a dime a dozen right now, everyone makes at least one, and so this part of the market has never been more crowded. Although if you ask Realme you probably wont get this referred to as a flagship killer, the X50 Pro is just that, in my mind. Its the best one Ive used this year, although its hard to pinpoint exactly why I feel that way. Something about the combination of size, user experience, fast charging, and a camera system that while not the best out there isnt crippled and actually features a telephoto lens.

Because Realme UI is basically just a renamed version of ColorOS, everything I said about ColorOS 7.x and later when discussing the Oppo Find X2 Pro applies to the X50 Pro as well. Same goes for the insanely fast 65W charging. Compared to other contenders in the space, the Realme X50 Pro also has a couple of very unique-looking color options, which you may not necessarily appreciate, but I did.

Its the only flagship killer of the year that didnt give me a feeling of being too compromised while using it, and thats what flagship killers used to be about - some corners are cut to achieve the price point, yes, but those cuts shouldnt impede the overall feeling of usability, and the price needs to stay far enough away from proper flagships that the delta makes it worth it to settle for a flagship killer. The Realme X50 Pro hits all of those boxes for me, so kudos to the brand for nailing the formula on its first try. (Note: I haven't used the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE, this section might have been different if I did).

Best for me

And now its time for the most subjective part of this feature. If youve been wondering which of these Id actually buy, spending my own money on them, then heres the truth: the Oppo Find X2 Pro or the Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro. Thats it. This doesnt mean you shouldnt get any of the others, its just that for my use and for my personal taste, these are the only ones that I think would be worth it.

The Mate 40 Pros lack of Google is sadly a deal breaker for me, even if things, on the app front, have improved tremendously in the past few months - I wrote an entire feature about that. The Note20 Ultra, on the other hand, in my mind, isnt worth the price, but I would consider buying it if it was cheaper, by a lot. Like I said, Im writing an entire long-term review to tell you all about my thoughts on it, but this is my personal conclusion (and keep in mind Im one of those people who dont really have much use for the S Pen).

Finally, the Realme X50 Pro is a great phone, but I love curved screens, and thats so important to me that if Im spending my own money I wont compromise on it, regardless of the money savings on offer.

Looking forward to 2021

2020 has been a very bad year in general, but a very good year for smartphones. Flagships have become amazingly good, to the point where its very hard to recommend just one or two to people with unlimited budgets. Flagship killers have grown in numbers, and while most of them have started to offer a rather compromised experience compared to their top of the line relatives, there are still some gems to pick from. And the affordable/budget segment has seen good value turn into tremendous value for money for some devices.

And then there are weird form factors (hello, LG Wing) and foldables, which have matured in record time compared to any other form factor ever. Now all we have to wait for is the prices to come down to levels where foldables can actually become mainstream, and Im hopeful that that will either happen fully in 2021, or at least that next year well see the start of that.

Thats incredibly exciting, because the promise of foldables is unique - you basically get two devices in one. Its been a while since we last saw something along the lines of this will negate the need to carry an additional thing with you - think cameras on phones, and especially after cameras on phones got good. From that point on, the mantra of the best camera is the one you have with you started applying for most people, most of the time, and so now the only people who have standalone cameras are content creators and enthusiasts.

If the tablet that folds into a phone category of foldables really takes off, we might see something similar happen to tablets. Its still early days, yes, but the future does seem filled with interesting potential.
Ohio Gov. DeWine signs law requiring burial, cremation of aborted babies

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Gov. Mike DeWine has signed into law a measure requiring the cremation or burial of aborted babies remains, a move that sparked praise from pro-life groups and backlash from pro-abortion groups.

DeWine signed the Unborn Child Dignity Act into law Wednesday, just three weeks after the Ohio legislature passed the bill. Sponsored by state Sen. Joe Uecker, the Unborn Child Dignity Act requires final disposition of fetal remains from a surgical abortion at an abortion facility (to) be by cremation or interment.

Other provisions in the legislation require abortion facilities to document in the pregnant womans medical record the final disposition determination made and maintain evidentiary documentation demonstrating the date and method of the disposition of fetal remains from surgical abortions performed or induced in the facility. Anyone who fails to comply with these provisions is guilty of failure to dispose of fetal remains humanely, a misdemeanor of the first degree.

The Unborn Child Dignity Act is designed to reinforce a provision in Ohio state law requiring that aborted babies' remains shall be disposed of in a humane manner. The legislation was spurred by a 2015 investigation conducted by DeWine, then the states attorney general, finding that abortion provider Planned Parenthood disposed of aborted babies body parts in landfills. The Unborn Child Dignity Act closely mirrors legislation passed in Indiana that was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court last year.

After years of hard work and dedication, the Unborn Child Dignity Act has finally been signed into law, said Mike Gonidakis, president of Ohio Right to Life. No longer will the tiny bodies of babies whose lives have been tragically taken through abortion be treated like trash. In Ohio, we respect life and we bury our dead. The abortion industry, who has for decades tried to convince women that the lives of their children dont matter and should simply be thrown away, will now be unable to hide behind this blatant lie.

Ohio Right to Life is incredibly proud to see this vital piece of pro-life legislation signed into law, he added. Human life is precious and deserves to be both respected and protected. No childs broken body should be thrown into the trash. The Unborn Child Dignity Act is a crucial step forward toward ending Planned Parenthoods callous treatment of human life.

Following the passage of the legislation, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio took to Twitter to declare that this legislation is unconstitutional, medically unnecessary, and adds yet another barrier to abortion access in Ohio. The pro-abortion group also noted that Senate Bill 260, which bans the use of telemedicine for chemical abortions, has passed the legislature and awaits DeWines signature.

THREAD: Last night, Gov. DeWine signed Senate Bill 27, which forces anyone who has an abortion to cremate or bury fetal tissue.



This legislation is unconstitutional, medically unnecessary, and adds yet another barrier to abortion access in Ohio. https://t.co/aEDjA6oJ8k  Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio (@PPAOhio) December 31, 2020

The Unborn Child Dignity Act is one of several pro-life measures enacted in Ohio in recent years. The pro-life group Americans United for Life ranked Ohio as the 19th most pro-life state in the U.S. in its 2021 Life List, which was released last month.

In 2019, Ohio passed a heartbeat bill that bans abortions after a fetal heartbeat can be detected, around six weeks gestation. In 2018, then-Gov. John Kasich signed into law a bill banning abortions of unborn babies with Down syndrome. Both measures faced court challenges.

The Ohio Senate passed additional pro-life legislation last year, including a bill requiring doctors to provide care for babies who survived botched abortions and a measure that would require abortionists to inform women seeking abortions about their ability to undergo an abortion reversal. Both measures have failed to become law because action has yet to be taken in the House of Representatives on either of them thus far.
Police are treating an attack on a man and a woman in Ballymena on Saturday evening as a "potential hate crime".

It was reported that the pair were walking in the Paradise Avenue area of the town around 9.50pm when they were punched and kicked by a gang of youths.

Both victims were were taken to hospital following the assault for treatment to injuries to their face and head.

A 15-year-old male was arrested over the incident and later released on bail pending further enquiries.

Police said they are working to identify those involved and are treating the attack as a potential hate crime.

A PSNI spokesperson said: "Detectives would ask anyone with information about this incident, or who may be able to help with the investigation to call police on the non-emergency number 101 quoting reference number 1749  02/01/21, or to submit a report online using the non-emergency reporting form via http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/.

"You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/."

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Some of South Africas most senior medical leaders and academics have called for President Cyril Ramaphosa to fire government officials over delays in procuring Covid-19 vaccines, saying their actions will cause thousands of deaths and untold economic damage.

The demand was made in an opinion piece run by News24, the countrys biggest Internet news site, and signed by nine people including Glenda Gray, the president of the South African Medical Research Council, and officials from other health organizations, hospitals and universities.

While at least 29 countries ranging from Mexico to Germany have begun inoculating their populations against the virus, South Africa has yet to conclude any agreements for direct supply with pharmaceutical companies.

The country has ordered vaccines from the Covax facility, an initiative designed to ensure equitable access to vaccines, but those will only cover 10% of the population of about 60 million and will arrive in the second quarter of the year.

Even then a charity put down the deposit after government missed a deadline it announced itself.

The failure to procure vaccines is an unforgivable failure, which will be measured in lives lost in their thousands, sickness for tens of thousands, a broken health-care system and profound and ongoing economic damage, the health leaders and academics said in the opinion piece.

Ramaphosa will need to wield the axe against the members and officials in his administration who are responsible for this perilous fiasco and immediately set about correcting the course.

Tyrone Seale, Ramaphosas acting spokesman, said he may comment after the presidency has examined the article. The health ministry didnt immediately respond to requests for comment.

South Africa, with over 1.09 million confirmed Covid-19 infections and 29,175 deaths, is the worst hit country on the African continent. Its economy likely contracted by the most in nine decades last year, according to government estimates.

The criticism adds to attacks on the vaccine strategy by opposition parties as well as the countrys biggest labor unions, which are allied with the ruling party.

With the worlds biggest HIV epidemic and hundreds of thousands of tuberculosis sufferers, South Africa has a sophisticated health system with world-leading scientists.

At least three Covid-19 vaccine trials are underway in the country and Johnson & Johnson has agreed to have 300 million of its Covid-19 vaccines made at an Aspen Pharmacare Holdings Ltd. factory in the country when the shot is approved.

Public acknowledgment by officials that they didnt think it prudent to begin bilateral negotiations with vaccine suppliers because they could not take the risk of ordering vaccines in the event they would not work is shockingly disingenuous, the health leaders said.

They also criticized the so-called ministerial advisory committee, a group of scientists appointed by Health Minister Zweli Mkhize, for echoing the governments arguments.

Gray and Francois Venter, an academic who signed the opinion piece, were removed from the committee last year by Mkhize. Both have previously been critical of governments approach to the virus.
With the 117th Congress set to be sworn in Sunday, some Democrats are feeling "a little nervous" about House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's (D-Calif.) chances of retaining the gavel, Rep. Filemon (D-Texas) told The Hill. The concern is over whether enough lawmakers will actually show up to give her the required majority of those present and voting. If they do, she's on track to win as expected.

Filemon said the worries stem from the coronavirus pandemic, and Democrats are hoping no one falls ill before the vote. Reps. Gwen Moore (D-Wisc.) and Rick Larsen (D-Wash.) tested positive for COVID-19 in late December, though Larsen is out of quarantine. And although it's unclear, it sounds as if Moore will be free from isolation as well, with Politico's Jake Sherman reporting that 221 out of the 222 Democratic members of the new House are expected to be present. Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-Fla.), who is being treated for pancreatic cancer, will not be at the Capitol.

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If there are indeed 221 Democrats on hand, as well as all 211 Republicans, Pelosi could only afford to have four Democrats vote for someone else, The Hill notes. While there may be a few Democrats who don't back Pelosi, they may vote "present," which essentially renders them absent. They would not be counted against the final tally, likely allowing her to capture the majority. There's also no guarantee every Republican will be there.

"I think she'll win," Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.) said of Pelosi. "But I'm just not sure how she gets there." Read more at The Hill.

More stories from theweek.com

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Kelly Loeffler says she will object to Biden's win with GOP colleagues. David Perdue can only watch.


In a New Years Day tragedy, nine people, including seven children, died in a head-on collision on State Route 33 near the San Joaquin Valley town of Coalinga (Fresno County), the California Highway Patrol said.

The children, ages 6 to 15, were riding in a Ford F-150 driven by an adult headed northbound on State Route 33 Friday at about 8 p.m. The car was struck by a Dodge Journey traveling in the opposite direction, CHP Capt. Kevin Clays said at a news conference Saturday in Coalinga.
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Tearful claims of marital misconduct.

Gaslighting voters by casting doubt on the results of a free and fair election.

A cadre of unscrupulous pals.

Distorting scripture to support partisan political aims.

No, Im not talking about President Donald Trump, though the description certainly fits, but rather Georgia Democrats nominee for U.S. Senate, Rev. Raphael Warnock.

The Atlanta minister may offer progressive believers in the Peach State their very own Donald Trump. Like most of their evangelical kin in the last two presidential elections, this cohort of voters appears willing to look past their chosen candidates character in order to advance the policies he promises to help secure.

Trump had abhorrent hush money payments to an adult film star, Warnock has police footage of his then-wife and mother of his two children  until recently a top aide for the Atlanta mayor  calling the Senate candidate a great actor and warning that she 'tried to keep the way that he acts under wraps for a long time. The police footage of Warnocks altercation with his wife comes after the Senate candidate was separately arrested in 2002 for obstructing a child abuse investigation. The charges were later dropped.

Irony is dead for the shameless contingency of progressive voters who adopted a believe women mantra for the confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh only to drop it when it threatened their political goals.

Trump insists, in defiance of reality, that he won the November 3rd presidential election, while Warnock supports former gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams refusal to concede in her 2018 race. Warnock also gave his seal of approval to Abrams by leading her nonprofit, the New Georgia Project, until January of 2020  long after Abrams lobbed her sour grapes claims of a faulty election. The organization is now under a state investigation.

Trump has surrounded himself with a cast of characters that includes Steve Bannon, Paul Manafort, and Roger Stone. Warnocks connections include the anti-Semetic Rev. Jeremiah Wright, whom he has hosted as a guest speaker at his church and whose now infamous G-d d-mn America sermon he called Christian preaching at its best. Warnock also served as youth pastor at a church that hosted the brutal Cuban dictator Fidel Castro as a speaker. When Castro died, Warnock reflected on his reign  during which the country was listed as a state sponsor of terrorism  saying, His legacy is complex, kind of like Americas legacy is complex.

And, of course, Trump bungled an attempt to quote two Corinthians while campaigning for the votes of students at Liberty University with nationalistic promises to protect Christianity. Warnock, for his part, has used the cover of faith to malign Israel as akin to apartheid South Africa and peddles a distorted gospel as a pro-choice pastor; masking the violence of abortion  which disproportionately targets Black women and their preborn children  as reproductive justice.

If character mattered then (it did), it matters today.

If we call out Republican members of Congress who provide safe quarters for President Trumps election conspiracies (we should), we must likewise have no patience for Democrats who aid and abet this same behavior.

And if Trumps refusal to heed scriptures call to show hospitality to strangers or a host of other commands merits admonishment from people of faith (it does), so too does Warnocks skirting of the Good Books affirmation of preborn childrens humanity and worth.

We will not end the transactional, self-serving ways of politics within the church that flourished under President Trump if no one is willing to jump first and if the tests we apply to our candidates are not applied consistently, irrespective of what policy wins a given contender might throw our way.

That evangelicals failed this test by nominating, electing, and reflexively supporting Donald Trump does not mean their more progressively inclined siblings in the faith need to repeat the same mistakes by granting a free pass to Warnock today. Voting often involves weighing complicated decisions but holding political candidates to a uniformly high standard and asking Warnock to answer for his record should not.
The Centre on Sunday invited bids for strategic in BEML, four years after the Cabinet approved in the company.

The government will sell 26 per cent out of the total 54.03 per cent stake it holds in the company along with transfer of management control, according to the preliminary information memorandum released by the Centre.

Last Monday, the Core Group of Secretaries on had approved sale of government stake in the company that has interests in defence, aerospace, mining and rail.

The sale would push the Centres privatisation drive at a time when the government wants to limit PSU presence, and exit from in non-strategic sectors.

The sale could fetch the government Rs 1,055 crore, according to the company's share closing price on Friday. The government, in December 2016, had approved a plan to divest 26 per cent stake in the state-owned entity.

The disinvestment will be through a two-stage open competitive bidding process.

Expressions of interest (EoIs), that will have to be submitted by March 1, 2021, would be vetted based on the eligibility criteria specified in the first stage. Interested parties will be allowed to send their queries from Monday, and will have to submit their EoIs by March 1 electronically, and a physical copy by March 16.

Based on the evaluation of EoIs, shortlisted bidders will be provided with request for proposal (RFP), including draft share purchase agreement and draft shareholders agreement. The shortlisted bidder, approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, will be designated the successful bidder.

The successful bidder will have to undertake certain obligations, such as employee protection, asset stripping, business continuity and lock-in of shares acquired in the proposed transaction. These conditions will be specified in the RFP.

The government has appointed SBI Capital Markets as its transaction advisor to advise and manage the strategic disinvestment process.

The companys non-core assets will be hived off and will not be a part of the divestment. The board of the company, based on the governments decision, has agreed to hive off surplus land separately and exclude it from the process of strategic disinvestment.

If the asset hive-off process is not completed before the strategic disinvestment process, then a separate mechanism will be formulated to ensure that the non-operational surplus land does not form part of the total assets of the company, post disinvestment.

The company owns operational and non-operational land totaling 2,945 acres. It also owns flats, offices and guest houses totaling 10.99 lakh square feet.

One of the subsidiaries of the company  Vignyan Industries  will not be part of the divestment, and will be shut down.

Eligibility for bidders

Companies, limited liability partnerships and funds, eligible to invest in India, can participate in the process if their minimum net worth is Rs 1,400 crore. Interested bidders will have to form a consortium, and bid for the company with lead member owning a minimum 51 per cent in the consortium.

The bidders should have reported positive profit in at least three out of five preceding years. Employees of are also allowed to bid for the company independently or through a consortium with a bank, venture capitalist or a financial institution. CPSEs are not allowed to bid.

Given that is a listed company, the acquisition of 26 per cent would trigger a mandatory open offer. The investor will be required to make an offer to acquire an additional 26 per cent from public shareholders once the shareholding increases to 25 per cent or more.
(Natural News) The World Health Organization was busted earlier this year carrying water for the Chinese government in terms of helping Beijing cover up its responsibility for COVID-19 and the resulting global pandemic the virus caused.

In fact, the cover-up was so egregious that President Donald Trump took the extraordinary step of cutting off the WHO from American tax dollars.

But now it appears as though the global health agency is attempting to atone for its past mistakes involving Beijings coronavirus cover-up with some damning new information regarding the highly controversial COVID-19 vaccines  namely, that they dont do anything to stop the spread of the disease.

During a virtual press conference earlier this week, WHO chief scientist Soumya Swaminathan was specific: I dont believe we have the evidence on any of the vaccines to be confident that its going to prevent people from actually getting the infection and therefore being able to pass it on.

https://twitter.com/disclosetv/status/1343620091695538179

Mind you, that is the entire purpose behind a vaccine in the first place  to not only inoculate people, but to prevent the spread of the disease the vaccine is meant to target.

So if they dont actually do what theyre supposed to do, why are governments, including ours, spending billions of dollars to manufacture and distribute them?

As noted by Zero Hedge, a close look at the research released by Pfizer and Moderna shows the studies havent actually tested whether the vaccines actually prevent transmission of the virus; the goal of the trials was to see whether vaccinated patients presented with COVID symptoms at a rate that was substantially less frequent than individuals who hadnt been vaccinated. Thats pretty much it.

Though the available data may sorta, kinda, suggest that the vaccines will lower transmission rates, apparently scientists (and the vaccine makers) dont have that information yet.

That seems awfully important data to have, though, considering the objective behind mass vaccination.

It all just seems rather obvious (again) that this vaccine, though Trumps heart was obviously in the right place, has been little more than a mechanism by which Big Pharma and co-opted scientists can make an mint off the peoples suffering (and tax dollars).

Theres more: The vaccines may actually be killing people already.

Israeli media reported this week that a 75-year-old man from Beit Shean died after getting his first Pfizer vaccine (two are required for full immunity). Naturally, according to the countrys health ministry, Israelis and the rest of the world are being told that the vaccine had absolutely nothing to do with the death (and yet, people who die from heart disease or lung problems and are COVID-19 positive are counted as COVID deaths).

Israel National News reported:

The man received the vaccine at 8:30 in the morning, and waited for the customary time at the health clinic before he was released to his home feeling well.

Some time later, the man lost consciousness and was later confirmed dead from heart failure.

Heart failure while positive with coronavirus is due to COVID; heart failure and death after getting a COVID vaccine isdue to heart failure. Got it?

Meanwhile, health officials in Switzerland said a person from the Swiss Canton of Lucerne also died after being one of the countrys first to get the vaccine.

We are aware of the case, a spokesperson said, noting further that the case had been referred to the countrys medications regulator Swissmedic.

One more thing: A San Diego-based emergency room nurse got sick with COVID this week after being vaccinated, though again, the experts are telling everyone the vaccines are super effective and theres nothing at all to worry about.

Which generally means there is plenty to worry about.

See more reporting like this at Pandemic.news.

Sources include:

ABC15.com

IsraelNationalNews.com

ZeroHedge.com
Lord Jagannath Temple in Puri reopened for all devotees on Sunday after remaining closed for nine months due to the pandemic even as Odisha Governor Ganeshi Lal preferred to have darshan of the deities from outside for not having the mandatory Covid-19 negative report for entry into the shrine.

The governor, along with his family members and some staff, had to return to the state capital after having darshan of Patitapaban (the symbolic image of lord Jagannath seen from outside the temple) as they did not have the Covid-19 negative report, a senior official accompanying Lal told PTI.

Though there was no restriction on the entry of the governor, who was welcomed by the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) and Puri district administration, Lal volunteered not to go inside on his own after he came to know that all the devotees have to submit their Covid-19 negative report before entering the temple, a senior official said.

The governor said: I came here to pay obeisance to the Lord. We prayed for the wellbeing of all the people of Odisha seeking the almightys blessings for 2021. The 12th century shrine started its reopening process in a phased manner from December 23. The servitors and their family members were allowed to enter the temple from December 23 till December 25, followed by local residents of Puri in the second phase from December 26 to December 31 evening.

The temple remained closed on January 1 and 2 and reopened for all devotees from across the country from Sunday.

About 17,000 devotees visited the temple on Sunday after producing Covid-19 negative reports done within 96 hours and adhering to the Covid-19 guidelines.

The SJTA and the Puri district administration has implemented a number of guidelines for the devotees asking them to mandatorily wear face mask, sanitise hands, maintain physical distance at all times, not to touch statues or idols inside the temple.

This apart, it also prohibited devotees from carrying any offerings like flowers/earthern lamp inside the temple.

There will be big containers placed at the entrance, where such items can be dropped if being carried by the devotees, it said.

The devotees also cannot take mahaprasad (bhog) inside Ananda Bazar and temple premises while chewing of tobacco/paan and spitting inside temple premises is strictly prohibited.

The devotees enter the temple through a queue system and are required to produce their photo ID card like Aadhaar/Voter ID. They have to leave their belongings at the designated place outside the temple. The devotees will enter into the shine through Lions Gate and exit through the north gate.

Meanwhile, the administration in Bhubaneswar allowed the residents of the Capital city to enter Shree Lingaraj Shrine by adhering to the Covid-19 protocol.

Many temples in the state capital and in other parts of the state also reopened for devotees.
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Michigans political climate provided a fertile ground for conspiracy theories and misinformation campaigns that spread from fringe groups to the Capitol and beyond in 2020.

An incalculable number of misleading claims about the coronavirus pandemic, mail-in ballots and elite pedophile rings found growing appeal with mainstream audiences this year. Experts said conspiracy theorists with a political agenda demonstrated an increasing influence on the national conversation, dividing the country over basic facts and fueling rage against public officials.

December capped off a year defined by intense political division with multiple threats against public officials. The episodes followed the arrest of 14 anti-government extremists who allegedly conspired to kidnap and possibly assassinate Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in October.

Javed Ali, a former intelligence official who teaches public policy at the University of Michigan, said the plot against Whitmer was a manifestation of three cultural conflicts brewing in 2020: Government actions to manage COVID-19 pandemic, social justice movements sparked by the death of George Floyd and the general toxic state of political discourse.

Ali said a fourth factor has since come into play; voter fraud myths used to delegitimize the presidential election.

IF NOT BALLOTS, THEN BULLETS! read an email sent to Michigan lawmakers on Dec. 22. The author said Americans have lost faith in the integrity of elections and predicted a mass execution of public officials is imminent.

If our Congress throws out the bogus Electoral College vote, they can vote Trump into his rightful 2nd term that the American people voted for, the email said. If not, I believe it is time to show the world who is really in charge of this great land. Keep your heads down, it is going to get ugly.

A day later, federal prosecutors filed charges against a former Michigan resident who allegedly threatened Wayne County Board of Canvassers Chair Monica Palmer. The woman allegedly texted Palmer photos of a mutilated corpse and threatened her family after Palmer cast doubt on the accuracy of Detroits election results.

One week earlier, a group of protesters held a nighttime rally outside the home of Department of Health and Human Services Director Robert Gordon. Protesters against emergency orders meant to blunt a winter surge in COVID-19 cases accused Gordon of treason, yelling in the dark that they would not be forcibly vaccinated.

A group of protesters, some armed, also appeared after dark outside Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Bensons home on Dec. 5. They chanted slogans, accused Benson of stealing the election from Trump and warned we will not stand down.

State Rep. Gary Eisen, R-St. Clair Township, was stripped of his committee assignments after suggesting violence could break out during an attempt to intervene in the vote of electors. He later apologized for his comments, which he said were not intended to promote violence.

State Rep. Cynthia Johnson, D-Detroit, met the same punishment for posting a video warning supporters of the president to walk lightly. Johnson herself faced lynching threats and other violent harassment after criticizing voter fraud claims during a House Oversight Committee hearing featuring Trumps personal attorney Rudy Giuliani.

Giuliani also encouraged threats against lawmakers in a virtual briefing for grassroots activists on Dec. 2. Appearing alongside Michigan Republican Party Chairman Laura Cox, Giuliani asked Michiganders to pressure state legislators to replace Democratic electors legally required to cast their vote for President-elect Joe Biden.

You have got to get them to remember that their oath to the Constitution, Giuliani said. Sometimes it requires being criticized. Sometimes it even requires being threatened.

Online threats caused several of Michigans Democratic electors to seek a police escort into the Capitol to cast their votes for Biden on Dec. 14. Legislative offices were closed due to credible threats of violence surrounding the vote.

Trump and Republican lawmakers spent the last month sowing misinformation about his definitive loss in the November election, challenging virtually every step in the process of finalizing results. Trump has continued to claim the election was stolen from him, but has failed to provide substantial evidence of fraud in Michigan - or elsewhere in the nation.

Michigan also featured prominently in Trumps calls to reopen states while COVID-19 cases surged across the country. Protesters remain active in opposing a new set of coronavirus restrictions, holding a Christmas Eve rally at the Capitol.

Megan Squire, a professor at Elon University in North Carolina who tracks online extremist activity said stop the steal rallies are riding a wave of political activism that started with protests against COVID-19 lockdown orders in April. Large demonstrations at Michigans Capitol provided fringe groups an opportunity to organize and spread misinformation to others who were open to hearing it.

You start to see this slippery slope, where youre suspicious that something happened and then you start looking for evidence to back that up, Squire said. We see these groups kind of feeding on one another. The anti-vaxxers will feed off of the QAnon people, who will feed off of the anti-semitic people. It becomes this juggernaut.

Squire says that helps explain why speakers at a Dec. 8 stop the steal rally outside the Capitol also urged the crowd to burn the masks. The rally was part of a national bus tour organized by Women for America First and sponsored by conservative media networks.

Kylie Jane Kremer, executive director of Women for America First, told supporters the bus tour lets people know they arent alone in thinking Trump won the election. Biden secured 306 Electoral College votes to Trumps 232 and earned 7 million more votes.

Youre feeling crazy. Were not. Theyre the crazy ones, Kremer said.

America divided

Josh Pasek, a political science and media professor at UM, said Americans are living in an increasingly polarized society. He pointed to a number of factors, particularly anxieties fueled by demographic changes and the countrys fractured media environment.

Youve had a situation for the last few years where both parties have been susceptible to this, and this all goes along with the decline in the traditional control that mass media outlets have had over trustworthy information, Pasek said. " (Its) created sort of a perfect storm for lower quality stuff to spread around and a lot of people believe it.

People are more likely to accept conspiracy theories when they feel under threat, Pasek said. Normally thats felt most by the political party with less political power, he said, but Republicans have been active purveyors of misinformation about coronavirus statistics and mail-in ballots.

A likely reason for this, Pasek said, is because the Trump era has been characterized by majority groups that make up much of the contemporary GOP -- white voters, evangelical Christians and men -- losing some of their relative social status.

In Michigan, all statewide offices are held by Democratic women.

When youre dealing with a politics of resentment -- which is what I think we are dealing with in the contemporary Republican Party -- that is something else that feels like losing power for white men in particular, Pasek said. The people who are protesting this stuff and saying its a hoax are overwhelmingly male. Theres a big gender divide.

Conservative activists at rallies make frequent reference to their values being under attack from evil forces like Democratic Party leaders, Bill Gates, mainstream media figures and shadowy global elites.

Were losing our republic; were losing our freedoms; were losing our rights, said Richard Ward, a Trump supporter who attended the Dec. 8 protest. This is it. If we dont stand up for our rights now, Democrats will take over. There wont be any more fair elections.

On Nov. 7, the Associated Press declared Biden the winner of the presidential election, while hundreds of Trump supporters from across Michigan gathered on the Capitol steps. Demonstrators, some who were armed with long rifles, said they were mobilized through social media apps.

Detroit resident Patrick Henry called TCF Center, the site where Detroits absentee ballots were counted and a central figure in election fraud narratives, the biggest crime center in Michigan.

Wearing a hat embroidered with tyranny response team, Henry moved through the crowd evangelizing a 13-year-old Alex Jones documentary. Henry internalized the documentarys warnings of a plan to exterminate the worlds population.

Jones continues to push the conspiracy theory that COVID-19 is a biological weapon created by globalists to depopulate the planet.

It sounds like tinfoil hat stuff, but when you start putting it together it makes sense, Henry said.

Jones, a far-right radio host and conspiracy theorist, was recently accused of inciting violence after calling for Biden to be removed from office one way or another during a rally in Washington.

Jones has been traveling the country and holding rallies with other far-right activists like Nicholas Fuentes, a live streamer who organized a Nov. 11 rally at Michigans Capitol.

Fuentes, 22, is the smiling face of a young, radicalized movement whose views embrace white nationalism. The Illinois native is the leader of the Groypers, a loose group of far-right activists waging an ideological battle against Republican lawmakers, right-wing media organizations and conservative campus groups, Squire said.

The group in Lansing was largely comprised of young, white men, including students from Michigan State University and other colleges. One of Fuentes supporters identified himself as a white identitarian but several people declined to provide their names over concerns of being harassed by anti-racists.

Fuentes told his supporters to demand the Republican-led Michigan Legislature to allocate the states 16 electoral votes to Trump during his Nov. 11 rally. Fuentes railed against Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey, R-Clarklake, in a subsequent stream, since Shirkey has refused to replace Michigans Democratic electors with a pro-Trump slate.

Fuentes said conservatives should be more feral in their tactics to push Republicans like Shirkey to reverse the election result for Trump.

People like this have to be held responsible for the outcome if we dont win, Fuentes said. We could go to the state Capitol, we can try to primary people if theyre eligible to be primaries, but if theyre not then where do you go? Maybe you go to their house. Maybe you go to Mike Shirkeys house.

Later in the stream, Fuentes said conservatives need to adopt a mentality of destruction, total annihilation when discussing his disdain for mask mandates.

Fuentes was suspended from YouTube, Twitch, Reddit, Discord, TikTok and payment websites like PayPal. However, Squires research found Fuentes is one of the top-earning livestreamers on DLive, a website primarily used to broadcast video-game content.

DLive has become a popular destination for commentators who are de-platformed by tech companies for espousing extreme views that violate the websites terms of service. Fuentes himself estimated a vast majority of DLives viewers are tuning in to America First content during a Nov. 17 stream.

Weve seen an enormous amount of growth on the fringe platforms, Squire said.

Fuentes supporters chanted Fox News sucks as they marched around the Capitol. Fox News, a longtime ally of the president, has come under attack for fact-checking Trumps claims of voter fraud.

Rachel Wilson, a stay-at-home mother of five children and part-time firearms instructor, was one of only a few women who attended Fuentes rally in November. Wilson said she used to get most of her news from Fox and talk radio, but now turns to social media to get her information.

We just dont have faith in our institutions anymore, Wilson said. My grandma is 94 years old and grew up with Walter Cronkite. You never questioned the news (then). I think a big turning point was 9/11, and the wars that followed. Initially I was a traditional conservative. As those wars dragged on and as more information came out, I really started to doubt that I could just trust whoever was on the right.

Right now its just a giant information war. Its incredibly hard to find the truth.

Fractured media gives rise to alternate realities

Researchers have found evidence to suggest mainstream media organizations are responsible for dividing the country as much as newer, more partisan groups have sprung up to replace them.

Research from University of Michigan professors found early news coverage of the pandemic likely contributed to public opinion being polarized. Researchers found politicians were given an elevated voice in newspaper stories and broadcast reports compared to scientists, which could have amplified differences in how the pandemic was perceived by Republicans and Democrats.

When media coverage is polarized, members of the public are likely to form opinions in line with political elites they trust and reject information not aligned with this view, even if the information comes from experts, the report states.

This was likely made worse because information about COVID-19 changed as researchers learned more about the virus and best practices, Pasek said.

If no one who has traditional credibility has answers, youre going to turn to people that dont have traditional credibility, Pasek said. That is the source of snake oil salesman historically.

A working paper from Harvard Universitys Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society found mainstream media sources supported a months-long campaign by Trump and Republican allies to spread disinformation about mail-in voting.

Researchers found the disinformation campaign was supported by right-wing media ecosystem that marginalizes viewpoints from those who push back against the mail-in voting fraud narrative. Spikes in online attention to mail-in voting fraud coincided with statements from the Republican National Committee and Trumps communications staff, both at the White House and in his campaign.

The Harvard researchers determined Trump perfected the art of harnessing mass media to disseminate and at times reinforce his claims. Coverage that framed the presidents false allegations of voter fraud as a partisan conflict did more to legitimize the issue than online trolls or fake news spread through social media, they argued.

The Election Integrity Partnership, a coalition of research entities focused on detecting attempts to deter people from voting or delegitimize election results, found a handful of pro-Trump Twitter accounts spread a large amount of false information in the lead up to the election. This included conservative activists like Charlie Kirk and Tom Fitton as well as right-wing newsgroups like Brietbart.

In one example, Breitbart reframed a legitimate story from The Detroit News about Michigan overseas ballots listing the wrong running mate for Trump. One day after the story was published, Breitbart wrote its own version with a provocative headline focusing on the actions of the Democrat Michigan government.

Breitbarts version of the story quickly spread on social media among Republican and pro-Trump Twitter influencers like Kirk, causing others to falsely suggest that Michigans Secretary of State intentionally misprinted ballots. Trump himself retweeted Breitbarts link from his personal account, wrongly claiming the ballots were misprinted illegally and on purpose.

The Breitbart article was the fourth-most shared in the Harvard study.

We have previously noted that a common technique used to spread misleading narratives about voter fraud is to falsely assign intent to otherwise non-political actions or mistakes, researchers wrote.

Researchers studied reports from mainstream sources, including national newspapers and primetime broadcast networks. However, another significant source of confusion came from explicitly partisan actors at the helm of rapidly growing media organizations.

The president recently began pushing his supporters toward One America News Network and Newsmax, two rapidly growing conservative media networks. Former White House press secretary Sean Spicer is a host of a weekly program on Newsmax.

Commentators on these explicitly pro-Trump networks are running with flawed stories about Antrim County voting machines and late-night ballot dumps that have been proven false by other legacy media organizations. Meanwhile, voter fraud narratives are some of the most-read content on social media platforms.

We have an increasingly social media environment, and one where journalistic norms hold less and less sway over a larger portion of the information that people are getting, Pasek said. That means a lot less of the information has been actually vetted with any kind of serious fact-checking and the potential for rumors to come across as true is higher.

Data from CrowdTangle, a Facebook-owned social media analytics tool, shows posts containing the phrase Michigan fraud garnered 11.8 million interactions from users in the last month.

The top post came from Trumps account, encouraging people to watch a Dec. 1 Senate Oversight Committee hearing on voter fraud. Shirkey, the Senate Majority Leader, later issued a statement saying the hearings produced no evidence of voter fraud.

The second most-viewed post, also from Trumps account, cited an OANN report stating Michigan fraud witness totally debunks Dominion CEO. Trump and allies claimed Dominion Voting Systems equipment used in Antrim County was designed to create systemic fraud.

However, a Dec. 17 hand count of ballots cast in Antrim County -- the same day Trumps post was published -- verified the results. The audit showed a gain of 11 votes for Trump and a loss of one vote for Biden.

Experts who spoke with MLive were at a loss to describe an antidote to these issues. More factual information is of course important, but fact-checking does little to arm people with the truth if they are unwilling to trust the source, Squire said.

A good start would be to stop looking at political debates as a battle between good and evil, Pasek said. Generally, he said, most people are motivated by improving their community.

The problem is, as identity gets bound up in all this its very hard to not see everything as us versus them, Pasek said. But politics only serves the greater good when we dont view the world as a fixed pie. If its a fixed pie somebody has to lose, and thats going to end up being all of us.
Quirky London jewellery brand, The Pink Piglet Collection, was started in 2017 following founder Millie Carrs trip to India after her second year of university.

Inspired by the rich semiprecious stones of the country and made using traditional Indian craftwork practices, the collections are comprised of statement earrings decorated with jade, quartz, agate and jasper, all sourced ethically in Jaipur.

Like tiny pieces of fine art, the earrings have a fan in Lady Amelia Windsor. Millies passion for jewellery began as a child, and the young designer named her brand after her love of pigs. Prices range from 50 to 180, stocked at wolfandbadger.com.
There was plenty of news across Connecticut during the past week. If you missed any of it on your local Patch, here's a roundup of some of the top stories.

The owners of the eatery will close the restaurant unable to make the business work amidst the pandemic restrictions.>>>Read More.

The well-known radio personality will leave the station before the end of the week.>>>Read More.

Gov. Ned Lamont announced a business has been fined $10,000 for violating the state's COVID-19 rules.>>>Read More.

The New Year means new laws in Connecticut. Some of these changes can have big impacts on residents.>>>Read More.

Leapfrog recently released a new round of hospital safety grades. Check out where Connecticut hospitals stand.>>>Read More.

A 42-year-old man was killed when his car crashed into business.>>>Read More.

A woman, who had been arrested twice, sent a handwritten Thank You note to the police department.>>>Read More.

Other top stories:

The Patch community platform serves more than 100 communities all across Connecticut in Fairfield, New Haven, Middlesex, New London, Hartford, Tolland, and Litchfield counties. Thank you for reading.

 Find Your Patch and more news of the day, including our most-read stories

This article originally appeared on the Across Connecticut Patch
He's the adventurous younger brother of pregnant Bindi Irwin.

And on Sunday, Robert Irwin, 17, revealed himself to be quite the prankster while his famous family holidayed in Tasmania.

Bindi uploaded a picture of the budding photographer photobombing her and husband Chandler Powell while touring the Apple Isle.

Front and centre! On Sunday, Robert Irwin photobombed sister Bindi and her husband Chandler Powell while on holiday in Tasmania

'Robert, you always make photos that much better. Love ya!' she captioned the post, alongside a laughing face emoji.

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In the picture, the teenager was spotted making a funny face while popping his head to the side and into the frame of his sister's photo with her 24-year-old husband.

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Rob's lips are pursed as he stares directly down the lens of the camera, while Bindi and Chandler smile sweetly in the background.

The image of the trio in bushland was then shared by the cheeky teenager to his account, along with a series of other pictures of them holidaying with their 56-year-old mother, Terri.

Together: The image of the trio in bushland was then shared by the cheeky teenager to his account, along with a series of other pictures of them holidaying with their 56-year-old mother, Terri [pictured]

'Just got home from a wonderful trip to Tasmania to ring in the New Year - such a gorgeous spot! (Part 1 of our adventures),' he captioned the post.

They appear to have gone hiking, with the family visiting mountain tops and walking along ocean clifftops.

Rob also uploaded a few short videos of himself visiting the beach on foot and bike.

United: Bindi, Rob, Chandler and Terri appear to have gone hiking on their holiday for New Years, with the family visiting mountain tops and walking along ocean clifftops

'Just got home from a wonderful trip to Tasmania to ring in the New Year - such a gorgeous spot! (Part 1 of our adventures),' Rob captioned his post on Sunday

Enjoying every moment: Rob also uploaded a few short videos of himself visiting the beach on foot and bike

Their trip follows Rob revealing two hobbies which helped him escape the 'craziness' of 2021 on Friday.

'This year I discovered a love for guitar and painting - a beautiful escape from the occasional craziness that this past year brought,' he wrote on Instagram.

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Rob's new hobbies are two of many - adding to his interest in skateboarding, photography, surfing and caring for animals, just like his late father, Steve Irwin.
AUSTIN, TX  Austin ISD staff over the age of 65 and those with compromised immune systems began receiving the coronavirus vaccine on Saturday via a partnership with Ascension Seton, officials said on Saturday.

The pilot program is an offshoot of health services Ascension Seton has provided to Austin ISD schools for the past 24 years, officials noted. Through Tuesday, campus-based staff who are 65 years old and older are invited to receive the COVID-19 vaccine at a designated Ascension Seton vaccine clinic through Ascension Seton's joint partnership with Austin ISD, according to an advisory.

After that, and based on vaccine availability, Austin ISD staff with a qualifying high-risk condition under Group 1B will be invited to receive the vaccine in accordance with the Texas Department of State Health Services Phase 1B vaccine priority guidelines, health officials added. Austin ISD central office staff are notifying eligible individuals via a personal phone call and email to share the process for registering for the vaccine, according to the advisory.

As Ascension Seton continues to receive additional doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, officials said, they will continue to expand vaccine operations consistent with federal and state guidance. Ascension Seton will share more details publicly when they move to the next phase of vaccination for the larger phase 1B group, officials added. Ascension Seton continues to use all COVID-19 vaccines provided and does not hold any COVID-19 vaccines in reserve, according to the advisory.

This article originally appeared on the Austin Patch
After polls closed on Election Day  with millions of votes left to be counted in several battleground states trending toward his Democratic opponent, Joe Biden  President Donald Trump and his allies called for the counting to stop.

STOP THE COUNT! tweeted Trump on Nov. 5, after his campaign had already filed lawsuits in three states seeking to temporarily halt counting  the first of about five dozen legal defeats for the presidents lawyers and Republicans seeking to disenfranchise millions of voters and overturn the election.

But now, Trump wants more votes to be counted. Or, at least, he wants the Georgia count recalculated.

During an hour-long call obtained by The Washington Post, Trump told Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger on Saturday that he wanted to find 11,780 votes.

According to state-certified tallies of counts by bipartisan teams of local election officials across Georgia, Trump lost to Biden by 11,779 votes.

The latest of several pressure campaigns to swing a battleground state back in Trumps favor comes just days before Congress debates, and ultimately certifies, Bidens decisive 306-232 Electoral College victory.

The president has no authority to instruct local election officials to stop doing their jobs.

But Trump accused Raffensperger and Ryan Germany, the secretary of states general counsel, of being complicit in unspecified criminal acts tied to debunked conspiracy theories, including that Dominion Voting Systems had moved its machines out of state. They have not, Germany noted during the call.

Thats a big risk to you and your lawyer, Trump claimed. You cant let it happen. Im notifying you that youre letting it happen. We won the election and its not fair to take it away from us like this. Its going to be very costly in many ways.

Trump told the Georgia officials theres nothing wrong with saying, you know, that youve recalculated, suggesting they recalculate the vote based on the anger of his supporters in the state and country.

You would be respected, really respected, if this can be straightened out before the election, Trump later told Raffensperger, referencing the states runoff elections on Tuesday that could determine the control of the Senate.

Mr. President, the challenge that you have is, the data you have is wrong, Raffensperger said. The Post reported that the Georgia officials stood firm that their election was fair and accurate.

According to the Post, when Trump claimed more than 5,000 dead people voted in the state, Raffensperger corrected the president: The actual number was two. Two. Two people that were dead that voted.

Trump tweeted about the call before the Posts story published, saying he spoke with Raffensperger about alleged voter fraud in Fulton County and elsewhere in the state. Trump accused the Republican of being unwilling or unable to answer questions.

What youre saying is not true. The truth will come out, Raffensperger responded.

Respectfully, President Trump: What you're saying is not true. The truth will come out https://t.co/ViYjTSeRcC  GA Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger (@GaSecofState) January 3, 2021

In dozens of court rooms, Trump and a host of other challengers have failed to produce hard evidence backing up consistent claims of widespread voter fraud. Former Attorney General William Barr, one of Trumps most loyal Cabinet members, said no evidence of widespread voter fraud was found. The Trump administrations own election security team, at the Department of Homeland Security, called the 2020 election the most secure in U.S. history.

On top of failed lawsuits and a doomed effort by GOP lawmakers on Wednesday to dismiss electoral votes that have already been state-certified, Trump has pressured Michigan and Pennsylvania leaders as well as Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp to try to overturn the democratic process in states that proved crucial to Bidens win. Trump has also continued to publicly shame Republican lawmakers and state and local election officials who refuse to fall in line behind him.

On Sunday, he expressed encouragement in response to a tweet suggesting that Republican Sens. Mitt Romney, Lisa Murkowski and Pat Toomey should expect primary challenges for their basic defense of the democratic process. The lawmakers, along with Sen. Ben Sasse and others, have largely blasted congressional efforts to object to Bidens win as an undemocratic farce focused on fealty to Trump and political fundraising.

Biden rode a wave of record turnout and dominated mail-in voting amid the COVID-19 pandemic, flipping states that were key to Trumps 2016 win over Hillary Clinton, including Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Georgia and Arizona.

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In damage control mode after refusing to take BJPs vaccine, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday said the ruling party should not make a "spectacle" out of Covid-19 vaccination and should launch the inoculation drive only after making solid arrangements in advance.

Taking to Twitter, Yadav also asked the government to announce the dates on which economically weaker sections of the population will be vaccinated.

Covid-19 vaccination is a sensitive process. I urge the BJP government not to make a ceremonial spectacle of it and only launch the drive after making solid arrangements in advance. Its a question of peoples lives, hence we cant risk course correction later. The government should also announce a date to vaccinate poorer sections of the society, he said.

            -            .        :           .        . Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) January 3, 2021

Akhilesh Yadav had on Saturday set off a political storm, saying he wouldnt accept a BJP vaccine as an expert panel gave the countrys first emergency use approval to Oxford-AstraZenecas Covid-19 vaccine. "How can I trust the vaccine, which will be used for vaccination by the BJP? We cannot get vaccinated by the BJP's vaccine," he told reporters.

The statement drew sharp rebuke not just from the BJP, but also from former J&K chief minister and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah, who said the vaccine does not belong to any party but to humanity. "I don't know about anyone else but when my turn comes, I'll happily roll up my sleeve & get a COVID vaccine," Abdullah tweeted.

Yadav's remarks also prompted a retort from BJP leader and Uttar Pradesh deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya who termed his statement an "insult to the doctors and scientists of the country".

"Akhilesh Yadav does not have trust in the vaccine and people of Uttar Pradesh do not have the trust in Akhilesh Yadav. His raising questions on the vaccine is an insult to doctors and scientists of the country. He should tender an apology," Maurya told reporters.

During his press conference, Yadav had also said his party will come to power in the state after 2022 elections and everybody will get the vaccine for free then. Later, in a tweet in Hindi, Yadav said, We have full faith in the efficiency of scientists but do not trust the unscientific thinking of the BJP and the medical arrangements of the BJP government administering vaccines which had been lying almost inactive during the corona times.

India is set to launch one of the worlds largest adult inoculation drives soon with the regulator likely to formally announce emergency use approval for Oxford-AstraZeneca and Bharat Biotech vaccines on Sunday.
None of the international passengers to have arrived in Maharashtra recently were found infected with the new coronavirus strain seen in the United Kingdom. Till Saturday, 68 passengers who returned from the UK between November 25 and December 22 have tested positive for Covid 19 but not with the new strain.

4,474 UK returnees who had landed between November 15 and December 23 have been traced till date. RT-PCR tests have been conducted on 3,278 of them 68 samples were found positive but they are yet to be found infected with the new variant, said Maharashtra surveillance office Pradip Awate.

Also Read: India reports 18,177 Covid-19 cases, 217 deaths in 24 hours

The samples of those testing positive were sent to the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune to ascertain the type of virus they are infected with. Results for six of the 68 covid-19 positive passengers are awaited.

29 of these Covid-19 positive travellers are from Mumbai, 13 are from Pune, seven from Thane, nine from Nagpur, two each from Nashik, Aurangabad, Raigad, Buldhana and one each from Nanded and Washim.

The state government has put the administration on alert after the discovery of the new mutant of Covid-19, believed to be much more infectious than all the previous strains.

The state government has also started tracing contacts of those who tested positive.

We have traced 426 people who have come in contact with the UK returnees found positive with Covid-19 infection and 26 of them have tested positive, Dr Awate said.
CHICO, Calif.- Since 2005, the LN4 Hand Project has been able to provide 57,000 hands in over 80 countries.

It is made of plastic and it has three digits on top and two digits on the bottom," said ambassador liaison for LN4 Hand Project, Carissa Rystrom. "The hand opens and then you just close it. It really changes lives.

Rystrom said though 2020 presented many challenges, they were presented with an unforgettable opportunity from the world-famous K-Pop band, BTS and their fan base.

Their fandom, Army, votes for each band member's birthday," said Rystrom. "They vote on a category like a charitable category and this year is for Kim Tae-Hyung which is the band members name. The category selected was disabilities.

Army began a 5-day flash fundraiser that began on December 26th for the LN4 Hand Project raising almost $60,000.

"The popularity and really the deep connection that people feel when they know they can give money and put an actual hand on a person, that is what I really think drove the success of the fundraiser," said Rystrom.

Rystrom shared what it means to her to be able to have this happen for the foundation.

Well I would say the biggest thing that comes to mind for me and seeing the results of this fundraiser is just seeing peoples overwhelming generosity despite a pandemic," said Rystrom.

She said the money that was raised will go toward shipping the hands internationally and for materials to build the hands themselves.

People can make a donation or become a volunteer for the LN4 Hand Project by clicking HERE.
On Sunday morning, Trump falsely tweeted that the outbreak has been far exaggerated because of the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions ridiculous methodology. He complained, too, that Fauci has been credited by the news media with doing an incredible job when Fauci works for me and the Trump Administration, and I am in no way given any credit for my work.
Indians finally got the first vaccines against Covid-19 on Sunday when the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) formally approved Oxford-AstraZeneca and Bharat Biotechs coronavirus shots. All eyes are now on the mammoth vaccination exercise set to get underway in the country.

In the first phase, the massive vaccination drive will cover almost as many people as the entire US population. The central government has identified 300 million people to receive the first doses of the vaccine. The priority group is made up of 30 million health care workers, policemen, soldiers and volunteers, and 270 million vulnerable people -- mostly citizens above the age of 50 and 10 million others with serious comorbidities.

When it comes to the actual vaccination process, India already has a vast, established network under its Universal Immunization Program, which inoculates about 55 million people per year. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also suggested that the country can draw from its experience of organizing the world's largest democratic elections, adopting a whole of society approach that involves the participation of states, districts, civil society, citizens and experts.

"Every single Indian who needs to be vaccinated will be vaccinated," Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan had said at a news conference on December 8.

The Oxford-AstraZeneca shot, called Covishield in India, is being produced by the worlds largest vaccine maker, the Pune-based Serum Institute of India. India's first homegrown coronavirus vaccine, Covaxin, is developed jointly by Bharat Biotech and the government-run Indian Council of Medical Research.

Adar Poonawalla, CEO of Serum Institute of India, said his company is currently producing 50 to 60 million doses of Covishield per month, and production will be scaled up to 100 million doses a month after January or February. "I think everybody is aware the Ministry of Health wants 300 to 400 million doses by July 2021, so we're trying to get to that target," he said at a news conference last month.

A family business started by Poonawalla's father 50 years ago to bring cheaper vaccines to the masses, the Serum Institute of India is aiming to produce hundreds of millions of coronavirus vaccines for not only India, but also other developing countries. But Poonawalla has made it clear that his company will focus on immunizing India first before sending the vaccines overseas.

"It's very important we take care of our country first, then go on to COVAX after that and then other bilateral deals with countries. So I've kept it in that priority," Poonawalla said in an interview with CNBC-TV18 last month.

COVAX is a World Health Organization-backed global initiative to ensure the rapid and equitable distribution of Covid-19 vaccines to rich and poor countries alike. But it was shunned by the US, partly because US President Donald Trump did not want to work with the WHO.

According to Serum Institute of India, Covishield could be sold to the Indian government for about $3 for two doses, and later $6 to $8 on the private market. That is likely much cheaper than the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, which is sold to the US government for $19.5 for a single does -- although Pfizer India has not announced the price for India.

Covishield has another advantage -- it only needs to be stored at standard refrigerator temperatures of 2 to 8 degrees Celsius (36 to 46 degrees Fahrenheit). Pfizer's vaccine, on the other hand, requires an ultra-cold storage temperature of -75C (-103F) -- infrastructure that India lacks, and must be used within five days once refrigerated at higher temperatures.

"India has a lot of storage infrastructure" for temperatures of 2C to 8C, Poonawalla said. "It has slightly less storage space for -20, and almost nothing for -70."

What preparations are underway in India?

India not only produces more than 60% of all vaccines sold across the globe, it also runs one of the largest vaccine schemes in the world. Its Universal Immunization Program inoculates more than 26 million newborns and 29 million pregnant women annually against diseases such as polio, measles and hepatitis B, and over 9 million immunization sessions are held across India every year, according to WHO.

"We do have the advantage of having run a very large universal immunization program across this country," said professor K Srinath Reddy, president of the Public Health Foundation of India. "To some extent our health system is fairly well geared up."

But vaccinating 55 million people in a year is still a far cry from the target of 300 million in just eight months. The country currently has 239,000 vaccinators under the Universal Immunization Program, but fewer than 65% of them will be deployed to administer coronavirus vaccines, to avoid too much disruption to the routine vaccinations, according to health secretary Bhushan.

He said the central government is in collaboration with states to arrange additional vaccinators, but did not reveal how many more staff will be added.

"To get adequate work force of people to administer the injections, monitor the side effects, and then ensure that people come back for the second injection as well -- I think that is going to be the challenge that we have to meet," Reddy said.

According to the government's guidelines released earlier this month, 100 to 200 people will be vaccinated per session per day and monitored for half an hour after receiving the shots to examine any adverse effects.

A digital platform, the Covid Vaccine Intelligence Network (Co-WIN) system, will be rolled out to track enlisted participants and the delivery of Covid-19 vaccines.

The government is also ramping up its stocks of cold chain storage equipment such as walk-in coolers and freezers, deep freezers and ice-lined refrigerators. At present, the country has more than 80,000 pieces of cold chain equipment at about 29,000 locations, which can store enough Covid-19 vaccines for the first 30 million frontline workers, Bhushan said.

"All necessary resources of vaccination have been delivered to the states," he added.

Manufacturers are also racing against time to increase syringe supplies. Rajiv Nath, managing director of Hindustan Syringes and Medical Devices, said the company was producing 560 million pieces of syringe per annum as of June.

"Currently we are making around 700 million pieces per annum capacity and we plan to increase the production rate to a billion pieces per annum capacity by the second quarter of next year," he said.

Drawing from the electoral machinery

India's decades-long Universal Immunization Program has traditionally focused on children -- and to a lesser extent women. Its coronavirus vaccine drive, however, will focus on adults, and faces challenges in terms of both the sheer number of shots and gathering people to receive them, Reddy said.

And that's where India's electoral machinery for mobilizing the country's huge adult population can come in handy, he said.

"We do have a well-oiled machinery, which conducts this in phases in different parts of the country," Reddy said "That is a very orderly process, which proceeds extremely smoothly, even in the remotest corners of the country. So in terms of adult mobilization, it is a fairly well tested process."

In the 2019 general elections, India mobilized 900 million voters in under six weeks. The whole voting process was staggered into seven phases and scattered across the country. "The same process of identification and lineup can easily be replicated here (for the vaccine drive). Of course, the administration of the vaccine itself will have to be done by people who are trained for that," Reddy said. And Reddy believes training new vaccinators won't be a difficult task.

"It is only a question of training people to administer intramuscular injections with safety and monitor for side effects," he said. "We can actually recruit people with a science background, preferably science graduates ... who can be trained easily and brought into the process as vaccinators under supervision."

Vaccinating 1.3 billion people?

As the world's second most populous country, India's strategy is to vaccinate "a critical mass of people and break that virus transmission," so that it doesn't have to vaccinate the entire population of 1.3 billion, according to Balram Bhargava, director general of the Indian Council of Medical Research.

Health secretary Bhushan also said at a news conference last month that "the government has never spoken about vaccinating the entire country."

Reddy, from the Public Health Foundation of India, said after the first phase of 300 million people are vaccinated, experts can better assess how much of a threat the virus remains and then decide on how many more people will need to be inoculated.

"This is an evolving epidemic. And our response will have to be adaptive even in terms of deciding how many and how soon we'll be vaccinated." Reddy said.

"It is possible that conditions may change, and by that time the virus may not be as much of a threat as it is at the moment ... But over a period of time, I believe about 60% to 70% of the population would need to be immunized," he said.
Being a content creator in the travel space affords me a host of unique experiences. But the best part is the people I have encountered. Ive had some of the most random, unexpected encounters on my travels. Here are some of my favourites.

1. Desi Aunty in Istanbul

It was my first ever trip to Istanbul and I was excited to explore the city. I was alone and had no idea what to expect. As soon as I checked into my hotel and settled my bags, I got a call from the reception that the tour bus I had booked for the afternoon had arrived. I got into the bus and was surrounded by families from around the world. I seemed to be the only solo traveller.

Then I noticed a Desi Aunty, clad in an elegant salwar-kameez. She must have been well in her 60s. Are you Indian? she asked. We got chatting and she told me she was a retired school principal from Kanpur. Her sons were arriving on a business trip to Istanbul two days later and shed decided to explore the city before they arrived.

On the Bosphorus cruise, Aunty offered to buy me a coffee, since I hadnt had the time to exchange currency, yet. We spent the afternoon chatting and I found her the perfect companion with whom to explore a new city.

At the end of the bus tour, we decided to meet the next day to explore the city on foot. We strolled through the Sultanahmet quarter, tried local delicacies and exchanged travel stories. A 30-something journalist from Mumbai and a retired school teacher from Kanpur explored Istanbul together for the first time. So random, yet so unforgettable. I am still in touch with her.

Ortakoy is one of Istanbuls most popular neighbourhoods by the Bosphorus

2. The Island Crooner in Mauritius

One evening, I found myself in the vast lobby bar of a luxury resort in Mauritius, where guests gather every evening to sip evening cocktails while a local band strums along.

Being fond of live music, while the others in the bar gave little or no acknowledgement to her soulful singing, I was humming along, singing, swaying and enthusiastically applauding her music. Bonsoir, Stephanie said to me, between her set and, Merci beaucoup for having encouraged my music. Few people acknowledge the musician.

On the Bosphorus cruise, [the Indian] aunty offered to buy me coffee, since I hadnt exchanged currency!

Stephanie was thrilled that I was able to communicate with her in French and we hit it off instantly. Following her sets, we sat down and she told me about her island life, her favourite spots, her tiny village, her husband and family. A quick exchange of numbers and a Facebook friend request later, Stephanie and I were friends. We remain in constant touch, even today.

3. The visitors new clothes

When I went to the stunning French ski resort of Chamonix, at the foot of Mont Blanc to shoot content and write a story on my first ever ski experience, on invitation from the French tourism board, I was absolutely mesmerised by the blankets of white snow that covered everything  this was a veritable fairytale town.

But given that it was my first experience in a snow-covered ski resort, none of the fancy coats and shoes that I had packed for my trip to Paris was enough to protect me from the cold. So, my local guide, Cecile, from the Chamonix Tourist Office, and her team began an epic mission to dress me appropriately for my first tryst with the ski slopes.

Riaan taking a selfie with the Galata Tower

In Ceciles sons ski boots, Claudines boyfriends puffer jacket, Angeliques husbands ski pants, there I was, the first time Indian skier, in Chamonix, all kitted out. At the end of the day, Cecile and I enjoyed a glass of mulled wine and fondue in a traditional chalet, and laughed about the day gone by. The visitors new clothes, she called it.

I went back to Chamonix a couple of years later and caught up with Cecile again. We remain in contact occasionally.

4. The super inked tour guide

Exploring the historic Dutch fort of Galle, Sri Lanka, for the very first time, I was researching a heritage walk. I chanced upon the website of a person called Shanjei and booked a walk.

Shanjei showed up at our meeting point, looking straight out of a superhero comic  muscular, tattooed, long beard and a fedora hat. Whats more, he sported a cool sarong and had decided to bring his dog along for the walk. We hit it off instantly.

When the tour ended, Shanjei treated me to a coffee at the iconic Peddlars Inn Cafe and then some gelato, evenings drinks at the Dutch Hospital courtyard, followed by dinner. It was like I had found a long lost friend. I continue to catch up with Shanjei every time I visit Galle.

Riaan with Stephanie, a singer, who he made friends with in Mauritius

5. Inspiring people

Once, on a flight between Mumbai and Paris, I sat next to a Mumbai-based lady named Neeta. We got chatting and I found out that she was almost 70. I dug deeper to find out why she was going to Paris alone. Turned out she was always passionate about learning French, which she did as a 20-year-old when she lived in Paris as an au pair. But she returned to India, got married and had children and never went back to France.

Now at 70, children gone away and, sadly, recently widowed, she had decided to go to France for three months. We spoke endlessly: exchanged tips on what to do in Paris, the best chateaux to visit in the Loire valley and also how to make a cool day trip to Chantilly. We continue to remain in touch.

Riaan George is a luxury and travel content creator based in Mumbai and Colombo.He also teaches French and is learning Italian.

From HT Brunch, January 3, 2021

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Egypt has confirmed its participation in a fresh round of talks mediated by the African Union (AU) on Sunday over the disputed Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), despite of a recent spat between Cairo and Addis Ababa over the dam.

In press statements, Egypts foreign ministry Spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid said Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and Irrigation and Water Resources Minister Mohamed Abdel-Aty will participate in the negotiations.

Sudan will also participate in the GERD negotiations under the leadership of the current AU chair, South Africa, with the talks due to be held after a one-month deadlock caused by Khartoums withdrawal from the talks, when it objected to the adopted methodology of the talks.

A source told Sudanese news agency SUNA that "the meeting will discuss Sudans proposal, aimed at reactivating the negotiations by giving a greater role to the AU experts" to reach a binding legal agreement on the GERD, which Ethiopia started building on the Blue Nile in 2011.

The European Union (EU), which acts as an observer to the negotiations, has welcomed the resumption of the GERD talks, describing it as one that offers an important opportunity for progress towards an agreement on the filling and related operations of the dam.

As an observer to the talks, the EU encourages all the parties to show the political will to engage in this round of talks in a constructive and open-minded spirit, a statement by the spokesperson said.

The scheduled talks come days after Egypt slammed statements made by Ethiopias foreign ministry Spokesman Dina Mufti, last week, regarding Cairos internal affairs, describing them as a flagrant transgression.

Mufti, Ethiopias former ambassador to Cairo, claimed that Egypt "has turned Ethiopia into a threat" and that it would cause thirst and hunger for Egyptians, reflecting on the "depth of the internal crisis in Egypt.

The Egyptian foreign ministry summoned last week the Ethiopian charge d'affaires to Cairo for clarifications over Mufti's statements.

Egypt and Sudan have been in talks with Ethiopia for a decade to reach a legally binding agreement on the filling and operating of the $4.8 billion near-complete mega dam.

South Africa has been mediating negotiations recently between Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia to resolve the dispute.

The GERD, built 15 kilometres from the Ethiopian border with Sudan, has been a source of contention between the three countries since its construction began in 2011.

The first filling of the controversial dam took place last summer, despite Ethiopia not having reached a binding agreement with its downstream neighbours.

Cairo fears the massive hydropower project will significantly cut its crucial water supplies from the Nile River, while Sudan fears it could endanger the safety of its own dams.

Ethiopia says the 6,000-megawatt dam is key to its development and hopes to become Africas biggest electricity exporter.

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An Australian woman has been arrested and charged in Tanzania shortly after criticising the Tanzanian President's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic in a satirical social media post.

Zara Kay, an Australian citizen who was born in Tanzania, was told to attend a police station in the city of Dar es Salaam on December 28 before being detained for 32 hours.

Australian citizen Zara Kay runs the women's rights group Faithless Hijabi

Authorities confiscated the Monash University-educated activist's Australian passport before bailing her on December 29.

In a tweet posted on her account on January 1, Ms Kay said: "I'm out on bail, thank you all for the support. I'm still quite traumatised from everything. Please don't stop fighting for me. They can try shaking me, but they won't break me".
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NIAMEY, Niger  A hundred civilians were killed in attacks by suspected militants in the West African nation of Niger on Saturday, according to government officials.

Armed men shot men and boys in what was said to be a revenge attack on the villages of Tchoma Bangou and Zaroumadareye. The villages are in the southwestern region of Tillaberi, where civilians have increasingly come under attack in the past two years.

They opened fire on everybody, said Jahafar Koudize, a resident of Tchoma Bangou who managed to escape.

The attack, which came just a week after Nigers presidential election, is one of the countrys deadliest ever. Prime Minister Brigi Rafini, in remarks broadcast Sunday on national television from a visit to the area of the assaults, put the death toll at 100 but did not say who was responsible, Reuters reported.
BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) commissioner Iqbal Chahal on Sunday saluted the doctors and frontline workers after Mumbai reported just three deaths from the coronavirus disease (Covid-10).

The hard work of Maharashtra government and BMC is paying off. I also congratulate Mumbai citizens for their cooperation and support. A big salute to all doctors and frontline workers as well as media who created positive awareness, Chahal said.

Mumbai reported a total of 581 new Covid-19 cases, 697 recoveries/discharges and three fatalities on Sunday. Total cases in the city reached to 2,95,240 including 2,75,464 recoveries/discharges and 11,135 deaths.

According to the health bulletin released by the Maharashtra health department, the state recorded 3,282 new Covid-19 cases, 2,064 discharges, and 35 fatalities on Sunday.

The Pune division added 663 fresh cases including 289 in city and 110 in Pimpri-Chinchwad, the release said.

Nagpur division and Akola division reported 594 and 225 new cases, respectively.

The state department said the total cases now stands at 19,42,136 including 18,36,999 recoveries. There are 54,317 active cases in the state and 49,666 fatalities.

The case recovery rate in the state now stands at 94.59 per cent while the case fatality rate is 2.56 per cent.

(With inputs from agencies)
Anantapur Urban MLA Ananta Venkatrami Reddy hoped the super specialty hospital will soon start providing quality of medical services to people of Anantapur district. (File photo)

Anantapur: The super specialty hospital at Anantapur, being set up as part of post-bifurcation package, will soon start providing services to people of Anantapur as also those from the surrounding districts of Rayalaseema.

The well-equipped hospital will ensure that people of the area will not have to approach corporate hospitals in Bengaluru and Hyderabad for different specialised treatments.

The building constructed to house the hospital had been requisitioned to exclusively treat cases of Covid-19, which had seen an alarming rise in the beginning of 2020 following an outbreak of Coronavirus pandemic. Now, in view of the steep fall in Coronavirus cases in the district, the government decided a couple of days ago to start the super specialty hospital. Since then, the district administration has been preparing reports about various requirements to start the specialised hospital.

Hospital authorities have sent proposals seeking 179 doctors of professor and assistant professor levels for the super specialty hospital in addition to 280 nursing and non-technical staff.

The hospital should have actually been completed by December 2017. However, it got delayed as the then Telugu Desam government did not release its share of Rs.30 crore for the purpose. The YSRC government has now agreed to pay matching grant immediately.

The centre had allotted the super speciality hospital for Anantapur through the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India. It came in the form of upgrading the existing Government Medical College under Phase III of the Pradhan Manthri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY). Anantapur was decided as the location as the city and its surrounding districts are located far away from the state capital Amaravati. The hospital was sanctioned in 2016 and work started on June 6 of the same year.

The vacant land of cancer hospital was allotted for constructing the 200-bed four-floor super specialty hospital containing 18,503 sq metres of floor area. It has been designed to accommodate eight special wings  cardiology, neurology, nephrology, medical gastroenterology and surgical gastroenterology, along with allied departments.

Anantapur Urban MLA Ananta Venkatrami Reddy hoped the super specialty hospital will soon start providing quality of medical services to people of Anantapur district.
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Pasco County, FL  In the ostensible land of the free, we are told that all people are presumed innocent until proven guilty by their peers. To those whove been paying attention however, we know that innocent until proven guilty is a farce into todays police state. If you doubt this assertion, you need only look at the data to see that a whopping 74% of people in jails across the country  have not been convicted of a crime.

While it is true that many of these folks are awaiting trial for crimes they did commit, there are innocent people behind bars for the sole reason that they cannot afford bail. A free country  who claims to protect the rights of citizens  should not be keeping hundreds of thousands of presumed innocent people in cages, yet this is the status quo.

A recent report from the Tampa Bay Times shows just how determined the American police state is to guarantee an assembly line of otherwise entirely innocent people to continue this process. Police in Florida are targeting children in an attempt to label them as criminals at a young age  despite the children being entirely innocent.

The Pasco sheriffs office has a secret list of students it believes could fall into a life of crime based on ridiculous standards like their grades.

By these standards, people like Thomas Edison, one of the most successful inventors in human history, couldve been labeled a criminal after he was kicked out of school at age 12 for being poor at math and unable to concentrate.

Steven Spielburg, the famous movie producer, may have been labelled a criminal as well after he temporarily dropped out of high school only to return to be put in a special ed class.

Kids often make poor choices when they are younger and these choices should never put them on some police watch list or criminal database. This is nothing short of pre-crime tactics that ultimately lead to segregation of dystopian societies based on ratings from the state.

Nevertheless, the Pasco Sheriffs Office uses data from the Pasco County Schools district and the state Department of Children and Families to compile this very list from middle and high schools who they think will turn out to be criminals.

According to the Tampa Bay Times, the sheriffs office defended the tactics and said its data-sharing practices with the school district goes back 20 years and are intended to keeping school campuses safe. Only a juvenile intelligence analyst and the school resource officers have access to the information, it said.

The department says they use this information to help troubled kids, but the parents of these kids have no idea that police are surveilling their children to potentially label them as future criminals.

These programs, in conjunction with the School Districts Early Warning System, provides recommendations to community or school based programs or resources, and mentorship to those who have experienced adverse childhood experiences, something academically proven to lead the possibility of increased victimization, mental health concerns and other aspects, a sheriffs spokeswoman said.

School officials explained that they didnt even realize this child surveillance was happening.

School District Superintendent Kurt Browning and the principals of two high schools told the newspaper they were unaware the sheriffs office was using school data to identify kids who might become criminals.

We have an agreement with the Sheriffs Office, Browning said in a statement. That relationship has been strengthened in the wake of the tragedy at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School in 2018, and that includes processes for a two-way sharing of information that could save lives and result in timely interventions with students who are at risk.

The program, called the Early Warning System tracks students grades, attendance and behavior. If a student was a victim of abuse or witnessed abuse, this increases their chances of police labelling them a criminal.

What qualifies for an at risk designation could be anything from getting a D on a report card to missing school more than three times in a quarter, according to the programs manual. Other factors include witnessing domestic violence, having a parent in prison and being the victim of abuse or neglect.

The sheriffs office then compiles this information  combined with grades and other data sets  and puts it into a system that scores children in 16 categories. The unwitting children are then each assigned a label: On Track, At Risk, Off-Track or Critical.

Hundreds of children are on this list.

The sheriffs office denies that the list is used to label kids as criminals, and claims it is instead used to identify kids at risk for victimization, truancy, self-harm and substance abuse. As the Times reports, however, future criminal behavior is the only designation on the list and the office had a hard time proving anything else:

But the intelligence manual  an 82-page document that school resource officers and other deputies are required to read  doesnt mention those other risks. Instead, in five separate places, it describes efforts to pinpoint kids who are likely to become criminals. The office could not provide any documents instructing school resource officers to interpret the list another way.

The idea of cops spying on children in an effort to predict future criminal behavior is chilling. Thankfully, the Tampa Bay Times report has shed some much needed light on the practice.

Can you imagine having your kid in that county and they might be on a list that says they may become a criminal? Linnette Attai, a consultant works with student privacy laws, told the Times. And you have no way of finding out if they are on that list? This is a district that is sending millions of dollars to the sheriff of Pasco County to target its students as criminals.

Indeed, this is worse than minority report.
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A former Nigerian senator, Shehu Sani, has released a list of 10 things he says any Nigerian who wants to go into politics must expect.

The list, some of which could appear weird to a non-Nigerian, reveal the idiosyncrasies of Nigerian politics which deter many Nigerians from getting involved.

Mr Sani, who lost reelection in 2019, said the list was an advice to a man who sought his advice on what to expect if he joins politics.

The ex-senator published the post on his Facebook page.

See the full post below.

A man who was fed up with the failures of Our leaders wants to join politics, he asked me to tell him TEN things he should expect:

Enough money to spend on party Exco to get the party ticket and still no certainty they will vote for you. Answer every call and honour every public invitation and still no certainty you will be their favoured choice. Party thugs in your home, offices and wherever you go and you must endure their irresponsible and immoral behaviour. Discomfort and no time for yourself and your family as you are always meeting with people, going to people or running away from people. You will have to learn to endure insults and campaign of calumny and all-out war against your person and character by political adversaries and their sponsored men on Radio, on Tv and Online. Your political opponents will dig into your past and that of your parents and bring them out to the public and if there is no dirt, they will invent a dirty past for you and sell it to the public. If you are a woman be ready to hear the names of the men you know and the ones you never know as people who once slept with you. If you are a man, your commitment to your faith and the origin of your grandparents will all be scrutinized and possibly distorted to make a good bad story. They will reach out to all the schools you attended in search of any evidence of forgery or misconduct in the past. If you had any history of sickness or divorce or criminal issues in your life or career all will be made public. Be ready to be betrayed or backstabbed by people you like, you believed in, you supported, you helped or you nurtured as they can switch side at any moment of their convenience. Be ready to go into debt in order to oil your political machine and be ready to sell your properties, assets or shares that you spent most part of your life trying to acquire, all to ensure you have steady supply of money as you move on. Be ready to hear that the man who promised to support you in the day is meeting with your opponents in the night. Be ready to pretend to believe a man even if he or she is lying. Be ready to stress your heart, your brain and your body system beyond their limits. Be ready to receive daily stories of plots against you, mischief against you and threats to your life and that of your family every day. Be ready for the rough and tough road.

WHEN YOU SEE POLITICIANS, THIS HAS BEEN THEIR LIFE AND STORY.
Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan Sunday welcomed the emergency use approval for Oxford-AstraZeneca's and Bharat Biotech's vaccines against coronavirus and termed it a "watershed moment" in India's battle against COVID-19.

India's drugs regulator Sunday approved Oxford-AstraZeneca's Covishield, manufactured in India by the Serum Institute, and indigenously developed Covaxin of Bharat Biotech for restricted emergency use in the country, paving the way for a massive inoculation drive.

Vardhan said the country's wait for a COVID-19 vaccine is over with these approvals. A watershed moment in India's famed battle against #COVID19 under the charismatic leadership of Hon'ble PM @narendramodi Ji ! Our wait for #COVID19 vaccine is over with COVISHIELD from @SerumInstIndia and COVAXIN from @BharatBiotech approved for emergency use in India, Vardhan tweeted.

Calling these vaccines a fitting tribute to corona warriors, he expressed heartfelt gratitude to healthcare professionals and frontline workers for their efforts during these unprecedented times and congratulated all the scientists and researchers for their work.

It's now time to reap the benefits of the robust supply chain infrastructure we've put in place for quick and equitable distribution of the vaccine. Urge all citizens to entrust the stringent protocols followed for ensuring safety, efficacy & immunogenicity of the approved vaccines, Vardhan said in another tweet.

The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) granted the approval on the basis of recommendations by a COVID-19 Subject Expert Committee (SEC) of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO). "After adequate examination, CDSCO has decided to accept the recommendations of the Expert Committee and accordingly, vaccines of M/s Serum and M/s Bharat Biotech are being approved for restricted use in emergency situations," DCGI Dr V G Somani told the media here.

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Here's how material shortages are hitting home construction

"It's not just that prices are going up; it's how quickly they're going up and nothing's coming down," said CEO of the PA Builders Association.
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Mexican doctor admitted to ICU after receiving Pfizer vaccine

A 32-year-old female doctor who was hospitalized after receiving the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in Mexico. The doctor, whose name has not been released, was admitted to the intensive care unit of a public hospital after she experienced seizures, difficulty breathing and a skin rash. The Health Ministry said in a statement that the initial diagnosis is encephalomyelitis which is an inflammation of the brain and spinal cord.nThe country began distributing the first round of COVID-19 vaccines to healthcare workers on Dec. 24.
Eight Vietnamese students won gold medals at the international Olympiads in 2020.

Bui Hong Duc - Informatics Olympiad gold medalist

Bui Hong Duc

Bui Hong Duc was the only Vietnamese student winning a gold medal at the 2020 International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI).

He was also the youngest member of the Vietnamese national team winning a gold medal at the 2019 IOI.

Before becoming the golden boy in informatics, Duc was famous for ' achievements in mathematics. When he was a secondary school student at the Hanoi-Amsterdam High School for the Gifted, he was selected for teams of excellent students to attend national and international competitions.

He won a gold medal with the highest score at the international mathematics competition in China in 2015, and platinum medal at the 2014 Asian Pacific Mathematical Olympiad.

Ngo Quy Dang  IMO gold medalist

In the 2019-2020 academic year, Ngo Quy Dang won second prize at the national competition for excellent students. The achievement brought Dang to the national team of selected students to attend the International Mathematics Olympiad (IMO) where he won a gold medal.

Dang got 36/42, the highest score gained by Vietnamese students at the competition.

Dang was always an excellent student called the King of prizes at secondary school as he won a lot of prizes at competitions.

The great achievements in mathematics allowed him to enroll in the High School for the Gifted in Natural Sciences.

Truong Tuan Nghia - IMO gold medalist

Nghia won a gold medal at 2020 IMO, though he was an 11th student at the High School for the Gifted in Natural Sciences.

Nghia was praised by Prof Le Anh Vinh, head of the Vietnamese delegation attending the IMO. Vinh commented that Nghia is calm, careful and thoughtful.

Nghia showed his talent in mathematics at a very young age. When he was in 6th grade, he was selected to participate in APMOPS math exam in Singapore and listed among top 40. Later, he got the first and second prizes at the Hanoi competition for excellent students when he was in 8th and 9th grades.

Ho Viet Duc, gold medalist at IBO

Ho Viet Duc

Duc, a 12th grader in Thua Thien-Hue, was the only Vietnamese student winning a gold medal at the 2020 International Biology Olympiad.

His father is a lecturer at the Hue City University of Agriculture and Forestry. Duc has loved biology since his childhood.

Nghia showed his talent in mathematics at a very young age. When he was in 6th grade, he was selected to participate in APMOPS math exam in Singapore and listed among top 40. Later, he got the first and second prizes at the Hanoi competition for excellent students when he was in 8th and 9th grades.

When he was in 9th grade, he won first prize at the provincial competition in biology. One year later, he won first prize at the competition for students in the North Central Coastal provinces. When he was in 11th grade, he won second prize at a national competition. A year later he won a gold medal at the same competition .

Ly Hai Dang, gold medalist at IChO

With 96.75/100 score, Dang not only won a gold medal at the 2020 International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO), but also ranked fifth among 230 competition attendees from all over the world.

Dangs mother said the boy has loved to read books since his childhood, especially books about chemistry. He began conducting experiments when he was at primary school.

Some years later, he decided to apply for the chemistry majoring class at the Tran Phu High School for the Gifted.

He won two gold medals at the competition for students in the coastal provinces and northern delta when he was in 10th and 11th grades. Also in these two years, he won the second prize at the national competition and got the Excellent prize with the maximum score at a competition in Australia.

Nguyen Hoang Duong, IChO gold medalist

Duong won a gold medal at the competition with 94.08/100 score, ranking 9th among 230 competitors. He was the youngest member of the Vietnamese national competition team.

Duong has been famous for his achievements in chemistry since he was in 9th grade, winning the third prize at the Hanoi competition.

He passed the exams to the three most prestigious schools, including the High School for the Gifted under the Hanoi University of Education, the Hanoi-Amsterdam High School for the Gifted, and the High School for the Gifted in Natural Sciences.

Duong also won first prize at the 37th International Mathematics Tournament of the Towns (ITOT) in Russia in the 7th grade; Bronze Medal at International Mathematics Competition (IMC) in the 8th grade and other prizes at international competitions.

Pham Trung Quoc Anh, gold medalist at IChO

Anh is very good at chemistry. When he was a secondary school student, he won first prize at the Nghe An provincial competition for excellent students in chemistry and came first in the entrance exam for the Phan Boi Chau High School for the Gifted.

The only female gold medalist

Dam Thi Minh Trang, a 12th grader at Le Hong Phong High School for the Gifted from Nam Dinh province, won two first prizes at the two national competitions in chemistry when she was in the 11th and 12th grades.

Le Huyen

University students make bricks from plastic waste A team of third-year students at the HCM City University of Technology has developed lightweight bricks from plastic waste.
India's drugs regulator on Sunday also approved the Oxford University-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine 'Covishield', manufactured by the Serum Institute for restricted emergency use in the country, paving the way for a massive inoculation drive

The Drug Controller General of India's approval for restricted emergency use to Bharat Biotech's indigenously developed COVID-19 vaccine, 'COVAXIN' was met with mixed reactions on Sunday. Several political leaders and journalists pointed out that the firm has not completed Phase 3 trials of its vaccine candidate yet.

India's drugs regulator on Sunday also approved the Oxford University-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine 'Covishield', manufactured by the Serum Institute for restricted emergency use in the country, paving the way for a massive inoculation drive.

While SII CEO Adar Poonawalla tweeted that 'Covishield' is "ready to roll out in the coming weeks", Bharat Biotech managing director Dr Krishna Ella said, "The approval of COVAXIN for emergency use is a giant leap for Innovation and novel product development in India."

Narendra Modi, Union ministers hail DCGI approval

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union health minister Harsh Vardhan were among the Cabinet ministers who hailed the decision to grant approval to the two vaccine candidates.

Modi termed it a "decisive turning point" in India's fight against coronavirus .

"DCGI granting approval to vaccines of @SerumInstIndia and @BharatBiotech accelerates the road to a healthier and COVID-free nation. Congratulations India. Congratulations to our hardworking scientists and innovators," he tweeted.

It would make every Indian proud that the two vaccines that have been given emergency use approval are made in India! This shows the eagerness of our scientific community to fulfil the dream of an Aatmanirbhar Bharat, at the root of which is care and compassion.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 3, 2021

Harsh Vardhan called the approval "a watershed moment".

"Its now time to reap the benefits of the robust supply chain infrastructure weve put in place for quick and equitable distribution of the vaccine. Urge all citizens to entrust the stringent protocols followed for ensuring safety, efficacy and immunogenicity of the approved vaccines," he added.

These vaccines are a fitting tribute to our corona warriors! My heartfelt gratitude to all healthcare professionals & frontline workers for their exemplary efforts during these unprecedented times. Congratulations to all the scientists & researchers for their untiring efforts.  Dr Harsh Vardhan (@drharshvardhan) January 3, 2021

Union ministers Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, and Smriti Irani also lauded Modi for "strengthening the national resolve to fight against COVID-19 ."

We heartily thank our scientists, doctors, medical staff, security personnel and all Corona warriors who dedicatedly served humanity during these testing times. Nation will always remain grateful to them for their selfless service towards mankind.  Amit Shah (@AmitShah) January 3, 2021

India today takes a giant step towards decisively defeating the COVID-19 Pandemic with DCGI granting approval to vaccines of @SerumInstIndia and @BharatBiotech. We are proud of our scientists who made this vaccine possible in a very short span of time.  Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) January 3, 2021

Approval to indigenously made vaccines is a watershed moment in our fight against COVID-19 virus & a defining chapter in our journey towards building an #AatmaNirbharBharat. Heartiest congratulations & gratitude to our scientists for their dedication & determination  https://t.co/k4B8RFd3r8  Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) January 3, 2021

Congress, activists question 'premature' approval

On the other hand, Congress leaders and some activists raised questions about the approval granted to Bharat Biotech's vaccine candidate without data available on its Phase 3 trials, which began in mid-November 2020.

Congress leaders like Jairam Ramesh and Shashi Tharoor, along with activists and journalists, called the approval of the Hyderabad-based lab's vaccine "puzzling, premature, and dangerous".

Bharat Biotech is a first-rate enterprise, but it is puzzling that internationally-accepted protocols relating to phase 3 trials are being modified for Covaxin. Health Minister @drharshvardhan should clarify. pic.twitter.com/5HAWZtmW9s  Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) January 3, 2021

The Covaxin has not yet had Phase 3 trials. Approval was premature and could be dangerous. @drharshvardhan should please clarify. Its use should be avoided till full trials are over. India can start with the AstraZeneca vaccine in the meantime. https://t.co/H7Gis9UTQb  Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) January 3, 2021

Additionally, Congress leader Anand Sharma asked the government to explain why mandatory protocols and verification of data has been dispensed with.

Sharma, who heads the Parliamentary panel on Home Affairs which dealt with the issue at length, said the issue of granting authorisation to the vaccine use needs to be taken carefully as no country has dispensed with the mandatory phase 3 trials and verification of data.

As per submissions made before the expert panel, phase 3 trials have not been completed and therefore, the data on safety and efficacy has not been reviewed, which is a mandatory requirement, he said.

"The health ministry needs to give cogent reasons for dispensing with the mandatory protocols and requirements in this case, since it involves the health and safety of those frontline workers who will be vaccinated under the restricted category," he told PTI.

"The DCGI statement is puzzling and the government must must reveal the final data of global efficacy trials and the final trials in UK which has been shared officially by UK's MHRA following a government to government agreement signed between the two countries which should be put in public domain to avoid any confusion on the proven efficacy of the vaccine," Sharma also said.

On the other hand, Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala and former party member Sanjay Jha extended congratulations to the scientists working on the approved vaccine candidates.

Jha also weighed in on the debate around the approvals and called the objections "ridiculous".

"I find the campaign against Bharat Biotechs Covaxin quite ridiculous. Mr Modis government is not crazy to endanger lives of its own people through rash experimentation. Can we please trust our bureaucracy, doctors, scientists, R&D, more please if not our politicians?" he said.

Activist Prashant Bhushan said that Modi and the vaccine manufacturers should take the vaccine "before subjecting our people to it" as they claimed that it was "110 percent safe".

The Vaccine has not gone through phase 3 trials, has not been tested for long term side effects, yet Drug controller says it is 110% safe. Let all of Modi's Cabinet & all personnel of Vaccine company & Drug controllers office take it before subjecting our people to it https://t.co/cesbyqlbW1  Prashant Bhushan (@pbhushan1) January 3, 2021

This is what is wrong with a India. Did you hear @pfizer thank Trump? Vaccines should be approved when medically safe & effective. Govs aint doing a favour to producers when their regulators approve them. They are fulfilling a trust to keep people safe. https://t.co/PF3bM6jL66  K. C. Singh (@ambkcsingh) January 3, 2021

Journalists also pointed out that the DCGI refused to take questions in the press conference in which it announced the approvals.

DCGI reads out a statement declaring emergency use approval for two vaccines. Doesnt take questions. What kind of briefing is this??  Teena Thacker (@Teensthack) January 3, 2021

However, the BJP and Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri slammed the Congress for raising questions about the approval.

Malviya, the BJP IT Cell head, said, "Indias opposition is indulging in worst kind of fear mongering with regard to the Covid vaccine. But this isnt the first time. We have seen similar vicious campaigns during the anti-polio drive too. But Covid, unlike polio, is fatal. Does the Opposition want more people dead?"

Our in-house cynics M/s Jairam, Tharoor & Akhilesh are behaving true to form. They first questioned the valour of our soldiers & are now unhappy that the two vaccines to get DCGI nod are made in India. Clearly they are on a quest for permanent political marginalization.  Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) January 3, 2021

BSP, BJD welcome decision; TRS congratulates Bharat Biotech

Among other political leaders, BSP chief Mayawati and Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik welcomed the DCGI's approval.

Mayawati congratulated the scientists associated with the coronavirus vaccine and urged the Centre to make it available for the marginalised communities free of cost.

In a tweet in Hindi, she said, "The 'swadeshi' anti-Covid vaccine is welcome and congratulations to the scientists. A request to the Central government is that along with all the health workers, if the extremely poor people get the vaccine free of cost, then it will be appropriate."

Congratulate @BharatBiotech as Covaxin vaccine is recommended by Subject Expert Committee (SEC) on #COVID19 for emergency use authorisation in India. This will strengthen the vaccination effort for entire country.  Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) January 3, 2021

Additionally, TRS, the ruling party in Telangana, congratulated Ella and his team on the approval.

Many Congratulations to Dr. Krishna Ella, Suchitra Ella & the entire team of scientists @BharatBiotech on getting DCGI approval for Covaxin Hyderabad continues to shines on as the vaccine capital because of the pursuit of excellence of scientists & innovative entrepreneurs  KTR (@KTRTRS) January 3, 2021

With inputs from PTI
Oh, how we laughed during the Celtic Tiger years. As we boarded the homeward flight with our bags of duty-free and real estate brochures, the cynics among us giggled at the 'home holiday', as they called it back then. The rain, the 'Irish salad' (a hard-boiled egg, a slice of Calvita cheese, a limp leaf of lettuce) and the pubs closing at 10pm of a Sunday night; when 'Music Lounge' meant misty-eyed ould fellas crying into their lukewarm pints, while singing some 'come-all-ye' extolling the virtue of misery and the Emerald Isle.

So, for many, the prospect of a 'staycation, a sort of mid-Atlantic term for a home holiday, brought foreboding and flashbacks of a month spent in the Gaeltacht when we were teenagers. Is the 'bean an Ti' still out there, and have they inside loos in rural Ireland now?

Well the summer of 2020 was to answer that. Ireland is as sophisticated a holiday destination as you're likely to find on the planet, albeit a little expensive. So now that the Irish are rediscovering the beauty of a full two-week holiday in Ireland and might be booking for summer 2021, I thought I'd take a whistle-stop tour through a variety of favourite places, with a quick feadog-stop in a lesser-spotted Gaeltacht.

The first thing many people will have discovered is how the country's infrastructure has improved. A recession and a pandemic have done little to dent the work that was done during the Tiger years. The motorways haven't fallen apart and the picnic tables and public parks are all still there. You can traverse the country in a couple of hours or you can drop down the gears on a myriad defined routes, greenways and walkways. You can follow the Wild Atlantic Way or the Shannon, or itineraries in the Midlands or the Ancient East.

But let's get away from the madding crowd and take the road less travelled.

Our tour begins at the spot where, every year, over 100,000 foreign camper vans, caravans, bikes and cars first touch Irish soil: the ramp where the ferry docks at Rosslare.

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You could just roll off, pull in and roll on again having spent the entire two weeks in the Sunny South East. Indeed many of our less welcome visitors landed along the Wexford coast and stayed. Viking, Norman and English names abound, and that's one of the south-east's greatest selling points. While this corner may not boast the same rugged landscape of Gaelic Ireland on the west coast, it's steeped in the culture of those who came later and added to the rich tapestry that is Irishness.

I once interviewed a strawberry farmer here named Reginald. He had the straw-blond hair and the peaches-and-cream complexion of a Somerset cider maker. As we stooped, working through frosty furrows at 5.30am, he cautioned: "I'll teach you West Cork lads, there's more to farmin' than pullin' bullocks outta bog-holes." Yes, It is farming, Reginald, but not as I remember it. Vive la difference!

The coastline from Wexford's Rosslare to Tramore in Waterford and on to Garryvoe in East Cork is sprinkled with fine south-facing beaches. I've never gone hungry or thirsty along this road. Artisan cheeses from the Golden Vale and Waterford's scrumptious floury bap, the 'blaa', are a must for every campervan kitchen.

Place-names like Dunmore East, Ballycotton and Ballymaloe all release the sweet aroma of the Celtic sea's finest and freshest seafood.

Chef Paul Flynn of The Tannery restaurant in Dungarvan once cooked me a Viking dinner on the beach at Helvic Head. We slurped mussels and oysters with flatbread and greens foraged on the foreshore, to the soundtrack of well-rounded rocks rolling in the breaking waves, a crackling driftwood bonfire, a traditional air played gently on a low whistle and the dordan of Irish language conversation.

You're not only in Viking country here, you're in Gaeltacht na Deise, an enclave of Gaelic culture in the midst of Norse, Norman and English influence. There's a complete drinks micro-culture along this route too. You have Waterford's Metalman pale ale and Dungarvan's Helvic Gold ale, while Blackwater Gin, distilled in Ballyduff, is as good an aperitif as I've ever tasted. By the time you've done the Jameson experience in Midleton, it'll be time for a lie-down in the van.

This is hurling country. Rather than Premier League jerseys, you are more likely to spot youngsters wearing their county colours with a helmet dangling from a hurley carried over the shoulder, like Cuchulain post-battle. If you have never been to a game, you should. Many clubs occasionally hold open days where holidaying French, Spanish and Irish children (and their parents!) can learn the basics and have a puck- around. The first time you actually manage to bend, lift and slap a wet sliotar over the bar is a rite of passage everyone should experience. Not doing so would be like going to Seville without sampling Flamenco or Lisbon without hearing Fado.

We hang a sharp right here and head northwards to the fairytale beauty of Lismore Castle and village. The panoramic view across the Golden Vale from the Vee Gap, particularly when the rhododendron is in bloom, literally takes my breath away.

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On to Kilkenny to gaze aloft at its castle, cathedral and spires. As well as looking up, we are also going underground at the dramatic Dunmore caves, wherein lie the remains of almost a thousand locals slaughtered by Guthfrith of Ivar in AD 928. The poor innocents felt they had escaped the Viking's wrath in the seclusion of the caves. Unfortunately not.

Three hours cross-country and we are tacking west along the borders of Cork and Limerick. We pass through Bearna. It is, exactly as it is named, a pass or a gap in a hill. We pause to look back at the Golden Vale and onwards through west Limerick to Kerry.

North Kerry might not boast the dramatic and sometimes tropical scenery of west and south Kerry but makes up for it in personality. Traditional music is strong here and it has also produced many of Ireland's greatest weavers of words: John B Keane, Brendan Kennelly, Bryan MacMahon.

If it's a quiet creamy pint and a story you're looking for, you won't go too far wrong in Listowel, Ballylongford, Knocknagoshel, Abbeyfeale or Lyreacrompane. There's poetry in those place names.

Trains never liked hills and I'm approaching an age where I too prefer my hillwalking on the flat. I have come to know well the Great Southern Trail, the old railway line from west Limerick towards Listowel. An hour or so into my walk here, I still haven't met another soul, apart from the spirits of the people who worked the land here. Their light footprint can be seen in the field patterns and fading furrows on the hills around Tullig.

Birdlife abounds and you will spot wren, chaffinch, goldcrest, long-tailed tits and goldfinch. A perfect Irish holiday should include both nights of wild craic and days of solitude and 'unthinking'.

My next port of call is the Banner county, Clare. So we head for the Tarbert-Killimer car ferry. It takes almost two hours off the road journey and affords an opportunity to snatch a gulp of fresh air and stretch the legs. Plus the Shannon Estuary can be like a playground for dolphins. As I sit, up on deck, with my back to the railings, I recall a photograph taken at this very railing almost 40 years ago: a young dad and his daughter Kate squinting into the lens of a Kodak as we begin our Banner adventure. Two dreamers off to see the Burren.

That's exactly where I'm headed next, to meet Mary O'Dea of Hidden Burren Walks. Mary is no-nonsense and nimble, as any guide, or goat, should be on this terrain. Mary's inner romantic blossoms, however, as she reveals a love and understanding of the exotic flora, fauna and landscape of the Burren. Why wouldn't she? Her family have worked their land here for eight generations. A few hours' walking the flat limestone and leppin' across craters, bullans and deep fissures full of botanical surprises is a few hours well spent.

We say goodbye to Mary and press on to the voluminous sand dunes in Fanore, where we have a perch booked for tonight. Out with the rods, just in time to catch the high tide. A handful of casts yields a dozen fresh mackerel.

Once, when I didn't have a real barbecue, the guy in a neighbouring tent gave me an un-used fridge rack, which I rinsed and placed on top of four empty beer cans, filled with sand. I lit a modest fire of driftwood underneath.

Now, beneath an ink-black sky with a million twinkling diamonds, I lick my fingers as we polish off freshly barbecued mackerel, brown bread and butter with lashings of hot tea. I'm only fit for bed.

Tomorrow? Well, we can decide where next in the morning.

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That Place We Call Home by John Creedon (Gill Books, 19.99) is available now
The family of seven children and a female driver killed in a head-on collision in Central California on New Year's Day have released pictures of their loved ones.

Posting to GoFundMe pages the grieving relatives named those who lost their lives as Gabriela Verdin, Brooke Pulido, Giada Pulido, Jonah Pulido, Mia Pulido, Daniella Ayala, Camila Ayala, and Anthony Ayala. The names of those who died have not been confirmed by the Fresno County Medical Examiner's Office.

The children, who were between six and 15 years old, were believed to be cousins. They were traveling in an overcrowded 2007 Ford that collided around 8 p.m. Friday with a Dodge vehicle on State Route 33 between Avenal and Coalinga.

Evidence from the scene indicated that the Dodge was traveling southbound on the highway when it veered onto the dirt shoulder for an unknown reason, the CHP said.

The driver of the Dodge, named by officials as 28-year-old Daniel Luna, then overcorrected and swerved into the southbound lane, where it struck the Ford.

Luna also died in the head on crash, authorities said.

Posting to GoFundMe pages the grieving relatives named those who lost their lives as Gabriela Verdin, Brooke Pulido, Giada Pulido, Jonah Pulido, Mia Pulido, Daniella Ayala, Camila Ayala, and Anthony Ayala. They shared this image with the caption; Top (left to right): Karina Verdin (mother to three children who died in accident), Brooke Pulido, Giada Pulido, Gabriela Verdin; Middle (left to right): Mia Pulido, Daniella Ayala, Camila Ayala, Jonah Pulido, Bottom (left to right): baby Anthony Ayala, great grandfather E. Verdin

A second fundraising page in connection with the tragedy also pictures five children. It is not known if who is featured in the image. DailyMail.com has reached out to page organizers

The Ford burst into flames on the dirt shoulder, while the Dodge came to a stop straddling both lanes of the highway, the CHP said.

All eight people inside the Ford were killed, including the seven children.

The coroner's office was working on identifying the victims in the Ford. DailyMail.com has contacted them for more details.

Seven children and two adult drivers were killed in a head-on collision in Central California on New Year's Day, authorities said. A picture shows the fiery crash scene in Fresno

Two separate GoFundMe pages identify the children who lost their lives.

One, set up by Reyna Verdin, states: 'Gaby and the kids were full of life and had so much future ahead of them.'

It says Gaby is survived by her sister Karina Verdin 'who lost three of her own children in this tragedy'.

'While we cannot begin to understand the reason we lost them all at once, we are burdened with the reality of having to lay eight family members to rest at one time. We take solace in knowing that they left this world together,' the GoFundMe adds.

A second fundraising page in connection with the tragedy also pictures five children. It is not known if who is featured in the image. DailyMail.com has reached out to page organizers for more details.

The children, who were between six and 15 years old, were members of two related families traveling in a 2007 Ford that collided around 8 p.m. Friday with a Dodge vehicle on State Route 33 between Avenal and Coalinga, the Fresno County Coroner's office and the California Highway Patrol said

CHP Central Division Cpt. Kevin Clays told ABC 30: 'When the fire was extinguished, tragically, it was discovered there were eight occupants, seven of which appeared to be juveniles inside the Ford, all of which sustained fatal injuries.'

Officers also suggested that not all of the children inside were wearing seatbelts and there weren't enough to cover all the occupants in the car.

Law enforcement is trying to determine if alcohol or drugs played a factor in the crash.
Hundreds of farmers from various



regions of Maharashtra, joined by students and people from various walks of life, on Sunday night left for Delhi from Nagpur to join cultivators who have been protesting at the borders of the capital for over a month seeking the repeal of three agri laws, a Kisan Sabha leader said.

He said widows of those farmers who had committed suicide over farm debt and related issues from east and Marathwada regions, have also joined this "Chalo Delhi" vehicle march.

Earlier in the day, students, youngsters and people from various walks of life hailing from Kolhapur, Sangli, Satara, Nashik, Aurangabad, Ahmed Nagar and other districts gathered in Nagpur under the aegis of ' Rajya Kisan Sabha'.

They took out a march in afternoon and a meeting was held at Sanvidhan chowk in evening.

"These farmers and others have left for Delhi in 40-odd vehicles, including buses and four-wheelers," Nagpur district secretary of Kisan Sabha, Arun Wankar, told PTI.

He said about 800 members of the Rajya Kisan Sabha are also going to Delhi to join the protesting farmers.

"We want to support the farmers who are protesting in a peaceful manner against the three anti-farmer laws which were passed in a dictatorial manner by the Central government," Wankar said.

Savita Jadhav (26), who came from Parbhani district in Marathwada region along with 35 other women, said her farmer husband and her father committed suicides in 2010 and 2017, respectively, over their failure to repay loans taken for farming.

"I am going to Delhi to support the cause of farmers. I request the government to rehabilitate the families of those farmers who have committed suicide over loans. I also urge the government to scrap the farm laws in the interest of agriculturists," she said.

Braving the cold, thousands of farmers, mainly from Punjab and Haryana, are protesting at various borders of the capital for more than a month against the three laws.

The government has presented these laws as major agriculture sector reforms aimed at helping farmers and increasing their income, but the protesting unions fear that the new legislations will leave them at the mercy of big corporates by weakening the MSP and mandi systems.

After the sixth round of formal negotiations on Wednesday, the government and farm unions reached some common ground to resolve protesting farmers' concerns over rise in power tariff and penalties for stubble burning, but the two sides remained deadlocked over the main contentious issues.

(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 few short weeks ago, the question of when Australia would start vaccinating against COVID-19 seemed academic.

Yet now that NSW and Victoria are once again battling with new outbreaks, many are asking why Australia has not moved as quickly as other countries to start mass immunisation programs.

Israel leads the way at this stage and has given the first of two jabs needed for full protection to more than 500,000 people, or 6 per cent of its population.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who promised in November that Australia would be "at the front of the queue," now says there are safety reasons why we should be happy to wait in line. On Friday he warned against "rushing to failure".

Mr Morrison is right that Australia has no need to follow other countries which issued emergency use approvals last month for three vaccines based on results in clinical trials, short-circuiting the usual licensing process. The case for emergency use of relatively untried vaccines is stronger in the US and Britain where thousands of people with the disease are dying every week.
The group, which presented no new evidence of election problems, includes senators Ron Johnson, of Wisconsin, James Lankford, of Oklahoma, Steve Daines, of Montana, John Kennedy, of Louisiana, Marsha Blackburn, of Tennessee, and Mike Braun, of Indiana, as well as senators-elect Cynthia Lummis, of Wyoming, Roger Marshall, of Kansas, Bill Hagerty, of Tennessee, and Tommy Tuberville, of Alabama. Trump, the first president to lose a re-election bid in almost 30 years, has attributed his defeat to widespread voter fraud, despite the consensus of non-partisan election officials and even Trump's attorney-general that there was none. Of the roughly 50 lawsuits the President and his allies have filed challenging election results, nearly all have been dismissed or dropped. Hes also lost twice at the US Supreme Court. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video The days ahead are expected to do little to change the outcome. Joe Biden will be inaugurated on January 20th, and no publicity stunt will change that," said Senator Amy Klobuchar, of Minnesota, the top Democrat on the panel overseeing the Electoral College count.

Klobuchar said the Republican effort to create a federal commission to supersede state certifications when the votes have already been counted, recounted, litigated, and state-certified was wrong. It is undemocratic. It is unAmerican. And fortunately, it will be unsuccessful. In the end, democracy will prevail, she said in a statement. The convening of the joint session to count the Electoral College votes is usually routine. While objections have surfaced before  in 2017, several House Democrats challenged Trump's win  few have approached this level of intensity. Vice President Mike Pence is under pressure to use his ceremonial role at Biden's confirmation to block votes. Credit:AP On the other side of the Republican divide, Nebraska senator Ben Sasse  another possible 2024 contender  has urged his colleagues to "reject this dangerous ploy", which he said threatened the nations civic norms.

Caught in the middle is Vice President Mike Pence, who faces growing pressure from Trumps allies over his ceremonial role in presiding over the session on Wednesday. Pence's chief of staff, Marc Short, said in a statement on Sunday AEDT that the politicians had the right to raise their objections. "The Vice President welcomes the efforts of members of the House and Senate to use the authority they have under the law to raise objections and bring forward evidence before the Congress and the American people on January 6," Short said. Pence will be carefully watched as he presides over what is typically a routine vote count in Congress but is now heading towards a prolonged showdown that could extend into Wednesday night, depending on how many challenges are mounted. Several Republicans have indicated they are under pressure from constituents back home to show they are fighting for Trump in his baseless campaign to stay in office.

Senator John Thune, the second-ranking Republican, told reporters at the Capitol that leadership was allowing senators to vote their conscience. Thunes remarks as the Republican in charge of rounding up votes show that the party's leadership is not putting its muscle behind Trumps demands, but allowing senators to choose their course. He noted the gravity of questioning the election outcome. This is an issue thats incredibly consequential, incredibly rare historically and very precedent-setting, he said. This is a big vote. A judge in Texas dismissed a lawsuit from Republican congressman Louie Gohmert and a group of Arizona electors trying to force Pence to step outside mere ceremony and shape the outcome of the vote. US District Judge Jeremy Kernodle, a Trump appointee, dismissed the suit late Friday, and an appeal the next day was rejected. To ward off a dramatic unraveling, McConnell convened a conference call with Republican senators on Thursday specifically to address the coming joint session and logistics of tallying the vote, according to several Republicans granted anonymity to discuss the private call.

The Republican leader pointedly called on Hawley to answer questions about his challenge to Bidens victory, according to two of the Republicans. But there was no response because Hawley was a no-show, the Republicans said. Loading Hawley's office said he sent an email afterward to his colleagues explaining his views. In the email, Hawley said constituents back home are angry and disillusioned with the outcome of the election. Republican Senator Pat Toomey, who has acknowledged Bidens victory and defended his states election systems as valid and accurate, spoke up on the call, objecting to those challenging Pennsylvanias results and making clear he disagreed with plans to contest the result, his office said in a statement.
Hundreds of birds died after many people set off fireworks in the Italian capital on New Years Eve, animal rights groups said on Friday calling it a "massacre".

Footage of streets near Romes main train station showed dozens and dozens of birds  mostly starlings  scattered lifeless on the ground.

AP

"Disgusting side of human nature"

The person filming is heard saying: "This is the disgusting side of human nature. "The fireworks. Hundreds of dead birds. Unbelievable. Look how many there are. It's heartbreaking."



The cause of the deaths was not clear. But the International Organization for the Protection of Animals (OIPA) said it appeared related to a particularly loud display of firecrackers and fireworks in the leafy neighborhood that many birds use to nest.

"Might have died from fear"

"It can be that they died from fear. They can fly up together and knock against each other, or hit windows or electric power lines. Lets not forget they can also die of heart attacks," said Loredana Diglio, a spokeswoman for the organisation.

Fireworks displays each year cause distress and injury to both wild and domestic animals, she noted.

AP

The unusual concentration of bird deaths came despite a ban by the city of Rome on personal fireworks displays, which was widely ignored, and a 10 pm curfew due to virus restrictions.

The Italian branch of OIPA has called for a ban on selling firecrackers and fireworks for personal use, citing the threat to animals.

"Fireworks similar to thunderstorm for birds"

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds says the effect of fireworks on birds is likely similar to that of a thunderstorm.

AP

But it also says: "To minimise any adverse impact of fireworks on birds, we urge organisers of firework displays to avoid launching the rockets near to sensitive wildlife areas, such as nature reserves, and nesting and roosting sites for wild birds."


Nose pressed against the nursery window, Sarah Jane Youngs last sight of her young cavalryman father 38 years ago is scorched into her memory.

She remembers the excitement of watching her dad and his friends, all looking nice in their uniforms, calming their horses, which were playing up; and him turning round, looking up and waving to her as he rode through the gates of Londons Knightsbridge Barracks that July morning in 1982.

Then the kind of horror no four-year-old child should witness.

I remember hearing a big bang, feeling the window shake on my cheek, seeing wounded soldiers coming back with bloodied uniforms, one with a nail embedded in his hand, says Sarah Jane, who at the age of 42 is still haunted by what she saw.

All Sarah Jane has ever wanted is justice for her father and recognition in the British courts of the deep trauma she suffered the day her father, Lance Corporal Jeffrey Young, 19, (pictured) was killed by an IRA car bomb

Then feeling frightened and the teacher taking me away from the window. I remember telling my mum, Daddy should be coming now but he never did.

All Sarah Jane has ever wanted is justice for her father and recognition in the British courts of the deep trauma she suffered the day her father, Lance Corporal Jeffrey Young, 19, was killed by an IRA car bomb.

One of four soldiers of the Household Cavalry killed in one of the worst terrorist atrocities on British soil, her father was hit by the blast as he rode through Hyde Park to attend the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace.

The savagery of the attack on the ceremonial troops shocked the world; the images were so devastating that Sarah Jane still cannot bring herself to look at them.

For almost four decades, suspected IRA Hyde Park bomber John Downey, 68  who in 2014 escaped criminal prosecution for the atrocity  has walked free. But now Sarah Jane is one step closer to justice.

That childhood memory of the blast and seeing wounded soldiers has plagued Sarah Jane (pictured) ever since, as she fought a decades-long battle with mental health issues

In a landmark civil legal victory against Downey, Sarah Jane and her mother Judith were last month awarded 715,207 damages by the High Court, largely in compensation for what Lance Corporal Young would have earned had his military career not been cut short.

The award was made a year after High Court judge Mrs Justice Yip ruled that Downey  whose fingerprints were found on two parking tickets connected to the Morris Marina in which the bomb was hidden  was an active participant in the IRA atrocity. Yet, as Sarah Jane reveals in an exclusive interview with the Mail, her fight is far from over.

Within the next three weeks, her legal team plan to lodge an appeal against the judgment dismissing her claim for further exemplary damages for psychiatric suffering.

Sarah Janes barrister, Anne Studd, QC, had argued that these should be awarded to mark societys condemnation of the Hyde Park bombing and vindicate victims relatives who were unable to achieve any resolution through the prosecution and imprisonment of the bombers.

But Mr Justice Martin Spencer ruled that, at the age of four, Sarah Jane was too young to associate what she had witnessed with danger to her father. Had she said, Daddy is coming home soon, isnt he? then that might have betrayed some anxiety on her part, he said in his ruling, adding, but simply saying Daddy should be coming now indicates to me that the claimant was expecting her father home soon.

He also added that awarding exemplary or punitive damages would require an extension of the law, which would be for either Parliament or the higher courts, and probably the Supreme Court.

So the tears Sarah Jane shed on the day of the ruling two weeks ago were bittersweet. For her, it is all about justice rather than the money, which she has already pledged to donate to veterans and victims charities.

That is, if Downey  who took no part in the High Court proceedings  has enough assets to pay anything at all. With interest, the damages he will have to pay will stand at closer to 960,000.

I am mentally exhausted by it, but I am kept going by the thoughts of our long struggle and the determination to pursue our search for justice, for the other families as well as myself, says Sarah Jane, who brought the civil action on behalf of all the victims relatives.

Talking for the first time in depth about her trauma, she describes as horrendous the process of reliving the memories and then having them dissected in court.

Minutes after waving to his daughter, Lance Corporal Young was killed after a radio-controlled bomb  packed with nails and 25lb of gelignite  was detonated, injuring a further 31 people. Seven horses were killed or had to be put down and another horse, Sefton, survived terrible injuries.

Killed alongside Lance Corporal Young were Squadron Quartermaster Corporal Roy Bright, 36, Lieutenant Anthony Daly, 23, and Trooper Simon Tipper, 19, who had just returned to duty from honeymoon after marrying his teenage sweetheart.

That childhood memory of the blast and seeing wounded soldiers has plagued Sarah Jane ever since, as she fought a decades-long battle with mental health issues.

Minutes after waving to his daughter, Lance Corporal Young was killed after a radio-controlled bomb  packed with nails and 25lb of gelignite  was detonated, injuring a further 31 people

Her mother Judith, just 21 when she was widowed, never fully recovered from the trauma.

At the age of 14, Sarah Jane, a troubled child, went to live with her grandmother after taking an overdose. She is still emotionally fragile.

Given the obstacles in her path, her fight for justice is all the more remarkable  especially compared with the time, money and political will that went into the investigation of historical allegations against British Army veterans dating back to the Troubles in Northern Ireland.

While former British soldiers have been hounded and threatened with prosecution, Sarah Jane cannot comprehend why Downey escaped scot-free for so many years.

Downey was arrested in 2013 but his Old Bailey trial collapsed after he presented a so-called comfort letter guaranteeing that he would not be prosecuted  the result of a secret deal between the Blair government and the IRA as part of the Northern Ireland peace process. It would later emerge that letters were created for about 180 IRA on-the-runs.

Downey  who has always denied any involvement in the Hyde Park bombing and claims to be a victim of state persecution  had mistakenly been given a written assurance that he was not wanted in connection with the 1982 attack.

Sarah Jane (right, as a child) hopes her dad (left) would be proud of the daughter he last saw waving from the nursery window

When Downeys criminal prosecution collapsed, it felt as if wed been let down by the whole world; like my father and the others didnt count and that Downey was laughing at me. It made me angry, says Sarah Jane.

I was always taught that if you broke the law, you should be punished  but it seemed to me that if you were a terrorist, you didnt serve any punishment. How could it be that my fathers killer was getting a free pass?

Its hard not to feel betrayed by our own government when it seems to be on the side of the terrorists rather than the victims.

Will they be ever more lenient to future terrorists and continue to sacrifice our troops, who have signed up to protect Britain and are obeying orders, while men like Downey have been allowed to walk free?

Denied justice in the criminal courts, ignored by politicians and refused legal aid multiple times, the families of the four dead soldiers formed the Hyde Park Justice Campaign and, supported by lawyer Matthew Jury, of McCue & Partners, crowdfunded to launch a High Court civil action against Downey.

At heart, though, Sarah Jane will always be that little girl who just wants her dad back.

In a landmark civil legal victory against Downey (pictured), Sarah Jane and her mother Judith were last month awarded 715,207 damages by the High Court

Although he was just 16 when he married her mother Judith Jenkins and was a very young father to Sarah Jane and her younger sister  18 months old when he died, a week before his 20th birthday  she remembers him as a wonderful man.

I have clear memories of jogging in the park with my dad in his red tracksuit. I still think of being on his shoulders when I see parents carrying their kids now, she says.

I remember him walking down the street on his hands. He was very sporty, he loved running and judo. He believed that it didnt matter where you were from, you could achieve anything you set your mind on. Local lads looked up to him.

Sixteen years old when he joined the Army, Jeffrey was promoted to lance corporal within two and a half years  normally it takes five years. Had his upward trajectory continued, life could have been very different for Sarah Jane.

But after his death the bereaved family returned to their native South Wales, which marked the start of a troubled, impoverished childhood for Sarah Jane. As well as taking an overdose at 14, in 1997 she had depression and post-traumatic stress disorder diagnosed.

The impact from that day in 1982 has always been there, as I tried to work out all these images in my mind, she says.

I had nightmares from when I was very young, but at the time I was told I was being naughty. I just wanted to fight everyone.

At the age of nine she was sent to a Catholic boarding school but was deeply unhappy. When she was 12 the nuns, unable to cope with her, returned her home but the relationship with her mother broke down and she went to live with her grandmother.

It wasnt until I was diagnosed with PTSD and manic depression in my late teens that I started to have help to understand what was going on in my head, she says.

Ive always been very frightened of fireworks and bangs. I find it hard to trust people and have constant worries about bombs. At times Ive had suicidal thoughts.

Leaving school at 16 with just two GCSEs, she joined the Army Cadets but left after her spine was fractured in a fall on a assault course. At 17, she gave birth to her son and suffered from postnatal depression, adding to her problems.

Although she had cognitive behavioural and trauma therapy, her adult life has been blighted by flashbacks and nightmares. The shock of her fathers death, the court heard, had resulted in a lasting personality change.

It is only since Sarah Jane became involved with the Hyde Park Justice Campaign that she has found the strength to fight.

Without the support of a small band of people and my amazing legal team, I wouldnt have been able to continue, she says. They made me feel part of the family of those who have suffered the same horror and traumas. Without that you feel alone.

Sarah Jane feels particularly indebted to Mark Tipper, 60, whose younger brother Simon died alongside her father.

This judgment is another milestone the families have reached  but will the money put things right? Not at all, says Mr Tipper, a gas fitter, who is spokesman for all the relatives.

It has been a long, hard road for all of us. Weve had to fight tooth and nail to get where we are today  but I hope this battle may have made Sarah Jane just a little bit stronger.

Her life was destroyed in 1982. No money can ever bring her father back, remove the psychological traumas, give her the life she could have had or make her the person she could have been. That day those four boys were lost, we were all turned into victims  but weve had an uphill battle to try to get recognition or legal aid, even though Downey received 50,000 to defend himself.

Mr Tipper adds: I was 22 when Simon was killed. It devastated our family. Our mum was a beautiful woman but the day our kid went, the life drained out of her overnight. It was heartbreaking.

Many times over the years Ive been plagued with nightmares and thought Dont worry. Simon, Ill be with you before too long. But you have to put those thoughts to the back of your mind and keep fighting.

When you think of all the money spent on historical investigations and the persecution of our Northern Ireland veterans, it makes you wonder if the government is on our side at all.

Sarah Janes lawyer, Matthew Jury, hailed the award as a significant legal victory, adding: Sarah Janes long, brave fight has never been about anything other than the rights of her fellow victims and survivors of terrorism, who deserve truth and accountability.

Sarah Jane and the other families are victims twice over  first when her father was killed and secondly when Downey was given an on-the-run letter by Blairs government. She is incredibly brave and just wants to make sure she and the other families are vindicated.

There have been times when Sarah Jane has been very upset and it has taken her time to regroup and feel strong enough to keep going.

But I think she and the other relatives would say they feel strengthened by it because it gives them power and control back over what has happened to them.

They have felt powerless for so long, so to have a High Court judge label Downey as a Hyde Park bomber when he has spent years saying it wasnt me is immensely powerful.

Sarah Jane hopes her dad would be proud of the daughter he last saw waving from the nursery window.

I can never forgive Downey for all the suffering he has caused me and the other victims families. Im pleased weve had our day and the right outcome. But the struggle to get there took too long, she says.

Id hope my father would be totally proud of what weve achieved. Most of all, Id just like him to be remembered as the fine soldier and good father he was.
(Newser)  The Republicans in Congress hoping to throw out President-elect Joe Biden's election victory this week still don't have enough votesor evidenceto do that, but they'll evidently have the support of the official at the microphone. Vice President Mike Pence, who will be presiding over the joint session of Congress on Wednesday and is required to announce Biden as the winner, has endorsed the effort, the New York Times reports. Pence "shares the concerns of millions of Americans about voter fraud and irregularities in the last election," a statement by his chief of staff says, adding that he "welcomes the efforts of members of the House and Senate to use the authority they have under the law to raise objections and bring forward evidence before the Congress and the American people on Jan. 6th." A dozen Republican senators have said they'll object to the electoral results.

story continues below

President Trump's team welcomed GOP senators' plans, per CNBC. "It's encouraging to see so many patriots step up and demand an investigation into the rampant voter fraud and irregularities we saw on November 3rd," said Jenna Ellis, senior legal adviser to the campaign. "Our country will love them for it!" Trump tweeted. But the objections have "zero chance of succeeding," an election law expert wrote on CNN, though they're nonetheless dangerous. "American democracy cannot survive the losing party refusing to accept defeat," Joshua A. Douglas said. It's "an attempt to subvert the will of the voters," Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar said, pointing out that the votes of millions of Americans have been "counted, recounted, litigated, and state-certified." Republican Sen. Mitt Romney said, "I could never have imagined seeing these things in the greatest democracy in the world." (Read more Mike Pence stories.)
A few years ago I wrote a column about how Houstonians would be living in Charlottesville if Sam Houston had gotten his way. As the story goes, the hero of San Jacinto graciously told Charlotte Allen at a dinner party one night that she, and not her more famous brothers, was the reason the settlement on Buffalo Bayou even existed. The town should be called Charlottesville, he maintained.

Allen, astute businesswoman that she was, told ol Sam that he was the one everybody knew; his name would put the city on the map.

Charlotte Allen comes to mind because of last weeks column about Bettina, the short-lived commune in the Hill Country named for German writer, composer and early-day feminist Bettina von Arnim. As writer/rancher Jim Kearney of Weimar reminded me, Bettina is one of the few Texas towns or cities named after a woman.

Kearneys observation prompted me to explore what we have. So far, Ive found fewer than 30 towns, out of close to 4,000. Im probably overlooking some, but not many.

Three hours east of El Paso is a little town allegedly named for a character in Dostoevskys The Brothers Karamazov. The wife of the chief engineer for Southern Pacific was reading the novel and was taken with a servant in the Karamazov household. When the railroad reached a watering spot that needed a name, she suggested the servant, a woman named Marfa. (The late Lonn Taylor, author of Marfa for the Perplexed, believed its more likely that the town was named after a popular character in a Jules Verne novel, Michael Strogoff, Courier of the Czar.)

East of Marfa on U.S. Highway 90 is another town named for a woman who had nothing to do with the town itself. Langtry, home to the curmudgeonly Judge Roy Bean (the Law West of the Pecos), bears the name of English actress Lillie Langtry, with whom Bean was smitten, although he never met her. She paid a brief visit to Langtry in 1904, but the old judge had by then passed on to a higher court.

An hour or so northeast of Langtry is Iraan, a combination name in honor of Ira and Ann Yates. On Oct. 28, 1926, the ranching couple became instant millionaires when four oil gushers burst from beneath the parched and rocky ground of their spread.

Heading eastward toward Abilene, we come to Bronte, a settlement that sprang up on a branch of the Chisholm Trail in 1887. Its named for the English writer Charlotte Bronte and is near Tennyson, named for the English poet Alfred, Lord Tennyson.

Turning north into the Panhandle  this trip is going to take a few days, you understand  we get to another amalgamation, Floydada. The Pumpkin Capital of Texas is named, perhaps, for Floyd and Ada Price, parents of Caroline Price, who with her husband, James, donated land for the town in 1890.

Northeast of Floydada is Estelline, county seat of Hall County. Established in 1892, its named for Estelle de Shields, daughter of an early settler. Be careful in the tiny town, population 145. According to Wikipedia, Estelline has had a reputation for being one of the most notorious speed traps in Texas.

Heading southeast out of Estelline, slowly, we get to The Pump Jack Capital of Texas, Electra, a few miles west of Wichita Falls. The town is named for the late Electra Waggoner, a sculptor and heiress to the famed Waggoner Ranch. Although the family sold the ranch not long ago, it remains one of the largest in the world. Electra Waggoner also bequeathed her name to the Buick Electra.

East of Wichita Falls is Henrietta. No one knows who Henrietta was.

Now, were headed southward. Near Waxahachie is A Pearl in the Heart of North Texas. Maypearl, population about 900, is the amalgamated name of two daughters of a railroad construction engineer. (The railroad also named two nearby towns, Penelope and Venus, for local girls.)

Continuing down Interstate 35, we get to Buda, until a few years ago a village south of Austin, now a booming bedroom community. Pronounced BEW-da, the name is likely a corruption of the Spanish word, viuda, or widow. The name may refer to a pair of widows who cooked at the popular Carrington Hotel in the 1880s, when the town was known as Du Pre.

Below San Antonio, we come to Charlotte, named for the daughter of Dr. Charles Simmons, a town founder. Two other Atascosa County towns are named for his daughters, Christine and Imogene.

Continued southward through the Brush Country, we get to Alice. The ranching community west of Corpus Christi was first called Bandana, then Kleberg and finally Alice, after Alice Gertrudis King Kleberg, daughter of King Ranch founder Richard King.

Southward into the Rio Grande Valley, we come to Donna, named for Donna Hooks Fletcher, daughter of an early Valley rancher and postmistress for the town that bears her name.

East of Donna is Mercedes, first called Diaz, in honor of Porfirio Diaz, then president of Mexico. It was renamed Mercedes Diaz and then Mercedes in honor of the presidents wife, although neither of his two wives was named Mercedes.

Headed northward out of the Valley, we pass Victoria  named for Gen. Guadalupe Victoria, first president of independent Mexico  and come to Inez. The little town was named in 1892 for a daughter of Italian Count Joseph Telfener, president of the New York, Texas and Mexican Railway between Rosenberg and Victoria. Another daughter bequeathed her name to the Jackson County seat, Edna. Nearby Louise is named for the counts sister-in-law.

Also in Jackson County is Lolita, named in 1909 for the granddaughter of Charles Keller Reese, a San Jacinto veteran. Nearly a half-century after the towns naming, Russian-born novelist Vladimir Nabokov published Lolita, a critically acclaimed novel about a grown mans romantic obsession with a teenage girl. Baptist deacon R.T. Walker may or may not have read the best-seller, but he was outraged about the title, insisting it besmirched his hometown. He circulated a petition asking the U.S. Postal Service to change the name. Sixty years later, its still Lolita.

Also in Jackson County is Francitas, named by a small colony of French families in the late 1890s. Francitas the person is a mystery.

Since were near the coast, we might as well meander over to Olivia, on a peninsula east of Port Lavaca. Olivia was established in 1892 by a Swedish Lutheran colony led by C.J.E. Haterious of Galesburg, Ill. He named the settlement after his wife.

A long drive eastward gets us to Evadale, northeast of Beaumont. The town was called Fords Bluff until 1893, when Houston timber magnate John Henry Kirby renamed it for Eva Dale, a teacher at Southeast Texas Male and Female College in Jasper.

Headed back west on Interstate 10, at Schulenburg we drop down to Hallettsville, county seat of Lavaca. The small town halfway between Houston and San Antonio is named for an early settler, Margaret Leatherbury Hallett.

I intended to close the column with Hallett, but theres too much to say about this remarkable woman, so look for her next week. Margaret Hallett symbolizes all we dont know, and should, about the women who built Texas, even if no one named a town after them.

djholley10@gmail.com

Twitter: holleynews
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A person shops in a supermarket in District 9, Ho Chi Minh City on March 26, 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran.

An expanding middle class and increased incomes will see Vietnams retail and services revenues rise 1.6 times from that of 2020 to $350 billion by 2025.

The revenues reached VND5,060 trillion ($219.6 billion) in 2020 and is set to record a growth rate of 9-9.5 percent in the 2021-2025 period, analysts with stock brokerage VNDirect say in a report, citing projected growth figures from the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

Vietnams nationwide social distancing period in 2020 lasted only 22 days, considerably shorter than other countries, and this has reduced pressure on domestic consumption growth, the report says.

Consumer confidence in the country fell just 5 percent year-on-year in the second quarter, compared to the 26 percent drop in Singapore and 19 percent in Indonesia, according to market research company Nielsen.

With Vietnam able to contain two major Covid-19 outbreaks, the retail sector is set to see a jump in growth next year as consumer confidence rises and a vaccine becomes available, the report said.

VNDirect forecasts a 8.5-9 percent growth in revenues from the retail and services sector in 2021, compared to 2.6 percent in 2020.

The report says this growth will be achieved by several factors, one of them the expansion of major retailers such as electronics seller Mobile World and jewelry company Phu Nhuan Jewelry.

Mobile World increased its share of electronics consumption from 39 percent to 42 percent in the first six months of 2020.

Phu Nhuan Jewelry has expanded its market share from 23 percent in the first quarter of 2020 to nearly 36 percent by the third quarter.

Another growth driver for the sector will be the expansion of foreign retail chains. Japans Muji in 2020 opened its first outlet in Vietnam, also its largest in the Southeast Asia.

Another Japanese company, medical and cosmetic chain Matsumoto Kiyoshi, also opened its first store in HCMC, while fashion brand Uniqlo opened new outlets in Hanoi and HCMC.

Commercial rents in Hanoi and HCMC are still among the lowest in ASEAN cities, and this means that when the Covid-19 pandemic is contained, revenues and profits of retail real estate companies will soon recover to pre-pandemic levels and achieve strong growth afterward, the report says.
The Congress on Sunday called the grant of approval to Bharat Biotechs Covid-19 vaccine for restricted use premature, saying it can prove dangerous.

Party leaders like Anand Sharma, Jairam Ramesh and Shashi Tharoor asked the Union health minister to explain why mandatory protocols and verification of data had been dispensed with while approving the indigenous vaccine.

Sharma, who heads the Parliamentary panel on Home Affairs, said the matter of granting authorisation for vaccine use needs to be taken up carefully as no country has dispensed with the mandatory phase 3 trials and verification of data.

Indias drugs regulator DCGI on Sunday approved Oxfords Covid-19 vaccine, Covishield, and Bharat Biotechs Covaxin for restricted emergency use.

As per submissions made before the expert panel, phase 3 trials have not been completed and therefore, the data on safety and efficacy has not been reviewed, which is a mandatory requirement, Sharma said referring to Covaxin.

The health ministry needs to give cogent reasons for dispensing with the mandatory protocols and requirements in this case, since it involves the health and safety of those frontline workers who will be vaccinated under the restricted category, Sharma told PTI.

Senior party leader Shashi Tharoor said the approval is premature and Covaxins use should be avoided as it could be dangerous. The Covaxin has not yet had Phase 3 trials. Approval was premature and could be dangerous. Dr Harsh Vardhan should please clarify. Its use should be avoided till full trials are over. India can start with the AstraZeneca vaccine in the meantime, he tweeted.

Another senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh asked the government to clarify why internationally-accepted protocols on phase 3 trials are being modified. Bharat Biotech is a first-rate enterprise, but it is puzzling that internationally-accepted protocols relating to phase 3 trials are being modified for Covaxin. Health Minister Harsh Vardhan should clarify, he said on Twitter.

The partys chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala, however, lauded scientists and researchers of Bharat Biotech for the indigenous vaccine. Kudos to our scientists and researchers of Bharat Biotech on approval of the indigenously developed Corona vaccine and Serum Institute and its scientists too. India has always led the way in path-breaking innovations in the past and will continue to do the same. Great start for New Year, Surjewala tweeted.

The remarks from the leaders prompted sharp reactions from several Bharatiya Janata Party leaders.

BJP chief JP Nadda hit out at the Congress, alleging that the opposition party was trying to cause panic. Time and again we have seen whenever India achieves something commendable - that will further public good - the Congress comes up with wild theories to oppose and ridicule the accomplishments. The more they oppose, the more they are exposed. Latest example is the Covid vaccines, Nadda said.

To further their own failed politics and nefarious agendas, Congress and other Opposition leaders are trying to cause panic in the minds of the people. I urge them to do politics on other issues, they should avoid playing with peoples precious lives and hard earned livelihoods, he said.

Union minister Hardeep Puri said the Congress leaders were behaving true to their form and were on a quest for permanent political marginalisation. Our in-house cynics M/s Jairam, Tharoor & Akhilesh are behaving true to form. They first questioned the valour of our soldiers & are now unhappy that the two vaccines to get DCGI nod are made in India. Clearly, they are on a quest for permanent political marginalization, Puri tweeted.

Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan hit back at the Congress saying that belittling the nations accomplishments is an all-time hobby of INC India and its band of rent-a-cause leaders.

Their pattern of reckless ranting, this time on the COVID vaccine is so obvious that it again goes on to expose their nefarious agendas, said Pradhan in a tweet.
Here's how material shortages are hitting home construction

"It's not just that prices are going up; it's how quickly they're going up and nothing's coming down," said CEO of the PA Builders Association.
In what is being hailed as a major landmark for both Make-in-India initiative and Indias continuous fight against Covid-19, the Drug Controller General of India on Sunday approved both Covishield and Covaxin for restricted emergency use. This approval means both these vaccines can be administered under several terms and conditions.

So, heres what will happen next.

Government will procure, send to states, vaccination will begin

Dr Randeep Guleria, AIIMS director, has hoped that vaccination will begin soon now that DCGI has given its final nod to two vaccines. Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday said vaccination in the state will take place around Makar Sankranti which is on January 14. So now, the Centre will procure the vaccines and will send to states according to their requirement.

It does not take long to start vaccination after a regulator gives the nod to a vaccine candidate. In this case, both vaccines are manufactured in India. So it will not take long to start vaccination.

Oxford vaccine primary, Bharat Biotech back-up

With two vaccines on the same footing, the next obvious question is whether the government will administer both the vaccines and if that happens, then how will it be decided that who gets which vaccine. Dr Guleria has said that as of now Oxford vaccine, manufactured by Serum Institute of India, will be used as the primary vaccine, and Bharat Biotechs Covaxin will be a back-up option. Bharat Biotechs vaccine will be used in an emergency situation if there is a sudden increase in cases or in certain cases where Oxford vaccines efficacy is uncertain, Dr Guleria said.

Covishield vs Covaxin against Covid-19: All you need to know

What about Pfizer vaccine

Pfizer vaccine, which was the first official vaccine to get a go-ahead in the world, had applied for regulatory approval in India on December 4. But reports said it did not turn up for the deliberation and has sought some more time. This vaccine did not have any trial run in India.

Is Co-WIN app for Covid-19 vaccine launched? How to download, register

Cadila vaccine next in line

Another indigenous vaccine is next on the line as Ahmedabads Zydus Cadila has received approval from the DCGI on Sunday to initiate phase three clinical trials of ZyCoV-D. ZyCoV-D was found to be safe, well-tolerated and immunogenic in phase I and II clinical trials

Trials of Covaxin and Covishield will continue

The Drug Controller General of India on Sunday said the ongoing trials of both Covishield and Covaxin will continue.

In the first phase of vaccination, healthcare workers will be administered the vaccine free. All arrangements have been tested by states during the dry run. Details of many of the beneficiaries have already been registered with Co-WIN app. In the second phase, frontline workers will be vaccinated and in the third phase people above 50 years of age and people below 50 with co-morbidity issues will be inoculated. Getting vaccinated will be voluntary, though the health ministry has advised that one needs to complete the entire course of two doses which will be administered 28 days apart.
Delhi health minister Satyendar Jain said on Sunday healthcare and frontline workers will be administered the vaccine against the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) in the first phase in the national capital, even as the Drugs Controller General of India gave final approval for the emergency-use of the Oxford University-AstraZeneca and Bharat Biotech shots.

There are three lakh healthcare workers and six lakh frontline workers in Delhi who will be administered with the Covid-19 vaccine, Jain was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

The health minister had said on Saturday all residents of Delhi, who were eligible, will be given the Covid-19 vaccines free of cost and that the government had made all arrangements from storing the shots to administering the doses. The Delhi government already provides free medicines and treatment to residents of the city. The vaccine against Covid-19 will also be provided free of cost to the people of Delhi, once it arrives, he said while addressing reporters.

Also Read| Covishield vs Covaxin against Covid-19: All you need to know

Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal had announced on December 24 last year that the Delhi government had identified 5.1 million people, who come under the Centres priority category, would be administered the vaccines in the first phase. Kejriwal said that each of these people was being registered and an SMS would be sent to their phones notifying about the date, time and place of vaccination. The chief minister highlighted that the priority category was divided into three parts: healthcare workers, frontline workers, and the elderly and those with comorbidities adding that each person will be given two doses of the vaccine.

In the first phase, healthcare workers & frontline workers will be vaccinated. There are three lakh healthcare workers & six lakh frontline workers in Delhi who will be administered with the COVID vaccine: Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain https://t.co/2nt2ogyq93 pic.twitter.com/jkNScrMTyq  ANI (@ANI) January 3, 2021

The national capital registered 494 Covid-19 cases on Saturday, the lowest in seven months. The total cases are now over 626,000 of which 10,571 people have died. The active cases have dropped to 5,342 while 610,535 have been cured or discharged. Health minister Jain warned that though the third wave is going down, one needs to be careful and observe all precautions.

Also Read| Congratulations India: PM Modi tweets after nod to Covid-19 vaccines

DCGI VG Somani said the overall efficacy of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine was 70.42%, while Bharat Biotechs Covaxin was safe and provides a robust immune response. The British-developed Oxford-AstraZeneca shot is being made locally by the Serum Institute of India (SII) and will be branded Covishield, while Bharat Biotech has teamed up with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) to make the vaccine.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter right after the regulators announcement and said the approvals were a decisive turning point to strengthen a spirited fight that accelerates the road to a healthier and Covid-free nation.
Arvind Kumar, a resident of Delhi, had gone to Muradnagar in Uttar Pradesh on Sunday to attend his grandfather's funeral. His family is now preparing for a second funeral in two days after the roof of a shelter at the cremation ground collapsed, killing him and 22 others. "Everything is finished for us," said an inconsolable Rakesh Kumar, the elder brother of Arvind.

"I called my brother over his mobile. Someone else picked the phone and informed me about the roof collapse. I rushed to the spot. It took two hours to pull his body out of the rubble. He was declared dead soon after we reached the hospital," he added. His mother, who narrowly escaped the accident, is inconsolable as she waited outside the mortuary of MMG district hospital for her 36-year-old son's body.

Twenty-three people, most of them attending a funeral, were killed and 15 others injured when the roof of a shelter at a cremation ground in Uttar Pradesh's Muradnagar collapsed on Sunday, police said. Several people had taken shelter under the recently constructed structure while it rained. The dead, all of them men, were mostly relatives or neighbours of Jai Ram, who was being cremated at that time, officials said.

Jaiveer Singh (50), hailing from Uttar Pradesh's Meerut, who was attending the funeral of his brother's father-in-law, also lost his life. His brother Umesh Kumar said, "It took us one-and-a-half hours to rescue him. The administration used a crane to get the bodies out. Jaiveer was talking to me all this while. But he couldn't make it and was declared dead." While some complained of the lack of facilities at the hospital and accused the local administration of callous attitude in dealing with the incident, others demanded that the contractor responsible for the construction of the shelter at the cremation ground be arrested.

Sources told News18 that an FIR has been registered in the incident and contractor Ajay Tyagi, EO Niharika Singh, JI CP Singh and supervisor Ashish have been booked.

"This shelter was built just a month or two ago. It collapsed following the first rain. The contractor should be put behind the bar immediately," said another relative of Jaiveer. Uddham Singh (25), who had gone with his friends to attend the last rites of his neighbour, said he saw two people dying in front of him.

"I was unconscious for the first 20 minutes. When I got back in senses, I saw my friends getting me out of the rubble. I am in pain now, but hopefully will recover soon," said Singh, who had injuries in his shoulder and foot. The local people were the first to arrive at the cremation ground in Muradnagar's Ukhlarsi village in Ghaziabad district, adjoining the national capital. Police followed by a National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) unit also then reached the spot, pulling out the dead and the injured from the debris.

Apart from the 23 dead, 15 others were admitted at different hospitals, Ghaziabad (Rural) Superintendent of Police Iraj Raja said. At least 18 of them had been identified by the evening. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed grief over the deaths.

"I express my condolences to the near and dear ones of those who lost their lives in this accident, and also hope for a quick recovery of the injured," Modi tweeted in Hindi. Adityanath announced Rs 2 lakh as financial relief for the families of each man killed.

The chief minister also directed Meerut's Divisional Commissioner and Additional Director General of the police zone to submit a report on the incident. Union minister V K Singh, who is a Member of Parliament from Ghaziabad, and several senior police and administration officials visited the accident site.

Uttar Pradesh Health Minister Atul Garg, who is the local BJP MLA, met some of the injured at the government hospital here.

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KYODO NEWS - Jan 3, 2021 - 18:32 | All, Japan

A total of 948 people altered their officially registered gender in Japan in 2019, the highest number since a law was enforced more than a decade ago as part of efforts to protect the rights of transgenders, a judicial survey showed Sunday.

The trend reflects widespread public awareness of those with gender identity disorder and the law, experts say. But they also warn that the environment surrounding such people has not improved significantly, citing strict conditions for them to apply to change their sex in family registries.

The number of people who altered their gender under the law increased from 868 in 2018 and 903 in 2017, according to data compiled by the Supreme Court.

It rose above 500 for the first time in 2010 after gradually increasing from the mere 97 marked in 2004 when the law took effect. The total over the 15 years through 2019 stood at 9,625.

Related coverage:

38% of LGBT people in Japan sexually harassed or assaulted: survey

FOCUS: Genderless uniforms spread in Japan as LGBT students gain notice

Japan firm, ex-employee reach rare settlement over outing

But Japan Alliance for LGBT Legislation, a support group, expects a temporary decrease in the number of such registrations due to the coronavirus pandemic as well as strict legal requirements.

Some people have had to postpone their sex-change surgeries due to travel restrictions and financial difficulties caused by the pandemic, the group said.

Under the law, people diagnosed by at least two doctors as having gender identity disorder can apply to change their registration.

Applicants are also required to meet other conditions including being aged 20 or above, unmarried, having no underage children, and no longer having functioning reproductive organs of their former gender as a result of undergoing sex-change surgeries.

If all the conditions are met, pending approval by a family court, a new registration can be created with a different sex entry.
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The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Sunday again accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led municipal corporations in Delhi (MCD) of corruption and irregularities worth crores in the process of waste segregation involved in work related to road construction.

The BJP, however, was quick to dismiss the allegations as baseless.

The BJP-led MCDs has indulged in corruption in the waste segregation process. They pay Rs 1,450 in excess for every tonne to private contractors for segregation of waste concerning work related to road construction. When tenders were floated, the work was evaluated at Rs 1,800 per tonne. However, the MCDs are paying the private contractors Rs 3,250 per tonne. They did not follow any due process in arriving at this figure. It has been flagged in an audit report, said the AAPs in charge of municipal affairs Durgesh Pathak.

He added, The scam is worth crores. The matter should be thoroughly investigated. The BJP leaders clearly have a role in this corruption. Action must be taken against them. If they claim that they are yet to see the audit report, I shall send it to them.

The BJPs Delhi unit spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor said, Mr Pathak has a habit of flaunting the possession of irrelevant papers. His allegations, as usual, are baseless. Waste segregation with regard to road construction works were taken over by government companies long ago. In the last many years, none of the MCDs have made any payment for segregation of waste related to road construction works.

Earlier, the AAP had accused the MCDs of Rs 2500 crore scam. The Delhi government has also ordered an inquiry into the allegations. The Delhi BJP has denied the allegations.
Sunday is a historical day for Laredo as the next category of citizens of the Gateway City and surrounding areas are eligible for their first dosage of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Members of the Phase 1B category and Phase 1 category, which include people who are above the age of 65 years old and those with chronic illnesses and health care workers, will now have a chance of getting the COVID-19 vaccine by the city the next two days. The event follows a successful Saturday event that was held for only health care and frontline workers.

Starting tomorrow, we will be accepting those under the Phase 1B category where they do not have to wait until Monday, City of Laredo Public Information Officer Noraida Negron said. We didnt want them to wait. We wanted to make sure that this vaccine gets out as soon as possible, and we were able to vaccinate a lot of health care workers today.

Monday is only for those who are under the Phase 1B category. We just decided to add them earlier this afternoon to tomorrow as well. We have a large population under the Phase 1B category; therefore, we want to make sure that they all get vaccinated.

People who fall under the Phase 1B category include those 65 years of age and older and those 16 years of age and older who have at least one chronic medical condition that puts them at increased risk for severe illness such as cancer, chronic kidney disease, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), heart conditions, solid organ transplantation, obesity, pregnancy, sickle cell disease and Type 2 diabetes mellitus.

In total, 3,000 vaccines will be offered with 1,000 provided each day. Saturdays event exhausted all 1,000 available vaccinations.

Although Sundays event was planned to also be exclusive for health care workers, the event changed to include members of the public who fall under the Phase 1B category.

Members of the Phase 1B category also do not have to present a note by their doctors. They can simply show up with their medication from chronic illnesses or identifications to show that they meet the age restrictions.

Whoever goes on Sunday or Monday to the drive-thru and are over 65 years and over and those who are also under that Phase 1B, that they would need a doctors note is not necessarily the case, Negron said. Due to the holiday, not everyone can get a doctors note, so as long as they have their prescription with them, their pills, their inhaler or whatever it is that they use or need in order to prove that they do have a chronic illness, that is sufficient evidence for them to get their vaccine.

Negron said Saturdays event was a good indicator of how they could manage the long lines of people coming in to get vaccinated. The city operated using three parking lots at Texas A&M International University. In the first parking lot, people get their numbers and all necessary papework. Registration occured in the second parking lot, and the third is where vaccinations were administered.

However, after people are vaccinated, they cannot just leave the premises as they must wait for 15 minutes to see if they have any adverse reactions. First responders and other medical staff are present at the parking lot to ensure anyone who has an allergic reaction can get the help they need.

Although no allergic reactions were reported in Saturdays drive-thru, two people did feel dizzy. Negron said the individuals were suffering from dehydration and also from not eating during the day and waiting in line for a long period of time.

We really ask people to be patient as it is a lengthy process, Negron said.

Negron said the second dose of the vaccination will not be done in a drive-thru setting held by the city. Rather, those who attend on Sunday and Monday will get a voucher so they can attend any local pharmacy offering the vaccine.

Those who get the vaccine at these drive-thrus, this is their first dosage, Negron said. Their second one they can get it at any pharmacy. They do not have to wait for the City of Laredo to hold another drive-thru.

The second dosage is administered 28 days after receiving the first vaccine.

Although the second dosage of vaccination for those who attend these weekend events are set to begin in a month, there is still no word if another category of people will get the vaccinations any time soon as they first begin administering them to the most vulnerable in the community. However, Negron pointed out that the city would have such information.

The drive-thru vaccine events scheduled for Sunday and Monday are slated to begin at 9 a.m. and continue while supplies last at TAMIU. Those interested are encouraged to get their early. The vaccinations are free.

jorge.vela@lmtonline.com
Eddie Izzard has praised Caitlyn Jenner for her role in battling transphobia.

The comedian, 58 - who is gender fluid and 'switches between boy-mode and girl-mode' - said the rise in stars such as Caitlyn transitioning has helped deal with any 'toxicity'.

Speaking on the RunPod podcast, Eddie said: 'It was toxic back in '85. It was toxic in the Nineties. Being transgender was never cool.

'The tipping point was when a number of things happened in America': Eddie Izzard has praised Caitlyn Jenner for her role in battling transphobia

'The tipping point was when a number of things happened in America - from Vanity Fair for Caitlyn Jenner to [transgender actress] Laverne Cox getting Woman Of The Year [from Glamour magazine].

'America is such an engine. When things happen there, it pushes it out around the world. It's made it easier for me.'

Former Olympian Caitlyn went public with her gender transition in 2015 after previously being known as Bruce.

She made headlines around the world with a cover shoot for American magazine Vanity Fair, with the words 'Call me Caitlyn' written across the front.

Trailblazer: Former Olympian Caitlyn, who used to be known as Bruce, went public with her gender transition in 2015

Eddie, who calls herself 'somewhat boy-ish and somewhat girl-ish', uses 'transgender' as an umbrella term, and has been open about difficulties coming out.

Eddie told The Telegraph: 'Coming out was so hard - I couldn't talk to anyone. I knew I was going to get abuse in the streets - and I have had that. It made me very mentally tough.'

Eddie also defending J.K. Rowling, 55, saying she doesn't believe the author is transphobic.

Defence: Eddie Izzard defended J.K. Rowling, 55, saying she doesn't believe the author is transphobic (pictured this month)

Last June, J.K. was accused of transphobia after making a controversial comment about menstruation, two years after she liked a tweet which referred to transgender people as 'men in dresses'.

The author denied claims of transphobia as she insisted she 'respects every trans person's right to live any way that feels authentic and comfortable to them'.

Eddie, who last year asked to be referred to with 'she'/'her' pronouns, after previously refusing to be pinned down on gender, told the Daily Telegraph: 'I don't think JK Rowling is transphobic.

Under fire: Last June, J.K. was accused of transphobia after making a controversial comment about menstruation (pictured in December 2019)

'I think we need to look at the things she has written about in her blog.'

Eddie continued: 'Women have been through such hell over history. Trans people have been invisible, too. I hate the idea we are fighting between ourselves, but it's not going to be sorted with the wave of a wand.

'I don't have all the answers. If people disagree with me, fine - but why are we going through hell on this?'

J.K. was accused of transphobia last year when she reacted to an online article titled 'Opinion: Creating a more equal post COVID-19 world for people who menstruate.'

''People who menstruate.' I'm sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?', the award-winning writer told her 14.2million followers.

Disappointed fans and other users of the micro-blogging site branded the screenwriter's remarks 'anti-trans' and 'transphobic', as transgenders, non-binary and gender-nonconforming individuals can also menstruate.
LAGOS, Nigeria  As the pandemic has swept across the world, it has become increasingly evident that in a vast majority of countries on the African continent, most deaths are never formally registered. Reliable data on a countrys deaths and their causes are hard to come by, which means governments can miss emerging health threats  whether Ebola or the coronavirus  and often have to formulate health policy blindly.

Covid-19 has been said to have largely bypassed Africa. But as with other diseases, the viruss true toll here will probably never be known, partly because elevated mortality rates cannot be used as a measure the way they are elsewhere.

In other parts of the world, epidemics have been identified by unusual spikes in deaths compared with the mortality rate in a normal year. But many African governments are unable to do this, as they do not know the baseline mortality in their own countries.

The mortality due to Covid in the African continent is not a major public issue, said Dorian Job, the West Africa program manager for Doctors Without Borders. What he called crazy predictions on Covid  the United Nations said in April that up to 3.3 million Africans would die from it, for example  meant that harsh lockdowns were imposed. The economic and social effects of these would be felt in Africa for decades, Dr. Job said.
India will look to be more innovative in its approach to garner additional investments worth Rs 1.75 lakh crore for having 35 GW of renewable power generation capacity next year to meet the ambitious target of 175 GW of clean energy capacity by 2022.

At present, the country has a total installed renewable energy capacity of 90 GW. This includes 39 GW of wind and 37 GW of solar generation capacity.

Around 50 GW of renewable energy capacity is under construction and there is also a strong pipeline of 30 GW for new bids.

"There is a fund requirement of Rs 1.75 lakh crore to achieve the balance capacity of 35 GW (under bidding/ to be bid out/ auctioned) to achieve an overall target of 175 GW," Director General of Solar Power Developers Association Shekhar Dutt told PTI.

He also said that implementation of renewable projects and innovation in tendering them to attract investors would play a key role in 2021.

According to him, India needs to design innovative tenders with the inclusion of wind, solar and energy storage to ensure that renewable can replace fossil fuels to a great extent.

This year has been challenging for the renewable energy sector but the industry has been able to withstand the crisis caused by the pandemic with support of the government.

Moreover, confidence of investors in the sector has soared further as was evident from solar power tariff breaching the psychological barrier of Rs 2 per unit.

Solar power tariff dropped to an all-time low of Rs 1.99 per unit in an auction of projects of 500 MW capacity by Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Ltd (GUVNL) in December.

Prior to that, the tariff had declined to a record low of Rs 2 per unit in an auction for 1,070 MW projects conducted by the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) in November.

In July this year, solar power tariffs fell to a low of Rs 2.36 per unit in an auction of 2 GW capacities by the SECI.

Now, in order to maintain the momentum, the government will have to be more proactive and innovative to attract investors into the sector.

India had set an ambitious target of having 175 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2022. This includes 100 GW from solar, 60 GW from wind, 10 GW from biomass and 5 GW from small hydro power.

Talking about the challenge of bringing required investment next year to achieve the 175 GW target, Union Power and New & Renewable Energy Minister R K Singh said, "We are going to come out with more innovative bids (in 2021)."

He told PTI that earlier efforts of the government helped to position India as the most favourite destination for investment, especially in the clean energy sector and it is evident from $64 billion investment in renewables.

The minister also cited some examples of round the clock, hybrid and manufacturing linked auctions for clean energy in the country.

As per the government estimates, the demand for domestically manufactured solar cells and modules is likely to be around 36 GW over next three years.

In November, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said there are huge renewable energy deployment plans for the next decade.

"These are likely to generate business prospects of the order of around 1.5 lakh crore rupees or $20 billion per year. This is a big opportunity to invest in India," Modi had said.

With the impact of Covid-19 on a gradual decline and higher visibility of vaccine availability, 2021 promises to be an exciting year for the renewable sector.

As per industry estimates, the cumulative capacity of 20 GW clean energy is scheduled to be commissioned, which shows increased opportunities for equipment suppliers.

Dutt said that agencies implementing renewable energy projects are facing challenges with respect to signing Power Sales Agreements (PSA) for around 16 GW with power distribution companies (discoms) and electricity procurers.

Such a situation shows that the implementation of the ambitious target of 175 GW will be possible only when there are assured buyers for clean energy across the country. Otherwise, it will not be viable to set up huge generation capacities.

Meanwhile, there is a continued focus on 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' initiative to boost local PV (Photo Voltaic) manufacturing as well as ensure quality and competitiveness against imported PV cells. This is being done by way of providing support through the government's PLI (Performance Linked Incentive) scheme.

However, Dutt said that till the time domestic manufacturing capacity of requisite quality is not enough to meet demand, restrictive measures must be avoided.

According to industry players, the current focus is on developing large-scale ultra mega solar power projects but there are challenges such as land acquisition, sub-optimal utilisation of power evacuation infrastructure and higher transmission losses and charges.

"India is endowed with abundant sunshine across the country with a variation of 15-20 per cent. Hence, small to medium scale projects (50-100 MW) can be developed at load centres in 700+ districts located across the country, which will result in lower transmission losses, better utilisation of transmission assets, equitable job creation and development etc," Dutt said.

Structural reforms for discoms are being looked at to ensure timely payment to power producers.

Amendments to Electricity Act, 2003 and Tariff Policy, which has provisions to address the issues, are awaited by the industry.

Imaan Javan, Director of Operations at Suntuity REI, said that "with sufficient government policies, support and schemes in place and educating people on the advantages of clean and sustainable energy, I believe that we can definitely achieve our renewable energy target of 175 GW by 2022".

"Though we have already seen various measures from the government like Safeguard Duty, 'One Sun One World One Grid' initiative, anti-dumping duty, Vocal for Local and Make in India, more strict imposition of these policies will help India be at par with her global counterparts and penetrate into the world market," Javan said.

Suntuity REI is a leading solar energy solutions provider.

The renewable energy industry also expects higher coordination between central transmission utility and agencies implementing renewable energy projects to ensure seamless development of transmission evacuation infrastructure.

About increasing the share of renewables in the country's energy mix, the minister said that India already has 38 per cent installed electricity generation capacity (140 GW) coming from clean energy and that the 40 per cent target will be surpassed in 2021.

India has set an ultimate target of having 450 GW of clean energy by 2030.
(Newser)  A pastor was killed and two others were injured Sunday in a shooting at an East Texas church, the AP reports. This is not a church-related, religion-related offense, Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith said at a news conference. Authorities say the pastor discovered the suspect hiding in a bathroom at the Starrville Methodist Church in Winona on Sunday morning and drew a gun. The suspect grabbed the firearm and began shooting, killing the pastor. Another person was wounded by gunfire and a third was injured in a fall. Neither the victims nor the suspect have been publicly identified.

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Authorities had been searching for the suspect Saturday night following a car chase in which the suspect had a shotgun pointed out the window of a vehicle, CBS19 reports. After a tire blowout, the suspect fled on foot, eventually hiding out at the church. Following the fatal altercation at the church, the suspect stole the pastors vehicle and fled. He was later arrested in nearby Harrison County. The suspect was reportedly hospitalized with gunshot wounds to his hand. It is unclear when he was injured. This is a capital murder investigation, Smith said, per KLTV. "Our hearts are with the victims and the families of those killed or injured in this terrible tragedy, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said, according to the Tyler Morning Telegraph. (Read more church shootings stories.)
Common Admission Test (CAT) Result 2020 has been announced and candidates can check the result online on the official website iimcat.ac.in. A total of 9 students have scored 100 percentile in CAT examination 2020.

The candidates can check their scorecards through the official website.

Here's how to check CAT Result 2020 online:

- Go to the official website iimcat.ac.in

- On the home page, click on Login or just click on the link here

- On the window that opens, enter your registration number and password to access your account and check the result

About 2 lakh candidates appeared for CAT 2020 examination. It is to be noted that the score shared by IIM Indore is normalized as per the formula available on the official website.

Students can also download CAT 2020 Scorecard from the login window. The CAT scores are only applicable for admission to MBA courses for the 2021 -22 session. The admission process would start on the basis of the applications sent by the students.

It may be recalled that CAT 2020 final answer key was released on December 31 and CAT result 2020 has been declared before the scheduled date. The CAT 2020 result was scheduled to be declared in January second week.

CAT 2020 is a required to get admission into various Post Graduate and Fellow programmes of different IIMs across India. CAT 2020 scores can also be used by listed non-IIM member institutions for admission into MBA programme. Students can check the list of such institutions on the official website of CAT. IIMs play no role in the selection process of different non-IIM institutions in the country.


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Aligarh (Uttar Pradesh) [India], January 3 (ANI): Bajrang Dal supporters in Aligarh on Saturday protested against the demolition of Hindu temples in Pakistan by raising slogans against Pakistan.

The Protesters raised slogans against the Pakistan government and condemned the attack on temples there.

The demonstrations erupted in India after a Hindu temple was demolished on December 30 in Pakistan's Karak district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

Gaurav Sharma, the convenor of Bajrang Dal, Aligarh requested the union government to raise the issue at United Nations.

"On main crossroads in Aligarh, we pasted Pakistan flags on roads. We are protesting against the recent cases in which Hindu temples were demolished in Pakistan. The extremists in Pakistan are attacking the minority Hindus there. We request the Indian government to raise this issue at the United Nations and it is ensured that nobody can demolish temples in Pakistan in the coming future," Sharma told media.

This comes after India on January 1 lodged a formal protest with Pakistan via diplomatic channels against the vandalisation of a Hindu temple there, reported a source.

On December 30, a mob of over a hundred people led by local Muslim clerics had destroyed and set on fire a Hindu temple in the Karak district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

A viral video clip on social media showed a violent mob destroying the walls and roof of the temple.

This act against the Hindu minority community has been widely condemned by human rights activists based in Pakistan and other parts of the world.

The mob incited by a local cleric was part of a rally organised by Jamiat Ulema-e Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), a Sunni Deobandi political party in Pakistan. In the rally, speakers delivered inflammatory speeches after which the mob stormed the temple, set it ablaze, and razed it to the ground. (ANI)
Plans to name and shame MPs embroiled in sleaze probes will weaponise Westminsters complaints system and could deny politicians natural justice, senior Tories claim.

Sir Charles Walker and David Davis both condemned proposals to reverse a decision in 2018 not to reveal which politicians were being investigated over allegations of expenses fraud or similar breaches.

The Commons is set to vote on scrapping that move amid protests that not identifying MPs in such circumstances was an affront to transparency.

Sir Charles Walker (pictured) and David Davis both condemned proposals to reverse a decision in 2018 not to reveal which politicians were being investigated over allegations of expenses fraud or similar breaches

MPs accused of sexual abuse or bullying will remain anonymous to protect the identity of their accusers.

But some Tory backbenchers fear that in the age of Twitter, even identifying colleagues being investigated for other complaints  such as failing to declare a relevant outside interest  is wrong.

They warned it could encourage vexatious complaints ahead of a General Election by forcing an MPs party into removing the whip and so prevent that person from standing for re-election.

Sir Charles, chairman of the Commons Administration Committee, said the complaints system must be seen to be fair and warned against reverting to the old arrangements.

It could be fraught and laced with unintended consequences, said the Tory MP, who is also vice-chairman of the partys backbench 1922 Committee.

Labour MP Chris Bryant, chairman of the Commons Committee on Standards, insisted transparency was better and the system was failing only because people did not know whether complaints were being acted on. He is pictured above in November 2019

What we do not want to do is politicise and weaponise a complaints system that needs to carry the confidence of all parties.

Former Cabinet Minister Mr Davis said naming an MP before the outcome of an investigation was extremely unwise and goes way against the presumption of innocence.

He added: It may well be in the political world that you could have months of accusations and then the MP is exonerated at the end. But people wont remember the exoneration. They will remember the accusations.

The former Brexit Secretary also hit out at the way political parties sanctioned MPs who were known to be under investigation but were later exonerated.

I have long thought the political parties are very cavalier about this because they very frequently want to withdraw the whip from people before the allegation is proven, he said.

On many occasions, people have had the whip withdrawn and then reinstated, and yet reputational damage has been done.

He added: You have to ask yourself, what are the implications for natural justice? If the implications are, as they are here, that it will actually be more difficult to deliver natural justice, then its a bad idea.

However, Labour MP Chris Bryant, chairman of the Commons Committee on Standards, insisted transparency was better and the system was failing only because people did not know whether complaints were being acted on.
Kylie Jenner looked every inch the doting mother as she held her nearly three-year-old daughter Stormi in her arms on a night out in Aspen, Colorado on Friday.

After the 23-year-old cosmetics mogul spent most of New Year's Day on the slopes and supervising her little girl's snowboarding lessons, the duo looked happier than ever to spend some time in town.

For their outing, the reality star slipped into a cozy oversized white sweatsuit, while her tot rocked an all-black ensemble, apart from a pair of pink Converse sneakers.

Hugs: Kylie Jenner looked every inch the doting mother as she held her nearly three-year-old daughter Stormi in her arms on a night out in Aspen, Colorado on Friday

Before putting on a blue disposable mask, Jenner gave onlookers a quick tease of her glamorous makeup look, which included a matte lipstick on her famous pout.

Additionally, the reality star rocked false eyelashes, contour powder, highlighter and styled her recently dyed fuchsia tresses in a sleek bun.

She appeared to be keeping her accessories to a minimal apart from her large gold hoop earrings and a few rings.

Too cute: After the 23-year-old cosmetics mogul spent most of New Year's Day on the slopes and supervising her little girl's snowboarding lessons, the duo looked happier than ever to spend together

On Sunday, the beauty gave her 207 million Instagram followers a close-up look at her stunning accommodations as she walked around in Louis Vuitton slippers.

In snaps uploaded to her Instagram Story, she showed off her holiday rental, which had exposed brick walls, tall ceilings and wooden accents.

Her lodge also included a number of luxurious amenities like a private bowling alley, a pool table, a pool and massive windows to watch the snow fall from the couch.

Wow: On Monday, the beauty gave her 207 million Instagram followers a close-up look at her stunning accommodations

Despite the raging pandemic, it appears a group of the Kardashian/Jenner family were still able to get together to celebrate the New Year, including Kylie's on-again-off-again boyfriend, Travis Scott.

Additionally, her mother Kris Jenner, Kendall Jenner, Corey Gamble and Fai Khadra were also present on the trip.

While in Aspen, the family have been seen shopping all over town and dining at upscale eateries as Colorado has more lenient COVID-19 rules that allow for indoor dining, unlike Los Angeles.

Views: More impressively, her lodge included a private bowling alley, a pool table, a pool and massive views to watch the snow fall from the couch

Their trip ignored recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which has urged Americans not to travel during the holiday season as COVID-19 cases have been surging throughout the country.

In their native Southern California, ICU space has plummeted to zero percent capacity in recent days, and the state observed a grim milestone on Friday with a new single-day record for COVID-19 deaths.

The trip comes after they cancelled their annual Christmas party for the first time in over 40 years and were unable to take a group holiday photo.
Styling: Holly Elgeti. Make-up: Nicky Weir using Hourglass Beauty. Hair: Alex Szabo at Carol Hayes using T3 Haircare. Dress, Temperley London. Earrings, Motley x Scott Wilson. Rings, Daisy Jewellery, Pilgrim

If theres one currency more febrile than Bitcoin, its the currency of goodwill. I had such goodwill towards Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. I had never watched Suits (I tried once but lost interest after five minutes), so Id never heard of Meghan Markle before she met Prince Harry. I, like many, had followed his personal trajectory through a childhood marred by the tragedy of his mothers death and was moved to think he had found true love. I was pleased for them. They seemed happy.

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Time passed. The Duchess found herself at the centre of mean-spirited attention, some of it racist. Last year, I wrote in this newspaper about how despicable that was. I wrote that Meghan was a breath of fresh air in an institution that needed modernising and should be praised not derided or abused.

When, eventually, the Sussexes quit official royal duties to forge their own path in another country, I was supportive. Why shouldnt they seek out a life away from the constant prying attention? Of course they needed privacy. Of course they longed for family time with their son. Yes, OK, I was confused when, during Covid, they did Zoom interviews talking about everything from climate change to feminism from their Californian mansion while the rest of us were struggling through lockdown. But why shouldnt they champion issues that are important to them? I thought. Let them be!

Sure, I was slightly taken aback when they signed up with a glitzy public-speaking agency and inked a rumoured multimillion-dollar deal with Netflix to provide content that would help the rest of us understand courage, resilience, and the need for connection.

But again, I argued myself out of my own misgivings. Why shouldnt royals also be TV producers if it earns them an honest buck? After all, they had given up their sovereign grant and needed to pay back 2.4 million funded by the British taxpayer on house refurbishments. Yet it left a funny taste in the mouth.

At points, I still cheered them on from afar. When Meghan wrote about her miscarriage last year, I applauded her courage. It was extraordinarily powerful for women who, like me, had also had miscarriages and had felt a secret, misplaced shame. But the commercial deals kept coming.

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It became impossible to ignore that funny taste  and it wasnt the turmeric superlatte made by the company Meghan invested in before sending a hamper to her neighbour Oprah Winfrey. Oprah obligingly shared it to her 19 million Instagram followers along with a crown emoji. It all seemed a bit, well, naff.

A Spotify trailer advertising the couples new podcast, full of chatty bonhomie intended to show their down-to-earth appeal as if they were just Megs and Hazza from across the street, almost tipped me over the edge. It felt as if they were trying to be the Obamas, but the Obamas have a lifetime of public service, operating at the highest levels of global politics. The Obamas have not been handed their power by birth or marriage. They worked for it and, thus, have experience and wisdom in bucketloads. When they talk, it doesnt sound preachy. It sounds rooted in a deep understanding of how systems work and how people live.

I suppose this is the key to my unease. The Sussexes dont want to be working royals or to live in the UK, a country they seem to feel has let them down. But their fame and opportunities are a direct result of the British royal imprimatur.

To Brits like me  the ones who have only ever wished them well  it feels as if weve been dumped and our former lover is now dating a Hollywood starlet and splashing details of their shiny new relationship all over the front pages.

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Theyve moved on and we feel hurt. Its not that we dont like them. Quite the opposite  were only ever hurt by the people we actually care about.

This week I'm...

Wearing Whistles barrel-leg jeans. Quite simply, the perfect cut.

Organising with a sleek Smythson Panama diary in coral.

Marking the New Year with these gorgeous new earrings from Daphine.
BEDFORD CORNERS, N.Y.  Diana Heimann is the kind of person who traps mice in her farmhouse and releases them into nature preserves. The kind of person who kept Silkie chickens in her living room and their eggs in the cup holders of her car.

Shes not the kind of person who loses a llama.

But there she was Wednesday, speeding from the North Castle Town Hall in Armonk, New York, to the police station in Mount Kisco, the footwells of her Toyota scattered with spilled llama treats, passing out bushels of flyers: LOST LLAMA, one read. Try not to scare him.

Gizmo, she said aloud, as if a missing llama roving the hills of Bedford Corners, a wealthy, equestrian pocket of Westchester County, could hear her. Where are you?

Becoming a celebrity

Word of the weekslong hunt for Gizmo, the 7-year-old llama who absconded on Dec. 13, had already ricocheted around the town, the state and far beyond. Prayers and tips poured in from people who knew neither Heimann nor the first thing about pack animals. But a llama was on the loose, and it had captured the publics imagination.

As the days stretched into llamaless weeks and concern grew, Heimanns increasingly desperate Facebook posts morphed into calls for llama search parties.

Tipsters from around the region began calling her at all hours. Someone sent pictures of a llama  a different llama, safe in its paddock. Someone else sent a photo of llama dung that turned out to be the leavings of a deer. Complete strangers took to the hills and dales between the mansions and horse estates of the surrounding towns to find Gizmo. One caller said she had located him  with her psychic.

In this moment of unfathomable worry, of airborne plagues and economic ruin, the opportunity to fret over a lost llama became its own kind of balm. The search for Gizmo drew in strangers perhaps seeking a simpler thing to care about at a time when even our quotidian cares  to not get sick, to muddle through, to survive  are monumental.

A touch of love

Everything is going real crazy in the world, so anything that shows some love, being there for others, is important, said Steven Brink, who with his daughter Celena, 9, spent four hours Wednesday hiking the 225-acre Arthur W. Butler Memorial Sanctuary in Mount Kisco, looking for Gizmo.

The people in the woods thought I was a little crazy when I asked them if they saw a llama, said Brink, who works in construction. But I got the word out.

Gizmo, whose coat is a patchwork of white and brown spots and whose face wears a permanent expression of mild offense, had arrived only the day before his disappearance, from Fairland, Indiana, just southeast of Indianapolis. He came with his best friend, a blondish llama named Sandman, whose unusual hair resembles the fronds of a mop.

But as soon as they arrived in their paddock beside the mansion on a 120-acre farm Heimann manages in New York, where Martha Stewart has an estate nearby, the pair went renegade, jumping the 5-foot fence of their new pasture. It was all too much for the sheltered Indiana llama, said Gizmos former owner, Heather Bruce: He only knew his llama buddies.

Both llamas had jumped the fence, but Sandman was apprehended quickly. Leo Garcia, the farms groundskeeper, spotted the pair loose on the lawn that morning. A cowboy who learned roping on the ranches of Guatemala, he grabbed a lasso from his truck bed and hurled it  right over Sandmans head. In one shot! Garcia, 35, said later.

Sandman had been apprehended, but Gizmo, for all his supposed fealty to his stablemate, took off. Llamas can reach speeds of up to about 35 mph, and Gizmo was out of Garcias lassoing range immediately. Llamas, said Garcia, are too smart.

Back on her farm in Indiana, Bruce, 45, prayed for Gizmos safe return. The Lord loves animals as much as I do, she said. He took the care to put them all on the ark  and I believe truly that that happened  and he has always cared for them and will continue to care for them.

Taking the high road

But in Bedford Corners, Heimann was leaving nothing to divine providence. On Dec. 14, days before a walloping noreaster would dump more than 1 foot of snow on her town and any llamas unlucky enough to be outdoors, she placed a panicked call to Rochester Aerial Photography.

The owners of the drone photography business outside Rochester  David Olney Jr., 29, and Doug Grotke, 34  have been experimenting with infrared drones but admitted they had never hunted the heat signature of a llama before.

As the storm barreled toward New York, the pair packed their drones and drove the six hours south to Bedford Corners on Dec. 15, where they spent another six hours fruitlessly scanning the area with their aircraft.

I am an animal lover, and my wife is an animal lover, Olney said. She more or less said, You need to get down there and help find that llama. 

As the days wore on, Heimann began to fear the worst. She contacted the New York State Department of Transportation, she said, to ask, with trepidation, if any llamas had been hit by cars. None. Next, she called local hunting clubs asking them to keep an eye out  and hold their fire.

A specialist who uses sniffer dogs to find lost people and animals suggested she employ her two Tibetan spaniels to track Gizmo, she said, but they were better at barking than searching. An animal rescue organization said she should leave clippings of Sandmans hair in the woods to draw out his friend, but the blond llama wouldnt let her snip his locks.

Low-tech approach

And so on Wednesday, she whipped up $750 worth of posters featuring the patchwork llama and his typical perturbed face. (They also include a photo of his rear: In case people see him while hes running away, she said.) By late afternoon, Gizmos legion of online worriers had picked them up at the precinct and the town hall and posted the flyers from Main Street in Mount Kisco to the gravel roads of Bedford Corners.

That night, on the 17th day of Gizmos absence, another picture of a llama flashed on Heimanns phone. The familiar patchwork, the same mildly miffed air. Could it be?

Just under 1 mile away from where Gizmo escaped, Jose Blanco and four colleagues had spent the last two weeks remodeling a bathroom in a house on Lounsbery Road  and not paying much attention to the llama wandering the yard of the vacant home next door.

I never said anything because I thought the llama belonged to the other house, said Blanco, 20. That changed when he saw a poster Wednesday. After he texted the picture to her, Heimann sped over with Garcia  and his lasso.

By 7 p.m. Gizmo was wrangled and back home with Sandman; thinner, wearier, found.

At their job site the next morning, on the final day of the year, Blanco and his colleagues toasted Gizmo over their coffees. Horrible things are happening in 2020, and we did a good thing: We found the llama, and everybody felt so good, Blanco said.

Maybe it could be a sign for all of us, he added. Its like good things are coming.
A chain-wielding robbery suspect was shot and wounded by a Berkeley police officer after other officers fired foam projectiles at him, police said Sunday.

Berkeley police said a man robbed a Walgreens store at 2190 Shattuck Ave. shortly before 8:30 p.m. and fled. Officers responding to the robbery call saw the suspect walking on Bancroft Way. They tried to detain him, but he walked into the courtyard of the UC Berkeley Tang Center and threatened them with a chain, according to a police news release.
Who will be the next CM of Assam? Sarbananda Sonowal or Himanta Biswa Sarma?

Assam polls: Congress promises farm loan waiver, free power, Nyay

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

New Delhi, Jan 03: The Congress on Friday sounded the poll bugle in Assam by announcing waiver of farm debts and microfinance loans for women, implementation of minimum income guarantee scheme 'Nyay', free electricity up to 120 units for the poor and middle class and ensuring at least one job for each family.

The sops for Assam where Assembly election is due in March-April this year were announced by state Congress president Ripun Bora at an interaction with mediapersons in Guwahati.

The condition of farmers in the state is deplorable as the cost of production is very high and, without getting the minimum support price (MSP), they are forced to go for distress sale.

If the Congress comes to power in the state, it will waive the farmers' debt like "it has been done by the party's governments in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Punjab and also in Madhya Pradesh earlier under Kamal Nath", Bora said.

People in villages, particularly women, take loans from microfinance organisations and face immense harassment, he said.

A bill has been unanimously passed in the just concluded Assembly session to protect economically vulnerable people, particularly women, from microfinance institutions and money lenders.

"We do not have any issue with it (the bill), but women empowerment is a priority for the party and when we come to power, all types of microfinance loans for women will be waived," he said.

Kerala govt announces green rebate for eco-friendly homes amid slew of new measures

Bora said that the Congress will also implement the minimum income guarantee scheme 'Nyuntam Aay Yojana' (Nyay), which was included in the party's manifesto in the last Lok Sabha polls.

Nobel laureate economist Abhijit Banerjee helped the party conceptualise the scheme, which was implemented by the Congress government in Chhattisgarh, he said.

The Congress, during its earlier term in power, had introduced the Rajiv Gandhi Gramya Bidyutikaran Scheme, whereby 30 units of free power were given to 13.55 lakh families, which the present BJP government is continuing.

"Power supply is a major issue in the state, and its price has increased though the income of people has not. If the Congress comes to power, it will provide relief to maximum people, with 120 units of free electricity to nearly 60 lakh poor and middle class families," Bora said.

Unemployment is a major problem in the state and though the BJP had promised 25 lakh jobs to the youth, this has turned out to be an "election jumla" as nearly 1 lakh posts are now lying vacant, he claimed.

The Congress will adopt the policy of 'one family, one job' and though there will be a proper recruitment policy according to merit, "we will ensure that we can provide jobs," the state Congress president said.

Experts are examining this in detail and the operational part will be highlighted in the election manifesto, he added.

Nobody should doubt that these announcements are "mere election promises but everyone should rest assured that the Congress knows how to manage the economy," he said.

The Congress had assumed power at a time when the state treasury was empty and employees were not receiving salaries but on assuming power, then chief minister Tarun Gogoi took initiatives that transformed the state's economy, Bora said.

The Congress is also committed to protect communal harmony, which is a part of the exceptional social fabric of the state, and not divide people on the basis of religion, community and language as the BJP is doing since assuming power, Bora said.

"The BJP's prime agenda is to emotionally exploit people and assume power by dividing people like the British did. Our sole objective is not to capture power but ensure welfare of all people," he said.

He, however, said that he did not want to attack the BJP and talk about negative things on the first day of the new year and decided to highlight the positive steps that the Congress would take for the people of the state.

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Story first published: Sunday, January 3, 2021, 16:14 [IST]
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  New York City has seen a higher number of traffic fatalities in 2020 than we did last year.

Thats despite all the speed cameras.

Thats despite the reduced speed limits.

Thats despite the elimination of driving space in favor of bike lanes.

Thats despite the anti-motorist Vision Zero programs and propaganda from Mayor Bill de Blasio and the city Department of Transportation.

So whats the answer? Expanded use of speed cameras, of course.

As of last week, there were 241 traffic fatalities in the five boroughs this year, according to city records. Thats up from 218 the year before, an increase of 23 fatalities. Its the highest number of fatalities since de Blasio took office.

Its an eye-catching stat when you consider that city roads were pretty much barren of traffic for months this year because of the coronavirus pandemic. People were locked down in their homes and werent driving to work or to school. It took a while for normal traffic patterns to return.

And yet somehow the roads were deadlier. Hmm.

A Vision Zero failure? Not if you listen to de Blasio and acting DOT commissioner Margaret Forgione.

No, the increase in fatalities was, of course, the fault of motorists. Too many of them took advantage of the empty pandemic streets and drove too fast. They killed people.

You see the pretzel logic of all this, right? Weve heard for years how dangerous it is have too many cars on the streets. Now its dangerous if we have too few cars out there.

The city has us coming and going. And if speed cameras fail to stop those speeders, it doesnt mean that speed cameras themselves are failures. It means that we need even more of them.

Its the enduring catch-22 of Vision Zero: If the metrics improve and city streets are safer, that means we need more Vision Zero in order to maintain our progress.

But the result is the same if the numbers get worse: More Vision Zero in order to really address the problem.

Thats why de Blasio is going to Albany for permission to allow the city to keep its speed cameras operational 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Right now, the cameras are only allowed to operate weekdays from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., in 750 designated school zones around the city. Thats a total of 950 cameras.

Its all done in the name of protecting students coming and going from schools, even though how many of them arrive that early in the morning or leave that late at night is definitely debatable.

As is the citys definition of a school zone, which was modified to allow more cameras at ever greater distances from actual school buildings.

De Blasio said the cameras need to be operational around the clock because speeding infractions roughly doubled in school zones in 2020 versus last year.

That should be good for the citys coffers if not for actual road safety. Distracted driving is far more of a threat when it comes to collisions than speeding. Speed cameras do absolutely nothing to address that top road danger.

The only way to true safety is to eliminate cars entirely, I guess. But how would the state and city replace all the revenue that motor vehicles generate?

Never mind tickets for traffic violations. What about all the registration and inspection fees? What about the coming congestion pricing tax?

They ought to be careful. Drivers might just get the message and take their cars off the road. Or more of us might move to states that dont treat drivers like homicidal maniacs on the one hand and cash cows on the other.

Its up to the city.
Thousands of Iraqi mourners chanted "revenge" and "no to America" on Sunday, one year after a US drone strike killed Iran's revered commander Qasem Soleimani and his Iraqi lieutenant Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.

Pro-Iranian protesters, many dressed in black, massed in Baghdad's central Tahrir Square, where they also condemned Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi as a "coward" and an "agent of the Americans."

The anniversary of the Baghdad drone strike -- which brought Washington and Tehran to the brink of war in early 2020 -- was also marked in recent days across Iran and by supporters in Syria, Lebanon, Yemen and elsewhere.

The lead-up to the commemorations sharply heightened regional tensions in the weeks before US President Donald Trump, who ordered the killings, leaves the White House.

Iran has held a series of commemorative events for the Shiite "martyr" Soleimani, who has been immortalised in portraits, sculptures, ballads and an upcoming TV series. Tehran on Sunday also unveiled his autobiography -- focusing largely on his childhood and early adulthood -- and a postage stamp in his honour.

In Iraq, the powerful, state-sponsored pro-Iranian Hashed al-Shaabi paramilitary network that Muhandis commanded has led the angry vigils for him and General Soleimani, who headed the foreign operations arm of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Sunday's Baghdad rally was a show of force for the armed groups, which despite being formally integrated into the Iraqi security apparatus have increasingly challenged the Kadhemi government.

Thousands of mourners had converged Saturday night at the spot near Baghdad's international airport where the US hit the two vehicles and killed Soleimani, Muhandis and eight other men.

By candlelight, they honoured their "martyrs" and condemned the American "great Satan" at the site where nearby walls are still pockmarked by shrapnel.

Story continues

"We tell America and the enemies of Islam that they can inflict the greatest sacrifices on us, but we will continue to resist despite the bloodshed," said Hashed supporter Batul Najjar.

The Hashed -- factions of which Washington has blamed for rocket strikes against its embassy and troops in Iraq -- has increasingly challenged Kadhemi, whom it accuses of having helped plot the drone strikes.

This has brought to the boil once more tensions in the war-battered and politically fragile country that the United States invaded in 2003, and which remains mired in economic crisis amid low oil prices and the coronavirus pandemic.

- War of words -

Ahead of the Tahrir Square rally, Ahmed Assadi, one of the leaders of Hashed's parliamentary bloc, vowed: "Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, we will go out by the millions to brandish your portrait on Tahrir."

Giant posters of Soleimani and Muhandis were hung up above the iconic square, which in late 2019 became the centre of large anti-government protests, from an abandoned building known as the Turkish restaurant that was once the protesters' unofficial headquarters.

"We have come to say no to America and to any other occupier who wants to come and defile our land," one of the mourners, Oum Mariam, told AFP.

After the Soleimani killing, Iraq's parliament initially voted to expel US forces -- but despite some withdrawals, about 3,000 American troops remain in the country.

Amid the flaring tensions, Iraqis, and many in the wider region, are nervously watching for any signs of escalation before Trump leaves the White House on January 20.

Trump confronted longtime foe Iran by unilaterally withdrawing in 2018 from a nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers and launching a "maximum pressure" campaign to further economically punish and isolate the country.

Trump recently tweeted that the US was hearing "chatter of additional attacks against Americans in Iraq," and warned that "if one American is killed, I will hold Iran responsible. Think it over."

In recent days, US B-52 bombers have flown across the region for the second time in less than a month. Late Sunday, the Pentagon reversed its December 31 announcement that it would bring its Nimitz aircraft carrier home, saying that due to "recent threats" from Iran, the vessel would stay in the Gulf. The Pentagon statement did not elaborate on the threats.

On Sunday, Hassan Nasrallah, the head of Iran-backed Lebanese movement Hezbollah, said Soleimani's death had been a "huge blow" but that the departure of US troops from the region remained a "declared goal."

"Anyone who bets that murders, assassinations, wars, sieges and sanctions will affect the determination of the resistance is mistaken," he said in a televised address

Iran's Revolutionary Guards chief Hossein Salami vowed Saturday to respond to any "action the enemy takes" with "a reciprocal, decisive and strong blow."

Iran and the United States -- bitter foes since the 1979 Iranian Islamic revolution and the US embassy hostage crisis in Tehran -- have twice come to the brink of war since June 2019, most recently after Soleimani's killing.

Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Thursday accused Trump of aiming to fabricate a "pretext for war," after the president blamed Tehran for a December 20 rocket strike on the US embassy in Baghdad.

On Sunday, Zarif tweeted that Soleimani had been the "Enemy #1 of extremist terrorists," who had been "assassinated by the terrorist-in-chief," a reference to the outgoing US president.

burs-st/to
Health bosses last night insisted urgent cancer operations in London will not be scrapped to ease the strain on hospitals inundated with coronavirus patients.

Sir David Sloman, NHS regional director for the capital, stressed that surgery is continuing despite the increased demand on hospitals from Covid-19.

His pledge came after it was claimed that potentially life-saving cancer operations would be cancelled because hospital capacity was creaking under the pressure.

The Observer reported that urgent cancer treatment was set to be cancelled, meaning sufferers could face crucial operations being postponed for months.

It sparked fears that 'priority two' procedures, where patients have to be operated on within four weeks to prevent their condition to markedly deteriorate, would be cancelled.

A senior London NHS figure told the newspaper such operations 'are curative if done within four weeks but if you wait longer they may not be so effective'.

But the NHS director for the capital robustly denied there were any plans to cancel vital cancer surgery.

Sir David said: 'Londoners continue to receive urgent cancer care and surgery. Urgent cancer surgery is not being cancelled in London, and The Observer did not approach us to check for factual accuracy before running its story.'

Medics transport a patient from an ambulance to the Royal London Hospital as the spread of the coronavirus disease in London yesterday

Dr Katie Sanderson laid bare the pressure with which frontline medics are grappling

NHS England said it is drawing on resources and capacity in the private sector to ensure cancer surgery continues to happen.

The UK recorded a record 57,725 Covid-19 cases yesterday, the most since the pandemic began and the fifth day daily infections surpassed 50,000.

The country also saw an additional 445 deaths, taking the total official count to 74,570 - but 90,000 people in total have died with Covid-19 written on their death certificate.

London is now the epicentre of the UK's outbreak and its hospitals are being stretched with the flood of patients.

The weekly rate of cases is double the national average at 858 per 100,000 people.

Now the capital's weekly rate of cases is 858 per 100,000 people  double the UK average.

One doctor at a busy London hospital laid bare the pressure frontline medics are up against.

Dr Katie Sanderson told the Sunday Mirror: 'Things are incredibly difficult now. Hospitals are doing everything they can  with all hands on deck, even flying patients out to other parts.'

She added that 'nurses are stretched ever thinner' and that staff are 'scared' because of 'woefully inadequate' PPE.

President of the Royal College of Physicians Professor Andrew Goddard also noted healthcare workers in Britain are 'really worried' about the battle against the virus over the next few months.

London Ambulance staff stretcher a patient from the ambulance into The Royal London Hospital in east London, on Saturday

Professor Goddard told BBC Breakfast: 'There's no doubt that Christmas is going to have a big impact, the new variant is also going to have a big impact.

'We know that is more infectious, more transmissible, so I think the large numbers that we're seeing in the South East, in London, in South Wales, is now going to be reflected over the next month, two months even, over the rest of the country.'

He added: 'This new variant is definitely more infectious and is spreading across the whole of the country.

'It seems very likely that we are going to see more and more cases, wherever people work in the UK, and we need to be prepared for that.'

The first batches of the newly-approved coronavirus vaccine from Oxford University and AstraZeneca arrived at UK hospitals ahead of the jab's rollout tomorrow.

Some 530,000 doses of the jab will be available from Monday - with vulnerable people taking priority - as Health Secretary Matt Hancock says the inoculation drive is 'accelerating'.
A 25-year-old employee of a photo studio in Jagraon was found dead under mysterious circumstances at his workplace on Sunday while his colleague was found unconscious.

The deceased has been identified as Happy of Jagraon. His co-worker Aman has been admitted to the hospital.

Froth was emitting from their mouths, which prompted police to explore the angel of suicide or food poisoning. But, food leftover or poison have not been found in the room, which is on the first floor of the studio.

Inspector Nidhan Singh, station house officer at Jagraon city police station, said that nothing unusual has been captured in the CCTV camera installed in the room. He said that Aman, Happy, Rama, Sunny and Anand, employees of Kaka ji studio on Kuchha Malak Road, had slept in the studio on Saturday night.

On Sunday morning Rama, Sunny and Anand left, while Happy and Aman decided to stay back.As seen in the footage, Happy and Aman had gone to the washroom at 8.30am and 9.24am, respectively, and gone back to sleep again.The son of the studios owner was first to notice them at 12.30pm.

He immediately sounded the police and rushed them to hospital.The inspector added that the situation will be clear after recording Amans statement. Inquest proceedings have been initiated under Section 174 of CrPC.
Roseburg, OR (97470)

Today

Partly cloudy early followed by cloudy skies overnight. Low 47F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy early followed by cloudy skies overnight. Low 47F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.
Ringing in the new year is a worldwide custom of joy and hope as we always believe that the next 365 days will be better than the previous. But rarely will the words Happy New Year ring brighter than on Jan. 1, 2021.

Getting past the challenges and trials of the past year is going to take some doing, but the indomitable spirit of Pennsylvania will carry the day as it always has.

One of the first official acts of the new year will be the start of the next session of the Pennsylvania General Assembly. It wont be with all of the fanfare and pageantry that normally mark the beginning of the legislative term, but they will still get down to business.

There will be swearings-in, likely done in groups, a joint session and the adoption of new rules and the election of the two constitutional officers. There wont likely be the festive floral arrangements that have rivaled the Philadelphia Flower Show in previous years. Box lunches will replace the lavish spreads of yesteryear.

Despite a much more subdued launch, there is a lot of work to be done by the new Legislature.

Republicans remain firmly in control of both sides of the building. Their 113-seat majority in the House marks an increase of several seats in a year many in the media and polling industry were saying would be a flip to Democrat control.

On the Senate side, Republicans also maintain a majority with one seat still hotly contested.

Both the House and the Senate will have new leadership. Included in the ranks of the newly minted leaders are two women, Sen. Kim Ward and Rep. Joanna McClinton, each of whom will be the first woman to lead their party as floor leader. A new President Pro Tempore, Sen. Jake Corman, and Speaker of the House, Rep. Bryan Cutler, will lead the two bodies.

Among the first issues that the General Assembly will face is dealing with the irregularities of the 2020 election and the problems associated with Act 77, adopted in 2019 to allow any voter to cast a ballot by mail.

Multiple legislators have made it clear they intend to use all of the statutory powers of the General Assembly to investigate and resolve issues regarding the casting and counting of votes, the misuse of the powers of the Secretary of the Commonwealth, and the impact of the judiciary, The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania in particular.

Many are asking for a return to the way Pennsylvanians cast ballots for more than 200 years. However, with Tom Wolf holding the veto pen, that idea will likely have to wait. In the meantime, there will be several serious proposals to rein in the abuses we saw in 2020.

There will be two major constitutional changes that are teed up and waiting for the General Assembly to act. One limits the governors emergency powers. Given all that weve seen with the consistent overreach of Tom Wolf throughout the pandemic, this likely will move quickly. The good news is that it doesnt require the governors signature. Rather it goes directly to the people in the form of a referendum. It could be on the ballot as early as the next primary. Im guessing that few will want to bet against overwhelming voter approval.

The same is true for an amendment changing the way statewide judges are elected. A system of judicial districts could be put into place by constitutional amendment this year.

The budget always tops the list of legislative priorities and 2021 will pose some additional challenges as a result of lockdowns and shutdowns of the states economy. Whether or not an additional bailout by the federal government is forthcoming will be a big piece of that puzzle, but there still will need to be some serious moves made by the legislature itself.

Auld Lang Syne may have a different chord this year, but there Is still a brightness on the horizon and the knowledge that ultimately our best days are ahead.

Happy New Year.

Charlie Gerow is a Republican strategist and CEO of Quantum Communications. He and Democrat Mark Singel write opposite each other each week on PennLive. They can also be seen each Sunday morning at 8:30 on CBS-21s Face the State.
1. Yes. The public must have assurances that ethical standards are met by everyone.

2. Yes. As long as an independent board hears the grievances, its a worthwhile idea.

3. No. The concept is too broad. It should be limited to the citys elected officials.

4. No. There are plenty of stipulations in place already. An ordinance is a waste of time.

5. Unsure. Its hard to say without seeing how it would be structured and applied.

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Vietnams diplomatic sector overcame numerous challenges throughout 2020 to create, grasp and optimise new cooperation opportunities, thus contributing to the countrys progress towards development.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc receives New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern







In his article entitled Vietnam external relations in 2020: mettle and new posture released on the occasion of the New Year 2021, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh noted that last year witnessed great and unprecedented changes that have left widespread and long-term impacts on the world.

The COVID-19 pandemic hit all countries in the world, pushing the global economy into recession, while the East Sea issue saw new complicated developments, and other non-traditional challenges emerged, including those related to water security, natural disasters and flooding, greatly affecting the Southeast Asia region, including Vietnam.

However, the Deputy PM underscored that peace, cooperation and development were still the major trends and aspirations of people around the world. The Asia-Pacific has still been a dynamic economic region, while ASEAN has reinforced solidarity and adapted to the impacts of the world situation to secure its central role in the region.

The complicated and multi-dimensional fluctuations of the world and regional situation in 2020 deeply affected the domestic environment of Vietnam with the mixture of challenges and opportunities, stated the top diplomat, who highlighted that the Party, the State and the whole political system showed excellent performance in implementing the twin targets of preventing the pandemic and recovering and boosting the socio-economic growth on the foundation of a peaceful and stable environment.

Throughout the year, external relations activities were conducted in an active, proactive, flexible and creative manner, contributing to maintaining the momentum and promote the partnership of Vietnam with partners, enhancing the position of Vietnam in the new situation, and making important contributions to the successfully implementation of the foreign policy sketched out at the 12th National Party Congress, and consolidating a peaceful, stable and favourable environment for national construction and defence, he clarified.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc receives New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern

Firstly, Vietnams relations with countries, especially neighbouring and important partners, have been promoted with regular online meetings at all levels. Vietnamese leaders conducted 34 bilateral phone talks and online meetings with leaders of various countries, while safely implementing important delegation exchanges.

Vietnam provided assistance in masks, medical equipment and finance to 51 countries and international organisations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, while actively supporting countries and partners facing difficulties. Meanwhile, the country has also received help from many countries and international organisations in the fight. Vietnams pandemic response model has been hailed by the international community, according to the Deputy PM.

Secondly, the year of 2020 left a special imprint in the promotion and enhancement of Vietnams multilateral diplomacy as the country actively contributed to the building and shaping of many multilateral mechanisms, while successfully performing the roles of ASEAN 2020 Chair, 41st AIPA President, and non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2020-2021 tenure.

Vietnam successfully escorted ASEAN through many challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, while organising the 36th and 37th ASEAN Summits and many other meetings in the online format. As many as 80 documents, the record number, were approved, with a focus on building the ASEAN Community, promoting the mid-term review of the ASEAN Community Blueprint 2025, reviewing the ASEAN Charter, and building an ASEAN Community Post-2025 Vision.

In the first year in the role of a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, Vietnam showed the image of a responsible country upholding international law and working hard to seek consensus and solutions to conflicts, while giving many initiatives, he stated.

Thirdly, Vietnam saw breakthrough progress in international economic integration with the effective implementation of the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and promotion of the signing and ratification of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), which took effect from August 2020, and the EU-Vietnam Investment Promotion Agreement, as well as the FTA with the UK and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

With the EVFTA being passed, the EU gives Vietnam a quota of 80,000 tonnes of rice per year with a zero-percent tax rate. Vietnam's rice exports to the EU could increase four times.(Photo: VNA)







In the first 11 months of 2020, Vietnam enjoyed 5.3 percent growth in export revenue, he noted.

Fourthly, Vietnam also recorded positive results in the border and territory-related work. Vietnam and Cambodia exchanged the two legal documents recognising the results of their land border demarcation and marker planting reaching about 84 percent of the total workload, making the documents officially effective from December 22, 2020.

Vietnam and China celebrated the 20th anniversary of land border treaty signing and the 10th year of implementation of three legal documents on land border signed between the two countries. These significant achievements have contributed to building a land border line of peace, friendship, cooperation and development with the neighbouring countries. Vietnam has been resolute and persistent in the struggle to defend its sovereignty and sovereign rights in the East Sea by sending a diplomatic note to the UN to clearly affirm its stance on the East Sea issue.

Additionally, Vietnam also worked actively and closely with other ASEAN member countries and related partners to promote peace, cooperation, the rule of law, and peaceful settlement of disputes at sea.

Fifthly, the work for overseas Vietnamese and the protection of Vietnamese citizens abroad was promptly deployed, contributing to supporting OVs in overcoming difficulties posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. More than 280 flights were organised to safely bring home nearly 80,000 Vietnamese citizens from more than 59 countries and territories worldwide.

Sixthly, the cultural diplomacy and foreign information work was actively deployed, especially effectively using digital technology to promote Vietnams image to the world through innovative products and ways. International friends increasingly know that Vietnam is not only a peaceful, stable and safe country with great potential for economic cooperation, but also resilient, adaptive and able to effectively handle challenges, demonstrated in its success in keeping the COVID-19 pandemic under control and maintaining economic growth.







A volcanic cave in Dak Nong Geopark (Photo: VNA)

The important results in the past year were attributed to the close direction and direct participation of Party and State leaders, the persistence in the foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralism and diversification, putting interests of the nation first.

The year 2021 is the first year implementing the 13th National Party Congress's Resolution, the 2021 - 2025 socio-economic development plan and the 2021 - 2030 socio-economic development strategy, creating a foundation for realising development aspiration and raising the country's international position. The strength and solidarity of the entire political system; the trust, companionship and support of the people; as well as the maturity and enthusiasm of those in charge of foreign affairs are solid premises for Vietnam to firmly enter 2021 and the following years.

Vietnam will continue to promote international integration, deepen relations with other countries, firmly protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity, contribute to strengthening a peaceful environment, and mobilise external resources for further national development.

With the sound foreign policy of the Party and State and the determination of the entire political system, the close and smooth coordination between the Party and State diplomacy and the people-to-people diplomacy, as well as diplomatic efforts from ministries, sectors and localities, and the response of people and businesses, Vietnam is believed to successfully implement the external relations tasks in 2021, demonstrating the country's real power and aspiration to become more and more prosperous./.VNA
IDLIB, Syria  On Nov. 25, the United Nations assessed the humanitarian situation in Syria, warning that the coming winter season will be incredibly hard.

Ramesh Rajasingham, the acting deputy UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, said, More than 3 million people across Syria require assistance through what is likely to be an incredibly hard winter, noting that those displaced remain particularly vulnerable, according to the official UN website.

Syrias Response Coordination Group also appealed to the humanitarian organizations to contribute to securing the needs of the displaced in camps in northern Syria, after the flooding of about 23 camps in Idlib and the Aleppo countryside following the rainfalls on Dec. 15 that damaged many tents inhabited by dozens of families.

We call on the humanitarian organizations operating in the area to shoulder their responsibilities toward the displaced in the camps, the Response Coordination Group posted on Facebook on Dec. 15, noting that those same organizations bear the responsibility for not preparing for the coming winter disasters.

In the same context, the Syrian Civil Defense tweeted on Dec. 17, Aerial photos show the flooding of several tents in the random camps in northern Idlib, following over 48 hours of rainfalls. The absence of proper infrastructure in the camps exposes them to floods after every rainfall, and the suffering of the displaced will not end until they return to their homes, from which the regime and its allies displaced them.

Omran al-Ahmed, a 12-year-old Syrian child displaced from the southern countryside of Aleppo, lives in the Atma camp in the Idlib countryside on the border with Turkey. I neither want nor like rain; I dread seeing dark clouds because I know disasters will befall us, such as the road being cut off and not being able to go to school. I love the sun not only because I like it, but because I fear winter, the cold and the wind that it carries. We cannot even have access to bread when it rains because the road is cut off, and I would have to struggle under the rain and in the mud to go get bread.

He added, I would also have to wait for days before I can play again because the ground takes forever to dry and because of the large holes that retain rainwater for several days. Winds also scare me; they make our tents go left and right and almost uproots them from the ground, so we do not get much sleep. On rainy days we live in darkness since our solar panels do not charge.

Ahmed noted, My dream is to go back to our house from which we were forced out of five years ago; I can still remember some of its details. I always dream of a house whose roof is made of cement, not of cloth, as is the case with a tent.

Fatima Umm Mohammed, 40, from Al-Lataminah in the Hama countryside, who is displaced in the Al-Lataminah camp in Idlib countryside near the border with Turkey, told Al-Monitor, The organizations do not provide us with heating, so we collect cardboards from garbage and turn plastic containers into fuel to keep warm. No one helped us drain the rainwater that flooded our tents. My six children and I live in one tent, and we have no breadwinner. My husband was killed in a raid by the regime's warplanes two years ago. It is up to me to tie the tent up when the wind blows and place stones on all sides so it stays up.

Umm Mohammed added, We receive a food basket every month that costs about $20, which is our monthly income, in addition to some aid from some people who give us charity sometimes. We also cook food on plastic surfaces since we do not own any gas cylinder [stoves] because they cost $9. We also use dry dung fuel for heating because we cannot afford heating fuel.

Ali Salman, 67, a displaced person from the city of Saraqib who lives in the Saraqib camp in the city of Dana in the Idlib countryside, told Al-Monitor, We suffer from the lack of paved roads; we have dirt roads, so they turn into piles of slippery mud when it rains. The elderly cannot walk in the mud because they could slip and break something. Water floods the tents carrying all sorts of garbage during the winter, and the sewage carries all sorts of bugs during the summer.

Salman added, We do not even have proper toilets, and when we build any, they quickly fill up and result in unpleasant odors and diseases such as leishmaniasis, among others. My grandchildren and I live in two small tents, and we suffer from a lack of aid. My sons working in Turkey send us some money, but families who do not have workers outside Syria live in extreme poverty. Here there is no work at all, and if anyone happens to find a job, the pay is 4$ for an eight-hour working day.

In this context, Abelsattar Kriwi, a humanitarian activist in the Idlib countryside, told Al-Monitor, The difficulties facing the camp residents are the lack of adequate shelter, as the tents do not protect against the cold of winter or the summer heat, and they are primitive housing that is not suitable for humans. The tents do not protect them from the wind and the cold; it is as if they are living outdoors, not to mention the floods.

Kriwi added, Relief organizations provide emergency baskets, some heating materials and other supplies. Displaced people only rely on these organizations to survive, but the aid does not cover their basic needs. Every year the situation worsens in the camps since there are no real projects to secure the needs of the people. Small projects for some camps are not enough.
You see, the rest of the world flies according to the emission standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). According to a document adopted in 2017, all-new aircraft have to comply with the regulations; otherwise they would not be allowed to fly after 2028.America did not have such a provision set in stone until last week, but that doesnt mean aircraft manufacturers werent complying. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) decided to make things official though and announced it finalized its emission standards for commercial airplanes and jets.Sure, this will help save the planet, but thats just a side effect of a move meant to ensure domestically manufactured aircraft remain competitive in the global marketplace. And thats because three-quarters of all airplanes made in the U.S. are sold overseas, including from Boeing , which immediately jumped to praise the decision.We are proud that the EPA took this step to finalize the ICAO CO2 standard for aircraft emissions. This is vital for protecting the environment and supporting the sustainable growth of commercial aviation and the United States economy. The EPAs standard will help tackle climate change and ensure that Boeing products will meet the same requirements as our competitors around the world," said the American aerospace company in a statement.Aviation is one of only two industrial sectors that has adopted global CO2 goals, underscoring our steadfast commitment to our communities and the planet.You can read the provisions of the EPA document in the attached PDF - it essentially calls for aircraft emission levels to drop to half the 2005 value by 2050.
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The founder of the Real IRA, Michael McKevitt, has died in hospital following a long battle with cancer.

The 71-year-old - one of four men found liable for the Omagh bombing following a landmark civil action by relatives of some of the victims - died at Dublin's Beaumont Hospital yesterday. Family members were at his bedside.

McKevitt was married to Bernadette Sands-McKevitt, a sister of 1981 hunger striker and MP Bobby Sands.

Senior security sources expressed concerns yesterday at his "expected military funeral" and about how gardai would "ensure mourners accede to Covid guidelines".

One senior source has confirmed there would be a garda presence at McKevitt's funeral given his criminal background and because of adherence to funeral regulations during the pandemic.

In a statement issued by the Republican Network for Unity yesterday on its Facebook page, the group said: "(We) are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of our friend and comrade Michael McKevitt."

Diagnosed with cancer in 2015, McKevitt had a kidney removed while serving a 20-year sentence for directing terrorism. He was released from prison in 2016 but had spent the majority of the time since then in hospital.

Despite being found liable, he claimed to have had no involvement in the 1998 bomb attack in Omagh, Co Tyrone, in which 29 people died, including a woman pregnant with twins.

No one has ever been convicted of the bombing, the single biggest atrocity of the Troubles.

A native of Co Louth, McKevitt joined the Provisional IRA at the outbreak of the Troubles.

In February 1975 he was shot in the knees by the Official IRA during a feud between the two groups.

He was a long-time senior member of the Provisional IRA before quitting in protest at its ceasefires.

McKevitt launched the dissident group the Real IRA, which carried out the Omagh bombing just four months after the Good Friday Agreement was signed off.

In 2009 the judge in a civil case in the Belfast High Court ruled that McKevitt, Liam Campbell, Colm Murphy and Seamus Daly were all liable for the bombing, ordering them to hand over 1.6m (1.8m) in damages.

Campbell and McKevitt took their case to Europe, arguing the civil action had been unfair. Seven judges at the European Court of Human Rights unanimously rejected the case.

McKevitt was found guilty of directing terrorism and membership of an illegal organisation in August 2003.

During his trial, Mr Justice Richard Johnson said: "The accused played a leading role in the organisation [Real IRA] which he directed and induced others to join."

Sunday Independent
Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar are known for their huge family with 19 kids. And theyre also known for their strict Christian upbringing and conservative values. While their kids who now have families of their own seem to be generally less strict than Jim Bob and Michelle, its clear theyre still following in the Duggar familys footsteps. And Jessa Duggar is no exception.

Jessa Duggars husband, Ben Seewald, wrote a very strongly-worded Twitter post about abortion rights. Heres what his followers had to say about it.

Jessa Duggars husband, Ben Seewald, posted about Argentina legalizing abortion

1/5My heart is heavy for Argentina which just legalized abortion.

May we weep for the thousands of innocent babies about to be slaughtered. Each and every one of those baby Argentines bears the image of God and is precious in His sight.  Ben Seewald (@BenSeewald) December 30, 2020

Jessa and Ben typically post family-oriented content to social media. Jessas constantly posting photos and videos to YouTube and Instagram showing off what her three children are up to. And Ben posts plenty of photos of himself, Jessa, and what life is like in their Arkansas home.

On Dec. 30, 2020, Ben took to Twitter to share some political thoughts. He posted several tweets about Argentinas decision to legalize abortion  and hes clearly not happy about it.

My heart is heavy for Argentina which just legalized abortion, he started. May we weep for the thousands of innocent babies about to be slaughtered. Each and every one of those baby Argentines bears the image of God and is precious in His sight.

He then added that hell be weeping for the lawmakers who are allowing murder, and for the judgment and wrath that will hit Argentina from God for their complicity in the shedding of innocent blood.

Fans are extremely upset with Bens post

Bens strongly-worded post didnt go over well with his followers. Prior to this, his Twitter was flooded with adorable photos of his son, Spurgeon, and his daughter, Ivy. And many fans found his posts regarding the abortion legislation to be totally unnecessary.

Duggar family critics on Reddit also dont understand what Ben was thinking with his post.

Yeah so much for people thinking Ben is in any way progressive or woke, a Reddit fan wrote.

[Ben and Jessa] have never been woke, they have not changed one bit, another added. Theyve just gotten better at hiding their abhorrent beliefs and pretending to assimilate into mainstream society.

  Ben, people who force their wife to birth at home even though shes almost DIED every single time should not speak, yet another added.

The Duggars are known for their pro-life stance

Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar | Matt McClain/ The Washington Post

RELATED: Jill Duggar Told a Follower That Birth Control Caused Mom Michelle Duggar to Have a Miscarriage

While many fans and followers are disappointed in Bens post, his stance shouldnt come as too much of a surprise. The Duggars have made it known theyre staunchly anti-abortion. Jim Bob and Michelle are also anti-birth control in general, as Michelle noted she believes the birth control pill is the reason she miscarried a child after Josh Duggar was born.

Back in 2015, Jessa also personally shared her support for the pro-life movement. The Washington Post notes she posted a photo to Instagram showing her at the Arkansas March for Life. Headed to Little Rock right now for the annual March for Life! Join us at our state Capitol at 2 p.m., and together let us take a stand for the life of the unborn, she wrote.

Despite Bens controversial post and the backlash he received because of it, we dont expect hell remove it or reconsider the statement.

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Zimbabwes acting president, Kembo Mohadi, says the countrys state security agents will enforce strict COVID-19 regulations introduced Saturday following the death of 29 people in the past week and 1,342 new infections.

Mohadi told reporters in Harare on Sunday that there was general laxity and carelessness among local people in following COVID-19 regulations as stipulated by the World Health Organization.

He said, It is worrisome that our people and communities in general do not take the wearing of masks seriously. We therefore urge all leaders to take an active role in enforcing the proper wearing of masks. The virus needs to be fought by us all.

Furthermore, the presentation of unauthentic COVID-19 free certificates by some of our citizens has exposed many unassuming people to the disease. Such dishonesty is criminal and detrimental to the very fabric of society and far removed from ubuntu. This has contributed to the surge in the infections we are talking about. Our security agencies, health officials and educational institutions hence will continue to enforce stricter standard operation procedures to ensure the safety of all our citizens. They will strictly enforce adherence to the regulations within the stipulated times.

He said the only way to win against COVID-19 is to prevent the spread of the disease.

We are our own saviours and its our behavioural change that will take us out of this danger. It is important that there be a major paradigm shift on behavior. Let those that are infected now be the last as we altogether strive that no one else shall be infected.

He appealed to Zimbabweans to follow WHO-prescrived COVID-19 regulations.

I appeal to you fellow Zimbabweans that while scientists all over the world are working on a vaccine, it remains imperative that you and I follow the regulations as stipulated. The complicated nature of the virus, its mutation remains worrisome for all of us hence the mandatory compliance to the measures we are putting in place as government. We exhort governance structures to provide and enforce measures that will curtail crowding and conjestion are watering points, bus termini, grinding mills, supermarkets and shopping complexes.

He urged religious organizations traditional leaders, business and corporates, civic leadership and individuals to take the fight against the COVID scourge as our own fight.

The Ministry of Health recorded 407 new COVID-19 cases on Saturday and eight deaths. The number of infections have risen from 8,374 on November 1, 2020, to 14,191 todate, according to Mohadi.
The industry has attracted thousands of young people in recent years with the promise of secure careers as shale drilling took off and made the United States the worlds largest producer of oil. But many students and recent graduates say they are no longer sure that there is a place for them in the industry. Even after the pandemic ends, some of them fear that growing concerns about climate change will lead to the inevitable decline of oil and gas.

These students are seeking elite positions in an oil and gas industry that employs about two million people. Even after recent layoffs, petroleum companies still employ more people than the fast-growing wind and solar businesses, which have a combined work force of at least 370,000, according to trade groups.

Ms. Burns, 22, said her choices have narrowed considerably over the last nine months. With opportunities in oil and gas limited, she recently accepted an internship with an engineering consulting firm specializing in energy conservation, and she may eventually apply to graduate school in environmental science. She is also considering moving in with her sister after graduation to save money.

I feel like companies are going to be pretty cautious about coming out of this, about taking new hires, she said.

Ms. Burns was enticed into an oil and gas career by stories her father, a helicopter pilot, told her about the successful female engineers he had met servicing offshore rigs in the Gulf of Mexico. But while her professors have talked up the future for oil and gas companies, she is worried.
The children were home when it happened.

Steve McDowell allegedly strangled his ex-wife Crystal McDowell as the couple's 5- and 8-year-old children were asleep upstairs in their beds, according to Chambers County Sheriff Brian Hawthorne.

After crews spent two weeks hunting for the well-liked Realtor who vanished on the eve of Hurricane Harvey, her 44-year-old ex was arrested Saturday following a tearful confession, Hawthorne said.

But months before McDowell led authorities to his wife's decomposing body, Crystal claimed in court papers that he'd threatened to kill them both along with their children, according to a law enforcement source with knowledge of the case.

On another occasion, Crystal called the cops alleging he'd threatened to harm himself and the children, according to Baytown police spokesman Steve Dorris. Her panicked call came after one of the children failed to show up for school.

"We tried locating him but didn't have any luck," Dorris said. "But the next day he brought the kids back." No charges were filed.

The couple's deteriorating relationship ended in a divorce finalized in June, records show.

But even after they parted ways legally, Crystal helped her ex buy a house and lived with him while her own townhome was being remodeled.

Still, she moved on in life, and began seeing another man, local jeweler Paul Hargrave.

Not long before she disappeared, Hawthorne said, Crystal broke the news to her ex that he wouldn't be going along on a cruise she'd planned; she would take her new beau instead. She told one longtime friend through a Facebook message that she was "getting a little scared" of the father of her children.

Yet her effusive Facebook posts in the days before the storm didn't hint at any problems.

"I've never been happier in my whole life than I am right now," she wrote two days before she vanished. "God is so good."

Hargrave could not immediately be reached for comment.

On the morning of Aug. 25, Crystal McDowell headed over to her ex's house to pick up the kids. Her ex initially claimed she never made it, according to Hawthorne. The following day, her worried family reported her missing.

Then, after a two-week search hampered by the waterlogged roads and intense flooding, authorities brought in Steve McDowell for questioning on Saturday - and he tearfully confessed, Hawthorne said.

On the day of Crystal's disappearance - before the children woke up - the McDowells fought and Steven strangled his ex-wife inside the home she helped buy, he later told investigators.

He stashed her body overnight and disposed of it the next morning, along with her cell phone and car, he said.

"We don't believe the kids saw the body," Hawthorne said.

Chambers County Sheriff Office

Authorities tracked down a final ping from the cell phone in a marshy part of Baytown and found the missing woman's flooded car days later at a Motel 6 near Interstate 10. McDowell led investigators to the body after his weeping admission.

The day before McDowell's confession and arrest, the Department of Family and Protective Services preemptively removed the children from the home.

"There was some history there of possibly putting the kids in harm's way," Hawthorne said. Now, both children are staying with Crystal's aunt, who lives in the area.

When McDowell made his first court appearance on Tuesday, he was stoic as a judge assigned him an attorney and decided to keep his bail at $500,000.

McDowell's lawyer did not immediately respond to a request for comment, and an automated message said his voicemail was full.
On New Year's Eve, China and the European Union confirmed the conclusion of an investment agreement, a treaty under negotiation for seven years. EU Commission President Ursula Von De Leyden described it as the most comprehensive agreement China has ever struck with a third party, and will involve expanding market access within the country to European business in a number of sectors, including finance and manufacturing, as well as securing China's role in European markets and its renewable energy sector.



Although the EU and China have some differences, the key point is that Brussels previously had never truly shown an interest in signing up to the apparent "New Cold War" promoted by the U.S. and in dealing with China, and never signaled it would shut the door on multilateralism, dialogue and diplomacy.

The deal stands as a reminder that China ultimately remains a crucial economic and investment partner.

Because the European Union constitutes a major part of the West, it has been constant talking point that it has an "obligation" to side with the United States in waging confrontation against China under the mantra of "transatlanticism."

Mike Pompeo for one, has constantly talked of a "transatlantic awakening" against China, and has aggressively lobbied European states to take a harder line against Beijing and block the entry of companies like Huawei into their 5G telecommunications networks. Despite this, it has always been apparent that the EU has been lukewarm in signing up to such an effort.

It has been widely assumed that because of electing Joe Biden as the new American president, who is expected to improve relations with Europe, the bloc would subsequently follow its "true interest" in dealing with China with more U.S. support.

Well, perhaps not quite. Such is a highly idealistic view of things that focuses too strongly on ideology rather than realism, and fails to comprehend the broader point that the European Union has a different geopolitical perspective than the United States and comprehension of its "interest," and therefore will not always act in unity with Washington.

While America is dogmatic, the EU, an institution which should be understood as a collection of 26 sovereign states who cooperate together, operates on a model of negotiation, pragmatism and consensus. This means when we talk about a "collective foreign policy" within the bloc, it is far more measured and restrained.

As a result, while it may harbor certain different attitudes towards China as a whole, it does not buy in to the portrayal of Beijing as a zero-sum geopolitical adversary towards which confrontation and decoupling are the only answers.

The fact that trade, investment and cooperation wield great importance in EU-China relations. Not surprisingly, European states have not given up on the idea that engagement and multilateral dialogue with China can achieve results. The success in agreeing the EU-China investment treaty is a product of this.

Europe has sought to obtain broader market access within China in order to better consolidate its own interests, and has subsequently pursued negotiations to this end. It is, in fact, the second agreement concluded with China this year, the first being a mini trade deal on "geographical indications" regarding the origins of products.

Given this, talk of a so-called transatlantic alliance against China is premature, as it renders an unnuanced view of Europe's position and undercuts foreign policy realities.

The EU may agree with the U.S. on some things, but not others. Beijing has understood this sentiment surprisingly well, and thus approached the EU in good faith and been prepared to offer concessions accordingly as part of its economic reform and opening up strategy.

Both parties recognize they have more to lose by resorting to geopolitical and trade confrontation, such as the U.S. has pursued, and thus are able to find a path to mutual co-existence and management.

Given this, in the coming years one should continue to expect an underlying stability to continue to drive EU-China relations. This is a relationship that will continue to be driven by cautious, rational and cool diplomacy, rather than turn into aggravated hostility.

Prudence has replaced zeal, and the EU-China investment treaty gives the former more leverage with China than the "sledgehammer" approach could ever hope to achieve.

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.
Wellington, Jan 3 : A total of 19 new coronavirus cases were reported at the New Zealand border in the last three days, as the country announcing tightened border restrictions on Sunday.

The new cases were all detected in managed isolation while no new infection was found in the community, Xinhua news agency quoted the Ministry of Health as saying in a statement on Sunday.

The Ministry's last media statement on the Covid-19 case numbers was on December 31, 2020.

The new figure has increased the overall caseload to 2,162, while total number of active cases in country was currently 72. The death toll stood at 25.

The total tests processed by New Zealand laboratories to date reached 1,414,422, according to the statement.

The Minister for COVID-19 Response, Chris Hipkins has also announced on Sunday that, from January 15, travellers from the US and Britain will be required to get a negative test result for Covid-19 before departing for New Zealand, and work is underway to extend the requirement to other long haul flights to New Zealand as well.

"The pre-departure test is an additional requirement to the day zero/day one testing and stay in their room in MIQ (Managed isolation and quarantine) requirement for arrivals from higher risk countries that came into force last Friday.

"Travellers from Britain and the US will still have to go through New Zealand's 14-day quarantine regime," said Hipkins.

New Zealand is currently at Covid-19 Alert Level one with no restrictions on gathering.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-03 13:44:39|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- Cargo throughput at China's ports maintained stable growth in the first 11 months of 2020, rising 4.2 percent year on year to 13.25 billion tonnes, official data shows.

In November alone, cargo throughput at ports saw a rapid annual increase of 9 percent to 1.32 billion tonnes, with the foreign trade cargo throughput rising 2.7 percent year on year, according to the Ministry of Transport.

The country's container throughput at ports stood at 240 million twenty-foot equivalent units in the first 11 months of 2020, up 0.8 percent year on year.

The growth rate returned to the positive territory, improving from a 0.03 percent drop in the first 10 months, the ministry said. Enditem
SUV

On those premises, Mercedes-Benz has been making a pixelated folded paper car since the 1970s, but modern design features have transformed the venerable G-Class over the years into a slightly more rounded brick on wheels.Sure, the current generation of the G-Wagen still looks like an oversized cupboard, but you can probably blame pedestrian protection regulations for the way its latest front ends looks.This is where Lumma Design comes in, whose CLR G700 wide body kit for the Gelandewagen is now complemented by an extensive range of new parts, including a set of alloy wheels that look like they came straight out of the original Tron movie.Until recently, there were mainly two companies where you could go to give your G-Class an even more darker look, depending on your personal taste. Brabus was all about the Darth Vader look with their Widestar bodykits, or, if you wanted even more show for your bucks, you could always request the help of Mansory.Somewhere in the middle we can find Lumma Design, who are more than happy to transform a 'plebeian' G-Class in its G 63 iteration into something that looks like it came from an alternate version of Paul Verhoeven's Total Recall mixed with the Tron movie.Lumma's kit for the mighty G comprises a lot of parts made from visible carbon fiber, including a completely unnecessary rear roof spoiler, the spare wheel cover, mirror caps, exterior door handles, a special front roof trim with 4 LED headlights and a so-called Sportlook engine hood made entirely from carbon fiber.The bit that takes the cake is definitely the Lumma F-utu-R forged wheels set, which comes with either a faux center lock cover or visible chrome wheel bolts. You can get similar looking body kits from more than one company or even keep the car stock, but those wheels definitely transform the look of the G-Class.The German tuning company recommends the massive 23-inch version with performance spacers, shoed in 305/35 R23 tires. As an alternative, they also offer a 'more mellow' 22-inch design, which comes engulfed in 325/35 R22 tires.Completing the 1980s sci-fi movie look is an exhaust system with two flap-controlled rear silencers that exit through no less than three black or chrome-plated tailpipes on each side of the car. Each one of those 8 cylinders does need to breath, after all.The G-Class' interior can also be fully redesigned to include stuff like pedal pads made from carbon fiber, all new leather or Alcantara upholstery and new carpeting.Neither modification brings much in the performance department, although the lightweight carbon fiber hood is designed with some air routing channels that cool the engine bay and qualify the car for future power-boosting enhancements. Not that the twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 needs a much higher output anyway.You must keep in mind that this is a two and half tons car that can go from 0 to 100 kph (62 mph) in just 4.5 seconds in its stock form, so you can embarrass a lot of wannabe racers with your pixelatedThere is no word on pricing, but each component can be used with either a standard G 63 or alongside the CLR G770 wide body kit. Plus, it's not like most G 63 owners care much about these kinds of details when the base car already costs an arm and a leg.
Ilgiz Fazulzyanov is a successful and internationally recognized jewellery designer. He received his academic art education in Kazan and moved to Moscow in the 1990s where he lives and works now. His brand, Ilgiz F., is well known among true connoisseurs of the jewellery art, and his clients include many celebrities.

He won numerous prestigious international jewellery competitions, worked with the Christies and Bonhams auction houses. He is the only Russian designer jeweller now who has the honour of exhibiting and selling his works at Christies in London.

The Fazulzyanovs works, mostly in the Art Nouveau and Art Deco styles, were exhibited twice in the Kremlins Diamond Fund, and in 2016, his solo exhibition was held in the Kremlin Museums - from his earliest works to todays ones (his exhibition ranked second in the number of visitors, the Cartiers one ranked first). His jewellery was purchased for the collection of the Kremlin Armory and by the museum of the Van Cleef company where he gave a lecture on enamels.

In 2017, he opened his own Ilgiz F jewellery gallery at the Art Residence, where exhibitions of works by contemporary jewellers are held, including the annual Jewellery Winter exhibitions traditionally bringing together the top famous designers.

In November, the third edition of Jewellery Winter was held, about which (and many other things) Ilgiz Fazulzyanov told the Rough&Polished correspondent.

Jewellery exhibitions have become rare events lately. What is remarkable about Jewellery Winter and how does it differ from other jewellery exhibitions?

First of all, this exhibition differs from the others in that it is held at the Ilgiz F gallery. This gallery has been functioning since December 2017, and every year, it arranges a project for private jewellers and jewellery companies. The goal of the project is to support not only young emerging designers but also established companies. There are not so many jewellery galleries in our country, so this format is not high-profile yet, but I really hope that in the nearest future, other cities will support this format and unite talented people from their regions.

How were the exhibitors, so different in style, selected? Do they have something in common?

The main focus is on the jewellery of the highest standards of design and craftsmanship. This is what unites the participants in our exhibitions working in various styles - from a bio-space avant-gardism to an ethnic style. The rest is a flight of imagination and a combination of materials, which can be very different. This year, the exhibitors were jewellers Vladimir Markin, Elena Okutova, Rem Sultanov, Felix Tsirefman, Yulia Tsvetkova, Diana Dzhanelli, Zakhar Borisenko, as well as diamond expert Sergey Izmestyev, the Denis Nesterovs DOGUMA jewellery house and the Russian Kaleidoscope guild of masters.

Tell us a little about the participants - what each of them is famous for?

The EPIC Jewellery brand is one of the few in the world that works with such rare materials in jewellery as titanium, bronze or carbon fabrics, in addition to the usual gold and platinum.

Vladimir Markin (Markin Fine Jewellery) is a prominent representative of the kinetic jewellery and he produces jewellery pieces with moving parts and creates all kinds of jewellery using different materials.

Elena Okutova combines the modern style, fabulous magic and the Middle Ages motif in her jewellery. In her Tolkien collections, there are luxurious massive rings with large stones and intricate interwoven ornaments.

Rem Sultanov creates truly masculine, harsh jewellery made of coarse materials, full of symbolism, with mystical creatures such as dragons and ravens.

In his jewellery, Felix Tsirefman achieved an amazing synergy of ethnic motives and ancient jewellery practices in their modernist rethinking version.

Donna Yolka creates authentic sacred jewellery pieces with their philosophy based on the magical practices and beliefs of the Bali island.

Diana Dzhanelli (Dzhanelli Jewellery) has a pronounced feminine voice, although some attention is also paid to the the sterner sex and the brand also has a mens collection.

The Izmestiev Diamonds company relies on the quality of the jewellery pieces, as well as on the precious stones used and their cutting and polishing quality. Sergey Izmestyev descended from a jewellers family and personally selects only the best diamonds, rubies, sapphires, emeralds and other natural stones to create the brands jewellery pieces.

The DOGUMA brand creates nielloed gold jewellery with pave using sapphires, emeralds, rubies or coloured diamonds, combined to make a very special pattern in each collection.

The Russian Kaleidoscope Guild of Masters creates handmade top-quality souvenirs for the interior (kaleidoscopes, souvenir telescopes) with cases decorated with ornamental painting (often, these are Zlatoust engravings or Fedoskino miniatures) and precious stones.

The Custom Dandy brand works with almost all types of electronic gadgets and decorates them to the customers taste and choice in various jewellery techniques, using both classic and rare exotic materials. For example, one of our joint works is the iPhone 12 PRO lined with carbon fabrics and decorated with my Art Deco poppy in gold and red spinel.

P. N. Jewelry brand is distinguished by their designer jewellery, mainly for urban perfectionists looking for an accent for the perfect image - bright, laconic and cheerful - in all its diversity in colours, shapes and moods.

The Tsvetnaya Raduga (Coloured Rainbow) company offers their ready-made jewellery and creates exclusive custom-made jewellery pieces; their highest standards of craftsmanship and original design were repeatedly awarded with the diplomas of the Russian jewellery exhibitions.

Master Exclusive Jewellery creates jewellery and in the centre of their compositions, they often use exclusive gemstones (from diamonds to pearls and natural quartz) of large and medium sizes, of various cuts, and the source of inspiration is the changeable and unique nature.

Architect and designer Viktoria Strizhak (Vertigo Laboratory) strives to combine the architecture and jewellery and applies design methods based on computer algorithms. The exhibition featured the jewellery pieces made from bone china and other amazing materials.

Olga Shatrova, a certified gemologist and an expert in jewellery, creates premium class jewellery pieces from precious metals and natural stones, laconic, stylish, and various approaches are used to make a jewellery piece, for example, a client can choose the suitable precious stones and metal of the frame on his own.

What is your assessment of the results of the exhibition, as an organizer - have all the goals been achieved?

The main goal of our exhibition is to expand the audience for our exhibitors and exchange the clients. After all, all the participants are completely different, with their own style and manner of work. They are not competitors to each other; rather, they are a community of talented and ambitious craftsmen and companies. This time, I can say that every goal has been achieved!

How did the quarantine due to the Covid-19 affect the creative work of the jewellers and designers?

If a person is motivated to work, he or she can find advantages in every situation. For a creator, the quarantine is the time to work on future masterpieces. And if you are a designer, this is a great time to rethink your ideas and translate them into new designs and sketches. As for a positive side, many jewellers have begun to give theoretical online courses and also share their practical skills. I also want to note that one of the advantages of the quarantine is the undoubted increase in the interest in the national manufacturers. This includes attending the exhibitions, almost every event is held in Moscow, and the result is the recognition and acquisition of works in new companies.

You said once that an artist could have only one crisis - a creative one. How do the jewellers cope with the changes in the economic life, what is changing in their work, in their relations with their clients?

The jewellery industry itself in Russia is a very dynamic story. The prices for materials constantly change, the legislation also changes. Unfortunately, all these factors do not make the jewellers work easier but rather complicate it. And I admire our craftsmen and companies. In my opinion, it is practically heroism to be creative in such conditions. Unfortunately, we constantly hear that talented jewellers are leaving our country, and this is very sad.

What trends have you seen in the jewellery industry lately? Whats new in the jewellery design?

Today, customers are happy to buy multi purpose jewellery pieces that can make their everyday online-work from home more pleasant, which is partly due to quarantine. Therefore, the demand for customized, designer items has grown a lot.

What is Ilgiz Fazulzyanov working on now, what new is happening in his creative life, at his gallery and in his business?

The gallery is preparing for an exhibition to be held at the end of February that is aimed at the support the women working in the jewellery business. Its rather formal name Woman designer, woman jeweller is a contrast to the male profession.

What is the mood, what are your plans for the future - your personal plans and those of the jewellery community?

Of course, I want to hope for the best - that the state will be more loyal to jewellers and will not use a punitive approach. I also hope that the peoples incomes will allow them to buy beautiful things! My hope is that there will be more projects, including jewellery exhibitions where you can present your jewellery pieces and find new partners and buyers.

To your opinion, what is the difference between the jewellery art and other arts?

The fact is that it combines almost all types of the existing arts and sciences such as painting, sculpture, architecture, as well as chemistry, physics, mathematics, design... You can develop as a mechanic engineer, design engineer, grow as an artist and create paintings, your unique works with enamel, or sculptures and carvings from stone... This is the most exciting occupation in the world.

Galina Semyonova for Rough&Polished
A 2018 interview of veteran actor Sharat Saxena is going viral on social media. In the emotional interview to CINTAA (Cine & TV Artists Association), Sharat spoke about how he was typecast in Bollywood for 30 years simply because he looked fit.

Speaking to Ajay Bhargav of the association, he said that because of his big physique, no director ever considered him as an actor but simply gave him a fighter or junior artists role. Back in those days, in our whole country, whoever had muscles or someone who looked like a body builder, that person was put under labour class. He was not considered worthy of fine arts, finer feelings. He could not be an actor, a writer or anything. He could only be a fighter, he said in the interview.

Sharat Saxena talking about being pigeonholed as an action sidekick for 30 years. 30 years.



Breaks my heart. pic.twitter.com/srRtDVrXE1  Love of Cinema (@loveofcinemasf8) January 1, 2021

Unfortunately, when I came to Mumbai, I was quite fit. My father used to be an athlete in Allahabad University. We got inspired by him and worked out. When Bombays producers or directors used to look at me, they never saw an actor but only a fighter or a junior artist. So for 30 years, I only did action. When it came to acting, I was given dialogues such as Yes boss, no boss, very sorry boss, maaf kar dijiye boss (please forgive me boss), he added.

Sharat was an engineer but wanted to become an actor. He worked in hundreds of films as a villains henchman in the early days of his career. Later, he starred in films such as Saathiya, Baghban and others.

People of social media were touched by Sharats struggles. He was mind-blowing in Ghulaam against Aamir. In Saathiya, his role as a father was even better, wrote one. Hes actually an excellent actor. Never got a role worth his talent. Ghulam might be the only major role in a movie that he has bagged,another wrote. Really feel sorry for this man. Bollywoods fascination with Fair skinned actress as well as stereotyping based on looks is deeply rooted, commented another person.

You can watch the full interview here:

In the same interview, Sharat also talked about finally getting recognised for his work. There is a director called Shaad Ali. He gave me the father or the heroines role in Saathiya. The film released and the role was very small but people really liked it. After that role, I was finally classified from fighter to actor. It took 30 years for that to happen, he said.

Also read: Anil Kapoor thanks Nawazuddin Siddiqui for praising AK Vs AK, reminds him Im sure you noticed you were a part of it too

Talking about why he was typecast, he said, This is country of Lord Ram worshippers. The heros face should be a reflection of Lord Ram and one should see Ravana in villains face. In India, the concept was that Lord Rama was fair with straight hair and he was handsome. And me being a poor guy from Madhya Pradesh, there are no such men in my state. You find people like me there. So they made people like me a villain.

Follow @htshowbiz for more

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Islamabad, Jan 3 : Pakistan's capital Islamabad and its twin city Rawalpindi are in a state of shock, after a 22-year-old student was shot dead by trigger-happy policemen, who opened heavy fire on his car for allegedly not stopping on their call.

Usama Nadeem Satti, who was going home after dropping his cousin at National University of Science & Technology (NUST) in Sector H-11 Islamabad, was intercepted by at least five personnel of the Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS). He did not allegedly stop the car, leading to the ATS personnel riddling the car with bullets.

"At least seven bullets hit him in different parts of the body including head and chest," a spokesperson of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) said.

The incident sparked anger among the family members of Satti, who blocked the main highway with his body in protest.

All five police officials, who sprayed the car with at least 22 bullets have been arrested, after a First Investigation Report (FIR) was registered under Sections 302/34, 14B, 149 of the Pakistan Penal Code.

As per initial investigation by the police authorities, the innocence of the deceased student has been confirmed, while it was stated that the police officials were at fault as they did not opt for other ways to stop the car.

However, the police authorities had their own version of the incident.

"The police received an emergency call from a resident of Shams Colony. The caller informed the police that about four armed robbers entered his house, held the family members at gunpoint, looted valuables and sped away on a white car. In the meanwhile, a white Suzuki car appeared from the same side and the ATS signalled to stop it, but the driver did not stop and preferred to run away," police said in their early statement.

However, the post-mortem report revealed that the police officials shot 22 bullets at the car from the backside instead of aiming at its tyres.

"The law will take its course and all involved would be proceeded against," a police spokesman quoted the Inspector General of Police as saying.

On the other hand, the student's father said that his son was shot multiple times by the police.

"My son was shot multiple times. The anti-terror squad openly committed terrorism by aiming at the windscreen instead of the tires," he said.

"I demand that the personnel involved be charged with terrorism," he added.

National Assembly's Standing Committee on Interior Chairman, Raja Khurram Nawaz, called an emergency meeting of the committee on Monday. He also directed the Federal Interior Secretary, Chief Commissioner, Islamabad and IG, Islamabad Police to appear before it.

"We will reach depth of the tragic incident and culprits will be taken to task," he said.

Meanwhile, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Political Communication Shahbaz Gill said that a transparent inquiry will be conducted into the tragic incident and the all the facts will be made public.
The Lipinskis long had specialized on transportation issues and bringing infrastructure funding back to the district, which includes Midway Airport and the most railroad crossings of any district in America. The district has had a seat on the House Transportation Committee as long as it has existed, and that tradition will continue as Newman also will have an assignment on the panel.
Sgt. Chris Covelli said detectives Sunday were still trying to find out how the 35-year-old Round Lake Beach man  who had reported his 2012 Chevrolet sedan stolen from his Fairfield Road home Dec. 30  spotted the car in Volo in the middle of the night. It wasnt immediately clear whether he located it by coincidence, if he had a tracking system onboard or if hed left some type of electronics in the car he could trace.
Some scientists have called for governments to give out single Covid-19 doses after preliminary research suggested they appear to provide a degree of protection, despite manufacturers recommending the full two. But other scientists warn that one inoculation is not enough to confer durable immunity.

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) analyses of both the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines found that a single dose of either appears to provide some protection against the coronavirus.

The efficacy of one Moderna vaccine dose was around 80 to 90 percent, researchers found in stage 3 trials ahead of its approval by the US regulator in January. Scientists found that the Pfizer-BioNTech jab is 70 percent effective after one dose compared to 95 percent effective after two.

And after approving the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, British regulators said it was around 70 percent effective in the 12 weeks after the first dose.

With supplies of the vaccines limited across the globe, such findings are raising a key question for governments and medical professionals: Does it makes more sense to vaccinate fewer people with both doses for maximum protection or is it better to spread out vaccinations, inoculating more widely but less completely?

Some have suggested that governments should aim to give as many people as possible a single dose, instead of using half the vaccines currently available on second doses.

Moderna was was not shy about showing that a single dose was so effective, and they do the math right, Chris Gill, an infectious disease specialist at Boston University, told WBUR, Bostons NPR affiliate.

Consequently, governments should give out as many single doses as possible as soon as possible, Gill argued. We could save a lot of lives. We can give two doses to people now, but in the interim a bunch of people who could have gotten the vaccine are going to die. Is this not an example of where, yet again, the perfect is the enemy of the good?

Story continues

In the UK, where a new, more contagious coronavirus strain is accelerating transmission, former prime minister Tony Blair wrote an opinion piece in The Independent on December 22 arguing that the British government should use all the available doses in January as first doses, that is, not keeping back half for second doses in the expectation that even the first dose will provide substantial immunity.

But others caution that more research needs to be done, and that until then it makes more sense to administer the vaccines in two separate doses as designed.

If the second vaccine dose were superfluous, and we knew [it] didnt extend the duration of protection, the principle would be to protect as many people and save as many lives as possible, Barry Bloom, an epidemiologist at Harvard University, told WBUR.

Pfizer scientists warned in a statement on Thursday not to be overly confident that one dose would offer enough protection in the long term. There is no data showing that protection after the first dose is sustained after 21 days, they wrote.

Administering a second dose is important because it increases the chances of getting life back to normal by giving people lasting immunity, suggested Jean-Daniel Lelievre, head of the department of immunity and infectious diseases at Henri-Mondor de Creteil Hospital near Paris. The purpose of a second dose is to make immunity last, and as things stand theres no evidence saying that a single dose would confer the same level of protection, he told French daily Le Monde.

The French government will still give out two doses as recommended, Health Minister Olivier Veran told France Info on Saturday. France will follow the manufacturers guidelines in administering the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, which Frances national regulator approved on December 24. Inoculations started three days later.

No data to back mix-and-match plans

Across the Channel, the British government changed its vaccine guidelines on December 30 to allow the second dose of both the Pfizer-BioNTech and Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines to be administered up to 12 weeks after the first, instead of three weeks as originally planned.

The UK government also said in guidelines published on December 31 that, in rare instances, people could be given a mix and match of two Covid-19 vaccines  despite a lack of evidence about the extent of immunity offered by mixing doses.

Both vaccines are meant to be administered as two shots, given several weeks apart, and were not designed to be mixed.

Yet British government health authorities have said that if the same vaccine is not available, or if the first product received is unknown, it is reasonable to offer one dose of the locally available product to complete the schedule.

Mary Ramsay, head of immunisations at Public Health England, said this would only happen on extremely rare occasions, and that the government was not recommending the mixing of vaccines.

Every effort should be made to give them the same vaccine, but where this is not possible it is better to give a second dose of another vaccine than not at all, she told Reuters.

Some cautioned that the new UK guidelines might have been born out of desperation.

There are no data on this idea whatsoever, John Moore, a vaccine expert at Cornell University, told The New York Times.

Moore said health officials in Britain seem to have abandoned science completely now and are just trying to guess their way out of a mess.

The UK's chief medical officers said in a statement on Thursday that the "great majority" of protection from the virus comes from the first dose.

"The second vaccine dose is likely to be very important for duration of protection, and at an appropriate dose interval may further increase vaccine efficacy," they said.

But in the short term, "the additional increase of vaccine efficacy from the second dose is likely to be modest; the great majority of the initial protection from clinical disease is after the first dose of vaccine".

(FRANCE 24 with REUTERS)
"There's no way I lost Georgia," Trump said, a phrase he repeated again and again on the call. "There's no way. We won by hundreds of thousands of votes." Several of his allies were on the line as he spoke, including White House chief of staff Mark Meadows and conservative lawyer Cleta Mitchell, a prominent Republican lawyer whose involvement with Trump's efforts had not been previously known. In a statement, Mitchell said Raffensperger's office "has made many statements over the past two months that are simply not correct and everyone involved with the efforts on behalf of the President's election challenge has said the same thing: Show us your records on which you rely to make these statements that our numbers are wrong." The White House, the Trump campaign and Meadows did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Raffensperger's office declined to comment.

On Sunday, Trump tweeted that he had spoken to Raffensperger, saying the Secretary of State was "unwilling, or unable, to answer questions such as the 'ballots under table' scam, ballot destruction, out of state 'voters', dead voters, and more. He has no clue!" Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger: "Well, Mr President, the challenge that you have is, the data you have is wrong." Credit:AP Raffensperger responded with his own tweet: "Respectfully, President Trump: What you're saying is not true." The pressure Trump put on Raffensperger is the latest example of his attempt to subvert the outcome of the November 3 election through personal outreach to state Republican officials. He previously invited Michigan Republican state leaders to the White House, pressured Republican Governor of Georgia Brian Kemp in a call to try to replace that state's electors and asked the Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives to help reverse his loss in that state. His call to Raffensperger came as scores of Republicans have pledged to challenge the electoral college's vote for Biden when Congress convenes for a joint session on Wednesday. Republicans do not have the votes to successfully thwart Biden's victory, but Trump has urged supporters to travel to Washington to protest against the outcome, and state and federal officials are already bracing for clashes outside the Capitol.

During their conversation, Trump issued a vague threat to both Raffensperger and Ryan Germany, the Secretary of State's legal counsel, suggesting that if they don't find that thousands of ballots in Fulton County had been illegally destroyed to block investigators  an allegation for which there is no evidence  they would be subject to criminal liability. "That's a criminal offence," he said. "And you can't let that happen. That's a big risk to you and to Ryan, your lawyer." Trump also told Raffensperger that failure to act by Tuesday would jeopardise the political fortunes of David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler, Georgia's two Republican senators whose fate in that day's run-off elections will determine control of the US Senate. Trump said he plans to talk about the fraud on Monday, when he is scheduled to lead an election eve rally in Dalton, Georgia  a message that could further muddle the efforts of Republicans to get their voters out. "You have a big election coming up and because of what you've done to the President  you know, the people of Georgia know that this was a scam," Trump said. "Because of what you've done to the President, a lot of people aren't going out to vote, and a lot of Republicans are going to vote negative, because they hate what you did to the President. OK? They hate it. And they're going to vote. And you would be respected, really respected, if this can be straightened out before the election."

Trump's conversation with Raffensperger put him in legally questionable territory, legal experts said. By exhorting the Secretary of State to "find" votes and to deploy investigators who "want to find answers", Trump appears to be encouraging him to doctor the election outcome in Georgia. But experts said Trump's clearer transgression is a moral one. Edward Foley, a law professor at Ohio State University, said that the legal questions are murky and would be subject to prosecutorial discretion. But he also emphasised that the call was "inappropriate and contemptible" and should prompt moral outrage. "He was already tripping the emergency metre," Foley said. "So we were at 12 on a scale of 1 to 10, and now we're at 15." Throughout the call, Trump detailed an exhaustive list of disinformation and conspiracy theories to support his position. He claimed without evidence that he had won Georgia by at least half a million votes. He floated a barrage of assertions that have been investigated and disproved: that thousands of dead people voted, that an Atlanta election worker scanned 18,000 forged ballots three times each and "100 per cent" were for Biden, that thousands more voters living out of state came back to Georgia illegally just to vote in the election. "So tell me, Brad, what are we going to do? We won the election, and it's not fair to take it away from us like this," Trump said. "And it's going to be very costly in many ways. And I think you have to say that you're going to re-examine it, and you can re-examine it, but re-examine it with people that want to find answers, not people who don't want to find answers."

Trump did most of the talking on the call. He was angry and impatient, calling Raffensperger a "child" and "either dishonest or incompetent" for not believing there was widespread ballot fraud in Atlanta  and twice calling himself a "schmuck" for endorsing Kemp, whom Trump holds in particular contempt for not embracing his claims of fraud. "I can't imagine he's ever getting elected again, I'll tell you that much right now," he said. The Secretary of State repeatedly sought to push back, saying at one point, "Mr President, the problem you have with social media, that  people can say anything." Loading "Oh, this isn't social media," Trump retorted. "This is Trump media. It's not social media. It's really not. It's not social media. I don't care about social media. I couldn't care less."

At another point, Trump claimed that votes were scanned three times: "Brad, why did they put the votes in three times? You know, they put 'em in three times." Raffensperger responded: "Mr President, they did not. We did an audit of that and we proved conclusively that they were not scanned three times." Trump sounded at turns confused and meandering. At one point, he referred to Kemp as "George". He tossed out several different figures for Biden's margin of victory in Georgia and referred to the Senate run-off, which is on Tuesday, as happening "tomorrow" and "Monday". His desperation was perhaps most pronounced during an exchange with Germany, Raffensperger's general counsel, in which he openly begged for validation. Trump: "Do you think it's possible that they shredded ballots in Fulton County? 'Cause that's what the rumour is. And also that Dominion took out machines. That Dominion is really moving fast to get rid of their, uh, machinery. Do you know anything about that? Because that's illegal."

Germany responded: "No, Dominion has not moved any machinery out of Fulton County." Trump: "But have they moved the inner parts of the machines and replaced them with other parts?" Germany: "No." Trump: "Are you sure? Ryan?" Germany: "I'm sure. I'm sure, Mr President."

It was clear from the call that Trump has surrounded himself with aides who have fed his false perceptions that the election was stolen. When he claimed that more than 5000 ballots were cast in Georgia in the name of dead people, Raffensperger responded forcefully: "The actual number was two. Two. Two people that were dead that voted." But later, Meadows said, "I can promise you there are more than that." Loading Another Trump lawyer on the call, Kurt Hilbert, accused Raffensperger's office of refusing to turn over data to assess evidence of fraud, and also claimed awareness of at least 24,000 illegally cast ballots that would flip the result to Trump. "It stands to reason that if the information is not forthcoming, there's something to hide," Hilbert said. "That's the problem that we have."

Reached by phone on Sunday, Hilbert declined to comment. In the end, Trump asked Germany to sit down with one of his attorneys to go over the allegations. Germany agreed. Yet Trump also recognised that he was failing to persuade Raffensperger or Germany of anything, saying towards the end, "I know this phone call is going nowhere." But he continued to make his case in repetitive fashion, until finally, after more than an hour, Raffensperger put an end to the conversation: "Thank you, President Trump, for your time." The Washington Post
The city on Sunday recorded three deaths  lowest in the past nine months  due to Covid-19, taking the toll to 11,135. At 0.5%, the city also saw the lowest case fatality rate (CFR) for a day so far.

Mumbais cumulative CFR is presently 3.7%. On Saturday, Mumbai reported seven Covid deaths and on Friday, Mumbai reported nine deaths. On March 30, Mumbai recorded one death due to Covid-19. The first Covid death in the city was reported on March 17, while the first covid case in Mumbai was reported on March 11. By the end of March, the city had reported a total of seven deaths due to Covid-19. By April 3, Mumbai reported 18 more deaths, according to data from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation.

Suresh Kakani, additional municipal commissioner, in charge of the civic bodys public health department, said, Sundays number of deaths is the lowest deaths due to Covid-19 reported in the city since March. The civic bodys interventions, such as Mission Save Lives, a studied strategy launched by BMC on June 30, have worked. On June 30, Mumbais CFR was 5.8%.

According to the data from the state government, subject to further reconciliation, Mumbai reported 109 deaths in April, 984 in May, 3,237 in June, 1,722 in July, 1,260 in August, 1,236 in September, 1,281 in October, 566 in November, and 223 in December.

Mumbai on Sunday reported 581 Covid-19 cases, taking the total number of cases in the city to 2,95,241.

There are 8,916 active Covid-19 cases in the city. The recovery rate in Mumbai is 93%, and the overall growth rate is 0.21%.

The doubling rate of Covid cases in the city is now 356 days.

Dr Sanjay Pattiwar, a city- based public health expert, said, The interventions by the civic body and the state have helped reduce the case fatality rate in the city. Increased awareness among citizens regarding seeking timely medical help in case they develop symptoms, the extra care taken by co-morbid patients have also contributed to reducing the number of Covid deaths in the city.
The new publication will center on three daily newsletters, one free and two for subscribers, as well as a daily podcast produced with Cadence 13 and conference calls and virtual events for subscribers. Ms. Palmer, who covered lobbying and influence before co-writing Playbook, will be the chief executive. Their fourth co-founder  and only other employee  is Rachel Schindler, who left Facebooks news team to run operations for the new company. And theyll have no shortage of news in the coming days, beginning with Ms. Pelosis re-election as speaker on Sunday, and the big question of how the Democratic left seeks to use power in the Biden years.

And then theres the question of how to cover the Republican Party, many of whose top figures have indicated they will vote to reject the results of the presidential election. Is this a political party responding to its constituents, and should be covered as such? Or should reporters spend most of their time treating the House minority as a toxic anti-democratic sect?

I dont think its incumbent on me to say, you know, to necessarily brand a person a liar, say that theyre disloyal to the country or anything like that, Mr. Bresnahan said. But what is important for what we do is to say, Why is this person is doing that?

Thats not to suggest that the Punchbowl reporters are afraid of confrontation with the people they cover in the small, open world that is the Capitol. Mr. Bresnahan has, for years, been the journalist most willing to publish the uncomfortable truth that many aging legislators can no longer really do their jobs. Ms. Palmer and Mr. Sherman have revealed corruption in both parties, and their reporting on Representative Aaron Schocks spending habits led to his resignation in 2015.

(On Sunday, Mr. Sherman was reporting that Democratic and Republican officials were fighting on the House floor over Republicans refusal to wear masks.)

During the Trump era, Capitol Hill has often been treated by news organizations as an afterthought, even as Mr. Sherman and Ms. Palmer produced a daily reminder of how few of Mr. Trumps plans could ever make it into legislation, and maintained a raised eyebrow at the White Houses frank naivete about the workings of the legislative branch of government.

Politico will be competing on the same turf, though on a far larger scale, with more than 600 employees and $160 million in revenue last year. Politico executives said the Playbook teams departure would allow them to broaden that franchise away from its current Capitol Hill focus. They want it to take a wider view of politics, which its founder, the singular voice of the Washington establishment, Mike Allen, brought to both Playbook and then to Axios  adapted for a moment when politics is everywhere in American culture. Theyve recruited two high-profile journalists who left Politico, Rachael Bade to The Washington Post and Tara Palmeri to ABC News, to return. The two will join Politicos chief Washington correspondent Ryan Lizza and the video journalist Eugene Daniels in a wider stream of coverage.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-03 07:01:46|Editor: huaxia

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WASHINGTON, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- A group of GOP senators said on Saturday that they will object to the certification of the 2020 U.S. presidential election results next week.

The move will not change Democrat Joe Biden's victory against the Republican incumbent, Donald Trump, according to U.S. networks and election pundits.

However, Ted Cruz of Texas and 10 other Senate Republicans said in a statement that they will vote against accepting the election results unless Congress appoints an Electoral Commission for "an emergency 10-day audit of the election returns in the disputed states."

They intend to vote on Jan. 6, when Congress convenes in a joint session to formally count the electoral votes, to reject the electors from what they called "disputed states," unless and until that audit is completed, according to the statement.

The announcement came days after Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri, a Trump ally, said that he will join a group of House Republicans to force a debate and vote on the Electoral College results.

Electors gathered in 50 states and the District of Columbia on Dec. 14, 2020 to formally vote for the next president based on the popular votes in their states.

Biden, former U.S. vice president, won 306 of the 538 electoral votes to Trump's 232. To clinch the White House, a candidate needs at least 270 electoral votes.

Trump hasn't conceded and is still pushing for claims of massive fraud, despite that dozens of attempts by his legal team and allies to challenge the results in some key states had been defeated, rejected, or tossed out.

Then-U.S. Attorney General William Barr has said the Department of Justice had not seen evidence of widespread voter fraud that would change the outcome of the 2020 presidential election. Enditem
Dubliners, philosophic about long-waits at bus-stops, were wont to quote the old saw you dont see a bus for ages, and then a clatter of them comes along at the same time. It seemed a bit like that in Naas in the third week of November when the fate of two quite distinct town-centre building projects, abandoned for years, changed in a matter of hours.

When your town is highlighted on RTE radios Morning Ireland it is rarely good news. But nested within the business slot of the national broadcasters flagship programme was an announcement heralding the renewal of the Naas Shopping Centre development bounded by the narrow Church Lane.

And then  not seventy-two hours later  news broke that St Davids Castle, just across the same lane from the shopping centre, had been purchased by a new owner following a decade of vacancy and vulnerability to the elements.

After years of bewilderment and frustration, it seemed wonderfully coincidental that breakthroughs should occur within hours of each other for two buildings which, although entirely unconnected, are separated only by the width of a medieval cartway.

As regards the shopping centre, the recollection of the high yellow cranes and their long jibs seeming like the figures of mourners with their arms extended in pathos over the concrete sarcophagus of the Celtic Tiger will remain vivid for a time to come.

While the centre  or whatever mixed use development emerges  is the remit of the news department of this journal, the castle story deserves some context for its place in the historic urban fabric at the towns core.

In truth, the castle is a building project that began at least six hundred years ago and never stopped, with extensions and unfortunate adornments added over the years.

The best dating for the castles fabric indicates the mid-1400s when it was one of the castles that emerged to guard the Pale  a name which referred to both a defensive double-ditch and the region of English government extending out about 20 miles from Dublin Castle.

Royal visit

The current castle may incorporate the stone of an earlier tower dating from the visit by King John to Naas in 1210 to hold a parliament. Two centuries later, another English king, Henry V, granted a charter to the new corporation of Naas to charge tolls.

This income was to finance defensive walls and castles for the town  a project which may have included the reconstruction of the old King Johns castle into the structure known in modern times as St Davids castle. Annexes in the 18th and 19th centuries to accommodate a squires house and a rectory gave the building its current profile.

The castle was not the only fortified dwelling in the town in the later middle ages. And it may not even have been the largest. There is reference to a large stone house, known as Whites Castle, on the site of the Town Hall (soon to be the library returning to its original 1904 home).

This, in turn, was one of eight castles for which there is mention in old records. A fragment of Eustace castle stood on Friary Road just to the east of Lawlors Hotel until the early 1970s. Other castles mentioned include Watergate castle, named after the stream once exposed near Poplar Square and Black Castle, close to the current Sherry Fitzgerald OReilly premises.

Alas, little or no hard evidence of these buildings has been uncovered despite much excavation in the town centre. The same can be said of the walls and gates which, according to urban archaeologists, encircled the town, although these may have been as much customs barriers and toll gates as robust defensive murals.

It seems that the castles and walls were later obliterated to make way for a new and wider streetscape.

The word castle in its early context referred simply to a strong stone house rather than the modern imagery of a fortress with towers and battlements. Ironically, the battlements on St Davids are relatively modern concrete adornments.

While not exceptional in terms of size or fortification, the castle occupied rising ground on a compact hill site and together with St Davids church formed the core of a small settlement. It was prominent among several castles to bolster the Pale defences which, within Co Kildare, were aligned from Kilcock through Clane to Naas, south to Ballymore Eustace, and then turned sharply north towards Rathmore along the line of the Kildare-Wicklow foothills.

Remnants of the Pale, locally named the rampart, are pointed out west of Clane, while traces of a similar double-ditch were found above Kilteel.

By the time the castle was rebuilt in the 15th century, Naas had lost its commanding status. The lustre of royalty which had put the king into Nas na Riogh or Naas of the Kings in Celtic times was long gone.

Dwindling importance

Other than straddling the main road to the south, the town had no more importance than that of a market town. It had long ceded baronial power in the county to Maynooth, where the mighty FitzGeralds ruled from their bastion. Nor was Naas the most populous or prosperous town in Kildare, with Athy rivalling it under both headings  again thanks to the FitzGeralds who had endowed the Barrow-side town.

Perhaps unsurprisingly there is little account of knights and ladies inhabiting the castles three stories  if they ever did  nor is there evidence of it being at the centre of battle or siege.

Certainly, by 1577, when raiding Irish chieftains devastated the town, the castle was redundant in offering protection to terrified inhabitants.

Whatever about the absence of record for its earlier occupants, there is no shortage of material available on its latest  to date  resident.

Dr Jack Gibson, Kildare County Surgeon, was its occupant for some two decades prior to his passing in 2005. A brilliant physician  the youngest fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland in his day  he was also unconventional, pioneering hypnotism as a therapy for ailments and addictions and preceding the modern devotion to wellness and mindfulness by many years.

He deployed the technology of his time  the tape recorder  to make tapes for counselling and therapy particularly popular with those trying to quit smoking. The dense walls of the lower vaulted room provided ideal sound insulation for his recording enterprises  a use which their original builders could never have imagined.

Dr Gibson was predeceased by his only child Rosemary in 1997. His late daughter had a unique job description  she was the only professional female clown in these islands, performing under the stage name of Rosie Gibb. The castle was sold on after his death, but it was not reoccupied as a home and it became vulnerable to deterioration.

More than a decade later there is news that it has been purchased for restoration as a residence. Perhaps the best solution to ensuring its preservation is a conscientious owner who appreciates that a castle is not just for Christmas but for a lifetime.

Nick of time

And it would seem that the acquisition came in the nick of time. A report by a conservation specialist following an external survey raised concerns about its condition. Water penetration, tree damage and a failing roof were signalled as threats even if it is possible that the core structure is sound.

It will represent a landmark renewal of the moribund land to the east of the town centre if both the 15th century St Davids Castle and its 21st century neighbour, the shopping centre, are restored and progressed in tandem over the next couple of years.

One thing is certain, that in the tortuous run of both stories the penultimate week of November 2020, will be remembered as the time when  after years of delay and with extraordinary coincidence  the metaphorical Naas buses arrived together in the form of hopeful news for two landmark town-centre buildings.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-03 21:42:04|Editor: huaxia

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LONDON, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- University College hospital, one of London's biggest hospitals, is battling to accommodate the fast-rising number of COVID-19 patients across the capital, warning that it is "on track to be almost COVID-only" as intensive care patients soar, local media reported.

The hospital is scrambling to convert operating theaters and stroke wards into intensive care units, the London-based The Guardian newspaper reported.

Critical care matron Elaine Thorpe told the newspaper that she and her colleagues had set up 20 new intensive care beds on Christmas Eve, which were full by New Year's Eve.

"The biggest thing for me is I'm dreadfully worried about my team. Nurses are having to spread themselves thinly. We're going back to the levels where we were before, where it was one ICU (intensive care unit) nurse looking after what will be four patients, or more. And we've had lots of tears already," she was quoted as saying by the major British newspaper.

The 500-bed hospital had 220 COVID-19 patients as of Thursday, with the numbers increasing by 5 percent a day, according to the newspaper.

However, the real pressure is on intensive care where there are now 70 seriously ill patients, and the number is rising fast, chief executive of the University College London hospitals trust Marcel Levi told the newspaper.

Latest figures from the British National Health Service (NHS) suggested that 629 patients with COVID-19 symptoms were admitted to London hospitals on Dec. 27, 2020, 22 more than the previous day and extending a steady upward curve in recent weeks.

Across London, the number of hospital beds filled with COVID-19 patients stood at 5,371 on Dec. 29, 2020, more than 400 above the previous day's total and nearly double the level on Dec. 19, 2020, the London-based Evening Standard newspaper reported.

As the world is struggling to contain the pandemic, vaccination is underway in some countries with the already-authorized coronavirus vaccines.

Meanwhile, 232 candidate vaccines were still being developed worldwide -- 60 of them in clinical trials -- in countries including Germany, China, France, Russia, Britain and the United States, according to the World Health Organization. Enditem
For human trafficking survivors, getting away isnt simple.

As difficult as escaping can be, advocates say rebuilding in the Palmetto State requires victims to navigate the justice system, housing, employment and health care, all without a single statewide agency designed to help.

The Tri-County Human Trafficking Task Force brings together a near-exhaustive list of Lowcountry resources, from churches to police departments, to assist survivors as they try to rebuild stable lives. But without steady funding or a full-time staff, its often been difficult to get quick, thorough help to survivors already overwhelmed by the complexities of finding stability and safety.

Everyone has their own lane, were just trying to build an interstate, said Brooke Burris, co-chairwoman of the task force. Weve all been saying it was a crisis cluster, and now its a crisis coordination.

The task force gets a handful of new clients each month, and on average staffers spend about a year helping each one get health care, housing, employment and community support.

Most clients are women who had been forced into sex work, but the task force also helps men and labor trafficking victims. Many are homeless or transient, leaders said, making it difficult to connect them with long-term support.

A solution, staffers hope, will come by the end of 2021: a physical office housed by The Formation Project, where it will be easy for the task forces slew of partners to meet and help survivors. The task force's subcommittees handle child and adult services, community education, law enforcement and legal issues.

Having a neutral location for law enforcement interviews, or to get therapy or work on a resume or do laundry, thats going to be a game-changer, said Kat Wehunt, who survived trafficking herself and went on to found The Formation Project. Weve been providing wraparound services, but were kind of running it into the ground. Were sending (survivors) to over 20 places just to get their basic needs met.

Ideally, community support would allow the service to have a residential center with some health care services beyond the year that the grant covers.

Even the humblest of setups  an office near other social services where survivors can meet with law enforcement and advocates without travel and uncertainty  would help the task force as it guides survivors on their journey through the system.

Calls for help

One call came from a Spartanburg hospital, where staff were treating a woman in her 30s who had been trafficked. Without money, education or an ID  and wary of tipping off a trafficker who worked in government  she couldnt get help from any of the local shelters.

We had to start from scratch, Wehunt said. I would say we made maybe 50 referrals for that one client, we used everything we could think of.

The woman is doing well now, Wehunt said. Shes got her own apartment, will soon start a job and volunteer work, and is working with law enforcement to prosecute her trafficker. But it took three months to stabilize the woman, a period that could have disheartened other survivors.

And while it took time and creativity to find the woman services, Burris was grateful they managed to do so at all. For some survivors with specific needs, she said, theyve had to look beyond the Palmetto States borders, such as sending young victims to Georgia for immediate trauma care.

Even that long process is an improvement for law officers who try to help victims navigate piecemeal services while working their cases, said Lauren Knapp, the counter threat project coordinator for the Charleston County Department of Public Safety, a member of the task forces law enforcement subcommittee and co-chairwoman.

Usually it was the police officer hand-holding all these individuals, Knapp said. Any case that Ive seen move anywhere is because a law enforcement agent went above and beyond. Theyre doing more than theyve been asked, but to actually operationalize that, officers need a resource.

To get help in South Carolina, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888, or text HELP or INFO to 233733. Donations for the task forces shelter initiative can go through theformationproject.org/donate.
Maharashtra BJP President Chandrakant Patil has in a letter to Shiv Sena mouthpiece Saamanas Editor Rashmi Uddhav Thackeray expressed disappointment over the language used for BJP leaders in the newspaper.

I am writing this to you due to the language used for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, other BJP national leaders and Maharashtra BJP leaders. Being the editor you are responsible for the content and language used in your newspaper, Patil wrote in his letter.

I very well know about you as a person and I am sure that you are also not fond of such language, he added.

Patil requested Rashmi Uddhav Thackeray to rethink over the language used in Saamana for the BJP leaders.

If you think that my request is not right and language used in your paper is right then you can happily continue using it, he added. (ANI)
A group of British expats living in Spain were stopped from boarding a flight to Madrid after airline staff informed them their residency papers were no longer valid following Brexit.

Nine passengers were prevented from boarding the Iberia/BA flight from London Heathrow to Madrid on Saturday night.

Staff reportedly blocked them from boarding and told them their pre-Brexit ID documents had become invalid.

The incident took place on January 2 - just a day after Britain's new trade deal with the EU came into force.

It also took place despite though both the Spanish and British governments agreeing specific documents - called the Foreign National Identification (NIE) document and the new Foreign ID Card (TIE) - would remain valid after Brexit.

Among those caught in the disruption was Madrid-based British journalist and photographer Max Duncan, who reported the incident on Twitter.

The UK's embassy for Spain replied to Duncan's tweet saying: 'This should not be happening, the Spanish authorities have reconfirmed again this evening that the green residency document will be valid for travel to return to Spain as stated in our travel advice.'

Mr Duncan also recorded a video interview with a distressed couple that wasn't allowed on the flight.

Nine British passengers were barred from boarding on a Iberia/ BA flight to Madrid on Saturday night

The incident took place on January 2, even though both the Spanish and British governments have agreed the Foreign National Identification (NIE) document and the new Foreign ID Card (TIE) remain valid

A couple said they 'were gutted' after airline staff told them they weren't allowed on the flight

Another couple was told the green NIE card was invalid following Brexit on January 1

The form British expats living in Spain have to fill out in order to make sure they can return to Spain

Arch-Remainer Tony Blair says he would have BACKED the Brexit deal in House of Commons as he compares leaving the EU to 'shock therapy' Tony Blair today admitted he would have backed Boris Johnson's Brexit deal in the House of Commons - comparing leaving the EU to 'shock therapy'. The former PM was one of the strongest opponents of leaving the bloc, having campaigned for another referendum to cancel the decision. However, in interviews this morning he revealed he would have joined Labour leader Keir Starmer in voting 'tactically' for the government's trade agreement if he was still an MP. The comments came as Mr Blair complained that cutting ties with Brussels would mean the UK is 'economically weaker and with less political influence'. But he said it did provide 'shock therapy' and an opportunity to take 'big decisions' about the direction of the country. Asked if he would have joined a revolt against Sir Keir over the PM's deal, Mr Blair said: 'I would have backed (Sir Keir Starmer) on this. 'I mean look, it's a tactical question for the Labour Party because the problem is that it's open to your opponents to say that if you don't back the deal, then you're voting for no-deal.' Mr Blair continued: 'There was a case for abstaining and there was a case for voting for it because the alternative's no-deal. 'What I'm really saying is as a decision that the Labour leader's got to take, I don't think it particularly matters to the Labour Party either way. 'I think what does matter is that we're still in a position where we're pointing out what the problems with this deal are.' Mr Blair said there was 'nothing that Brexit's going to do for Britain on its own'. 'It's going to leave us economically weaker and with less political influence,' he said. 'And so the only way I make sense of Brexit is to treat it as shock therapy, that we then realise we've got to take certain big decisions as a country, we've got to set out a new agenda for the future, but that's going to be difficult to do.' Advertisement

The woman said:' We arrived here at the airport today and we were told we are not allowed to fly because we have the wrong residency card.

'We were told we have to have the TIE card. We are absolutely gutted. We are going home, Spain is home.

'My husband is in urgent need of medical care.

Another couple was told at the check-in desk the green NIE card was no longer valid.

The man said when they contacted the embassy they were told by staff that they had received a lot of calls about the confusion.

On a Facebook post the British Embassy in Madrid said it has received similar complaints due to post-Brexit confusion and said it has requested 'greater flexibility' from the Spanish Government and have highlighted the recent cases to the Spanish authorities.

Patricia Moody, a 69-year-old retiree who has lived in Zurgena, south-west Spain, for nearly four years, was among a group caught in the issues on Saturday.

Moody said she and her husband, who she says needs to see his doctor back in Spain, have spent 1,900 pounds on getting tested for the virus, travelling to the airport and booking new tickets after they were refused boarding. Their second attempt was also futile.

She said: 'Throughout all the months of negotiating Brexit, we were always assured that nothing would change for us.'

Meanwhile, Sam Dakin, an English-language teacher based in Barcelona for the last four years, and his partner, who had been in the Catalan city for eight years, were also caught up.

'Just because the government adviser said that we could travel, we don't know whether that will happen when we turn up at the counters.

'We just don't know where we're going to get answers.'

Travelers to Pisa, Italy, and Berlin have also reported similar hurdles in boarding planes operated by Ryanair and Lufthansa, despite carrying documents that had been accepted by the Italian and German governments, respectively.

Matt Bristow, a spokesman for the British in Germany association of residents in that country, said: 'This appears to be a case of UK airport staff not knowing what documents to accept or applying the rules more stringently than the German border police would.'

Today the Spanish Embassy for the UK tweeted it was 'aware' that some British nationals who are residents in Spain had been unable to board a flight.

In a message on Twitter, the embassy said: 'We are aware that during the current travel restrictions there have been some problems for British nationals resident in Spain who have been denied boarding to return to Spain.'

It said that the 'green certificate' and the new Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero (TIE)' are valid proof of residents for UK nationals who wish to return to Spain - but that all travellers must also carry a passport.

The Spanish authorities have confirmed British nationals were allowed to travel with the green residency document or the new residence document (TIE)

Gibraltar hits back after Spain claims it will have the final say on who enters the territory under post-Brexit deal Gibraltar has slapped down Spain's claim to have the final say on who enters the British territory, setting the stage for more wrangling over sovereignty. Chief minister Fabian Picardo today tersely declared that 'this is our land' after Madrid's top diplomat said her government would oversee cross-border travel. The row comes a mere two days after an 11th-hour post-Brexit deal was struck to integrate Gibraltar into the EU's passport-free Schengen Zone to avert a hard border. Almost 30,000 people crossed between Spain and Gibraltar every day before the pandemic, half of whom were workers. That Spain has access to Schengen's database and the UK does not means it now will police who enters Gibraltar, foreign minister Arancha Gonzalez Laya insisted. She told El Pais newspaper: 'Schengen has a set of rules, procedures and instruments to apply them, including its database, to which only Spain has access. Gibraltar and the United Kingdom do not. 'In order to enter a Gibraltar integrated into the Schengen area, the responsibility for border control is in Spanish hands. 'That is why the final decision on who enters the Schengen area is Spanish, of course.' Mr Picardo quickly challenged her interpretation and rejected her claim to control arrivals. He tweeted: 'Under the New Year's Eve Agreement only Gibraltar will decide who enters Gibraltar & Spanish officers will not exercise any controls in Gibraltar at the Airport or Port now or in four years time. This is our land. Couldn't be clearer.' Advertisement

They added: 'We can also confirm that those UK nationals who can prove that they have started their residency process, but who do not yet have their new TIE card, should also be allowed to board flights to return to Spain.

'The Government in Spain will put in place this measure for a grace period of seven days from January 4.'

In a statement, Spain's Foreign Ministry said there had been 'an isolated communication problem with some airlines that affected a very small number of travelers' and that air traffic between the UK and Spain was proceeding 'with normality' by mid-Sunday.

The Spanish government announced last year that British expats in Spain would be given a new ID card instead of the residency paper.

According to the Spanish authorities British nationals who were residing in Spain before 31 st December 2020 have obtained the rights set out in the Withdrawal Agreement and can use either the green residency document or the new residence document (TIE).

Travel advice suggests that UK nationals can exchange their paper residence document for the new TIE but you they are not obliged to.

Spain have announced Covid-19 restrictions for those travelling from the UK until January 19 with the exception of Spanish nationals and those legally resident in Spain.

Currently there are more than 300,000 British residents in Spain, although before Brexit, many more had been living full or part-time in the country without officially registering.

According to Spain's Secretary of State for Migration the number of UK citizens with Spanish residence permits increased by 5.8 percent from June 2019 to June 2020, a rise of 19,977 British residents.

Under the new Brexit trade deal, announced on Christmas Eve and official brought into force from January 1, UK citizens no longer have an automatic right to live and work in the EU.

Existing EU burgundy passports remain valid but UK travellers will not be able to use fast track e-gates at EU airports or Eurostar.

Britons visiting most EU countries and Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, should have at least six months left on their passport when travelling. It should also be less than ten years old on the day of travel.

From work to pensions, passports and pets, what Britain's new Brexit deal with the EU means for you

By John Stevens, Deputy Political Editor for the Daily Mail

Working

UK citizens no longer have an automatic right to live and work in the EU. The ability to do so depends on each country's immigration rules. Professional qualifications may no longer be recognised. Citizens of the UK and Ireland can continue to live, work and move freely between the two countries.

Passports

Existing EU burgundy passports remain valid but UK travellers will not be able to use fast track e-gates at EU airports or Eurostar. Britons visiting most EU countries and Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, should have at least six months left on their passport when travelling. It should also be less than ten years old on the day of travel.

Travel

Visits to EU countries will be limited to no more than 90 days in any 180. From January 2022, Britons will have to pay a visa-waiver for EU travel  approximately 6 per head. These will last for three years.

UK travellers will not be able to use fast track e-gates at EU airports or Eurostar. Pictured: Passengers from London arrive at Eurostar terminal in in Paris, France, December 23

Duty free

There will be a tax-free limit of 390 on goods brought back from the EU. For drink and cigarettes, the limits are 42 litres of beer; 18 litres of wine; nine litres of sparkling wine; four litres of spirits; and 200 cigarettes.

Driving

Most can continue to drive in the EU without the need to get an International Driving Permit. Those with an older paper licence may need one. Drivers taking their own car to the continent will need a 'green card' from their insurer. There may be a fee.

Health insurance

The EHIC  European Health Insurance Card  scheme is to end although cards remain valid until their expiry dates. The Government says it will bring in a similar global health insurance card.

The EHIC  European Health Insurance Card  scheme is to end

Education

UK will no longer participate in the Erasmus scheme, which allows students to study at European institutions for a year during their degree. A global 'Turing Scheme' will replace it from September 2021.

Pets

The EU pet passport scheme is ending and owners will need to get an animal health certificate instead. The cost is likely to be around 100, with a new one for each trip.

Postal services

Sending goods to the EU will require a customs declaration, available from the Post Office. Britons receiving goods from the EU may have to pay duty, VAT and handling fees.

Retiring to the EU

A visa and proof of financial independence will now be needed. The UK state pension will still be paid.

Northern Ireland

Its citizens may escape some rules as the province is considered part of the European Union in certain circumstances.
Smokers know more than most about the pitfalls of January resolutions

It is only the tick of a clock, a blip on a digital screen, the twitch of a second hand that takes us from one year to the next. Every 12 months, at this time, we give enormous significance to that fleeting moment, ascribing to it the power to delineate ends and beginnings. There is a sort of cultural pressure to mark the moment with a significant change in ones life, ones behaviour or ones attitude.

Even those of us whose appetite for resolutions has been well shorn of its edge are tempted to turn yet another new leaf as December 31 transmogrifies into January 1.

Decades of failed attempts at instituting even the most minor of changes dont prevent us from setting more deadlines and trying again.

I was a smoker once, and, despite many gallant New Year attempts to rise out of the habit, I eventually quit in an unplanned, drama-free manner.

It happened without warning on an unremarkable day in March 1997. The previous night I attended a social gathering of old friends in Limerick where we talked, tippled and smoked our way into the small hours.

The following morning, feeling somewhat the worse for wear, I gathered my belongings and prepared to return to work in Galway. In a final sweep of the flat to ensure I had everything, I picked up a pack of cigarettes I had bought the night before.

I looked at them and knew if I put them in my pocket I would have one smoked before I got to Ennis. For some reason, I decided to leave them after me. I never again bought pack of cigarettes and while I took the odd cigar I never really smoked again.

There was nothing significant about the date and time I chose to leave my nicotine addiction behind; it just happened on a damp spring morning.

Exercise

Something similar happened in relation to taking exercise. As regular readers of this column will know, I am not the sporty type. So it came as a surprise to myself when, out of the blue, I took up walking for exercise.

At that time, about 18 years ago, I was working in Dublin and commuting from Laois every day, spending between three and four hours in the car. If I chose to climb the stairs to the office it was the only exercise I got. More often than not I took the lift. I was well aware that my lifestyle was very unhealthy. The weight was piling on, but I avoided doing anything about it.

On a Wednesday morning in spring 2002 I woke early and remembered it was Ash Wednesday. As I lay there it struck me that I no longer marked the Lenten season, so I decided to get up and go for a half an hour walk before doing the morning chores and going to work.

As soon as the children were old enough to leave in the house unsupervised, the current consort joined me on the morning preamble and, aside from occasional outbreaks of laziness, we have been pounding the roads since.

Indeed, during the lockdown we doubled the daily dosage. We now walk for an hour a day and are in danger of becoming as self-satisfied as the lycra-clad cyclists that whizz past us like spindly Martians.

Instituting changes to improve ones life is not confined by time and space.

This preoccupation with bingeing on reform in the early and bleak days of January is a recipe for disappointment.

I remember two years ago, in the first column of the year, I admitted to having a total of three part-written books sitting in my writing folder. I publicly promised I would have one of them done and dusted by the end of the year.

Landing area

As usual, I overshot the landing area. Last October, a year later than promised, I eventually finished and published a book.

Even then, I cheated a little; the tome that eventually made it to the shelves is a compilation of these weekly columns, and not one of the three unfinished works mentioned previously.

Aside from some occasional tampering, the manuscripts are still sitting in their folders, untended to and unloved, awaiting completion or deletion.

However, the intention is there and their time will come.

We beat ourselves up over New Years resolutions, Lenten promises and bucket lists, but it is important to realise there is no one out there in the heavens with a stopwatch timing and measuring what we do with our lives.

The sky is not going to fall in if all our good intentions are not realised within a certain timeframe.

I think it is far better to harbour the intention, and its time will come.

Online Editors
ARCHIVED - British Govt. asks for greater flexibility from Spain as Brits are refused entry and sent back to UK



Travellers report being put on planes and sent back to the UK

The British consular services has requested greater flexibility from the Spanish Government following a turbulent couple of days for some air travellers who were refused entry to Spain and promptly returned to the UK.



There are three key issues which appear to be at the root of the problem; one relating to the extension of the travel restrictions originally imposed on 22nd December and which were imposed following the discovery of the new SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 variant which is being held largely responsible for the sudden surge of new cases in the UK, the situation regarding those who are in the process of seeking residency in Spain and Brexit.



During the transition year before the UK finally left the EU on Thursday evening, many British nationals began the process of applying for Spanish residency, some of them already living in Spain and others with the intention of doing so, but principally because of the events which unfolded relating to the coronavirus which prevented travel and the fact that many applicants didnt begin their application process until later in the year, a huge back-log built up, the result being that towards the end of the year it became increasingly difficult to obtain residencia appointments and the year concluded with many hundreds (possibly thousands) of British nationals left in a residency limbo.

In some cases, those involved have already sold-up everything they own in the UK and have re-located to Spain (some of these people have been here for years but have never applied for the paperwork to legalise their status), others are in the process of moving here and have sold their UK property as arranged, but been unable to move into their new home in Spain due to the imposition of the travel restrictions and others are in the process of selling up in the UK and have already purchased property in Spain. The only thing they all share in common is that they are in administrative limbo, currently lacking residencia documentation, having only interim paperwork with which to prove that their application is in process.



Post-Brexit those who already have residency in Spain must change their green residency document for a new identity card, the TIE, although the authorities have confirmed that both remain a valid form of identification for the moment.

The Spanish Government has confirmed that the green residency certificate is acceptable as proof of residence.



Before Christmas the British Consular Services warned British nationals travelling back to the UK that they must carry proof with them that they either had Spanish residency or were able to prove that they were in the process of applying for residency to ensure that Post-Brexit they would be allowed to re-enter Spain. This warning co-incided with the revelation that post-Brexit the current high-risk level of the covid contagions in the UK could result in British nationals being refused entry to any EU country unless they were a registered resident of that country unless a special exception was made for them by the EU.



Any possibility that an exception would be made evaporated when the British Government revealed that the new highly contagious variant had spread out of control, and has now resulted in increased restrictions and the highest levels of new cases yet recorded to date. The response from more than 50 national governments worldwide was to impose temporary bans on travellers from the UK, amongst them a ban on all travel from the UK to Spain other than for returning Spanish nationals and Spanish residents (and a few other essential reasons for travel) until 5th January (including the obligation to supply PCR/TMA/LAMP test taken a maximum of 72 hours before flying and completion of contact form).



Post-Brexit, this has now been extended to the 19th January.



Before the 1st January a few isolated incidents had occurred of British nationals successfully flying out of the UK and arriving at Spanish airports and being refused entry. In most cases, this was because the travellers were unable to prove that they were Spanish residents and have residency.



However, in the last two days there have been a number of reports of passengers being refused permission to board flights from the UK because they were told that their paperwork was not valid and of passengers successfully reaching Spain and being sent back to the UK.

This is due to:

- Over-caution by the airlines. One traveller reported that B.A at Heathrow had refused to allow him to board with a green residency certificate. This has since been resolved, but he was not allowed to board the flight this morning.

- Travellers not having original documentation and presenting photocopies.

- Travellers trying to enter Spain without full residency documentation (ie, those with applications in process being refused entry in spite of being told they would be granted entry).

-Travellers being refused entry with green certificates and being told they needed the new TIE card.



DW reports that he arrived at Alicante airport from the UK, having paid for a PCR test, with all the documentation proving that his residency application was in process as he had been advised to do, with documentation proving he was a Spanish property owner and was living in his property, but was refused entry to Spain as he was not a full-time resident. He protested that the British Govt. had advised that those able to present proof that their residency application was in progress would be permitted entry to Spain, but the text was no longer visible on the Government website.

Along with ten other people, he was put on a plane and sent back to the UK and told to return to Stansted the next day to pick up his luggage.



JR said. 4 people turned away from Gatwick airport yesterday one of which is my daughter who had a copy of the green residence document with her, but they wanted an original. She had proof of her schooling as she is a student, medical card and plus her father in Spain on the phone, but they would not let her fly.

MM said: I was bumped back to Heathrow today from Barcelona. Green nie card not acceptable for entry to Spain. Have had residencia for 15 years

AG said I would love to go home to Alicante but having got confirmation that my residency application was successful back in October I have been waiting for an appointment to get my fingerprints down but none have been available. I flew up to see my children pre-Christmas and now Im not allowed to fly home because I dont have the TIE card Im entitled to because of an appalling shortage of appointments.

KW said I was sent straight back on 28th Dec from Corvera

Had proof of residency application and had checked gov.uk site before flying and paid over 200 for pcr

CW said Have just arrived back from Luton, just 4 passengers on one flight, one person had been denied boarding as no residencia.

And there are many others.



The UK Gov has commented Weve had comments and messages from many UK residents in Spain who do not have either the green residency document or TIE card to return to Spain under current restrictions. We have requested greater flexibility from the Spanish Government in the case of people who have started the residency process, but who have not yet been able to collect their TIE card, the case of students, who are due to resume studies soon, and for those who may be caring for elderly or vulnerable family members in Spain and other compassionate cases. We have highlighted these cases to the Spanish authorities and will update you all when we have a response.



Several people have also raised further cases of UK residents in Spain not being able to board flights in the UK or enter Spain today when travelling using the green residency document. This should not be happening, the Spanish Government have today re-confirmed that the green residency document will be accepted for travel to return to Spain, as stated in our travel advice.



The Foreign Office is still advising against non-essential travel to Spain and the travel information on the UK Gov. website has been updated to indicate that ONLY residents of Spain will be allowed to enter the country until 19th January.



Obviously, as indicated above, the British Gov. has requested greater flexibility from the Spanish Government to resolve this issue, but as the UK is no longer a member of the EU, Spain is NOT obliged to permit non-residents to enter at the moment.



So for the moment, be aware, that there could be a problem unless you are a resident and make sure you carry full documentation to prove this if you have to travel.

If you do not have residence, check with your airline before flying and keep a close eye out for updates, as obviously, work is underway by the consular services, to try and resolve this situation.



Useful information produced by the Spanish Government about Brexit. Click to read
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Main opposition People Power Party interim leader Kim Chong-in, center, and other PPP leaders attend a meeting on fielding candidates for the April 7 by-elections at the National Assembly on Yeouido in Seoul, Dec. 30. Yonhap



By Yi Whan-woo



Many voters support the opposition bloc for the April 7 by-elections, showing their discontent with the current liberal government, multiple polls conducted last week showed.



People preferring the conservative opposition to win the 2022 presidential election also outnumbered those believing another president from the liberal side should be elected to continue the Moon Jae-in administration's political and social reform measures.



The results comes as President Moon Jae-in's job approval rating has continued to drop amid the outcry over slow vaccine procurement, soaring real estate prices and other negative issues that analysts described as "affecting the daily lives of ordinary citizens."



In the poll of 1,000 adults conducted by Kstat Research from Dec. 27 to 29, 49.5 percent wanted candidates from the opposition bloc to win the April 7 by-elections for Seoul and Busan, which are considered a major litmus test for the 2022 presidential election, while 36.7 percent supported candidates from the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK).



In a separate survey taken by Research and Research on the same period, 46.2 percent of 800 Seoul citizens who are eligible to vote answered they are leaned toward the opposition in the Seoul mayoral by-election.



They said it will be necessary to "keep the government and the ruling party in check and to bring them to justice."



Another 31.3 percent said the DPK should win in support of Moon's stable state management, while the remaining 22.5 percent answered they are undecided.



A survey of 1,012 adults taken by Hyundai Research Institute from Dec. 28 to 30 showed 47.6 percent picked the opposition and the other 39.6 percent for the ruling party when asked which side is likely to win in the Seoul mayoral by-elections.



For the Busan mayoral by-elections, the support rate for the opposition hiked to 68.2 percent compared to the ruling party's 16 percent.



In a Realmeter poll of 1,000 adults from Dec. 27 to 28, 51.3 percent of the respondents supported an opposition candidate for the 2022 presidential election to change the government from liberal to conservative. Another 38.8 percent said a ruling party candidate should be elected and the remaining 9.9 percent answered they are not sure.



The tendency was similar at a different survey of 1,010 adults conducted by Kantar Korea from Dec. 27 to 30, where the opposition support rate for the presidential election outnumbered that of the ruling bloc, 49.9 percent to 34.8 percent.



The polls indicate public discontent with the Moon administration "has risen to the surface after being accumulated for years," according to Shin Yul, a political science professor at Myongji University.



"There were people who have been displeased with the Moon government for failing to cope with the unemployment rate, soaring real estate prices and other economic issues. They, however, kept mum as the President enjoyed a solid approval rating until recently when the government was lambasted for late procurement of vaccines."



Shin explained vaccine procurement-issue has become a "trigger" for the voters to "unleash their disappointment and anger" ahead of the by-elections.



The professor viewed the year-long tussle between Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae and Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl left a negative impression to the public that the government is less concerned about their daily lives than political issues.



"All these will add to a downward trend of the government and the ruling party as witnessed in the latest polls," he added.


BRANFORD  It was cold, but for a good cause.

Staff and volunteers from the Dan Cosgrove Animal Shelter took a plunge in Long Island Sound on New Years day to raise money for the shelters medical fund.
Samajwadi Party (SP) President Akhilesh Yadav said that the coronavirus vaccination programme was a sensitive process and the Centre should not treat it like a sajaawati-dikhaawati (cosmetic) event. He also said that the process should commence only after making concrete arrangements.

Yadav stirred up a controversy on Saturday when he said that he could not trust the BJP governments vaccine and that he would not be taking it. His remarks have drawn criticism not only from BJP leaders but from leaders of other parties as well.

I am not going to get vaccinated for now. How can I trust BJPs vaccine, when our government will be formed everyone will get free vaccine. We cannot take BJPs vaccine, the SP president said. He went on to accuse the government of trying to ward off the virus by clanging plates, clapping, and hovering helicopters over hospitals.

Madhya Pradesh home minister slammed Yadav for his comments, questioning how he could listen to the country when he did not even listen to his father or uncle.

We cant even call him a misled youth. When he never listened to his uncle or father, why would he listen to the country? This is a policy of appeasement. Its not good to spread rumour about vaccine, Mishra said.

Reacting to the SP leaders remarks, Jammu Kashmir National Conference leader Omar Abdullah tweeted that he would happily get a vaccine when it becomes available, and that it belongs to no political party.

I dont know about anyone else but when my turn comes Ill happily roll up my sleeve & get a COVID vaccine. This damn virus has been far too disruptive & if a vaccine helps bring about a semblance of normalcy after all the chaos then sign me up, he said. The more people that get vaccinated the better it will be for the country & the economy. No vaccine belongs to any political party, they belong to humanity & the sooner we get vulnerable people vaccinated the better, he added.

The Drugs Controller General of India (DGCI) approved the vaccines of Serum Institute of India (SII) and Bharat Biotech for restricted emergency authorization earlier today.
Hollywood star Eric Bana has worked alongside the likes of Brad Pitt, Natalie Portman and Rachel McAdams during his successful career.

But an up-and-comer in his latest film, The Dry, truly wowed the Australian actor.

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia at the movie's premiere in Sydney, Eric praised Brisbane-born Joe Klocek, 25, for a 'beautiful job' in the murder mystery.

Scroll down for video

EXCLUSIVE: Eric Bana praises up-and-coming actor Joe Klocek for his incredible performance playing his charter's youngster self in The Dry

Joe plays a younger version of the film's lead character, Federal Agent Aaron Falk (played by Eric).

'Joe did a beautiful job in the film, which I was thrilled with, even in the early cuts we knew Joe had done an amazing job,' Eric said.

'It was great for me, because a large part of the story is in the past and the present, so the casting of that role was really pivotal. He did an amazing screen test and was fantastic,' he continued.

'A large part of the story is in the past and the present, so the casting was really pivotal': Eric said he knew 'even in the early cuts' that Joe Klocek (pictured) was perfect for the role

Project: The Dry was filmed across more than 20 regional towns in rural Victoria last year, before the coronavirus pandemic hit. Eric plays the lead character, Federal Agent Aaron Falk

Star: Joe plays a younger version of Eric's character

Eric added: 'In fact, all the young actors were great, but I was particularly thrilled with Joe's casting and I think he's absolutely brained it.'

Joe was named one of the Casting Guild of Australia's 2019 Rising Stars.

He was joined by Sam Corlett (Netflix's Chilling Adventures of Sabrina), BeBe Bettencourt (Stan's upcoming Eden), and Claude Scott-Mitchell.

Joe previously told GQ that while he didn't get to act with Eric on screen he did see him as a 'mentor': 'He was a bit of a mentor. I was able to ask him about the US market, how he navigated his way through getting roles in Australia and how he began early in his career.'

'All the young actors were great, but I was particularly thrilled with Joe's casting': Eric also praised Joe's co-stars (Pictured L to R: BeBe Bettencourt, Claude Scott-Mitchell, and Sam Corlett)

One to watch! Joe was named one of the Casting Guild of Australia's 2019 Rising Stars

'We felt very protective of how the film should look': Eric worked hard with director Robert Connolly to create a 'faithful adaptation of Jane Harper's novel'

The Dry was filmed across more than 20 regional towns in rural Victoria last year, before the coronavirus pandemic hit.

Eric's film adaptation of the Jane Harper's best-selling murder mystery was pushed back from its original August release date due to Covid-19.

Jane herself told Daily Mail Australia at the Sydney premiere in December that the creative team had exceeded her expectations with the film.

The Dry hit theatres on January 1, 2021
THE leading campaigner for those who died in the horrific Omagh bombing said the death of Michael McKevitt should not stop the search for justice.

Michael Gallaghers son Aiden was among the 31 people killed by the terrorist bomb planted by republican dissidents led by McKevitt.

Last night he told the Sunday World that, unlike those killed in the blast, McKevitt had the comfort of dying naturally.

Here we are coming up to our 23rd year and not one person has been convicted of murder at Omagh. Not one person has served a day behind bars for the Omagh bombing.

From a familys point of view its hugely frustrating, he said.

Michael McKevitt had the comfort of having his own family around him, our families died in the gutter in Omagh.

"It just seems so unfair weve been denied the justice we were promised both publicly and privately by Bertie Ahern, by Tony Blair and by Bill Clinton.

Michael McKevitt has escaped justice on this earth but were brought up to believe in there will be justice in the next world.

Michael pointed out the responsibility for the bombing did not just lie with McKevitt.

Michael McKevitt was not the only person connected with the Omagh bomb, there a number of people that are well-known and some that are not so well-known that the PSNI and the garda have never been successful in bringing before the courts.

Its always going to be an open wound for people like ourselves. Justice is what we expect from society when we are wronged and this is the worst crime that anyone could commit.

He said the families of those killed in the atrocity had expected those responsible would be brought to justice.

The atmosphere at the time in Ireland and around the world at that time was complete horror.

"To have such a wicked evil act and not have any proper resolve for the families will always be an open wound.

It will be a disgrace on society and on the people who are charged with delivering justice who have promised us remedies and yet here we are 23 years on still in the same position as we were on the night on 15 August 1998.

The man with the blood of 29 innocent people on his hands, passed away at his Co. Louth home in the early hours of yesterday morning.

The 71-year-old had been battling cancer for a number of years after being given a terminal diagnosis in 2015.

He had a kidney removed in an attempt to stop the spread of the disease but tumours were found on other internal organs.

He had spent the last few years in an out of hospital and is understood to have been admitted as recently as November but was discharged before Christmas when it became clear nothing more could be done.

Seen as the founding father of the dissident movement, he was driven by a hardline fanaticism but is believed to have become an isolated and embittered figure.

He had become increasingly disenchanted with the failure of the dissident movement to take the armed struggle forward.

Married to Bernadette Sands McKevitt, sister of fabled IRA hunger striker Bobby Sands, he had cut himself off from former comrades.

He fell out with everybody, a source told us, he always wanted more, it was never enough.

He said in recent years former close associates had turned their back on him.

The source said at no time did he show any remorse or regret for the slaughter he caused on the streets of Omagh and, despite worldwide revulsion, he never regarded it as a setback.

Kevin Skelton who lost his wife Pamela in the Omagh bomb also told the Sunday World that McKevitts death meant nothing.

I dont think it matters much at this stage, he was sentenced, done his time. At the end of the day its not going to bring anyone back. You dont wish bad luck on the dead, Mr Skelton said.

A founder member of the Real IRA, McKevitt is believed to have planned and devised the atrocity.

In August 1998 a huge car bomb exploded in the centre of the Co. Tyrone town killing 29 people; two unborn babies were also murdered.

A quartermaster for the IRA, he had a seat on the organisations ruling Army Council and was instrumental in negotiating an arms shipment with Libyas Colonel Gadaffi.

He became disillusioned with the political direction of the republican movement from the mid-90s and was a staunch and vocal opponent of the Good Friday Agreement and was vehemently opposed to the IRA ceasefires of 1994 and 1997.

McKevitt was convicted in 2003 of membership of an illegal organisation and directing terrorism and handed a 20 -year sentence going on to serve 13 years behind bars.

No one has ever been convicted for carrying out the Omagh bomb but in 2009 McKevitt was found liable along with three other men by a civil court in a case taken by victims relatives.

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Online Editors
President Trump is being criticized in the lopsided Democrat media and even by establishment keyboard Republicans for using his authority under Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution to "grant reprieves and pardons for offenses against the United States."

The authority to pardon was exercised at common law in England before our written Constitution became America's paramount law over government. State constitutions also provide executives authority in one way or another to issue such orders of clemency. President Trump's legitimate use of that authority merely draws flak from the usual Trump Derangement Syndrome.

The December 22 batch of clemency orders that have drawn the ire of anti-Trumpers included not a pardon, but a commutation of the ten-year prison sentence for conservative former congressman Steve Stockman.

The abuses of justice against Stockman, both in his trial and during his time in prison, have been chronicled well at American Thinker.

To reiterate a few points, Stockman was an outspoken critic of Hillary Clinton, President Obama, Attorney General Eric Holder, and IRS official Lois Lerner. He was targeted for criminal investigations, but at least three grand juries did not indict him before a fourth finally did after the Justice Department had its "batting practice."

The cultish fake news reported that Stockman had defrauded charitable donors, and that cascaded into charges of wire fraud and money-laundering.

The bogus and fabricated case against Stockman combined elements of soliciting donations from just two wealthy GOP donors for nonprofit causes that were political in nature. The perfect legality of Stockman's activities are described in an amicus brief I filed in his appeal.

Stockman requested donations to provide seed money for nonprofit projects that were inherently political in nature. The prosecution against him confused both the trial judge and jury, leading them to believe that nonprofit organizations may not engage in "political" activity at all.

Just in the past political cycle, leftist nonprofits outraised right-leaning nonprofits by five times to influence the election. At Stockman's trial, however, the confused judge held up one key exhibit mailed by a nonprofit organization on Steve's side critical of his establishment GOP primary opponent and said quite pointedly, "This is political." The confused jury took its cue from her, as if it were witchcraft in Salem.

Stockman's case, quite literally, was the criminalization of politics. The charges of wire fraud and money-laundering could not have been brought against him without the corrupt case that my amicus brief, linked above, shows was bogus.

Even though Stockman's sentence has now been commuted, he remains on parole, so we can expect that more bogus charges will be brought against him if he is to re-engage as an effective conservative critic of government corruption. Also, his travel is severely restricted, and he is now being deprived of his right to vote and his Second Amendment rights.

While there is no need to re-litigate a case for purposes of issuing pardons  even in the face of the cultish media criticisms of his commutation  this is a perfect example of why the presidential pardon power can and should be used to remedy injustices caused by abuse of prosecutorial power.

Mr. President, pardon Steve Stockman.

Image: Gage Skidmore via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0.
ASEAN-Korea Centre Secretary General Lee Hyuk poses at the entrance of the center in downtown Seoul. / Courtesy of ASEAN-Korea Centre



This is the first in a series of contributions on prospects of ASEAN-Korea relations in 2021.  ED.



By Lee Hyuk



Since the world bore the brunt of COVID-19, we have seen the catastrophic whirlwind of a crumbling economy and despair. Every day we hear about lost lives and livelihoods. It is also hard to overlook the unnerving developments in international politics as a byproduct of the pandemic. The coronavirus has added fuel to the U.S.-China rivalry pushing the two countries further into a "New Cold War."



Rapidly changing global dynamics seem to render more challenges than opportunities for Korea as is seen in the recent developments of the country's relations with the U.S., China and especially Japan. The unfavorable circumstances have also complicated Korea's efforts to ensure peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.



Against this backdrop, the importance of ASEAN-Korea relations in Korea's foreign policy cannot be more stressed. Many will agree that President Moon Jae-in's crowning foreign policy achievement is the New Southern Policy (NSP) which significantly elevated Korea's relations with ASEAN. The NSP represents a milestone in the expansion of Korea's diplomatic horizons and will bolster Korea's ability to navigate the rough waters of foreign policy challenges.





ASEAN-Korea Centre Secretary-General Lee Hyuk says he will help prioritize ASEAN in Korea's foreign policy in the future. / Courtesy of ASEAN-Korea Centre
(CLINTON COUNTY, Mo.) One man was killed and three children were seriously injured in a head-on collision just after midnight on New Year's Day in Clinton County.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, 48-year-old Scott Ford, of Kansas City, Missouri was driving south onto Northbound Interstate 35 from the exit ramp at mile mark 40 when he hit a vehicle that was driving north head on.

Ford was pronounced dead at the scene. He was not wearing a seat belt.

Three children that were in the other vehicle sustained serious injuries and were transported to Children's Mercy.

Another crash occurred when 56-year-old Jerry Yochim, of Brookfield, Missouri, was driving northbound on I-35 and hit both vehicles involved in the head-on crash. Yochim was taken to Cameron Regional Medical Center with moderate injuries.
University of Southern California Medical Center in Los Angeles County, chief medical officer Dr. Brad Spellberg said in an interview, "If you are in a car accident, you're going to want us to save your life. If you have a stroke or a heart attack, you're going to need an ICU bed and with trained ICU nurses and physicians who are not caring for 20 other patients at the same time."

That means record-high Covid-19 hospitalizations could have an overwhelming effect even if you don't have it. Months ago, across the US, some hospitals started running out of health care workers. And fueling new waves of Covid-19 hospitalizations are holiday gatherings.

Dr. Spellberg said, "We are seeing people who have gathered for Thanksgiving, or who have gathered for other reasons (and) didn't truly understand, even to this point, what was at stake."

According to the Covid Tracking Project, on Thursday, more than any other day of the pandemic, 125,379 people were hospitalized with Covid-19 nationwide. On Friday as well, the 125,000 patients topped, but Saturday slightly dipped to 123,639. For 32 straight days, the US has remained above 100,000 hospitalizations due to Covid-19.

Which led Dr. Spellberg to say, "This is about the total collapse of the health care system if we have another spike, and we, in the hospital, cannot stop that. We can only react to it. It is the public that has the power to put a stop to the spread of this virus by simply obeying the public health guidance that has been put out."

In the hospital, the doctor's office and break rooms turn into patient rooms.

Hospitals were treating Covid-19 patients in "unprecedented" numbers, according to California emergency officers. They said, "the internal oxygen delivery systems built into many older hospitals are being overtaxed by the volume of oxygen flow required to treat patients with respiratory issues that arise from Covid-19."

The US Army Corps of Engineers design and construction experts have been deployed to the Los Angeles area to "evaluate at about a half dozen hospitals and where necessary upgrade oxygen delivery systems."

Corps of Engineers in Los Angeles District commander Col. Julie Batten said, "The hospitals we have toured already have been doing an amazing job."

White Memorial Medical Center's medical director of emergency services, Dr. Stephen Liu, explained that an average patient receives anywhere between two to six liters of oxygen a minute. But Covid-19 patients require "a ton of oxygen" or up to 40 liters a minute, and "the infrastructures are not ready to support it."

"But we're definitely to the point where we need even more help, though the hospital has done what it can to augment the oxygen supply," Dr. Liu said.

Dr. Balten said, "We entered Mission Community Hospital in Panorama City, and they converted their administrative offices into treatment areas for Covid-19 patients, but the volume of patients has been overwhelming."

She added, "on one entire floor, they also treated Covid-19 patients in a revamped break room."

In the recent report, more than 10,000 families mourned the loss of a loved one to Covid-19, as the entire world rang in the new year. A problematic start to the new year for Americans.

READ MORE: Hong Kong Activists Face Up to Three Years Jail Time in China Following Attempt to Flee to Taiwan via Boat

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COVID-19 vaccination drive in India is expected to commence shortly, as the government recently approved Oxford Institute's Covishield and Bharat Biotech's Covaxin vaccines. Earlier in December 2020, the central government had announced the launch of the Co-WIN app to aid agencies with the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines to citizens of the country. Notably, the app is also designed to enable citizens to self-register for the vaccination process. However, that may take some time as the vaccination drive will start for frontline workers and other vulnerable citizens in the first phase of distribution.

The government had explained that the Co-WIN app comes with five modules, namely - Administrator module, Registration module, Vaccination module, Beneficiary Acknowledgement module, and Report module - to ensure smooth tracking and registration for COVID-19 vaccine in the country. The mobile app is also an upgraded version of the eVIN (Electronic Vaccine Intelligence Network) and it will be available to download for free via the Google Play Store and Apple App Store, though its availability details remain unclear. The app may also launch on Jio phones that run on KaiOS.

Citizens who are not frontline health workers can register for the vaccine via the 'Registration Module' (once the app is available). Photo identity will be required for registration. As expected, the admins via the 'Administrator module' will be able to track the information provided by citizens on India. "It will upload bulk data on co-morbidity provided by local authorities or by surveyors," the government had explained last month. Admins will also be responsible for creating sessions, and the respective vaccinators and managers will receive relevant notifications and alerts.

The Vaccination module of the Co-Win app will verify the beneficiary details and update vaccination status. The 'Beneficiary Acknowledgement Module' will then send SMS to beneficiaries and also generate QR-based certificates after one gets vaccinated. Lastly, the Report Module will prepare reports of how many vaccine sessions have been conducted, how many people have attended those, how many people have dropped out etc.

Earlier, Union health minister Dr Harsh Vardhan clarified that vaccine will be free for frontline workers. It is not yet clear whether the vaccine for people above 50 years and people with co-morbidities will be free or subsidised.
Chuck Todd confronted Wisconsin Senator and the Chair of Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Ron Johnson, over his claims that President Trump may have lost the election because of widespread voter fraud without providing any evidence.

Nebraska Senator Ben Sasse called the Republican lawmakers planning to challenge the election results during the congressional certification process on January 6 institutional arsonists".

You made an allegation that there was widespread fraud. You have failed to offer specific evidence of that widespread fraud, but you're demanding an investigation on the grounds that there are allegations of widespread fraud, Mr Todd told Mr Johnson on Meet The Press.

"You've started this fire and now you're saying, oh, look at this, oh, my God, all these people believe what we told them because you didn't have the guts, to tell the truth, that this election was fair."

Mr Johnson blamed the media for the current state of affairs.

This was started when the mainstream media dropped any pretence of being unbiased and actually chose sides during this election. This fire was started when you completely ignored, for example, our investigation of Hunter Biden, Mr Johnson said. He said they found no evidence of wrongdoing", but that after the election it was revealed that Mr Biden was the subject of a federal investigation.

The Independent reported on December 10 that President-elect Joe Bidens son said in a statement: I learned yesterday for the first time that the US Attorneys Office in Delaware advised my legal counsel, also yesterday, that they are investigating my tax affairs.

On Meet The Press, Mr Johnson added that "Republicans and conservatives do not trust the mainstream media. And that is what is destroying the credibility of the media and our institutions," and tried to deflect any responsibility, saying: "I didnt start this".

Mr Todd said that Mr Johnson had been carrying a lot of "crazy conspiratorial water for President Trump", when blaming Ukraine for interfering in the election instead of Russia and using his committee to investigate voter fraud because of unsubstantiated allegations.

Mr Todd asked: "Are you simply trying to curry favour with constituents of the president? Is that what this is all about? Is this a cynical political ploy?"

In response, Mr Johnson ploughed on with his claims that voter fraud could have swayed the election. There is voter fraud, he said. "We had one witness talk about 42,000 people voting twice in Nevada."

Mr Todd interrupted Mr Johnson saying: "Stop. You don't get to make these allegations that haven't been proven true."

Mr Johnson also blamed former director of the FBI James Comey, former acting director of the FBI Andrew McCabe and former CIA Director John Brennan for causing Americans to distrust their institutions.

"Let me ask you this. Who carried the state of Wisconsin?" Mr Todd asked.

Mr Johnson awkwardly relented: "Well, Vice President Biden has won by 20 thousand votes."
Saudi Arabias Ministry of Interior announced that it was planning to lift all restrictions on the entry and exit of citizens by means of land, sea, and air transport on January 3. The move was aimed at relaxing the sweeping COVID-19 precautionary procedures in place to stem the spread of the new UK and South Africa variant. The Saudi government is now set to scrap the coronavirus-related travel ban that it announced on December 21. The reopening of the borders and resuming international air travel dates are yet to be announced officially, according to sources of Saudi Press Agency (SPA). The country is now issuing visas following temporary suspension due to the pandemic as it plans to de-escalate the preventative measures.

According to a statement by Saudis interior ministry, effective January 2021, the civil servants, businessmen, those in dire need of medical treatment abroad, students, and essential workers will be exempted from all kinds of COVID-19 bans imposed in the country. Citizens of Gulf Cooperation Council states will now be allowed to enter and exit the country, effective September 15, 2021, followed by the decision to resume Umrah, a pre-pilgrimage ritual, which the government now plans to resume for overseas travellers. State press SPA, citing an official source at the ministry, reported that the kingdom will make a series of relaxation announcements shortly.

Read: Congress Opens New Session As COVID-19, Biden's Win Dominate

Read: Cuban Santeria Priests Reveal Their New Year Predictions

Opening all ports

In a statement carried by SPA, Saudi Arabias ministry of interior reportedly said that the dates for halting the pandemic related restrictions on the citizens traveling to and from the Kingdom and the decision of opening of all the ports across all means of transportation within the nation will be announced soon by the ministry in a conference. The countrys nationals and expatriates had remained exempted from the bans imposed to curb the newer variants of the SARS-CoV-2 strain.

However, in recent relaxation, the kingdom urged that the travellers coming from high-risk nations such as the UK, South Africa and any other country with cases of the new variant will have to stay at least 14 days out of these countries, elsewhere, before entering Saudi Arabia.

Read: AstraZeneca Plans 2 Million Doses A Week Of COVID-19 Vaccine For UK: Reports

Read: As India Approves 2 COVID-19 Vaccines, Here's What DCGI Said On Bharat Biotech's Covaxin
Kolkata:

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday termed the Centres notification on cattle slaughter as a deliberate attempt to encroach upon the states powers and affirmed her government would not accept it. Banerjee said that she would approach the court and challenge it.

The Union government had last week banned the sale and purchase of cattle from animal markets for slaughter.

The environment ministry had notified the stringent Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Regulation of Livestock Markets) Rules, 2017 under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.

We will challenge it legally. We will consult the states Advocate-General on this matter. I will request the Centre not to interfere with the states matter and destroy the federal structure, she told a press conference at the state secretariat.

Also Read: Mamata Banerjee meets PM Narendra Modi, discusses issues related to development

They (Centre) are an elected government and they have their jurisdiction. The state government is also an elected government and it has its jurisdiction, Banerjee said.

It is a deliberate attempt to encroach upon the states powers. It is undemocratic, unconstitutional and unethical. It is also an attempt to destroy the federal structure, she said.

Also Read: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee to be probed in Narada sting operation

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Iran's Foreign Minister has sent out a menacing message to US President Donald Trump warning him not to take military action against Tehran amid increasing tension between the two nations.

Javad Zarif posted the warning to Twitter on Saturday, one day before Iran prepares to mark the first anniversary of the death of General Qassem Soleimani, who was assassinated in a US drone strike.

Zarif posited that Israel - Iran's arch-enemy and the United State's closest Middle Eastern ally - may try to kill US soldiers and make it look like an Iranian attack in order to provoke Trump to take on Tehran.

'New intelligence from Iraq indicate that Israeli agent-provocateurs are plotting attacks against Americansputting an outgoing Trump in a bind with a fake casus belli. Be careful of a trap, @realDonaldTrump,' Zarif wrote.

'Any fireworks will backfire badly, particularly against your same BFFs [Israel]'.

Iran's Foreign Minister has sent out a menacing message to US President Donald Trump warning him not to take military action against Tehran amid increasing tension between the two nations

Zarif posited that Israel - Iran's arch-enemy and the United State's closest Middle Eastern ally - may try to kill US soldiers and make it look like an Iranian attack in order to provoke Trump to take on Tehran

On Sunday, Iran will mark the first anniversary of the death of General Qassem Soleimani, who was assassinated in a US drone strike

It comes as US intelligence officials have reportedly been alarmed at growing indications that Iranian forces are on high alert and a possible attack on American forces is 'imminent' to the Soleimani anniversary.

The head of Iran's judiciary, Ebrahim Raisi, appeared to threaten Trump himself, saying all those who had a role in the killing of Soleimani last year will not be able to 'escape law and justice,' even if they were an American president.

'They will witness severe revenge,' Raisi told the gathering at Tehran University, referring to Trump and US military leaders.

'What has come so far has only been glimpses.'

'Do not presume that someone, as the president of America, who appeared as a murderer or ordered a murder, may be immune from justice being carried out. Never,' Raisi said.

'Those who had a role in this assassination and crime will not be safe on Earth.'

On Thursday, the United States reportedly removed its only aircraft carrier from the Middle East region to 'de-escalate' tensions with Iran.

Acting defense secretary, Christopher C. Miller, ordered the redeployment of USS Nimitz away from the region in a 'de-escalatory' signal to Tehran, US officials told the New York Times.

Officials are keen to avoid sparking a crisis in the region less than three weeks before the end of Trump's presidency.

The Nimitz was operating just off the coast of Somalia and was in the midst of a 10-month deployment when the Defense Department announced that it would be returning to homeport.

The move comes just two days after the US flew strategic bombers over Iran as a show of force and a week after Trump warned its government that it would be held responsible for attacks targeting Americans in Iraq.

The head of Iran's judiciary, Ebrahim Raisi, appeared to threaten Trump over the death of Soleimani

The Pentagon earlier this week decided to return home the USS Nimitz, the Naval aircraft carrier that has been operating just off the coast of Somalia during a 10-month deployment. The Nimitz is seen above in the Strait of Hormuz on September 18, 2020

'Our embassy in Baghdad got hit Sunday by several rockets. Three rockets failed to launch' Trump tweeted from aboard Air Force One on December 23.

'Guess where they were from: IRAN. Now we hear chatter of additional attacks against Americans in Iraq... Some friendly health advice to Iran: If one American is killed, I will hold Iran responsible. Think it over,' he wrote.

The decision to send the Nimitz home, announced Thursday by acting secretary of defense Miller, came one day after Air Force B-52 bombers flew nonstop from the United States to the Persian Gulf in a show of force that military officials said was intended to caution Iran against carrying out attacks against US forces or interests.

Sending the Nimitz home to the US West Coast would seem at odds with the idea that a show of force is needed to deter Iran.

This might reflect a split within the defense establishment on whether Iran poses a heightened threat to strike in the waning days of the Trump administration.

In announcing the decision to send the Nimitz home, Miller made no mention of Iran.

Miller, who was installed as acting Pentagon chief after Trump fired Mark Esper just days after the November 3 election, reportedly overruled his top military commander in the Middle East, General Kenneth F. McKenzie, Jr.

The general wanted to extend the deployment of the Nimitz and keep it in the region as a deterrent, according to The New York Times.

But Miller and his top aides, including Ezra Cohen-Watnick, who was recently given a senior intelligence policy position within the Pentagon after Trump's post-election purge of the agency, believed that the deterrence value of keeping the Nimitz deployed in the region was limited.

American military analysts in recent days are said to have noticed that Iranian air defenses, maritime forces, and other security units were on higher alert, though it is uncertain if they were readying to strike US troops or were preparing against a possible pre-emptive American attack against them.

The decision to send the Nimitz home was made just days after the American military flew B-52 nuclear-capable bombers over the Persian Gulf region in a show of force. The image above shows a US Air Force B-52H 'Stratofortress' from Minot Air Force Base, ND, being refueled by a KC-135 'Stratotanker' on Wednesday near the Persian Gulf. The show of force was meant to deter Iran from attacking American or allied targets in the Middle East

US Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon escort is aerial refueled during Wednesday's mission. The United States flew strategic bombers over the Persian Gulf for the second time this month

An Iranian woman holds a picture depicting General Qassem Soleimani during a ceremony marking the first anniversary of his assassination by the United States last year in Iraq. US military planners are on alert for possible Iranian retaliation as the anniversary approaches

The Pentagon is reportedly divided as to whether there are credible reports that Iran or pro-Iranian militias in Iraq are intending to launch an attack on American interests in the region this weekend.

One defense official told CNN that the 'current threat level from Iran is the most concerning they have seen since Soleimani's death.'

The official cited intelligence that Iran and its allied militias in Iraq could be plotting attacks against US forces in the Middle East.

Iran is said to be moving short range ballistic missiles into Iraq, according to CNN.

But others in the Pentagon disagree, saying that the threat is being exaggerated and that there is 'not a single piece of corroborating intel' that would suggest an attack is imminent.

When asked about the view that the threats are being exaggerated, a senior military official is quoted by CNN as saying: 'The intelligence isn't perfect as you know, it never is, but we do see several planning efforts underway and if even some of them are true and they execute they could kill several Americans.'

While American defense officials remained divided, there was more saber-rattling coming out of Tehran on Friday.

General Hossein Salami, the top commander of Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, said on Friday that his country was fully prepared to respond to any US military pressure.

The move to bring home the USS Nimitz comes just two days after the US flew strategic bombers over Iran as a show of force and a week after President Trump warned its government that it would be held responsible for attacks targeting Americans in Iraq

Some friendly health advice to Iran: If one American is killed, I will hold Iran responsible. Think it over,' he wrote

Salami spoke at a ceremony at Tehran University commemorating the upcoming one-year anniversary of Soleimani's assassination.

At the time, Iran retaliated by launching a ballistic missile strike on a military base in Iraq that caused brain concussion injuries to about 100 U.S. troops. Washington and Tehran came dangerously close to war as the crisis escalated.

'Today, we have no problem, concern or apprehension toward encountering any powers. We will give our final words to our enemies on the battlefield,' Salami said, without mentioning the U.S. directly. Several top Iranian officials, along with Syrian, Palestinian and Lebanese allies and members of Soleimanis family were in attendance.

Soleimani's replacement, Brigadier General Esmail Ghaani, said at the ceremony that Iran was not afraid of confronting 'powers,' again without naming the US.

He also warned that 'freedom seekers' within the US could retaliate for the attack that killed Soleimani, telling America that 'inside your own home, there might be those who want to respond to the crime that you committed.'

In a sign of just how tense the situation in the Gulf is, Iraqi explosives experts were working to defuse a large mine discovered on an oil tanker in the Persian Gulf and evacuate its crew, authorities said Friday.

The statement came a day after two private security firms said sailors feared they had found a limpet mine on the MT Pola, a Liberian-flagged tanker in the waters off the Iraqi port of Basra.

A limpet mine is a type of naval mine that attaches to the side of a ship, usually by a diver-member of special forces. It later explodes, and can significantly damage a vessel.

Iran has denied that it intends to attack American troops. On Saturday, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif accused arch-enemy Israel of planning to using 'agent-provacateurs' to kill US service members in order to provoke Trump into responding against Tehran

The Iraqi statement said the mine had been attached to a tanker rented from Iraqs Oil Marketing Company SOMO that was refueling another vessel.

Iraq's naval forces were making 'a great effort to accomplish the mission' safely, said Iraq's Security Media Cell, which is affiliated with the countrys security forces.

It was the first official Iraqi confirmation that a mine was discovered on an Iraqi tanker transferring fuel in the Persian Gulf to another vessel.

It did not identify either vessels or provide more details.

Meanwhile, Iran has told the United Nations nuclear watchdog it plans to enrich uranium to up to 20 per cent purity, a level it achieved before its 2015 accord, at its Fordow site buried inside a mountain, the agency said on Friday.

The move is the latest of several recent announcements by Iran to the International Atomic Energy Agency that it plans to further breach the deal, which it started violating in 2019 in retaliation for Washington's withdrawal from the agreement and the reimposition of U.S. sanctions against Tehran.

This step was one of many mentioned in a law passed by Iran's parliament last month in response to the killing of the country's top nuclear scientist, which Tehran has blamed on Israel.

Such moves by Iran could complicate efforts by President-elect Joe Biden to rejoin the deal.

General Esmail Ghaani, Soleimani's successor as the new head of Quds Force, speaks during a ceremony on the occasion of first anniversary of death of the force's previous head General Qassem Soleimani in Tehran on Friday

'Iran has informed the Agency that in order to comply with a legal act recently passed by the country's parliament, the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran intends to produce low-enriched uranium (LEU) up to 20 percent at the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant,' the IAEA said in a statement.

An IAEA report to member states earlier on Friday obtained by Reuters used similar wording in describing a letter by Iran to the IAEA dated December 31.

'Iran's letter to the Agency ... did not say when this enrichment activity would take place,' the IAEA statement said.

Fordow was built inside a mountain, apparently to protect it from aerial bombardment, and the 2015 deal does not allow enrichment there.

Iran is already enriching at Fordow with first-generation IR-1 centrifuges.

Iran has breached the deal's 3.67 per cent limit on the purity to which it can enrich uranium, but it has only gone up to 4.5 per cent so far, well short of the 20 per cent it achieved before the deal and the 90 per cent that is weapons-grade.

The deal's main aim was to extend the time Iran would need to produce enough fissile material for a nuclear bomb, if it chose to, to at least a year from roughly two to three months.

It also lifted international sanctions against Tehran.

US intelligence agencies and the IAEA believe Iran had a secret, coordinated nuclear weapons program that it halted in 2003.

Iran denies ever having had one.
City approves first reading of temporary medical marijuana ordinance

With state officials still putting together the oversight rules for medical marijuana establishments, local governments need temporary ordinances.
On January 9, 1882, in the town of Yevlakh (Azerbaijan), Pavel Florensky was born, who would later be called by his contemporaries "Pascal of our time" or "Russian Leonardo da Vinci". His interests included not only philosophy and theology, but also mathematics, engineering, philology, history, poetry ...

Everyone knows Father Pavel as a religious thinker, but not everyone remembers that first he graduated from the Physics and Mathematics of Moscow University, and only then from the Moscow Theological Academy, becoming a master of theology, professor of philosophy, professor of painting. At the same time, he worked as a mathematician, physicist, electronic engineer, astronomer, chemist, participated in the work on the GOELRO plan, edited the "Technical Encyclopedia", wrote the books "Imaginations in Geometry", "Dielectrics and Their Technical Application". Moreover, Florensky did not stop his research activities even in exile: in Siberia he worked at a permafrost station, in Solovki he created a plant for the production of iodine and agar-agar ...

Florensky's biographers are still asking how he managed to combine the priesthood, adopted in 1911, with physics, mathematics, engineering, atomic energy, while paying great attention to raising each of his five children.

Perhaps part of Florensky's genius comes from the mixing of blood. On the paternal side, he was Russian, and on the maternal side, he descended from the ancient Caucasian Albanians who inhabited Karabakh. About his mother in the book "To my children. Memories of past years", Florensky then writes: "Her real name is Salome (Salome). But then it was customary to replace the Armenian names with equivalent or supposedly equivalent Russian names. And so she turned out to be Olga, and so firmly that decisively none of her acquaintances suspected her real name, and even she herself probably remembered this only when she was deliberately reminded of that. She was born on March 25, 1859 in the city of Signagh. Her father's name was Pavel Gerasimovich Satarov, and mother - Sofia Grigorievna Paatova ".

Their clan belonged to "a heterogeneous and ethnically ill-mixed mass of inhabitants of Armenia, to the branch that is called" Albania "by the Armenians themselves." As Florensky himself found out, "this is an offshoot of the most ancient inhabitants of the Mediterranean basin, the so-called Mediterranean race. As an ethnic bedding, this race lay in pre-Homeric Greece. In a purer form, its remnants were given by the most ancient tribes of the Lydians and Phrygians. Deeper to the northeast, they are part mixed with the surrounding Ararat population, some of them were preserved here as ethnic nodules.One of these nodules survived until the early Middle Ages near the shores of Lake Gokchi, and around that time, pressed by some kind of invasion, advanced even further north, into the present Elisavetpol province. There were formed five independent regions , or meliks, who later fell into vassal dependence of Persia, then Turkey. Several clans that came out from here and partly settled in Georgia and descended from the ruling houses of these regions, remembered and remembers something special in their past, although in most cases they do not know how to express their clan memory articulate in my words. "

"The motives of ancestral pride have long been forgotten, but the very feeling of superiority has not disappeared from that ... These births have long entered into marriages only in their own circle, and tuberculosis, devastating them, is probably retribution for this exclusivity. In the circle of these few family names, related among themselves by origin and related by the most diverse properties, the family of Melik-Beglyarovs also belonged, which was closely related to the Satarovs through my eldest aunt Elizaveta Pavlovna and some other marriages. Meliks, that is, kings, "says Florensky.

Also, in his comments on generational paintings (documents in which information about ancestors is presented in the form of a list divided into generations), Florensky will write: "The Karabakh Armenians are actually not Armenians, but a special tribe, Udins, related, perhaps, to Lezgins; in ancient times they were called Albanians, and the Armenians called them Akhavane. " But this is already, as the researchers write, about the Melik-Beglyarovs, from them (in the 16th century) the Saparovs descended, and they were in property with them through Olga Pavlovna's sister - Elizaveta Pavlovna, the wife of Sergei Teimurazovich Melik-Beglyarov (his mother was a "stolen Persian - Genjin khansha ").

Nevertheless, Florensky paid more attention to the Armenians, and his forecasts are of considerable interest: The Armenians have a patriarchal principle and a convulsive grasping at the foundations of their nationality, which are clearly leaking out. My personal conviction: this nation is not only historically desperate, but it will also be the task of dissolving in other peoples, bringing here the enzyme of the ancient and from the fortress already unproductive in the pure form of its blood. But the instinct of the Armenians themselves, naturally, fights against fate, and in significant genera this struggle is especially painful. "
International

60 militants killed in Afghanistan

Kabul, Jan 3 (IANS) | Publish Date: 1/3/2021 12:16:07 PM IST

At least 60 militants have been killed and several others injured in clashes and airstrikes in Afghanistans restive Helmand province, the army said on Sunday.

On Saturday, Taliban shadow district chief of Helmand, Mullah Shafiullah alias Mawlawi Nazim, and his five associated were killed in airstrikes in surrounding areas of the province, Xinhua news agency quoted the Afghan Armys Miwand 215 Corps as saying in a statement.

In addition, 54 Taliban militants had been killed and eight others wounded during separate airstrikes and clashes with the army in Sorgodar and Bushran, on outskirts of provincial capital Lashkar Gah, as well as Naway-i-Barakzai, Garmser and Nad Ali districts from early Friday to Saturday morning, the Defence Ministry said in a statement on Sunday.

Those among the killed militants were a Taliban divisional commander Abdul Salaam and three militants bomb experts, the statement read.

Eight Talibans control and command centres, weapons, vehicles and several rounds of guided rockets were destroyed during the airstrikes, according to the statement.

Helmand province, notorious for poppy growing, is a known Taliban stronghold.

The militant group is yet to make comments on the development.
A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind.
Kathmandu, January 3

The Ministry of Health and Population has informed that the countrys Covid-19 tally has reached 261,859 as of Sunday afternoon.

The ministry says 421 new cases were confirmed in the country in the past 24 hours.

In this period, 5,800 swab samples were tested. So far, 1 million and 948,502 people have been tested in the country.

As of today, 5,487 cases are active.

Of the total cases so far, 254,494 people have achieved recovery whereas 1,878 died, according to the ministry. In the past 24 hours, 637 people have been discharged whereas eight deaths have been reported.

Over 350 people are quarantined across the country.
In what Prime Minister Narendra Modi called a decisive turning point in Indias fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) on Sunday formally authorised the emergency use of two coronavirus vaccines developed by AstraZeneca-Oxford University and Hyderabad-based pharmaceutical firm Bharat Biotech.

A decisive turning point to strengthen a spirited fight! DCGI granting approval to vaccines of Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech accelerates the road to a healthier and COVID-free nation. Congratulations India. Congratulations to our hardworking scientists and innovators, the PM tweeted.

The momentous occasion in Indias Covid-19 battle, however, was disrupted by the Opposition, which indulged in politics over the approval that is expected to kick-off one of the worlds biggest vaccination drives. India, the world's second most-infected nation with more than 10.3 million Covid-19 cases and almost 150,000 deaths, is set to inoculate 1.3 billion people.

DCGI VG Somani, in a virtual briefing on Sunday, said, The vaccines of Serum Institute (AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine) and Bharat Biotech are being approved for restricted use in emergency situations.

Somani said the drug regulator would never approve anything if there is the slightest safety concern. The vaccines are 100 per cent safe, he said, adding that side effects such as mild fever, pain and allergy are common for every vaccine.

The medical fraternity, too, hailed the achievement. Its a great day for our country and it's a very good way to start the New Year. Both the vaccines are made in India. They are cost-effective and easy to administer. We should, in a very short period, start rolling out vaccine, said Dr Randeep Guleria, Director, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi.

Despite experts allaying fears, Congress leaders Shashi Tharoor, Anand Sharma and Jairam Ramesh questioned the vaccine approval. While Tharoor said the approval was premature since Bharat Biotech is yet to conduct Phase III trials and advised that its use be put off till trials are completed, Ramesh asked health minister Harsh Vardhan to clarify why internationally accepted protocols on Phase III trials are being modified.

On Saturday, Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav had said he would not take the BJPs vaccine. I am not going to get vaccinated for now. How can I trust BJP's vaccine, when our government will be formed everyone will get free vaccine he had said.

BJP and other parties leaders slammed the Opposition for indulging in politics rather than hailing the achievements of Indian scientists.

Indias opposition is indulging in worst kind of fear mongering with regard to the Covid vaccine. But this isnt the first time. We have seen similar vicious campaigns during the anti-polio drive too. But Covid, unlike polio, is fatal. Does the opposition want more people dead? tweeted Amit Malviya, national in-charge of Bharatiya Janata Partys (BJP) information and technology department.

Uttar Pradesh deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya said Akhilesh Yadav by refusing to get vaccinated has not just disrespected the countrys government, but also the countrys scientists and doctors who have worked day and night to prepare the vaccine

Former Congress leader Sanjay Jha, tweeted, I find the campaign against Bharat Biotechs Covaxin quite ridiculous. Mr Modis government is not crazy to endanger lives of its own people through rash experimentation. Can we please trust our bureaucracy, doctors, scientists, R&D, more please if not our politicians?

Civil aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri called out the cynics. Our in-house cynics M/s Jairam, Tharoor & Akhilesh are behaving true to form. They first questioned the valour of our soldiers & are now unhappy that the two vaccines to get DCGI nod are made in India. Clearly they are on a quest for permanent political marginalization, he tweeted.

Former Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) chief minister and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah, who is the BJPs political opponent, too, supported the vaccine. I dont know about anyone else but when my turn comes Ill happily roll up my sleeve & get a COVID vaccine. This damn virus has been far too disruptive & if a vaccine helps bring about a semblance of normalcy after all the chaos then sign me up, he tweeted on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the AstraZeneca-Oxford shot (Covishield), already approved in Britain, Argentina and El Salvador, will take the lead and Bharat Biotechs Covaxin will be administered under stricter conditions given no efficacy data has been released for it. Somani said the overall efficacy of the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine was 70.42%, while Bharat Biotech's Covaxin was safe and provides a robust immune response.

Somani said the Bharat Biotech vaccine had been approved in public interest as an abundant precaution, in clinical trial mode, to have more options for vaccinations, especially in case of infection by mutant strains.

The government has already been holding nationwide drills ahead of the mass inoculation drive and 96,000 health workers have been trained to administer the shots.

Both vaccines will be administered in two doses and stored at 2-8 degree Celsius (36 to 48F), he said, without clarifying the intervals between the shots. A Reuters report quoted sources as saying that the doses would have to be given four weeks apart.

Adar Poonawalla, CEO of Serum Institute of India, which will manufacture The AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine, had tweeted, Happy new year, everyone! All the risks @SerumInstIndia took with stockpiling the vaccine, have finally paid off. COVISHIELD, India's first COVID-19 vaccine is approved, safe, effective and ready to roll-out in the coming weeks.

DCGI on Sunday also gave permission to Cadila Healthcare Ltd to conduct Phase-III clinical trials on 26,000 Indian participants for its DNA-platform vaccine candidate, whose interim trial data showed was "safe and immunogenic with three doses when administered intradermally".

By Bonnie Watson Coleman

Nationwide, cities and municipalities are stretched in ways they could never have imagined nor planned for. With dimming hopes for federal aid in the pipeline, its forcing them to make difficult choices. Hudson County, not far from my own congressional district, has had to make just such a choice: extend its contract with Immigration and Customs Enforcement in order to keep people on the payroll or stay true to the promises it made to end it.

This crisis is the quintessential example of what happens when our justice system, and prisons in particular, operate with a profit incentive. Its also an important illustration of why it has to stop.

Our national history, and particularly the stories of African Americans and other marginalized groups, are proof that where there is a financial incentive for incarceration there is always an equal drive to ensure people fill prison cells.

From Ferguson to Parchman Farm, history is replete with examples of the insidious ties between the use of incarceration and corrupt profit motives. Whether were talking about the War on Drugs or the war on people whove come here seeking a better life, weve proven over and over that allowing profit into the equation creates a situation where what is right, or logical, or even most efficient is replaced by what will bring financial gain. That profit margin begets an addiction that eventually controls decision making, whether thats about mandatory minimums, or a local prison contract, as evidenced by Hudson Countys current dilemma.

There has to be a demarcation between the dispensation of justice, and the revenue of a business or budget lines of local governments. Anytime you allow them to blur, you dont just end up with the potential for corrupt motivations, you risk undermining faith in the system itself. As we continue to have a national conversation about what justice means, about the impact of mass incarceration not just on the individuals who serve time but within the communities they leave behind, we have to consider the removal of profit from the scales.

Public polling suggests that Americans overwhelmingly support banning private prisons, and Im proud to have authored legislation that would do just that. While it seems like a lifetime ago, there was recognition of this problem back in 2016, when then-President Obama directed the Department of Justice to reduce the use of private prisons after a DOJ study revealed such facilities had significantly higher instances of violence, contraband and the use of force. Efforts to back away from for-profit prisons ended when President Trump took office, and it is worth noting that his campaign and transition received big donations from this industry. It is my hope that President-elect Biden restores these efforts, ensuring we take the steps necessary to get profit incentives out of every part of our justice system.

Whether its a private prison contract that eventually influences local arrest rates, or a county so financially addicted to a federal reimbursement that it turns a blind eye to reports of abuse and human rights violations, we cannot condone the monetization of justice. We have to stop it where it already exists and prevent it from creeping further. Further calls for criminal justice reform will be inherently incomplete, and our efforts to provide second chances and heal the wounds of old policy failures will be hollow if we dont take profit off the table.

U.S. Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman represents New Jerseys 12th Congressional District, which includes parts of Mercer, Middlesex, Somerset and Union counties.

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A string of assassinations has sowed fear and chaos across Afghanistan as a fresh round of peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban begin in Qatar Tuesday.

Months of deliberations between the two sides have yielded little so far, but both parties made something of a breakthrough last year when they finally agreed at least on what to discuss in the next round.

Afghan government negotiators will push for a permanent ceasefire and to protect the existing system of governance, in place since the ouster of the Taliban in 2001 by a US-led invasion in the wake of the September 11 attacks.

"The talks are going to be very complicated and time-consuming," Ghulam Farooq Majroh, a government negotiator told AFP.

"But we are hopeful to arrive at a result as soon as possible as people are tired of this bloody war."

The Taliban did not offer any comment.

The first direct talks between the warring sides opened in September after months of delays, but quickly became bogged down by disputes on the basic framework of discussions and religious interpretations.

A concerted diplomatic effort from Washington finally led to a consensus.

The negotiations follow a landmark troop withdrawal deal signed in February by the Taliban and Washington, which saw the US pledge to pull out all foreign forces from Afghanistan by May 2021.

- Violence increases -

The talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban have been marred by an increase in violence from the start, but a new trend is a wave of high-profile targeted killings of officials, activists, and journalists.

The deputy governor for Kabul province, five journalists, and a prominent election activist have been among those assassinated in Kabul and other cities since November.

Officials blame the Taliban for the mayhem, although the jihadist Islamic State group has claimed some of the assaults.

"The Taliban aim to divide the people and trigger criticism and frustration against the government's security institutions with these assassinations," Javid Faisal, an adviser to the National Security Council, told AFP.

Story continues

"But the killings are uniting people."

Nishank Motwani, deputy director of the Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit think tank, said the Taliban would not formally claim responsibility for the political assassinations, but nevertheless wanted to demonstrate "to its cadre that the Taliban are who they are and have not changed".

The Taliban carried out more than 18,000 attacks across the country in 2020, Afghanistan's spy chief Ahmad Zia Siraj told lawmakers this week.

The first nine months of last year saw 2,177 civilians killed and 3,822 wounded, according to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan.

Ordinary Afghans long for better security but hold little hope for an immediate improvement despite the talks.

"We have no security at all in Kabul. For how long will we need to keep burying our loved ones?" said Jamshid Mohammad, a resident of Kabul.

jds-emh/ecl/fox
Here's how material shortages are hitting home construction

"It's not just that prices are going up; it's how quickly they're going up and nothing's coming down," said CEO of the PA Builders Association.
Standard Control Systems (SCS), a Dublin-based provider of energy-management systems to companies such as retail giant Primark, has plans to double its size to employ 100 people over the next five years.

The company, which also provides its products to cater to the energy demands of large scale buildings in the data centre, pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors, recently released its results for 2019.

Last year, SCS reported a turnover of 20.2m for 2019, an increase of 30pc on the previous year and gross profit of 6.8m, an increase of 51pc.

Operating profit at SCS over 2019 was 540,833, after charging 1.1m in defined contribution pension costs. Retained earnings for the year were 3.6m, up from 3.1m.

Speaking with the Sunday Independent on the results, Sean O'Toole, the chief executive of SCS, said he expected the company's profitability to improve slightly this year from last.

"The strong performance of the business in 2019 is a testament to the hard work and agility of our people as the business effectively responds to the growing needs of our valued client base - both domestically in the Irish market and increasingly in recent times to meet requirements internationally," he said.

"Last year was a strong year for the business, and despite the hiccup that Covid-19 presented in the second quarter of 2020, current-year trading is shaping up to be our strongest yet.

"Our strategy is based on our agility to provide complex, technological solutions at a competitive price point to our clients, and as a result of quality project delivery and be viewed by those clients as a trusted business partner going forward. This successful strategy has underpinned our recent expansion into international markets, and it is here that we envisage projected growth will be achieved over the coming years.

"In addition to significant assignments in Ireland, we are currently fulfilling projects for international tech, pharma and large retail clients in Holland, Spain, Germany, and Sweden, and further afield in South Africa and Bahrain".

On the planned expansion at SCS, which employs around 55 people, O'Toole said he hoped to scale the Dublin-based business through its growth internationally.

"We want to double the size of the business over the next five years," he said. "That is our plan.

"SCS has a lovely head office in Dublin, and it's underutilised. We want to expand into it. That would bring us to 100 people and definitely 50m turnover."

He added that SCS had "put the wheels in motion" regarding opening a new office in the Swedish market.

"Legislation over the next couple of years will necessitate us opening an office in Sweden," he said. "We have a lot of work there over the next five years.

"We are getting assistance from other companies out there who are putting on the green jersey and giving us lots of help. We are leveraging off what they have already done in that jurisdiction."

O'Toole said one of the challenges SCS faces with its international expansion plans is its ability to get people in foreign markets. SCS is partnering with two local players in Sweden to help it with the commissioning on its sites in that market.

On performance in 2020, O'Toole said the company would likely post revenue of around 20m, which could have been higher but for the Covid-19 pandemic. He said the data centre sector had driven revenue growth.

Looking to the year ahead, O'Toole said SCS was in a great position to achieve its ambitious growth plans.

"We are extremely optimistic," he said. "[Our customers] like what we do. They are putting us into these international markets.

"We don't actively have to market or do a hard sell on it - they are pulling us to replicate what we have done here in these other jurisdictions. That is why we see that potential growth curve over the next five years."

Sunday Indo Business
Targetting 140 to 150 seats for



the BJP in the next assembly polls, Chief Minister on Sunday said he would soon begin travelling across the state to organise the party for the purpose.

"A target has been set for making 140-150 (BJP) MLAs win in the next assembly polls.

To organise the party for this, I will soon begin a state-wide tour," he was quoted as saying by BJP in a release.

He was speaking after inaugurating the state BJP's special meeting in Shivamogga, attended by party general secretary in charge of Arun Singh, state unit president Nalin Kumar Kateel, Union Ministers Pralhad Joshi and Sadananda Gowda,national general secretary C T Ravi,among other leaders.

The next assembly election in is expected to be held in 2023.

During the 2018 assembly elections, the Yediyurappa led BJP got 104 seats, while Congress and the JD(S) won 78 and 37 seats respectively.

It won the subsequent bypolls, taking the party's strength to 118 members, other than the Speaker, in the 225 member assembly.

Yediyurappa's statement on Sunday comes days after he ruled out leadership change and asserted that he would remain in the CM's post for the remaining over two year term and there was no confusion on this within the ruling BJP.

There has been intense speculation in some quarters that the BJP high command is mulling leadership change in Karnataka in the days to come considering Yediyurappa's age (77 years), which the party has rejected outright.

Yediyurappa, the release said, called for maximum efforts to ensure the party's victory in the by- to Belagavi Lok Sabha seat, and Maski and Basavakalyana assembly segments, which are likely soon.

Assuring that tthe Kasturirangan Committee report on conserving the Western Ghats would not be allowed to be implemented as it would affect farmers, he said "honest efforts" would be made in this regard.

Karnataka rejected the report just ahead of the National Green Tribunals December 31 deadline for its implementation.

The Chief Minister also assured that Presidents and Vice Presidents to Gram Panchayats, for which the polls were held recently, will be elected in accordance with the law.

Lauding the efforts and sacrifices of thousands of workers for bringing to power today, the party that once had just two legislators in the state, he credited the collective leadership and efforts for the performance in the recent Gram Panchayat polls.

Calling for similar efforts in the coming Taluk and Zilla Panchayat polls, to be held on party symbols, he said the performance will have a bearing in the next assembly election.

He said workers and leaders should put in at least some years towards working for the party organisation.

State BJP chief Nalin Kumar Kateel noted that Taluk and Zilla Panchayat polls will be held in about four months and said BJP will have to win 80 per cent of the seats.

(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.)
Greta Thunberg hit back at critics who say her parents are behind rise to fame

In the tweet, the activist jokingly said she is 'free at last' now she has turned 18

Miss Thunberg said she would be spending her birthday night in her 'local pub'

Said she would 'expose all the dark secrets behind the climate [...] conspiracy'

Along with her caption, the 18-year-old shared a selfie, giving a thumbs-up

Greta Thunberg has joked that her 'evil handlers can no longer control her' in a tongue-in-cheek tweet marking her 18th birthday.

The activist sarcastically hit back at critics who claim parents secretly masterminded her rise to fame by saying she is 'free at last' now she has turned 18.

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Miss Thunberg said she would be spending her birthday night in her 'local pub' as Sweden's minimum drinking age is 18.

There, she will be 'exposing all the dark secrets behind the climate and school strike conspiracy' in reference to those who falsely believe global warming is a lie.

Along with her humourous caption, the 18-year-old shared a selfie, giving a thumbs-up to the camera while wearing a shirt reading 'flat Mars society'.

It appears to be a sarcastic reference to the Flat Earth Society whose members tout the bizarre conspiracy theory that the Earth is a disk surrounded by an ice wall.

Greta Thunberg has joked that her 'evil handlers can no longer control her' in a tongue-in-cheek tweet marking her 18th birthday. She shared the caption along with a selfie (pictured)

The activist jokingly hit back at critics (her tweet, pictured) who claim parents secretly masterminded her rise to fame by saying she is 'free at last' now she has turned 18

Her post read: 'Thank you so much for all the well-wishes on my 18th birthday!

'Tonight you will find me down at the local pub exposing all the dark secrets behind the climate and school strike conspiracy and my evil handlers who can no longer control me! I am free at last!'

In an interview ahead of her milestone birthday, Miss Thunberg said she 'doesn't care' about the jet-setting exploits of celebrities who preach about the environment.

The teenage activist became the face of the youth climate movement after launching a solo 'school strike' outside the Swedish parliament aged just 15.

Since then, Miss Thunberg has spoken at the United Nations climate summit, been nominated for a Nobel peace prize and was dubbed Time magazine's 2019 person of the year.

But she said her global superstardom won't last forever so is trying to 'use her position' to get as much done as possible 'in this limited amount of time'.

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Speaking in an interview with The Times, the 17-year-old was asked how she feels about celebrities who travel the world in gas-guzzling planes while preaching about climate change.

Miss Thunberg (pictured) has said she 'doesn't care' about the jet-setting exploits of celebrities who preach about the environment in an interview ahead of her 18th birthday

The teenage climate change activist (pictured) became the face of the youth climate movement after launching a solo 'school strike' outside the Swedish parliament aged just 15

Miss Thunberg has spoken at the United Nations climate summit, been nominated for a Nobel peace prize and was dubbed Time magazine's 2019 person of the year (pictured)

She simply replied: 'I don't care.'

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were criticised for using private jets in 2019 - including four trips in just 11 days in August - despite their eco credentials.

Miss Thunberg said: 'I'm not telling anyone else what to do, but there is a risk when you are vocal about these things and don't practise as you preach, then you will become criticised for that and what you are saying won't be taken seriously.'

The teenager - who has Asperger's syndrome - was critical of Boris Johnson's ten-point 'green industrial revolution'.

Click here to resize this module

The Prime Minister launched a 12billion plan for the environment last year, saying it could create 250,000 jobs and significantly slash the country's carbon emissions.

Among the ambitious proposals are plans to ban new sales of petrol and diesel cars by 2030, install thousands of offshore wind turbines and plant 75,000 acres of trees per year.

But Miss Thunberg (pictured) said her global superstardom won't last forever so she is trying to 'use her position' to get as much done as possible 'in this limited amount of time'

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle (pictured) were criticised for using private jets in 2019 - including four trips in just 11 days in August - despite their eco credentials

Miss Thunberg said that while the proposals were seen as better than the Government doing nothing - she pointed out that scientists have criticised it for not doing enough to tackle climate change.

In the interview, the activist also said that she doesn't mull over criticism levied at her from world leaders.

In 2019, Miss Thunberg shouted 'How dare you?' during the UN General Assembly - claiming that country heads were failing the younger generation.

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US President Donald Trump sarcastically said of her UN Speech: 'She seems like a very happy young girl looking forward to a bright and wonderful future. So nice to see.'

Last December, President Trump told Miss Thunberg to 'work on her anger management problem' and 'get a good old-fashioned movie with a friend' after she became the youngest person to be awarded with Time magazine's Person Of The Year accolade.

After she was named Person Of The Year by Time Magazine, President Trump said Thunberg needed to 'chill' and 'work on her anger management problem'

The teenage activist mocked the president and changed her Twitter bio using his words

The 17-year-old mimicked a tweet the President had directed at her last year and told him to 'chill' and 'work on his anger management problem'

In his tweet last year the President wrote: 'So ridiculous. Greta must work on her anger management problem, then go to a good old-fashioned movie with a friend! Chill Greta, chill!'

In November, Miss Thunberg threw the criticism back at him.

Taking to Twitter to reply to the President's calls to 'stop the count', the teenager wrote: 'So ridiculous. Donald must work on his anger management problem, then go to a good old-fashioned movie with a friend! Chill Donald, Chill!'

Last month, the activist said she was celebrating being back in school but accused nations of ignoring climate experts, despite the pandemic showing the importance of following science.

Miss Thunberg took a gap year from 2019 in a bid to force leaders from around the world to take action on climate change.

The schoolgirl was seen at the UN headquarters last year with an enraged expression on her face as President Trump walked in

As her studies get back under way she told novelist Margaret Atwood during her guest editorship of BBC Radio 4's Today programme the coronavirus crisis has 'shone a light' on how 'we cannot make it without science'.

And she accused the world of listening to 'one type' of scientist, and ignoring others warning of climate change.

When asked if the pandemic's impact on people's appreciation of science could have an effect on climate information the teenager said: 'It could definitely have.

'I think this pandemic has shone a light on how ... we are depending on science and that we cannot make it without science.

'But of course, we are only listening to one type of scientist, or some types of scientists, and, for example, we are not listening to climate scientists, we're not listening to scientists who work on biodiversity.

'That of course needs to change.'

Earlier she had shared a picture of herself on a bike with her school rucksack over her shoulder as she celebrated returning to education.

But the environmental campaigner expressed scepticism when questioned about nations' pledges to reduce their carbon emissions, such as China which has committed to reach a net zero target by 2060.

She said: 'That would be very nice if they actually meant something.

'We can't just keep talking about future, hypothetical, vague, distant dates and pledges. We need to do things now. And also net zero ... that is a very big loophole, you can fit a lot in that word net.'

But she praised the election of Joe Biden as US president who has pledged to rejoin the Paris climate accord on the first day of his presidency.

Miss Thunberg added: 'It could be a good start of something new.

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'Let's hope that it is like that, and let's push for it to become like that.'
Pakistan authorities on Saturday arrested an alleged planner of the 2008 Mumbai attacks over a separate case of terrorism financing, officials said.

Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, a leader of the banned militant organisation Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) was arrested in the eastern city of Lahore where he was running a medical dispensary, Punjab's counterterrorism department said in a statement.

He used the dispensary to collect funds for militant activities, it added, without providing details.

LeT, including Lakhvi, is accused by India of plotting the four-day assault that left 166 people dead.

India has long seethed at Pakistan's failure to hand over or prosecute those accused of planning and organising the Mumbai attacks.

Lakhvi was detained in 2015 over the attacks but released months later. The government slapped him with a series of detention orders but judges repeatedly cancelled them.

Earlier this year, Pakistan also arrested firebrand cleric and alleged mastermind of the seige Hafiz Saeed, who heads the Jamaat-ud-Dawa, a wing of LeT, for terrorism financing.

Saaed has denied involvement in the attacks.

Lakhvi will be presented before an anti-terrorism court in Lahore, CTD said in the statement.

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Two top U.S. health officials on Sunday disputed a claim by President Donald Trump that federal data on COVID-19 cases and deaths in the United States is overblown, and both expressed optimism that the pace of vaccinations is picking up.

'The deaths are real deaths,' Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said on ABC News' This Week, adding that jam-packed hospitals and stressed-out healthcare workers are 'not fake. That's real.'

Fauci and U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams, who appeared on CNNs State of the Union, defended the accuracy of coronavirus data published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention after Trump attacked the agencys tabulation methods.

'The number of cases and deaths of the China Virus is far exaggerated in the United States because of the @CDCgovs ridiculous method of determination compared to other countries, many of whom report, purposely, very inaccurately and low,' Trump wrote on Twitter Sunday.

He later added: 'Something how Dr. Fauci is revered by the LameStream Media as such a great professional, having done, they say, such an incredible job, yet he works for me and the Trump Administration, and I am in no way given any credit for my work. Gee, could this just be more Fake News?'

More than 20 million people have been infected in the United States and 350,000 have died - or one out of every 950 U.S. residents - since the virus first emerged in China in late 2019. Almost 300,000 new cases were reported Saturday.

'From a public health perspective, I have no reason to doubt those numbers and I think people need to be very aware that its not just about the deaths,' Adams said. 'It's about the hospitalizations, the capacity.'

'The deaths are real deaths,' Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said on ABC News' This Week , adding that jam-packed hospitals and stressed-out healthcare workers are 'not fake. That's real'

U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams, right, who appeared on CNN s State of the Union, defended the accuracy of coronavirus data published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention after Trump attacked the agencys tabulation methods

Trump leaves office on January 20 after losing a bid for a second term to Democrat Joe Biden. He has frequently has downplayed the severity of the pandemic.

The president has also scorned and ignored federal recommendations for containing the spread.

Fauci told ABC: 'To have 300,000 cases in a given day, and between two- and three-thousand deaths a day is just terrible. There's no running away from the numbers.'

He added: 'All you need to do is go out into the trenches. Go to the hospitals and see what the health care workers are dealing with. They are under very stressful situations in many areas of the country. The hospital beds are stretched, people are running out of beds, running out of trained personnel who are exhausted.'

States have reported record numbers of cases over the past few days, and funeral homes in Southern California are being inundated with bodies.

Experts believe the real numbers of deaths and infections are much higher and that many cases were overlooked, in part because of insufficient testing.

Trump on Sunday claimed that the COVID death toll is 'exaggerated'

He later complained that he isn't getting credit for expert's work

Fauci and Adams expressed optimism that the pace of vaccinating Americans against the virus is accelerating after a slow start.

More than 4.2 million people have been inoculated since December 14 with one of two vaccines, far short of the Trump administration's goal of 20 million by the end of 2020.

'We wanted to get to 20 million, but some glimmer of hope is that in the last 72 hours, theyve gotten 1.2 million doses into peoples arms, which is an average of about 500,000 a day,' Fauci said. 'We are not where we want to be. Theres no doubt about that. But I think we can get there.'

He said he believed that the number of daily vaccinations could be expanded to one million and called for 'a real partnership' between the federal and state governments.

Trump leaves office on January 20 after losing a bid for a second term to Democrat Joe Biden. He has frequently has downplayed the severity of the pandemic. The president has also scorned and ignored federal recommendations for containing the spread

The CDC was in September forced to issue a statement in which they denied exaggerating the number of COVID deaths.

They said then: 'In 94% of deaths with COVID-19, other conditions are listed in addition to COVID-19. These causes may include chronic conditions like diabetes or hypertension.

'In 6% of the death certificates that list Covid-19, only one cause or condition is listed.

'The underlying cause of death is the condition that began the chain of events that ultimately led to the person's death. In 92% of all deaths that mention Covid-19, Covid-19 is listed as the underlying cause of death."
In a significant development, Uttar Pradesh Chief Mnister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday (January 2) said that COVID-19 vaccine will be available in the state near Makar Sankranti which will be celebrated on January 14.

"Dry run of COVID-19 vaccination is underway. On 5th January, dry run will be conducted across the state. I am confident that we will be able to bring vaccine around 'Makar Sankranti' and successfully defeat coronavirus," CM Yogi said this while laying the foundation stone of Advocates Building at the collectorate campus in Gorakhpur.

Earlier, CM Yogi had said that Uttar Pradesh is on course to defeat coronavirus through its collective efforts. He added that the World Health Organization (WHO) has also appreciated the efforts taken by different departments in order to control the spread of the coronavirus in the state.

Two months ago, there were over 68,000 active cases of Covid-19 in UP, and now it has come down to 13,000 today. The recovery rate in UP is the best at 97 per cent, and death rate is around 1 per cent. Soon we will conquer this pandemic totally, he said.

On Friday, the Subject Expert Committee of CDSCO recommended emergency use authorisation of the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine while on Saturday the expert panel recommended that Bharat Biotech Covid-19 vaccine applicant Covaxin be approved for restricted emergency use in India.

Meanwhile, Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan on Saturday stated that the COVID-19 vaccine will be provided free of cost to everybody all across the country.

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The minister told reporters during his visit at the Maternity & Child Welfare (MCW) Centre in Daryaganj while reviewing the dry run of administration of the COVID-19 vaccine.
On Dec. 14, Margin Walker, the largest independent live-music promoter in Texas, announced that it was permanently shutting down.

A business that booked more than 3,500 shows in Austin, Dallas, Houston and San Antonio over the past four years had collapsed.

It collapsed under the weight of a COVID-19 pandemic that has taken one of the great joys of life  experiencing live music with a crowd of fellow enthusiasts  away from us and driven countless club owners to (or past) the edge of financial ruin.

On Dec. 21, Congress passed a $900 billion COVID-relief bill that included the Save Our Stages Act, a $15 billion life raft for this countrys independent venues. Six days later, President Donald Trump signed it into law.

As Margin Walker painfully demonstrated, when it comes to music clubs and promoters, the condition is critical and the need is urgent. The Save Our Stages Act wont be a miracle cure, but it can buy some much-needed time until this country turns the corner on the coronavirus.

Blayne Tucker, a San Antonio attorney and co-owner of The Mix, played a pivotal role in getting the legislation passed.

Tucker helped lead the Texas lobbying effort for the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA), a 3,000-member organization which formed in April to represent the interests of music venues.

From the beginning, it was an arduous process, because a lot of it was educating various Congress people, calling up every one of them, Tucker said.

Tucker found a receptive audience with the staff members of U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas. He explained to them that the federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), which had been crafted to provide loans to small businesses hurt by the pandemic, didnt serve the needs of music venues.

Under PPP, loans are fully forgiven only if businesses use at least 60 percent of the funds for payroll.

For a business thats completely shuttered, to base a forgivable loan on payroll, when you have no work to provide people, that program wasnt going to be effective, Tucker said.

Cornyn and U.S. Rep. Roger Williams, a fellow Texas Republican, agreed to lend their names to a letter calling for targeted legislative action to combat the unprecedented crisis afflicting independent venues.

In July, Cornyn and U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minnesota, filed the Save Our Stages Act, a bill which proposed $10 billion in Small Business Administration grants for independent venues. (That figure subsequently got a $5 billion funding bump when small movie theaters and community museums were added to the bill.)

With NIVAs encouragement, music-loving constituents across the country sent 2.1 million emails to their senators and representatives. More than 1,200 artists  including Foo Fighters, Miley Cyrus and The Roots  advocated for the legislation through letters, social-media posts or donations of proceeds to the cause.

Tuckers lobbying effort for NIVA was shrewd, because it was rooted in bipartisanship. He and his NIVA colleagues worked on the assumption that the cultural and economic impact of live venues was something that members of both major parties could appreciate. That assumption proved correct.

What I found that resonated, at least on the Republican side, was this idea that these are small businesses that were mandated by government to shut down and ought to be entitled to some form of just compensation, Tucker said. Kind of analogizing it to the Takings Clause under the Fifth Amendment.

I think that constitutional argument was palatable to a lot of folks on the Republican side, where is wasnt as much couching things as handouts or assistance or bailouts.

For Democratic lawmakers, the argument was pretty clear. An overwhelming number of music venues are located in metropolitan areas, which tend to lean Democratic. Those elected officials have had a front-row ticket to the devastation that COVID-19 wreaked on music clubs.

Hundreds have had to close, Tucker said. Its a slow and steady bleed with every week that goes by, right up until funding comes about.

Folks are exhausting their savings, taking out loans, reaching out to family members. Its a matter of holding on, but nobody can hold on like this without some kind of relief. Because its not like the bills go away.

To help with the administration of the Save Our Stages Act, NIVA has created a task force which will provide policy recommendations for federal regulators.

All we can do is make recommendations, Tucker said. Its a new grant program and regulators themselves arent familiar with the business.

Its kind of educating them in order to distinguish between places that are more or less a restaurant and those that are intended to be helped by the bill.

Itll probably be a couple of months before independent venues start receiving funding help. It cant come soon enough.

ggarcia@express-news.net | Twitter: @gilgamesh470
Phuket officials mark just one road accident in a day

PHUKET: The Phuket Provincial office of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM-Phuket) reported this morning (Jan 3) that for the 24-hour period for Jan 2, Day 5 of the Seven Days of Danger campaign for New Year 2021, Phuket suffered just one single accident on the roads.

accidentstransportSafety

By The Phuket News

Sunday 3 January 2021, 12:20PM

Phuket Vice Governor Vikrom Jakthee announced the report at Phuket Provincial Hall this morning (Jan 3). Photo: PR Phuket

The accident occurred in Thalang, and the person injured was male. However, no further details were given in the DDPM report.

In comparison, the national road-safety agency Thai Road Safety Committee (ThaiRSC) reported 25 people injured in road accidents in Phuket yesterday, and already reports another nine people injured today.

As such, according to DDPM-Phuket figures, so far 29 people have been injured and one person killed in 29 accidents in Phuket since this years campaign began, said Phuket Vice Governor Vikrom Jakthee while announcing the report at Phuket Provincial Hall this morning.

Vice Governor Vikrom also pointed out that 1,624 vehicles were stopped and checked at the checkpoints across the island.

However, the DDPM report itself marks 1,457 vehicles were checked, as follows:

Private vehicles: Motorbikes 443, Pickup trucks 118, Cars 191, Vehicles for carrying more than 7 people 130.

Public transport vehicles: Motorbikes 73, Taxis 65, Vans 77, 3-wheeled vehicles 7, 4-wheeled vehicles 75, Vehicles with 6 wheels or more 74.

Trucks: 4 wheels 68, 6 wheels 68, 10 wheels 65.

Agricultural vehicles: 3

Meanwhile, Phuket police reported issuing 366 fines for moving violations during the 24-hour period, as follows:

14 fined for operating an unsafe/illegally modified motorcycle

23 fined for not wearing seatbelts

72 fined for driving without a licence

0 fined for speeding

15 fined for ignoring traffic signals

21 fined for ghost driving (driving opposite traffic flow)

8 fined for dangerously cutting off other motorists in traffic

17 fined for using mobile phones while driving.

0 people were arrested for drunk driving during the period.

196 people fined for not wearing helmets

Of note, so far only one person has been charged with drunk driving in Phuket during the campaign. The charge was pressed after the accident killed Phukets sole fatality for the Seven Days.

Phuket Vice Governor Vikrom this morning also reported that Phuket had suffered no water-safety incidents since the campaign began. There have been no injuries and no deaths on Phukets waters, he said.

A total of 124 boats arrived in Phuket and 124 boats departed the island yesterday, with 2,321 passengers leaving Phuket and a further 2,371 passengers arriving on the island, V/Gov Vikrom said.

Passengers arriving and departing the island are under strict orders to comply with COVID-19 prevention measures. All people travelling on boats arriving or departing ports and piers in Phuket must wear a face mask and use hand sanitiser, he added.

The Phuket Provincial Land Transport Office (PLTO) is also enforcing COVID-19 prevention measures. Passengers must wear a mask and use hand sanitiser, and food on the bus is strictly prohibited, V/Gov Vikrom said.

Similar measures were in effect at the airport, he added.

The Phuket Provincial Government continues to tighten measures to prevent COVID-19 to build confidence among our brothers and sisters, citizens and tourists during the New Year 2021 [holidays] to be full of happiness and safety from accidents and COVID-19, he said.

Across Thailand yesterday, a total of 77 people were killed and 2,821 injured in 2,898 accidents on Day 5 of the campaign, according to ThaiRSC.

Bangkok recorded the highest number of accidents with 187 people requiring hospital treatment and recorded five deaths.

As of Friday, 267 people had been killed and a further 2,362 people injured in road accidents throughout the country since the Seven Days campaign began at midnight on Monday night.
PHOENIX (AP)  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was hit with several lawsuits Monday for allegedly covering up decades of sexual abuse among Boy Scout troops in Arizona, marking the latest litigation before the state's end-of-year deadline for adult victims to sue.The church "must be held accountable in order to bring healing and closure to Mormon victims of childhood sexual abuse," Hurley McKenna & Mertz, a law firm that focuses on church sex abuse, said in a statement.In the seven lawsuits each representing seven different male victims, attorneys say church officials never notified authorities about abuse allegations. Public records show members of church-sponsored Boy Scout troops who were abused would tell church bishops about what they had experienced. The lawsuits allege bishops would then tell the victims to keep quiet so the church could conduct its own investigation. In the meantime, troop leaders and volunteers accused of sex abuse would be allowed to continue in their roles or be assigned to another troop, the suits said.Church spokesman Sam Penrod said in a statement that the faith has zero tolerance for abuse of any kind and that the serious allegations require thorough investigation. He called it inaccurate to say the faith had access to files that had names of banned Scout leaders and said the church hasn't seen the records that allegedly back the accusations."The claim that the church has had access to the BSA ineligible volunteer files for many decades is simply false," Penrod said. "The church learned about the details of those files at the same time as the general public. These claims will be carefully evaluated and appropriately addressed."All seven victims are asking for a jury to award an unspecified sum for medical expenses, pain and suffering. They are also seeking punitive damages for the "outrageous conduct" of church officials.The church sponsored at least seven troops in Arizona in metro Phoenix and Tucson, according to attorneys. The suits were all filed earlier this month  six in Maricopa County Superior Court and one in Pima County Superior Court. The allegations of sexual abuse touch all troops between 1972 and 2009.The church was the largest sponsor of Boy Scouts of America troops and its greatest ally until the Utah-based faith ended the partnership on Jan. 1, 2020, and pulled out more than 400,000 young people. The faith moved them into its own global youth program that focuses on religion and spiritual development, while weaving in camping and other outdoor activities in parts of the world where that's feasible.The split between the Boy Scouts and the faith known widely as the Mormon church ended a nearly century-old relationship between two organizations that were brought together by shared values that diverged in recent years. Amid declining membership, the Boy Scouts of America opened its arms to openly gay youth members and adult volunteers as well as girls and transgender boys, while the church believes that same-sex intimacy is a sin.In its first step toward creating a compensation fund for men who were molested as youngsters years ago by scoutmasters or other leaders, the Boy Scouts of America filed for bankruptcy protection in February. Around 90,000 sexual abuse claims have been filed against the Boy Scouts. It's the latest major American institution to seek bankruptcy protection amid mounting legal pressures over allegations of sexual abuse. Roman Catholic dioceses across the country and some universities have paid out hundreds of millions of dollars in recent years.These suits come as a window to pursue litigation for some victims of childhood sexual abuse in Arizona is about to close. The state joined several others last year in extending the rights of now-adult victims to sue their alleged assailants and any churches, youth groups or other institutions that turned a blind eye at the time of the abuse.Lawmakers gave victims until their 30th birthday to sue  a decade longer than before. Victims who missed the cutoff have a one-time opportunity to file suit before the end of the year. Arizona has no deadline for criminal charges in child sexual abuse cases.Andrew Van Arsdale, a lawyer with Abused in Scouting, says the legal network is filing 261 sex abuse lawsuits in Arizona on Monday against various local Scout councils._____Associated Press writers Brady McCombs in Salt Lake City and David Crary in New York contributed to this report.
Priti Patel has vowed to toughen up power for security now Brexit is complete

Home Secretary said tools in place for keeping country safe thanks for EU deal

Stricter entry rules at borders and crackdown on smuggling among new plans

Police and security services will get 'tougher powers' to keep the country safe now Brexit has happened, Priti Patel said today.

The Home Secretary said the 'tools and partnerships' were in place to protect the UK thanks to the agreement struck with the EU.

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But she signalled that the government will now go further by banning foreign criminals from entering, rejecting unreliable national identity cards, and cracking down on smuggling from Europe.

The EU and UK have implemented limited information sharing and other measures to maintain security functions under the new trade deal.

Home Secretary Priti Patel (file picture) said the 'tools and partnerships' were in place to protect the UK thanks to the agreement struck with the EU

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Patel pushes for more Jamaica deportations Priti Patel has vowed to defy 'do-gooder' celebrities and activist lawyers by making deportation flights to Jamaica a 'regular drumbeat'. The Home Secretary was dismayed last month when 23 people, including rapists and a murderer, who were due to be deported to the Caribbean country were instead removed at the 11th hour after legal challenges. In the end only 13 criminals were returned. There were similar reprieves for some of those due to be flown out of the UK on a flight in February. Since April, the Government has chartered more than 30 flights to deport criminals to countries including Albania, France, Germany, Ghana, Lithuania, Nigeria, Poland and Spain. But a source close to Ms Patel said: 'Each time we do a flight to Jamaica it becomes a big event. We have done two last year and both ended up with statements in Parliament. We run flights to Albania sometimes twice a week. 'This year we will see the number of flights to Jamaica go up. They will become a regular drumbeat. 'It's not fair on either the migrants or the taxpayer to have people stuck in a system where they are about to be deported.'

The deal allows for 'effective co-operation' between the UK and the Europol and Eurojust policing and criminal justice agencies, in line with the rules for third countries under EU law.

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However, Brussels has made it clear that under the agreement the UK does not enjoy the same level of 'facilities' on policing and security issues as before.

An EU briefing note said the UK would no longer have 'direct, real-time access' to sensitive databases covering freedom, security and justice.'

Writing in The Sunday Telegraph, Ms Patel said the agreement 'gives our police and security services the tools and partnerships to help keep the public safe.

'And having left the EU means we can give these agencies stronger powers to keep this country safe.

'That includes banning foreign criminals who have served more than a year in jail from entering the UK.

'We will refuse to accept insecure national identity cards and we will be able to crack down on illegal imports of goods through the introduction of pre-arrival data on goods being imported from the EU.

'We will also crack down on illegal immigration and reform the broken asylum system.'

Ms Patel added that Britain would be able to control who entered the country.

She said: 'Forging a new relationship with the EU also means taking back control of our borders; allowing Britain to finally control who comes into this country.

'Free movement has ended and people who want to live in the UK will now have to meet the requirements of our new points-based system.'

Attorney General Suella Braverman, also writing in the newspaper, said a 'seismic shift ' had now taken place.

She said: 'The jurisprudence of the Court of Justice of the European Union will no longer take precedence in the UK's higher courts.

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'This reflects a seismic shift  which will become apparent over time  in our law-making.

'The thousands of judgments handed down by the Luxembourg court every year  interpreting EU laws, determining questions on regulations in areas as varied as competition, health and safety, manufacturing and the environment  will no longer bind our judges at home.'
The flights will operate from April, the report says.

Ukraine's SkyUp airline has been granted permission to operate seven routes between the Czech Republic and Ukraine, starting in April, including a twice-weekly route from Brno.

Another connection is planned with Ostrava, BrnoDaily reports, citing a Czech transport website zdopravy.cz.

The carrier has received from the Ukrainian State Aviation Commission the permission to run seven new routes between the two countries from April 2021.

Kyiv-Brno flights are planned to depart twice a week.

Read alsoZelensky roots for setting up airline with fleet of Antonov planesSkyUp flights to the Czech Republic are currently suspended, but the carrier seeks to resume its previous lines between Prague and Kyiv, Lviv, and Kharkiv from March, as well as the route from Kyiv to Pardubice. Wizz Air also began operating routes from Lviv and Kyiv to Pardubice in 2020.

Air travel: Other reports

Reporting by UNIAN
Regardless of one's political affiliation, it goes without saying that nobody wants to be forced or otherwise deceptively coerced into accepting a vaccine that may eventually cause cancer or some other harm  especially when many, without vaccination, do not even experience symptoms from the targeted virus. It also goes without saying that many are probably familiar with the idea that corrupt persons seek government positions or use their power and influence as a way to be paid by foreign countries or big corporations. One recent example is the Bidens' apparent collusions with China and the FBI's apparent cover-up of that information before the 2020 election.

Some commentators have made the good point that physicians do not get paid nearly as much in government or public health jobs as physicians do practicing medicine in non-government positions. This, the commentators have concluded, may leave government public health employees open to outside influences.

It is not an exaggeration to suggest that COVID-19 vaccines  which currently require two doses  could quickly become trillion-dollar products; every time a "new strain" or "new variant" of SARS-CoV-2 is claimed to be discovered, a new vaccine could (wrongly) be said to be necessary. Creating the need for such a potential trillion-dollar product could result in several persons being highly compensated. It is probably wise, then, to "follow the money" and discuss those government officials who are promoting COVID-19 vaccines. It is preferable to avoid mentioning names, but these are government public health officials who have provided the groundwork for COVID-19 vaccines, and names are required.

For example, in January 2020, one of the first to publicly create COVID-19 panic in America was Dr. Nancy Messonnier  the director of the U.S. federal government's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at the CDC. She uses her position at the CDC to promote vaccines. Her bio says she is "currently leading the CDC's efforts on COVID-19 vaccine." (Some probably also know her as the sister of Rod Rosenstein, the former deputy attorney general who participated in the FBI investigation of President Trump and appointed Robert Mueller as special counsel.)

So one of the first people to create COVID-19 fear in America works for the CDC to promote vaccines. It is also worth mentioning that the CDC's apparent official stance is indeed to promote COVID-19 vaccines. Of course, COVID-19 vaccines authorized for emergency use in the U.S. are not legally approved for marketing/advertising in the U.S.; wrongly or misleadingly claiming that the unapproved COVID-19 vaccines are "safe and effective" could be illegal labeling or advertising known as "misbranding." So the CDC cunningly promotes COVID-19 vaccination without mentioning the names of the specific still unapproved vaccines.

It is relevant to mention that the CDC has falsely overstated COVID-19 death counts. Falsely over-stating COVID-19 death counts could be used as a form of deceptive coercion to scare Americans into getting vaccinated.

Then there is Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), a part of the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH). Dr. Fauci is one of the most consistent U.S. federal government officials to contribute to the COVID-19 fear.

While he was promoting the COVID-19 fear, though, there were some interesting things going on with Dr. Fauci's NIAID/NIH along with Bill Gates's "Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations" (CEPI  reportedly co-founded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in 2017) and Moderna, a COVID-19 vaccinemaker recently given emergency use authorization by the FDA. Moderna does not have any approved products on the market (the COVID-19 vaccine is still unapproved) but set a record for the biggest biotech initial public offering in December of 2018. In a U.S. government document, Moderna wrote (emphasis added):

In collaboration with the Vaccine Research Center ("VRC") and Division of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases ("DMID") of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases ("NIAID"), part of the National Institutes of Health ("NIH"), as well as the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations ("CEPI"), we are pursuing the rapid manufacture of a vaccine to address the current 2019-nCoV outbreak. 2019-nCoV [SARS-CoV-2] was first identified in Wuhan, China on January 7, 2020. On January 13, 2020, the NIH and our infectious disease research team finalized the sequence for the 2019-nCoV vaccine and we mobilized toward clinical manufacture. As of February 7, 2020, the first clinical batch, including fill and finishing of vials, is complete. This mRNA vaccine was designed and manufactured in 25 days and is undergoing analytical testing prior to release to the NIH for use in their planned Phase 1 clinical trial in the U.S.

Did you get that? The virus "2019-nCoV," which would soon be given the scarier (and more likely to lead to draconian lockdowns and vaccines) "SARS-CoV-2" name, was reportedly discovered on January 7, 2020. By January 13, 2020, Dr. Fauci's NIAID/NIH, Bill Gates's CEPI, and Moderna already had a COVID-19 vaccine finalized. Toward the beginning of the COVID-19 panic, some commentators were mentioning Bill Gates's odd public appearances, which were used to provoke COVID-19 fear; his co-founded entity's already having co-developed a COVID-19 vaccine by that time may have something to do with that. While two of the most influential promoters of COVID-19 fear, Dr. Fauci and Bill Gates, were attempting to scare the world, entities closely associated with them already had funded and/or finalized a potentially highly profitable vaccine.

The timeline is also worth mentioning. There were reportedly only 59 total COVID-19 cases in the world as of January 9, 2020. So there were reportedly 59 cases of COVID-19 in the whole world, none which were in America, while Moderna, Dr. Fauci's NIAID/NIH, and Bill Gates's CEPI were developing a COVID-19 vaccine. The first COVID-19 case was reportedly discovered in America on January 21, 2020  eight days after the COVID-19 vaccine was already developed.

It also cannot be overlooked that Dr. Moncef Mohamed Slaoui, the U.S. federal government's chief adviser for "Operation Warp Speed" (the quick development of COVID-19 vaccines), had (or has) financial interests in Moderna. He joined Moderna's board of directors in 2017. And it may or may not be relevant, but Dr. Slaoui was an adviser for a company started in 2018 that creates medicines for China.

Also noteworthy is that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, led by Alex Azar, another person with ties to the pharmaceutical industry that cannot be ignored, granted "liability immunity for activities related to medical countermeasures against COVID-19." The action is dated March 10, 2020 but made the immunity effective on February 4, 2020  prior to Moderna's, CEPI's, and the NIAID/NIH's completion of the first batch of COVID-19 vaccine.

Finally worth noting are the stock prices of both COVID-19 vaccinemakers that were given emergency use authorization by the U.S. federal government. Pfizer's stock price has remained between approximately $27 and $42 per share in 2020. The stock price of Moderna (which, again, co-developed its COVID-19 vaccine with Dr. Fauci's and the U.S. federal government's NIAID/NIH as well as Bill Gates's CEPI) began 2020 at about $19 per share and went as high as $170 per share in December 2020  a gain of about 800%. These are two companies with similar products  but the one not developed in conjunction with the U.S. federal government and Bill Gates's CEPI did not gain even close to as much as the company that co-developed its vaccine with the U.S. federal government's NIAID/NIH and Bill Gates's CEPI.

The above may be a big deal, or it may be inconsequential or coincidence. Either way, it sure is interesting.

Image: Triggermouse via Pixabay, Pixabay License.
By James J. Florio

With the Inauguration of a new president almost upon us and a dramatically different new administration about to take office, this is a good time to take stock as we embark on this voyage. The past four years have been traumatic for our basic civil institutions  so much so that an unusual degree of introspection and self-analysis is needed to make sure we can find our way back to a properly functioning democracy.

I believe that one could make an objective observation that every society, governmental unit or nation can pretty much be divided into two groups. One is the satisfied, the contented  the comfortable. The other is the dissatisfied  the discontented  those whose voices are not heard, whose status is shaky and who struggle to make ends meet.

This dichotomy results in tension that is manageable until it is not. We, as a nation, historically have managed to diffuse the resulting pressure through policies that facilitate upward mobility. Such policies enable Americans to improve their lives  politically, economically and socially, in part by giving them the opportunity to fully develop and invest their energy and talents.

The belief that such potential advancement is possible sustains social harmony and political stability. Just the idea of potential advancement often is sufficient to reduce the pressure on the system. If, on the other hand, the prospect of upward mobility feels remote and people truly are denied the possibility of moving from where they are to where they aspire to be, instability likely will follow.

The Biden administration prepares to govern at a time when the nation is in the latter situation. Four years of shortsighted policies and practices from an administration that seemed to want to heighten inequality and deny an opportunity for its own political gain have put us in a dangerous place.

Education, which has always been just another word for opportunity, is a good example. Opportunity fades away when public investment in K-12 school systems is inadequate to meet students needs. In higher education, the cost to students, and the resultant debt incurred, either jeopardize or eliminates the opportunity for educational advancement to the detriment of our economy and future goals of our aspiring and goal-oriented citizenry.

Healthcare costs, currently at 20% of our economy, are another example where the less well-off and, as a result, already discontented, suffer the most. The federal governments shamefully inadequate response to COVID-19 is just one more brick in the wall of inequity that obstructs the way forward for too many people on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender and so on.

The most crushing barrier to upward mobility is the glaring disparity in income and wealth that worsens through conscious policies of redistribution of resources from the bottom up. Continuing this Robin Hood in reverse approach would yield a society that looks more like a medieval kingdom of comfortable royalty and peasants overcome by desperation than it would resemble a healthy, pluralistic democracy.

The Biden administration has its work cut out. It must resist the temptation to avoid laying out in clear, frank terms the seriousness of the situation we now face as a prerequisite for enacting policies required for a change in direction. Only then can we restore hope and real opportunity. The alternative would be the possibility of economic disaster and even instability of historic proportions.

Restoring honesty to our national dialogue will go a long way to reducing the polarization that has frozen our nations progress toward regaining the ideal of one America.

James J. Florio served as the 49th governor of the state of New Jersey from 1990-1994.

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New Delhi: Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Sunday (January 3, 2021) called it a 'watershed moment in India's famed battle against COVID-19' after Serum Institute of India's COVISHIELD and Bharat Biotech's COVAXIN get a nod for restricted use.

"A watershed moment in Indias famed battle against COVID-19 under the charismatic leadership of Honble PM Sh Narendra Modi Ji! Our wait for COVID19 vaccine is over with COVISHIELD from @SerumInstIndia & COVAXIN from @BharatBiotech approved for emergency use in India," said Harsh Vardhan.

A watershed moment in Indias famed battle against #COVID19 under the charismatic leadership of Honble PM Sh @narendramodi Ji ! Our wait for #COVID19vaccine is over with COVISHIELD from @SerumInstIndia & COVAXIN from @BharatBiotech approved for emergency use in India@PMOIndia pic.twitter.com/sqjsetqHnU  Dr Harsh Vardhan (@drharshvardhan) January 3, 2021

He added, "These vaccines are a fitting tribute to our corona warriors! My heartfelt gratitude to all healthcare professionals & frontline workers for their exemplary efforts during these unprecedented times. Congratulations to all the scientists & researchers for their untiring efforts."

The Health Minister also said, "It's now time to reap the benefits of the robust supply chain infrastructure weve put in place for quick & equitable distribution of the vaccine. Urge all citizens to entrust the stringent protocols followed for ensuring safety, efficacy & immunogenicity of the approved vaccines.

Its now time to reap the benefits of the robust supply chain infrastructure weve put in place for quick & equitable distribution of the vaccine Urge all citizens to entrust the stringent protocols followed for ensuring safety, efficacy & immunogenicity of the approved vaccines  Dr Harsh Vardhan (@drharshvardhan) January 3, 2021

Notably, the Subject Expert Committee of Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) met on January 1 and January 2, 2021, and made recommendations in respect of a proposal for Restricted Emergency Approval of COVID-19 virus vaccine of Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech as well as Phase III clinical trial of Cadila Healthcare Ltd.

Serum Institute of India, Pune presented a Recombinant Chimpanzee Adenovirus vector vaccine (Covishield) encoding the SARS-CoV-2 Spike (S) glycoprotein with technology transfer from AstraZeneca/Oxford University.

"The firm submitted safety, immunogenicity and efficacy data generated on 23,745 participants aged  18 years or older from overseas clinical studies. The overall vaccine efficacy was found to be 70.42%. Further, M/s Serum was granted permission to conduct Phase-II/III clinical trial on 1600 participants within the country," said the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare added that the firm also submitted the interim safety and immunogenicity data generated from this trial and the data was found comparable with the data from the overseas clinical studies and after detailed deliberations, Subject Expert Committee recommended for the grant of permission for restricted use in an emergency situation subject to certain regulatory conditions.

The clinical trial ongoing within the country by the firm will continue.

On the other hand, Bharat Biotech has developed a Whole Virion Inactivated Corona Virus Vaccine (Covaxin) in collaboration with ICMR and NIV (Pune), from where they received the virus seed strains. This vaccine is developed on Vero cell platform, which has a well-established track record of safety and efficacy in the country & globally.

The firm has generated safety and immunogenicity data in various animal species such as mice, rats, rabbits, Syrian hamster, and also conducted challenge studies on non-human primates (Rhesus macaques) and hamsters. All these data have been shared by the firm with CDSCO. Phase I and Phase II clinical trials were conducted in approx.800 subjects and the results have demonstrated that the vaccine is safe and provides a robust immune response. The Phase III efficacy trial was initiated in India in 25,800 volunteers and till date, ~22,500 participants have been vaccinated across the country and the vaccine has been found to be safe as per the data available till date.

The Subject Expert Committee (SEC) has reviewed the data on safety and immunogenicity of the vaccine and recommended for grant of permission for restricted use in an emergency situation in the public interest as an abundant precaution, in clinical trial mode, to have more options for vaccinations, especially in case of infection by mutant strains. The clinical trial ongoing within the country by the firm will continue.

Serum and Bharat Biotech COVID-19 vaccines have to be administered in two doses and have to be stored at 2-8 C.
1. Yes. The public must have assurances that ethical standards are met by everyone.

2. Yes. As long as an independent board hears the grievances, its a worthwhile idea.

3. No. The concept is too broad. It should be limited to the citys elected officials.

4. No. There are plenty of stipulations in place already. An ordinance is a waste of time.

5. Unsure. Its hard to say without seeing how it would be structured and applied.

Vote

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The military has left Shamattawa First Nation nearly three weeks after they were called in to help the northern Manitoba community get control of its COVID-19 cases.

The military has left Shamattawa First Nation nearly three weeks after they were called in to help the northern Manitoba community get control of its COVID-19 cases.

The military arrived in full force Dec. 13 to help Shamattawa set up and run its isolation centre, and do testing, contact tracing and wellness checks.

To read more of this story first reported by CBC News, click here.

This content is made available to Free Press readers as part of an agreement with CBC that sees our two trusted news brands collaborate to better cover Manitoba. Questions about CBC content can be directed to talkback@cbc.ca.
Massacre in two Niger villages near the border with Mali.

Groups of militiamen - most likely jihadists - attacked Tchombangou and Zaroumdareye, killing over 70 civilians. 49 in the first blitz - with numerous injuries -, about 30 in the second.

During 2020, the assaults in the same area and in that of the border with Burkina Faso caused hundreds of victims. Niger has been targeted several times by jihadists linked to al Qaeda and Isis.

(Unioneonline / ss)
Maybe you learned you enjoyed driving to the beach more than flying with your toddlers for a vacation. Maybe ordering out a few more nights a week was a lifesaver after a busy day. Maybe you want to keep contributing to a charity you came across.

Heading into 2021, we can use this information to reshape our budget into a template that prioritizes the spending we most enjoy, said Kevin Mahoney, a financial planner based in Washington, D.C., who focuses on millennial money issues. And we can continue to minimize or forgo those expenses that weve learned we can live without, diverting them instead to higher value uses.

By carving out space for the items you like, youll end up spending less on what you dont need.

Allocate your spending.

The idea of a budgeting system can sound off-putting or intimidating to even the most well intentioned. To take the edge off, employ a strategy that jibes with your tastes.

For instance, households used to take their paychecks and divide the money into envelopes earmarked for certain purposes (groceries, mortgage, insurance). The point was to make the best use of every dollar as soon as it came into your possession and not to overspend.

Such fastidiousness, though, can be exhausting, so others improvised. One saver interviewed in a 1959 book, Workingmans Wife: Her Personality, World and Life Style, described her silly little system, in which she would divide her husbands paycheck into two piles: one for groceries (which went into a kitchen drawer) and one for everything else (which went into a tin can).

As saving tools, envelopes and tin cans are pretty much obsolete but the principle still holds: You want to have some sense of where youre spending so you dont overdo it, but the plan should make sense to you.

There are many avenues to explore. Most major cards will allow you to see on your account page just how much youve spent and on what. Free apps (like Mint) will track all expenses across all of your accounts if you happen to spread out your spending. You could also get creative and keep a spending journal for a month or two, documenting each transaction and subtracting it from the amount you expect to earn that particular month. Or toss your credit cards in the night stand for a month and pay for as much as you can in cash; research shows youll spend less.
Rajasthan Chief Minister on Sunday said that the central government is "insensitive" and passing time even as the farmers have been protesting for the last 39 days in the cold Delhi winter against the recently enacted farm laws.

"Around 39 days have passed since the farmers have been protesting at the borders of Delhi in winter. One can think what must be the farmers going through. The government is being very insensitive. They think that the farmers will be tired and the protest will die down. The government is doing time pass," Gehlot said while addressing a gathering here at a protest meeting held by the Congress party in Jaipur.

"The question is to determine the fate of the farmers of the country. The government thinks only farmers of Haryana and Punjab are sitting in protest. Farmers from the country's 6.5 lakh villages stand in solidarity with the protesting farmers," he said.

Gehlot further said that the Rajasthan government brought farm bills for the state to lessen the impact of the central farm laws on the farmers of the state.

"We are together with the farmers. The situation is very serious as more than 86 per cent farmers in the country have less than 5 acres of land. On average, they have only two acres land. The Rajasthan government brought farm bills for the state to lessen the impact of the central farm laws," he said.

Gehlot further pointed that out the people of India are very intelligent and under the democratic setup, they have the final authority.

"India's people are very intelligent whether they be less educated or more. Even Indira ji (former prime minister Indira Gandhi), who delivered independence to Bangladesh, had lost in 1977. But in three years, she returned to power with a majority. In a democracy, people have always had their say," he said.

He further attacked the (BJP) and said that they should realise that Congress has held the country together for 70 years through sacrifice of its leaders.

"Former prime minister Indira Gandhi lost her life but did not let Khalistan to be formed. Another former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi also lost his life due to terrorism. Former Punjab chief minister Beant Singh annihilated terrorism in Punjab. He also lost his life due to terrorism. Today BJP raises questions that what did Congress do? They should realise that Congress was the reason behind the country's unity," he said.

"The country's strength is diversity in unity," he added.

Rajasthan government had on October 31 introduced three bills to counter the central farm acts. The bills were - The Essential Commodities (Special Provisions and Rajasthan Amendment) Bill 2020, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services (Rajasthan Amendment) Bill 2020 and the Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation and Rajasthan Amendment) Bill 2020.

The bills passed by the Rajasthan Assembly are awaiting the President's assent as of date.

Meanwhile, in Delhi, a consensus was reached on stubble burning and safeguarding power subsidies, two of the four issues that were on the agenda for talks between protesting farmers and central ministers on December 30.

At the conclusion of the seventh round of talks held here on December 30, the Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar stated that the next meeting will now be held on January 4.

Farmers have been protesting at different borders of the capital since November 26 against the three newly enacted farm laws - Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020, and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Hayley Vernon has hit back at a troll who sent her a private message, questioning her line of work.

The former Married At First Sight star, who now makes a living as an OnlyFans model, shared a message she was sent by a troll to Instagram Stories on Sunday.

'Are you a call girl? All your posts are inappropriate,' the unnamed person asked in their Instagram direct message.

Hit back: Hayley Vernon (pictured) has hit back at a troll who sent her a private message, questioning her line of work. The former Married At First Sight star, who now makes a living as an OnlyFans model, shared a message she was sent by a troll to Instagram Stories on Sunday

The 32-year-old former reality TV star hit back in her response.

'If I was would that make your day?' she began.

'Don't be hating my life because yours is boring as bat s**t and has you reaching out to strangers to interact.

'Enjoy your Christmas holidays because I haven't worked a proper job in almost a year and am pretty much living a holiday.

Anger: 'Are you a call girl? All your posts are inappropriate,' the unnamed person asked in their Instagram direct message

The 32-year-old hit back in her response: 'If I was would that make your day? Don't be hating my life because yours is boring as bat s**t and has you reaching out to strangers to interact'

'Tomorrow I'll be eating another $50 breakfast and doing things you only dream about...

'There's something to ponder when you're doing your 9-5,' she added, in a mic-drop moment.

Hayley rose to fame on this year's season of Channel Nine's Married At First Sight where she was paired with David Cannon.

MAFS: Hayley rose to fame on this year's season of Channel Nine's Married At First Sight where she was paired with David Cannon

Since then, she has become very popular on subscription-based adult site OnlyFans, charging fans $22 a month for exclusive content.

During an Instagram Q&A, the former finance worker was asked if she'd started a new job since moving from Melbourne to Brisbane earlier this year.

'I just do my OnlyFans and I'm in the top 0.02 per cent of all earners, so I'm laughing!' she said with pride.
The stars of the forthcoming series of Dancing On Ice are reportedly hoping to nab themselves the best stylists on the crew ahead of the series launch.

The likes of Becky Vardy, Myleene Klass and Denise Van Outen, as well as Billie Faiers, Lady Leshurr and Faye Brookes, are all 'competing to snap up the best' of the bunch, according to The Sun.

A source told the publication: 'Everyone wants to look their best and the show spends thousands on the industry's best coiffeurs.

Battling it out: The stars of the forthcoming series of Dancing On Ice are reportedly hoping to nab themselves the best stylists on the crew ahead of the series launch [pictured Myleene Klass]

'The whole team is of a very high standard but some have more experience with stage make-up or have worked on other high-profile shows.

'The competition is most definitely on to snap them up!'

MailOnline has approached Dancing On Ice reps for comment.

This comes after skating pro Matt Evers revealed that ITV bosses have introduced more mental health support on the show following Caroline Flack's tragic death last year.

Clambering: The likes of Becky Vardy [pictured],Denise Van Outen and Lady Leshurr are all 'competing to snap up the best' of the bunch, according to The Sun

Helpful: Dancing On Ice's Matt Evers said in a podcast on Tuesday that ITV have 'more support than ever' for mental health following Caroline Flack's tragic death

Matt, 44, said on the Keep Calm And Carry On podcast on Tuesday that those behind-the-scenes were keen to ensure the celebrities and skaters were looked after during their time on the show.

Caroline tragically took her life at her London home aged 40 on February 15, a day after learning the CPS would be pursuing a case of assault against her following a row with beau Lewis Burton at her home in December 2019.

Discussing the increased services provided to stars, Matt explained: 'Now more than ever we have a lot of support.

'We've always had a little bit of support, but through the tragedies that have happened, they have implemented a lot more mental support.'

Matt went on to say that as one of the show's professionals it's his task to become a 'best friend, babysitter and psychologist' for his celebrity partner, on top of also teaching them how to skate proficiently.

Tragic: Caroline (pictured in 2018) took her own life aged 40 on February 15 in the run up to her trial for the alleged assault of her boyfriend Lewis Burton

Doing what they can: Matt explained, 'We've always had a little bit of support, but through the tragedies that have happened, they have implemented a lot more mental support'

Looking back at his time with Denise Welch, who is a recovering Alcoholic and is eight years sober, and their stint together in 2011, he reflected: 'I was also the drink police because she loved to go out.'

'She is sober now. Dancing on Ice changed her life,' he added, as he confirmed that he and Denise remain firm friends.

ITV is extremely cautious about mental health matters following a slew of tragedies of guests or hosts of some of its most popular shows.

Former Love Island contestants Sophie Gradon and Mike Thalassitis and host Caroline all died by suicide.

There for them: Matt (pictured with Gemma Collins) added that as a pro it's his task to become a 'best friend, babysitter and psychologist' for his celebrity partner, as well as a teacher

Support: Looking back at his time with Denise Welch (pictured in 2013), who is a recovering alcoholic, and their stint together in 2011, he reflected: 'I was also the drink police'

The channel's former hit The Jeremy Kyle Show was also taken off air permanently after a guest on the show is believed to have taken his own life.

In June 2019 ITV's chief executive Carolyn McCall signed off a Duty of Care charter, outlining its commitment.

It said: 'We want to ensure that working at, or with, ITV, is a happy, safe and productive work environment and will strive to review and improve our systems and processes.'

Wary: ITV is extremely cautious about mental health matters following a slew of tragedies of guests or hosts of some of its most popular shows, including Caroline (pictured in 2015)

Caroline's death was ruled a suicide in August this year, with coroner Mary Hassell saying Caroline had experienced 'fluctuating ill health' and was 'distressed' at the thought of facing a trial.

Earlier this year, her mother Christine pledged to share part of the late star's fortune with charities she was 'passionate about.'

According to a report from The Sun, Caroline's family have decided to distribute some of her 827,691 estate to good causes after she didn't leave a will.

If you have been affected by this story, you can call the Samaritans on 116 123 or visit www.samaritans.org.
Classes in the Wilkes County Schools will start on Aug. 23 and end on May 25 in 2021-22 as a result of a calendar approved by the Wilkes Board of Education on Feb. 1.
NEW DELHI: Several ministers and political leaders on Sunday (January 3) welcomed India's decision to give emergency use authorisation to Oxford COVID-19 vaccine Covishield and Covaxin of Bharat Biotech for restricted emergency use in the country.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the approval given to two coronavirus vaccines as a 'decisive turning point' in the spirited fight against the pandemic and said that this will accelerate the process for India to become a COVID-free nation.

"This shows the eagerness of our scientific community to fulfil the dream of an Aatmanirbhar Bharat, at the root of which is care and compassion," he said, congratulting the nation, scientists and innovators. "A decisive turning point to strengthen a spirited fight! DCGI granting approval to vaccines of @SerumInstIndia and @BharatBiotech accelerates the road to a healthier and COVID-free nation. Congratulations India. Congratulations to our hardworking scientists and innovators," he tweeted.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah hailed the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) move and congratulated the efforts of scientists for making India proud. "A momentous achievement for India! DCGI has granted approval to COVID vaccines of @SerumInstIndia and @BharatBiotech. I salute our very talented and hardworking scientists for making India proud. Congratulations to PM @narendramodi ji for striving towards a COVID-free India," Shah tweeted.

"We heartily thank our scientists, doctors, medical staff, security personnel and all Corona warriors who dedicatedly served humanity during these testing times. Nation will always remain grateful to them for their selfless service towards mankind," he wrote in another tweet.

BJP chief JP Nadda said, "The DCGI`s approval for emergency use of two indigenous vaccines to protect against COVID-19 is a defining and historic moment for the country. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the country has established a new dimension. Many congratulations to all scientists and doctors."



Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati also congratulated the scientists associated with the coronavirus vaccine and urged the Centre to make it available for the poor free of cost. In a tweet in Hindi, Mayawati said, "The 'swadeshi' anti-COVID vaccine is welcome and congratulations to the scientists. A request to the Central government is that along with all the health workers, if the extremely poor people get the vaccine free of cost, then it will be appropriate."

India's drugs regulator on Sunday approved Oxford COVID-19 vaccine Covishield, manufactured by the Serum Institute, and indigenously developed Covaxin of Bharat Biotech for restricted emergency use in the country, paving the way for a massive inoculation drive.

Serum Institute of India's CEO Adar Poonawalla tweeted, "COVISHIELD, India's first COVID-19 vaccine is approved, safe, effective and ready to roll-out in the coming weeks."

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted, "Congratulations to all the countrymen. DCGI's approval for the emergency use of two vaccines made in India will give a positive direction to this battle of India being fought against Coronavirus. Salute to the scientists and doctors, due to the hard work of day and night, we have reached here today."

Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala tweeted, "Kudos to our scientists & researchers of Bharat Biotech on approval of the indigenously developed Corona vaccine and Serum Institute and its scientists too. India has always lead the way in path breaking innovations in past and will continue to do the same. Great start for New Year."

Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari tweeted: It is a proud moment of all of us that the two vaccine approved emergency use are #MadeInIndia. Hearty congratulations to Honble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji under whose leadership our scientists have achieved this in such short duration.

India's drugs regulator approved Oxford COVID-19 vaccine Covishield, manufactured by the Serum Institute, and indigenously developed Covaxin of Bharat Biotech for restricted emergency use in the country, paving the way for a massive inoculation drive. The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) granted approval on the basis of recommendations by a COVID-19 Subject Expert Committee (SEC) of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO).

Tahir Qadiry, Afghan Charge d`Affaires hailed India`s decision to grant emergency use to Serum Institute of India for their COVID-19 vaccine, named Covishield. Taking to Twitter, Qadiry called the occasion good news for science and for India."Good news for science and for India," he tweeted.
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More than 50,000 new coronavirus cases have been recorded for the sixth day in a row and another 454 deaths today as health officials warn that people as young as 30 'will die from Covid'.

Official figures show there had been a further 54,990 lab-confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UK, up 80 per cent from last week's case figure of 30,501, while the number of deaths had increased by 43 per cent.

Separate figures published by the UK's statistics agencies for deaths where Covid-19 has been mentioned on the death certificate show there have now been 91,000 deaths involving Covid-19 in the UK. The figures do not represent results from the whole UK due to data on deaths not being reported by Scotland on Sunday.

NHS hospitals in the West Country are now bracing for an overspill of critically-ill patients from London under emergency plans, with trusts in the capital and the south-east preparing to transfer patients to the south-west.

Patients in the east of England will be moved to the Midlands while the massive Nightingale field hospital at the London Excel Centre is also expected to reopen within a fortnight amid warnings the health service could collapse in the event that 'very, very tired' staff are unable to cope with a deluge of cases.

Dr Alison Pittard, the dean of the Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine, today claimed that people as young as 30 are suffering from coronavirus in ICU wards and claimed that 'younger people will die from Covid'.

The surge in cases and deaths could lead to a third national lockdown as Sir Keir Starmer today demanded a new blanket squeeze to control the virus while Boris Johnson admitted tougher measures are 'probable'.

The Labour leader has dramatically called for draconian countermeasures to come into force within 24 hours, condemning the PM for 'hinting' at action while dragging his heels.

'The virus is clearly out of control,' Sir Keir told Sky News. 'It is no use the PM hinting that more restrictions are coming. I say bring in those restrictions now.' He added that it was 'inevitable' more schools will have to close: 'The longer you delay the decisions the worse it is.'

The PM today refused to rule out a third national lockdown, telling the BBC he is 'reconciled' to imposing further massive restrictions on public life in a bid to stamp out the virus.

Mr Johnson's effort to reopen schools was shattered by councils and unions who claim schools are too unsafe for children and staff, while scientists insist 'mutant' Covid spreads more rapidly among younger people.

SAGE adviser Professor Sir Mark Walport today even hinted that the virus could not be controlled unless 'tighter social distancing measures' were brought into force, and predicted Tier 5 curbs.

In another welter of coronavirus developments today:

Boris Johnson told parents to send children to schools in Tier 4 areas tomorrow, but hinted he would close schools if cases rise in those areas;

Ofsted boss Amanda Spielman said children's learning cannot be 'furloughed';

Headteachers called for this summer's GCSE and A-level exams to be scrapped;

Experts leading the UK vaccination programme defended the decision to extend the gap between the two doses, insisting it is 'the way we save lives';

Health bosses last night insisted urgent cancer operations in London will not be scrapped to ease the strain on hospitals inundated with Covid patients;

Labour's shadow culture secretary Jo Stevens is being treated in hospital for coronavirus, her aides announced last night;

Another 57,725 had positive test results and recorded 445 deaths yesterday;

A London children's hospital consultant blasted 'irresponsible' nurse who gave a BBC interview claiming her hospital has a 'whole ward of children' with Covid;

Young non-voting women are most likely to turn down a Covid vaccine if it were available tomorrow, the Find Out Now poll has found;

The PM faces losing most of the 'Red Wall' seats that delivered his historic election victory a year ago and his own seat, according to a massive poll.

Official figures show there had been a further 54,990 lab-confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UK, up 80 per cent from last week's case figure of 30,501, while the number of deaths had increased by 43 per cent from last Sunday to 454

Ambulances lined up outside the Medway Maritime Hospital in Gillingham, Kent, one of the areas where hospitals have become stretched due to the faster spreading new strain of Covid-19

Health officials today warned that people as young as 30 'will die from Covid' as NHS hospitals in the West Country brace for an overspill of critically-ill patients from London (Above, a patient at the Royal London Hospital yesterday)

The surge in cases and deaths could lead to a third national lockdown as Sir Keir Starmer today demanded a new blanket squeeze to control the virus while Boris Johnson admitted tougher measures are 'probable'

Two thirds of England's population is now in Tier 4, with the remainder living in Tier 3 lockdowns. Only the Isles of Scilly, off the coast of Cornwall, is in the looser Tier 2

Britain records more than 50,000 coronavirus cases for the FIFTH day in a row - but deaths dip to 445 - as doctors warn crisis will get much worse and situation in packed London hospitals is 'MILD compared to what's coming next week' Britain has recorded more than 50,000 Covid-19 cases for the fifth day in a row but hospital deaths from the virus have dipped to fewer than 500. Another 57,725 had positive test results in the last 24 hours, meaning 2,599,789 have had the disease in the UK since the pandemic began. The country also saw an additional 445 deaths, taking the total official count to 74,570 - but 90,000 people in total have died with Covid-19 written on their death certificate. And experts are warning jam-packed hospitals that the current number of coronavirus cases is 'mild' compared to what is coming next week - as the new more-contagious Covid strain continues to wreak havoc on the UK. President of the Royal College of Physicians Professor Andrew Goddard also noted healthcare workers in Britain are 'really worried' about the battle against the virus over the next few months. Today's grim figures come as the first batches of the newly-approved coronavirus vaccine from Oxford University and AstraZeneca arrive at UK hospitals ahead of the jab's rollout tomorrow. Some 530,000 doses of the jab will be available from Monday - with vulnerable people taking priority - as Health Secretary Matt Hancock says the inoculation drive is 'accelerating'. One of the first hospitals to take delivery of a batch on Saturday morning was the Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath, West Sussex, which is part of Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust. But Sir John Bell, a Regius professor of medicine at Oxford University and member of SAGE (Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies), said insufficient investment in the capacity to make vaccines has left Britain unprepared. He also said the country lacks medical supply firms to build essential components to make the jab, forcing Oxford scientists to import parts from abroad. Advertisement

Although ICU capacity has been increased, three intensive care units were full every day last week: the Walton Centre in north-west England, and Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells and Portsmouth University hospitals in the south-east.

Fourteen intensive care units were at least 95 per cent full throughout Christmas week, five of them in London, according to the Times.

Doctors who spoke on condition of anonymity told the newspaper how consultants were choosing who to admit to intensive care by assessing which patient 'has the best chance of surviving'.

One GP working in a west London hospital claimed: 'We could be like Lombardy [northern Italy] by next week. There is a high likelihood we're going to see a disaster.'

Dr Megan Smith, a consultant anaesthetist at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, said medics faced 'horrifying' decisions with patients 'in competition' for ventilators.

She told ITN: 'It's not a position any of us ever want to be in, and we're used to making difficult decisions as doctors, but deciding the outcome of, effectively a competition for a ventilator, is just not what anyone signed up for.

'In terms of the emotional trauma for those individuals, it's horrifying. We shouldn't be having to do it, but we are.'

Asked about the hospitals crisis in London and the surrounding areas, Dr Pittard said the trusts are 'under immense pressure'.

'It's really difficult for staff because obviously we want to make sure everyone is cared for, but also need to look after the staff as well,' she said. 'So it's really difficult for everyone working in NHS hospitals at the moment, particularly in my area of intensive care.'

She also admitted that the NHS would have to postpone 'some of the more non-urgent stuff', adding: 'obviously that is one of the ways the NHS managed in the first wave, was to reduce the normal activity so that we could focus on Covid patients.

'One of the things that we have done now during the second wave is to continue normal activity alongside other Covid-related activity. And we want to continue that at all costs... but of course some of the more non-urgent stuff will need to be postponed'.

Dr Pittard also revealed that NHS hospitals are seeing greater numbers of younger people being admitted for treatment than during the first wave of the epidemic last spring.

'The age group is a lot lower than it was during the first wave, and I think that's probably because more people are getting Covid and it is affecting younger people, perhaps younger people are realising how serious it is and they need to seek input as well,' she told the Andrew Marr Show.

'It does affect younger people, so just because you're not in the older age bracket doesn't mean you're immune.'

She went on: 'One of the downsides is that because we have been through it all before staff are very, very tired and that is the thing that concerns me.

'We can't just create staff overnight. We can get more drugs. We can get more beds and equipment but we can't just get more staff, so that is the real concern this time around.'

Having dealt with the first wave of the virus, staff are now better prepared in terms of how they manage patients when they come into hospital and how their treatment in intensive care, she said.

'It is almost like we know what is coming our way so we know how to deal with it.'

It comes as hospitals across the UK are told to prepare to face the same Covid pressures as the NHS in London and south-east England.

Professor Andrew Goddard, president of the Royal College of Physicians, said the virus's highly infectious new variant was spreading nationwide.

He said the current case numbers at more than 50,000 per day for the past five days, were 'mild' compared with where he expected them to be next week and warned that doctors are 'really worried' about the coming months.

'There's no doubt that Christmas is going to have a big impact, the new variant is also going to have a big impact, we know that is more infectious, more transmissible, so I think the large numbers that we're seeing in the South East, in London, in South Wales, is now going to be reflected over the next month, two months even, over the rest of the country,' he told BBC Breakfast yesterday.

Prof Goddard added: 'All hospitals that haven't had the big pressures that they've had in the South East, and London and South Wales, should expect that it's going to come their way.

'This new variant is definitely more infectious and is spreading across the whole of the country. It seems very likely that we are going to see more and more cases, wherever people work in the UK, and we need to be prepared for that.'

The UK recorded a record 57,725 Covid-19 cases yesterday, the most since the pandemic began and the fifth day daily infections surpassed 50,000.

The country also saw an additional 445 deaths, taking the total official count to 74,570 - but 90,000 people in total have died with Covid-19 written on their death certificate.

London is now the epicentre of the UK's outbreak and its hospitals are being stretched with the flood of patients. The weekly rate of cases is double the national average at 858 per 100,000 people. Now the capital's weekly rate of cases is 858 per 100,000 people  double the UK average.

One doctor at a busy London hospital laid bare the pressure frontline medics are up against. Dr Katie Sanderson told the Sunday Mirror: 'Things are incredibly difficult now. Hospitals are doing everything they can  with all hands on deck, even flying patients out to other parts.'

She added that 'nurses are stretched ever thinner' and that staff are 'scared' because of 'woefully inadequate' PPE.

London Ambulance staff stretcher a patient from the ambulance into The Royal London Hospital in east London, on Saturday

London is now the epicentre of the outbreak and its hospitals are being stretched with the flood of patients. The weekly rate of cases is double the national average at 858 per 100,000

Cases in Liverpool have almost trebled in the past two weeks to 350 per 100,000, despite the city successfully leading on the national pilot for community testing which led to it being the first city to be taken out of Tier 3 and into Tier 2, according to official figures

Medics transport a patient on a stretcher from an ambulance to the Royal London Hospital on Friday

In a New Year interview on the BBC's Andrew Marr show, Boris Johnson urged parents to send children back to primary schools - but refused to rule out a full shutdown to control the mutant coronavirus strain

Government scientists today hinted a third national lockdown including mass school closures may be required to suppress Covid as he insisted 'keeping people apart' stops the virus from spreading.

Professor Sir Mark Walport claimed the 'mutant' Covid was transmitting rapidly among children, with those aged between 12 and 16 seven times more likely to 'infect' a household.

Speaking on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show as Liverpool's leaders called for a blanket shutdown, he said it would be 'very, very difficult' to keep the disease under control 'without tighter social distancing measures'.

'Children's lives can't just be put on hold': Ofsted chief Amanda Spielman warns pupils' education cannot be 'furloughed' as left-wing councils and teaching unions demand schools are closed for WEEKS amid mutant Covid crisis The head of England's schools watchdog today warned that education cannot be 'furloughed' as Left-wing councils joined the revolt against Government plans to keep schools open. Ofsted chief inspector Amanda Spielman said school closures should be kept to the 'absolute minimum', revealing that the first lockdown disrupted children's learning and wider development. Writing in the Sunday Telegraph, she said Ofsted had found some younger children had 'forgotten how to hold a pencil or use a knife and fork, and had regressed in basic language numbers'. In older children, Ms Spielman said the schools watchdog had noted 'increases in eating disorders and self-harm, and anti-social behaviour at some schools' during the coronavirus crisis. Most primaries in England are expected to open their doors tomorrow, while secondary schools will reopen on a staggered basis later this month with plans to test every student weekly. But yesterday the UK's largest teaching union advised members it was not safe to return to the classroom and demanded a move to online teaching. Headteachers are now urging the Government to scrap this summer's GCSE and A-level exams amid outrage over Education Secretary Gavin Williamson's plans to keep schools open. Ms Spielman rubbished calls for remote education, arguing that it would maximise the disparities in the circumstances of the home lives of children. She added that schools 'have become society's collective eyes and ears, keeping a caring watch over those who need it most' as she warned 'risks of abuse, neglect or exploitation increase' when schools stay closed. The Ofsted boss wrote: 'There is a real consensus that schools should be the last places to close and the first to re-open, and having argued for this since last spring, I welcome it. Because it is increasingly clear that children's lives can't just be put on hold while we wait for vaccination programmes to take effect, and for waves of infection to subside. 'We cannot furlough young people's learning or their wider development. The longer the pandemic continues, the more true this is.' Advertisement

Sir Mark also suggested the UK has struggled to keep cases down because it is a 'western liberal democracy', hinting that draconian countermeasures adopted in unfree countries like Vietnam had suppressed the virus.

Asked if Tier 4 restrictions were enough, the former Chief Scientific Adviser today said: 'It's the Tier 4 restrictions, it's obeying them.

'It is thinking about breaking essentially every possible route of transmission we possibly can. Those are the things that are absolutely necessary and it is pretty clear we're going to need more.'

Talking about 'mutant' Covid, he said: 'We now have a much more transmissible variant and I'm afraid this is the natural evolution of viruses.

'The ones that can transmit most effectively have an advantage over other variants and so it is clear this variant is transmitting more readily. It's transmitting more readily in younger age groups as well.

'It's good to note it doesn't appear to cause worse disease or that it is going to be more resistant to the effects of the vaccine, but it is going to be very, very difficult to keep it under control without tighter social distancing measures.'

Sir Mark continued: 'The thing that actually stops the virus, and we know that it can do, is keeping people apart. The virus can only get from one person to another through proximity, and so it really is about doing everything we possibly can to keep ourselves as safe as possible.'

He also claimed that locking down earlier would have reduced cases and deaths, telling the Andrew Marr Show: 'It's absolutely clear we can see other countries, Vietnam for example, which has managed to keep its cases down.

'But we can see that western liberal democracies much harder. The UK is not alone in this, but that doesn't necessarily make it any better.'

He also urged people who have had a coronavirus vaccine not to 'go out and party' as he admitted 'there are lots of things we don't know about the vaccines'.

Sir Mark's interview comes as the PM signalled that anti-Covid measures were likely to get tougher.

Asked whether he could guarantee schools will open on January 18, Mr Johnson told Marr: 'Well, obviously, we're going to continue to assess the impact of the Tier 4 measures, the Tier 3 measures.'

On whether GCSE and A-Level exams should be cancelled, the PM said: 'We've got to be realistic, we've got to be realistic about the pace of which this new variant has spread... we've got to be realistic about the impact that it's having on our NHS... and we've got to be humble in the face of this virus.'

Mr Johnson indicated tougher restrictions may be introduced, saying: 'It may be that we need to do things in the next few weeks that will be tougher in many parts of the country. I'm fully, fully reconciled to that.'

He added: 'There are obviously a range of tougher measures that that we would have to consider... I'm not going to speculate now about what they would be, but I'm sure that all our viewers and our listeners will understand what the sort of things... clearly school closures, which we had to do in March is one of those things.'

Mr Johnson said: 'What we are doing now is using the tiering system, which is a very tough system... and, alas, probably about to get tougher to keep things under control. But, we will review it.'

He added: 'And we have the prospect of vaccines coming down the track in their tens of millions. And that, I think, is something that should keep people going in what I predicted, back on your show in in October, will be a very bumpy period right now. It is bumpy and it's going to be bumpy.'

Meanwhile, Liverpool's council leaders today called for a third national lockdown to contain the new 'mutant' strain of Covid and prevent a 'catastrophe'.

The city's acting mayor, Wendy Simon, and the Labour-run city council's cabinet say the speed of the rise in coronavirus cases have reached 'alarming levels' and urgent action is now required to save lives and the NHS.

The new 'mutant' strain of Covid is thought to have a higher rate of transmission and is most prevalent in London and the South East, where health bosses say hospitals have become stretched.

Headteachers call for GCSE and A-Level exams to be scrapped this summer amid school closure chaos Head teachers are calling on the Government to scrap this summer's GCSE and A-level exams amid outrage over Gavin Williamson's plans to keep schools open. Most primaries in England are expected to re-open their doors tomorrow, while secondary schools will reopen on a staggered basis later this month with plans to test every student weekly. Yesterday, however, the UK's largest teaching union advised members it was not safe to return to the classroom - with several left-wing councils demanding their primary schools move to online teaching only. And in another blow to the Education Secretary 's plans, UK head teachers are now calling for this year's exams to be scrapped to prioritise 'wider public health, pupil and staff safety'. They also claim it would be unfair to force students to sit exams when those whose schools were open earlier would have more contact time than those with later start dates. The WorthLess? campaign group - a collection of 2,000 head teachers in 80 local authorities - said: 'Wider public health, pupil and staff safety should be prioritised ahead of examinations. 'Public safety should not be risked or driven by an inflexible pursuit of GCSE and A-levels.' Head teacher of Tanbridge House School in Horsham - and one of the WorthLess? leaders - told The Times : 'There is great scepticism that exams can now go ahead fairly.' Advertisement

It is believed the strain is spreading from south to north, leading to increasing pressure on the NHS.

Cases in Liverpool have almost trebled in the past two weeks to 350 per 100,000, despite the city leading on the pilot for community testing which led to it being the first city to be moved from Tier 3 down to Tier 2.

The call for a new lockdown was made in a statement from Cllr Wendy Simon and Cabinet Member for Public Health Cllr Paul Brant.

The current mayor of the city, Joe Anderson, is on police bail on suspicion of conspiracy to commit bribery and witness intimidation.

The statement said: 'It is clear that the country is now at a crossroads with Covid-19. The stark reality is that today this virulent new strain of the virus is very much on the rise and we need to act now to prevent a crisis that will unleash even more pain and anguish.'

A spokeswoman for the Department of Health said the Government would 'not hesitate to take actions necessary to protect local communities'.

England is edging closer towards a blanket shutdown after government efforts to reopen schools were thrown into disarray by Left-wing councils and teaching unions.

Gavin Williamson confirmed on Friday that all London primary schools will remain shut to most pupils next week - rather than just those in certain boroughs as set out earlier in the week - but teaching unions say all schools should close for the next two weeks.

Last night, the Department for Education said remote learning was 'a last resort' and classrooms should reopen 'wherever possible' with appropriate safety measures to help mitigate the risk of transmission.

'As we've said, we will move to remote education as a last resort, with involvement of public health officials, in areas where infection and pressures on the NHS are highest,' the spokesperson said.

Hundreds of new vaccination sites are due to be up and running this week as the NHS ramps up its immunisation programme with the newly approved Oxford University and AstraZeneca jab.

Some 530,000 doses of the vaccine will be available for rollout across the UK from Monday and more than a million patients have already had their first dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine which was the first to be approved by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.

But Ofsted chief inspector Amanda Spielman said children's education cannot be 'furloughed' for months while vaccinations are rolled out and time absent from the classroom should be kept to an 'absolute minimum', the Sunday Telegraph reported.

Children's Commissioner Anne Longfield told the newspaper that schools should be the last to close and first to open, when safe to do so, adding: 'I hope, for children and parents' sake, that is measured in days not weeks and I would be particularly keen for primaries to stay open if at all possible.'

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the vaccine roll-out was 'our great hope', adding: 'I want the Government to throw everything it can at this, harnessing the extraordinary talents of our NHS so we can be vaccinating at least two million Brits a week by the end of the month.'

But, writing in the Sunday Mirror, he criticised 'a chaotic last minute U-turn on schools', adding: 'Confusion reigns among parents, teachers and pupils over who will be back in school tomorrow and who won't.'

General secretary of the National Education Union (NEU), Mary Bousted, said schools should stay closed for two weeks to 'break the chain' of transmission and prevent the NHS becoming overwhelmed.'

The union, which represents the majority of teachers, has advised its members it is not safe to return to classrooms on Monday.

NAHT general secretary Paul Whiteman said the union had started preliminary steps in legal proceedings against the Department for Education, asking it to share its scientific data about safety and transmission rates.

Unions have also called for the reopening of schools in Wales next week to be delayed with Laura Doel, director of school leaders' union NAHT Cymru, saying 'the latest data shows that in large parts of Wales, control of infection has been lost'.

From January 4, all London primary schools will be required to provide remote learning for two weeks to all children except vulnerable children and those of key workers, who will be allowed to attend.

Mr Williamson said the January 1 decision to expand closures to the nine remaining London boroughs and the City of London was a 'last resort'.

Under the Government's initial plan, secondary schools and colleges were set to be closed to most pupils for the first two weeks of January, while primary schools within 50 local authorities in the south of England, including 23 London boroughs, were also told to keep their doors shut until January 18.

Green Party-led Brighton and Hove City Council has advised primary schools in the Tier 4 area not to return in person, except for vulnerable children and those of key workers, until January 18 despite the Government's plan for most schools to open in person.

Linda Bauld, a professor in public health at the University of Edinburgh, said transmission among primary school pupils was 'still very limited' while secondary school pupils, particularly older teenagers, can pass on the virus in the same way as adults.

But health professionals have warned of growing pressure on services with Prof Goddard telling the BBC current case figures are 'fairly mild' compared to what is expected in a week's time.

Mutated super-infectious coronavirus strain was spreading quickly among children DURING November lockdown and only closing schools can keep it contained, new Imperial report warns

Pictured: A graph in the Imperial College London report showing the prevalence of the new strain of coronavirus (shown in orange) in different age groups

The mutated super-infectious coronavirus strain was spreading quickly among children during the November lockdown and only closing schools can keep it contained, a new report from Imperial College London has warned.

The study confirmed that the new mutant variant of SARS-CoV-2 - known as B117 or 'Variant of Concern' (VOC) - is indeed more infectious than previous variants, just as scientists feared, and that the November lockdown did little to suppress it.

The variant was most prevalent among the 10-19 age group, the data shows, with more coronavirus cases in the age group being found to be the new strain than of the original.

In order the tackle the spread of the VOC in Britain, 'Social distancing measures will need to be more stringent than they would have otherwise,' the report said.

'A particular concern is whether it will be possible to maintain control over transmission while allowing schools to reopen in January 2021.'

Analysis of the data by Imperial College London researchers found that the new strain may be nearly 50 percent more transmissible, based on samples taken from nearly 86,000 Britons.

In the study posted online, which is yet to be peer-reviewed, Imperial College researchers determined that the 'R' number for the new B117 variant is between 0.4 and 0.7 points higher than other variants.

The study compared samples of the mutated virus taken from nearly 2,000 people in the UK to another 84,000 taken from people with other variants

The 'R' number of a virus describes the average number of additional cases that each infection leads to.

In the UK, the latest R number stands between 1.1 and 1.3, government figures show. This means that, on average, every 10 people infected will infect between 11 and 13 other people.

Graphs from the new study show how, over eight weeks, the new variant became increasingly common (dots higher on each chart) in the UK and became more transmissible (dots further the right on each chart show rising R numbers, or transmission rates

In a series of graphs, the report outlined case trends in a subset of NHS England Sustainability and Transformation Plan (STP) areas - (a geographic subdivision of NHS Regions).

It is clear in the graphs that while the November lockdown worked to bring down the rates of the original strain of coronavirus, it did little to suppress the spread of the mutated strain in England.

This is demonstrated by the graphs with three lines showing case numbers.

The thick line shows the total number of cases in the respective region found among the people included in the study. The green line shows the original strain of Covid-19 (S+), while the yellow line shows the new variant (VOC).

The thick line at the top of the graph showing the total number of cases in each area changes colour between green and yellow based on the number of tests showing instances of the VOC among those included in the study.

Pictured: Screen-grabs from the Imperial College report showing case trends involving the new strain of coronavirus, where the % S- rate indicates a case of the new variant. During the lockdown, Kent and Medway showed increasing numbers of the new Covid-19 strain. Mid and South Essex saw a similar rise in cases in the weeks before and after the lockdown ended. Both regions saw cases of the VOC overtake case numbers of the original strain

The dates of the second lockdown in November are indicated by the vertical red lines, between which the spread of Covid-19 and the VOC are demonstrated.

Areas in the South East of England - including London - show a rapid rise of the mutated strain of Covid-19, while the original strain kept at relatively low levels during the lockdown - showing the prevalence of the new strain in those areas.

These include Kent and Medway, Mid and South Essex; South West London Health and Care Partnership; and Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West.

In areas outside of the regions most effected by the VOC , total cases are shown to have dropped during the lockdown.

These include Birmingham and Solihull; Devon; Herefordshire and Worcestershire; Cheshire and Merseyside; and Humber, Coast and Vale.

Cases of the VOC in South West London Health and Care Partnership also rose in the final weeks of lockdown, and have continued to do so since. The number of cases of the new strain over took those of the original. Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West also saw rising case numbers in the last week of lockdown, with numbers of the new strain rising

In both Bingmingam and Solihull and in Devon, case number of the first Covid-19 strain dropped during the lockdown, while cases of the VOC remained low into the last weeks of 2020

In Herefordshire and Worcestershire, and Cheshire and Merseyside, total cases dropped during lockdown without the spike in new cases of the VOC

Humber, Coast and Vale also saw cases of the original strain of Covid-19 drop during lockdown and avoided the rise in new cases of the VOC. Right: A graph showing ratio age share among S- cases / age share among S+ cases

The new variant was first detected in the UK in September, the study states, but at the beginning of December, it exploded and has driven a surge in infections among Britons.

The spread of the new novel SARS-CoV-2 variant, or Variant of Concern 202012/01 (VOC), in England comes despite a tiered system being in place as part of efforts to bring the spread of the virus under control.

What is the 'mutant COVID strain' and why are experts concerned? Coronaviruses mutate regularly, acquiring about one new mutation in their genome every two weeks. Most mutations do not significantly change the way the virus acts. This super strain, named B.1.1.7, was first identified in the UK in November. It has since been found in France, Spain, Italy, Iceland, Japan, Singapore, Australia and now the United States. The new COVID-19 variant has a mutation in the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the spike protein at position 501, where amino acid asparagine (N) has been replaced with tyrosine (Y). It is more infectious than previous strains and potentially more harmful to children. It is not, however, believed to be any more lethal. Public Health England researchers compared 1,769 people infected with the new variant, with 1,769 who had one of the earlier strains of the virus. Forty-two people in the group were admitted to hospital, of whom 16 had the new variant and 26 the wild type. Twelve of the variant cases and 10 of the 'older' virus cases died within four weeks of testing. Neither the hospitalization nor the mortality differences were statistically significant. Advertisement

The majority of England is under 'Tier 4', the strictest tier, yet is still seeing record numbers of daily Covid-19 infections despite the measures.

Imperial College London researchers sequenced the genomes of 1,904 people infected with the new variant and compared how quickly the virus spread to a broader sample of other specimens taken from more than 48,000 people in England.

As they expected, they found that the new virus did indeed have a 'selective advantage over circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants in England,' they wrote in the print posted online on Thursday.

The variant was also disproportionately common among people in their 20s, and those living in South East and East England and London.

The findings of the new study mean each person who catches this mutated virus will pass it on to up to 0.7 more people on average.

So far, there isn't evidence to suggest the new variant causes any more serious illness or is more fatal.

Encouragingly, virologists and public health experts believe that vaccines made by companies like AstraZeneca, Pfizer and Moderna will still be effective against the new variant of coronavirus.

But the new variant heats up the race between the spread of the virus and vaccination campaigns in the UK, the US - where the new variant has now been found in Colorado, California and Florida - and at least 31 other countries where the more infectious form of coronavirus has been detected.

With more than 186,000 people newly infected in a single day on average in the US, the 48 percent higher transmissibility rate of 1.85 could drive new infections per day beyond 275,000.

It could spell disaster for hospitals in hotspots like California where some health care systems and regions are already out of ICU beds, in states of 'internal disaster' and rationing care.

There are similar fears in the UK over the National Health Service (NHS) and its capacity to cope with the number of coronavirus patients that are expected as the new variant of the disease continues to spread.

Sharing data from a separate study done by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), Deepti Gurdasani - a senior lecturer at Queen Mary University of London in Epidemiology and statistical genetics - warned that 'B117 is either dominant, or very close to dominant in most regions' in England.

Over the course of six weeks, the researchers saw how the new coronavirus variant's transmission rate (R) became higher (orange) than those of other variants, especially in South East England, East England and London

By comparison, on average in the US, each infected person currently leads to 1.15 more infections, according to daily calculations from RT.live.

By this measure of transmissibility the R number in the US ranges from about 0.86 in Alaska to 1.23 in Maine, which has emerged as a hotspot this week.

Only 3.17 million Americans had been vaccinated as of Friday, according to a Bloomberg News tally.

The CDC's tally puts the number even lower. The agency's site says its vaccination tracker will be updated every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, but at the time of publication, the tool showed Wednesday's numbers, with 2.79 million people vaccinated.

Bloomberg's higher estimate means Operation Warp Speed has vaccinated just 16 percent of the 20 million Americans it promised to inoculate by the end of the year.

At this pace, it would take nearly a decade to vaccinate all adult members of America's population of 331 million people.

And many Americans remain on the fence about getting a vaccine even when one is available. Some 60 percent of nursing home workers in Ohio said they would refuse a shot.

Sluggish, dysfunctional vaccine distribution and Americans' distrust of of the shots could jointly offer the B117 variant just the opening it needs to spread like wildfire through the country infecting millions beyond the 20 million people who have already had the infection in the US, and killing thousands.
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"And now for something completely different," John Cleese routinely intoned between absurdist sketches on "Monty Python's Flying Circus." He might have been wearing a tuxedo or a pink bikini, and on one occasion he said it while appearing to be roasting on a spit.

After the debacle of 2020  a year that felt a little like being on that spit -- many people are yearning for a clean break, "something completely different."

It might be too much to ask. The year begins with two pieces of leftover business: the runoff elections in Georgia Tuesday that will determine which party controls the US Senate, and the session of Congress Wednesday at which the Electoral College's votes to elect Joe Biden will be counted. The first is genuinely suspenseful, the second purely a formality, though one some Republican lawmakers are threatening to use as a forum to air President Donald Trump's baseless claim that he was cheated of reelection by massive voter fraud.

The GOP objections have "zero chance of succeeding," wrote election law expert Joshua A. Douglas. But that doesn't mean they won't cause harm -- "American democracy cannot survive the losing party refusing to accept defeat."

Texas Rep. Louie Gohmert sued Vice President Mike Pence this week to empower him to throw out electoral votes against Trump when he presides over the congressional session. "So ridiculous," Elie Honig wrote. "If Gohmert were right -- if the vice president could, at his own whim, simply discard certain electoral votes while accepting others, then on January 6, 2017, Vice President Joe Biden could have decided to install President Hillary Clinton, rather than Donald Trump. And on January 6, 2001, Vice President Al Gore could have named himself the winner of the 2000 election...You can see the absurdity here." A federal judge dismissed Gohmert's lawsuit Friday and a circuit court rejected Gohmert's appeal Saturday.

In fact, Pence's only constitutional role is to preside over the counting of the votes cast December 14, when Biden received 306 electoral votes compared to Trump's 232, and to announce Trump's defeat. That makes it an excruciating position for the veep to be in, as Michael D'Antonio pointed out: "Pence's tenure as vice president has looked like a continuous show of servility. When he wasn't offering over-the-top praise to Trump and his policy choices, he stood at his side beaming, with the kind of adoring expression that recalled Nancy Reagan's appreciative look toward her husband, former President Ronald Reagan."

After the Electoral College voted, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell finally recognized Biden as the President-elect. "Let's be clear," wrote Jill Filipovic, "McConnell doesn't get applause for foot-dragging, for belatedly doing the normal thing. It's not even the right thing -- 'doing the right thing' implies some sort of moral courage."

Even the Trump-friendly New York Post called on the President to abandon his futile effort to overturn the election results. "If you insist on spending your final days in office threatening to burn it all down," wrote the Post's editorial board, "that will be how you are remembered. Not as a revolutionary, but as the anarchist holding the match."

Election security official Christopher Krebs, who was fired by Trump after not backing up his fraud claims, wrote that his agency at the Department of Homeland Security geared up to prevent foreign meddling with the 2020 election, "but we did not see any successful attacks or damaging disruptions." Instead, the threat came from within after the election: "We began to see wild and baseless claims of domestic origin, about hackers and malicious algorithms that flipped the vote in states across the country, singling out election equipment vendors for having ties to deceased foreign dictators. None of these claims matched up with the intelligence we had, based on reporting from election officials or how elections actually work in this country."

Complicating Georgia

Trump's railing against the outcome of the election and his sour attitude to the Covid-19 relief stimulus bill his own administration negotiated is making things tougher for the two Republican senators in Georgia.

"This holiday season, President Donald Trump has wreaked havoc on Congress, our democracy and our judicial system by pardoning political associates and convicted murderers," wrote Joe Lockhart. "But Trump has saved a special kind of Grinch-like behavior for the two Republican Senate candidates in Georgia who are headed for runoff elections in January and for Senator Mitch McConnell, whose fate as majority leader depends on the GOP winning at least one of those races."

To Frida Ghitis, "the truly strange part of this prolonged battle for the Senate is that if Democrats win, it will be in large part thanks to the bizarre behavior of a Republican president, who didn't just energize Democrats and repel many moderate Republicans, but, through his consistent undermining of the electoral results in Georgia, triggered a mind-boggling campaign that persuaded some Republicans not to vote for at all."

Edward Lindsey, a Republican from Georgia, is betting that voters in his normally red state will bring victory to David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler. Their Democratic opponents, Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock, are running to the left of previous candidates from their party in Georgia, Lindsey noted. "Embrace of Biden and the Democratic Party's agenda is a two-edged sword. While it whips up the Democratic base, it also assists Republicans in sending the message to their base that the stakes of this special election are bigger than just the Senate -- they could decide the fate of the first two years of Biden's presidency," wrote Lindsey.

Former Republican National Committee chairman Richard N. Bond urged his fellow Republicans to concede the election to Biden, while noting that his party could take pride in its "astonishing and wholly unexpected gains on the federal, state and local level." On a variety of policy priorities, he wrote, "progressives will likely be disappointed in the outcome of the next two years. Because even if Democrats win both Senate seats, West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin has declared he will not support several of these ideas, and in a 50-50 split, Democrats cannot afford to lose a single vote."

After griping about the stimulus bill and saying its $600 payment to most Americans was too low, Trump ultimately signed it Sunday night. Democrats agreed with Trump that the payment should be raised to $2,000 but McConnell blocked action on that in the Senate. In the Washington Post, Catherine Rampell argued that the debate over $600 vs. $2,000 is the wrong question. "Sending money to nearly every American family to ensure that help gets to the much tinier fraction who actually need it is not a terribly efficient use of resources," she wrote. "The payments end up being a pittance for higher-income, fully employed households, yet insufficient for the households that suffered large income losses."

For more on politics:

Kate Andersen Brower: How Trump is making this hard job even harder

Jeffrey D. Sachs: The ugly part of the $900 billion stimulus bill

Timothy Frye: The real reason Trump is failing to overturn the election

Jan Erkert: What we can all learn from Biden's refusal to feed the troll

Marisa Fox: The Trump appointee Biden needs to get rid of on day one

Julian Zelizer: Trump's wrecking ball of a transition

Nicole Hemmer: The stimulus and MacKenzie Scott show two sides of the same problem

Here come the vaccines

The most promising sign for 2021 is the rollout of vaccines that look to be extremely effective against the virus that causes Covid-19. But the disease is still rampant and hospitals in parts of the country are running out of space.

What's more, the number of Americans vaccinated as of Saturday is 4.2 million, far behind the 20 million goal that had been set for the end of December. Dr. Kent Sepkowitz noted that the slow-moving rollout is not surprising given the logistical challenge of mounting a national public health program and "the clear lack of urgency from the White House." He predicted that "the Biden administration will increase the pace and address all the contingencies efficiently and without politics," after it takes over on January 20.

"We are in the midst of a national disaster," wrote Dr. Megan Ranney, a CNN medical analyst and an associate professor of emergency medicine. "We -- politicians and public health officials -- are asking people to do the very hardest thing: to not see their families during a series of holidays that revolve around families, in order to stave off future disease spread." Which is why, she noted, it's painful to see officials who know better failing to heed their own advice.

"The Democratic mayor of Denver told residents to stay home for Thanksgiving -- and then flew to Mississippi," Ranney wrote. "The Democratic mayor of Austin recorded a video imploring his constituents to stay home -- while on vacation in Cabo San Lucas, more than 800 miles away. ... Dr. Deborah Birx, one of the administration's most publicly recognizable scientists, traveled during Thanksgiving to be with multiple generations of her family. (Dr. Birx says she went to Delaware to winterize a property before a potential sale rather than to celebrate Thanksgiving, but that her family had shared a meal together while in Delaware.)"

To end the pandemic, wrote Drs. Howard K. Koh and Michael R. Fraser, 75% to 85% of Americans must be vaccinated, a much higher proportion than that of Americans typically receiving flu shots. To get there, they wrote, "we all must first give public health professionals their own 'shot in the arm': recognition, support and resources from policymakers and the public. Now is the time for the nation to rally behind public health professionals -- an often invisible, underappreciated workforce -- as they orchestrate all the highly visible aspects of vaccination, from invention to injection."

Reaching out to the public is crucial if the Biden administration is to succeed in fighting Covid-19, wrote Hector Carrillo. "Mounting the formidable battle against the spread of the virus requires a comprehensive, national campaign that spells out in simple terms  with consistent, engaging, and compelling messages  a crucial point that the Trump administration was not willing to articulate: Covid-19 is preventable and can be eradicated if each of us engages consistently in preventive practices and if we pursue testing after a possible exposure."

For more on the pandemic:

Lord Tariq Ahmad and Elizabeth Cousens: How to distribute Covid-19 vaccines fairly around the world

Steven Butler: What a journalist's jailing for heroic Covid coverage exposes about China

The Blackwater pardons

Thomas O'Connor worked as a team leader on an FBI evidence team for more than 20 years before he retired in 2019. He investigated the attack on the Pentagon on September 11, 2001, along with the 2000 bombing of the USS Cole and of the US embassy in Kenya in 1998. But one of the experiences he will never forget is investigating the killing of 17 Iraqis in Baghdad on September 16, 2007. President Donald Trump pardoned four Blackwater security guards who were serving time for what O'Connor established was an unprovoked shooting spree at a traffic circle in Baghdad.

Among the dead were a mother and son driving in a white KIA. She was a doctor and he was going to medical school. Another was a 9-year-old boy, hit in the head with a Blackwater round, who slumped into his father's arms.

"The families of those killed and wounded at Nisour Square will now watch those responsible for this tragedy go free, thanks to a pardon by the President of the United States," wrote O'Connor. "This simply makes me sad and angry . ... There is no forensic evidence of anyone shooting at the Blackwater team. How do I know? The evidence told me that."

Don't miss

Sara Stewart: 'Promising Young Woman' reveals roiling dark river of anger

Garry Kasparov: It's time to treat Putin's Russia like the rogue regime it is

Don Lincoln: The unhackable computers that could revolutionize the future

Alexandra Cousteau: Offshore oil drilling in the Bahamas is a big mistake

Jill Filipovic: What the obsession with Martin Shkreli and Christie Smythe says about us

AND...

Turning the page

We looked back at the 50 op-eds that told the story of a trying year, 2020, and our commentators took a crack at predicting what the new year will have in store.

But there's no getting around the fact that the usual year-end rituals felt tougher than ever this time. Reviewing the year in the Miami Herald, Dave Barry wrote, "We're trying to think of something nice to say about 2020. OK, here goes: Nobody got killed by the murder hornets. As far as we know. That's pretty much it."

Still, there's hope for a better year ahead, wrote David Faris, in The Week. When enough people are vaccinated, he noted, "We're going to party down at the weddings that were canceled when the pandemic descended upon us, as well as the graduation parties and family reunions and music festivals and the slew of holiday celebrations that sensible people put off."

Faris imagined what's to come: "Sometimes when I can't bear the thought of one more day of this miserable, attenuated existence, I picture myself in July at Chicago's Wrigley Field on a glorious, sun-soaked day, a Goose Island in hand and my toddler nestled into my other side, as a sold-out crowd of newly liberated revelers gives a five-minute standing ovation to a gaggle of doctors, nurses, grocery workers and Amazon drivers. It gets me through some tough nights. And it's coming."
1. Yes. The public must have assurances that ethical standards are met by everyone.

2. Yes. As long as an independent board hears the grievances, its a worthwhile idea.

3. No. The concept is too broad. It should be limited to the citys elected officials.

4. No. There are plenty of stipulations in place already. An ordinance is a waste of time.

5. Unsure. Its hard to say without seeing how it would be structured and applied.

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By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 01/03/2021



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[ Spoilers Warning: This report contains spoilers revealing if Jovi and Yara broke up or if the couple is still together and living in the United States together.]

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So did Jovi and Yara break up after her move to America or is the couple still together?

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Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade.

couple Jovi Dufren and Yara Zaya are definitely butting heads on Season 8 of , but did their relationship improve or did they call it quits? What do spoilers reveal about if Jovi and Yara are still together now?Jovi, a 29-year-old who works in underwater robotics from New Orleans, LA, met Yara, a 25-year-old makeup artist from Kiev, Ukraine, through a travel app.Jovi said he thought Yara was very beautiful and they're both family-oriented and seemed to like a lot of the same things -- such as beaches, scubadiving and traveling.Jovi decided to meet Yara in-person during one of his work trip to Budapest. He had no expectations when they first met other than to probably hook up, but he said "really good sex" led to more hangout sessions.Jovi described Yara as a girly-girl who loves fashion, makeup and designer bags.During the first few months of their relationship, Jovi and Yara took vacations together all over the world, including a stop in Bali. Jovi also visited his girl in the Ukraine multiple times.Jovi revealed he got Yara pregnant six months into their relationship and that was a huge shock to him."I was dumbfounded, it was so unexpected. This is not what I'm ready for. I thought she was trying to trap me. I thought, 'This is her ticket to America,'" Jovi admitted. "But after the shock wore off, it actually pulled us pretty close together."At that point, however, Jovi said he loved Yara, and so he decided to propose marriage to her during a trip to Cuba.Afterward, Jovi applied for a K-1 visa so he could marry Yara and they could become a family, but then the couple received bad news that they had lost the baby.Since Yara was no longer pregnant, Jovi confessed he experienced a case of cold feet and realized there was no rush to get married anymore and settle down together in America.But after more time passed, Jovi determined Yara was the person he wanted to be with and he felt good about having her in his life. And Yara was prepared to move to Louisiana in just a few days after her K-1 visa was approved.Jovi said his mother Gwen was Yara's biggest supporter, but Gwen was surprised about her son's choice of partner to marry. Gwen apparently always thought her son would wed a sweet southern girl, and she had trouble picturing Yara liking Jovi's lifestyle of hunting and fishing.Gwen warned Jovi that many Ukrainian women want to get to the United States and receive green cards. Jovi putting his trust into Yara was apparently a big thing for him.Due to Jovi's hectic work schedule, he said he'd only have two weeks with Yara to move into an apartment and then Jovi had to work for a month. They wouldn't have 90 days like the average K-1 visa couple, so Jovi was a bit concerned they'd have less than 60 days together.Gwen thought the situation was "absolutely nuts" and didn't understand how Jovi and Yara were going to make this work. Gwen wasn't even convinced Jovi was truly ready for marriage.Jovi's friends also didn't think he was ready to be a husband and deal with the challenges of marriage. His best friend Kline's girlfriend Sara even predicted Jovi's life was going to spiral out of control.Jovi admitted he's a free spirit who likes to drink and doesn't really think before acting, so he acknowledged a woman coming into his life and trying to change him would be tough.But Jovi was totally wrapped up in Yara, and he told the cameras, "If Yara and I don't work out, I'll be devastated."Jovi and Yara then reunited in the airport after Yara traveled for 30 hours so Jovi could allegedly save money.When asked to reveal what she loved most about Jovi, Yara wasn't sure what to say other than he had a good body when they first met.Yara disappointed Jovi that night by refusing to go out on the town. Yara just wanted to shower, sleep and rest after her long journey to America, but Jovi was hoping to party and introduce Yara to his friends."I don't think me and Yara are on the same page about a lot of things, but our 90 days start today and we have a lot to think about before we get married," Jovi said.Jovi then joked with Yara they were about to have sex for the first time in America.During Yara's first full day in New Orleans, Jovi then gave Yara a tour of the city, including Bourbon Street, which Yara considered chaotic and crazy.Yara seemed overwhelmed by her environment and admitted she thought America was going to be "sweet dreams" but Ukraine was better -- although "more poor."Jovi then wanted to introduce Yara to his parents, but Yara didn't want to spend the night at Jovi's parents' place because she said she wouldn't feel comfortable. Jovi said Yara didn't have a choice because that's simply Louisiana culture.Yara jokingly threatened to return to Ukraine, but Jovi argued that America is a better country, which apparently upset Yara.Jovi said he needed the women to get along in order for him to have a comfortable marriage, and with 88 days to wed, Jovi took Yara to the Bayou to meet Gwen.Gwen told the cameras that if she got a bad feeling about her son's fiancee, she'd warn Jovi to prevent him from making a big mistake.Yara told Gwen that she'd be okay with sleeping over although it might be a bit uncomfortable for her. Gwen admitted she was a little sad knowing Yara actually considered not staying the night.Jovi learned he might have to leave for his work trip a few days earlier than anticipated, and Yara was frustrated because she was still getting settled in and had more to see in New Orleans before being left alone.Gwen asked the couple about their wedding plans, and Yara said she'd love to get married in Las Vegas. Jovi, however, wished his grandparents could attend a local wedding.Yara explained that she wanted her relatives to be able to attend the wedding and if they couldn't make it, she didn't want a wedding for one side of the family, meaning her groom's family.Yara and Jovi therefore decided on making a weekend out of it and going to Las Vegas to wed.Gwen felt sad and wondered if Yara was being "a little selfish" in wanting things her way, but Yara told the cameras she wasn't going to let Gwen control her like she allegedly controlled Jovi.Gwen hoped to talk about the topic more, noting she'd be "really, really disappointed" if she couldn't be a part of or do anything for her son's wedding.Gwen called Yara "a cool person" and said she could tell Jovi had a connection with her, but Gwen said she needed to spend more time with her son's fiance before being convinced she's the right girl for Jovi.Yara reminded Jovi that they were not going to have a wedding in his hometown and Gwen had asked her too many questions. Yara didn't want a big wedding and said, "I will not get married in a trailer park."Jovi later took Yara shopping so she could pick out a new rug and mirror for their place."I am the boss," Yara bragged, adding that Jovi has terrible "swamp taste."The saleswoman at the furniture store noticed Jovi seemed "snippy," telling the cameras, "If Yara was my friend, I would tell her Jovi is maybe not The One."Jovi said he hated a sparkly rug Yara had selected and he wasn't going to put it in his apartment.Yara left the store in an angry manner, and she said she was tired of people thinking she's "a b-tch" while Jovi is a perfect, kind person. Yara said Jovi needed to treat her better or else she wouldn't marry him."He [can't] talk to me like this and be so rude and mean to me," Yara complained, before telling Jovi that all he did was "b-tch" at her.The pair fought on the way home and Jovi called Yara "ridiculous." She told Jovi to buy whatever he wanted because he didn't seem to appreciate anything she had done for him, and they snapped at each other back and forth.When the couple returned to their apartment, Yara reminded Jovi that she had left everything in her country behind for Jovi and it would be nice if he could sacrifice something, like his taste in a living-room rug, for instance.Jovi argued he had done a lot for Yara as well, including cleaning his apartment so it would look decent for her arrival. But Yara countered by saying, "You don't care about nothing."Jovi eventually apologized for his behavior in the furniture store and came around to the idea of Yara choosing whatever she wanted for their apartment so she would be happy and feel at home."Everything I do is to basically make her feel more comfortable," Jovi told the cameras.Yara demanded that Jovi throw many of his belongings away, and she reminded him that he needed to call his apartment "our" apartment.The pair's relationship didn't get off to a great start, and Yara complains in a trailer teasing what's to come on 's eighth season that Jovi is an alcoholic and party animal."He needs to understand I [gave] up everything I have to be here," Yara says in a confessional.Yara later says she "deserves somebody better" after Jovi is shown joking with a friend how he wasn't married yet."I'm going to walk away," Jovi threatens his fiancee."You f-cking walk away," Yara dares him with tears in her eyes. "I'm just done with you."It appears Jovi and Yara are still together. For starters, Jovi's Instagram profile picture features Yara.And on Yara's Instagram, her description says, "38 country, traveling with my [love]." Jovi has a similar description on his own Instagram page, saying he's been to 57 countries and is "on an adventure to see the world!"In mid-December, Yara posted a picture of herself touching her hair, and an eagle-eyed Instagram user noticed an engagement ring and wedding ring on Yara's left hand.But when a fan commented, "Ooooooooo a wedding ring," Yara commented, "Not wedding, this is an ordinary ring, I wear it so that the engagement ring does not get lost, because it is big for me."The fan wrote back that Jovi needs to size the ring for Yara, and she replied, "Hahahahah, i was thinking about that, but I newer have time."Jovi posted the video clip of Yara saying he no longer had a good body, which was footage that aired in the premiere of 's eighth season."Well damnnnnn, that's harsh," Jovi playfully captioned his post along with crying-laughing emoticons.Yara shared the same video clip on her own Instagram account and said, "It's so funny. I'm definitely not a romantic person who can talk about feelings."When one fan wrote, "I can't wait to see more of you and jovi you two are so cute together."Yara replied, "Thank you," which seemingly confirms they are still a couple.On December 6, Jovi requested of his followers, "Tune in to see our story."And Yara commented on his post, "You are special!! WE DONT HAVE SEX IN THE FIRST NIGHT."Earlier this month, Yara posted a photo of herself filming behind-the-scenes and wrote alongside it, "I want Jovi to look at me with the same loving eyes as this woman looks at me in the first photo."Yara also uploaded a photo of herself drinking wine with a cityscape in the background, and Jovi commented on the picture, "Dayummmm. Are you single??"Jovi's flirtatious remark would seem to suggest they're still dating.The pair were definitely still together in early May, when Yara captioned a selfie of the couple with three red heart emojis.One follower gushed "gorgeous couple," and then Yara responded, "Thanks."Yara also posted a throwback photo of Jovi proposing marriage down on one knee. She wrote "memories" alongside the photo with a red heart emoji.And in February, Yara uploaded a few photos of herself in an ivory suite and pink shirt, and Jovi commented, "Like."Going back to late December 2019, Jovi posted a photo with Yara in which they were sitting in front of a fireplace at Christmas time.Yara commented, "I look ugly here."One month earlier, Yara posted photos with Jovi posing on a rooftop and captioned them, "Best [man] in the world, love you so much."Want more spoilers or couples updates? Click here to visit our homepage!
Ten-part BBC2 series A Teacher starts on BBC2 at 10pm on Sunday night.

And the star of the show, Kate Mara, 37, has revealed that she warned her parents about her role as a high school teacher who grooms and 18-year old pupil in her English class.

The actress, who plays Claire Wilson, confessed she told her parents, Kathleen and Timothy, they would need to 'fast-forward through some things' and admitted that 'some people are definitely going to feel uncomfortable watching!'

Warning! Kate Mara, 37, has revealed that she warned her parents about her role in A Teacher as a high school teacher who grooms and 18-year old pupil in her English class

Kate's character, Claire, embarks on an illicit affair with her pupil, Eric - played by Jurassic World star Nick Robinson 25 - demonstrating a serious abuse of power that will scar their lives forever and tear their futures apart.

Speaking about her family's reaction to her role in A Teacher, she told The Sun: 'My parents want to be supportive and watch. I just told them they're going to have to fast-forward through some things. That eliminates a lot of the show.

'When I called them to ask them what they thought, they said things like, "Yeah, we only had to fast-forward four times tonight". That leaves probably ten minutes of the episode.'

Kate said: 'Some people are definitely going to feel uncomfortable watching. It wasn't something that we made thinking it would be a super-easy watch. Comfortable is not the word we were going for.'

Uncomfortable watch: The actress, who plays Claire Wilson, confessed she told her parents, Kathleen and Timothy, they would need to 'fast-forward through some things'

Illicit: Kate's character, Claire, embarks on an illicit affair with her pupil, Eric - played by Jurassic World star Nick Robinson 25

Skip forward: 'I just told them they're going to have to fast-forward through some things,' said Kate of her parents watching A Teacher

A Teacher is based on a 2013 film of the same name, which follows Claire, who has no friends at work and feels suffocated in her marriage to musician Matt, played Ashley Zukerman, 37.

Kate is best known for playing Zoe Barnes in Netflixs House Of Cards, but has also starred in Brokeback Mountain and TV series American Horror Story: Murder House.

She is married to Billy Elliot star Jamie Bell, 34, and the couple welcomed their first child together 18 months ago, a daughter, but have not publicly revealed her name.

Grooming: The sexual relationship demonstrates a serious abuse of power that will scar their lives forever and tear their futures apart

Celebrity couple: Mara is married to British actor Jamie Bell, with whom she shares a daughter, born in May 2019. They're pictured in July 2019

The couple met while making the 2015 superhero reboot Fantastic Four and announced their engagement two years later. They announced their marriage in July 2017.

Jamie was previously married to the actress Evan rachel Wood with whom he shares a seven-year-old son.

Kate is just one of the stars in her family, with her younger sister being Rooney Mara, 35, whose husband is Joaquin Phoenix, 46.

A Teacher starts tonight on BBC2 at 10pm.

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Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-03 14:09:40|Editor: huaxia

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JALALABAD, Afghanistan, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- Eight Taliban militants were killed and six others wounded after Afghan government security forces repelled a militants' attack at security checkpoints in the country's eastern Nangarhar province, the military said Sunday.

"The clashes erupted after militants armed with guns and Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPGs) attacked Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) checkpoints in Bati Kot district, in the eastern of provincial capital Jalalabad city on Saturday," army's Selab 201 Corps said in a statement.

The ANDSF personnel deployed at the checkpoints retaliated effectively, forcing the militants to flee from the scene, the statement said.

The ANDSF remains in control of most of Afghanistan's population centers and all of 34 provincial capitals, but Taliban insurgents control large portions of rural areas, staging coordinated large-scale attacks against Afghan cities and districts from time to time.

The militant group has not responded to the report so far. Enditem
Health officials said the average wait had reduced to an hour by late afternoon. Mount Waverley resident Ben Yamin said he and his family managed to get tested after queuing at a Malvern drive-through centre from before it opened on Sunday morning, but only after ignoring instructions from traffic wardens to leave the area. Ben and Amber Yamin, with their children Alina and Ayaan, are isolating at their home in Mount Waverley. Credit:Paul Jeffers "They said  you're going to be here for six hours," he said. "They were talking to the car ahead of us and they were saying if you dont go we're going to have to call police because you are blocking Waverley Road and its a hazard." Mr Yamin and his family were tested at 11.30am after waiting in line for four hours.

"There's a lot of demand for testing and we just need more sites," he said. "And I don't know why we're not prepared for this. Its been a year, right?" Mr Yamin said that after driving home from their Gold Coast holiday through NSW, he and his family were told by police at the Victorian border they would need to isolate only until they received negative tests. They have since been told they will need to isolate for 14 days regardless. Almost 22,500 tests were recorded in Victoria on Saturday, an increase of more than 150 per cent from Wednesday, when 8731 tests were done. A Health Department spokeswoman said more than 60 testing sites remained open during the Christmas period, including some sites that remained open on Christmas Day. Victorias COVID-19 response commander, Jeroen Weimar, said there were now 190 testing sites and some would open for extended hours to boost capacity, but he also said some may have had to temporarily close on Sunday as they reached capacity.

Weve added around 40 per cent more capacity on Friday compared to what we had planned to do  Well step it up again today but its not something we can turn on at the flick of a switch, he said. "The choice we faced before Christmas was, do you hold people over and not let them go on leave after they have absolutely flogged themselves for nine months? Or do you say no, you have to stand around on the testing stations on the off chance. We took a view that we needed to have the right balance of resources. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video We are asking people to be patient. People are getting through the system, it is just taking longer. The testing surge comes as Victorias state of emergency was extended until January 29, the government citing a remaining serious risk to public health.

On Saturday evening, a call went out to tens of thousands of nurses and midwives for their urgent support to work in testing sites across Victoria, including regional areas. They were told shift lengths would vary between six and 10 hours, and that travel and meal allowances could be available. Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation Victorian branch secretary Lisa Fitzpatrick said while she was aware thousands had already registered their details with the recruiting nursing agency, many nurses were exhausted after a long and challenging year. Many of them hadn't had a break for more than 12 months, given people came back to assist in bushfire areas, then COVID was upon us quickly, she said. GP Mukesh Haikerwal runs a respiratory clinic in Melbourne's west and said that the clinic would have been able to assist in coronavirus testing on the weekend but was not given any government funding to do so. The former AMA president said the state government had previously provided some extra money so the clinic could operate at the weekends during heightened demand to test for new local cases.

Weve got the facility, weve got the people  and thats been forgotten again, he said. Victorian Opposition Leader Michael O'Brien said it was obvious there was potential for an outbreak before Christmas and the government should have staggered test site workers' leave and paid them extra to work through the summer break. Loading We keep hearing from the government that this virus doesnt take a holiday, this virus doesn't respect New Year's. Well thats quite right, so why isnt the government better prepared, why doesnt the government have the resources we need? Chaos at testing sites doesnt keep us keep safe and it wont keep us open  Nobody should have to wait seven hours in a queue to get tested.

Despite the significant delays at testing sites, federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said he had confidence in Victorias public health system to deal with the latest COVID-19 outbreak. I do have confidence in the Victorian government and the response. I think to put it in perspective, Victorian testing numbers have more than tripled in the past week, Mr Hunt said. He said Victorias contact-tracing system had dramatically improved since the hotel quarantine leakages that caused its second wave last year. Our belief is Victoria is far better placed now, he said. With Ashleigh McMillan and Anthony Galloway
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-04 05:02:56|Editor: huaxia

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UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Sunday expressed his "deep sadness" at the passing of legendary long-time UN official Brian Urquhart, who died Saturday at the age of 101.

"I am deeply saddened at the passing of Sir Brian Urquhart, the legendary long-time United Nations official. I offer condolences to his family and to his legions of admirers within and beyond the United Nations," the UN chief said in a statement.

"Sir Brian's imprint on the United Nations was as profound as that of anyone in the organization's history. As one of the organization's earliest employees, he set the standard for the international civil service: dedicated and impartial. As an aide to Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjold, he helped to define the UN's scope of action in addressing armed conflict and other global challenges. And as a close associate of Ralph Bunche, the renowned UN official and Nobel-Peace-Prize-winner, Sir Brian helped to establish and then propel international peacekeeping into wide-ranging use," the statement added.

"Across the decades, in service to several of my predecessors, Sir Brian was at the center of formative global events, from the Congo to the Middle East. His involvement in global affairs continued well after the end of his UN career through extensive writings that included definitive biographies of Hammarskjold and Bunche. He was also a mentor for UN staff and countless young people as they pursued their careers," the statement said.

The statement noted that in his memoir, A Life in Peace and War, about the earliest days of the United Nations, Brian said that "We were all optimists ... who believed in the possibility of organizing a peaceful and just world."

"Sir Brian Urquhart maintained that optimism across his life, shaping the United Nations and history itself. We are grateful for his brilliant and incomparable contributions as a stalwart servant of 'we the peoples,'" the statement added.

Urquhart was a member of the British diplomatic staff involved in the setting-up of the United Nations in 1945, assisting the Executive Committee of the Preparatory Commission of the United Nations in establishing the administrative framework of the organization that had been created by the UN Charter. He subsequently became an aide to Trygve Lie, the first secretary-general of the United Nations. Urquhart helped handle the administrative and logistical challenges involved in getting the UN established in New York City. Not particularly well liked by Lie, Urquhart was subsequently moved to a minor UN administrative post. When Dag Hammarskjold became the second secretary-general in 1953, however, he appointed Urquhart as one of his main advisors. He loyally served by Hammarskjold's side until the latter's death in 1961, admiring him greatly in spite of admittedly never getting to know him very well on a personal level.

As undersecretary-general, Urquhart's main functions were the direction of peacekeeping forces in the Middle East and Cyprus, and negotiations in these two areas; among others, his contributions also included work on the negotiations relating to a Namibia peace settlement, negotiations in Kashmir, Lebanon and work on peaceful uses for nuclear energy. Enditem
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The GBP/USD spot rate at time of writing: +0.53% at $1.35183 on 04.01.2021

"With GBP risk premia reduced in 2021, GBP should enjoy the soft USD environment" say ING

GBP "poised for weakness", the market isnt at all convinced that this GBP rally will continue" says Gittler

Find out how to secure the best exchange rates on your money transfers here

GBP/USD Last Week: Sterling Heads Higher after UK Regulator Approves New Oxford/AstraZeneca Vaccine Rollout

Last week saw the Pound to US Dollar (GBP/USD) exchange rate rise from lows of $1.33 to highs of $1.36 after the UK and the EU successfully agreed on a post-Brexit trade agreement.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson signed off the UK-EU trade agreement after MPs voted to pass the new trade agreement.

521 MPs voted in favour of the new UK-EU bill, with 359 Conservatives versus 162 Labour Party MPs supporting the trade and cooperation agreement.

Last week also saw a major UK regulator approve of the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine.

As a result, Sterling rose against many of its peers, including the US Dollar, on hopes that the new vaccine could considerably improve the nations Covid-19 situation.

British Health Minister, Matt Hancock, said that We will be out of this [Covid-19 crisis] by spring following the approval of the new vaccine.

Mr Hancock added:

[W]e can accelerate the vaccination programme [and bring] forward the moment that we can get out of this pandemic.

Meanwhile, the US Dollar (USD) suffered last week following growing confidence in the passing of a new and substantial US stimulus package.

As a result, global investors have become more confidence in the worlds largest economy, leading to risk-on market mood.

Consequently, the safe-haven Greenback suffered as investors began to seek out riskier assets.

In US economic news, last week saw the release of the Chicago PMI data for December, which beat forecasts and rose to 59.5.

This further buoyed demand for riskier assets as the outlook for the American economy  the largest in the world  continued to improve.

The successfully UK-EU Brexit deal also limited demand for the US Dollar last week.

GBP/USD Forecast: Could Sterling Head Higher as the New Covid-19 Vaccine is Rolled Out?

The GBP/USD exchange rate could stabilise this week following news of the new Covid-19 vaccine rollout in 2021.

Furthermore, with the UK-EU trade deal being ratified, the outlook for the British economy has significantly improved following years of political and economic uncertainty.

Nevertheless, if the UKs new Covid-19 strain proves more infectious than expected, and rapidly increases infections throughout the nation, we could see Sterling begin to suffer.

In UK economic data, next week will see the release of the UKs Services PMI for December.

Any improvement in the UKs largest and most lucrative sector would be GBP-positive.

Meanwhile, USD investors will be monitoring the US manufacturing and labour data next week.

If the outlook for the US economy continues to improve  with a ratified US stimulus package  then we could see demand for the safe-haven Greenback continue to slip.

Decembers US NonFarm Payrolls will also occupy US market attention next week.

Again, any improvement in the US economy would further limit demand for safe-haven currencies.

2021 Outlook

"With GBP risk premia reduced in 2021, GBP should enjoy the soft USD environment" say analysts at ING in their 2021 preview. "GBP/USD to rally to 1.42. And less uncertainty means lower GBP implied volatility."

"The big winner so far has been GBP [...] says Marshall Gittler, analyst at BDSwiss. "However, Id like to point out two things. One, the bounce seems rather limited. OK, GBP/USD is up from its March lows. Better yet, lets get the USD distortion out of the calculation and look at EUR/GBP  at 0.8956 its down from its 18 March peak of 0.9395, but thats only a 4.9% rise in GBP, and still far above the 0.7774 it averaged in January-May 2016 before the referendum.

"Secondly, looking at both the GBP/USD and EUR/GBP risk reversals, although theyve both become less extreme since before the agreement, they are both still poised for GBP weakness. In other words, the market isnt at all convinced that this GBP rally will continue."
The family of a Limerick boy who raised more than 400,000 so he could take part in a US drug trial have been told he will have to wait another six months before he could be considered for the experimental therapy.

Theo Murnane (3), from Murroe, has been in cancer treatment for most of his young life after a tumour in his abdomen spread to his bones and scalp.

After undergoing numerous rounds of chemotherapy, three surgeries, two stem cell transplants, six rounds of immunotherapy as well as 14 rounds of radiotherapy, Theo was given the all clear just before Christmas.

An online fundraiser has so far raised over 416,000 to send Theo and his mother Eleanor Murnane to New York where he would receive an enhanced round of immunotherapy, which it is hoped will considerably lower the chances of Theos cancer returning.

Unfortunately, with the type of cancer that Theo has, the chance of re-occurrence is extremely high, Ms Murnane explained.

She said she had hoped Theo would have been accepted onto the trial around now, but that this was no longer possible after they were informed that Theo currently does not hit the criteria to get on the trial in New York.

We have been told we have to wait until Theo is six months cancer free which will bring us to June 2021, Ms Murnane said.

In the interim, the doctors in New York have recommended (Theo) go to Barcelona for further treatment. This is yet another big decision to make and we will have to weigh up all options and decide in the next week or so, she added.

A scan of Theos body, taken just before Christmas, showed his cancer was gone.

Theo will have another big scan in May and hopefully will still be clear so we can get on that much anticipated, long road to New York.

"As several people have said to me, maybe this is a blessing in disguise with everything going on in the world at the moment. Who knows?, Ms Murnane explained.

She thanked everyone who had donated to the Team Up for Theo online fundraiser, adding the funds are in place for us to go, as soon as we get the go ahead.

Having battled the disease for over two years, which left him twice fighting for his life in intensive care in hospital, little Theo is presently doing great after enjoying Christmas at home with his mother in Co Limerick.

Past Christmases were spent keeping watch over him in ICU, and sleeping in a hospital chair listening to the beeping of machines, Ms Murnane said.

Theo has come scarily close to dying, but has battled through it all, she offered.

Theo deserves a long, healthy life free from pain and fear. I have to do everything in my power to make sure he gets this.

The Team Up For Theo online fundraiser at https://www.gofundme.com/f/2700p3zjuo has exceeded its 375,000 raising over 416,000.

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New Delhi, Jan 3 : Ahead of crucial talks with farmers on Monday, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Sunday met Defence Minister Rajnath Singh for discussions The protesting farmers have already given an ultimatum regarding intensifying their agitation if the talks failed, even as the government is trying to strike a middle path for the resolution of the issue.

The agitating farmers' group on Saturday had announced to hold a parade in the national capital on the occasion of the Republic Day (January 26) if their demands are not met by then. They declared that they would march into the city on their tractors and trolleys after the end of the official parade.

The farmers leaders also made their position clear, giving message to the government through media, that it should repeal the three central farm acts or use force to evict them. Their declaration came as their ongoing protest entered its 38th day on Saturday after six round of government-farmer talks, of which only the last one -- on December 30 -- saw some agreement come on the farmers' demands on removal of penal provisions for stubble burning and the proposed Electricity Amendment Act. The talks on Monday will deal with the demand to rollback the three acts and give a legal status to the MSP.
MONTREAL - Quebec ended 2020 and ushered in the new year by logging more than 7,600 new COVID-19 cases over a three-day period, a tally that one infectious disease expert decried as "abysmal."

An emergency department sign is shown at a hospital in Montreal, Sunday, January 3, 2021, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues in Canada and around the world. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

MONTREAL - Quebec ended 2020 and ushered in the new year by logging more than 7,600 new COVID-19 cases over a three-day period, a tally that one infectious disease expert decried as "abysmal."

The province, which had not reported new cases or deaths linked to the novel coronavirus since Dec. 31, recorded 7,663 cases in total from that date until Jan. 2. Data released Sunday showed 2,869 of the new cases were recorded on Saturday, 1,986 on New Year's Day and 2,808 on Thursday.

"There's no denying  those numbers are abysmal," Dr. Donald Vinh, an infectious disease specialist and medical microbiologist at the McGill University Health Centre in Montreal, said in an interview.

"But it's the continued increase in the hospitalizations, in the ICU admissions, that remains profoundly concerning."

Health officials said 1,225 people were hospitalized across the province on Saturday, an increase of 150 compared to the previous day. Of those in hospital, 179 people were in intensive care.

"The surge capacity of our health-care system is busting at the seams," said Vinh, adding that hospitals could run out of beds, personnel and equipment  and be forced to ration care  if the upward trend continues.

Quebec's health minister also sounded the alarm Sunday about the toll soaring infection and hospitalization rates are taking on the health-care system.

Christian Dube tweeted that rates have continued to mount despite COVID-19 restrictions imposed over the holiday period, adding the numbers illustrate the prevalence of community transmission.

"It has a major impact on our health-care network and our personnel," he wrote in a tweet.

Quebec ordered the closure of businesses deemed non-essential across the province from Dec. 25 until at least Jan. 11 in an effort to stem the spread of the virus and reduce the pressure on hospitals.

Authorities also reported 121 additional deaths linked to the virus over the three-day period since Thursday, 11 of which occurred in the past 24 hours.

The province has now recorded 210,304 total cases since the pandemic began, 179,456 of which are considered recovered, as well as 8,347 deaths.

Meanwhile, officials said Quebec has administered 28,762 COVID-19 vaccines since the inoculations began in mid-December, including 798 doses Saturday.

Vinh said the vaccine rollout has been efficient, but noted the number of people receiving shots has not yet surpassed that of new daily COVID-19 cases.

If Quebec can get its infection rate down while it administers the vaccine, it will put the odds in its favour to get the pandemic under control, he said. "But right now, things don't look good."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 3, 2021.
The Hart ISD School Board unanimously accepted the Texas Association of School Boards appraisal instrument for Hart Superintendent Krista Lara at their most recent meeting in early December.

Lara is in her first year as superintendent, having served as elementary principal, a job she still has. The appraisal will be completed at the next board meeting set for Jan. 12 at 7 p.m.
A set of neuro-rights should be added to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the United Nations, said Rafael Yuste, a neuroscience professor at New Yorks Columbia University and organizer of the Morningside Group of scientists and ethicists proposing such standards.

Five rights would guard the brain against abuse from new technologies - rights to identity, free will and mental privacy along with the right of equal access to brain augmentation advances and protection from algorithmic bias, the group says.

If you can record and change neurons, you can in principle read and write the minds of people, Yuste said during an online panel at the Web Summit, a global tech conference.

This is not science fiction. We are doing this in lab animals successfully.

Neurotechnology has the potential to alter the mechanisms that make people human, so putting it in a human rights framework is appropriate, he added.

The U.N.s declaration, which laid the groundwork for international human rights, was adopted after World War II in 1948.

A need for neuro-rights will grow as the developments become more popular and commercialized, the neurologists said.

Many of these technologies so far have applications in medicine, such as brain-computer interfaces helping patients move prosthetic limbs or communicate after a brain injury.

But those neurotechnologies increasingly will be available outside of the medical context, said John Krakauer, a professor of neurology and neuroscience at Johns Hopkins University in Maryland.

Deep down what people want is consumer technologies, he said.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved deep brain stimulation procedures - implanting electrodes in the brain - to treat a range of disorders from Parkinsons disease to epilepsy.

Some private companies sell wearable devices to monitor brain activity that claim to be capable of tracking moods and emotions.

Krakauer compared the latest neurotechnologies to advances such as social media and mass advertising that can be utilized to alter peoples preferences without their expressed consent.

Whats changed now is that the tech can get under the skull and get at our neurons, he said.

Globally, a number of legal measures are aimed at these advances, including legislation in Chile that if passed would be the first law to establish neuro-rights for citizens.

In November, the Spanish government proposed new rules for regulating artificial intelligence that includes specific provisions for neuro-rights, Yuste said.

This is the first time in history that humans can have access to the contents of peoples minds, he said.

We have to think very careful about how we are going to bring this into society.

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In these strangest of times it shouldn't come as a surprise that one of the biggest investment winners has nothing to do with real money. It is 'cryptocurrency' Bitcoin. But investment experts are divided over whether its recent surge in price can be sustained.

While some, such as asset manager Ruffer, have embraced it within their investment portfolios, others fear it could be heading for a sharp fall  as happened in early 2018.

Mark Ward, head of trading at wealth manager Sanlam UK, warns: 'The current price of Bitcoin represents danger for investors. It is primed for the next downward move.'

New record highs: Bitcoin went above $29,600 (21,645) on January 1

Last month, Bitcoin broke through the $20,000 (14,870) barrier for the first time, before rising even higher at the start of the New Year  it went above $29,600 (21,645) on January 1.

It is nearly four times its value at the start of 2020 when it traded at $7,175 (5,320). A decade ago, you could buy it for 7p.

Despite this meteoric rise, most investors have little idea what a Bitcoin is  and mystery surrounds what makes it valuable. In simple terms, Bitcoin is a computer file stored in a 'virtual wallet'. It can either be saved or traded for goods and services from businesses that accept the technology.

It is called a cryptocurrency because the computer programme used to make Bitcoin employs cryptography  or secret codes. This provides a layer of security to stop hackers stealing it.

A record of all Bitcoin is kept within a 'blockchain'. This is a database containing details of all transactions that have taken place and it provides a marketplace where buyers and sellers can trade their Bitcoin.

Its origins are steeped in mystery  having been created in 2009 by an enigmatic Japanese computer coding expert calling himself Satoshi Nakamoto.

The number of Bitcoins in circulation will never exceed 21million due to the way computer software used to create the currency has been engineered.

Have you made or lost money from Bitcoin? Email toby.walne@mailonsunday.co.uk

Any new currency can initially only be found through an online exploration process known as 'mining'. So far 19million have been mined using super-powerful computers that go through reams of mathematical permutations to find the hidden codes.

Financial consultants at deVere believe it is this finite limit that has been responsible for Bitcoin soaring in value.

Nigel Green, chief executive of deVere, says: 'We believe this cryptocurrency is the future of money. The staggering pace of the digitalisation of our lives, with increased use of computers and online trading, means digital money is here to stay.'

He adds: 'When facing times of trouble  such as those we are in right now  central banks are forced to print more money to support their economies. This depresses the value of traditional currencies. But Bitcoin is a safe haven asset that is not devalued. As a borderless currency it suits the modern world.'

Late last year, asset manager Ruffer snapped up Bitcoin worth at least $745million (563million) as 'a defensive move'  saying it was hedging against a potential devaluation of major world currencies.

This could happen, it said, as a result of rising debt caused by governments bailing out economies hit by Covid-19.

Duncan MacInnes, investment director at Ruffer, says: 'Our move is about spreading investment risk. We have invested 2.5 per cent of our entire $27billion of assets in Bitcoin as an insurance policy  just as we have put money into gold and government bonds.

In October, online payment system PayPal, which recently opened its doors to cryptocurrency trading, doubled the weekly buying limit from $10,000 to $20,000.

'It's primarily a defensive move but shows how an anti-establishment favourite is now becoming a mainstream option for major institutions to adopt.'

In October, online payment system PayPal, which recently opened its doors to cryptocurrency trading, doubled the weekly buying limit from $10,000 to $20,000. This caused Bitcoin to soar in value.

The last time Bitcoin hit great heights was in December 2017  when it reached a then record $19,783. The following year it plummeted to $3,136. This fall was partly due to a suspicion that the price rise had been manipulated by a single buyer.

Sanlam UK's Ward is concerned that the recent surge in Bitcoin's value is not a good omen.

He says: 'Its current price represents danger for investors  just like it did three years ago before there was a spectacular crash. Bitcoin is primed for the next downward move.'

He adds: 'I fear a pattern is emerging that points to a fall. The value of Bitcoin rises, and then it gains mainstream attention with new investors drawn in by the fear of missing out. At this point larger players cash out and prices tumble.'

Others share his concerns. Ryan Hughes, of wealth manager AJ Bell, says: 'The old investment adage about never investing in something you do not fully understand has been thrown out of the window with this cryptocurrency. People have simply not wanted to be left behind.'

But he warns: 'A major problem is that there is no way of giving Bitcoin an accurate valuation. This is a classic feature of an investment bubble.'

The City watchdog, the Financial Conduct Authority, does not regulate the trading of Bitcoin

Some speculators have been attracted to Bitcoin because it has been described as 'digital gold'  a safe haven. But Ward believes such a term is misleading.

He says: 'Just like gold, Bitcoin has a finite supply. But gold is a rare precious metal with real-world benefits and strong desirability. It is hard to put a value on Bitcoin. Can you say that a piece of digital code is something that is desirable? The answer is probably not.'

Hughes points out that Bitcoin is also a long way from being classed as an alternative to cash. The City watchdog, the Financial Conduct Authority, does not regulate the trading of Bitcoin  which means the market has attracted criminals. The cryptocurrency has been used by money-launderers and criminals wanting to be paid in a hard-to-trace currency.

Yet despite these concerns, a number of retailers  including soap shop Lush, online game outfit Twitch and select Brewdog pubs and Starbucks coffee shops  accept Bitcoin as payment.

They do not expect customers to hand over a full Bitcoin for payments but just a tiny part of one. This is because Bitcoin can be traded in fractions that are as small as a 'Satoshi'  which is one hundred millionth of a Bitcoin and only worth about 0.0002p.

Simon Peters, analyst at cryptocurrency trading platform eToro, says: 'The goal of Bitcoin is to replace traditional currencies and become a globally accepted means of exchanging value.

'The ability to move money about without a financial institution acting as middleman has big benefits, such as cutting out charges from banks and card providers.'

Peters disagrees with the idea that the recent boom in value heralds a major fall.

He says: 'The growth that Bitcoin has seen does not bear the same characteristics as the rise three years ago. Private and corporate investors are increasingly holding Bitcoin for the long term.'

For most people, the best way to obtain Bitcoin is to buy through an online trader such as eToro, Coinbase, Kraken or Bitstamp.

It is possible to buy the crypto-currency by using a debit or credit card  you may pay up to 4 per cent in commission.

In return, you are given ownership with a unique code that is proof you own Bitcoin.

The currency is stored in a 'virtual wallet' where Bitcoin can be viewed and traded on a computer. There is no physical money that can be held or put in a pocket.

This digital wallet is, in effect, a virtual bank account allowing trading in the Bitcoin.
Mumbai, Jan 3 : Actor Pankaj Tripathi describes his upcoming film Kaagaz as a satirical take on reality. The Satish Kaushik directorial is based in Uttar Pradesh, and Tripathi, hailing from the heartland, says he understood the complexity of the situation that the story portrays.

"The film is a satirical take on a real situation that has happened in the past with a man. Me being a person from that landscape, I understand the complexity of the situation. I belong to that world and I feel like I am part of that society that I have an insight. So, when the film offer came to me from Satish sir, I immediately said yes," Tripathi told IANS.

The film revolves around a farmer in Uttar Pradesh who is officially declared dead in government documents and how he goes through struggle and paperwork to prove that he is alive, in the process laying bare the corruption that exists in the system.

Kaagaz is produced by Salman Khan and also features Monal Gajjar, Amar Upadhyay and Lankesh Bhardwaj, among others.

Tripathi, who has made his mark in mainstream as well offbeat content across the platforms of cinema and OTT, agrees with the view that there is room for all kinds of films to co-exist.

"We should have every kind of film -- whether a film has a message or is set in current affairs, or mirrors society or is just an out-and-out entertaining film. We should leave it to the filmmakers. I personally believe the co-existence of both kinds of films is important. No matter what, an audience watches a film primarily to be entertained. If there is a message conveyed by the maker, it is his choice," he said.

"I think in a democracy, while it is the right of the people to express their opinion, we should remember that if someone does not want to express their opinion through cinema or their work publicly, that is also their choice and we should not judge that," he added.

Kaagaz releases on the OTT platform Zee5 on January 7.

(Arundhuti Banerjee can be contacted at arundhuti.b@ians.in)
President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump depart Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington on Dec. 31, 2020. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)

Morale Is High, Fight: GOP Rep Says Trump, House Republicans Held Call on Electoral College Rejection

Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Ala.) said President Donald Trump and House Republicans held a call to discuss their objection to the Electoral College vote during the Jan. 6 Joint Session of Congress, suggesting their fight is gaining steam.

Brooks said that at least 50 lawmakers, including Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, and Trump himself were present during the meeting. He did not say what other House lawmakers were on the call.

The momentum to fight against voter fraud and election theft is rapidly gaining, Brooks told Fox News on Sunday. And as a consequence, the numbers that we had who were supportive yesterday are almost always supplemented by reinforcements today and the next day.

Brooks said he believes many more House lawmakers will join the bid. However, he noted that whether the House will reach a simple majority to reject a states election results is not yet clear.

In my judgment, the primary reason so many congressmen and senators are now coming forward to fight this fight is because so many American citizens have made it known that this fight is critical to Americas future, Brooks said. The Alabama Republican has, for several weeks now, said he would challenge key states electoral votes.

Our fight for honest & accurate elections gains momentum!@Jim_Jordan & I co-lead conference call w 50+ Congressmen who join & fight for Americas Republic! Conf. call began 6PM ET. Now 715PM & continuing. President Trump & CoS Mark Meadows speaking. Morale is HIGH! FIGHT!  Mo Brooks (@RepMoBrooks) January 3, 2021

His comments came as Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and 11 other senators said they would object to the electoral votes.

America is a Republic whose leaders are chosen in democratic elections. Those elections, in turn, must comply with the Constitution and with federal and state law, the group wrote in a joint statement on Saturday. When the voters fairly decide an election, pursuant to the rule of law, the losing candidate should acknowledge and respect the legitimacy of that election, adding that also, if the voters choose to elect a new office-holder, our Nation should have a peaceful transfer of power.

The election of 2020, like the election of 2016, was hard fought and, in many swing states, narrowly decided, the group said. The 2020 election, however, featured unprecedented allegations of voter fraud, violations, and lax enforcement of election law, and other voting irregularities.

Sens. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), John Kennedy (R-La.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), and Mike Braun (R-Ind.) said they would join Cruzs challenge. Sens.-elect Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), and Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) also plan on joining.

Those senators said they would object to states electoral votes unless an emergency, 10-day audit is carried out to review allegations of election fraud.

It came just a few days after Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) announced that he would essentially become the first senator to join the House-led effort. The bid requires at least one senator and a representative to carry out, and it would trigger a two-hour debate per contested state.

After the debate, the House and Senate would then vote on certifying the results of a state and objections would require a simple majority in both chambers. If there isnt enough support for an objection, they will be dismissed and the existing results will be finalized.

Some Republican senators and lawmakers have criticized the efforts. Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) over the weekend said the move is unwise, asserting, The congressional power to reject electors is reserved for the most extreme and unusual circumstances. These are far from it. More Americans participated in this election than ever before, and they made their choice.

From a tactical standpoint, Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), the Senate Majority Whip, said their bid would go down like a shot dog.
The homes of Mitch McConnell and Nancy Pelosi, political opponents and the two most powerful members of Congress, were reported to have been vandalized, as their standoff continues over a stimulus bill that has been criticized as inadequate by from both the left and right  including President Trump.

In a statement on Saturday, Mr. McConnell, a Kentucky Republican and the Senate majority leader, lamented what he called a radical tantrum drawn from a toxic playbook. The Louisville station WDRB-TV reported that the senators home was tagged overnight with red and white spray paint. Photos show writing on the front of Mr. McConnells home, including a message that says Weres my money on the front door. The Louisville Metro Police Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Saturday.

Ive spent my career fighting for the First Amendment and defending peaceful protest, Mr. McConnell said in the statement. I appreciate every Kentuckian who has engaged in the democratic process whether they agree with me or not. This is different. Vandalism and the politics of fear have no place in our society.

Around 2 a.m. Friday, San Francisco police officers responded to a report of vandalism at a home in the citys Pacific Heights neighborhood. Graffiti had been spray-painted on the garage door and a pigs head was left on the sidewalk in front of the house, a spokesman for the Police Department said. The San Francisco Chronicle reported that the home belonged to Ms. Pelosi, a Democrat who serves as House speaker.
Max Rose, the recently ousted Democratic congressman from Staten Island, will not run for mayor of New York City after all, upending the still-formative race to run the countrys economic and cultural capital.

In a statement on Sunday, Mr. Rose did not offer reasons for withdrawing from the race, which has already grown crowded with more than a dozen other contenders. Reached by phone, Mr. Rose said, The statement certainly speaks for itself.

In the statement, he urged other candidates to pay heed to the needs of the working class.

He also indicated he and his wife had plans to adopt a baby. They are already the parents of a son.

The race from which he is withdrawing is poised to be one of the most important mayoral elections in modern New York City history. When the next mayor assumes office in 2022, he or she will preside over a city recovering from the ravages of the pandemic: the long-term health impacts, the rise in shootings, the shuttered stores, the lost jobs, the empty office buildings, the looming evictions.
She was recently spotted frolicking on the beach with a hunky mystery man during her festive break on the French-Caribbean island of Saint Barthelemy.

And Wendi Deng, 52, continued to enjoy quality time with him on Saturday, shopping at luxury fashion retailer Hermes as they sun-soaked vacation continued.

The Chinese-American businesswoman  who was married to Rupert Murdoch, 89, from 1999 to 2013  looked typically chic in an elegant white top and sunhat.

Hey, big spender: Wendi Deng and her hunky mystery companion were spotted shopping on the French-Caribbean island of Saint Barthelemy on Saturday

Teaming her ensemble with a jazzy pair of pants with psychedelic patterning, she rounded out her looks with stylish black sandals and stripe-rimmed sunglasses.

Donning a protective face mask, she carried a distinctive bright orange shopping bag as she exited with her companion, who sported an all-black ensemble.

Her outing came days after she was seen looking sensational in a turquoise bikini as she frolicked and larked around with her companion on Monday.

Wendi wowed in the stylish two piece, which featured a bandeau top with halter strings extending from the centre of the bust, while the low-slung bottoms showed off her taut stomach.

Tres chic: The Chinese-American businesswoman  who was married to Rupert Murdoch, 89, from 1999 to 2013  looked typically chic in an elegant white top and sunhat

Upping the glamour and adding a kooky touch, she shielded her eyes with a pair of stylish red sunglasses while her long, loose raven locks added to the overall beach babe vibe.

Her companion meanwhile was flaunting a ripped beach body and highlighting his tan with bright white shorts.

The duo looked to be getting along famously as they chatted in the water before running through the sea and then collapsing into fits of giggles and later joining a larger group on the shores.

Following the dissolution of her marriage to media mogul Murdoch, who she wed two years after they met while she was working as an executive at his company Star TV in Hong Kong, Wendi has found love and lost elsewhere.

Fun and frolics: Her outing came days after she was sen looking sensational in a turquoise bikini as she frolicked and larked around with her companion on Monday

Back in 2016, it was revealed that Wendi had started dating Hungarian model Bertold Zahoran, 25, when they were seen packing on the PDA on the shores of St Barts, however they parted ways two years later.

A friend of Ralph Lauren model Bertold revealed at the time of the split: Theyre not together any more, but theyre still on very good terms.

'They decided it was best to cool things down because theyre both so busy and it was just too hard to make it work with conflicting schedules.

Wendi resides in a $49million (36million) home in New York, which she received as part of her 2013 divorce settlement from Rupert, whom she wed in 1999.

Former husband: Wendi, 52, was married to media mogul Rupert Murdoch from 1999 to 2013

The businesswoman, who is the mother of two of Murdochs children, Grace, 19, and Chloe, 17, has previously hit headlines with her romantic life.

In 2014, a love note she had written to Tony Blair was published in Vanity Fair, in which she lusted after his good body and piercing blue eyes.

The former prime minister, who is the godfather to her daughter, Grace, strongly denied allegations of an affair.

She is known for keeping former flames close, and remains good friends with Murdoch  now married to Mick Jaggers ex, Texan bombshell Jerry Hall, 62  whom she memorably defended in 2011 by lunging at a foam pie-throwing protester who attacked him.

Most recent romance: The businesswoman dated model Bertold Zahoran from 2016 to 2018

Prior to her relationship with Bertold, Wendi was rumoured to be dating British classical violinist Charlie Siem.

Photos of the two holding hands and looking enamoured with one another while attending the Giambattista Valli show during Paris Fashion Week in March 2016 appeared to confirm the rumours.

It was only a few months after her fashion show date with Siem that Deng and Zahoran were spotted together at supermodel Naomi Campbell's birthday party.

The bash was held in New York City on the rooftop of the Dream Hotel, and a photograph from the event shows Wendi and sitting together on a banquette, with the model's arm around his older girlfriend.
An NHS doctor is encouraging others to get the Covid-19 vaccine by dancing to J-Lo and Destiny's Child songs online.

Dr Mark Perera, from East London had the vaccine earlier this month and has been using his TikTok account to try and dispel myths about the jab.

In the clips, he revealed he's had minimal side effects and is urging others to protect their community by getting the vaccine.

He can be seen seven days after his Covid jab dancing to Survivor by Destiny's Child and assuring viewers 'not to be afraid', while in another video he asks 'when you'll get your jab', with J-Lo's Waiting For Tonight in the background.

Dr Mark Perera (pictured L-R), from East London, is encouraging others to get the Covid-19 vaccine by dancing to J-Lo and Destiny's Child songs online

Fans have quickly praised the doctor for his performances, with some calling it 'fierce', and saying that they'll be sure to get the Covid vaccination when it's their turn.

One commented: 'Love it mate', while another wrote: 'I've experienced five days and I'm feeling great'.

A third TikTok user penned: 'Hahaha love this!'.

Last week, it was announced that Britain's regulators had approved the Oxford/AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine, offering renewed hope the end of the pandemic could just be months away.

The medical professional had the vaccine earlier this month and has been using his TikTok account to try and dispel myths about the jab

He can be seen seven days after his Covid jab dancing to Survivor by Destiny's Child (left) and assuring viewers 'not to be afraid', while in another video (right) he asks 'when you'll get your jab', with J-Lo's Waiting For Tonight in the background

The doctor is using his platform to tackle myths surrounding the vaccine, after conspiracy theorists have swamped social media with bizarre mistruths about the jab.

In his videos, the doctor tells viewers that the only side effects he experienced were two days of a 'little tiredness and mild throat glands' and he urged others to 'keep their community surviving'.

Speaking of his TikTok videos, he told PinkNews he was keen to 'drive more people to have the vaccine when eligible, also because I am a bit goofy and love dancing.'

He advised that the three major vaccines, Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca, have all been thoroughly tested and make the majority of those who have it immune to Covid-19.

He added: 'Whatever conspiracy theory you may have heard, please read the evidence yourself'.




Haiti - FLASH : Police operation against fake soldiers in Canaan, several dead and wounded





Saturday, January 2, members of several specialized units of the National Police of Haiti (PNH) carried out an operation in Canaan 3 (at the northern entrance of Port-au-Prince, commune of Croix-des-Bouquets) intended to dislodge heavily armed individuals in military uniform, pretenting to be members of the Armed Forces of Haiti (FAD'H) and agents of the Protected Areas Surveillance Brigade (BSAP).



"During the armed clashes we have verbalized at least 3 deaths among the paramilitaries," declared the Commissioner of the Government of Croix-des-Bouquets, Edler Guillaume stressing that there are other deaths without specifying the number, adding that several of these fake soldiers fled, several of whom were wounded.



The Government Commissioner indicated that 7 individuals, including probably the leader of this armed group, were arrested, specifying that several firearms and vehicles were seized.



Following the success of this Rockefeller Vincent operation, the Minister of Justice and Public Security declared, "I applaud the police intervention in Canaan which aimed to dislodge heavily armed men. I recall that the PNH and the FAd'H are the only armed forces recognized by the Haitian Constitution and authorized to exercise on the national territory. Any other armed group will be tracked down to its last entrenchment. I instructed the PNH to neutralize all illegal and paramilitary armed groups. I therefore welcome the operation conducted and authorized in Canaan in the presence of the Government Commissioner of the Croix-des-Bouquets."



PI/ HaitLibre


















As COVID-19 shut down the world in May, the International Baccalaureate cancelled exams for hundreds of thousands of northern hemisphere students.

For months afterwards, as the disease ravaged other countries, year 12 students sitting the IB diploma in Australia had no idea whether the November session for students in the southern hemisphere would be cancelled too.

Five of the six MLC students who achieved a perfect score in the International Baccalaureate. Credit:Brook Mitchell

Unlike the Higher School Certificate, there are few in-class assessments in the IB; about 80 per cent of their result is based on the final exam. "It was very stressful," said Ariana Haghighi, a student at MLC School.

"The IB set the precedent in May of cancelling the exam period. We didnt know if the exams would be cancelled. We knew all the marks could be based on those internal exams."
Jama'a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM), the branch of the al-Qaeda terror group (banned in Russia) in Mali, has claimed responsibility for the deadly attack on three French servicemen in the African country, the US-based SITE Intelligence Group that tracks jihadist activities has reported.

The militant group also reportedly demanded the withdrawal of French forces from Mali.

The attack occurred on Monday morning when an improvised explosive device hit an armored vehicle carrying three French soldiers who were engaged in a military operation to fight radicals in the Hombori area in central Mali.

In 2014, France launched Operation Barkhane to fight Islamist groups in the Sahel G5 countries, namely Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Chad. Amid continued unrest in the region, France and 12 countries created the Takuba Task Force this past March to provide further assistance to the Malian armed forces.

(ANI)

Also Read: US Senate Democrats slam Republican Senators for opposing Electoral College results
Here's how material shortages are hitting home construction

"It's not just that prices are going up; it's how quickly they're going up and nothing's coming down," said CEO of the PA Builders Association.
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https://www.aish.com/tp/i/sacks/Women-as-Leaders.html

This weeks parsha could be entitled The Birth of a Leader. We see Moses, adopted by Pharaohs daughter, growing up as a prince of Egypt. We see him as a young man, for the first time realising the implications of his true identity. He is, and knows he is, a member of an enslaved and suffering people: Growing up, he went out to where his own people were and watched them at their hard labour. He saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his own people (Ex. 2:10).

He intervenes  he acts: the mark of a true leader. We see him intervene three times, twice in Egypt, once in Midian, to rescue victims of violence. We then witness the great scene at the Burning Bush where God summons him to lead his people to freedom. Moses hesitates four times until God becomes angry and Moses knows he has no other choice. This is a classic account of the genesis of a hero.

But this is only the surface tale. The Torah is a deep and subtle book, and it does not always deliver its message on the surface. Just beneath is another far more remarkable story, not about a hero but about six heroines, six courageous women without whom there would not have been a Moses.

First is Yocheved, wife of Amram and mother of the three people who were to become the great leaders of the Israelites: Miriam, Aaron and Moses himself. It was Yocheved who, at the height of Egyptian persecution, had the courage to have a child, hide him for three months, and then devise a plan to give him a chance of being rescued. We know all too little of Yocheved. In her first appearance in the Torah she is unnamed. Yet, reading the narrative, we are left in no doubt about her bravery and resourcefulness. Not by accident did her children all become leaders.

The second was Miriam, Yocheveds daughter and Moses elder sister. It was she who kept watch over the child as the small ark floated down the river, and it was she who approached Pharaohs daughter with the suggestion that he be nursed among his own people. The biblical text paints a portrait of the young Miriam as a figure of unusual fearlessness and presence of mind. Rabbinic tradition goes further. In a remarkable Midrash, we read of how, upon hearing of the decree that every male Israelite baby would be drowned in the river, Amram led the Israelites in divorcing their wives so that there would be no more children. He had logic on his side. Could it be right to bring children into the world if there were a fifty per cent chance that they would be killed at birth? Yet his young daughter Miriam, so the tradition goes, remonstrated with him and persuaded him to change his mind. Your decree, she said, is worse than Pharaohs. His affects only the boys; yours affects all. His deprives children of life in this world; yours will deprive them of life even in the World to Come. Amram relented, and as a result, Moses was born.1 The implication is clear: Miriam had more faith than her father.

Third and fourth were the two midwives, Shifrah and Puah, who frustrated Pharaohs first attempt at genocide. Ordered to kill the male Israelite children at birth, they feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live (Ex. 1:17). Summoned and accused of disobedience, they outwitted Pharaoh by constructing an ingenious cover story: the Hebrew women, they said, are vigorous and give birth before we arrive. They escaped punishment and saved many lives.

The significance of this story is that it is the first recorded instance of one of Judaisms greatest contributions to civilisation: the idea that there are moral limits to power. There are instructions that should not be obeyed. There are crimes against humanity that cannot be excused by the claim that I was only obeying orders. This concept, generally known as civil disobedience, is usually attributed to the nineteenth century American writer Henry David Thoreau, and entered international consciousness after the Holocaust and the Nuremberg trials. Its true origin, though, lies thousands of years earlier in the actions of two women, Shifra and Puah. Through their understated courage they earned a high place among the moral heroes of history, teaching us the primacy of conscience over conformity, the law of justice over the law of the land.2

The fifth is Tzipporah, Moses wife. The daughter of a Midianite priest, she was nonetheless determined to accompany Moses on his mission to Egypt, despite the fact that she had no reason to risk her life on such a hazardous venture. In a deeply enigmatic passage, we see it was she who saved Moses life by performing a circumcision on their son (Ex. 4: 24-26). The impression we gain of her is a figure of monumental determination who, at a crucial moment, had a better sense than Moses himself of what God requires.

I have saved until last the most intriguing of them all: Pharaohs daughter. It was she who had the courage to rescue an Israelite child and bring him up as her own in the very palace where her father was plotting the destruction of the Israelite people. Could we imagine a daughter of Hitler, or Eichmann, or Stalin, doing the same? There is something at once heroic and gracious about this lightly sketched figure, the woman who gave Moses his name.

Who was she? The Torah does not mention her name. However the First Book of Chronicles (4:18) references a daughter of Pharaoh, named Bitya, and it was she whom the Sages identified as the woman who saved Moses. The name Bitya (sometimes rendered as Batya) means the daughter of God. From this, the Sages drew one of their most striking lessons:

The Holy One, blessed be He, said to her: Moses was not your son, yet you called him your son. You are not My daughter, but I shall call you My daughter.3

They added that she was one of the few people (tradition enumerates nine) who were so righteous that they entered paradise in their lifetime.4

So, on the surface, the parsha of Shemot is about the initiation into leadership of one remarkable man, but just beneath the surface is a counter-narrative of six extraordinary women without whom there would not have been a Moses. They belong to a long tradition of strong women throughout Jewish history, from Deborah, Hannah, Ruth and Esther in the Bible to more modern religious figures like Sarah Schenirer and Nechama Leibowitz to more secular figures like Anne Frank, Hannah Senesh and Golda Meir.

How then, if women emerge so powerfully as leaders, were they excluded in Jewish law from certain leadership roles? If we look carefully we will see that women were historically excluded from two areas. One was the crown of priesthood, which went to Aaron and his sons. The other was the crown of kingship, which went to David and his sons. These were two roles built on the principle of dynastic succession. From the third crown  the crown of Torah  however, women were not excluded. There were Prophetesses, not just Prophets. The Sages enumerated seven of them (Megillah 14a). There have been great women Torah scholars always, from the Mishnaic period (Beruriah, Ima Shalom) until today.

At stake is a more general distinction. Rabbi Eliyahu Bakshi-Doron in his Responsa, Binyan Av, differentiates between formal or official authority (samchut) and actual leadership (hanhagah).5 There are figures who hold positions of authority  prime ministers, presidents, CEOs  who may not be leaders at all. They may have the power to force people to do what they say, but they have no followers. They excite no admiration. They inspire no emulation. And there may be leaders who hold no official position at all but who are turned to for advice and are held up as role models. They have no power but great influence. Israels Prophets belonged to this category. So, often, did the gedolei Yisrael, the great Sages of each generation. Neither Rashi nor Rambam held any official position (some scholars say that Rambam was chief rabbi of Egypt but most hold that he was not, though his descendants were). Wherever leadership depends on personal qualities  what Max Weber called charismatic authority  and not on office or title, there is no distinction between women and men.

Yocheved, Miriam, Shifra, Puah, Tzipporah and Batya were leaders not because of any official position they held (in the case of Batya she was a leader despite her official title as a princess of Egypt). They were leaders because they had courage and conscience. They refused to be intimidated by power or defeated by circumstance. They were the real heroes of the Exodus. Their courage is still a source of inspiration today.

QUESTIONS (AROUND THE SHABBAT TABLE)

How did the choices and different characteristics exhibited by each of these women influence Moses as he grew into his unique leadership position? What do you think are the moral limits of power? With all the stories in the Torah, what is unique about the story of Batya?

NOTES

Shemot Rabbah 1:13. There is, of course, a Midrashic tradition that Shifra and Puah were other names for Yocheved and Miriam (Sotah 11b). In seeing them as separate women, I am following the interpretation given by Abarbanel and Luzzatto. Vayikra Rabbah 1:3. Derech Eretz Zuta 1 Rabbi Eliyahu Bakshi-Doron, Responsa Binyan Av, 2nd edn., no. 65.

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City approves first reading of temporary medical marijuana ordinance

With state officials still putting together the oversight rules for medical marijuana establishments, local governments need temporary ordinances.
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For reference, the Ford Ranger sold 309,085 examples in 1995 compared to 88,967 units for the Japanese contender. These days, however, the Taco outsells the Blue Ovals workhorse, the Colorado, and Canyon combined.An extremely popular truck here in Colorado, according to Tommy Mica from The Fast Lane, the first generation of the Tacoma is a far cry from the 2021 model in terms of creature comforts, ride quality, and price point. Even the cargo area is different because the older truck features steel, while the Tacoma of today has composites and a dampened tailgate.Quite a bit porkier, is how Tommy describes the footprint and heft of the 2021 model, which offers 159 horsepower and 180 pound-feet (244 Nm) of torque from a four-cylinder engine as standard. Opt for the TRD Pro like the truck in the following video, and Toyota is much obliged to throw in two more cylinders, direct injection, and the Atkinson combustion cycle.Hopping inside the 2002 model, you cant help but feel like youve traveled back in time. The simple interior with hard-wearing plastic everywhere looks and feels and works pretty much brand new, even though the odometer shows 182,000 miles (292,900 kilometers). The air conditioning system still blows ice cold after all these years, and to engage 4H or 4L in the older Tacoma, you use a transfer case lever instead of a control dial.As for the worst problem of the first-generation Taco, they do rust quite violently. The year was 2008 when Toyota extended the rust-perforation warranty to 15 years from the original date of purchase, regardless of mileage. This problem extends to the second generation of the mid-size pickup truck, but nevertheless, the outgoing model has no rust issues.If you had to choose between these two, which would you take home?
Two days after a case was lodged against three Muslim men for allegedly intimidating a 24-year-old married woman in Bareilly district of Uttar Pradesh to convert her religion, the police on Sunday said the men had been framed and it had begun proceedings to overturn the case.

A first information report (FIR) accusing the men of intimidation and threatening the woman to convert her religion had been lodged at Faridpur police station of Bareilly on December 31. The FIR was lodged on a complaint by the womans maternal uncle.

The three Muslim men had been booked under the controversial Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Ordinance, 2020 and sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC)

According to the complainant, on December 1 last year, when the girl was returning home from college, one Abrar, along with his cousins Maisur and Irshad, tried to forcibly convert her religion and threatened her for marriage, said Bareillys senior superintendent of police (SSP) Rohit Singh Sajwan.

Preliminary investigation by the police found that the claim was false.

We came to know that the accused were not present at the crime spot at the time of the incident as mentioned in the complaint. It was further corroborated by the mobile phone location of the accused, said the SSP, adding that the complaint seems to have been lodged because of a personal grudge.
Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism.
Donald Trump has pre-emptively declared two upcoming races in Georgia, which will determine control of the US Senate, to be "illegal and invalid".

The US president's extraordinary intervention came shortly before he was due to travel to Georgia in a high-profile effort to encourage supporters to go to the polls on Tuesday.

Senior Republicans feared his comments could undermine turnout by spreading fears of voter fraud, potentially gifting the Senate to Democrats. Like Mr Trump, Joe Biden is due to hold a rally in Georgia tomorrow. In a lengthy Twitter post, Mr Trump said the voting system in Georgia during the presidential election in November had been "unconstitutional". He lost by 12,000 votes out of five million cast. He added: "The State 2020 presidential election is therefore illegal and invalid, and that would include the two current Senatorial Elections."

Mr Trump specifically cited a state "consent decree" which sets the standards for signatures on absentee ballot envelopes. A recent SurveyUSA poll in Georgia found that 55pc of voters identifying as "very conservative" said they would not vote in the elections next week because they believed the process was "rigged".

The races are runoffs after no candidate in either contest reached 50pc on November 3. Republicans hold the Senate 52-48. If they lose both runoffs, the chamber will be split 50-50. Incoming vice-president Kamala Harris would hold a casting vote. That would allow Mr Biden almost free legislative rein when he becomes president.

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As a result, the runoffs have become by far the most expensive Senate races in American history. By the time polling stations close more than $800m (almost 660m) was expected to have poured into Georgia. The sitting Republican senators, David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler, are being challenged respectively by Democrats Jon Ossoff, a 33-year-old former journalist, and Rev Raphael Warnock, the pastor of Martin Luther King Jr's former church. Both races are on a knife-edge.

Mr Perdue and Ms Loeffler have strongly backed Mr Trump - like the US president, refusing to acknowledge his election defeat. They have argued their Democrat opponents are "dangerous" and "radical" and that Georgia must "hold the line against socialism".

Michael McNeely, a former vice-chair of the Georgia Republican Party, said: "The president resonates with a lot of people and so do the buzzwords. So you hear 'Trump' and 'socialism' a lot." Mr Perdue was spending the end of the campaign in quarantine after potential exposure to the coronavirus.

But from his home he accused Mr Ossoff of failing to disclose business links to the Chinese Communist Party. Mr Ossoff denied that as "utter nonsense". The level of political donations arriving from around America has been staggering. Between October and December Mr Ossoff raised $106m, Rev Warnock $103m, Mr Perdue $68m, and Ms Loeffler $64m - the four highest funded Senate candidates ever. As in the presidential contest, the Republican candidates will have to, on election day, claw back a large Democrat lead in the three million ballots cast early. The weather forecast is good, which should benefit the Republicans.

Mr Trump later sought to address Republican concerns over his comments. He tweeted: "GET READY TO VOTE ON TUESDAY!!!"

His extraordinary challenge of his election defeat by US president-elect Joe Biden is becoming a defining moment for the Republican Party before next week's joint session of Congress to confirm the Electoral College results.

Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell is urging Republicans not to try to overturn the election, but not everyone is heeding him. Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri vows to join House Republicans in objecting to the state tallies. On the other side of the party's split, Senator Ben Sasse of Nebraska warns such challenges are a "dangerous ploy", threatening the nation's civic norms.

Caught in the middle is vice president Mike Pence, who faces growing pressure and a lawsuit from Mr Trump's allies over his ceremonial role in presiding over the session on Wednesday. The days ahead are expected to do little to change the outcome. Mr Biden is set to be inaugurated on January 20 after winning the Electoral College vote 306-232. But the effort to subvert the will of voters is forcing Republicans to make choices that will set the contours of the post-Trump era and an evolving GOP.

"I will not be participating in a project to overturn the election," Mr Sasse wrote in a lengthy social media post.

Mr Sasse, a potential 2024 presidential contender, said he was "urging my colleagues also to reject this dangerous ploy."

Mr Trump, the first US president to lose a reelection bid in almost 30 years, has attributed his defeat to widespread voter fraud, despite the consensus of non-partisan election officials that there wasn't any. Of the roughly 50 lawsuits the president and his allies have filed challenging election results, nearly all have been dismissed or dropped. He's also lost twice at the US Supreme Court.

Still, the US president has pushed Republican senators to pursue his unfounded charges even though the Electoral College has already cemented Mr Biden's victory and all that's left is Congress's formal recognition of the count before the new president is sworn in.

"We are letting people vote their conscience," Senator John Thune, the second-ranking Republican, told reporters at the Capitol.

Mr Thune's remarks as the GOP whip in charge of rounding up votes show that Republican leadership is not putting its muscle behind Mr Trump's demands, but allowing senators to choose their course. He noted the gravity of questioning the election outcome.

Mr Pence will be carefully watched as he presides over what is typically a routine vote count in Congress but is now heading toward a prolonged showdown that could extend into Wednesday night, depending on how many challenges Mr Hawley and others mount.

Vice-president Pence is being sued by a group of Republicans who want him to have the power to overturn the election results by doing away with an 1887 law that spells out how Congress handles the vote count.

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Sunday Independent
Over 800,000 residents of Russia have already been vaccinated against coronavirus as part of a large-scale vaccination, Minister of Health Mikhail Murashko told reporters, TASS reported.

"Taking into account all data, more than 800,000 people have been vaccinated," he said. Murashko stressed that vaccination is in progress among Russian citizens over 60 years old.

On December 2, Russian President Vladimir Putin set the task of organizing vaccination against coronavirus throughout the country. Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin added that vaccination should be "completely voluntary and free." The vaccine should be first administered to teachers, doctors, and social workers. At the same time, the regions can expand this list.

It was reported earlier that the number of coronavirus cases in Russia rose by 26,301 to 3,212,637 in the past 24 hours. According to data from the crisis center, the coronavirus growth rate has dropped to 0.8%. There are currently 555,600 active coronavirus cases in Russia.
A coalition of high-profile businesses, including Coors Seltzer and Coca-Cola as well as the nonprofit Colorado Water Trust have signed up to 
If you have found yourself lingering behind windows more than usual, overlooking streets, cats, birds, flowers, humans, rains and whatever your eyes can reach, then you aren't alone. Window-watching has become an escape for many who are sick and tired of staying indoors since the pandemic began. And, wait for it, people aren't only peeking out of their windows but also of strangers' cooped up in unheard towns and cities around the world.

How, you ask?

A web application, WindowSwap lets people submit the view from their window as a 10-minute recorded clip, as well as watch what others have uploaded. For some, it's become a ticket to travel the world without actually travelling, for others, a stress-buster and a springboard of creativity that comes free of cost and from the safety of their screens.

Sonali Ranjit and Vaishnav Balasubramaniam, the Indian couple who started this as a quarantine project from their home in Singapore, had no idea WindowSwap will take a life of its own. A free-to-use platform, it has received over 10,000 window submissions from 110 countries and 3.3 million viewers from many more since it went live last June.

Ranjit recalls how the idea of WindowSwap came to her and her husband, both of whom work in the advertising field and love travelling: "A lot of our work is creative. But staring at the same window, the same apartment, week after week during the lockdown, wasn't exactly inspiring. Wish we could look out of some other windows. That was the thought."

But today, options galore. On the website, you can gaze at the rugged peaks in Afghanistan, snowfall in Finland, rains in India, clouds floating over Berlin, waves crashing in Australia, sunny skies of Spain or a backyard forest in Atlanta. It is inspiring people to set travel goals. "We have a stereotypical picture of Iran in our mind but the window views we've received, breaks it all. It's got green vistas, huge mountains and snowy winters. I want to visit Iran now," says Ranjit, 32. "And do you know there's a city called 6th of October in Egypt? I learnt from a window submission," she adds quickly.

However, WindowSwap isn't Instagram, serving up only filtered and exhilarating views of the world. A lot of the windows let you simply stare at planes taking off, cars pulling over, cranes digging away and masks drying or ducks, dogs and cats (lots of cats) doing their own thing.

"From Norway to Hawaii, my husband's current obsession is watching chickens in the backyard," Ranjit bursts into laughter while admitting that she has been oddly enjoying the scenes of busy streets. Even Lubna Patwa, a 23-year-old graduate from Vadodara in Gujarat, finds this mundaneness relatable. "I haven't been to Ukraine or Nairobi but looking at these views and knowing that others are looking at them too makes me feel connected to the world. It's like we are isolated but we are in this together."

Yes, WindowSwap started as a platform to travel virtually but now people are using it to beat anxiety, trigger reflection and find peace in a world that's in a state of endless chaos. "We've seen the use of WindowSwap spike when countries go through an anxious phase. For instance, when New Zealand announced the second lockdown and when the US went to elections," informs Ranjit.

Tatra mountains, Poland

Though window-view submissions have come from Jammu & Kashmir to Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra to West Bengal, India isn't their biggest user base. In terms of usage, too, Indians have logged on to either take a break from their daily work and the cacophony of "the TikTok world" or give a vent to their wanderlust as in the case of Bishan Samaddar, a book editor from Kolkata. However, people from the US, Europe, Turkey, Egypt and Iran are watching windows frequently and inventively.

"Teachers are using window-views to teach geography to students. Artists are using them as creative prompts to draw and paint. People are meditating overlooking the virtual beaches. A user likes to fall asleep while bingeing on these videos. I am told a retire nursery volunteer played the WindowSwap at a hospice in the US and the patients enjoyed it," Ranjit shares. That's not all. Stanza, which is Scotland's international poetry festival, has commissioned poems inspired by the WindowSwap project and an untitled music video collaboration is in the offing.

WindowSwap had started as a pandemic project but will its last after the vaccine is administered and the world is back to its old, busy way, when the only window most of us looked at was of the phone or desktop? Ranjit can't say for sure but she has little to think otherwise. Understandably. Their Twitter followers have termed WindowSwap as a "delightful antidote", "addictive" and an idea that "should be an app on smart TVs". Riya Parikh, a curriculum developer from Mumbai, says that she has always found window-watching from cabs, trains, flights, office or her home relaxing and this website is a welcome addition to that habit.

"Some people play jazz in the background, some dress up their window ledges with coffee mugs, wine glasses, plants, candles and books to make the videos appealing. We have at least 20 per cent repeat users," Ranjit signs off on a positive note.
China has revised its National Defence Law, expanding the power of its armed forces headed by President Xi Jinping to mobilise military and civilian resources to defend its national interests both at home and abroad.

The new law, effective from January 1, weakens the role of the State Council, China's Cabinet headed by Premier Li Keqiang, in formulating military policy, handing decision-making powers to the Central Military Commission (CMC), the overall high-command of the two million-strong People's Liberation Army (PLA) headed by Xi, Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported on Sunday.

Xi, 67, has emerged as the Communist Party of China's (CPC) most powerful leader after its founder Mao Zedong, holding the posts of CPC General Secretary, head of the military besides the Presidency with prospects of a life-long tenure.

He is the only civilian leader in the CMC, packed with high-ranking military officials. The amendments for the National Defence Law (NDL) were passed by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) on December 26 last year.

The revised law came into force after the key conclave of the ruling CPC in November last year finalised plans to build a fully modern military on par with the US by 2027. By the year 2027, which marks the centennial of the founding of the PLA, China will build a fully modern military, a goal that is in alignment with the national strength and will fulfil the future national defence need, official media reports earlier said.

The revised law specifically stresses the need to build a nationwide coordination mechanism for the mobilisation of state-owned and private enterprises to take part in research into new defence technologies covering conventional weapons, as well as the non-traditional domains of cybersecurity, space and electromagnetics. Military and political analysts said the new NDL aimed to strengthen the country's military leadership under Xi, providing it with the legal grounds to respond to the challenges of accelerating confrontations between China and the US.

Deng Yuwen, a former deputy editor of the Communist Party publication Study Times, said the amendments aimed to legalise and formally apply the special nature of China's political and defence system when dealing with situations that could harm the regime at home and abroad. China's political nature is very different from many countriesit's not surprising for Beijing to enhance the leadership of the CMC when the PLA is going out to defend China's national interests across the world, Deng told the Post.

Chen Daoyin, a former professor of Political Science and Law at the Shanghai University, said the changes showed the regime had gained the confidence to legitimise its long-standing principle that the party commands the gun and stamp its absolute leadership over-armed and reserved forces. The move to include development interests' as a reason for armed mobilisation and war in the law would provide legal grounds for the country to launch a war in the legitimate name of defending national development interests, Chen said.

Zeng Zhiping, a military law expert at Soochow University said one of the big changes of the law was the downgrading of the State Council's role in formulating the principles of China's national defence, and the right to direct and administer the mobilisation of its armed forces. The CMC is now formally in charge of making national defence policy and principles, while the State Council becomes a mere implementing agency to provide support to the military, Zeng, who is a retired PLA lieutenant colonel, said.

It's a big contrast when compared with developed countries like Israel, Germany and France, which prefer to put their armed forces under civilian leadership. Even in the US, the civilian-led defence ministry plays a more important role than their military top brass, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, he said.
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Queensland police have questioned conservative political activist Lyle Shelton over a potential border breach, after he posted about his trip into NSW on social media.

Mr Shelton, former managing director and chief of staff of the Australian Christian Lobby, posted on his Facebook and Twitter accounts on Saturday night he had done a "sneaky run across the border and back" and "avoided the CCP [Chinese Communist Party] virus police" in the process.

One of the happy snaps Lyle Shelton included in his post about his venture into NSW on social media. Credit:Lyle Shelton - Twitter

The official Queensland Police Service Twitter account responded to his tweet on Sunday night, making a public announcement they were "aware of this tweet and making further enquiries".

It came after multiple Twitter users replied to Mr Shelton's tweet by tagging the official Twitter accounts of the Queensland Police Service, NSW Police Force, Queensland Health and NSW Health.
New Delhi, Jan 3 : Congress interim President Sonia Gandhi has accused the Modi government of "arrogance", asking it to shun its arrogance of power, follow the 'raj dharma', and withdraw the three "black" farm laws.

"There is still time for the Modi government to come out of arrogance of power and withdraw the three new central farm laws to end the farmers agitation. This is 'raj dharma' (righteous conduct of ruler) and a real tribute to the departed souls of farmers who have died since the beginning of the protest," she said in a statement.

"Since Independence, it is for the first time that an arrogant government has come to power. It is not even looking at the pain and sufferings of farmers, forget about the common man," she claimed.

The Congress chief said that she and the countrymen were distressed by seeing the fate of the 'annadatas' in chilly and rainy weather due to government apathy. More than 50 farmers have lost their lives, some due to suicide, due to government's conduct, she added.

"But despite all this, the government has not backed down yet... no Ministers are showing any compassion towards farmers," the Congress leader said while offering tributes to farmers who had died since the farmers' protest began on Delhi borders on November 26, 2020.

Sonia Gandhi alleged that the Modi government's main agenda was to extend benefits to a few capitalists. "But in a democracy, a government that doesn't listen to its people doesn't last long. Its policy is to linger on, but the farmers are not going to be cowed down by this policy. The government should know that democracy means to guard the interests of farmers and labourers." Meanwhile, rain on Sunday morning added to the woes of farmers, women and children protesting at the Delhi borders amid biting cold and fog.
Ruling Democratic Party of Korea Chairman Rep. Lee Nak-yon, right, heads to his office at the National Assembly, Seoul, before a Supreme Council meeting of the party, Sunday. Yonhap



By Kim Rahn



Rep. Lee Nak-yon, the head of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), is facing internal backlash from party members over his recent remark on proposing pardons for jailed former presidents Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye.



Many party members are reacting negatively, saying the two former conservative presidents have never made a proper apology for their crimes and pardoning them would bring public protest rather than national unity.



Lee's sudden proposal of pardons is widely seen as a part of his efforts to boost his falling favorability rating as a potential presidential candidate by gaining support from centrist and conservative voters. But it is also said his idea could backfire and lose him support from ardent liberal voters.



In a New Year interview with local news agencies, Lee said he would propose pardons for the two former heads of state at an appropriate time to promote reconciliation and overcome the ideological gap between liberals and conservatives.



While the unexpected remark brought mixed responses from the opposition bloc, strong protest has rather come from within the DPK and from DPK supporters.



Rep. Jung Chung-rae of the ruling party wrote on Facebook that the two former presidents have not apologized to the people or sought forgiveness for their wrongdoing. "Forgiveness and tolerance are given neither by the perpetrators, nor by the government: they should be given by the victims and the people. Forgiveness and tolerance are made when the perpetrators truly reflect on their wrongdoing and a national consensus is formed," Jung wrote.



"Above all, the people who have staged the candlelit vigils to oust Park are not ready to forgive them and they have never thought about it."



Rep. An Min-suk cited the 1997 pardon of former President Chun Doo-hwan who had been convicted of treason and bribery. Chun, whose charges included the military suppression of civilians during 1980 Gwangju pro-democracy movement, still denies the allegations against him.



"Pardoning Chun did not help disclose the truth about the Gwangju movement but became a stumbling block to reconciliation. We soon came to regret releasing him so quickly in the name of forgiveness," An wrote on Facebook.



Rep. Woo Sang-ho also said pardons could be misunderstood as the ruling bloc admitting the claims from the conservatives that the impeachment of Park and the court decisions on the two former presidents were wrong.



Some others also pointed out it was inappropriate for the ruling party head to mention pardons at this time.



Chu Jin-hyung, a Supreme Council member of the minor liberal Open Minjoo Party, said giving pardons is the President's own authority and Lee should have made the proposal on pardons to President Moon privately, not openly like this.



"If Moon grants the pardons after Lee, the ruling party head and one of the prospective presidential candidates, made the open proposal, it will look like the pardons are given because of Lee," Chu wrote on Facebook. "If Moon gets any credit through the pardons, Lee will intercept the credit. If Moon loses any political interest through the pardons, Lee will take the interest instead."



As the controversy continued, Lee convened an unscheduled Supreme Council meeting, Sunday, to explain his stance on the pardon issue to other members of the party leadership. After the meeting, the participants said Lee and Park undertaking self-reflection on the matter is the most important issue and the leadership would follow party member opinion.


Do you remember the moments when this century was about to begin? There was a buzz everywhere about the 21st century  that it would set the stage for humanitys decisive battle against violence, hunger and poverty. After 20 years, these dreams have given way to crippling fears. All the indications, which raised our hopes, have now crumbled. This next decade is going to prove decisive for democracy and capitalism.

If we look into the period from 1900 to 2020, we will find that a change of established values takes place every second decade. Let us fast forward to 2001. It was a period of big hopes and dreams. The Cold War between the erstwhile Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) and the United States (US) that had become almost a permanent feature after World War II was over, strengthening the hold of capitalism. In the early 1990s, the world had accepted that capitalism was the main key to progress. At the same time, programmes for poverty alleviation in Asian and African countries gained momentum. Never in the history of mankind had such a large number of people risen above the poverty line. Along with this, all credit was given to democracy and globalisation for an increase in basic amenities across societies. So, the beginning of the 21st century was a hopeful one. But in 2001, two incidents led to a new turn all around.

That year, China became a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO). This was the formal arrival of the Dragon on the world stage of the free market. Then came the fateful events of September 11. Osama bin Ladens jihadists crashed air planes into the iconic World Trade Centers skyscrapers in the greatest act of terror that the US had ever seen. These two events led to a decisive change in the world order. On the one hand, the US got caught up in protracted and unproductive wars, on the other, China quietly increased its strength. An economic crisis followed and then came the Covid-19 pandemic. The suffering and unemployment were there for all to see at the dawn of 2021.

The economic slowdown can be seen in the textile industry in India and Bangladesh. It was a lucrative multinational industry with raw material for the finished product coming in from all over the world. Due to the coronavirus, raw material could not reach either country and exports were stalled.

A large number of people lost their jobs in several industries. From ordinary workers to professionals, so many suffered. Many faced salary cuts. There were many who not only lost their jobs but also their homes. A large number of those who had risen above the poverty line over the last 30 years were forced to return to the same state again.

With the arrival of new strains of the coronavirus, a number of restrictions are coming back. But we now see a new trend. It is economic nationalism. Most countries have started insisting on products being made locally, to provide employment opportunities to locals. Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi has also been advocating a vocal for local movement. However, it is not possible at the moment to predict how much improvement this will bring in economic conditions.

It is no surprise that all kinds of protests are being seen in many parts of the world at the moment. Farmers have been camping around Delhi in extreme weather conditions for over a month now. This is the first year since 1961 when the cold wave has wreaked havoc for more than eight consecutive days. On the first day of the New Year, the mercury dropped to one degree, but even this biting cold has not deterred the farmers from continuing their protest. But this kind of anger is not unique to India. Neighbouring Pakistan and Nepal are also witnessing struggles for various reasons. China, which is creating turmoil on our borders, is also struggling to maintain peace in Hong Kong. This anger is no longer the preserve of Asian and African countries. A while ago, a protest, dubbed Black Lives Matter in the US, took a violent form. There was also a Delhi-like farmers protest in Berlin, Europes biggest city in the continents richest country Germany in 2019. Farmers blocked the roads of the city with more than 20,000 tractors. They went back home after the pandemic but their resistance is still on.

There is cause for fear in these developments. There are many examples in history which tell us that in such situations, rulers start insisting on immediate measures, most of which have adverse impacts. This is happening at the moment. During this period, 91 countries imposed various restrictions on the mainstream or social media. In September 2020, a Freedom House survey showed grave human rights violations by the State and a severe assault on the democratic system in many nations. If this trend holds in this decade, then many values established in the post-World War II era may become things of the past. This will prove fatal for democracy. There is another fact which needs attention. Human civilisation has always discovered new light in the darkest days of crisis. With this hope, let us welcome this new decade.

Shashi Shekhar is editor-in-chief, Hindustan

The views expressed are personal
San Franciscos quest to rebuild its Embarcadero seawall has received a boost from an unexpected source  the 5,593-page bundle of federal legislation that includes $900 billion for pandemic relief.

The boost doesnt involve stimulus payments, since any construction to strengthen the aged barrier of concrete and rocks is several years away. But new guidelines that give the city a better shot at receiving sizable federal aid for the $3 billion-plus project were included in a bill that accompanied the stimulus package.

Weve been making the case for this for a while, said Elaine Forbes, executive director of the Port of San Francisco. It levels the playing field.

The change in how federal regulators evaluate project proposals is contained in the 369-page Water Resources Development Act of 2020, which passed Congress with bipartisan support. The final version then became part of the omnibus spending bill that accompanied the more controversial stimulus package that President Trump signed into law on Dec. 27.

The water act also makes it easier for Marin, San Mateo and San Francisco counties to seek federal funding to plan for sea level rise along the coast. Another piece of the omnibus bill boosts the federal money provided annually to help restore bay wetlands from $5 million to $9 million, an increase that Rep. Jackie Speier, D-San Mateo, has sought since 2010.

The biggest gain for San Francisco involves a provision that sounds arcane but is significant  how costs and benefits are measured by the Army Corps of Engineers.

Scott Strazzante / The Chronicle

The corps began working in 2019 with the Port of San Francisco on a study of flooding dangers along 7 miles of shoreline from Aquatic Park south to the Bayview neighborhood. If the corps and Congress decide that such a project has national economic benefits, Washington will pay 65% of the cost.

Until now, however, the evaluation of such a project required that the price tag of potential impacts be balanced against the full project budget. In the case of the seawall, that full budget will include upgrades that would be required no matter what to make the century-old structure strong enough to ride out a major earthquake.

The 2020 act removes this requirement, which would have put the port at a disadvantage when competing for federal funding against other projects that dont need seismic upgrades.

The provision was supported by other West Coast cities grappling with how to prepare for sea level rise in earthquake zones. In a statement touting the passage of the act, Speaker Nancy Pelosi called the change a key step to ensure that flood risk initiatives in seismic hazard zones are not penalized when being compared to projects in other regions.

The revision is one step in what the ports Forbes described as a long, long process toward rebuilding the seawall.

The study now being done by the port and the Army Corps of Engineers wont produce full flood control proposals before this fall. The selection of a preferred plan would be followed by environmental reviews and  if all goes well  approval by Congress in 2024.

This doesnt mean there will be no work on the Embarcadero in the meantime.

The port released a study in the fall that described in chilling detail how a major earthquake could cause portions of the filled soil behind the seawall to liquefy, fracturing pipes and transit lines as well as historic buildings. The port aims this summer to present fixes for the seawall sections that need them the most; these fixes would be funded by a $425 million bond that city voters approved in 2018.

Portions of the Bay Areas Pacific shoreline, meanwhile, are now eligible for federal funding that before was off limits.

The water act makes future projects along the coast eligible for federal assistance  not only to respond to current flood dangers but also to investigate measures to adapt to rising sea levels.

Statements of this sort suggests a less antagonistic approach to the science of climate change in coming years than the tone set by Trump and many of his top officials. Bay Area officials working to prepare for rising tides that might be decades off welcome the shift.

The big waste the last four years was that you couldnt talk about climate change with federal bureaucrats wary of antagonizing officials higher up the chain of command, said Larry Goldzband, executive director of the Bay Conservation and Development Commission. That puts us farther behind than we would have been otherwise.

John King is The San Francisco Chronicles urban design critic. Email: jking@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @johnkingsfchron
The author, known for using satire to slice open the discrepancies in society, uses the protagonist in her new book  The Impeccable Integrity of Ruby R  and her hero worship of an aspiring prime minister to expose the ugly underbelly of social media.

A hero with clay feet, an army of trolls and a nation to win over  The Impeccable Integrity of Ruby R is a novel whose time has arrived. Though the story unravels in Pakistan, it could easily be India or any other country, for that matter, in which politicians use social media as a toxic tool to intimidate and bully those who disagree.

The author, known for using satire to slice open the discrepancies in society, uses the protagonist Ruby and her hero worship of an aspiring prime minister to expose the ugly underbelly of social media. Bringing themes of abuse (both online and offline), predatory behaviour, murky politics and corruption together, the novel is a brisk and compelling read.

In an email interaction from London, the author speaks to Firstpost on the inspiration for the book and why writers should write about what they know.

What was the trigger for this book? How did the idea of a woman who handles a social media account of a political party germinate?

The idea for The Impeccable Integrity of Ruby R came to me while I was reading the story of Harvey Weinsteins sexual misconduct in The New Yorker. How, I asked myself, would such a public, high profile scandal unfold in the subcontinent? Would it be reported? What would the fallout be? Where would it occur? As soon as I began thinking along those lines, Bill Clintons affair with Monica Lewinsky came to my mind. I knew then that my novel would take place in the high stakes, risky world of power politics. But what kind of job could bring a young, ambitious but inexperienced woman into daily contact with the older, more worldly hero? What sort of expertise could a naive young woman like that have to offer? It could only be social media.

From the matriarch in The End of Innocence, Butterfly in your columns (which were later converted to books) to Ruby Rauf and Farah Mujahid in your current book, you equip your women with agency. For a society (in which your stories are set) which is inherently patriarchal, is it a conscious decision to show women as independent people with autonomy of their own?

I may have been born into a patriarchal society, but I was raised in a family where empowered, vocal, proactive women were the norm. Neither of my two grandmothers were pushovers. My nani brought up her five daughters to speak their minds and hold their ground. My mother did the same with me and my sister, and my aunts with their daughters. So, it did not require a great leap of the imagination on my part to write characters like Sardar Begum, Farah Mujahid and Ruby Rauf. I merely followed the advice given to writers: write what you know!

How closely inspired are the events and characters in your book from real life? Saif Haq  one of the major characters in the book  talking of change, seems to be a mirror image of Imran Khan...

Saif Haq is a concoction. Bill Clinton was the original inspiration, but then I added to the mix, a dash of (Donald) Trump (the reality TV background), a bit of Amitabh Bachchan (the movie superstar's past), a smattering of Boris Johnson (the rascally charm and smooth talking) and yes, a sprinkling of Imran Khan with his tall promises of overnight tabdeeli (change) and war on corruption, and honour-based politics.

At the heart of your book lies the inimical environment of social media and its inherent toxicity. Why then do you think we are addicted to it?

Social media makes everyone feel empowered. You can be a total non-entity in real life but on social media, you can inhabit an alternate world in which you are a Marvel-style Avenger imbued with superpowers that allow you to take down prominent people whom youd either never meet or feel too overawed by to address. Also, its non-stop theatre. Someone somewhere is forever making a scene and if youre not the one whos being targeted, its fun to watch.

Youve shown how exactly social media operates without any checks and balances, spewing unlimited hate via an army of online trolls. Political parties in Pakistan (and India and elsewhere) use this to great effect. What is our defence against this?

Im afraid I dont know. For myself, when I receive objectionable messages, I block the senders. I almost never get into online fights because frankly, I have neither the time nor the patience to engage with trolls. But if any long-term solution is to be found it has to come from the people who run these platforms.

The Pakistan you speak of in The End of Innocence, which came out in 2006, seems to mirror the country in your current book set in 2020. Have things remained static in all the time that has gone by?

The End of Innocence was published in 2006 but it was set in 1971. The Pakistan of that era has undergone a sea change. You would not have found confident, professional women like Ruby and Farah working in the worlds of media and politics in that Pakistan. Today, there are many more working women in prominent positions, (with) much greater social mobility, more education, lesser noblesse obliges. Of course, great inequities still exist, but generally people are better traveled, more exposed, more aware, more demanding.

Big People eat little people and thats how it is. Thats how its always been and thats how it will be, says Bilkees, from the book. You have always explored the theme of inequality through your work  why is that?

Because I see so much of it around me. The levels of inequality that exist in the subcontinent are grotesque. And I dont think Im alone among desi novelists in tackling this subject. Almost every serious writer from this region has engaged with the subjects of inequality and injustice in some form or to some degree.

The country you speak of in the book can easily be India, where any contrarian opinion is dismissed as being traitorous. Is this now a standard playbook for politics everywhere? What future do you foresee for the Asian subcontinent?

It is much the same in the UK. Back in 2016, when four judges ruled in a legal case that the UK government would need the consent of parliament to forge ahead with Brexit, The Daily Mail branded them Enemies of the People in a front-page headline. In the US, we have seen pitched battles between heavily armed Proud Boys and Antifa groups on the streets of Washington, each of whom thinks the other is anti-American. In South Asia, we call our dissenters not just traitors but either Pakistani agents or Indian spies and are forever ordering them to pack their bags and leave forthwith for the neighbouring country. Im not a political pundit and so cant tell you what the future holds for us but I do know that our fates are linked. Air pollution, COVID-19 and climate change have laid both our countries low, and even if we manage to get our entire population vaccinated against COVID, we still face huge challenges ahead. We cant prosper if we spend our time squabbling amongst each other while our glaciers melt, our rivers dry up and our air grows ever more toxic.

Your last books have been satires, which have been well-received. This book is different both in its tone and tenor. How difficult is it to switch from one mode of writing to another?

I greatly enjoy writing the Butterfly diaries and having done so for many years, the Butterflys voice comes very easily to me. But with this book, I wanted to step out of my fictional comfort zone and address some of the issues that I cant do with the Butterfly. That said, I still think this is satire, maybe not as affectionate but still astringently funny in parts. While I was writing Butterfly, I also continued working as a freelance journalist. I was writing regularly in my own voice on a variety of issues from the hangover of colonialism in the UK to the murder of Qandeel Baloch, Pakistans first social media star. So switching to a more serious register was not particularly difficult. What remained hard were the usual challenges posed by a novel: character arc, structure, dialogue, etc.

Based in London, how do you view events unfolding in Naya Pakistan?

Naya Pakistan is depressingly similar to purana Pakistan. The old power brokers remain very much in place and Imran Khans cabinet doesnt look much different from General Musharrafs. Ive lived in the UK for 25 years but Im still umbilically attached to Pakistan, maintain a home in Lahore, and visit four or five times a year to see my family and attend to my various obligations there. Though I didnt believe the tall promises made before the election, it still angers me to see just how cynical and empty the rhetoric of transformation was, and how ill served the people are by this government.

In a year which has been unlike anything weve seen, you see it end with the launch of a book. What was your year like, and did it affect your writing?

I finished writing Ruby R in 2019, and thank god for that! Though Ive been extremely fortunate in that Ive kept good health (so far) and unlike millions of people around the globe, have not had to worry about food and shelter. Ive been far too distracted with all the mental and physical adjustments weve had to make during these last few weird months to think up and write a novel. Editing this one was hard enough!

What is Moni Mohsin upto next?

Moni Mohsin hopes to start another novel in the new year. It will be set in London and will chart the growth of an unlikely friendship between a desi memsaab and a gori memsaab, who both think the other one is culturally unhinged. And in collaboration with friend and critic, Faiza Khan, she is launching a podcast called Browned Off in which they tackle racism and laugh a lot at their own jokes! Do tune in.

You can follow the author on Twitter: @moni_butterfly; Instagram: @monimohsinofficial; Website: www.monimohsin.com
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A cybersecurity adviser says he warned SolarWinds of a potential 'catastrophic' hacking attack if the company didn't amp up internal security measures three years before Russians compromised their software.

Ian Thornton-Trump, a former cybersecurity adviser at the firm, also claims the firm's moving of some operations to Eastern Europe may have exposed it to the massive Russian hack.

In late December it was revealed that the sprawling cyber-espionage attack led by state-backed Russian hackers affected more than 250 US federal agencies and private companies beginning as early as October 2019, but went undetected for months.

In the breach, hackers gained access to government and private networks by inserting malicious code in recent versions of SolarWinds' premier software product, Orion.

Thornton-Trump said he urged management in 2017 to take a more aggressive approach with its internal security, warning that a cybersecurity episode would be 'catastrophic', according to a New York Times report published Saturday.

He said he gave a PowerPoint presentation to three SolarWinds executives urging them to install a cybersecurity senior director because he thought a major breach was inevitable, Bloomberg reported.

When his recommendations were ignored, he left the company a month later.

Staffers say the CEO of SolarWinds, which is based in Austin, Texas, cut security measure to save costs and the company moved several engineering offices to Eastern Europe.

But that move may have made the company vulnerable to the breach as some of the compromised SolarWinds software was engineered there and Russian intelligence operatives are deeply rooted in that region.

Ian Thornton-Trump, a former cybersecurity adviser at SolarWinds, said he urged management in 2017 to take a more aggressive approach with its internal security, warning that a cybersecurity episode would be 'catastrophic'. When his recommendations were ignored, he left the company a month later

In the breach, hackers gained access to government and private networks by inserting malicious code recent versions of SolarWinds' premier software product, Orion. SolarWinds headquarters in Austin, Texas above

Past and current employees SolarWinds had lackluster security measures in place. Chief Executive Kevin B. Thompson (above) cut common security practices to save costs and his approach almost tripled SolarWinds' annual profit margins to more than $453million in 2019 from $152milliom in 2010

DailyMail.com has reached out to Thornton-Trump for comment.

Though US officials say Russian operatives were behind the hacking campaign, the Kremlin denies it.

Former and current SolarWinds staffers say the company was slow to prioritize security, even when its software was adopted by top cybersecurity companies and federal agencies.

SolarWinds only added on security in 2017 under the threat of penalty from a new European privacy law. Then it hired its first chief information officer and brought in a vice president of security architecture.

A reason, in part, why security was so relaxed was allegedly due to chief executive Kevin B. Thompson's cuts.

Past and current employees say that Thompson, who was formerly an accountant and a chief financial officer, cut common security practices to save costs and his approach almost tripled SolarWinds' annual profit margins to more than $453million in 2019 from $152milliom in 2010.

But some of those measures may have jeopardized the company and put its customers at a greater risk for attack.

SolarWinds also moved much of its engineering to satellite offices in the Czech Republic, Poland and Belarus, where engineers had access to the Orion network management software that was hacked.

SolarWinds also moved much of its engineering to satellite offices in the Czech Republic, Poland and Belarus, where engineers had access to the Orion network management software that was hacked. A view of a SolarWinds office in the Czech Republic above

A view of a Solarwinds office in Krakow, Poland above

Some of the Orion software was also engineered there.

American investigators are focusing on whether the hack started at the Eastern Europe offices, where Russian intelligence operatives are deeply rooted.

GOVT AGENCIES KNOWN TO HAVE BEEN TARGETED BY HACKERS SO FAR Pentagon Treasury FBI Department of State Department of Homeland Security Commerce Department National Institutes of Health Department of Energy National Nuclear Security Administration Los Alamos National Laboratory Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Office of Secure Transportation Advertisement

Initially officials said the hack began as early as March this year but SolarWinds have since revealed they traced the hackers back to October 2019. The spies were were believed to have tested their ability to insert the malicious code into their system on October 10, 2019.

When Thompson was asked about whether the company should have detected the breach, he avoided the question. Hes stepping down after 11 years at the helm.

The hack, believed to be an operation by Russia's SVR intelligence service, impacted the Treasury, State, Commerce, Energy Departments and parts of the Pentagon - as well as SolarWinds' clients like Cisco Systems and Deloitte.

Three weeks later after the hack was flagged, American officials are now scrambling to determine how the hack was pulled off without setting off any alarms.

At least 24 organizations across the US installed the software that had been exploited by hackers, a Wall Street Journal analysis of internet records has found.

Among those infected include: Tech companies Cisco Systems Inc., Intel Corp and Nvidia Corp; accounting firm Deloitte; software company VMware Inc; electronics maker Belkin International Inc; the California Department of State Hospitals; and Kent State University.

Security experts pointed that out that it took days for SolarWinds to stop offering clients compromised code on their websites.

A SolarWinds spokesperson shared with DailyMail.com that the company was 'the victim of a highly-sophisticated, complex and targeted cyberattack.'

'We are collaborating closely with federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies to investigate the full scope of this unprecedented attack, including whether it was backed by the resources of a foreign government. We are also working with industry-leading third-party cybersecurity experts to assist in investigating, mitigating and remediating this attack.'

SolarWinds was one of several supply chain vendors Russian hackers targeted in the attack and the cybersecurity arm of the Department of Homeland believe spies worked through other channels as well.

A view of CEO Kevin Thompson ringing in the opening bell during the company's initial public offeringo n the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on October 19, 2018

At least 24 organizations across the US installed the software that had been exploited by hackers, including accounting firm Deloitte

Kent State University in Ohio also downloaded the infected software, according to a Wall Street analysis of online records

Tech company Cisco Systems Inc. and the California Department of State Hospitals was also hacked

SolarWinds has not publicly addressed the possibility of an insider being involved in the cyber breach.

The hackers behind the SolarWinds breach also broke into Microsofts network and accessed some of its source code, the company said Thursday.

Source code - the underlying set of instructions that run a piece of software or operating system - is typically among a technology company's most closely guarded secrets and Microsoft has historically been particularly careful about protecting it.

It is not clear how much or what parts of Microsoft's source code repositories the hackers were able to access, but the disclosure suggests that the hackers who used software company SolarWinds as a springboard to break into sensitive US government networks also had an interest in discovering the inner workings of Microsoft products as well.

The US and private sector investigators have spent the holidays combing through logs to try to understand whether their data has been stolen or modified.

Modifying source code - which Microsoft said the hackers did not do - could have potentially disastrous consequences given the ubiquity of Microsoft products, which include the Office productivity suite and the Windows operating system.

But experts said that even just being able to review the code could offer hackers insight that might help them subvert Microsoft products or services

'The source code is the architectural blueprint of how the software is built,' Andrew Fife of Israel-based Cycode, a source code protection company said.

'If you have the blueprint, it's far easier to engineer attacks,' he added.

SolarWinds timeline: Company stocks and when they discovered attack March: Updated versions of SolarWinds premier product, Orion, are infiltrated by an 'outside nation state' SolarWinds customers who installed updates to their Orion software were unknowingly welcoming hidden malicious code that could give intruders the same view of their corporate network that in-house IT crews have November 18 and 19: Outgoing CEO Kevin Thompson sells $15m in shares December 7: Leading investors Silver Lake and Thoma Bravo sell $280m shares from SolarWinds December 7: CEO Kevin Thompson resigns. His transition had already been announced but no set date given December 8: FireEye announces hackers broke into its servers December 9: New CEO Sudhakar Ramakrishna announced to take over from Thompson in 2021 December 11: FireEye claims it became aware that SolarWinds updates had been corrupted and contacted the company December 13: The infiltration of Orion becomes public The US issues an emergency warning, ordering government users to disconnect SolarWinds software which it said had been compromised by 'malicious actors' The Pentagon, the State Department and the National Institutes of Health, as well as the Treasury, Commerce and Homeland Security departments reveal they were targeted Advertisement

While the motive is not known, some believe it's Russia's bid to shake Washington DC three weeks before Biden's inauguration date, and to gain leverage against the US before nuclear arms talks.

'We still dont know what Russias strategic objectives were. But we should be concerned that part of this may go beyond reconnaissance. Their goal may be to put themselves in a position to have leverage over the new administration, like holding a gun to our head to deter us from acting to counter Putin,' Suzanne Spaulding, who was the senior cyberofficial at the Homeland Security Department under Obama, said to the Times.

The breach was not detected by any government cyberdefense agencies  the militarys Cyber Command, the National Security Agency, or the Department of Homeland Security.

Instead it was found by private cybersecurity company FireEye.

'This is looking much much worse than I first feared. The size of it keeps expanding. Its clear the United States government missed it,' Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, the ranking member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said.

'And if FireEye had not come forward. Im not sure we would be fully aware of it to this day,' he added.

The Times report revealed the breach is broader than believed.

Initially it was estimated that the Russians only accessed a few dozen of the 18,000 government and private networks. But now it appears Russia gained access to as many as 250 networks.

The hack was managed from servers inside the US and 'early warning' sensors placed by Cyber Command and the National Security Agency inside foreign networks to detect potential attacks failed.

The governments emphasis on defending the election may have diverted resources and attention to the protection of 'supply chain' software. Now private companies like FireEye and Microsoft say they were breached in the large supply chain attack.

In the attack the Russian hackers took advantage of the National Securitys Agencys limits of authority by staging the hacks from servers inside the US and in some cases using computers in the same town or city as their victims.

Congress has not given NSA or Homeland Security any authority to enter or defend private sector networks.

The Russian hackers inserted themselves into the SolarWinds Orion update and used custom tools to avoid setting off the alarms of homeland securitys Einstein detection system used to catch malware.

Intelligence officials say It could be months, years even, before they understand the breadth of the hacking.
Chief Minister on Sunday said that the COVID-19 pandemic is under control in the state and that the recovery rate has gone up to 96.14 percent.

He added that the positive cases in the last one month have been below 5 percent after all tests were conducted using the reliable RT-PCR method.

"The pandemic is under control in the state. The recovery rate has been 96.14 percent. The number of active cases has come down to 10 thousand. The death rate is less than one percent. The positive rate in the last month has been below 5 percent even after doing all the tests in the country using reliable RT-PCR method. These are all good signs," the Chief Minister said in a series of tweets in Hindi.

Gehlot added, "But this does not mean that we start being negligent. If the public did not take precautions like before, then the situation can worsen. Post covid problems are seen in those who have been cured of COVID-19 disease. Ignoring these problems can cause problems."

He also urged that those suffering from any health related discomfort after recovering from the infection must contact doctors.

"People recovering from COVID-19 can have fatigue, tension, breath, heart, brain and kidney problems and mental troubles. If you see any discomfort, do not ignore it and contact a doctor. Experts are of the opinion that recovering from COVID-19 even after two months one must remain in contact with the doctor," he said.

Pointing out on preparedness by his state, Gehlot said, "The state government has set up a clinic for post COVID-19 treatment in each district hospital. So far, about 14 thousand people have availed treatment here. Post covid patients can call 181 for their counseling."

"The preparation of the government is complete regarding the COVID-19 vaccine. Yesterday, a dry run of the vaccine was conducted in seven districts of the state which was successful. According to the protocol, when the vaccine arrives, the people of the state will be vaccinated," Gehlot said.

Hailing the Drug Controller General of India (DGCI ) for approving two vaccines permission for restricted use in an emergency situation, Gehlot expressed confidence that as per protocols, vaccination will soon start in Rajasthan

"The DCGI has approved Covishield of Serum Institute and Bharat Biotech's Covaxin. It is good news, hope that according to the protocols, soon will also start vaccination," the Chief Minister 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.)
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-04 00:21:00|Editor: huaxia

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RAMALLAH, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinian Monetary Authority (PMA) said on Sunday that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has accepted the resignation of its head Azzam al-Shawwa.

In a press statement, the PMA said that al-Shawwa submitted his resignation for personal reasons, without further details.

"The Palestinian president has accepted al-Shawwa's resignation," the statement said.

However, a Palestinian source, who preferred not to be named, said that al-Shawwa protested a few days ago against a presidential decree that appoints Mohammad Manasra as his deputy without consulting him.

"As a result of this presidential decree, al-Shawwa prefers to leave his position in the PMA and return to his own business," the source said.

Al-Shawwa, the former president of the Bank of Palestine, the largest local bank, took his office in the PMA in 2015. Enditem
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Destination known

Da Nang is the perfect example of the spectacular growth seen in local tourism. Twenty years ago, the central city held no position at all on Vietnams tourism map. Today, it has positioned itself in the minds of domestic and foreign visitors, according to Cao Tri Dung, President of the Da Nang Tourism Association.

Le Trung Chinh, the new chairman of the municipal Peoples Committee, said that tourism has become an important economic sector that makes a considerable contribution to the citys socio-economic development as well as budget funds.

According to the Da Nang Department of Tourism, the sector grew 17.88% on average each year in the 2015-2019 period. It welcomed 8.69 million visitors last year, an increase of 85.7% compared to 2015, and earned nearly VND31 trillion in revenue, up 141.6%.

Vietnams tourism sector froze this year because of COVID-19, but the country still surpassed many to win the World Travel Awards Worlds Leading Heritage Destination 2020.

Last year, for the first time, the United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA) put Vietnam among its top 10 hot destinations for US travellers, second only to Japan in Asia. Earlier, Australia News said that Vietnam has overtaken Bali to become the most popular destination for Australian tourists, thanks to the high level of safety and security, friendly people, unique culture, and diverse cuisine.

Figures from the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) show that, in 2019, Vietnam welcomed nearly 18 million international arrivals, of which 78.1% were from Asia. The number of visitors from Europe rose 5.3% and from the Americas 6.2% year-on-year.

A place to visit at least once in your life

Along with prestigious awards, Vietnamese destinations have also been named among impressive global destinations or described as a place to visit at least once in your life.

The Golden Bridge in Da Nang was ranked among the top 100 Worlds Greatest Places in 2018 by Time magazine. Kem Beach on Phu Quoc Island, meanwhile, was rated among the 100 most beautiful beaches on the planet by 1,200 global travel experts on Fly Network in Canada.

The Hoang Lien Son mountain range in northwest Vietnam, together with the Guinness record-holding Fansipan Sapa cable network nearby, was named one of the worlds most exciting destinations in 2019 by the renowned National Geographic.

The capital Hanoi was 15th on a list of 25 cities in TripAdvisors best world destinations, overcoming popular names such as Chiang Mai and Bangkok in Thailand, Tokyo and Kyoto in Japan, and Rome.

A photo of the Golden Bridge taken by Jason Goh, a Malaysian tourist, went viral, receiving hundreds of comments like Got to go there, So keen to visit the bridge, and This is the coolest place on earth. Hope I get to visit someday.

Explaining the success Vietnams tourism sector has posted over the last five years, Jyotis, a travel expert from Flight Network, pointed to factors such as the maintenance of its traditional values.

Moreover, she added, Vietnam has always been a safe destination and an inspiring country.
Speaking before praying the Angelus in the library of the apostolic palace, Pope Francis emphasizes that "God always wants to communicate with us". " God became flesh  because it indicates our human condition in all its weakness, in all its frailty." In the new year "things will get better to the extent that we work for the common good, above all for the disadvantaged".

Vatican City (AsiaNews) - Jesus is the Word, which "means from the beginning God wants to communicate with us, He wants to talk to us." And he "became flesh", not "to visit us", but to "be with us". Thus Pope Francis has focused on the essential points of the Gospel of the second Sunday after Christmas (John 1, 1-18), introducing today's Angelus from the library for the apostolic palace.

Francis said the fact that Jesus was the Word from the very beginning means that from the beginning God wants to communicate with us, He wants to talk to us. The only-begotten Son of the Father (see v. 14) wants to tell us about the beauty of being children of God; He is the true light (v. 9) and wants to remove the darkness of evil from us; He is the life (v. 4), who knows our lives and wants to tell us that He has always loved them. Here is todays wondrous message: Jesus is Gods eternal Word of God, who has always thought of us and wanted to communicate with us.

To do so, He went beyond words. In fact, at the heart of todays Gospel we are told that the Word became flesh and dwelt among us (v. 14). The Word became flesh: why does Saint John use this expression flesh? Could he not have said, in a more elegant way, that the Word was made man? No, he uses the word flesh because it indicates our human condition in all its weakness, in all its frailty. He tells us that God became fragile so He could touch our fragility up close. So, from the moment that the Lord became flesh, nothing about our life is extraneous to Him. There is nothing that He scorns, we can share everything with Him. Dear brother, dear sister, God became flesh to tell you that He loves you like that, in your frailty; right there, where you are most ashamed. He became flesh and never turned back.".

He did not put our humanity on like a garment that can be put on and taken off. No, He never detached Himself from our flesh. And He will never be separated from it: now and forever He is in heaven with His body made of human flesh. He has united Himself forever to our humanity; we might say that He espoused Himself to it".

Indeed, the Gospel says that He came to dwell among us. He did not come to visit us; He came to dwell with us, to stay with us. What, then, does He desire from us? A great intimacy. He wants us to share with Him our joys and sufferings, desires and fears, hopes and sorrows, people and situations. Let us do this, let us open our hearts to Him, let us tell Him everything. Let us pause in silence before the crib to savour the tenderness of God who became near, who became flesh. And without fear, let us invite Him among us, into our homes, into our families, into our frailties. He will come and life will change.

After the Marian prayer, Francis, renewing his wishes for the new year, said that beyond myths and wishes, in the new year "things will improve to the extent that we work for the common good, above all for the disadvantaged". Taking care of each other and our common home, without continuing to make war, focusing only on the economic or that which gives most pleasure.
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Queensland Returnees Banned From Visiting Aged Care Homes

People who have travelled to Victoria since Dec. 21 will be banned from visiting Queenslands aged care facilities and hospitals.

The new restriction will be introduced from 1 a.m. on Monday and also applies to other vulnerable facilities like disability accommodation and prisons, chief health officer Jeannette Young said on Sunday.

Were responding quickly to protect people in these facilities by restricting any visitors who have been in high-risk locations so we can keep them as safe as possible, she said.

Queensland recorded zero new coronavirus cases on Sunday, with the state having gone 110 days without a community-acquired case.

It is 17 days since anyone in the community has been infectious in the state.

Recent positive cases have been reported in hotel quarantine although a child who returned from Pakistan is the only one this weekend.

It brings to 13 the number of active cases in Queensland with seven on the Gold Coast, five in Brisbane and one on the Sunshine Coast.

Its just important that people keep on testing, Young said.

She said the number of fever clinics across the state would increase from the 76 open on Saturday and the hours of operation extended.

She advised people to keep engaged while on holiday to stay alert because things could unfortunately rapidly change.

The border is already closed to anyone who has been in the COVID-declared hotspots of greater Sydney and surrounding areas in the past 14 days. Those restrictions are expected to be reviewed on Jan. 8.

We dont need to extend any border restrictions to Melbourne or Victoria but were keeping a very close eye on that, she said.

Queenslanders who have been in Victoria on or since Dec. 21 were earlier advised to get tested straight away and quarantine at home or their accommodation until they get their results.

Border declaration passes are also needed for travellers who have visited NSW since Dec. 11.

Young thanked those waiting at facilities to be tested but encouraged people to look at the Queensland Health website for other site options when centres were busy.

If your nearest testing facility is experiencing delays, please check other locations, she said.

Opposition health spokeswoman Ros Bates said people were turned away from Royal Brisbane and Womens Hospital on Saturday night.

I am dismayed as to why this clinic closed at 9 p.m. despite only hours earlier Labor urged anyone from Queensland whod been to Victoria since December 21 to immediately get tested, she told reporters.

Young noted it was a year to the day since she was told about a potential new virus circulating in China.

By Cheryl Goodenough
New Delhi, Jan 3 : The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) on Sunday said it has targeted to reduce imports from China to Rs 1 lakh crore this year.

In a statement, the traders' body said it would run a programme this year to "liberate" the country's e-commerce business from the clutches of foreign companies.

"As part of its 'Boycott Chinese Goods' campaign from June 10, 2020, the CAIT has set the target of bringing down imports from China by Rs 1 lakh crore by the end of this year," the traders' body added.

CAIT also said it would urge the government on the formation of e-commerce policy, National Retail Trade Policy, Traders Welfare Board at the Centre and all states, simplification of GST tax system and creation of a separate income tax slab for traders of the country.

It would urge the government for formation of a joint committee of officials and traders in all the districts and also seek the simplification of Food Safety and Standards Act.

CAIT's priorities would also include supporting women entrepreneurs.

It would also make efforts for making the pension scheme more rational for traders, subsidised insurance scheme for traders and their employees, availing easy access of loan for traders.
The Central Region Police Command has secured a Court order to restrain the National Democratic Congress (NDC) from embarking on a protest march in the Effutu Constituency on Tuesday, January 5.



The prohibition order was granted by the Cape Coast High Court on 31st December, 2020, DSP Irene Serwaah Oppong, Public Relations Officer of the Command, explained in a statement.



The statement signed by DSP Oppong and copied to the Ghana News Agency in Cape Coast, said the demand by the Effutu NDC to embark on a demonstration could not be granted.



"The request of the NDC cannot be met by the police due to the fact that the Regional Command is not in a position to provide security for the demonstrators as a result of the post-election events and multifaceted security operations during the festive season.



It also stated events preceding the inauguration of the President-elect on January 7, 2021 as part of the reasons.



The Police Command has therefore urged the general public, especially followers, sympathizers and supporters of the NDC to adhere to the directive.



Meanwhile, the NDC Effutu Constituency chairman has been duly served with the Court order.

Source: GNA









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The woman dubbed 'Soho Karen', Miya Ponsetto, who was filmed assaulting a black boy who she accused of stealing her iPhone, was arrested in February with her mother for drunkenly refusing to leave a hotel in Los Angeles - three months before she was arrested again for DUI.

Miya and her mother, Nicole, 42, were at The Peninsula hotel in Beverly Hills when staff ordered them to leave.

They refused, and police were called.

Law enforcement sources told TMZ that when they arrived at the hotel and tried to get Ponsetto and her mother to leave, her mother allegedly pushed and kicked a cop.

Nicole was arrested on charges of battery on a police officer and being drunk in public, and Miya was arrested on a charge of being drunk in public. They have a court hearing later this month.

The woman dubbed SoHo Karen has been identified as 22-year-old Miya Ponsetto. Police reports and court records bearing her name show that she was arrested twice in the last year - once for public intoxication and another time for driving under the influence of alcohol

Just a week after the alleged attack at a Manhattan hotel, Miya Taylor Ponsetto was back home in Sun Valley where she was seen grabbing a bit of fast food, DailyMail.com can exclusively reveal

Ponsetto, 22, is wanted by the New York City police for tackling a 14-year-old black boy who she falsely accused of stealing her iPhone at a Manhattan hotel on December 26

The L.A. County District Attorney charged both women on May 27, and the following day Miya was arrested again, for DUI.

She pleaded no contest and was sentenced to three years probation, 30 hours of community service and ordered to take a nine-month alcohol/drug counseling program.

Ponsetto seven months later allegedly assaulted a 14-year-old black boy, Keyon Harrold Jr, at a New York City hotel on December 26, in a row over a phone.

Keyon Jr's father, Grammy-winning jazz artist Keyon Harrold, tweeted a video of the 22-year-old grabbing at the child while repeatedly accusing him of snatching her phone.

He captioned it: 'On Saturday, December 26, the woman in this video falsely accused an innocent 14-year-old teenager of stealing her cellphone.

'She then proceeded to physically attack him and fled the location before police officers arrived on scene.'

A second video released by the NYPD shows Ponsetto, who was swiftly dubbed SoHo Karen, running at the child and grabbing at his waist.

Moments after the video ended, an Uber driver arrived with Ponsetto's phone, which she had left in the vehicle.

Harrold, along with Keyon's mother Kat Rodriguez and civil rights attorney Ben Crump, are now urging officials to bring charges against her over the incident.

Ponsetto and her mom Nicole, 42, were arrested at the Peninsula Hotel in Beverly Hills

Ponsetto was arrested for being intoxicated in public by Beverly Hills PD in February

Ponsetto's legal problems now look set to increase, with the NYPD considering bringing charges against her over the December 26 incident.

Officers confirmed on Tuesday that they are looking at a variety of options, including assault, grand larceny and attempted robbery.

Ponsetto was seen in exclusive DailyMail.com photos making a quick trip to a McDonald's in Fillmore, California  her first outing since being unmasked as the woman who accosted Keyon Jr at the Arlo Hotel.

She has been laying low at her family's $389,000 home in the small town of Piru, a small farming town approximately 30 miles north of LA.

Ponsetto is seen at home in California. It's not clear when she departed New York City

Ponsetto shot to infamy after Keyon Jr's father, Grammy-winning jazz artist Keyon Harrold, posted a video of the 22-year-old grabbing at the child while repeatedly accusing him of snatching her phone

Ponsetto has denied assaulting Keyon Jr and on Thursday, provided a rambling 20-minute phone interview to CNN. In it, she claimed she was assaulted during the altercation with Keyon Sr. and his son, though she failed to provide further details, including who allegedly assaulted her. She was spotted grabbing McDonald's in Fillmore, California

Ponsetto has denied assaulting Keyon Jr, and on Thursday provided a rambling 20-minute phone interview to CNN.

In it, she claimed she was assaulted during the altercation with Keyon Sr. and his son, though failed to provide further details, including who allegedly assaulted her.

Her allegation has not been corroborated by investigators or any witnesses to the December 26 incident.

The NYPD has released new surveillance footage of Ponsetto, dubbed 'SoHo Karen', tackling the 14-year-old son of a black musician to the ground in a New York City hotel while accusing him of stealing her phone

The video, shared on social media Wednesday night by NYPD Chief of Detectives Rodney Harrison, shows Ponsetto suddenly run at Keyon Harrold Jr. and grab him by the waist in the Arlo Hotel on Saturday

New footage, released by NYPD, casts new light on Saturday's events in the lobby of the Arlo Hotel in Manhattan.

It shows four people - the woman identified as Ponsetto, Keyon, Keyon Jr. and another individual - standing at the bottom of the stairs in the lobby.

Keyon Jr. starts to walk away in the direction of the hotel doors.

At this point, Ponsetto runs and grabs the 14-year-old around the waist, latching onto him as the boy's father runs after them.

They pass through the automatic doors in the lobby as the boy tries to shake her off, turning around as she appears to tackle him to the ground.

A close-up of Ponsetto's face is shown with 'wanted' emblazoned across it as the police urged anyone with information about her whereabouts to contact the NYPD.

'On Saturday, December 26, the woman in this video falsely accused an innocent 14-year-old teenager of stealing her cellphone,' Harrison tweeted.

'She then proceeded to physically attack him and fled the location before police officers arrived on scene.'

The new footage casts new light on Saturday's events in the lobby of the Arlo Hotel in Manhattan. It shows four people - identified as Ponsetto, Keyon, Keyon Jr. and another individual standing at the bottom of the stairs in the lobby

Keyon Jr. starts to walk away in the direction of the hotel doors. At this point, Ponsetto runs and grabs the 14-year-old around the waist, latching on to him as the boy's father runs after them. They pass through the automatic doors in the lobby as the boy tries to shake her off

Ponsetto appears to tackle the boy to the ground in the altercation. Its release comes just hours after the 22-year-old gave a rambling interview to CNN where she denied racially profiling the boy and claimed it was her who was assaulted in the dispute

Ponsetto's claims that she was attacked by Keyon Sr are so far without evidence

Harrold Sr. and Keyon Jr.'s mother, Kat Rodriguez, held a rally in Manhattan for their son on Wednesday, alongside civil rights attorney Ben Crump (right) and Rev. Al Sharpton (left)

Harrold and Keyon Jr.'s mother, Kat Rodriguez, staged a rally in Manhattan on Wednesday alongside their attorney Ben Crump and Reverend Al Sharpton.

'When I saw this story, I thought about how I was one of those kids whose father never took him anywhere for Christmas, never had brunch with my father,' Sharpton said.

'And for this black man to take his black son, put him in a hotel during a pandemic, and spend Christmas with him, raising him, and to be assaulted because of the color of their skin, I wanted to stand with this man and this woman who provided for their son, and they're being criminalized for it.

'The arrogance and audacity of this woman.'

Harrold added that had he not come down into the lobby with his son when he did, something 'could have gone very wrong.'

'The idea of trauma goes above any charge that we may have...I bring my son places where he shouldn't have to deal with injustices and shouldn't have to be profiled,' he said.

An emotional Rodriguez also spoke during the rally, taking her opportunity to let it be known she is unhappy with the way the hotel handled the situation, and also called on 'SoHo Karen' to be charged with assault.

'All that we are asking is for the police to do the right thing, for the DA to do the right thing, to charge this woman with assault of a minor,' she said.

'To the hotel, which I'm equally angry at, you are trained to use those tools. I called the hotel right after it happened, and I gave them a chance to make it right, and they didn't.

'You know when they made it right? When my tribe, my community spoke up.

'It breaks my heart that this is happening to our son. This incident could have been avoided in so many ways,' she said.

Crump, meanwhile, called the incident an example of 'racial injustice' - an all-too common narrative that 'needs to change'.

'Can you imagine what the narrative would have been if Keyon Harrold had not videoed the incident on his cellphone?' Crump asked the crowd.

Keyon Harrold Sr. then played a trumpet rendition of 'America the Beautiful' and 'We Shall Overcome,' drawing applause and a few tears, according to ABC7.

At one point in the video Ponsetto is shown on the floor. It's unclear where this has anything to do with her claims of assault

Kat Rodriguez, center, mother of Keyon Harrold Jr., speaks as attorney Ben Crump, right, Rev. Al Sharpton, left, and Keyon Harrold Sr. listen during a news conference on Wednesday

SoHo hotel racial profiling: Rev. Al Sharpton calls on NYPD to publicly identify and charge a woman who falsely accused a Black teen of stealing her phone. Posted by PIX 11 on Wednesday, December 30, 2020

No decision has yet been made by either the Manhattan District Attorney's Office or the NYPD as to whether the woman will be charged.

Keyon Sr first shared footage of the incident on Instagram, writing that he and his son had left their room to get breakfast when they came into contact with Ponsetto in the lobby.

He said she had been staying at the hotel but had checked out three days earlier.

It's unclear what happened in the moments before he started filming, but in the video, Ponsetto can be heard screaming at Keyon Jr., telling him to show her his phone.

The minute-long video shows the woman and the hotel manager in the lobby with Harrold recording on his cell phone.

'This is my phone,' Harrold's son, who is not seen in the footage, is heard telling Ponsetto and the manager.

'You don't have to explain nothing to her,' Harrold tells his son.

Ponsetto then points to the phone and tells the manager that the case is the same one that she has.

'That's mine,' she tells the manager. She then tells the manager: 'Get it back.'

Harrold responds to Ponsetto, saying: 'Are you kidding me? You feel like there's only one iPhone made in the world?'

When Ponsetto asks Harrold to see the phone, he replies: 'No, get a life.'

Harrold then tells the woman that she should use the Find My app, which helps locate missing Apple devices.

Ponsetto tells Harrold that the Find My app can only be accessed through the phone.

The video then shows the manager approach Harrold's son asking him to see the phone.

'No, you can't,' Harrold tells the manager.

'I'm the manager of the hotel,' the manager tells Harrold, who replies: 'I don't care!'

The incident happened in the lobby of the boutique Arlo Hotel last Saturday

Arlo Hotels apologized for the 'recent incident of baseless accusation, prejudice, assault against an innocent guest of Arlo hotel' on Instagram saying: 'No Arlo guest  or any person  should be subject to this kind of behavior. We want to apologize to Mr. Harrold and his son for this inexcusable experience, and have reached out to them directly to express our sincere regret and to offer help in dealing with the traumatic event'

During the exchange, Ponsetto continues to encourage the manager to retrieve what she believes is her iPhone.

Harrold tries to plead his case, saying it wasn't plausible that his son would have someone else's phone since he just got to the lobby from the elevator.

'Didn't you see me just come downstairs out of the f***ing elevator?' Harrold tells the manager.

The manager protests, saying: 'I'm trying to help.'

Harrold replies: 'My son has nothing to do with her.'

Ponsetto once again repeats her demand to see the phone, saying: 'No, he's not leaving. Show me the proof.'

Harrold refuses and begins to walk away from the lobby toward what appear to be the elevators.

'You better get on,' Harrold tells Ponsetto.

Ponsetto, who appears to be highly distressed, walks toward Harrold and his son, saying: 'No, I'm not letting him walk away with my phone.'

While the video is not clear, she appears to lunge toward Harrold and his son.

In the next frame, she is seen on the ground as the manager helps her back to her feet.

'No, please get my phone back,' Ponsetto begs the manager.

The video clip ends with Ponsetto once again approaching Harrold in an attempt to get the phone.

In one frame, she is seen on the ground as the manager helps her back to her feet

Keyon Harrold Sr. played the trumpet during the news conference, which was held as officials weigh charging Ponsetto

The trumpeter said he suffered slight injuries in the incident though his son was not harmed.

Keyon Jr. spoke alongside his father to ABC on Tuesday, telling the network he's still 'shell shocked' over what happened.

'I don't know what would have happened if my dad wasn't there. These past few days, still kind of shell-shocked, but I'm hanging in there.

'For me I was confused because I had never seen that lady ever and I didn't know what to do in the moment. That's why I was happy to have my dad here to help me,' he said.

Earlier this week, Bill de Blasio, mayor of New York City, on Twitter called the incident 'racism. Plain and simple.'

'It would be horrific at any age, but it's especially offensive that it happened to a child,' he wrote.

'To Keyon Harrold Jr. and his family: I am so sorry this happened to you.'

Amid the fallout, Arlo Hotels has also apologized for its role in the incident, saying its workers could have done better to 'de-escalate the dispute.'

'We're deeply disheartened about the recent incident of baseless accusation, prejudice and assault against an innocent guest of Arlo hotel,' a company statement said.

'In investigating the incident further, we've learned that the manager on duty promptly called the police regarding the woman's conduct and that hotel security intervened to prevent further violence .... No Arlo guest - or any person - should be subject to this kind of behavior.'

Famed civil rights attorney Ben Crump is leading the charge of outrage against the woman's actions, and also called out the hotel for 'empowering' her accusations by asking Harrold's son to prove his innocence.

'As this year of racial awareness is drawing to a close, it's deeply troubling that incidents like this one, in which a Black child is viewed as and treated like a criminal, continue to happen,' Crump said in a statement.

'We strongly urge Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance Jr. to bring assault and battery charges against this woman to send the message that hateful, racially motivated behavior is unacceptable,' Crump added.

'This is what it will take to drive change. We also call for a civil rights investigation into the Arlo Hotel for its implicit bias in its treatment of Keyon.'
Srinagar:

Following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Sabzar Bhat in an encounter with security forces, curfew-like restrictions continued in parts of Kashmir for the second consecutive day on Monday as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order.

The restrictions were in place in seven police station areas of Srinagar - - Khanyar, Nowhatta, Safakadal, M R Gunj, Rainawari, Kralkhud and Maisuma, officials said.

Strict restrictions also continued in Anantnag and Shopian districts and Pulwama town in south Kashmir and in the township of Sopore in Baramulla district of north Kashmir, the officials said.

In all the restrictions were in place in four out of 10 districts in the valley.

They said Section 144 of CrPc continued in the districts of Budgam and Ganderbal in central Kashmir.

The officials said the curbs in these areas continued for the second day as a pre-emptive measure to prevent spread of violent protests which took place on Saturday immediately after Bhat was killed along with his colleague in an encounter in Soimoh area of Tral in south Kashmirs Pulwama district.

A civilian was also killed allegedly in cross firing between militants and security forces during the encounter.

Though there were few stone-pelting incidents in some areas of the valley yesterday, the situation remained under control.

A police spokesman said yesterday that there were six incidents of stone pelting in Pulwama, Kulgam, Shopian and Sopore, but the situation across the valley remained peaceful and under control.

Also read: Curfew to be imposed in Kashmir amid tension over killing of Hizb militant, Pak asks UN to intervene

He said police and security forces used maximum restraint while dealing with the situation at these places and miscreants were chased away.

Meanwhile, normal life remained affected in the rest of the valley for the second day due to a two-day strike called by separatists to protest killing of the two militants and use of brute force against protestors.

The separatist trio - chairmen of both factions of Hurriyat Conference, Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, and JKLF chief Yasin Malik have also called for a march to Tral tomorrow to pay tributes to the slain militants.

While Malik was arrested from his residence here yesterday, Geelani and Mirwaiz are under house detention.

The authorities have suspended mobile internet services in the valley, while the outgoing call facility on prepaid numbers has also been snapped as a precautionary measure.

Kashmir University has postponed all examinations scheduled to be held today and tomorrow.

A spokesman of the university said fresh dates for the deferred examinations shall be notified later.

Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST), Awantipora, on Sunday also postponed the examination scheduled for today.

The university also suspended the class work for today in view of the prevailing situation.

Schools and colleges have also been closed for today in Srinagar and for two days in Pulwama.

Also read: Highlights: Kashmir witnesses protests over Sabzar Bhat's killing; Indian Army mounts ops in Valley, guns down 10 militants in 24 hours

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Egypts Suez Canal reported a 3.4 percent drop in its revenues in 2020, the canals authority chairman Osama Rabie announced on Sunday.

In an official statement, Rabie said the canals revenues recorded $5.6 billion last year, down from $5.8 billion in 2019, which the chairman described as the third highest annual revenue reported by the canal in its history.

Rabie said that 18,829 vessels passed through the waterway in both directions in 2020 with an overall net tonnage of 1.17 billion, compared to 18,880 vessels with a tonnage of 1.21 billion in 2019.

He said the achieved revenues reflect the flexibility of the SCA in dealing with the coronavirus crisis, unlike other crises such as the collapse of oil prices in 2016, where revenues fell to $5 billion, and the global sovereign debt crisis in 2009, which pushed revenues down to $4.29 billion.

Rabie said that the flexible marketing and pricing policies adopted by the authority in 2020 attracted several shipping companies that had not passed through the canal before, without providing further details.

Egypt had stressed in early 2020 that traffic through its vital shipping route had not been affected by the coronavirus pandemic and that shipping was proceeding at normal rates.

The canal, which is the fastest shipping route between Europe and Asia, is one of Egypt's main sources of foreign currency.

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Johannesburg, Jan 3 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 4th Jan, 2021 ) :South Africa, which has been hard hit by a second wave of coronavirus cases, hopes to obtain its first vaccine doses next month, the health minister announced Sunday.

In recent weeks the South African government has come in for criticism, particularly from health experts, over the delay in starting a programme of inoculation against Covid-19.

"We are targeting February," Dr Zweli Mkhize told a news conference, while cautioning that before that can happen negotiations must be concluded with vaccine makers including Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca, as well as with Russian and Chinese laboratories.

To finance its vaccine programme, the administration plans to seek help from the private sector as well as from the country's main health insurers.

South Africa is also participating in Covax, the World Health Organisation's mechanism for global vaccine distribution.

Last week the government paid a deposit of 15.

8 million Euros to enter Covax, the mechanism for the equitable distribution of vaccines established by the UN World Health Organisation.

But South Africa, by far the worst-hit country in the African continent, does not expect to receive the first vaccine doses under that programme until the second quarter of the year.

"It is clear that the second wave that we are going through is affecting us to levels which are even higher than in the earlier stage," the minister said "The only way to deal with the Covid-19 not only in South Africa but throughout the world is the provision of the immunity through the vaccination," Mkhize added, The country's first main goal is to vaccinate 67 percent of its population of 59 million people, in order to achieve sufficient collective immunity to staunch the spread of the virus.

On Thursday South Africa registered a record 18,000 new cases in 24 hours.

It is also the first African nation to top 1 million registered Covid-19 cases.
WASHINGTON - South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York live more than 1,500 miles apart and inhabit entirely different political orbits, but they share a similar space in the minds of ideological warriors who want to upend a pair of titans in the Senate.

Conservative and liberal activists are pushing the Republican Noem, 49, and the Democratic Ocasio-Cortez, 31, to challenge, respectively, Republican Sens. John Thune and Democrat Chuck Schumer in their state's 2022 primaries.

How Thune, the No. 2 Republican in leadership, and Schumer, the Democratic leader, respond to their standing as high-profile primary targets could reveal a lot about the state of their political parties and whether there is any hope for bipartisan compromise in the Senate.

Of the 34 Senate seats up for grabs in two years, just three incumbents hail from states that voted for a president of the opposing party, including Republican Sen. Kelly Loeffler, who first has to win Tuesday's runoff election in Georgia to be on the ballot again in two years. That means the most competitive portion of the lion's share of these races could come in primaries.

Liberals have had recent success with primary challenges in House races, but have struggled to match it statewide in Senate races, which has had some pining for Ocasio-Cortez to challenge Schumer since her upset victory in the 2018 primary.

Republicans could be in for a replay of the brutal primaries they faced in the Senate in 2010 and 2012, particularly as President Donald Trump heads for the exits with vows to promote primary challenges to GOP incumbents.

In particular, Trump has turned Wednesday's protest votes in the House and Senate over the final certification of President-elect Joe Biden's victory into something of a loyalty test. And Thune, usually mild-mannered, has emerged as the most outspoken critic of Trump's congressional allies for forcing votes on what is normally a perfunctory reading of the actual electoral college results.

"The thing they've got to remember is, it's just not going anywhere. It's going down like a shot dog," Thune told reporters Dec. 21, a comment that went viral and prompted Trump the very next day to promote a primary challenge to the incumbent.

Despite Noem's public declaration that she will run for reelection as governor, Trump used a New Year's Day tweet to formally kick off the Noem speculation.

"I hope to see the great Governor of South Dakota @KristiNoem, run against RINO @SenJohnThune, in the upcoming 2022 Primary. She would do a fantastic job in the U.S. Senate, but if not Kristi, others are already lining up," Trump tweeted.

There's little love lost among the Hill's top leaders. Can Biden get them to work together?

Thune and Schumer have taken different approaches to their internal party critics, with the Republican mocking the outgoing president.

"Finally, an attack tweet! What took him so long? It's fine, that's the way he communicates," Thune told reporters in the Capitol on Friday.

He said that he has made no effort to patch things up with Trump. "I'm not sure that anything changes his mind once he makes it up," he said.

Schumer has not publicly poked at liberals, who have long thought the Brooklynite was too close to Wall Street. "Look, throughout my career, I do the job for my constituents and for my country and it always works out," Schumer recently told Politico, a refrain he uses whenever his own 2022 race is mentioned.

He has taken several not-so-subtle steps to try to neutralize his critics and his potential opponents. The day after the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Schumer appeared with Ocasio-Cortez at a Sept. 19 news conference.

On Dec. 7 he held a Manhattan news conference to announce his support for a top liberal cause, canceling college loan debt. And he appeared there with three incoming House members who won their primaries with anti-establishment support, including Democrat Jamaal Bowman, who defeated Schumer's friend, 32-year incumbent Eliot Engel, in the primary.

And on Dec. 22, after Trump declared he wanted $2,000 stimulus checks sent to most adults, Schumer jumped on Twitter to throw his support behind Ocasio-Cortez's legislation calling for just that amount.

Thune and Schumer entered the Senate as giant slayers themselves. In 2004, when South Dakota's three members of Congress were all Democrats, Thune defeated then-Democratic Minority Leader Tom Daschle, becoming the first challenger to defeat a party leader in more than 50 years.

By 2010 Thune did not face an opponent in his reelection, and for the past six years the state's delegation has been entirely Republican. He has more than $13 million sitting in his campaign account.

Schumer defeated a three-term incumbent, Al D'Amato, in 1998, knocking off the Banking Committee chairman and claiming a seat Republicans had held for 42 years. New York Democrats have won every Senate race since and lost just one governor's race - Republican George Pataki's reelection in 2002.

Schumer won his 2016 race with almost 71%, about the same margin as Thune. He has more than $10 million leftover in his campaign account to start the 2022 campaign.

That prowess makes a primary challenge to Thune and Schumer both daunting and attractive, particularly since Democratic primary voters in New York have grown more liberal the same way South Dakota's GOP voters have grown more conservative.

Noem called Thune "a friend of mine" when she proclaimed she would not challenge him, but that won't matter to Trump and his closest allies. They will likely spend the next 15 months stoking her as a potential challenger, until the candidate filing deadline in the spring.

And the South Dakota governor is almost unrecognizable to anyone who followed her four terms in the House. She landed in the Capitol in 2011 with a tea party following and a national media that was ready to anoint her the next Sarah Palin, a young conservative woman.

Instead, Noem recoiled from the spotlight and spent eight years maintaining a low profile, a very reliable vote for establishment-friendly GOP speakers.

Most interpreted her 2018 run for governor as an attempt to get further away from national attention, but this year, after some Trump advisers grew close to her, she embraced the president's anti-mask approach to battling the pandemic even as her state's death toll soared. She's now a regular on cable news shows, travels the nation to campaign for other Republicans and, if Trump doesn't run for president in 2024, some view Noem as a potential top-tier candidate for the GOP nomination.

Ocasio-Cortez took the opposite approach to Noem upon arriving in the Capitol two years ago, embracing the limelight and immediately becoming an ideological flamethrower.

And she has declared that it's time to replace Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. "I do think that we need new leadership in the Democratic Party," she told the Intercept in a December interview.

For now, Schumer will continue with his aggressive approach to hitting all 62 counties in New York, reminding them of how much largesse he brings home.

And Thune will hope that once Trump is no longer president his tweets will fade from relevance. As he put it back in June, after Trump stoked racial division during protests, Thune told reporters that the president has "his moments" of presidential behavior.

"As you know, it lasts generally as long as the next tweet," he added.
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Lynn Bartels thinks politics is like sports but without the big salaries and protective cups. The Washington Post's "The Fix" blog named her one of Colorado's best political reporters and tweeters. Bartels, a South Dakota native, graduated from Cottey College in 1977 and Northern Arizona University in 1980 and then moved to New Mexico for her first journalism job. The Rocky Mountain News hired her in 1993 as its night cops reporter and in 2000 assigned her to her first legislative session. The Gold Dome hasn't been the same since. In 2009, The Denver Post hired Bartels after the Rocky closed, just shy of its 150th birthday. Bartels left journalism in 2015 to join then Secretary of State Wayne Williams's staff. She has now returned to journalism - at least part-time - and writes a regular political column for Colorado Politics.
Hospitals are under extreme pressure due to a surge in Covid-19 cases in Ireland, medics have warned.

Progress made on keeping case numbers down seems to be completely undone, the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) said.

The union sounded an alarm about a major increase in the number of patients combined with high levels of staff on Covid-19 leave or self-isolating.

Staff are far more experienced than they were at the start of this pandemic, but the sheer numbers are difficult to cope with INMO

INMO general secretary Phil Ni Sheaghdha said: What we are hearing from members across the country this weekend is deeply disturbing.

The progress we made on keeping case numbers down seems to be completely undone.

She said the pandemic was creating more patients while depleting staffing.

Its a vicious combination. Staff are far more experienced than they were at the start of this pandemic, but the sheer numbers are difficult to cope with.

The number of people in hospital with Covid-19 has more than doubled from this day last week, as has the number in intensive care units, official tallies showed.

Another seven deaths have been recorded, the Department of Health said on Sunday.

We are seeing a really significant surge in infection, which is leading to a very rapid increase in both hospitalisations and admissions to critical care units Dr Tony Holohan

The health system has been notified of 4,962 confirmed cases.

Chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan said: This is a critical time.

We are seeing a really significant surge in infection, which is leading to a very rapid increase in both hospitalisations and admissions to critical care units.

This is not only unsustainable for the healthcare system, but also a deeply concerning level of preventable sickness and suffering that we must work together to address as quickly as possible.

Frontline medics are running three services in parallel  a Covid health service, a non-Covid health service and a mass vaccination scheme, the union added.

"Everyone needs to stay at home other than for essential work or care.a@CMOIreland #StayHome  Department of Health (@roinnslainte) January 1, 2021

It said this can only work if pressure on hospitals is eased.

Ms Ni Sheaghdha added: On behalf of Irelands nurses and midwives, the INMO is asking that the public stay home and strictly follow public health advice.

The vaccine is being rolled out  we simply need to keep cases down.

We need all hands on deck here.

Older people and people with medical conditions are strongly advised not to leave home at the moment.

Each local authority has a Community Call helpline that can help with deliveries or other practical supports.https://t.co/lb3NSgXO4d #StayHome #Covid19Ireland pic.twitter.com/teobhHervG  Local Authorities Ireland (@LAsIreland) January 3, 2021

The Government and HSE must focus on supporting the exhausted frontline healthcare workers.

This means taking on additional capacity in the private sector and ensuring the childcare needs of frontline workers are taken into account.

Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan said the Government had given clear directions to the Department of Health and HSE that all non-essential medical electives or outpatient services be put on hold to ensure enough beds remain available for people with the virus.

He said around 1,500 beds, which became available over the Christmas period, should be kept free.

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Mr Ryan told Newstalks On the Record with Gavan Reilly show: What weve said to the hospitals and the health system is to keep them free, dont fill them up again with procedures that could be put back for a later date because we could see we were facing into a real difficulty with this surge in numbers.

Leo Varadkar said further restrictions had not been ruled out.

On RTEs This Week, the Tanaiste said there is a strong case to say that the current restrictions should be left in place until those most at risk have been vaccinated, even into February.

With Covid case numbers rising rapidly, itas more important than ever that each and every one of us does what is being asked of us.



Stay home and strictly limit social contacts.



We must do everything we can to protect the most vulnerable and those on the frontline.  MicheAl Martin (@MichealMartinTD) January 3, 2021

He said additional restrictions cannot be ruled out but current measures were only introduced on December 30 and must be given time to work.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin said: With Covid case numbers rising rapidly, its more important than ever that each and every one of us does what is being asked of us.

Stay home and strictly limit social contacts.

We must do everything we can to protect the most vulnerable and those on the frontline.

Download the Belfast Telegraph App Get quick and easy access to the latest Northern Ireland news, sport, business and opinion with the Belfast Telegraph App.

PA
1. Yes. The public must have assurances that ethical standards are met by everyone.

2. Yes. As long as an independent board hears the grievances, its a worthwhile idea.

3. No. The concept is too broad. It should be limited to the citys elected officials.

4. No. There are plenty of stipulations in place already. An ordinance is a waste of time.

5. Unsure. Its hard to say without seeing how it would be structured and applied.

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Growing up in Tallaght, Dublin, in the 1980s, Eric Mosley developed an ambition which he didn't fully understand; to become a businessman.

The CEO and co-founder of Workhuman, which last year became a 'unicorn' - a company which achieves a $1bn valuation - says he's driven by a desire to build a better life for himself.

"People ask me whether I always wanted to start a company and it is true, from a very early age I wanted to be a businessman," he says. "I didn't necessarily know what that was. But I used to scrutinise the adverts on TV to look for the hidden strategies that they would have to gain market share. I wouldn't have used any of those words, but that's what I was doing."

Mosley's parents separated when he was young, and times were tough. "We went through a few years where there was very little money, it was a difficult few years. And it was a few years of watching my mother struggle with not being able to make ends meet.

"People always say 'Well, we were poor but we never knew it'. But I knew it, I definitely knew it. And I knew that this wasn't the optimum way to live your life."

As a result, he become 'obsessed' with finding financial independence.

With Workhuman achieving unicorn status last year when Intermediate Capital Group (ICG) bought a 10pc stake for $120m (99m), Mosley has more than fulfilled his childhood ambitions.

Not everyone back home knew just to what extent he had succeeded until the company's $1.2bn (980m) valuation hit the headlines last June.

"Because we invest 95pc of our sales and marketing in budgets in the US, we really did not build our profile in Ireland," he says. "Even though we would probably be one of the most successful Irish technology companies and have all of our development in Dublin."

The investment was also a chance for some of the company's early backers to cash out.

"We had a whole range of individuals who invested in the company back in the year 2000. And these angel investors, they'd been very patient, to say the least."

While they were not yet ready to list the company, there was an appetite to create an exit for these shareholders.

"We decided we would basically test the market and bring in a new investor who could provide all of those angels an exit if they didn't want to wait for a public offering. And it was fantastic. Some of them earned 100 times their money."

Mosley continues to have significant ambitions for the HR technology firm which focuses on thanking staff for their work, and is sometimes described as a movement in the US.

The company now employs 700 people, and although Mosley himself moved to Boston in the US in 2005, 400 of these workers are in Ireland. The company is planning to increase its Irish workforce to around 800 by 2023.

Mosley attended Tallaght Community School and says few in his class went on to college.

Although he attended Kevin Street DIT and received an electronic engineering degree, he didn't always find studying easy.

"I failed my Leaving Cert the first time - I just wasn't a good student. I didn't have the aptitude, my head was in the clouds. It was very difficult for me to focus on something like the Leaving Cert, so I didn't do well and I had to repeat.

"From there I went on to college and I struggled in the first year, it was a miracle I got into the second year. But by then I was 20 and that little bit of maturity helped me overcome those deficiencies. From then on, I was a good student. Up until then, it was traumatic to get from one year to the next."

He says his qualification helped him develop much needed skills.

"Engineering makes you think logically and forensically, which is very important for structuring a business for efficiency. I would have said I had an artist's heart in that I was interested in the arts and in music. And then going into software and engineering gave me a logical structure. So, I ended up having the best of both worlds."

Mosley spent four years working as a software engineer but was always looking for a business idea.

In 1999, he and a business contact, Eddie Reynolds, set up an international gift service, Globogift. The inspiration came from Irish people's need to send gifts to people all over the world.

Mosley travelled to more than 50 countries over a two-year period. "It was like an MBA, going to negotiate and present, trying to sell the concept to suppliers and department stores all over the world."

Mosley said it took a leap of faith to leave his job and start a business. There were many difficult days.

"There's an awful lot of negativity when you're in an early-stage business. It's really like a conveyor belt of negativity with the odd piece of positivity every once in a while, it really is."

For every yes the company got, there were many more nos.

"I would say even in the first few years there was some really dark times, times when you would think that it is overwhelmingly bleak, that it's not going to work at all."

But the good news did come.

Mosley realised that corporate customers were using the business to run their recognition and incentive programmes. A sale to a single corporate customer could result in thousands of vouchers being sold in one transaction.

In Ireland they won customers such as Citigroup and Boston Scientific. "These were American companies, but it was really only business in their Dublin offices that we won."

However, getting these global names on board opened doors in the US and the company was renamed as Globoforce to reflect its shifting focus.

Mosley and his family moved to the US in 2005, which was a very big decision.

"I wouldn't say I was up for it," he says, laughing. "We took on venture capital investment from Benchmark Capital and from Atlas Ventures. I wouldn't say there was an ultimatum that I had to move to the US, but there was an ultimatum that I had to move to the US. It just wasn't said out loud."

However, looking back, Mosley says it was the right decision, giving him more first-hand insights into the company's main market.

The business again evolved as Mosley and his colleagues identified a new niche.

"What popped into the foreground was this software as a service, a web-based product suite to manage recognition, social recognition programmes."

Rewarding staff with gift certificates or travel faded into that background.

"What came much more into the foreground was pure web-based products to manage the giving and receiving of these recognition moments, these thank you moments."

They won contracts with some high-profile Silicon Valley software companies, such as Intuit and Cisco. "We were able to see what really was the vanguard of HR departments and what they did with this capability."

The company also launched a conference aimed at HR people who wanted to reward workers and show appreciation and that was where the Workhuman concept was born. The company was renamed in 2019.

The idea of valuing employees and thanking them regularly might seem alien to some traditional businesses. But Mosley says the workplace is rapidly evolving.

"The world of management has changed over the years. If you go back 10 or 20 years, it was very much a commanding, control concept. Managers commanded you to do certain things and controlled what you did. Now it's moved very much to an inspire paradigm of management. You're trying to inspire your employees to do the best work of their lives.

"And if you can inspire them to do the best work of their lives, they will be happier, they'll be more creative, obviously the output will be better, productivity will be better, and then loyalty and retention will be better."

Of course, Workhuman's products can also provide useful data to employers.

"Most of our customers over the last couple of years now look at us as a performance data company about what's going on in their company. And that's amazingly insightful. We've doubled down on that and we've basically hired and created a whole set of data scientists who now work on that data to capture insights about the company. Those insights could be about anything like who's doing the most work or who's the most influential in a company. But also things like diversity and inclusion."

Mosley wants to expand the company's client base and believes smaller employers can benefit.

"Up until about two or three years ago, they were 100pc large companies. But now we're starting to expand downmarket into midsize companies, and we'll do more and more going forward with SMBs."

The company's revenues were $700m (572m)in 2019 and are heading for $1bn (820m) over the next two years. It had double digit growth in 2020.

Mosley believes Workhuman can be an 'iconic' company and that the desire to appreciate and recognise workers is here to stay.

"You know, real people in the workplace really care about their people," he says. "And we are right in the middle of that."
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Four protesters, three of them farmers, who were camping at Delhis borders to demand a repeal of three contentious farm laws passed by the Parliament in September last year, have died in the last 24 hours, police said.

Police records showed that a total of nine people, including Sikh saint Baba Ram Singh, have died at the Kundli-Singhu border, while 10 have died at Tikri border so far. Farmer leaders, on the other hand, said 46 farmers had sacrificed their lives across all of Delhis border points.

As per records, 18-year-old Jashanpreet Singh of Punjab died of heart attack and Jagbir Singh, 65, of Jind died due to biting cold on Saturday night at Tikri border. At Kundli-Singhu border, Kulbir Singh, 52, a resident of Gangana village in Sonepat was found dead on Sunday in a tent and Shamsher Singh, 45, a resident of Sangrur also died at civil hospital in Sonepat, after his health deteriorated.

Shamsher of Lidhran village is survived by wife, two young sons and a daughter. Village sarpanch Jaspal Singh said Shamsher went to the border 4-5 days ago to join farmers protest against three agriculture laws.

Family members of Jashanpreet Singh said he left with a group of 30 residents of Chauke village from Bathinda on Saturday morning to participate in the ongoing farmer agitation. He collapsed while walking with his friends. Jashanpreet was studying in Class 12 at a private school in Chauke village. He was the only son of his parents.

Rohtaks PGIMS spokesman Dr Gajender Singh said Jashanpreet was referred to the institute from Bahadurgarh civil hospital on Saturday night after he suffered a heart attack. After reaching here, he passed away. Another farmer, Jagbir Singh, who suffered a cold stroke, died here on Saturday night. We have conducted their post-mortem examinations and handed over their bodies to their family members, he added.

Shamsher Singh, investigating officer of Kundli police station, said the protesting farmers had spotted the body of Kulbir Singh at a tent near the protesting here on Sunday morning.

The farmers said he had complained of body pain and gone to bed on Saturday night after eating langar. After receiving news of his demise, his co-villager Yudhishthira suffered heart attack and was rushed to civil hospital in Sonepat, from where he was referred to a private hospital, where his condition is stated to be critical. Another farmer, Shamsher Singh from Sangrur in Punjab, also suffered a heart attack and died during treatment at Civil hospital here. He had joined the stir five days ago, according to farmers. We have handed over the bodies to their family members after conducting autopsies, he added.

Singh said nine people, including Sikh saint Baba Ram Singh have died at Kundli-Singhu border so far, most due to heart attack or the cold.

Inderjit Singh, vice-president of Akhil Bhartiya Kisan Sabha 46, said farmers had sacrificed their lives in the ongoing agitation.

These people are those who died either on borders or on their way to the stir, he added.

District vice-president of Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ekta-Ugrahan) Motu Singh Kotra said Jashanpreets family was active members of the association and he had been participating in the agitations against the central laws in Punjab.
Ben Hoffman and Alex Foster

Hoffman, MD, is a professor of pediatrics at OHSU. Foster, MD, MPH is the director of the MD/MPH program at the OHSU-PSU School of Public Health and assistant professor of pediatrics.

COVID-19 has blown up what we took for granted as normal. Everything that was part of our routine has had to change, and change is never easy.

As pediatricians, we have dedicated ourselves to ensuring the health and well-being of children and adolescents. One immutable truth about kids is that they are incredibly resilient by nature. They possess immense capacity to adapt. Another is that kids need to learn, to have experiences that allows their brains to develop and grow in the right way. We know what it takes to build kids right, and that includes in-person school.

School attendance is much more than just classroom learning for many kids. School is where crucial therapies happen for kids with special needs, where hungry kids get food, where sedentary kids get exercise, where kids get support and nurturing from caring, committed adults and where kids learn the social and emotional skills that will prepare them to be competent adults. While it is possible for a resilient kid to adapt to learning remotely, many children may not. And even if they can, remote learning cannot serve the needs of the most vulnerable children.

The issue of whether to return to in-person school has become a massive, intensely charged debate. Thankfully, last month, Gov. Kate Brown moved the discussion forward by easing restrictions on schools and identifying teachers and school personnel as priority recipients of COVID vaccines. This was the right decision for kids, and we must continue to prioritize them. Kids do not have power like other stakeholders and consequently, their voice can be lost or even unheard.

As pediatricians we hear them, because we know them. We know the child who can only participate in remote classes from the parking lot of the school, because their home does not have high speed internet. We know the child living with autism and ADHD who simply cannot engage with a computer screen. We know the child who is not getting needed mental health services and has attempted suicide.

Communities of color have been hit disproportionately hard by COVID, at least in part because they make up a larger portion of our front line and essential workforce. They have been impacted to a greater degree by school closure, and we run a significant risk of widening racial disparities in educational outcomes as schools stay closed. As we move forward, we must recognize the disproportionate impact COVID-19 and remote learning have had on our communities farthest from opportunity and ensure that we take a trauma-informed approach to safely getting kids back into the classroom.

Returning Oregons kids to in-person school can be done in a way that minimizes the risks to them and to school staff. A growing body of scientific evidence, including data from New York state and Mississippi, strongly suggests that schools are not COVID super-spreaders. Rather, gathering with people outside of their household, close contact with COVID positive people, and not using masks in school remain risk factors. The New York state data shows that infection rates of school staff were a function of infection rates in the broader community and that kids and teachers attending in-person school were not increasing community rates.

We have learned much about how to protect kids and school staff using multiple layers of protection. Teachers and staff must continue to be prioritized for receiving vaccine. Masks, physical distancing, and robust cleaning protocols must be instituted. Protocols for ensuring that any student or staff with COVID symptoms or exposure can be identified and quarantined will be essential.

We cannot just open schools tomorrow and pick up where we left off like nothing happened. We can, however, follow the governors lead by putting the best interests of kids first. That conversation must acknowledge that what we are doing is not working for many of Oregons kids and establish the urgency to change.

A successful blueprint must prioritize the highest need children and teens, those most impacted and most vulnerable. It must be grounded in principles of equity and anti-racism and be built upon trust and honesty. It must include voices of educators, parents, and community leaders, whose voices must be heard and honored. It must address fear and bias in an authentic way and incorporate all we have learned in the last year much of it the hard way.

The COVID pandemic has required us all to change so many things. The change to remote learning was tremendously difficult and changing back may be even harder. But kids need to be in school. We need to start with those kids who have lost the most and are most at risk. We need to put kids front and center and ensure we can protect school staff as well as students and families. Its not about us, or the economy. Its about kids and about their future which is ultimately all of our futures.

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FacebookBy MEREDITH DELISO, ABC News



(COLUMBUS, Ohio) -- The Columbus, Ohio, police union is asking for more medical training and equipment following the death of Andre Hill, a Black man who was shot and killed by a police officer last month.



Newly-released body-camera footage appears to show responding officers handcuffed Hill before rendering any first aid.



Adam Coy, the officer who shot Hill, was fired by the city earlier this week after an investigation determined that his use of deadly force was not reasonable.



The Columbus Division of Police is currently investigating the actions of the other officers who responded to the scene.



Following the release of the footage, the city's police union is pushing for more training and tools to render aid.



"I don't think, maybe, perhaps we didn't realize until the tragic death of Mr. Hill that we didn't have the appropriate training or the appropriate equipment to properly render aid," Brian Steel, vice president of the Fraternal Order of Police Capital City Lodge #9, told ABC Columbus affiliate WSYX-TV in an interview posted Friday.



Steel told the station the current equipment in police cruisers is "very minimal." The union is asking the division and city to fund basic and advanced life-support training and trauma kits that include dressings and tourniquets.



"We understand, this is going to cost money, this is going to cost training. It's too important of an issue not to take seriously," he told the station.



"We believe rendering aid is an important thing. The public clearly demands it, and we are going to answer that," he added. "We're going to try to maybe come up with some solutions to some of these problems."



According to WSYX, Police Chief Thomas Quinn has called for a review of what first-aid equipment should be added to cruisers and the estimated cost for the supplies.



The chief also ordered last week that officers must render aid immediately, according to WSYX. The Columbus Police Training Academy also has been directed to develop a mandatory course for officers on how to apply aid and avoid causing greater harm, according to the station.



Hill was shot after officers were dispatched to a "non-emergency" disturbance call on Dec. 22. Coy's partner, Officer Amy Detweiler, told investigators she heard Coy scream Hill had a gun, though no weapon was found.



On Thursday, the police division released body-camera footage from several officers on the scene. According to Ben Crump, the lawyer for Hill's family, officers left Hill in handcuffs for 13 minutes without providing any first aid help.



Quinn called the footage "horrifying."



"There were many other officers who responded to the scene. None of them used deadly force. But as seen in these videos, few of them rendered first aid to Mr. Hill as they waited for a medic," Quinn said in a video statement. "We are investigating to get to the bottom of who upheld the policies and standards of the Columbus Division of Police, and who did not."



Hill's family is calling on prosecutors to criminally charge Coy in Hill's death.



"How there's 22 officers on the scene and with body-camera footage and not one of them helped my dad. But instead, the first time they touch him is to put handcuffs on," Hill's daughter, Karissa Hill, said during a press briefing Thursday.



A public memorial service for Hill is scheduled for Tuesday, Crump said.



ABC News' Bill Hutchinson and Sabina Ghebremedhin contributed to this report.

Copyright  2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
What is being called the Largest protest in Human history enters Day 39 today. Amidst heavy rain and biting cold the farmers continue to protest at Singhu and Tikri borders in a colossal number.

The three Farm Bills passed by the Centre Government last year in lockdown have been a topic of debate and contention across the country. The bills have witnessed vehement protests not only nationally but from abroad as well. What is being called the Largest protest in Human history enters Day 39 today. Amidst heavy rain and biting cold the farmers continue to protest at Singhu and Tikri borders in a colossal number.

Addressing the media, Kisan Morcha Sangathan claimed that in the talks with Centre they proved that the laws are not helping farmers and that the Govt.s promise about 1 nation, 1 market is false. The leader of the Sangathan said that the agriculture being number 14 on the list is a state matter these laws should be under state and not the Centre.

Adding to that the Sangathan said, The government wants corporatization of agriculture and we wont let that happen, we will continue to protest until the laws are not taken back. We were peaceful, we are peaceful and we will be peaceful. Supreme Court hearing on the three Farm Laws passed by the Centre is also scheduled for 5th January. If the talks fail and the Supreme Courts decision is not in the farmers favor, a tractor march will be held from Singhu Border by the farmer organizations.

Also Read: Indias 1st Covid-19 vaccines LIVE Update: PM Modi congratulates nation; DGCI gives nod to Covishield and Covaxin for emergency use

Also Read: Farmers vs Centre continues: Next meet on Jan 4, unions to up the ante if deadlock continues

The farmers have announced that they will intensify the protest across the country and will hold Tractor Kisaan Parade in state and district headquarters on 26th January to pressurize the ruling party
Poor communication from the Victorian Health Department has left several Melbourne venue owners frustrated and concerned after coronavirus cases were connected with their premises.

One bar owner in Melbourne's south-east said on Sunday afternoon he had yet to hear from the department and had closed his venue after a staff member tested positive.

John Tei, owner of Grape & Grain bar in Moorabbin, said a staff member informed him on Friday that his partner and partner's father had dined at the Smile Buffalo Thai restaurant in Black Rock on December 21 and had since tested positive for COVID-19.

Smile Buffalo Thai restaurant on Beach Road, Black Rock, which is linked to a COVID-19 cluster. Credit:Penny Stephens

The staff member told his employer he had therefore been informed by the Health Department that he was a close contact.
US: 1,100 pounds of methamphetamine found in watermelons

Tesla owners will be paid $ 16,000 each due to slow charging

Advisor to Armenia Prosecutor General provides details about incident with Armenian soldier killed in Verin Shorzha

Banksy's painting of punk Lenin sold at auction in Hong Kong for $ 960,000

CSTO Deputy Secretary-General: Escalation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border requires undertaking of urgent measures

Catholicos of All Armenians receives newly appointed Ambassador of Japan

Australia closing its embassy in Kabul for security reasons

Biden to discuss issues related to Belarus and Ukraine with Putin

Armenian acting FM meets with ambassadors of CSTO member states accredited to Armenia

Armenia Ombudsman presents human rights protection in post-war period to CoE Programmes Directorate General

Germany is investigating Google's position in market

France: Sanctions against Belarus will continue

Armenia opposition party MP: Azerbaijan is a terrorist state, negotiations can't be led with such a country

US to reopen its Consulate General in Jerusalem

EU expects to receive over 1 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccine by end of September

Armenian MFA strongly condemns Azerbaijan's blatant armed encroachment on Armenia's sovereign territory

UN still awaits strong evidence that Dubai ruler's daughter is alive

Opposition Bright Armenia Party urges Government to immediately address UN Security Council

Armen Sarkissian receives Russia Ambassador to Armenia

Armenia President, France Ambassador discuss situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border

Overchuk: We hope unblocking of links between Armenia and Azerbaijan is a success

Armenia police officer commits suicide, criminal case launched

Armenia Environmental Protection and Mining Inspection Body has new deputy heads

Zarif, Aliyev discuss railway routes connecting Iran, Azerbaijan and Armenia

EU leaders agree to donate at least 100 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine to poor countries

Armenian serviceman Mher Hovhannisyan fires gunshot at his head, criminal case launched

Soldier who died in Armenia's Verin Shorzha was son of ARF-D member, father of 2

Blinken promises to continue close consultations with Israel on Iran

Armen Sarkissian: Armenia's relevant state institutions need to take the tightest measures

Armenian soldier commits suicide, opposition speaks on tense situation on border, 25.05.21 digest

Yerevan man's body found at Tatul Krpeyan Park

Armenia MOD: Reports about Armenian soldiers being injured in Sisian section of border not confirmed

EU summit calls for rarly implementation of vaccination certificates

Parliament of the Netherlands adopts resolution, EU must demand that Azerbaijan pull out troops from Armenia

Kremlin: Russian and US presidents to meet in Geneva on June 16

Spokesperson of community council of Armenia's Sisian: Men got enlisted and climbed to military posts

Bright Armenia Party: We are not satisfied with CSTO response

EU leaders urge council to review internal border guidelines by mid-June

Armenia MOD: Fixed-term serviceman receives lethal firearm injury in head area

Dollar still stable in Armenia

Armenian Catholic Catholicos-Patriarch passes away

Kathimerini: US seeks to increase military presence in Greece due to doubts about Turkey's reliability

US Congress members call on Biden to suspend all military assistance to Azerbaijan

Armenia acting economy minister receives Montenegro's newly appointed Ambassador

Armenia MOD: Soldier killed during shootings from Azerbaijani side in Verin Shorzha

Russian MP: Azerbaijani leadership interested in Armenia acting PM's victory in snap elections

Armenia MOD reports shooting from Azerbaijani side in Verin Shorzha border section

Armenia opposition MP: Authorities promised to separate business from politics, but they're failing to fulfill promise

There will be post-election processes if authorities try to rig voting, says Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan

CNN: Putin and Biden will meet on June 15-16 in Geneva

Latin America has the highest poverty rate in 20 years

Ex-President Kocharyan on Armenia applying to CSTO: No one will help you if you do nothing to solve your problems

Armenia ruling Civil Contract Party presents list of first 10 candidates ahead of snap parliamentary elections

Armenia acting justice minister discusses broad range of cooperation issues with top CoE official

Armenia former President Kocharyan: This guilt, this criminal article is on these authorities

Man survives after spending 17 days in desert

Azerbaijan continues course towards systematic extermination of Armenian heritage in Shushi

Armenia Syunik Province ex-governor: Azerbaijani soldiers advanced along length of border two days ago

Newly appointed Ambassador of Montenegro presents Letters of Credence to Armenia President

Its about bringing Karabakh issue back to right to self-determination, says Armenia ex-President Kocharyan

Iran FM to arrive in Armenia

Ara Aivazian and Austrian counterpart hold phone talks, focus on Azeri army's infiltration into Armenia's territory

Kocharyan: Elect todays political team if you are ready to live squatting

Jean-Michel Basquiat's painting sold at auction in Hong Kong for $ 30 million

2nd President Kocharyan on Armenia Security Council chief: Do you take that person seriously?

"Key" to settlement of Karabakh conflict cant be in one place, says Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan

Texas may permit carrying of pistols without special permission

Ex-President Kocharyan on Armenia acting PM Pashinyan's high popularity rating: We will wear it down to the root

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Election bloc format must be workable in some logical sense

Attorney: Political persecution against Robert Kocharyan is becoming more noticeable during election campaign

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: We must do everything so that our domestic politics is not dictated by Azerbaijan

Armenian acting defense minister meets Russian peacekeeping mission chief

Congress predicts US nuclear spending to reach $ 634 billion by 2030

Russian MP: The effectiveness of military cooperation with Armenia depends on Yerevan as well

Delimitation now may create some problems in Karabakh negotiation process, says Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan on relations with 3rd President Sargsyan: We go our own way they go their own

Judge adjourns hearing over case of Armenia 2nd President and ex-Deputy PM for 3 weeks

Court hearing over case of Armenia 2nd President and ex-Deputy PM

2nd President Kocharyan: Armenia must show that it will not be subjected to such pressures

Kocharyan: You may find yourself in stupid situations if you come to negotiations without any baggage

Armenia Investigative Committee: Criminal case opened into soldiers death

157 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

EU helps UN World Food Programme provide humanitarian assistance for conflict-affected people in Armenia

Yerevan municipal council convenes regular session

Armenia legislature speaker on situation at Syunik Province: CSTO still has procedures

Blinken arrives on his first official visit to Israel

World oil prices going up

Provincial hall issues statement on Tavush section of Armenia border with Azerbaijan

MFA statement: Azerbaijan continues to use Armenian POWs as political hostages

Newspaper: There are last-minute changes on Armenia ruling party electoral list

Armenia parliament starts regular sessions

Newspaper: Armenia 3rd President Sargsyan intensively engaged in election campaign

EU leaders call for ban on Belarus airlines flights to their countries

Quake hits Georgia, also felt in Armenia

2nd President Kocharyan: Process of obtaining Armenia citizenship shall be simplified, shall take only few months

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Appointments in army were not based on knowledge but on loyalty

Robert Kocharyan: Armenia must not go back to the past and stay there, just like the incumbent authorities did

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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 3) Two people were found dead after a passenger bus caught fire along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City, the Bureau of Fire Protection reported on Sunday.

Authorities told CNN Philippines that the two fatalities were a female conductor and a male passenger.

In its initial report, the BFP said the bus caught fire while traversing the southbound lane, across Pearl Drive in Greater Fairview sometime past noon. Authorities declared a fire out at 1:20 p.m.

In a Facebook post by Barangay North Fairview, it reported that most passengers had to jump out of the window of the vehicle to escape the fire, but some were trapped inside.

Speaking to CNN Philippines, one of the bus passengers said both the conductor and the passenger had an argument before things escalated.

"Nagsasapakan sila, nagkakabangayan. Sinabi kasi nung lalaki, 'Anong sabi mo? Anong sabi mo?' Sabi niya dun sa kunduktora na kaaway niya... Biglang naglabas yung lalaki, na meron siyang dalang (bote) ang laman niya gas... Unti-unti niyang binubuhos dun sa babae, yung kunduktora na kaaway niya...kinakalat niya dun sa kaaway niya," she said

[Translation: They were hitting each other, and exchanging words. The man was telling the conductor, 'What did you say? What did you say?'... He then took out a bottle containing gasoline...And he slowly started pouring it over the female conductor.]

She said the fight continued until both reached the front of the bus, upon which the male passenger took out a lighter and set the female conductor on fire.

"Nung nakarating sila sa harap, biglang dumukot 'yung lalaki...dumukot siya ng lighter, sinilaban niya 'yung babae," she said.

[Translation: When they reached the front of the bus, the man took out a lighter and set fire to the woman.]

The passenger then poured the remaining liquid on himself, before setting himself on fire as well.

CNN Philippines is still verifying information on the identities of the victims and other details of the incident. Investigation is still ongoing.
Counties are responsible for about a quarter of the cost of these facilities, which serve youth given longer sentences. The burgeoning costs are mostly attributed to low occupancy rates, amid dramatic drops in youth crime over decades.

The portion counties have contributed to the cost of juvenile lockups was burdensome well before the coronavirus pandemic decimated local budgets. In Wyoming County, next-door to Erie, social services Commissioner Kimberley Barber noted in her 2020 budget narrative that the county had two youth in limited-secure facilities  part of the network of state youth prisons. But even the cost for just two youth, she wrote, will be a huge impact on our budget.

Barber didnt respond to requests for comment, and her budget narrative doesnt specify the cost. At the most recent state rates, the county would have been charged a combined total of between $1,062 and $1,276 a day for those two young people.

In Onondaga County, the latest state figures at the end of 2019 showed 14 kids in state lockups, or more than $8,000 a day. Cayuga County had one youth in a lockup at the end of 2019 at a cost of $638 a day.
ORWIGSBURG  With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and its associated restrictions, fundraising events have been few and far between.

Schaeffers Motor Sports, however, still felt the need to help the Muscular Dystrophy Association by hosting its first Fruitcake Toss.

The event was held Saturday morning at the dealership off Route 61 in conjunction with National Fruitcake Toss Day observed annually on Jan. 3.

Kim Weist, marketing coordinator with the dealership, said she was looking on the internet for ways to turn a national event into a local fundraiser and came across the fruitcake toss.

We wanted to come up with something different and this was certainly different, Weist said while signing up those planning to participate.

Participants were able to give a donation, with all proceeds going to MDA.

Each person received a cellophane wrapped fruitcake in preparation for the toss.

At 11 a.m., the participants unwrapped the fruitcakes, went outside of the front of the building and began tossing the cakes, one person at a time, into a grassy area while wearing masks and observing social distancing.

Weist said the purpose of unwrapping the fruitcakes was so none of the packaging materials would litter the area and also to have the tossed fruitcakes available for birds and other animals to eat.

Nate Calderone threw his fruitcake the longest, logged by Donna Dukman at 84 feet, 2 inches.

His mother, Denise, had the shortest distance at 34 feet.

Dukman, a member of Harley Owners Group, HOG, worked with Dwayne Weist, who served as the official distance measurer.

For throwing the longest, Nate Calderone received a handcrafted Harley-Davidson themed decoration from HOG along with a gift card to the business and a fruitcake.

Kim Weist said that she hopes Saturdays event will become a yearly tradition and get better and better year after year.

National Fruitcake Toss Day is celebrating its 25th anniversary observance today. The first Great Fruitcake Toss was held in Manitou Springs, Colorado, on Jan. 3, 1996.

National Fruitcake Toss Day acknowledges a persons responsibility to fruitcakes everywhere, to save them from humiliation in a trash can or the discomfort of being eaten.

Instead, people throw them, slingshot them and catapult them into the sky.

Fruitcakes are statistically listed in the top 10 of the most re-gifted items given over the Christmas holiday.

There are also facts about fruitcakes that most people do not know about:

 Fruitcakes improve with age, like fine wines. They have to sit for at least a month to ripen.

 A small fruitcake accompanied Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin into space on Apollo 11, while President Grover Cleveland had a fruitcake at his wedding in 1886.

Kim Weist said the 2022 Fruitcake Toss may include a different type of throwing and could possibly incorporate teams and the possible use of sling shots to throw the cakes.

Were going to think about and include some changes to make it more inviting and fun as it goes on, she said.
The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) on Sunday formally announced the final approval for Oxford-AstraZeneca and Bharat Biotech vaccines against the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) for emergency use. CDSCO (Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation) accepts the subject expert committee reform rations on Serum and Bharat Biotech Covid vaccines, DCGI VG Somani said in a press conference.

The subject expert committee (SEC) under CDSCO had recommended Oxford-AstraZenecas vaccine, which is being manufactured by the Serum Institute of India (SII) as Covishield, for emergency use and Covaxin for restricted use. Covaxin is the indigenous vaccine being developed by Bharat Biotech in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
Till Saturday, only 28 per cent schools in the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) limits have submitted comprehensive precautionary details ahead of school reopening from January 4. Moreover, only 32 per cent of parents have given consent letters to send their children to school from January 4.

The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) stands firm on their decision to reopen classes for students studying in 9 to 12 next week. Officials said that as schools reopen, more students will start attending.

Suresh Jagtap, additional commissioner, PMC, said that of 529 schools in the PMC limits, private as well as PMC run, about 150 school managements have submitted their preparatory measures so far.

Some of them are still submitting their reports. The details will be available by January 3. Moreover, only 32 per cent parents with the PMC have given consent to send their children to school from January 4, said Jagtap.

He added that so far we have received 2,835 consent from parents whose children study in Class 9 12 in PMC-run schools. There are a total of 8,759 students in these classes, said Jagtap.

He further added that over 80 per cent teachers from PMC-run schools have been tested for Covid-19 so far.

Teachers from one of the schools tested positive for the Sars-Cov-2 virus which causes the Covid-19 infection, but they have been asked not to come to the school. The schools have also been sanitised, said Jagtap.

We had meetings with the headmaster and teachers association who have also supported us. Though there are some parents who are scared because of which the consent letters are less. But we are hopeful that more parents will agree as schools restart, said Jagtap.

He further added that some parents have transferred their children to Pune rural schools as they have started offline classes.

Shivaji Daundkar, education officer with the PMC, said that around 80 per cent teachers have been tested for Covid and all tested negative.

It is mandatory for teachers to undergo Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT PCR) test before the reopening of schools.
By Robert M. Kaplan

The coronavirus epidemic is surging and taking with it the economy, our ability to gather with friends and family, and our hopes for the future. We need to get it over with. But in the midst of the explosion in new cases, some states are actually experiencing declines in the number of new cases while other states are witnessing increases. Changes in the rate of infections have been attributed to political affiliation, defiant lifestyles, and irresponsible leadership. But there may be a simpler answer. Some states may be running out of people who have not already been infected.

Experts estimate that about two-thirds of the population need to have neutralizing antibodies in order to reach herd immunity. Two-thirds of the 325 million people in the United States is about 218 million people. You can get antibodies that neutralize the virus in one of two ways: taking an effective vaccine, which is only being starting to be administered, or having been infected with the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.

About 19 million people in the U.S. have had confirmed cases of COVID. But confirmed cases may be the tip of the iceberg. Although estimates vary, the Centers for Disease Control believes that about eight people have been infected for each one person with a documented case. If we multiply the 19 million known cases by 8, it is possible that about 152 million people are already immune. Yet, the proportion of people who have been infected and the rate of new cases varies significantly by state.

Using publicly available data sources, I estimated the number of people who might have immunity in each state. The simple calculation multiplies the number of known cases in each state by 8. Then, I divided by the number of expected immune people by the state population. The numbers vary dramatically across the country, with North Dakota topping the list at 92% in contrast to the least affected state, Vermont, at a mere 7%.

A very crude estimate suggests that new cases should begin trending downward when about 60% of the population has been infected. My rough estimate showed that five states are likely to have more than 60% of their populations previously infected (North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Nebraska) with three others (Utah, Rhode Island, and Wyoming) approaching 60%. In each of these states, the recent trajectory for new cases is declining. States where the seven-day rolling averages are trending upward tend to have a lower rate of previous infections: South Carolina (39%), Texas (36%), Massachusetts (34%), California (32%), West Virginia (29%), the District of Columbia (28%), and New York (17%).

We have good reason to believe that a previous infection provides immunity. The two new vaccines are estimated to be about 95% effective in preventing infections. However, those who have suffered a previous infection may enjoy greater than 99% protection. True, there have been a few cases of COVID survivors who became reinfected. But reinfection is very rare.

There are only 31 documented cases among some 81 million people who have been infected. In two large vaccine trials, people taking the active vaccine were 95% less likely than those getting placebo to get COVID. But those injected with placebo were still 200 times more likely to get COVID in comparison to the rate of reinfection among COVID survivors.

To be clear, I am not advocating that people deliberately get exposed to the coronavirus. It is simply too large a gamble. COVID-19 can have devastating consequences, including death. That is why so many people oppose achieving herd immunity through careless life choices. But unfortunately, many people have already become victims of the coronavirus. If they survived without lasting effects, they are not likely to get a new infection. In the states were the virus has hit hardest, we may be running out of people who are likely to get a new case of COVID-19.

We are a big country with the unified goal of defeating the coronavirus. But we are also a federation with 50 states. One size does not fit all, and we must recognize that our state leaders face very different situations.

It is possible that some states may be approaching herd immunity, even without a vaccine. Others remain highly vulnerable. For now, all states should continue to advocate for prudent behavioral approaches to masking, distancing, and hand washing. State leaders might use information on previous infections, perhaps augmented by new surveys on antibody prevalence, when they evaluate how they can best prioritize their limited vaccine supplies.

Since previous infection may offer protection equal to or better than a vaccine, it makes no sense to give two doses to someone who has already been infected. In North Dakota, that would free up at least 180,000 does  enough to give a first injection to nearly a quarter of the population.

Leaders could also be better armed to face equally fraught decisions, such how to ease restrictions and when to open the public schools. With prudent use of resources and data-based planning, a return to normalcy may be in our future.

Robert M. Kaplan is a faculty member at Stanford Medical School Clinical Excellence Research Center, a former associate director of the National Institutes of Health, and a former chief science officer for the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
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As COVID-19 vaccinations and treatments continue in South Carolina, so have residents' questions.

The Palmetto State recently broke its daily state COVID-19 case record when state officials reported that 4,370 new cases were logged on Christmas Day. The previous record had been set a week prior.

The recent vaccine release is viewed by many officials and residents as a start to a pathway to post-pandemic normalcy. In November, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration also approved antibody treatments for high-risk COVID-19 patients.

High-profile people who recovered after the treatment include President Donald Trump and Gov. Henry McMaster, but it's available for any South Carolinian who meets age or health eligibility requirements.

Trump, 74, got the antibody cocktail after testing positive in October, when it was still in the trial phase. At a campaign rally less than two weeks later, he told the crowd he "felt like Superman" after the infusion.

McMaster, 73, received the outpatient therapy Dec. 22. His isolation period ended New Year's Eve.

After a question-and-answer article featured in The Post and Courier, numerous readers submitted additional questions. Following are the answers to those, as well as some common general questions on the vaccines:

I believe, due to age, I'm in the Phase 1B group eligible to get the vaccine. How can I find out when and where to get it, and if an appointment is needed?

The distribution of the vaccine is broken down into phases. Those up first in Phase 1A include first responders, front-line medical workers and people in nursing homes.

On Thursday, DHEC announced a new subset for Phase 1, further breaking down eligibility. So, what was Phase 1B has been separated into a Phase 1B and Phase 1C. Some people who thought their health issues made then eligible next will have to wait longer, while others, including teachers, will be eligible sooner.

Phase 1B will consist of food processing employees, bus drivers, sanitation and utility employees, and other workers in critical public services.

Age also becomes a factor. Anyone over 74, regardless of their health condition, will qualify.

Newly eligible in Phase 1B are school and day care employees, as well as postal and grocery store employees, who were previously designated for Phase 2, according to what was announced in mid-December.

Phase 1C will wrap in other essential workers, including restaurant and construction employees. It's also when people with pre-existing conditions qualify, as long as they're at least 16 years old. People who are at least 65 qualify whether or not they have health problems.

DHEC is routinely providing updates online at scdhec.gov/covid19/covid-19-vaccination. Residents can look out for additional information there around the next vaccine phases.

I am over 75, but do not live in a retirement or assisted living community. Where can I register/sign up for the vaccine?

DHEC officials said they will not be registering any residents to a vaccine list. Those elderly individuals who are not living in a nursing home will have to likely wait until Phase 1B.

The state is still in Phase 1A and officials are waiting for additional federal guidance around distributing the vaccine to individuals in Phase 1B.

Health officials are advising the public to look out for more public notices via the DHEC website, social media, TV announcements, ads, direct mailers and billboards as vaccinations continue.

Local health care providers will also notify patients.

What if I had COVID-19 but didn't know it because I had no symptoms. Could the vaccine cause a health concern?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the vaccine should be offered to someone regardless of whether they've had a COVID-19 infection.

People with current COVID-19 infections are advised by the CDC to wait until their illness has resolved and they're isolation period is over before getting the vaccine.

Health experts have also learned that reinfection is unlikely for at least three months after recovery. So people can choose to delay getting a vaccination until after that 90-day period, the CDC said. Some studies around the world indicate the natural immunity people develop as a result of having COVID-19, no matter the severity of their case, may last six months or longer.

"While it is not recommended to get vaccinated while infected, if someone gets the vaccine during active infection, there is no known health risk," said Dr. Danielle Scheurer, chief quality officer at the Medical University of South Carolina.

Both vaccines authorized by the FDA so far require two shots for the best chance at immunity, either three or four weeks apart, depending on the manufacturer.

Most patients have some side effects with the second dose. Those most commonly include fatigue, fever, chills, headache, muscle and joint pains. These typically occur within one or two days of the vaccine and can last up to two days, Scheurer said.

How was the vaccine developed so quickly?

Scientists weren't starting from scratch. Research already existed for related coronaviruses like MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome), discovered in Saudi Arabia in 2012, and SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome), discovered in 2003 in Asia.

One MERS vaccine successfully completed a first-phase trial in 2019. None of the SARS vaccines ever made it past initial testing, according to the CDC, largely due to lack of interest and inability for pharmaceuticals to profit after that virus disappeared in 2004.

But the research provided a head start in developing the vaccine for the virus that causes COVID-19.

Also critical to speeding up the normal, years-long process was government funding worldwide. In the United States, Operation Warp Speed has provided billions of dollars to various pharmaceutical companies to develop vaccines and antibody treatments, removing the need to raise money privately and the risk involved with an expensive investment that may fail.

My wife and I are visiting S.C. and plan to stay here until the end of March. Our home is in Massachusetts. Were both over 65. Will out-of-state people be able to get the vaccine when S.C. starts giving it to people over 65 or even 75?

Proof of residency will not be asked if a person is eligible for a vaccination, according to DHEC officials.

If I participated in a COVID-19 vaccine trial, will I be told if I was given a placebo?

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Vaccine trial participants are encouraged to reach out to study organizers for details around the possibility of being unblinded in the study.

If a trial participant has a scheduled date and time to get the vaccine, they can contact the study site and one of the organizers will tell them if they got the placebo, said Erica DeGroff, spokeswoman for Clinical Trials of SC, a research center participating in AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine study.

Participants are encouraged to remain involved in the study even if told they're receiving a placebo in order to completely examine a drug's safety and effectiveness.

"That includes complete participation of study patients throughout the full course of the trial," she said.

Does one get a written verification/document that can be used for travel purposes, especially internationally?

According to Scheurer, after successfully going through two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, everyone gets a "wallet card" that documents the doses.

Is South Carolina on track with distributing the vaccine?

As of Tuesday, the state had received 197,000 doses, collectively, of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. DHEC was expecting between 200,000 and 300,000 by the end of the year.

Only 31 percent of the doses shipped to South Carolina had been given to people eligible in Phase 1A. Some legislators, including Charleston Democratic Sen. Marlon Kimpson, have questioned why more people haven't been vaccinated.

According to DHEC, the 31 percent compares favorably with the 19 percent nationwide, according to data updated Monday from the CDC. But, as Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey noted, that still doesn't explain what's delaying more South Carolinians from getting the available shots.

How much will the vaccine cost?

The COVID-19 vaccine will be covered by the federal government. But it's still possible for health providers to charge administrative fees around giving the vaccine.

Medicaid, Medicare and private insurers will cover the cost of vaccine administration. Those who are uninsured can be reimbursed through the Health Resources and Services Administrations Provider Relief Fund.

Who qualifies for an antibody treatment, like the ones given to Trump and McMaster after they tested positive for COVID-19?

In November, the FDA authorized antibody treatments for COVID-19 patients with mild to moderate symptoms at high risk of getting severely ill. The therapies are aimed specifically at preventing high-risk people from being hospitalized. Anyone whos really sick or already hospitalized is ineligible.

Those qualifying as high-risk are people who are older than 65 or suffer from underlying health problems, such as heart disease or diabetes, which are among the most common on a long list. Another qualifying factor is having a body mass index greater than 35, which is the threshold for class-two obesity  a step below whats often called morbidly obese. People qualifying due to poor health alone, rather than age, must be at least 12 years old and weigh 88 pounds.

Theres also a qualifying time window. The treatment must be given within 10 days of symptoms starting.

Is there more than one antibody treatment?

Yes. The FDA gave the green light to two pharmaceuticals. Both antibody therapies are given through IV (intravenous infusion) and take two to three hours in an outpatient setting.

Eli Lillys treatment, called bamlanivimab, received authorization first, on Nov. 9. Regeneron received authorization Nov. 21 for its cocktail of two antibodies, casirivimab and imdevimab.

Clinical trials showed their effectiveness to be generally equal, with 3 percent of treated, high-risk patients ending up in the hospital after getting it. So there appears to be no reason to ask for one over the other.

How many antibody treatments has South Carolina received and whats the current availability?

As of Monday afternoon, South Carolina had received enough for about 3,500 patients total, since the federal government began sending weekly shipments, with 85 percent of those being Eli Lillys. More than 2,200 remained available statewide, according to DHEC, which tracks the inventory through an online system.

The state continues to receive weekly shipments.

I think I qualify. Where and how can I get the antibody treatment?

Its available by doctors orders at any outpatient setting that has the staff and capabilities to give an IV treatment and keep the COVID-19 patient separate from others to prevent potential spread.

While DHEC distributes the federal shipments to approved hospitals and other medical providers, there is no finite list for availability. Thats because those facilities are allowed to share the treatments both within their own system and with other licensed outpatient medical offices and nursing homes within their region.

People should discuss it with their doctor or, if they dont have a primary doctor, a local provider of COVID-19 tests.

We dont want people just showing up at the ERs and urgent cares when theyre contagious, especially if theyre high risk, for their own safety and the safety of everyone else, said Dr. Brannon Traxler, the states public health director. We know all our health care systems are pretty high capacity right now, so we dont want to put extra strain on the ERs.

Is there an antibody treatment shortage?

No. So far theres been no reason in South Carolina to limit who can receive it among those who meet the eligibility requirements, according to DHEC.

Use of the treatment has steadily increased weekly, since it first became available. But there is concern about a lack of awareness.

DHEC sent out additional information to providers statewide over the last week to remind them of the option for their patients.
Here are todays top news, analysis and opinion. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times.

Finally paid off: Adar Poonawalla thanks PM Modi, DCGI after Covishield gets final approval

For Serum Institute of India CEO Adar Poonawalla, the happy new year moment came on January 3 after the Drug Controller General of India on Sunday gave the final nod to Covishield, the vaccine developed by Oxford University and pharma major Astrazeneca and manufactured in India by Poonawallas Serum Institute. Read more

Shabana Azmi links women empowerment with upbringing of boys, redefines mardangi

Drawing attention to the issue of female foeticide with her Netflix horror film, Kaali Khuhi, veteran star Shabana Azmi was also a part of 2020s much-acclaimed feminist OTT movie, Mee Raqsam that was an ode to the strong bond between a father and his daughter. Read more

Dubai Crown Prince races with ostriches. Watch

Dubais Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum took to Instagram to share a video involving ostriches which has now created a buzz. The clip shows the Crown Prince engaged in a race against two birds. Read more

India vs Australia: Thats the first Ive heard of it, Matthew Wade on reports of Indias Brisbane reluctance

Matthew Wade has said that Australia fully expects to play the fourth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at its scheduled venue  The Gabba in Brisbane  after reports emerged that India are not keen on travelling to the city in view of quarantine proposals. Read more

Meet Asagumo, a spider-like rover that is going to the moon later this year

British firm Spacebit has announced it will send a rover to the moon later this year. The mission has caught everyones attention over the unique rover that will land on the moon. Unlike the conventional wheeled rovers, Spacebit is sending a rover that looks and walks like a spider. Read more

Before India, Tesla EVs touch down in Nepal. Models, prices and other details

US electric vehicle giant Tesla is yet to enter the Indian market but its electric vehicles have already touched down in the neighbouring country of Nepal. This despite the fact that Tesla, the company, hasnt officially made its debut here. Read more

BCCI president Sourav Ganguly stable after coronary angiography

Former Indian Cricket team captain Sourav Ganguly underwent coronary angiography after a mild heart attack and is stable now. He was diagnosed with three blocked coronary arteries on Saturday. Authorities at the hospital said there is a history of heart disease in Gangulys family. Dr Rupali Basu, MD and CEO, Woodlands, said that angiography was done followed by angioplasty. She informed that Ganguly was working out at the gym in his home when he felt unwell and dizzy. Basu added that a team of seven doctors are looking after Ganguly. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also rushed to the hospital to visit Ganguly. Watch the full video for more details.
The first Saturday of the new year has been very pleasant across North Alabama! While we have seen plenty of sunshine for most of the day, clouds have moved in this evening. That's all in advance of a weak low pressure system centered off to our northwest across Missouri and Illinois. This system will make a glancing blow to North Alabama this evening and overnight, but will cause little impact. Isolated showers are possible this evening and overnight tonight, especially along the Alabama-Tennessee state line. Coverage will be very sparse and most spots will actually stay dry. Just to be safe, it wouldn't be a bad idea to keep the umbrella nearby if you have any evening plans.

As this system moves through, a weak frontal boundary will usher in a reinforcing shot of cooler air to the region. This drops lows tonight into the mid 30s with cloudy skies. Clouds linger through Sunday morning but we will be dry by sunrise. Clouds thin out throughout the day tomorrow, leaving us with lots of sunshine to close out the day. Temperatures will be cooler tomorrow afternoon, with highs hovering right around 50 degrees. The first full week of the new year starts off very pleasant. Temperatures rebound to the mid 50s Monday through Wednesday with plenty of sunshine and a few passing clouds. Overnight lows will remain on either side of the freezing mark. Our next widespread weather maker comes with another cold front that sweeps through late next week. There's still a good bit of uncertainty with the timing of this next system, but it looks as though showers could arrive as early as Thursday morning and last through Friday morning. Rainfall totals with the system appear light at this time. Cooler temperatures return next weekend, with highs back down into the 40s.
(@FahadShabbir)

Brussels, Jan 2 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 2nd Jan, 2021 ) :The European Union is ready to help drug companies expand coronavirus vaccine production to clear a "bottleneck" in distribution, its top health official said Saturday.

Health commissioner Stella Kyriakides told German news agency DPA that any delay in getting approved vaccines out was down to production capacity shortage, not EU planning.

"The bottleneck at the moment is not the volume of orders but the worldwide shortage of production capacity," she said, in comments distributed by her office.

Kyriakides noted that Brussels had provided 100 million Euros to German firm BioNTech, which developed a vaccine with US giant Pfizer, to help build production capacity.

And she said that the bloc was ready to do more, for Pfizer-BioNTech and other companies with candidate vaccines, as the vaccination campaign gets into gear.

"The situation will improve step by step," she promised, one week after vaccinations began at widely varying paces among EU member states.

"We have been negotiating for additional vaccine doses from BioNTech for a long time and are again ready to help expand production capacities.

"Other manufacturers with whom we have contracts are on the verge of having their vaccines approved by the EU." The European Medicines Agency, which advises the European Commission, approved the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine on December 21.

But it is not expected to rule on a potential alternative from US company Moderna until January 6.

And it is awaiting more data on a candidate from AstraZeneca and Oxford University, which has already been approved in the UK.

But Kyriakides insisted that Europe is not falling behind in its joint procurement programme, backed by the 27 member states.

"If all vaccine candidates are approved, Europe will have more than two billion doses of vaccine available for all 450 million Europeans and their neighbours," she said.

"And that's what it's all about: Europe can get out of this crisis fastest together."
President Donald Trump s extraordinary challenge of his election defeat by President-elect Joe Biden is becoming a defining moment for the Republican Party before next week's joint session of Congress to confirm the Electoral College results.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is urging Republicans not to try to overturn the election, but not everyone is heeding him. Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri vows to join House Republicans in objecting to the state tallies. On the other side of the party's split, GOP Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska warns such challenges are a dangerous ploy threatening the nation's civic norms.

Caught in the middle is Vice President Mike Pence who faces growing pressure and a lawsuit from Trump's allies over his ceremonial role in presiding over the session Wednesday.

The days ahead are expected to do little to change the outcome. Biden is set to be inaugurated Jan. 20 after winning the Electoral College vote 306-232. But the effort to subvert the will of voters is forcing Republicans to make choices that will set the contours of the post-Trump era and an evolving GOP.

I will not be participating in a project to overturn the election, Sasse wrote in a lengthy social media post.

Sasse, a potential 2024 presidential contender, said he was "urging my colleagues also to reject this dangerous ploy.

Trump, the first president to lose a reelection bid in almost 30 years, has attributed his defeat to widespread voter fraud, despite the consensus of nonpartisan election officials that there wasn't any. Of the roughly 50 lawsuits the president and his allies have filed challenging election results, nearly all have been dismissed or dropped. Hes also lost twice at the U.S. Supreme Court.

Still, the president has pushed Republican senators to pursue his unfounded charges even though the Electoral College has already cemented Bidens victory and all that's left is Congress' formal recognition of the count before the new president is sworn in.

We are letting people vote their conscience, Sen. John Thune, the second-ranking Republican, told reporters at the Capitol.

Thune's remarks as the GOP whip in charge of rounding up votes show that Republican leadership is not putting its muscle behind Trump's demands, but allowing senators to choose their course. He noted the gravity of questioning the election outcome.

This is an issue thats incredibly consequential, incredibly rare historically and very precedent-setting, he said. This is a big vote. They are thinking about it.

Pence will be carefully watched as he presides over what is typically a routine vote count in Congress but is now heading toward a prolonged showdown that could extend into Wednesday night, depending on how many challenges Hawley and others mount.

The vice president is being sued by a group of Republicans who want Pence to have the power to overturn the election results by doing away with an 1887 law that spells out how Congress handles the vote count.

Trump's own Justice Department may have complicated what is already a highly improbable effort to upend the ritualistic count Jan. 6. It asked a federal judge to dismiss the last-gasp lawsuit from Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas, and a group of Republican electors from Arizona who are seeking to force Pence to step outside mere ceremony and shape the outcome of the vote.

In a court filing in Texas, the department said they have have sued the wrong defendant and Pence should not be the target of the legal action.

A suit to establish that the Vice President has discretion over the count, filed against the Vice President, is a walking legal contradiction, the department argues.

A judge in Texas dismissed the Gohmert lawsuit Friday night. U.S. District Judge Jeremy Kernodle, a Trump appointee, wrote that the plaintiffs allege an injury that is not fairly traceable to Pence, and is unlikely to be redressed by the requested relief.

To ward off a dramatic unraveling, McConnell convened a conference call with Republican senators Thursday specifically to address the coming joint session and logistics of tallying the vote, according to several Republicans granted anonymity to discuss the private call.

The Republican leader pointedly called on Hawley to answer questions about his challenge to Biden's victory, according to two of the Republicans.

But there was no response because Hawley was a no-show, the Republicans said.

His office did not respond to a request for comment.

Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., who has acknowledged Biden's victory and defended his state's elections systems as valid and accurate, spoke up on the call, objecting to those challenging Pennsylvanias results and making clear he disagrees with Hawley's plan to contest the result, his office said in a statement.

McConnell had previously warned GOP senators not to participate in raising objections, saying it would be a terrible vote for colleagues. In essence, lawmakers would be forced to choose between the will of the outgoing president and that of the voters.

Several Republicans have indicated they are under pressure from constituents back home to show they are fighting for Trump in his baseless campaign to stay in office.

Hawley became the first GOP senator this week to announce he will raise objections when Congress meets to affirm Bidens victory in the election, forcing House and Senate votes that are likely to delay  but in no way alter  the final certification of Biden's win.

Other Republican senators are expected to join Hawley, wary of ceding the spotlight to him as they, too, try to emerge as leaders in a post-Trump era.

A number of Republicans in the Democratic-majority House have already said they will object on Trumps behalf. They only needed a single senator to go along with them to force votes in both chambers.

When Biden was vice president, he, too, presided over the session as the Electoral College presented the 2016 vote tally to Congress to confirm Trump the winner. The session was brief, despite objections from some Democrats.

Jen Psaki, speaking for the Biden transition team, dismissed Hawleys move as antics that will have no bearing on Biden being sworn in on Jan. 20.

___

Associated Press writer Aamer Madhani in Chicago contributed to this report.
It Costs What?

If you have ever paid a hospital bill, you know how confounding they can be. Thats because the price tag of a medical procedure depends on the rate that each hospital negotiates with individual insurers. That amount is usually kept confidential and is substantially marked up from how much the procedure actually costs the hospital to provide. But now, under a new federal rule that took effect on Jan. 1, hospitals will be required to disclose the rates they negotiate with insurers  or face fines of up to $300 a day. That penalty is peanuts compared with what hospitals typically charge both insurers and patients, but its a move toward transparency.

Image Credit... Giacomo Bagnara

Whats Next? (Jan. 3-9)

A Year of Lost Vacations

Did you cancel your vacation plans this year? I certainly did  it seemed pointless to take time off just to sit at home. Apparently Im not alone, and now many employers are adjusting their vacation policies so that workers can hold on to the vacation days they didnt take in 2020. Instead of use-it-or-lose-it rules that require employees to forfeit unused vacation time at the end of December, a number of major companies, including Bank of America, Citigroup, and Conde Nast, are making special allowances for people to roll over their paid time off into the new year. Yet another thing to look forward to in 2021.

Hurry It Up

Everyone agrees that vaccine distribution in the United States is going too slowly, and the federal government fell far short of its goal of having 20 million people vaccinated by the end of 2020. But no one can agree on why. The Trump administration has blamed states for not moving quickly enough with the vaccines they have received. State governments say they need more federal funding. And holiday shipping delays arent helping, either. President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr. criticized the Trump administrations handling of the process and cautioned that at this rate, it would take  take years, not months, to administer enough vaccines for the country to be protected and the economy to reopen.

Stick a Fork in Brexit

Another thing were glad to leave behind in 2020: Brexit and its incessant drama. More than four years after Britain voted to leave the European Union, the two sides finally agreed on new travel and trade rules, and the British Parliament approved the deal this past week. The arrangement will establish new customs procedures at Britains border and end the free movement of people between Britain and E.U. countries. But thats already happening anyway, as Britain reels from a new variant of the coronavirus that is raging across the country.
President Donald Trump criticized the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Sunday morning, accusing it of propagating fake news by exaggerating the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths in the United States. In a Sunday morning tweet, Trump said the numbers are inflated because of the CDCs ridiculous method of determination compared to other countries. Trump sent the tweet as the the number of COVID-19 cases in the United States passed the 20-million mark and the death toll surpassed 350,000, by far the highest in the world, followed by Brazil, which has reported more than 195,000 deaths.

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The number of cases and deaths of the China Virus is far exaggerated in the United States because of @CDCgovs ridiculous method of determination compared to other countries, many of whom report, purposely, very inaccurately and low. When in doubt, call it Covid. Fake News!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 3, 2021

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The presidents claim is absurd on its face because experts have long said the reality is likely the opposite, that the number of cases and deaths are actually higher than what is known since some are never reported. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nations top infectious disease specialist, immediately pushed back on Trumps claim. The deaths are real deaths, Fauci said on ABCs This Week. I mean, all you need to do is to go out into the trenches, go to the hospitals, see what the health care workers are dealing with. They are under very stressed situations in many areas of the country, the hospital beds are stretched. People are running out of beds, running out of trained personnel who are exhaustive right now. Thats real, thats not fake.

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NEW: Dr. Anthony Fauci responds to Pres. Trump's morning tweet on COVID-19 related deaths: "The deaths are real deaths. All you need to do is go out into the trenches... that's real, that's not fake." https://t.co/kKafPs2tFM pic.twitter.com/84ypgvOcl1  This Week (@ThisWeekABC) January 3, 2021

Fauci made similar comments in an appearance on NBCs Meet the Press. Those are real numbers, real people and real deaths, Fauci said.

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WATCH: Dr. Fauci pushes back on President Trump's claim that the CDC numbers of Covid deaths are over-counted, telling @chucktodd that "the numbers are real."



Dr. Fauci: "Those are real numbers, real people and real deaths." pic.twitter.com/B5OszHmKqc  Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) January 3, 2021

Trump later responded to Fauci by taking to Twitter again and complaining about how Fauci is liked better. Fauci, Trump said, is revered by the LameStream Media for doing a good job yet he works for me  and I am in no way given any credit for my work.

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Something how Dr. Fauci is revered by the LameStream Media as such a great professional, having done, they say, such an incredible job, yet he works for me and the Trump Administration, and I am in no way given any credit for my work. Gee, could this just be more Fake News?  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 3, 2021

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Fauci wasnt the only one to push back against Trumps allegations. Surgeon General Jerome Adams said on CNNs State of the Union that from a public health perspective, I have no reason to doubt those numbers.

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US Surgeon General Jerome Adams contradicts President Trump on Covid-19 death toll: From a public health perspective, I have no reason to doubt those numbers. https://t.co/2b3o88YshT #CNNSOTU pic.twitter.com/DtInCua66C  State of the Union (@CNNSotu) January 3, 2021


Speakers:





Xu Nanping, vice minister of science and technology





Zeng Yixin, vice minister of the National Health Commission, and director of the vaccine R&D working group under the State Council's inter-agency task force





Chen Shifei, deputy commissioner of the National Medical Products Administration





Shen Bo, a person in charge of the Department of International Organizations and Conferences of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs





Mao Junfeng, a person in charge of the Consumer Products Industry Department of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology





Zheng Zhongwei, head of the vaccine R&D working group under the State Council's inter-agency task force





Wu Yonglin, president of China National Biotec Group (CNBG) affiliated with China National Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd. (Sinopharm)





Chairperson:





Hu Kaihong, spokesperson for the State Council Information Office





Date:





Dec. 31, 2020

Hu Kaihong:





Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to this press conference held by the State Council's inter-agency task force. Today, we are joined by Mr. Xu Nanping, vice minister of science and technology; Mr. Zeng Yixin, vice minister of the National Health Commission, and director of the vaccine R&D working group under the State Council's inter-agency task force; Mr. Chen Shifei, deputy commissioner of the National Medical Products Administration; Mr. Shen Bo, a person in charge of the Department of International Organizations and Conferences of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Mr. Mao Junfeng, a person in charge of the Consumer Products Industry Department of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology; Mr. Zheng Zhongwei, a leader of the vaccine R&D working group under the State Council's inter-agency task force; and Mr. Wu Yonglin, president of China National Biotec Group (CNBG) affiliated with China National Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd. (Sinopharm). They will brief you on the conditional marketing approval for the COVID-19 vaccine and other related work in progress, and answer your questions. First, let's give the floor to Mr. Xu.





Xu Nanping:





Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. On Dec. 30, the Beijing Biological Products Institute Co., Ltd. announced the interim results of its phase-3 clinical trials for the COVID-19 inactivated vaccine meeting the standards of the World Health Organization and our National Medical Products Administration (NMPA). The achievement did not come easily. It embodies the wisdom and hard work of China's scientific community. This has received strong support and cooperation from all partners. I hereby would like to express my warm congratulations and heartfelt appreciation to all the institutes and workers participating in R&D of the vaccines.





General Secretary Xi Jinping attaches great importance to vaccine R&D, and has issued important instructions accordingly on a number of occasions. These have been implemented resolutely by the vaccine R&D working group. In accordance with the decisions and arrangements of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, the working group has given top priority to vaccine R&D, starting work immediately on one of the five major tasks of scientific research. Taking a people-centered approach throughout, the working group has always put safety first, and is committed to developing safe, effective, and accessible vaccines. Based on science, the working group has been simultaneously working on five technological approaches including inactivated vaccines, recombinant protein vaccines, adenovirus vector vaccines, vaccines using attenuated influenza viruses as vectors, and nucleic acid vaccines, so as to maximize the success rate of vaccine R&D. Always adhering to building a community with a shared future for humanity, the working group has cooperated with 16 countries such as the United Arab Emirates and Brazil to carry out international and multi-centered phase-3 clinical trials for COVID-19 vaccines, promoting R&D cooperation among research institutes and companies both in and outside China. Always adhering to collaboration between different parties, the working group has pooled resources from enterprises, universities, and research institutes. Top research groups from around the nation have been galvanized to work on these tasks. The working group has also coordinated the R&D and examination efforts, and strived to speed up the progress of vaccine R&D without reducing procedures and lowering standards, while always ensuring safety. As of now, 14 kinds of vaccines developed in these five technological approaches have entered clinical trials, among which five kinds of vaccines of three technological approaches have entered phase-3 clinical trials.





Looking forward, we will continue to do our best to speed up vaccine R&D while sparing no efforts. First, we will facilitate phase-3 clinical trials at an accelerated pace, providing more vaccine products of different technological approaches. Second, we will pay close attention to the mutation of the coronavirus and related situation, and respond in a scientific way, making sure the use of vaccines is not affected. Third, we will continue to make greater efforts on the basic R&D front, building China's strategic scientific capacity and providing firm scientific and technological support for epidemic prevention and control. Thank you.
India has formally approved two Covid vaccines after giving the green light to the Oxford Astra Zeneca jab and another made by Indian firm Bharat Biotech.

The move paves the way for a huge inoculation program to stem the coronavirus pandemic in the world's second most populous country.

The country's drugs regulator gave emergency authorization for the vaccine developed by Oxford University and U.K.-based drugmaker AstraZeneca, and another developed by the Indian company Bharat Biotech.

Health officials take part in dry run or a mock drill for Covid-19 coronavirus vaccine delivery at a primary health centre in Chennai on January 2

Drugs Controller General Dr. Venugopal G. Somani said that both vaccines would be administered in two dosages. He said the decision to approve the vaccines was made after 'careful examination' by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization, India's pharmaceutical regulator.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the vaccine approval a 'decisive turning point to strengthen a spirited fight.'

'It would make every Indian proud that the two vaccines that have been given emergency use approval are made in India!' Modi tweeted.

AstraZeneca has contracted Serum Institute of India, the world's largest vaccine manufacturer, to make 1 billion doses of its vaccine for developing nations, including India. On Wednesday, Britain became the first country to approve the shot.

A health official prepares a vaccine kit as she takes part in dry run or a mock drill for Covid-19 coronavirus vaccine delivery at a primary health centre in Chennai

India, however, will not allow the export of the Oxford University-AstraZeneca vaccine for several months, Adar Poonawalla, Serum Institute's CEO, said Sunday. The ban on exports means that poorer nations will probably have to wait a few months before receiving their first shots.

The move was made to ensure that vulnerable populations in India are protected and to prevent hoarding, Poonawalla said in an interview with The Associated Press.

But questions have been raised by health experts over the vaccine developed by Bharat Biotech. They point out that clinical trials began only recently, making it almost impossible for the firm to have analyzed and submitted data showing that its shots are effective in preventing illness from the coronavirus.

India has confirmed more than 10.3 million cases of the virus, second in the world behind the U.S., though its rate of infection has come down significantly from a mid-September peak. It also has reported over 149,000 deaths.

The country's initial immunization plan aims to vaccinate 300 million people - healthcare workers, front-line staff including police, and those considered vulnerable due to their age or other diseases - by August 2021. For effective distribution, over 20,000 health workers have been trained so far to administer the vaccine, the Health Ministry said.

But the plan poses a major challenge. India has one of the world's largest immunization programs, but it isn't geared around adults, and vaccine coverage remains patchy. Still, neither of the approved vaccines requires the ultra-cold storage facilities that some others do. Instead they can be stored in refrigerators, making them more feasible for the country.

Health officials take part in dry run or a mock drill for Covid-19 coronavirus vaccine delivery at a primary health centre in Chennai

Although Serum Institute of India doesn't have a written agreement with the Indian government, its chief executive, Adar Poonawalla, said India would be 'given priority' and would receive most of its stockpile of around 50 million doses.

Partial results from studies for the Oxford-AstraZeneca shot in almost 24,000 people in Britain, Brazil and South Africa suggest that the vaccine is safe and about 70% effective. That isn't as good as some other vaccine candidates, and there are also concerns about how well the vaccine will protect older people.

The other vaccine, known as COVAXIN, is developed by Bharat Biotech in collaboration with government agencies and is based on an inactivated form of the coronavirus.

Early clinical studies showed that the vaccine doesn't have any serious side effects and produces antibodies for COVID-19. But late clinical trials began in mid-November. The second shot was to be given 28 days after the first, and an immune response prompted two weeks later.

That time frame means that it isn't possible that the company submitted data showing that the shots are effective in preventing infection from the virus, said Dr. Gagandeep Kang, an infectious diseases expert at the Christian Medical College at Vellore.

All India Drug Action Network, a public health watchdog, issued a statement demanding greater transparency.

Somani, the regulator, said that 'the vaccine has been found to be safe,' but refused to say whether any efficacy data was shared.

The Health Ministry said in a statement that permission was granted for Bharat Biotech's shot for restricted use in the 'public interest as an abundant precaution in clinical trial mode, especially in the context of infection by mutant strains.'

But Kang said that the claim that the vaccine could help against a mutant variant of the virus was 'hypothetical' and without any evidence.

Indian regulators are still considering approvals for other vaccines, including one made by Pfizer.
https://www.aish.com/jw/s/Jews-and-Morocco-10-Fascinating-Historical-Facts.html

As Israel and Morocco establish full diplomatic ties, take a look at some of Moroccos epic Jewish history.

1. Oldest archaeology

There have been Jews in Morocco for at least 2,000 years when some 30,000 Jews fled to North Africa following the destruction of the Second Temple. It is believed there had been Jews there even earlier too, perhaps as long ago as 2,500 years. The oldest known evidence of Jewish life in the country are two menorah shaped oil lamp from the 3rd century, found at the site of Volubilis, a once Roman city located at the southwest extremity of the Empire, today near to the city of Fez. Jewish gravestones, some in Hebrew and some in Greek, were also found, with one referring to the head of the synagogue.

One of two oil lamps found in Volubilis, now in the Rabat Museum of Archaeology

2. Golden Age of Tolerance and Jewish study

Following the first Arab conquest in 703, Morocco and especially Fez a spirit of tolerance pervaded attracting a diverse kind of population, including many Jews who contributed their commercial capabilities. A thriving and vibrant community developed in the old city, known as the Medina. This beckoned in a golden age for the Jewish community which lasted for almost 300 years, from the 9th to 11th centuries and saw the creation of yeshivahs, attracting and producing brilliant scholars, poets and grammarians. The tolerance of this period left a powerful imprint in Moroccan culture. Today, the Museum of Moroccan Judaism in suburban Casablanca is the only museum on Judaism in the Arab world.

The Ibn Dahan synagogue, Fez

3. Darker times

One of the periods of harsh persecution of Jews in Morocco was during the reign of the Almohads dynasty, (1121- 1269) a radical Muslim dynasty bent on enforcing a strict and pious observance of Islam's rituals and laws. Jews were faced with conversion to Islam or death, compelling many to convert, or at least pretend to (which was possible due to the many similarities between Jewish and Islamic practice). In 1557 Spanish Jewish historian Joseph HaKohen wrote about the fierce persecution that no remnant of Israel was left from Tangier on the northern tip of the country, 100 kilometers south to the port of Mehdya.

The later Almohads were not content with Jews stating they had accepted Islam upon themselves and forced them to wear a yellow cloth for a head-covering, making them the focus of even greater scorn and attack.

The Bet El Temple in Casablanca, Morocco

4. Home to Maimonides

Rabbi Moses Maimonides, one of the most prolific and influential Torah scholars in the Middle Ages, lived in Fez from 1159 to 1165. Originally from Cordova in Spain, he had fled with his family to escape the Almohad persecution of Jews. (Later this same persecution would see him leave Fez, eastward for Egypt) It was in Fez that Maimonides, as well as serving as working as a physician to the Sultan, wrote one of his most famous works, his Commentary on the Oral Law. The stone home where he lived, still stands.

Maimonides home in Fez, where he lived and wrote the 14 volume Code of Jewish Law

5. Mellah, the Moroccan Jewish quarter.

The first mellah, a forced quarter for Jews, was created in 1438 in Fez and continued to recent times. The original pretext given was that the tomb of a Muslim saint had been located in the Medina. By royal decree, all non-Muslims were ordered to leave and resettle elsewhere. The word mellah means salt, because the new Jewish quarter was based on salt deposit. It was the first of dozens of such areas, which due to Jewish commerce became busy areas for markets and trade. A mellah was often surrounded by a wall with a fortified gateway and usually situated near the royal palace or the residence of the governor, in order to protect its inhabitants from recurring riots since its inhabitants played a vital role in the local economy. To this day, Mellahs have bustling and lively markets, with many of their road names bearing the memory of once bustling Jewish populations.

The entrance to the Mellah of Fez

6. Jewish prime minister

Aaron (Harun) Ibn Batash, was just one of many Jews to reach the highest position of vizier, in Morocco. A courtier and confidant of Sultan Abdel al-Haqq, Ibn Batash had moved to Morocco on account of the Inquisition in his native Spain and settled in Fez. After a prolonged association with the court as a banker or tax collector, he was appointed vizier in 1464. As a result of his influence, Saul Ibn Batash, a close relative, was appointed chief of the police and director of the sultans palace.

Ibn Batash imposed heavy taxes on the population but was accused by the Muslim leaders of using the money to support the impoverished Jews of the town. In addition, he was perceived as violating the code for dhimmis (non-Muslim minorities) by serving in such a high office, riding on horseback and wearing a sword. In consequence Muslim leaders incited the mob to attack the Jewish quarter. The sultan and his Jewish vizier were both assassinated.

The Jewish cemetery of Marrakhesh,

7. Giants of Kabbalah

Morocco was home to some of the greatest kabbalists of the Jewish world including Rabbi Chaim ibn Attar, also known as the Or ha-Hayyim (The light of Life) after his kabalistic commentary on the Torah. Rabbi Abraham ben Mordecai Azulai (c. 15701643) was another such giant who wrote a commentary on the Zohar.

Among the pilgrimage sites for Jewish travelers in Morocco, the most popular is the tomb of Rabbi Yehuda Ibn Attar in Fez (16551733), who served as the chief rabbi of Fez. A saintly and pious man, he was known as a miracle worker and was revered by the local Jews and Muslims alike, who refused to accept a salary from the community.

It is told that Rabbi ibn Attar was put into prison and left there until the Jewish community paid a heavy ransom to free him, but the amount was too great. The rabbi remained in prison until the governor decided to throw him into the lions den. Rather than being mauled, the guards witnessed him sitting quietly on the ground and pursuing his studies with the lions respectfully crouching around him. As soon as he was informed, the governor liberated the rabbi and accorded him great respect.

The tomb of Rabbi Yehuda Ibn Attar, Fez

8. Protecting its Jews

As a French colony, Morocco was subject to antisemitic decrees from Nazi-allied Vichy France during the Second World War. In 1941, Sultan Mohammed V refused to deport Moroccos 250,000 Jews to the killing factories of Europe. Despite this stand to shelter the Jewish community, some antisemitic laws were imposed on Morocco, with Jews working in colonial administration, physicians, bankers, pharmacists, journalists, teachers, hospital nurses and others forced to abandon employment positions. On November 7, 1942, American forces landed on the shores of Morocco as part of Operation Torch and quickly took control of the country.

9. Largest Jewish community in the Muslim world

In 1948, before the majority began moving to Israel, the Jewish community of Morocco numbered 265,000 making it the largest Jewish community in the Muslim world. Three reasons can explain this. Firstly, the continued presence of a Jewish community without expulsions, secondly the large influx of Spanish Jews from the inquisition there in 1492 and lastly, aside from the notable exception of the Almohad rule, Moroccan Jews were not forcibly converted with minorities or Dhimmis, receiving protection from the King in return for protection dues.

10. Establishment of the State of Israel

Today, there are almost one million Jews of Moroccan descent in Israel

The establishment of a Jewish State in 1948 was met with riots in the north east towns of Oujda and Jerada where 43 Jews were killed and approximately 150 injured at the hands of local Muslims. This, prompted Jews to flee from the country. In 1961, Israel launched Operation Yachin, named after one of the pillars of Solomons Temple to aid the aliya (immigration) efforts. By 1964, more than 97,000 Jews had left Morocco, mainly to Israel where today there are almost 1,000,000 Jews of Moroccan descent.

Today there are 2,500 Jews living in Morocco, mostly in Casablanca. The community has good relations with King Mohamed VI who encourages religious tolerance. Morocco has dozens of beautifully preserved and active synagogues.
On this weeks episode of Segue, Southern Illinois University Edwardsvilles weekly radio program exploring the lives and work of the people on campus and beyond, Chancellor Randy Pembrook interviews The Alestle student newspaper contributors and Program Director Tammy Merrett.

This episode of Segue airs at 9 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 3. Listeners can tune in to WSIE 88.7 FM The Sound or siue.edu/wsie.

The Alestle is SIUEs student-run newspaper, published online every Tuesday and Thursday. Each week, student contributors write breaking news stories, along with sports, lifestyle and opinion pieces.

Merretts career in journalism started in 1986. Currently, she serves as a college media advisor and faculty member while directing the staff of The Alestle. Merrett is a member of the St. Louis Chapter of Society of Professional Journalists, College Media Advisors Advocacy Committee and the Illinois College Press Association.

Under Merretts guidance, The Alestle won four awards last year at the 99th annual Associated Collegiate Press Fall National College Media Convention.

Congratulations for the awards you received last fall, begins Pembrook. Lets talk about the awards and share what pieces were submitted and recognized.

The Alestle took first place in the conventions best photo package category.

This category ranged from schools all over the nation, explains Madison Lammert, editor-in-chief and senior mass communications major. Our photo entry was taken at the Black Lives Matter protest in Edwardsville this summer. It was special to cover this moment as an Edwardsville native, because it was the first time I had seen the community come together in this way.

The Alestle also earned a third-place award for its Back-To-School Survival Guide in the special advertising category.

Our Back-To-School Survival Guide is an issue we publish annually before the fall semester to let incoming freshmen and returning students know whats going on at SIUE, says Mackenzie Smith, multimedia editor and senior psychology major.

Next, The Alestle was awarded seventh place in the conventions best website category.

Im honored that we placed in the Top 10, says Alex Aultman, lifestyle editor and junior sociology major. The other winners had very aesthetically pleasing websites.

John McGowan, a sophomore majoring in mass communications and the newspapers podcast producer, received eighth place in the podcast episode category for Alestle After Hours: The Black Plague, the Spanish Flu and the Coronavirus.

Essentially, I talked with a history professor at SIUE, Dr. Kathleen Vongsathorn, explains McGowan. We compared the current pandemic to the past ones, and she provided cool insight on how America has reacted to these things in the past.

Tammy, you must be proud of your student reporters, notes Pembrook.

I am proud of the students, as a lot of work goes into preparing our entries for the annual contest, says Merrett. More than 100 schools participate in the convention, meaning the competition is pretty fierce.

Prior to the pandemic, The Alestle published a print version of the paper every Thursday. In March, the paper made the decision to shift fully online.

How has COVID-19 changed what you normally do for the paper? inquires Pembrook.

The biggest challenge has been reforming our processes, because most of the work we do involves communicating with each other, answers Lammert. The training process for new hires has also changed. Before, we would explain to incoming reporters that you can stop by a sources office, but now, someones office is their home.

We had a tricky time figuring out how to get the production process online, adds Merrett. Were still designing pages as if we were in print, because newspaper presentation is important for our audience.

Do you think sources of information have changed for journalists? asks Pembrook.

With the prevalence of social media, many people get their information online now, answers Smith. Most of our audience views our content from Facebook or Twitter. A lot of people find their news on social media, but not all sources are reliable.

Theres so much more information on social media in general, McGowan says. For example, when were covering protests, people are always posting about it, making it both easier and harder to navigate through sources.

I look forward to reading and seeing more from each of you in the future, ends Pembrook. Thank you for being here today and keep up the great work.

Tune in at 9 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 3 to WSIE 88.7 The Sound to hear the entire conversation.
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange will find out Monday whether he can be extradited from the U.K. to the U.S. to face espionage charges over the publication of secret American military documents.

District Judge Vanessa Baraitser is due to deliver her decision at London's Old Bailey courthouse at 10 a.m. Monday. If she grants the request, then Britain's home secretary, Priti Patel would make the final decision.

Whichever side loses is expected to appeal, which could lead to years more legal wrangling.

However, there's a possibility that outside forces may come into play that could instantly end the decade-long saga.

Stella Moris, Assanges partner and the mother of his two sons, has appealed to U.S. President Donald Trump via Twitter to grant a pardon to Assange before he leaves office on Jan. 20.

And even if Trump doesn't, there's speculation that his successor, Joe Biden, may take a more lenient approach to Assange's extradition process.

U.S. prosecutors indicted the 49-year-old Assange on 17 espionage charges and one charge of computer misuse that carry a maximum sentence of 175 years in prison.

Lawyers acting on behalf of the U.S. government said in their closing arguments after the four-week hearing in the fall that Assange's defense team had raised issues that were neither relevant nor admissible.

Consistently, the defense asks this court to make findings, or act upon the submission, that the United States of America is guilty of torture, war crimes, murder, breaches of diplomatic and international law and that the United States of America is 'a lawless state', they said. "These submissions are not only non-justiciable in these proceedings but should never have been made.

Assanges defense team argued that he is entitled to First Amendment protections for the publication of leaked documents that exposed U.S. military wrongdoing in Iraq and Afghanistan and that the U.S. extradition request was politically motivated.

In their written closing arguments, Assanges legal team accused the U.S. of an extraordinary, unprecedented and politicized prosecution that constitutes "a flagrant denial of his right to freedom of expression and poses a fundamental threat to the freedom of the press throughout the world.

Defense lawyers also said Assange was suffering from wide-ranging mental health issues, including suicidal tendencies, that could be exacerbated if he is placed in inhospitable prison conditions in the U.S.

They said his mental health deteriorated while he took asylum inside the Ecuadorian Embassy in London for years and that he was diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. Assange jumped bail in 2012 when he sought asylum at the embassy, where he stayed for seven years before being evicted and arrested. He has been held at Belmarsh prison in London since April 2019.

His legal team argued that Assange would, if extradited, likely face solitary confinement that would put him at a heightened risk of suicide. They said if he was subsequently convicted, he would probably be sent to the notorious ADX Supermax prison in Colorado, which is also inhabited by Unabomber Ted Kaczynski and Mexican drug lord Joaquin El Chapo Guzman.

Lawyers for the U.S. government argued that Assanges mental state "is patently not so severe so as to preclude extradition.

Assange has attracted the support of high-profile figures, including the dissident Chinese artist Ai Weiwei and actress Pamela Anderson.

Daniel Ellsberg, the famous U.S. whistleblower, also came out in support, telling the hearing that they had very comparable political opinions.

The 89-year-old, widely credited for helping to bring about an end to the Vietnam War through his leaking of the Pentagon Papers in 1971, said the American public needed urgently to know what was being done routinely in their name, and there was no other way for them to learn it than by unauthorized disclosure.

There are clear echoes between Assange and Ellsberg, who leaked over 7,000 pages of classified documents to the press, including The New York Times and The Washington Post. Ellsberg was subsequently put on trial for 12 charges in connection with violations of the Espionage Act, which were punishable by up to 115 years in prison. The charges were dismissed in 1973 because of government misconduct against him.

Assange and his legal team will be hoping that developments in the U.S. bring an end to his ordeal if the judge grants the U.S. extradition request.
Even as people hoped for a positive start to the New Year on the vaccine front, the UK reported a new coronavirus variant at the end of 2020 which plunged England into a hard lockdown yet again and dampened hopes on the vaccine front. The variant has reportedly spread to more than 30 countries across the world with Vietnam being the latest to report a case on Saturday. The country has banned almost all international travel but is running flights to bring back nationals stranded in the United Kingdom.

The United States is, by far, the worst-affected country in the world with the highest number of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases and India follows with the second-highest number of infections. At least three US states have reported the new virus variant and the countrys limited genetic sequencing might be causing the strain to spread undetected in certain parts.

Scientists, however, do not believe that the new variant is more deadly or resistant to the vaccine. This is because mutations in viruses are natural, but the strain is 70% more transmissible than the original ones, hence experts have advised people to be more careful. The winter season saw a massive surge in coronavirus infections in European nations. Ireland went from having the EUs lowest per capita rate of coronavirus infections to the fastest-growing, according to the Guardian.

Right now, we believe the UK variant is here at a relatively low level, even with that small sample, Philip Nolan, head of Irelands Covid-19 modelling group, was quoted by the Washington Post. We saw an even more intense level of socialization and viral transmission over Christmas than we might have expected, and thats whats leading us to the really precarious position were in now, Nolan added.

On the vaccination front, Israel has had the most impressive showing as the country has already administered the first of the two shots to over a million of its citizens, the highest rate in the world. In comparison, the US efforts to vaccinate its population pales as 2.8 million people were given the jab by December 30, far behind President Donald Trumps promised 20 million by the end of the year.

In the UK, British health officials said that their priority was giving the first shot to as many people as possible to ensure partial safety as the country tries to grapple with the new variant.

India on Sunday authorised two Covid-19 vaccines developed by Oxford University-AstraZeneca and another developed by Bharat Biotech, paving the way for a huge inoculation program to stem the coronavirus pandemic in the worlds second-most populous country. Drugs Controller General Dr VG Somani said that both vaccines will be administered in two dosages.

It would take weeks before the effects of the initial vaccine shots kick in and months before most of the people in the world have access to them. Poorer countries might have to wait even longer to get their citizens inoculated.
PARIS (Reuters) - Al Qaeda's North Africa wing has said it was responsible for the killing of three French soldiers in Mali, jihadist monitoring organisation SITE Intel reported on Saturday.

The soldiers, who were taking part in France's Barkhane military operations in Mali against Islamic fighters, were killed on Monday when an improvised explosive device hit their armoured vehicle, the French Presidency said in a statement.

SITE Intel said on Twitter that Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), which has repeatedly attacked soldiers and civilians in Mali and neighbouring Burkina Faso, had said it was responsible for the attack.

France's military command was not immediately available for comment.

(Reporting by Leigh Thomas and Elizabeth Pineau, Editing by Timothy Heritage)
Bahrain-based Al Baraka Islamic Bank (AIB)has been awarded the Best Islamic Retail Bank for Social Responsibility Award 2020 and Best Islamic Retail Banking Product (Assets Side) 2020 for Tamkeen Finance at the Islamic Retail Banking Awards (IRBA).



The Online Awards Ceremony (OAC) of the 6thedition was held live recently and broadcasted through multiple online channels.



"Tamkeen Finance allows entrepreneurs to grow their businesses further with fully Sharia-compliant finance facilities from Al Baraka Islamic Bank in partnership with Tamkeen.



Hamad Abdulla Al Oqab, Chief Executive Officer of Al Baraka Islamic Bank said: "We, at Al Baraka Islamic Bank, are very keen on enhancing our banking services to suit the various requirements and needs of our cherished customers. These efforts reflect our constant endeavours to ensure their satisfaction, trust, and loyalty to the bank. We are extremely honoured and proud of receiving the "Best Islamic Retail Bank for Social Responsibility in Bahrain 2020" award from this prestigious institution, and we perceive it as an added motivation for us to continue improving our retail banking portfolio and creating value-added products, along with offering the best Sharia-compliant banking services around."



The Islamic Retail Banking Awards (IRBA) is the first-of-its-kind Islamic banking awards program based on the most academically rigorous analysis of global Islamic banking efficiency performance. Candidates are thoroughly assessed by a panel of independent experts based on the new efficiency model developed by Cambridge IF Analytica.



These prestigious awards honours individuals and institutions who have demonstrated great commitment and made significant contributions to the development, growth, and success of Islamic Retail Banking.  TradeArabia News Service
US: 1,100 pounds of methamphetamine found in watermelons

Tesla owners will be paid $ 16,000 each due to slow charging

Advisor to Armenia Prosecutor General provides details about incident with Armenian soldier killed in Verin Shorzha

Banksy's painting of punk Lenin sold at auction in Hong Kong for $ 960,000

CSTO Deputy Secretary-General: Escalation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border requires undertaking of urgent measures

Catholicos of All Armenians receives newly appointed Ambassador of Japan

Australia closing its embassy in Kabul for security reasons

Biden to discuss issues related to Belarus and Ukraine with Putin

Armenian acting FM meets with ambassadors of CSTO member states accredited to Armenia

Armenia Ombudsman presents human rights protection in post-war period to CoE Programmes Directorate General

Germany is investigating Google's position in market

France: Sanctions against Belarus will continue

Armenia opposition party MP: Azerbaijan is a terrorist state, negotiations can't be led with such a country

US to reopen its Consulate General in Jerusalem

EU expects to receive over 1 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccine by end of September

Armenian MFA strongly condemns Azerbaijan's blatant armed encroachment on Armenia's sovereign territory

UN still awaits strong evidence that Dubai ruler's daughter is alive

Opposition Bright Armenia Party urges Government to immediately address UN Security Council

Armen Sarkissian receives Russia Ambassador to Armenia

Armenia President, France Ambassador discuss situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border

Overchuk: We hope unblocking of links between Armenia and Azerbaijan is a success

Armenia police officer commits suicide, criminal case launched

Armenia Environmental Protection and Mining Inspection Body has new deputy heads

Zarif, Aliyev discuss railway routes connecting Iran, Azerbaijan and Armenia

EU leaders agree to donate at least 100 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine to poor countries

Armenian serviceman Mher Hovhannisyan fires gunshot at his head, criminal case launched

Soldier who died in Armenia's Verin Shorzha was son of ARF-D member, father of 2

Blinken promises to continue close consultations with Israel on Iran

Armen Sarkissian: Armenia's relevant state institutions need to take the tightest measures

Armenian soldier commits suicide, opposition speaks on tense situation on border, 25.05.21 digest

Yerevan man's body found at Tatul Krpeyan Park

Armenia MOD: Reports about Armenian soldiers being injured in Sisian section of border not confirmed

EU summit calls for rarly implementation of vaccination certificates

Parliament of the Netherlands adopts resolution, EU must demand that Azerbaijan pull out troops from Armenia

Kremlin: Russian and US presidents to meet in Geneva on June 16

Spokesperson of community council of Armenia's Sisian: Men got enlisted and climbed to military posts

Bright Armenia Party: We are not satisfied with CSTO response

EU leaders urge council to review internal border guidelines by mid-June

Armenia MOD: Fixed-term serviceman receives lethal firearm injury in head area

Dollar still stable in Armenia

Armenian Catholic Catholicos-Patriarch passes away

Kathimerini: US seeks to increase military presence in Greece due to doubts about Turkey's reliability

US Congress members call on Biden to suspend all military assistance to Azerbaijan

Armenia acting economy minister receives Montenegro's newly appointed Ambassador

Armenia MOD: Soldier killed during shootings from Azerbaijani side in Verin Shorzha

Russian MP: Azerbaijani leadership interested in Armenia acting PM's victory in snap elections

Armenia MOD reports shooting from Azerbaijani side in Verin Shorzha border section

Armenia opposition MP: Authorities promised to separate business from politics, but they're failing to fulfill promise

There will be post-election processes if authorities try to rig voting, says Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan

CNN: Putin and Biden will meet on June 15-16 in Geneva

Latin America has the highest poverty rate in 20 years

Ex-President Kocharyan on Armenia applying to CSTO: No one will help you if you do nothing to solve your problems

Armenia ruling Civil Contract Party presents list of first 10 candidates ahead of snap parliamentary elections

Armenia acting justice minister discusses broad range of cooperation issues with top CoE official

Armenia former President Kocharyan: This guilt, this criminal article is on these authorities

Man survives after spending 17 days in desert

Azerbaijan continues course towards systematic extermination of Armenian heritage in Shushi

Armenia Syunik Province ex-governor: Azerbaijani soldiers advanced along length of border two days ago

Newly appointed Ambassador of Montenegro presents Letters of Credence to Armenia President

Its about bringing Karabakh issue back to right to self-determination, says Armenia ex-President Kocharyan

Iran FM to arrive in Armenia

Ara Aivazian and Austrian counterpart hold phone talks, focus on Azeri army's infiltration into Armenia's territory

Kocharyan: Elect todays political team if you are ready to live squatting

Jean-Michel Basquiat's painting sold at auction in Hong Kong for $ 30 million

2nd President Kocharyan on Armenia Security Council chief: Do you take that person seriously?

"Key" to settlement of Karabakh conflict cant be in one place, says Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan

Texas may permit carrying of pistols without special permission

Ex-President Kocharyan on Armenia acting PM Pashinyan's high popularity rating: We will wear it down to the root

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Election bloc format must be workable in some logical sense

Attorney: Political persecution against Robert Kocharyan is becoming more noticeable during election campaign

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: We must do everything so that our domestic politics is not dictated by Azerbaijan

Armenian acting defense minister meets Russian peacekeeping mission chief

Congress predicts US nuclear spending to reach $ 634 billion by 2030

Russian MP: The effectiveness of military cooperation with Armenia depends on Yerevan as well

Delimitation now may create some problems in Karabakh negotiation process, says Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan on relations with 3rd President Sargsyan: We go our own way they go their own

Judge adjourns hearing over case of Armenia 2nd President and ex-Deputy PM for 3 weeks

Court hearing over case of Armenia 2nd President and ex-Deputy PM

2nd President Kocharyan: Armenia must show that it will not be subjected to such pressures

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Armenia Investigative Committee: Criminal case opened into soldiers death

157 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

EU helps UN World Food Programme provide humanitarian assistance for conflict-affected people in Armenia

Yerevan municipal council convenes regular session

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Blinken arrives on his first official visit to Israel

World oil prices going up

Provincial hall issues statement on Tavush section of Armenia border with Azerbaijan

MFA statement: Azerbaijan continues to use Armenian POWs as political hostages

Newspaper: There are last-minute changes on Armenia ruling party electoral list

Armenia parliament starts regular sessions

Newspaper: Armenia 3rd President Sargsyan intensively engaged in election campaign

EU leaders call for ban on Belarus airlines flights to their countries

Quake hits Georgia, also felt in Armenia

2nd President Kocharyan: Process of obtaining Armenia citizenship shall be simplified, shall take only few months

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Robert Kocharyan: Armenia must not go back to the past and stay there, just like the incumbent authorities did

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The Delhi unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday held a public awareness campaign to inform people that the Delhi government owes the three municipal corporations ruled by the party Rs 13,000 crore and demanded immediate release of this fund.

Delhi BJP chief Adesh Gupta, along with MPs and other senior leaders, held a protest at the booth level, and distributed pamphlets informing people about how the corporations are unable to pay salaries and pension to its employees.

Gupta said, We want to tell people of Delhi that the government is not releasing the pending dues worth Rs13,000 crore to the corporations. After the mayors and BJP councillors called off their protest outside Delhi chief minister Arvind kejriwals residence in December, the BJP has said that they will continue the protest in a different form.

Delhi BJP spokesperson Harish Khurana said that this protest was part of the BJPs continuous campaign to demand its dues from the government. The corporations have been facing huge financial problems and the government has turned a blind eye to their demands. On Sunday, our leaders and party workers protested at the booth level and will be going from door-to-door to distribute pamphlets to inform people how the government owes the corporations Rs 13,000 crore.

Khurana said that the party aims to connect with five million people during its campaign.

Delhis ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has denied the allegations. The party has in the last few weeks accused the BJP of a 2500 crore scam in the civic bodies.

In a statement, the AAP said, Due to the rampant corruption of the BJP ruled corporations in the last 15 years, today they have no other way of spreading a lie regarding the AAP government. The claim that the AAP govt owes an imaginary Rs 13,000 to the corporations is a mere drama by the BJP. Citizens of Delhi gave BJP the responsibility of the MCD so they were supposed to take care of the sanitation of Delhi; they did not perform their duties but made MCD a den of corruption. AAP has run the Delhi government in profit and if the citizens of Delhi give us the responsibility, we will do the same in the municipal corporations.
The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City star Meredith Marks and her husband were separated at the beginning of season 1. Even though they seemingly reconciled during episode 8, Marks revealed the two had officially gotten back together with a December 2020 Instagram post.

Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen  Episode 17200  Pictured in this screen grab: Meredith Marks | Bravo

Meredith Marks separation journey documented on RHOSLC

At the beginning of RHOSLC, celebrity jewelry designer Meredith Marks shocked her friend Lisa Barlow, and the audience, when she revealed she and her husband of nearly 30 years, Seth, had separated in an emotional scene.

She explained that while the two, who have three adult children together, had taken time apart, they were still dating each other. Due to his job, Seth relocated to Ohio but came back into town to visit his family.

RELATED: Real Housewives of Salt Lake City: How Many Cast Members Are Mormon?

He quickly asked his wife to move with him, but she didnt want to because she felt she already relocated enough for him. The tension between them didnt ease, and she later admitted she wanted space.

Therefore, he returned to Ohio, subsequently missing their sons fashion show. However, he couldnt explain why he didnt show up because they kept their separation away from their children.

Meredith and Seth Marks seemingly reconciled during the show

During the eighth episode of RHOSLC season 1, Marks felt bad that Seth missed their sons show, so she invited him to a snowmobiling trip at Jen Shahs cabin.

Before they left, Seth admitted he spent more time focusing on his career than their marriage and wants another chance. Marks also revealed the time they spent apart made her realize how much she loves him and wants to work on their relationship.

A good friend does not spread rumors and gossip behind your back. Especially anything that could be negative to someones family. #RHOSLC  Meredith Marks (@MeredithMarks0) December 31, 2020

RELATED: RHOSLC: Meredith Marks Reveals This Is Not the First Split For Her and Seth  Has She Already Started Dating?

During the trip, Whitney Rose wondered about the couple because they seemed happy together, but Shah told her that Marks dated other people. Additionally, Heather Gay noted Shah tried to show her a picture of the jewelry designer with someone she supposedly dated at the time.

The designer has denied the claims and described Shah as not a good friend by spreading the rumors.

Marks reveals the two are back together

In a Dec. 2020 interview with People, Marks announced her and Seths reconciliation. She noted they loved each other and realized they wanted to fight for their marriage after seeing a counselor.

The designer also admitted they previously broke up several times and had relationships with other people. However, she denies dating anyone, as Shah claimed during the time of filming last year.

Additionally, Marks acknowledged the reality franchise, along with the COVID-19 pandemic, helped revive her marriage. According to the Salt Lake City housewife, the show caused her to be introspective and made her conscious of the way words affect others.

All I ever wanted was for @MeredithMarks0 to be happy & I wasn't sure how to approach the convo. I was getting inconsistent info, so I asked questions. However, Meredith & Seth have reconciled & I couldn't be more happy for them. #RHOSLC @Bravotv https://t.co/V1vZEh44lM  Whitney Rose (@whitneywildrose) December 31, 2020

RELATED: RHOSLC: Jen Shah Slams Whitney Rose for Always Talking About Other Housewives Marriages

She also noted the two bonded on a deeper level while spending time in quarantine during the pandemic together.

In addition to the interview, the couple announced their reconciliation in a series of Instagram photos taken at a beach. Marks captioned it, The sun always shines on the other side of the storm.

Rose commented on the news in a Twitter post, explaining she only asked questions due to inconsistent information and is happy for the couple. The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City airs Wednesdays at 10/9 Central on Bravo.
The Madhya Pradesh government has ordered closure of all Covid care centres in the state, except those in Bhopal, from January 1 in view of the low occupancy of beds, as per an official order made available on Sunday.

This decision evoked a sharp reaction from the opposition Congress, with its state unit president Kamal Nath questioning the rationale behind the order.

Defending the decision, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said the pandemic is under control in the state and there is no justification to keep the Covid care centres open just for the sake of keeping them open.

As per the state government order dated December 31, 2020 and directed to district collectors and health authorities, a policy decision has been taken to shut the Covid Care centres from the first day of New Year due to low occupancy of beds.

These centres were set up across the state for lodging Covid-19 patients.

The order also stated that in the case of rise of infected patients, health authorities can reopen these centres with prior permission of the state government.

Meanwhile, Nath tweeted: Deaths due to coronavirus continuing in the state. The statistics of infection is increasing daily. Even the assembly session was cancelled due to fear of coronavirus and the Shivraj government closed all Covid care centres in the state except Bhopal? Hitting back, CM Chouhan said, if required, these Covid care centres will be opened again.

Does Kamal Nath want Covid centres to remain open always? The Covid-19 situation is fully under control in the state. Arrangements are already in place for providing adequate treatment (to patients). Home isolation is also provided.

If needed, these Covid care centres will be opened again, but there is no justification to keep them open for the sake of keeping them open, Chouhan said in a statement.

As on January 2, the total number of coronavirus positive cases in Madhya Pradesh stood at 2,43,302 including 3,627 fatalities, as per health officials.
Sir Keir Starmer has called on Boris Johnson to introduce a third national lockdown across England within the next 24 hours in order to suppress the out of control cases of coronavirus and rising hospitalisations.

After the prime minister suggested that restrictions are probably about to get tougher in the coming weeks amid concerns over the prevalence of the new variant of Covid-19, the Labour leader urged No 10 not to delay.

Speaking on Sunday, Mr Johnson said he was reconciled to doing what it takes to get the virus down and also raised the prospect of future school closures, despite separately telling parents it was safe to send their children back to primaries on Monday.

A Downing Street source told The Independent there were no plans to create a tier 5 level of restrictions, suggesting it was likely more areas would be placed under tier 4 measures, to which 78 per cent of the country is already subject.

But as the latest government data showed 54,990 lab-confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UK  the sixth consecutive day where figures have exceed 50,000  and a further 454 people died within 28 days of testing positive, Sir Keir demanded a national stay at home message.

Theres no good the prime minister hinting that further restrictions are coming into place in a week, or two or three, he said.

That delay has been the source of so many problems. So, I say bring in those restrictions now, national restrictions, within the next 24 hours. That has to be the first step towards controlling the virus.

Pressed further, he added: Nationwide lockdown. The prime minister is hinting that that is going to happen, but he is delaying again. Do it now  that is the necessary first step to get the virus back under control.

A Labour source also told The Independent: We need to consider all the measures that were in place in the March lockdown. This includes a much clearer direction to stay at home.

Following Fridays U-turn by the education secretary Gavin Williamson to delay the return of primary schools in London as the capital faces surging cases of the virus, a series of leading education unions issued statements over the weekend calling for all schools in England to switch to remote learning for a brief period.

But with fewer than 24 hours remaining before primaries in the rest of the country are due to welcome children back to the classrooms after the Christmas holidays, Sir Keir declined to back the unions calls.

I dont want to add to the chaos that will be caused by having all schools closed tomorrow, Sir Keir said. Many will be closed, it is inevitable more schools are going to have to close and the government needs a plan for childrens learning, but also for working parents.

He added: Everybody wants children back in school. There is nobody that would argue with that.

Appearing on the BBCs Andrew Marr programme on Sunday, Mr Johnson insisted that parents should absolutely send their children back to schools in areas where they are still scheduled to reopen tomorrow, claiming: There is no doubt in my mind that schools are safe.

Recommended Williamson under growing pressure to keep all schools in England shut

I would advise all parents thinking about want to do, look at where your area is, overwhelmingly youll be in a part of the country where primary schools tomorrow will be open, he said.

However, he failed to guarantee all schools, including secondaries, would reopen on 18 January as planned, stressing that the government would continue to assess the impact of tier 4 and tier 3 restrictions.

Professor Sir Mark Walport, a member of the governments Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), added that it was pretty clear more measures would be needed to contain the spread of the new variant of Covid-19.

Pressed on whether tier 4 restrictions  the most severe level of measures currently used by the government  were enough, Sir Mark added: Its the tier 4 restrictions, its obeying them. It is thinking about breaking essentially every possible route of transmission we possible can.

Those are the things that are absolutely necessary and that is pretty clear were going to need more.

Highlighting the severe pressure faced by the health service, particularly in virus hotspots, Chris Hopson, the chief executive of NHS providers, also urged for appropriate restrictions as he expressed concern over the number of patients with coronavirus admitted to hospital in the past eight days.

What weve seen since Christmas Day, which was just eight days ago, is a very, very rapid rise in the number of patients who are in hospital with Covid-19, he told Sky News.

So we had 17,700 patients in hospitals on 25 December, weve now got 23,500 as of yesterday  so thats a 5,800 increase. So you can imagine why people in the NHS are worried about how quickly this virus is spreading.
The situation as U.S. forces leave Afghanistan looks dire for the thousands of interpreters and their families that helped our troops. Read more
Workhuman, the Irish HR technology company which achieved unicorn status last year with a valuation of $1.2bn (1bn), is planning to double its Irish workforce to 800 people by 2023.

It employs 700 people - 300 in the US and 400 in Dublin. Sales and marketing are in the US, while product development is based here.

CEO and co-founder Eric Mosley told the Sunday Independent: "Workhuman's office space capacity is currently 400, though we have surpassed that while working from home during Covid.

"In the first half of 2021, we'll be expanding to a second building which has four floors and will give us an additional 200 seats. And then we have plans for further expansion in the years to come for another 200 seats. Looking forward, we'll be able to hold at least 800 humans in our Park West office space by 2023."

Workhuman had revenues of $700m in 2019 and saw double digit growth in 2020. It is aiming for turnover of $1bn within a couple of years. "We're on track to be heading in that direction, if it's not 2021, we'll be at that runway early 2022," said Mosley.

Intermediate Capital Group (ICG) bought a 10pc share in Workhuman for $120m in June 2020.

Mosley said it gave early investors, some of whom backed the company in 2000, a chance to exit.

"We decided we would basically test the market and bring in a new investor who could provide all of those angels an exit if they didn't want to wait for a public offering. Some of them earned 100 times their money," he said.

The company is still planning for an initial offering.

"We look at it every year and we have banks on to us every couple of months because we could have done it last year, we could do it this year, we could do it next year. I see over the next two years is most likely, but we're not a company that's losing a lot of money and has to go public to raise money to fund our growth, which is a very common story in the tech world."

Mosley has huge ambitions for the company. "I think Workhuman has a shot at being a real iconic company in the world."

Set up in 1999, it works with companies in the US and Europe.

"Because we invest 95pc of our sales and marketing in budgets in the US, we really did not build our profile in Ireland even though we would probably be one of the most successful Irish technology companies and have all of our development in Dublin."

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SUMMERVILLE  More than 37 years ago, several Summerville residents realized a nutritional meal was a luxury many elderly people in the community struggled to get.

Now, 217 of those residents in town look to Meals on Wheels of Summerville as a necessary resource.

"It's our connection to the outside world," said Maria Glover, a 61-year-old Summerville resident and longtime Meals on Wheels recipient. "They're almost like a second family."

Having access to nutritional food is a huge privilege whether in the midst of a pandemic or not. Nearly 20 percent of adults ages 60 and older in South Carolina faced the threat of hunger in 2019, according to the United Health Foundation.

Meals on Wheels of Summerville has been helping fulfill the need since June of 1982. The organization has delivered thousands of pounds of food since its inception  more than 130,000 pounds of food have been distributed in town during the COVID-19 pandemic. The group is also completely community supported.

Hundreds of volunteers have come through the organization delivering food to residents throughout the years. Its current executive director, Crystal Bovell, was one of those volunteers.

You just immediately connect with the mission," Bovell said.

During the holiday season, volunteers with the organization managed to rally together to make sure recipients received an additional Christmas gift with cookies and blankets. Bovell said they initially didn't have enough resources to do so.

The success of the holiday gift ended up being a reminder of just how much the community sees the value of supporting the organization in its nearly 40-year mission, she said.

Starting with a neighbor

For a lot of people with Meals on Wheels of Summerville, their connection to the program started with a neighbor.

That's how Bovell found out about volunteering for the organization. It's also how Glover learned about the resource.

She had moved to Summerville a few years ago from Charleston. Her Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher listed Summerville as a place she could stay.

She also has a couple of sisters who live in the area.

"At first I didn't want to come," Glover said.

She's disabled and said transportation wasn't as accessible as it had been for her in the Charleston area.

She didn't really know anyone in her neighborhood either. But one of her neighbors soon gave her the number to Meals on Wheels of Summerville.

It ended up being the connection and resource she said she needed to make her current residence a forever home.

Ive only been a client for a couple of years," she said, but the organization is very, very helpful.

Meals on Wheels of Summerville delivers five pre-prepared meals a week that only need to be warmed up. For some elderly residents who are more sedentary or may not be able to do things because of a disability, the program has become vital.

"It's just been such a help to me," said Charles Moss, an 82-year-old meal recipient. "I could never cook things to start with."

Moss is legally blind and has a wife who is living in a nursing facility. A neighbor who was a volunteer delivery person with Meals on Wheels of Summerville told him about the program.

Moss said he was hesitant at first and resisted reaching out to the organization for a long time. Eventually, with his wife no longer living at home, he consulted his doctor and they agreed it would be a good idea.

He's been a recipient for a little over a year now.

Bovell said the organization was created in 1982 when local churches and doctors realized that a lot of their community members were routinely in hospitals because of problems around nutrition.

But it doesn't end at the food. Glover said the biggest thing for her is the personal connection. One of her favorite parts is that volunteers remember her birthday.

They're always personable and try to connect with her, she said.

They seem like they know me forever, and it really makes me feel special," she said.

That may seem small to some people, she said, but for those who don't have a routine connection to the outside community it's huge.

Both Glover and Moss have also donated to Meals on Wheels of Summerville to further emphasize their appreciation for the organization.

Glover said it's a small price to pay for what they give back to her.

More Information For more information about Meals on Wheels of Summerville, go to mowsummerville.org.

Lost connections

With the COVID-19 pandemic, Meals on Wheels of Summerville has gone from delivering food five days a week to handing out five days worth of meals on Mondays.

The coronavirus has also made the experience with the program a little different. Volunteer meal deliverers can't sit and chat the way they are used to with recipients.

"We're all trying to navigate through this," Bovell said. "A big part of this is the emotional hardship."

The biggest shift came with the delivery drivers. Most of the volunteer drivers with the program were older Summerville community members.

With COVID-19 being more of a health risk for the elderly community, organizers said it was safer to avoid asking them to make deliveries.

This was also paired with the program seeing an initial influx in recipients with more community members isolating at home.

Dale St. Pierre is a 73-year-old volunteer who helps prepare and organize the food. Before the pandemic, he delivered the meals.

You deliver to the same folks for years and years," he said. "You miss those folks.

Getting all of the meals prepared and making all of the deliveries in one day is challenging, but St. Pierre said it's worth it. He has been working with the organization since 1996 and remembers some of the founders.

Without Meals on Wheels, many of the people they help wouldn't have a way of getting a warm meal every day, he said. That's why he hopes to see the organization expand and have more people provide support.

After going from a volunteer to the executive director, Bovell said she learned more about what it takes to do what the organization does.

She also realized how valuable the Summerville community has been in making sure that program stays active. She said that thankfully during the summer, when organizers thought they would be short of volunteers, teachers and other young community members stepped up to help.

She is looking forward to the post-pandemic days when they can get back to connecting with more recipients.

Were talking partnerships that have been around since 1982," she said. "It's a privilege, truly."
MOUNT PLEASANT  A Mount Pleasant man said two of his cats have been killed in the past eight months, and he thinks coyotes are to blame.

Robert Harris, who lives in the fenced Sandpiper Pointe II neighborhood, said that area is becoming a haven for coyotes because their habitat has been mostly eradicated with new construction.

The S.C. Department of Natural Resources has called on hunters to help control the coyote population throughout the state.

David Lucas, an agency spokesman, said there is not a lot they can do about coyotes because they are wild animals. And while they aren't native to South Carolina, the predators have established themselves here and have a presence in each county.

According to DNR, the animals first appeared in the Upstate in 1978. Some were illegally imported into South Carolina for hound running, and eastern migration has also resulted in the species' natural expansion in the state.

Lucas said coyotes are extremely adaptable and thrive in suburban environments.

"There's little that you can do," Lucas said. "People  if they have big pieces of private property  you can hire trappers to come, and they'll try to trap them for you. Though, coyotes are notoriously difficult to trap."

Lucas said it is not really feasible to set out traps in suburban settings where people may only have about a quarter of an acre of land in the backyard.

The DNR is encouraging deer hunters to shoot any coyotes they see while hunting. This may not put a big dent in the population, though, because, much like wild hogs, coyotes are prolific reproducers.

People are allowed to hunt coyotes at night on private property as long as DNR is notified beforehand, Lucas said.

Municipalities and counties have different methods for controlling coyotes. Harris said he reached out to animal control in Mount Pleasant and was told there was nothing the department could do.

He said he has lived in the same neighborhood for 20 years and had only seen one coyote in person. But now he has them recorded on camera about 100 feet from his door. And there have been reported sightings in nearby neighborhoods such as Scanlonville.

"It didn't used to be a problem," Harris said. "You could let a pet outside and didn't have to worry about it."

Lucas said coyotes typically run away from people, but have been known to kill small pets like dogs or cats. DNR encourages people to keep pets fenced-in and watch them if the neighborhood is known to have coyotes roaming the area.

"We're all for getting rid of them, but the reality of it is they're here to stay," Lucas said. "There's no way to eradicate them. They're too well established, and its a good niche for them."

Coyotes do have a detrimental impact on deer, turkeys and other native species that are important in the Palmetto State. So the more they can be controlled, the better, Lucas said.
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WASHINGTON - A last-ditch effort by President Donald Trump and his allies to overturn the election thrust Washington into chaos Saturday as a growing coalition of Republican senators announced plans to rebel against Senate leaders by seeking to block formal certification of President-elect Joe Biden's victory.

The push to subvert the vote is all but certain to fail when Congress gathers in joint session Wednesday to count electoral college votes already certified by each state. Still, Trump is continuing to press Republican lawmakers to support his baseless claims of election fraud while calling on thousands of supporters to fill the streets of the nation's capital on Wednesday in mass protest of his defeat.

A group of 11 Republican senators and senators-elect, led by Ted Cruz of Texas, vowed to join Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., in challenging votes from some contested states, calling for an "emergency 10-day audit" to investigate Trump's unfounded claims. Hours later, Trump wrote on Twitter that there would be "plenty more to come."

The move amounts to an open rebellion against Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who last month pleaded with GOP senators to avoid a public debate over the legitimacy of November's election results. McConnell has personally congratulated Biden on his victory.

The high drama at the Capitol is set to punctuate a momentous week in politics that will delineate power at the dawn of the Biden presidency. The new Congress to be sworn in Sunday will reduce the size of the Democratic House majority. Trump and Biden will both campaign Monday in Georgia ahead of twin runoff elections for the U.S. Senate on Tuesday that will determine which party controls the upper chamber. Later in the week, members of the Republican National Committee will gather at a Florida beach resort to chart the party's future beyond Trump's presidency.

"What's happening next week foreshadows what's going to be happening for the following 24 months," said Peter Hart, a veteran Democratic pollster. "It's a question of do we start to move to the future or get locked into the past. . . . This [could] continue to rip apart the fabric of this country that has already been torn through."

Congress is all but certain to drive a final stake through the heart of Trump's dream of four more years on Wednesday. But the gulf between the reality of the certification process and Trump's fantasy of subverting the vote to stay in office is politically perilous for Republicans - none more than Trump's unfailingly deferential No. 2, Vice President Mike Pence.

As president of the Senate, Pence will wield the gavel when the electoral votes are counted and Biden is declared the winner by a wide margin, 306 to 232.

Though Pence's role is strictly ceremonial, the lawyer Sidney Powell and other conspiracy-minded Trump allies are trying to convince the president that Pence has the power to overturn the election by rejecting some of Biden's electors, according to two senior administration officials with knowledge of the conversations. After Pence labored for four years to stay in the mercurial president's good graces, his performance on Wednesday could risk a rupture on their 14th-to-last day in office.

While the growing GOP chorus to challenge Biden's victory may ease the burden on Pence to lead the charge for Trump, it increases the likelihood of a volatile, discomfiting debate. And it virtually guarantees that Republicans will face a vote that forces them to decide whether they will honor the collective will of the voters or stand with Trump - a vote that could long serve as a litmus test for the GOP base.

With dozens of House Republicans expected also to challenge the election results, Wednesday's event is likely to be a very public showcase of Trump's two-month campaign to delegitimize Biden's presidency, even as Washington barrels inexorably toward Biden's inauguration.

For days, Trump has been urging supporters to converge on Washington on Wednesday - in a showing that could offer a measure of the enduring popular appeal of his unfounded claims of fraud.

As many as four rallies are expected to draw pro-Trump demonstrators to the Washington Monument, Freedom Plaza and the Capitol. The Proud Boys, white supremacists and members of armed right-wing groups have pledged to attend, while threats of violence and calls for an "armed encampment" on the National Mall are proliferating online.

"I'm focused on the long-term damage rather than the short-term turbulence - the formation of a very large group of people who simply will not accept the legitimacy of Joe Biden as president of the United States or the legitimacy of the processes by which he ascended to the presidency," said William Galston, the chairman of governance studies at the Brookings Institution. "That, in my view, is the fundamental danger."

Trump has made plain his goal with the certification process: to overturn the results of an election he insists was "rigged," though he has produced no evidence to support that claim. But so far, at least, he has not provided clear directives about how, procedurally, he intends for that goal to be accomplished.

Trump wants Pence and others to help recruit lawmakers to join the effort led by Hawley and Cruz in the Senate and a handful of Trump allies in the House, and to publicly present what he considers evidence of voter fraud, according to a senior administration official, who, like others interviewed, spoke on the condition of anonymity to candidly discuss internal deliberations.

Pence and others have explained to Trump that the vice president does not have the power to take substantive action on Wednesday, such as moving to invalidate the results, administration officials say. Pence's legally prescribed duties are strictly ceremonial: read aloud the electoral votes from each state and officiate any debate that unfolds.

However, Pence is encouraging lawmakers to publicly debate what they see as voting irregularities in key states, said Pence chief of staff Marc Short.

"Vice President Pence shares the concerns of millions of Americans about voter fraud and irregularities in the last election," Short said. "The vice president welcomes the efforts of members of the House and Senate to use the authority they have under the law to raise objections and bring forward evidence before the Congress and the American people on January 6th."

Late Friday, a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas, arguing that the Constitution gives the vice president sole discretion to determine whether electors put forward by the states are valid. Gohmert's suit asked the judge effectively to tell Pence that he has the right to invalidate electoral college votes cast for Biden and instead recognize other slates of Trump electors.

Pence asked that the suit be rejected, and the judge, Jeremy Kernodle, complied. Kernodle, who was nominated by Trump to serve on the federal bench in Texas in 2018, wrote that Gohmert lacked standing to sue.

For Trump, the dismissal compounds nearly two months of anger and agita over the election outcome and his failure to reverse it, either through dozens of lawsuits or by personal pressure on state and local officials.

Over the Christmas vacation, the president was in a foul mood at Mar-a-Lago, his Florida seaside club. In addition to venting about the election, he fumed about renovations to the property overseen by first lady Melania Trump in preparation for the couple's impending move from the White House, according to someone who spoke with the president at the club.

Trump left Florida three days earlier than planned, skipping Mar-a-Lago's annual New Year's Eve party, which he typically attends. Hundreds of guests bought tickets to the bash, expecting the president to be there. "People go to see him," said one person who planned to attend but bowed out after learning Trump was returning to Washington.

Trump did not explain his unexpected departure but told some guests at Mar-a-Lago that he thought Iran might seek to retaliate against the United States around the Jan. 3 anniversary of last year's U.S. killing of Iranian Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani in Baghdad.

Still, Trump has been in a rancid state since his November loss to Biden. Obsessed with conspiracy theories fed to him by Powell, his personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani and other allies, he has aired grievances at will on Twitter and been easily provoked to lash out at aides.

"All of us are just trying to stay off the radar," one senior administration official said. "You have a conversation with him and, the next thing you know, you're pulled into, 'Hey, Sidney Powell told me yadda, yadda, yadda,' or, 'Rudy said blah, blah, blah.' There's no upside to being in his orbit right now."

A recent advertisement from the Lincoln Project, an anti-Trump super PAC run by longtime Republican strategists, drew the president's fury. In it, the narrator speaks directly to Trump and says, ominously, that Pence is "running away" from him by not fully amplifying his claims of widespread election fraud.

"The end is coming, Donald," the narrator intones. "Even Mike Pence knows."

Trump wanted to issue a cease-and-desist letter to the Lincoln Project over the ad, although it is unclear what legal ground, if any, he might have for doing so. Officials said he ultimately was talked out of it.

In recent weeks, Trump also has been displeased with Pence, thinking the vice president and other advisers have not done enough to help him overturn the election results. But people familiar with the dynamic between the two men said the relationship remains strong.

On Monday, they are to fly to Georgia to campaign for Sens. David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler, Republican incumbents trying to fend off energized Democratic challenges in Tuesday's runoffs. Both Trump and Pence are expected to emphasize the high stakes, telling Georgia voters that if Perdue and Loeffler lose, Republicans will lose control of the upper chamber - opening the door for a Democratic House and Senate to reverse many Trump administration accomplishments.

However, Trump has been feuding openly for weeks with Georgia's Republican governor and secretary of state, blasting their unwillingness to reverse the state's presidential election results. Biden was the first Democrat to win Georgia and its 16 electoral votes in nearly three decades.

As a result, some GOP officials are concerned that Trump might veer from prepared remarks at his election-eve rally and deliver a sour message that risks depressing Republican turnout on Election Day.

Polls show both races are tight, and the outcome may be uncertain when lawmakers gather back in Washington for the presidential certification the next day. McConnell and other party leaders have discouraged their members from interfering with the traditionally pro forma process, contending that any effort to change the outcome would fail.

McConnell has told others privately that he is frustrated by Hawley's decision to challenge slates of Biden electors and force votes likely to divide Republicans, saying it will serve only to invite a political backlash from Trump supporters against GOP senators who vote to confirm Biden's victory.

In an open letter to his constituents, Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., a frequent Trump critic, went further, calling the effort to use the congressional process to reverse the election results a "dangerous ploy," given that there is no evidence of widespread fraud. Instead, Sasse wrote, the effort is "designed to disenfranchise millions of Americans simply because they voted for someone in a different party."

On Saturday, the Cruz-led coalition publicly rejected that position, arguing that "deep distrust" among some voters about the legitimacy of the election demands the creation of an "Electoral Commission ... to conduct an emergency 10-day audit of the election returns in the disputed states." A previous commission appointed to investigate Trump's allegations about the 2016 election disbanded without finding evidence of fraud or even issuing a report.

Those in the Cruz coalition also said they would reject electors from disputed states as not "lawfully certified," though they offered no legal basis for doing so. In Georgia, for example, Biden's victory was certified after three separate recounts.

Hawley has indicated that he will object to electoral votes submitted by at least one state, Pennsylvania, and that he may challenge some others. He has justified the move as a means of speaking up for the 74 million Americans who voted for Trump. In a statement, Hawley singled out Pennsylvania as failing "to follow their own state election laws," though he offered no evidence to support that charge.

Hawley and Cruz are among several senators seen as potential presidential contenders in 2024, and their moves could open the floodgates for other ambitious Republicans to lodge similar challenges on Wednesday in hopes of appealing to Trump's base.

This revolt will put a squeeze on incumbents facing reelection in 2022, including two members of the GOP leadership, John Thune of South Dakota and Roy Blunt of Missouri. Both men are expected to vote to certify Biden's victory, with Thune telling reporters just before Christmas that any attempt to challenge the election's outcome is "just not going anywhere. I mean, in the Senate it would go down like a shot dog."

Since then, Trump has been attacking the No. 2-ranking GOP senator. On Friday, Trump tweeted that Thune was a "RINO" - a "Republican in name only" - and called on Gov. Kristi Noem to run against him in the state's GOP primary.

"South Dakota wants strong leadership, NOW!" Trump wrote.

Never mind that Noem had tweeted just 10 days earlier that she would not challenge Thune, calling him "a friend of mine" and announcing that she would seek reelection as governor in 2022.
Dharmsala, India: Hundreds of Tibetans in exile braved the rain and cold in Dharmsala on Sunday to vote in a new political leader.

The voters wore masks, maintained social distance and used hand sanitiser as they cast their ballots during the first round of the election in the northern Indian city, where the exiled government is based.

A Tibetan Buddhist nun has her temperature checked at the polliing station in Dharmsala, India on Sunday. Credit:AP

In this first phase of voting, two candidates for the top government post of president will be shortlisted, including 90 parliamentarians. The second and final round of voting will take place in April.

By this we are sending a clear message to Beijing that Tibet is under occupation, but Tibetans in exile are free. And given a chance, an opportunity, we prefer democracy, said Lobsang Sangay, who will soon be finishing his second and final term as the Tibetan political leader.
A federal appeals court on Saturday dismissed a lawsuit by Louie Gohmert seeking to expand Mike Pence's authority, and allow him to overturn Joe Biden's election victory.

Congress meets on January 6 to certify Biden's victory over Donald Trump, and allies of the president have attempted a series of tricks to prevent the certification.

Gohmert, a Republican congressman for Texas, was deemed by the three-judge panel on Saturday to lack the standing to sue.

The panel comprised of Republican appointees, including two judges tapped by former President Ronald Reagan and a Trump appointee.

Louie Gohmert, Republican congressman from Texas, is attempting to get Mike Pence to void the election won by Joe Biden when Congress meets on January 6

Gohmert's suit argued that Pence had discretion to decide what votes should count

They largely endorsed the lower court ruling, issued on Friday by Texas-based U.S. District Judge Jeremy Kernodle, a Trump appointee, who said the GOP plaintiffs lacked standing.

Kernodle found that Gohmert suffered no legally recognizable injury, and that the other plaintiffs, a group of Arizona Republicans who self-identify as an alternate 'slate' of pro-Trump electors, could not link their supposed injury to Pence.

Kernodle found they could not show they suffered any personal harm 'fairly traceable' to Pence's allegedly unlawful conduct and, therefore, lacked legal standing to bring the case.

The standing requirement 'helps enforce the limited role of federal courts in our constitutional system. The problem for plaintiffs here is that they lack standing,' Kernodle wrote.

Following the ruling, Gohmert, told Newsmax: 'But if bottom line is, the court is saying, 'We're not going to touch this. You have no remedy' - basically, in effect, the ruling would be that you gotta go to the streets and be as violent as Antifa and BLM.'

After his remarks drew backlash, Gohmert issued a statement saying his words had been twisted, and that it was 'false' he had been advocating for violence.

'I have not encouraged and unequivocally do not advocate for violence,' he said. 'I have long advocated for following and teach the example of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. of peaceful protest.'

'That does not keep me from recognizing what lies ahead when the institutions created by a self-governing people to peacefully resolve disputes hide from their responsibilities,' he continued.

'Violence is not the answer. The appropriate answer is courts and self-governing bodies resolving disputes as intended,' Gohmert concluded.

Gohmert issued a statement denying his remarks were a call for violence

Joe Biden, pictured on December 29, will be certified on January 6 and sworn in on January 20

The suit's dismissal was expected.

Trump has refused to concede defeat to Democrat Biden and has repeatedly falsely claimed the election was tainted by widespread fraud.

He and his allies have lost dozens of court efforts seeking to reverse the election results.

Biden beat Trump by a 306-232 margin in the Electoral College and is set to be sworn in on January 20.

Gohmert's suit argued that Pence had discretion to decide what votes should count.

They also asked the judge to bar Pence from following the Electoral Count Act of 1887, which lays out how objections to votes are handled by Congress.

Some Republicans have said they plan to object to the count of presidential electors next week in Congress.

A Justice Department lawyer representing Pence on Thursday urged Kernodle to dismiss the lawsuit saying they had sued the wrong person as they raised 'a host of weighty legal issues about the manner in which the electoral votes for president are to be counted.'

'The Senate and the House, not the Vice President, have legal interests that are sufficiently adverse to plaintiffs to ground a case or controversy,' Pence's filing said.

Pence's chief of staff, Marc Short, said in a statement on Saturday that lawmakers have the right to raise their objections.

'The Vice President welcomes the efforts of members of the House and Senate to use the authority they have under the law to raise objections and bring forward evidence before the Congress and the American people on Jan. 6,' Short said.

Gohmert's suit was dismissed Friday, and the dismissal upheld by an appeals court Saturday

On Saturday Ted Cruz, senator from Texas, and 10 other senators said they intend to vote to reject electors from states that have been at the center of Trump's unproven assertions of election fraud.

They said Congress should immediately appoint a commission to conduct an emergency 10-day audit of election results in those states.

'Once completed, individual states would evaluate the commission's findings and could convene a special legislative session to certify a change in their vote, if needed,' they said.

It was not immediately clear which states would be subject to the proposed audit, Cruz's office said.

They accepted their attempt was likely to fail.

'We are not naive. We fully expect most if not all Democrats, and perhaps more than a few Republicans, to vote otherwise,' they said.

Several Republicans senators have said they do not support any effort to derail the certification of the Electoral College vote.
Television

Call Me Kat: Mayim Bialik (The Big Bang Theory) stars in a new sitcom about a woman who owns a cat cafe, and juggles her friendships, and an overbearing mother whos pressuring her single daughter to settle down with a fella. The cast also includes Cheyenne Jackson, Swoosie Kurtz, Kyla Pratt, Leslie Jordan and Julian Gant. (8 p.m. Sunday Fox; moves to its regular time slot of 9 p.m. on Thursday; stream on FuboTV and Hulu)

Related: Call Me Kat: Mayim Bialik of Big Bang Theory stars in a likable, unpretentious new sitcom (review)

The Watch: The British-made fantasy about unlikely police working in an imaginary city is inspired by Terry Pratchetts novels. (8 p.m. BBC America)

Last Man Standing: Tim Allens sitcom returns for its ninth and final season with a new character, and a setting that reflects a three-year time jump. (9:30 p.m. Sunday, Fox)

The Rookie: The police drama starring Nathan Fillion returns for Season 3. (10 p.m. Sunday, ABC)

Antiques Roadshow: The long-running reality show, in which people bring in their keepsakes and heirlooms to find out how much theyre worth, returns for a new season. (8 p.m. Monday, PBS)

The Bachelor: Matt James, who will make history as the first Black star of the Bachelor series, will be handing out roses as Season 25 begins. (8 p.m. Monday, ABC)

Related: The Bachelor Season 25: 2 Oregon women among the bachelorettes wholl compete for Matt James affection

Zoeys Extraordinary Playlist: The musical comedy/drama returns for Season 2. (8 p.m. Tuesday, NBC)

Gordon Ramsays American Road Trip: Chef Gordon Ramsay embarks on a road trip with friends and colleagues Gino DAcampo and Fred Sirieix. (8 p.m. Tuesday, Fox)

This Is Us: The popular family drama returns to continue Season 5. (9 p.m. Tuesday, NBC)

Name That Tune: The musical game show returns for a reboot, with Jane Krakowski as host, and Randy Jackson as bandleader. (9 p.m. Wednesday, Fox)

Celebrity Wheel of Fortune: Apparently, theres no end to game shows getting celebrity editions. This primetime installment is hosted by Pat Sajak and Vanna White. (8 p.m. Thursday, ABC)

Hells Kitchen: The reality show returns for Season 19, and features eight former contestants competing against eight new cooks. (8 p.m. Thursday, Fox)

Mr. Mayor: Ted Danson returns in a new sitcom created by Tina Fey and Robert Carlock (30 Rock), in which Danson plays a retired businessman who is unexpectedly victorious in his long-shot campaign for mayor of Los Angeles. The cast includes Holly Hunter and Bobby Moynihan. (8 p.m. Thursday, NBC)

The Chase: Sara Haines hosts a new quiz show, inspired by a British format, in which players will compete with a Chaser, an expert who tries to outdo the competitors. The chasers include James Holzhauer, Ken Jennings and Brad Rutter, who earned high primetime ratings last year when they faced off in Jeopardy! The Greatest of All Time. (9 p.m. Thursday, ABC)

Go-Big Show: A new talent show  and the talents include things like training alligators and driving monster trucks -- hosted by Bert Kreischer, with celebrity judges including Snoop Dogg, Rosario Dawson, Jennifer Nettles and Cody Rhodes. (9 p.m. Thursday, TBS)

The Hustler: Craig Ferguson hosts a game show with a twist  one player secretly knows the answers. (10 p.m. ABC)

Streaming

Discovery Plus: Another new streaming service launches, this one from the media company whose channels include Discovery, HGTV, TLC, Food Network and the Travel Channel. The streaming service promises subscribers access to cable favorites, along with original series. Choices include spinoffs from the popular 90 Day Fiance franchise; an early look at some of the shows coming to Chip and Joanna Gaines Magnolia Network; Bobby and Giada in Italy, featuring Food Network stars Bobby Flay and Giada De Laurentiis; The Impossible Row; and more. Discovery Plus will cost $4.99 per month, with an ad-free version available for $6.99 per month, with some Verizon customers eligible to receive up to a year of the streaming service. (Available to stream beginning Monday)

History of Swear Words: Nicholas Cage hosts a wry docuseries exploring the history and uses of some of the most common words youre not supposed to say in polite company. (Available to stream beginning Tuesday, Netflix)

Coyote: Michael Chiklis stars as a border patrol agent on the verge of retirement, who must decide whether to help a pregnant Mexican teenager cross the border to the U.S. (CBS All Access)

Already streaming

Cobra Kai: Ralph Macchio and William Zabka return for Season 3 of the series that returns them to roles they played in the popular Karate Kid movies years ago. (Available to stream beginning Friday, Netflix)

More of our coverage:

Heres when Alex Trebeks final Jeopardy! episodes will air

Winter TV 2021: Premiere dates for new and returning midseason shows

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-- Kristi Turnquist

kturnquist@oregonian.com 503-221-8227 @Kristiturnquist
By Randy Myers

Bay City News Foundation

Since gatherings are a big no-no this season, how about uncorking the bubbly (alcoholic or nonalcoholic) at home and ring in 2021 by watching a film available to stream from Bay Area indie theaters?

There's much to choose from. Here are five of your best bets.

"Driveways": Andrew Ahn's sophomore feature is my favorite film of 2020, an emotional salve for the rage-filled times in which we live. The late Brian Dennehy hits a career high as a lonely Korean War vet who befriends an ostracized and shy Korean American boy (Lucas Jaye) who just moved with his mother (Hong Chau) into his dead aunt's hoarder house. Ahn's film is a quiet, beautiful piece of transcendental art, a rewarding experience that says so much through its characters' actions rather than their words. (Available to stream at https://rafaelfilm.cafilm.org/driveways/)

"The Weasels' Tale": If you're looking for something wicked and feisty, give Juan Jose Campanella's lark of a black comedy a go. A batch of eccentric retired film types -- a diva, a screenwriter, a director and the diva's hubby -- live together in a rundown mansion on some prime Argentine country land. That lucrative patch of real estate catches the fancy of two young opportunists who assume these oldsters are pushovers. But this colorful crew possess shocking secrets of their own, and prove to be formidable foes. It's a pip. (Available to stream at https://rafaelfilm.cafilm.org/weasels-tale/)

"Shadow in the Cloud": Campy and gloriously feminist, New Zealand filmmaker Roseanne Liang's WWII creature feature action thriller is a blast. Chloe Grace Moretz puts Wonder Woman to shame as Captain Maude Garrett, a take-charge-of-the-situation hero who can stomp out a frequent-flying bat critter while punching back at sexist remarks from her bomber crewmates. It's joyously ridiculous from beginning to end, but it also delivers a powerhouse message on feminism that, in a more traditional feature, would come across as earnest and perhaps as ineffectively just preaching to the choir. There's nothing about "Shadow in the Cloud" that could be called ineffective. (Available to stream at https://www.roxie.com/shadow-in-the-cloud/)

"Another Round": Suffering from midlife crises, a group of male teacher friends agree to go through life a bit tipsy in order to make reality much better. The dubious notion -- set forth in an article one read -- changes Martin (Mads Mikkelsen) from a boring lecturer into a spitfire prof with student cred. But as Thomas Vinterberg's astute satire slyly reveals alcohol doesn't change anything but will create more problems when issues are not confronted head-on. (Available for streaming at https://rafaelfilm.cafilm.org/another-round/)

"Night Shift": Anne Fontaine's character-driven drama does go a little sideways near the end, but still presents us with an intriguing moral dilemma -- the French deportation of a refugee back to a country that will kill him. "Night Shift" puts you in the driver's seat as three cops escort the doomed to the airport. Fontaine's film plumbs the messy backgrounds of the three officers and how their jobs and relationships lead them to question what they are doing. It's a resounding drama with a couple missteps. (Available to stream at https://rafaelfilm.cafilm.org/night-shift/)

Copyright  2021 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.
New York, Jan 3 : New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has promoted a collection of 42 pictures posted on social media by the Mayor's Office under the title of "2020-NYC The Year In Photos", at least 12 of which are about fighting the Covid-19 pandemic.

"In 2020, our city faced some of the hardest, darkest, and most challenging moments in our history. But we also saw incredible moments of bravery, compassion, and hope. These are the Photos of the Year," Xinhua news agency quoted the Mayor as saying in a tweet.

The 12 photos about the pandemic fight include one in which reporters sat socially distanced as the mayor held a press conference on Covid-19 on March 17, one in which New Yorkers gathered outside Lenox Health Greenwich Village to thank healthcare workers on April 5, and another that showed the first COVID-19 vaccinations arrived in New York City on December 14.

"In 2020, New York City faced some of the most difficult moments in our history. We lost our loved ones, our livelihoods, and our way of life.

"But during the darkest of times, we also saw tremendous bravery, incredible compassion, and hope. These are the photos of the year," the office said in the preface of the web exhibition.

The other photos are about racial equality, charity, festive celebration, religious ceremony, nature conservation, public benefit and celebrities.

To send an encouraging signal, the photo show starts with a picture of de Blasio and his wife Chirlane McCray ringing in the New Year with a kiss in Times Square on January 1, 2020.

New York City, once the epicentre of the pandemic in the US, currently accounts for 25,186 coronavirus deaths and 431,353 confirmed cases.
Delhi health minister Satyendar Jain on Sunday said that the Capital is fully prepared to start vaccinating its masses, a day after the Drug Controller General of India granted approval to the Covid-19 vaccines of the Serum Institute of India (SII) and Bharat Biotech.

Delhi is fully prepared to start vaccinations. In the first phase, it will be administered to health care and front line workers. Delhi has around 300,000 health care and 600,000 front line workers. After that we will administer the shots to people aged above 50 years and those with co-morbidities, said Jain.

The city government had earlier estimated the number of people who would be administered vaccines in priority at 5.1 million  of which the number of people aged over 50 years and those with co-morbidities was pegged at 4.2 million.

The dry run was successful. It shows that Delhi is ready for vaccination. We have planned for 1,000 vaccine centres. While we will start with 500 of them, the numbers will be scaled up to 1,000 in phases. Now that the approval has been given, we hope that the vaccine will be available in a weeks time, said Jain.

Each centre is supposed to administer 100 vaccine shots a day under the current plan.

After the dry-run on Saturday, Jain had said that not only health care and front line workers  as announced by the Central government  but all residents of the city, who are eligible, will get the Covid-19 vaccines for free.

Jains announcement was slightly different from the one made by Union health minister Harsh Vardhan, who said the Covid shots will be free for the most prioritised beneficiaries one crore health care and two crore front line workers in the first phase.

Both Jain and Vardhan inspected Saturdays dry-run at separate centres in Delhi. Three locations were chosen for the exercise  a private hospital, a government hospital and a government clinic.

Dr Suneela Garg, professor of community medicine at Maulana Azad Medical College, who also leads a committee helping the Delhi government with the preparations for Covid-19 vaccination, said: Delhi is ready for vaccination drive. The dry run has taught us that we have to concentrate our efforts on three specific areas  managing crowd at the vaccine centres, verification of those registered for the vaccine and monitoring patients for 30 minutes after the vaccine.
Covid-19 crashed into Seamus McCormack's world on a Sunday evening during an episode of Dancing with the Stars. The family was gathered around the television when Seamus's sister, Veronica, rang: "We've five positive results."

It was March 13, 2020, two weeks after Ireland's first case of Covid-19 was detected on February 29. The previous day, the then Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, had announced that schools, colleges and childcare facilities would close.

They did not know it then but Glenaulin Nursing Home, in Chapelizod, West Dublin, a family business owned by Seamus McCormack, his wife, Bizet, and sister, Veronica, turned out to be the second long-term care facility in Ireland to be hit by the coronavirus.

"I drove down to the nursing home with my wife and my two kids that night. We didn't know what lay ahead of us. There was fear, anxiety, a sense of going into the unknown," said Seamus.

Looking back now, at the close of a devastating year and on the cusp of a more hopeful one, that feeling of anxiety has never left. As an apparent Covid-19 tsunami approaches and a vaccine is almost within reach, the end feels tantalisingly near. Yet Seamus feels he is "walking on eggshells", counting down the days to when it is to be administered to the 87 residents and staff. Glenaulin Nursing Home has been pencilled in for vaccinations on January 11, among the first wave of nursing homes on the vaccine roll-out chart. He faces a battle to keep the virus at bay until then.

"Hopefully, we are at the end of a very dark tunnel and the vaccine will allow us to get back to some form of normality sometime soon. There are a few hurdles to jump in the next couple of weeks because of community transmission," he said. "Now we are hopefully coming towards the end of it, there are stories to be told."

One enduring story of the pandemic will be how the authorities failed to anticipate the contagion that swept through public and private nursing homes. Over half of more than 2,000 coronavirus deaths have been nursing home residents, with most deaths occurring in the first wave of the pandemic.

Seamus is careful not to apportion blame, but as the second nursing home to be hit by Covid-19, he can attest to private operators feeling distinctly isolated. It was not as though the McCormacks were caught unawares. They had been tracking the advance of the virus since February. On March 1, Glenaulin shut down the nursing home to visitors to protect residents and staff - two weeks ahead of public health advice. (They reopened when a family of a resident complained.) By March 2, Glenaulin was taking temperatures of staff and residents and staff wore masks and gloves.

By March 10, with just 34 cases reported in Ireland, daily checks captured one resident with a raised temperature. "We called HSE Live, who asked was there a history of travel, we said 'no'; we were referred to a GP. A doctor came out but there was no major concern that it was a Covid-19 case," he said. "The resident was put on an antibiotic and it was left at that."

On Friday evening, March 13, five residents presented with a temperature. The next day, the HSE sent out the National Ambulance Service in full hazmat gear to test them. "We were hoping against hope that the temperatures were going to be down to ambient heat of the building, we weren't really expecting positive cases."

Veronica phoned her brother with news of five positive cases that Sunday night. "We got the call at 7pm. We were in the nursing home by 7.30pm," said Seamus. It was decided that residents should be kept in their rooms, and they transformed a large sitting room on the ground floor into an isolation room where residents who tested positive could stay.

"Afterwards, I just sat down, I looked at my wife and my sister, and said: 'Right. This is it, we're in it now'. In the car on the way home, I looked out the window, thinking, 'Are we the only nursing home? What are the ramifications? Are we going to be able to keep people alive?'"

Monday morning was "a really challenging day". Some staff didn't turn up. Others "rolled up their sleeves". All were anxious and fearful.

"Looking into their eyes that morning and explaining the situation that lay ahead of us. Naturally, they had questions to ask, they asked what support mechanisms we had and naturally they were fearful," he said.

"Our receptionist didn't feel comfortable, so she left. My eldest boy, who was 18, took over on reception for the next two months."

They started contacting families immediately - there was a lot of anxiety, but also understanding.

The biggest challenges were sourcing PPE and maintaining staff numbers.

Finding PPE proved to be an odyssey, even for McCormack, a former member of the Air Corps who piloted the government jet until he retired in 2010 to concentrate on the nursing home. Every supplier he rang told him the HSE had bulk-bought the lot. He rang the HSE, which he said was unable to help. After a day or two he made a desperate dash to a builders' providers in Lucan and snapped up 40 pairs of disposable painters' overalls and goggles. "I cleaned them out," he said.

Such was the shortage of PPE that he asked staff to write their names on their suits with markers so they could wear the same ones again the next day.

"It was war-time medicine at that stage," he said. "We got to the stage where I got ziplock bags and was labelling the names of staff on them, in case they may have to reuse the same masks the next day. That was how tight it was getting."

In that first week, stocks of paracetamol ran out and couldn't be replenished and subcutaneous fluids badly needed to administer to residents were simply unobtainable. "It is like going to war and not having the proper weaponry," he said.

Eventually, a pharmacist stepped in to source both, and a couple of HSE staff he had linked in with secretly dropped off boxes of gowns on the way home from work.

"In that first week in March, public health were brilliant on the phone but the HSE could not provide staff or supply PPE. We rang the hospitals looking for help. We're not trying to paint a negative scenario here, but there was no official guidance," he said.

"We didn't get an official supply of PPE [from the HSE] until the first week in April," he said.

By March 20, some 20 residents were tested for Covid-19. "Three [test results] were back in five days, one was back in 11 days, three in 19 days, six 20 days and seven 26 days later, out of the 20 that were tested. One of the results didn't come back at all," he said.

For days, if not weeks, the staff did not know who had the virus and who didn't. Residents with dementia were unable to comprehend the need for isolation. By the time the HSE began serial testing residents and staff in nursing homes in April, the team had come through dark, dark days.

Thirty-five residents of Glenaulin Nursing Home contracted Covid-19 and seven residents died either of the virus or with the virus. Seamus still does not know how it got into the nursing home. The suspicion is that it was introduced through two residents discharged from hospitals into the nursing home in early March. One of those residents subsequently developed symptoms. Every one of the team who worked at Glenaulin suffered fear, anxiety and sleepless nights.

Seamus is most proud of the staff - the housekeepers, the carers, the nurses, everyone who pulled out the stops, those who "rolled up their sleeves" and went beyond the call of duty to do all they could for the residents. "They nurtured them, they cared for them, as if they were their own. I couldn't be more proud of them," he said.

Vaccination day at Glenaulin will be "monumental" when it finally happens, said Seamus. Until then, the fight continues: "It is a constant battle and it is every day, because every day you don't know what's going to present itself to you."

The next leg of battle will be critical - but let it also be the last.
KOLKATA: Owaisi visits Bengal, discusses assembly polls with influential Muslim cleric (Eds: Correcting name of Futura to Furfura)

Furfura Sharif (WB), Jan 3 (PTI) AIMIM supremo Assaduddin Owaisi on Sunday arrived at Furfura Sharif in Bengal's Hooghly district and held discussions on the state's political scenario and upcoming assembly polls with prominent Muslim leader Abbas Siddiqui, sources in his party said.

This is Owaisi's first visit to West Bengal following his announcement to contest elections in the state.

"Owaisi wanted to keep the meeting a secret as we were apprehensive that the TMC government would stop him from exiting the airport. From Kolkata airport, he went straight to Hooghly to meet Abbas Siddiqui. He will leave for Hyderabad in the afternoon," AIMIM state secretary Zameerul Hassan said.

Earlier, Owaisi had decided to hold a virtual meeting with Siddiqui, but he changed his mind at the eleventh hour and flew down to Bengal to pay him a visit.

Siddiqui, a pirzada (religious leader) from Furfura Sharif, has been speaking out against the state government over a host of issues, of late.

According to the sources, he is planning to float a minority outfit of his own.

Owaisi, whose party put up a good show during Bihar polls last year -- bagging five seats in the region bordering Bengal -- might have also held talks with Siddiqui on a possible seat-sharing deal, they said.

The AIMIM chief's visit to Furfura Sharif, however, evoked sharp reactions from the ruling TMC.

"The AIMIM is nothing but a proxy of the BJP. Owaisi is well aware that Muslims here are mostly Bengali-speaking, and won't support him. He is trying to forge ties with Abbas Siddiqui, but that won't yield any result.

"Muslims in Bengal stand firmly by Mamata Banerjee," senior TMC leader and party MP Sougata Roy asserted.

A deciding factor in nearly 100-110 seats in the state, minorities especially Muslims have acted as a bulwark of the TMC against its rivals till 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

Prominent Muslim leaders in the state, nonetheless, have claimed that equations are likely to change with the entry of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM).

According to a senior leader in the Hyderabad-based party, Owaisi has seen in West Bengal a fertile ground for his expansion plans, as Muslims constitute around 30 per cent of the state's population. Of the 30 per cent, however, at least 24 per cent are Bengali-speaking Muslims. Elections to the 294-member West Bengal Assembly are likely to be held in April-May.
Seguin, Texas (78155)

Today

Partly cloudy skies early followed by scattered thunderstorms overnight. Low 73F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies early followed by scattered thunderstorms overnight. Low 73F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
Logan man Michael Baker was a fit and healthy 69-year-old  until he almost died.

Within two weeks, he was on life support suffering from tetanus, a bacterial infection that affects the central nervous system.

Michael Baker spent more than six months at St Andrew's Ipswich Private Hospital. Credit:Facebook

By the time he left St Andrew's Ipswich Private Hospital in September, Mr Baker had spent more than six months there.

"Im very lucky to have survived," he said.
MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 03rd January, 2021) Jama'a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM), the branch of the al-Qaeda terror group (banned in Russia) in Mali, has claimed responsibility for the deadly attack on three French servicemen in the African country, the US-based SITE Intelligence Group that tracks jihadist activities has reported.

The militant group also reportedly demanded withdrawal of French forces from Mali.

The attack occurred on Monday morning when an improvised explosive device hit an armored vehicle carrying three French soldiers who were engaged in a military operation to fight radicals in the Hombori area in central Mali.

In 2014, France launched Operation Barkhane to fight Islamist groups in the Sahel G5 countries, namely Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Chad. Amid continued unrest in the region, France and 12 countries created the Takuba Task Force this past March to provide further assistance to the Malian armed forces.
Digital.com, a leading independent review website for small business online tools, products, and services, has announced the best SEO (Search Engine Optimization) firms in Phoenix. The top companies were selected based on multiple service lines, size of the firm, industry focus, and customer feedback.

Experts at Digital.com examined companies that offer additional digital marketing services, such as website design, link building, and PPC. The study includes a variety of small to large firms that can cater to businesses in need of customized services or those seeking quick turnarounds. Each service provider was also expected to work with clients across various industries or focus on niche markets like healthcare, education, and finance.

This guide is a valuable tool because it highlights SEO firms that also offer additional services that will enable clients to scale, says Josephine Miller, PR Manager of Digital.com. Businesses can narrow their search for top firms in Phoenix and get honest feedback from customers.

Researchers at Digital.com conducted a 40-hour assessment of over 75 companies across the web. To access the complete list of best SEO firms in Phoenix, please visit https://digital.com/seo-firms/phoenix/.

15 Best SEO Firms in Phoenix

-Avenue 25

-Bang! Website Design

-Commit Agency

-Digital Current

-Fasturtle Digital

-Hireawiz

-Jack & Bean

-KitelyTech

-Liquis Digital

-Nuanced Media

-Phoenix Online Media

-PhoenixBizz

-SEO Forensic Marketing

-Seota Digital Marketing

-SocialSEO

ABOUT DIGITAL.COM

Digital.com reviews and compares the best products, services, and software for running or growing a small business website or online shop. The platform collects twitter comments and uses sentiment analysis to score companies and their products. Digital.com was founded in 2015 and formerly known as Review Squirrel. To learn more, visit https://digital.com/.
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Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-03 19:38:46|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- China's foreign trade, with its "dark horse" performance in 2020 amid a pandemic-induced global recession, is expected to further stabilize in 2021, Reuters said in a recent analysis.

Quoting several economic experts, the British news outlet wrote in its Chinese online edition that China's foreign trade is expected to sustain due to an early recovery from COVID-19.

China's foreign trade has shouldered the responsibility of filling the gaps in global industrial chains, Reuters said, acknowledging the Asian economy's key position in the global economic recovery.

The country's foreign trade of goods totaled 29.04 trillion yuan (about 4.45 trillion U.S. dollars) in the first 11 months in 2020, up 1.8 percent year on year in yuan terms, accelerating from an increase of 1.1-percent in the first 10 months, according to data from China's General Administration of Customs.

The outlook for China's overall foreign trade is cautiously optimistic, provided that the epidemic remains under control in 2021, Bai Ming, deputy director of the international market research institute under China's Ministry of Commerce told Reuters.

Globally, China's position in the global industrial chain will likely rise as "the first to pass the global stress test of the COVID-19 pandemic," Reuters quoted Xing Ziqiang, chief economist with Morgan Stanley China as saying.

China's export momentum will be underpinned by a mild expansion of aggregate demand worldwide due in part to stimulus fiscal and monetary policies as well as the internal self-recovery of the world economy, Wu Ge, chief economist of Changjiang Securities told Reuters.

The economist projected China's exports to grow in the first half of 2021 and an overall better foreign trade performance in 2021 compared to last year. Enditem
Taking serious note of the complaints about frequent disruptions in rural water supply scheme, the panchayati raj department has resorted to the use of computer-based application to keep a tab on operation of motorised pumps across Bihar.

As part of the states mission to provide tap water supply to each and every household, the state government has assigned the department with the task of rolling out the scheme in over 58,000 wards of rural areas by the end of this fiscal under the chief ministers flagship Har Ghar Nal Ka Jal project.

Additional chief secretary, panchayati raj department, Amrit Lal Meena said that all water towers would be equipped with specially designed device, internet of things (IOT), to calculate operation time of pumps and flow of water from the towers. The device will be connected with a centralised computer network and operation status of each and every pumping station and water tower could be watched from the control room on realtime basis, added Meena.

The IOT devices have already been installed in water towers in over 6,000 gram panchayats of Sheohar district on a pilot basis. Now it will be installed in water towers of the remaining panchayats in the next two months. This will also allow the officials to monitor functioning of motorised pumps. The device will also detect wastage or excessive use of water by the people, said Meena.

The department has already removed more than 50 mukhiyas from their posts and some of them have been barred from contesting elections in future after they were found guilty of not executing the project properly. The department allocates necessary funds to the gram panchayats for implementation of the tap water supply schemes in villages.

Also Read: Bihar govt plans Didi Ki Rasoi canteens in all district hospitals

Project leader of the department, Ashutosh, said so far, 55,874 wards out of the total 58,612, allocated to the department for setting up tap water supply schemes under the CMs flagship programme, had been covered. Work on about 2300 projects is going on, while 105 projects have been declared non-feasible, he added.

The department has already facilitated the setting up of the ward management committees and allowed them to hire pump operators at the monthly remuneration of 3,000 (2000 from the committee and 1000 from user charges) for the timely operation of the installations. Besides, one technical assistant has been assigned to take care of the projects in four panchayats.
Mitt Romney's singular focus in opposing President Donald Trump is eerie.

Is it revenge, as President Trump passed on him for secretary of state, or do we see his fight as more sinister still?

Yesterday, Mitt Romney blasted Josh Hawley, who has stated that he will challenge the electors sent to Congress on January sixth. Josh Hawley and countless other congressmen and senators are concerned with myriad reports, signed affidavits, video evidence, data dumps, statistic improbabilities, and hacked Dominion tabulating machines strongly suggesting that massive fraud occurred in the 2020 presidential election.

If one has watched any of the televised testimony or read any reports, it is evident that a possibility exists that mass fraud occurred. To date, none of this evidence has been given the scrutiny necessary to confirm affirmatively and transparently that Joe Biden legitimately beat Donald Trump. Democrats are doing everything in their power to suppress this scrutiny. Sadly, many Republicans, led by Mitt Romney, have worked tirelessly to hide evidence under a basket.

In September, Mitt Romney blasted GOP senator Ron Johnson and Senate Republicans for their "illegitimate" investigation into Hunter Biden and his ties to China and Ukraine. Today, after the election, Democrats and their sycophantic media and Big Tech have affirmed the legitimacy of this investigation. Has Mitt apologized to Mr. Johnson or the American people?

Does Mitt believe himself a god?

Mitt Romney's actions come off as holier than thou. Does Mitt believe in his own self-righteousness? Has he attained (in his mind) godlike qualities here on Earth? Or is he, like the rest of the swamp (and Judas), just working to conceal his own sins?

Jesus proclaimed: "No one, when he has lit a lamp, puts it in a cellar or under a basket, but on a stand, that those who come in may see the light."

What is Mitt Romney working so hard to conceal? Is it personal, or is he working on behalf of one yet to come?

Image: Gage Skidmore via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0.
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Boris Johnson faces losing most of the 'Red Wall' seats that delivered his historic election victory a year ago, according to a massive poll.

The PM's own constituency also looks to be on the line as Labour makes a comeback, with the government struggling to contain the coronavirus crisis.

The research, carried out by Focaldata, will set alarm bells ringing in Downing Street after a tumultuous first year in power - although there is still a long way to go until the next Westminster showdown.

The firm surveyed more than 22,000 people over the course of December, when Christmas 'bubbles' were dramatically scaled back due to the mutant Covid variant and ministers were fighting to strike a deal with the EU.

It used an MRP method, which matches the life characteristics of people polled to the profiles of individual constituencies in order to produce detailed results in a theoretical election.

The big MRP poll carried out by Focaldata will set alarm bells ringing in Downing Street after a tumultuous first year in power

The technique is considered more accurate than traditional surveys, that cannot account for local variations.

The outcome, published in the Sunday Times, indicated that neither the Conservatives nor Labour are in a position to win an outright majority.

The Tories would lose 81 seats, wiping out the 80-strong majority Mr Johnson secured in December 2019, and leaving them with 284 seats.

Labour would win 282, an increase of 82. That would include 41 seats in the north of England, Midlands and Wales that voted Labour in 2017 before turning blue in 2019.

Labour is also predicted to win five London seats from the Conservatives - Chingford and Wood Green, Chipping Barnet, Finchley and Golders Green, Hendon, and Kensington.

The Conservatives clung on to just eight of the 43 'Red Wall' seats that they won at last year's general election  Bassetlaw, Bishop Auckland, Colne Valley, Dudley North, Great Grimsby, Penistone and Stocksbridge, Scunthorpe, and Sedgefield.

The poll suggested Mr Johnson would lose his own Uxbridge and Ruislip South constituency, where he is defending a majority of 7,200.

Nicola Sturgeon's SNP was found to be on track to win 57 of the 59 seats in Scotland, potentially putting a Labour-SNP alliance on the cards.

However, the Liberal Democrats look set for disaster, with the results showing they would secure just two seats - down from 11. The party won 62 seats in 2005, before Nick Clegg agreed to enter coalition with the Tories and Brexit happened.

The results suggest Sir Keir Starmer (pictured last week) would win 282 seats, an increase of 82, and be in a position to form an alliance with the SNP to govern

Justin Ibbett, founder of Focaldata, said: 'One year on from their stunning general election triumph, it is clear that the Conservatives already have a lot of work to do if they are to replicate their 2019 success in future elections.

'The SNP would appear to be the real winners. Not only do they win all but two Scottish constituencies, but the most likely outcome is a Labour-SNP coalition government, which would have an overall majority of just over 20 seats.'

Focaldata carried out an MRP poll for the Conservatives during last year's general election. The new poll of 22,186 voters was conducted between December 4 and 29.
Santa Coloma de GramenetThe Pfizer vaccine being administered in care homes is designed to prevent people from getting sick if they get covid. However, preventing the disease does not necessarily stop the transmission of the virus. It appears that the vaccines will be able to minimize the risk of severe covid in 95% of cases and therefore reduce hospital admissions and deaths caused by the coronavirus. Nevertheless, their role in group protection remains unclear: can a vaccinated person become infected and potentially transmit the virus to other individuals?
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The government has



ordered closure of all COVID care centres in the state, except those in Bhopal, from January 1 in view of the low occupancy of beds, as per an official order made available on Sunday.

This decision evoked a sharp reaction from the opposition Congress, with its state unit president Kamal Nath questioning the rationale behind the order.

Defending the decision, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said the pandemic is under control in the state and there is no justification to keep the COVID care centres open "just for the sake of keeping them open".

As per the state government order dated December 31, 2020 and directed to district collectors and health authorities, a policy decision has been taken to shut the COVID Care centres from the first day of New Year due to low occupancy of beds.

These centres were set up across the state for lodging COVID-19 patients.

The order also stated that in the case of rise of infected patients, health authorities can reopen these centres with prior permission of the state government.

Meanwhile, Nath tweeted: "Deaths due to continuing in the state. The statistics of infection is increasing daily. Even the assembly session was cancelled due to fear of and the Shivraj government closed all COVID care centres in the state except Bhopal?"



Hitting back, CM Chouhan said, if required, these COVID care centres will be opened again.

"Does Kamal Nath want COVID centres to remain open always? The COVID-19 situation is fully under control in the state. Arrangements are already in place for providing adequate treatment (to patients). Home isolation is also provided.

"If needed, these COVID care centres will be opened again, but there is no justification to keep them open for the sake of keeping them open," Chouhan said in a statement.

As on January 2, the total number of positive cases in stood at 2,43,302 including 3,627 fatalities, as per health officials.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
This is probably not the kind of news you want to wake up with after a New Years hangover, but the aliens stopped by. Crashed is a more suitable term in this particular case.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The Biden administration has an opportunity to create a new partnership with Americas economically challenged places based on a model at work here in Ohio. Doing so could begin to bridge the seemingly insurmountable political divide between big cities and the rest of the nation and help U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary-designate Marcia Fudge fulfill her goal of putting the UD  urban development  back into HUD.

COVID-19 and the resulting economic and fiscal crises have hit all of Americas cities hard. Once prosperous cities now face extraordinary challenges related to loss of jobs, small businesses and revenue to fund essential services. The impact, however, is especially great in places already struggling before March 2020.

Chillicothe in red Appalachia and Cleveland Heights and Sandusky in blue industrial Ohio would seem to have little in common if looked at solely through a political lens. Two-thirds of Ross County, where Chillicothe is located, voted for President Donald Trump; two-thirds of Cuyahoga County voted for President-elect Joe Biden.

But these cities face common economic challenges. Chillicothe and Cleveland Heights, for instance, are both dealing with the impact of concentrated poverty, with rates hovering around 18% to 19% for both. And each has seen dramatic population declines  since 1960, a loss of 13% in Chillicothe and 29% in Cleveland Heights.

Alison Goebel is executive director of the Greater Ohio Policy Center.

Because Ohio cities are largely dependent on income tax revenue, the economic slowdown and unanticipated costs of COVID-19 make places like Cleveland Heights, Chillicothe and Sandusky especially vulnerable. To help address this fiscal shock, they need federal aid, including strategic and targeted investments in housing, workforce development, transportation and education to drive equitable recovery.

But these places also require more from a partnership with the federal government: a helping hand to develop a recovery blueprint that builds back better and an acknowledgement that one-size-fits-all support for different places is not enough.

As part of the recovery from the last recession, the Obama administration launched an initiative called Strong Cities, Strong Communities. One part of the program deployed federal resources to cities, including Cleveland and Youngstown. Another part, the National Resource Network, provided tailored expert help to small and midsize places looking to increase their economic competitiveness.

Cleveland Heights was one of the first cities across the country to work with the National Resource Network. The Network supported efforts to address housing issues by helping the city form a new partnership with a community development corporation and did the initial work on the planned revitalization of Severance Center, a former shopping center.

Tanisha Briley is the former city manager of Cleveland Heights.

With philanthropic support, the network has continued its work. It recently developed a multiyear financial plan to guide Sandusky through the difficult budgetary decisions needed to overcome current fiscal challenges and identify a path toward investments focused on growth. The network is also now tackling some of the unique economic challenges faced by small cities and towns in Appalachia with a financial planning project about to launch in Chillicothe.

By recognizing that few cities have the resources to confront more than one issue at a time, the network has been able to deploy support and guidance to local leaders looking to achieve a comprehensive turnaround in their communities. The network understands that different places often need different approaches and has won the support of city officials and independent researchers nationally.

HUD Secretary-designate Fudge is uniquely positioned to champion these different places with common challenges. She knows these issues firsthand as the former mayor of Warrensville Heights  where more than 20% are living in poverty and where population has declined by nearly 31% since 1970.

One city at a time. That is how the nation will recover from COVID-19. Some cities just need a little help down that path  and it doesnt matter whether they are red or blue in their voting.

Dr. Alison Goebel is the executive director of the Greater Ohio Policy Center and Tanisha Briley is the former city manager of Cleveland Heights, Ohio.

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My 2021 Forecasts / Year in Preview The Big Picture

Paygone Ryan Grim, Bad News

The Supply Chain Gang The Baffler. From November, still germane.

#COVID19

The Plague Year The New Yorker. A retrospective, very much in the New Yorker style, well worth reading in full. In the authors view, there were three chances to contain the infection: when the CDC could not get into China in early January, the CDCs testing fiasco, and masking. Trump does not come off well in the third and in subsequent events, rightly. (One might also ask, as the article does not, what happened to the principle of association that De Tocqueville wrote made America exceptional; it doesnt seem to scale.) This paragraph caught my eye:

When Bellevues doctors were at their lowest ebb, reinforcements arrived: hospital workers from other states flooded into New York to help. According to Governor Andrew Cuomo, thirty thousand people responded to the citys call for aid. It was a rare glimpse of national unity.  Half the people in the I.C.U. had Southern accents , [Bellevues Nate] Link told me. Thats what saved us.

Worth putting the Red State/Blue State paradigm into this context.

25 Days That Changed the World: How Covid-19 Slipped Chinas Grasp NYT. A second retrospective.

* * *

A Q&A about the new coronavirus variant with the Fred Hutch scientist whos been tracking its spread Seattle Times

China reports first case of new coronavirus variant  CDC publication Reuters. Vietnam; Thailand; South Korea; Japan. Speaking of variants, and reasoning by analogy (like):

the COVID intuition freaking me out now is that half-assed suppression / vaccination is like shitty use of antibiotics: not enough to kill the thing, but enough to teach it resistance. if we dont decisively vaccinate ourselves, will our efforts basically vaccinate the virus?  Steve Randy Waldman (@interfluidity) January 3, 2021

* * *

Fleeing Lockdown, Americans Are Flocking to Mexico City NYT

Why arent they home?: Lake Tahoe struggles to keep winter vacationers at bay Guardian

When COVID hit, a Colorado county kicked out second-home owners. They hit back. High Country News

* * *

Masks and Face Coverings for the Lay Public : A Narrative Update Thomas Czypionka, Trisha Greenhalgh, Dirk Bassler, Manuel B Bryant, Annals of Internal Medicine. Concluding lines of the Abstract: Evidence suggests that the potential benefits of wearing masks likely outweigh the potential harms when SARS-CoV-2 is spreading in a community. However, mask mandates involve a tradeoff with personal freedom, so such policies should be pursued only if the threat is substantial and mitigation of spread cannot be achieved through other means.

Scientific evidence supports aerosol transmission of SARS-COV-2 Antimicrobial Resistance & Infection Control. A takedown of this article. Airborne transmission has been subject to a much higher burden of proof than droplet or contact transmission of SARS-COV-2, and also to a higher evidence standard compared to other pathogens. This is the opposite of a precautionary approach in the face of uncertainty.

* * *

Vaccine makers race to secure supply chains FT

Pfizer decision to turn off temperature sensors forced scramble to ensure Covid-19 vaccines kept ultra-cold STAT. From December 2020, still germane.

What are the ingredients of Pfizers covid-19 vaccine? MIT Technology Review (Re Silc). From December 2020, still germane.

Why California became the nations coronavirus epicenter San Francisco Chronicle

They were experts in viruses, and now in pitfalls of fame AP
Almost exactly a year ago, the World Health Organisation issued a warning that the Chinese authorities had alerted it to an outbreak of 'pneumonia of unknown cause' in Wuhan.

Forty-four cases had been reported, with 11 severely ill, all linked to the Huanan seafood market. The news, so ominous in hindsight, passed largely unremarked.

Around the same time, there were also reports on recent Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and a new MERSCoV case in Saudi Arabia, and it seemed like just another disease in faraway lands.

Strange days: Lives and businesses have changed in ways that would have been unimaginable at the start of 2020

On January 31, two Chinese tourists visiting York were Britain's first publicised coronavirus victims. In the months that followed, lives and businesses have changed in ways that would have been unimaginable at the start of 2020.

New Year is always a time for reflection but never more so than the strange, muted first days of 2021. So what have we learned? Perhaps the most important lesson for business is the way Covid-19 has delivered a coup de grace to the weak, the debt-ridden, the hot air merchants and the greedy. A number of high-profile collapses, including Debenhams and Sir Philip Green's Arcadia, were in trouble before the virus, which merely accelerated their demise.

In a pandemic, well-run companies are also vulnerable  but firms with good governance, sensible debt and a solid business model stand more chance of survival.

The second lesson is that so-called efficiency is over-rated, at least in the sense of adopting the cheapest and fastest possible methods of operating, with not a millimetre of slack.

George Stigler, a leading light at the Chicago School of Economics, famously observed that if you never miss a plane, you are wasting too much of your life at the airport. Just-in-time supply chains are an example of this philosophy in action.

But the pandemic  and Brexit  have taught us the value of running with a margin for error, just-in-case.

Thirdly, too much debt is dangerous. This ought to be obvious, but apparently isn't. Businesses and individuals up to their necks in borrowing fall into trouble very quickly.

The country now has a millstone of more than 2trillion of debt, which is not an immediate problem but leaves us less firepower for the next crisis.

The fourth lesson is that the technology revolution is in its infancy and will transform our lives more than anything we have witnessed. Productivity could finally be turned around through smarter, tech-enabled ways of working. Robotics and artificial intelligence could revolutionise everything from food shopping to elder care.

Lesson five is that we can all achieve more at work and in life than we think possible.

However incompetent the Government is about the rollout of a vaccine, the fact that Pfizer and AstraZeneca produced their jabs in such a short time scale is phenomenal.

On a lesser level, supermarkets made sure the nation was fed. No-one needed to panic buy that toilet tissue, and could have stuck to a just-in-time purchasing strategy.

As individuals, many of us acquired new skills, including my mum, who learned to use Skype and Zoom to bridge the gap of separation from children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield will move forward in 2021 with a new bishop at the helm and building on reforms implemented under former Bishop Mitchell T. Rozanski to better address how it handles allegations of clergy sexual abuse.

A task force report is expected in the coming months to recommend restructuring the diocesan review board that hears allegations of abuse and expand its ranks to include non-Catholics.

Reforms initiated under Rozanski came after national attention was paid to a Pennsylvania grand jury report in fall 2018 that cited a church cover up that protected more than 300 predator priests, as well as a scandal closer to home. A subsequent survivor-driven investigation found credible sexual abuse allegations against deceased Springfield Bishop Christopher J. Weldon.

In May  two months before the results of the year-long Weldon investigation were released  the diocese created an Independent Task Force on the Response to Sexual Abuse to make recommendations on how it could improve that response.

The task force, headed by retired Superior Court Judge Daniel Ford, expects to issue its recommendations this spring with input from survivor focus groups and others.

There are a number of stakeholders in this process and one of the most important ones, if not the most important, are the survivors of sex abuse  the victims who were victimized by priests or by other employees of the diocese, Ford said.

In addition, the diocese has entered into an agreement with Western Massachusetts district attorneys. The diocese agreed to notify their offices of any allegations involving a minor or vulnerable person before conducting its own internal investigation.

The Church and the diocese have a responsibility to ensure that we are reporting allegations of crime to law enforcement. Once we conduct the intake, we refer it to law enforcement and are hands off, said Jeffrey J. Trant, director of the diocesan Office of Safe Environment and Victim Assistance. The last thing we would ever want to do is unintentionally have an impact or interfere with a law enforcement investigation.

Trant was hired in June 2019, around the time the allegations against Weldon became public. The claimant told the Berkshire Eagle he had appeared before the diocesan review board in June 2018 with those allegations, as well as similar claims against two other priests. Three months later, he received a letter from the board saying it found his testimony compelling and credible and that Rozanski would be advised.

However, the complainant questioned why Weldons name was never added to the diocesan website list of credibly accused clergy. The diocese responded by saying that it did not list clergy accused after their deaths, but also became immersed in controversy when it said that the claimant did not make allegations against Weldon to the board.

Allegations of a cover-up resulted in Rozanski meeting with the claimant, referring a report on the Weldon allegations to the Hampden District Attorneys Office, and asking retired Superior Court Judge Peter A. Velis to investigate the allegations.

Velis issued the results of his year-long investigation in June. He concluded in part that the allegations of the Complainant of sexual molestation committed upon him by Bishop Christopher J. Weldon, both as a principal, and as a coventurer that included anal rape, indecent assault and battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress are unequivocally credible.

He determined the complainant, who first met with diocesan officials in 2014, had been poorly served by lack of documentation, communication and commitment in addressing his allegations. The retired judge recommended a number of steps for better oversight, including the services of an Administrative Supervisor of Investigations to ensure procedure compliance.

Recently installed Springfield Bishop William D. Byrne said he appreciates hearing from victim-survivors of clergy sexual abuse and their advocates.

He met remotely with victim-survivors prior his Dec. 21 ordination, where he praised their courage and honesty  though some reportedly had hoped for more specifics on diocesan reforms.

Byrne called the process ongoing, adding he is looking forward to receiving the report from the task force and hearing their recommendations. He said he expects the updated list of credibly accused clergy, including the names of all diocesan and religious order clerics even those who were accused after they were deceased to be completed in the coming months.

Trants work over the last 19 months has won praise from the victim-survivor community with one member saying Trant is out there, actively meeting with survivors and not just listening, he is hearing them because we have begun to see change happening for the that first time in three administrations.

He added, the new bishop will have our support if we can see through his actions that his motives are serious.

A central focus of the Velis report was the dioceses reliance on a single investigator, and the importance of an investigators confidentiality and objectivity. It recommended sanctions for violations of those mandates.

Trant was instrumental in the dioceses hiring of three investigators for sexual abuse claims and the assigning of two to each claim.

At the end of the diocesan process, we had failed an individual because of the significant amount of time when that person first came forward, how we responded, when we responded and how we conducted fact finding and ultimately the ambiguity and lack of specificity around ultimate response to that individual was unacceptable, Trant said.

He added, We have a responsibility to report to civil authorities any reports of abuse whether it happened yesterday, 10 years ago or 50 years ago.

Trant briefs the bishop on abuse allegations, a departure from past practices.

When I was hired, one of the changes made was that I report directly to the bishop, Trant said. In the past, my predecessor had reported to the vicar general.

Once the diocese is notified by the district attorneys office that it can begin its process, the investigation is presented to the diocesan review board, Trant said.

The current practice has been for the chair of the review board to write a letter to the bishop of its findings and recommendations. Trant said he delivers it by hand to the bishop for his review.

This most recently has been Bishop Robert McManus of Worcester who served as apostolic administrator between Rozanskis Aug. 25 installation as archbishop of St. Louis and the Dec. 21 installation of Byrne as bishop here.

With respect to Bishop McManus, he would receive the recommendation and, in every instance, he accepted it and then directed me to write a letter on his behalf to the survivor or to their legal counsel informing them of his acceptance of the review boards recommendation and offering his sincere apologies, Trant said.

So, we have instituted a process to make sure at every step of the way it is documented and that it is timely and they we are helping to close the loop because we have a responsibility to provide survivors who come forward with an answer, Trant said.

Judge Ford, who was involved with Trant in meetings with Western Massachusetts district attorneys, said the diocesan task force is also focused on input from victims of clergy sexual abuse. It has contracted with an area organization to organize focus groups.

We have entered into a contract with an organization in Northampton called Stop It Now! They are a professional independent group and we have contracted with them to organize a series of focus groups with people who identify as survivors of clergy sexual abuse in the Springfield Diocese, Ford said. They tell us the work will take three months to identify and recruit people to participate, to formulate the type of questions they want to ask and then to review them and do a report.

Ford said the meetings will take place in a safe, trauma-informed setting and the groups are viewed by the task force as the best way to allow these people who have been victimized to have a voice in what we eventually recommend.

The task force has also been engaged in rewriting the bylaws of the diocesan review board, he said.

There is going to be a recommendation that the review board be reconstituted in some way, Ford said. One of the things bylaws will call for, if approved by the bishops, is that there will be nine members on the board and that there be non-Catholics on the board. This I think will go a long way to boosting public confidence in the review board.

The task force has also reviewing 500 responses to an online survey that asked Catholics for their thoughts on how the diocese has handled allegations of clergy abuse.

We wanted to get some input from the people in the pews, Ford said. The people are the backbone of the Church and we wanted to find out what they think.

The task force is also considering outreach to clergy and religious. The priests, deacons, nuns are important stakeholders and we want to get input from them as well, Ford said.

He anticipates completing the report three or four months into the new year.

It will be out sometime in late winter or early spring and I will hand deliver it to the bishop and give him as much time as he needs to go through it and reasons for the recommendations, Ford said. It will incorporate everything we have done and what we think ought to be done.

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Enrollments in health insurance plans offered through the federal Affordable Care Act exchanges in South Carolina this year returned to levels not seen since 2016, according to information from the federal government.

The surge in sign-ups could be attributed to the fact that an unusually high number of workers lost their jobs  along with their employer-sponsored insurance coverage  during the coronavirus pandemic that rocked the economy starting in March.

For plans that take effect in 2021, about 16,000 more South Carolinians signed up compared to a year ago, an increase of about 8 percent.

The final tally is subject to change, as figures for the entire enrollment period, which ran from Nov. 1 to Dec. 15, haven't been released yet. The weekly numbers from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services only show how many people selected plans, not how many of them actually started paying the monthly premiums, meaning they can skew a bit on the high side.

Still, the number of people filling out an application for the plans in South Carolina clearly outstripped prior years.

Frank Knapp, CEO of the S.C. Small Business Chamber of Commerce who has advocated to expand the ACA, said he isn't surprised by the jump in demand for medical coverage.

"We anticipated with all the layoffs that people were going to be turning to the Affordable Care Act," he said.

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In South Carolina, about 78,000 displaced workers were receiving unemployment aid as of Dec. 26, according to the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce. More in the state have likely applied for those benefits.

The increase in South Carolina residents selecting a plan through HealthCare.gov comes at a time when they have more options. After the ACA's first year, BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina was at one point the only carrier offering plans on the marketplace. Now, with newcomers to the market, most South Carolina enrollees had their choice of three companies. The exception was Oconee County, where residents have one option.

That trend holds true across the country. The number of counties nationwide limited to a single ACA coverage choice is down to 10 percent, compared to about 56 percent four years ago, according to the federal government.

That bodes well for the health of the ACA marketplace, and the cost of premiums have also fallen. Almost everyone who buys marketplace coverage qualifies for a government subsidy that knocks down the price considerably.

Ray Farmer, director of the S.C. Department of Insurance, has said the market has matured over time, encouraging more competition. Farmer said it is too early to draw conclusions about why HealthCare.gov recorded more plan selections this year.

The increase in sign-ups in South Carolina is an exception compared to the country as a whole. Nationwide, plan selections were down slightly year over year.
The Department of Social Protection has put in place a special team to review more than 2,000 backdated claims by Aer Lingus staff to determine if they were entitled to welfare support over the summer months. Stock photo

The Department of Social Protection has put in place a special team to review more than 2,000 backdated claims by Aer Lingus staff to determine if they were entitled to welfare support over the summer months.

Aer Lingus cut wages to just 30pc in the summer, most of which was covered by the Government's Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS).

Many staff at the airline complained they had difficulties accessing unemployment support while on the TWSS for days they had no work. The issue was partly resolved with the introduction of a new Covid support scheme in September, but staff continued to seek backdated welfare payments for the summer period. In a letter to the Irish Congress of Trade Unions a senior Social Protection official said they could confirm the department had "prioritised claims from Aer Lingus employees for the period since 1st September and over 3,200 claims have been put into payment". "The next step is to review those claims with a backdated element, of which there are approximately 2,200, to determine if there are any entitlements due for the period before September." The letter said that because of the volume and complexity of claims involved, the review would take some time to complete.
Related Pakistan arrests alleged militant group leader Zaki ur Rehman Lakhvi on terrorism financing charge

Islamic State group claimed responsibility for an attack on Sunday that killed 11 miners from Pakistans minority Shia Hazaras in Baluchistan province.

The attack took place early on Sunday morning in the Mach area of Bolan district around 100 kms southeast of Baluchistan's capital Quetta, killing the miners who were in a shared residential room near the coal mine where they worked, officials said.

The throats of all coal miners have been slit, after their hands were tied behind their backs and (they were) blind folded, a security official told Reuters, requesting anonymity as he is not allowed to speak to media.

A video clip making the rounds on WhatsApp groups, apparently shot by a first responder, showed three bodies lying outside the room and the rest inside in pools of blood.

The condemnable killing of 11 innocent coal miners in Mach Baluchistan is yet another cowardly inhuman act of terrorism, Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan said in a tweet.

Have asked Frontier Constabulary to use all resources to apprehend these killers and bring them to justice, he said.

Islamic State group later claimed responsibility for the attack, through its Amaq news agency via its Telegram communications channel.

The attack came after a relative lull in nearly a year of violence against the mainly Shia Hazara minority in the province.

In April, a market suicide bombing killed 18 people, half of whom were Hazaras.

Following Sunday's attack, members of the Hazara minority in Quetta blocked the western bypass and set fire to tyres to protest against the killings.

Baluchistan is the focus of the $60-billion China Pakistan Economic Corridor, a transport and energy link planned between western China and Pakistans southern deepwater port of Gwadar.

Hazaras have been frequently targeted by Taliban and Islamic State militants and other Sunni Muslim militant groups in both Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The attacks in Afghanistan have been claimed by an affiliate of Islamic State group.

In 2013, three bombings killed more than 200 people in Hazara neighbourhoods in Quetta.

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AKRON, Ohio  One person is dead and another hurt after a house fire broke out early Sunday, officials said.

Akron firefighters were called about 2 a.m. to the house on the 1100 block of Hancock Avenue, along the Ohio & Erie Canal and west of Ohio Route 93, a news release from the Akron Fire Department said. They immediately spotted a heavy fire and learned someone was trapped inside.

While fighting the fire, crews found one person injured inside the home and one person dead, fire officials said in the news release. The injured individual was taken to an undisclosed local hospital for treatment, and a current condition was not made public.

The deceased person has not yet been publicly identified by the Summit County medical examiners office.

Authorities have not said what may have caused the early Sunday blaze.

This post will be update if more details are released Sunday.

Read more Akron-area news on cleveland.com:

Akron saw most murders of past decade in 2020, a year when violence spread like a virus

Ravenna mother charged after crash kills 3, including her two daughters, injures 4 others

Kent State scholarship created to honor Alan Canfora, May 4 shooting survivor, expert
Lauren Arthur is a marine biologist helping conservation efforts in South Africa

She has travelled all over the world running to the help of endangered animals

She and partner are WWF ambassadors appointed by Sir David Attenborough

Regrets that industries relating to conservation are always male dominated

A marine biologist and conservationist has called out the sexism she's experienced in the industry as she urges more women to take on jobs to help save the planet.

Lauren Arthur, 34, was born in Edinburgh but lives and works at South Africa's Greater Kruger National Park, where she runs virtual safaris to educate viewers around the world on the wildlife she encounters.

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Lauren's work has taken her around the world, from the Maldives to Mexico, and led to her being her chosen as an ambassador for the WWF Voices campaign for bio-diversity, but says there are still some people who underestimate her.

'I'm a petite female, I have dyed blond hair and there are a lot of men that don't intentionally mean it, but look at you and don't immediately think of "strength",' she said.

Lauren Arthur, 34, was born in Edinburgh but now lives and works in South Africa in the Greater Kruger National Park, taking thousands of viewers on virtual safaris twice a day and educating them from the field about the animals she encounters. She explained why women working in conservation felt they needed to go the extra mile to prove themselves

Day-to-day, Lauren works as a naturalist presenter for the international WildEarth (pictured), broadcasting about wild animals and conservation efforts around the glob twice a day

Swimming with the manta rays. Lauren recounted how she once risked her life deep-diving to save a menta ray that was tangled in a fishing net in Maldives

Lauren, with giraffes in South Africa, said more incredible women should join the fight for conservation, and should not be put off by the fact that is it a male-dominated industry

Lauren, pictured with an herd of elephants, said that because she is petite and blonde, men sometimes think she cannot handle the physical aspects of her job

'They're mansplaining things slightly,' she went on, 'they have no belief that you can change a tyre, or they think that we don't know mechanics of a car, don't know "men things",' she said.

'I just think even in the diving industry a lot of men will just assume that petite women won't be as strong or be able to do to all the technical things men do.

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'Women in this industry have to go a bit further to prove themselves and it shouldn't be like that. It is a risky job, you're putting yourself out there with wild animals, there's a training course.

'I just think that in general, and this is a huge generalisation, women do a have to go that extra mile in order to earn people's respect, and to say "I can do it. I can drive fast, rush after an animal, repair things, change a tire".'

With African wild dogs. The marine biologist is currently working on land to educate others about conservation

While she only earns about 1,000 a month for her job as a presenter, Lauren said she did not mind because she felt she was making a change. Pictured, filming in the safari park

Reflecting on why there aren't more women working in conservation, she said: 'I don't know whether women are intimated, I can't pinpoint the reason for you, but there are incredible women out there that should also be inspired to get involved.

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'I feel we need more women, I took that leap and it was scary and here I am, sometimes I'm sponsored by National Geographic or WWF.

'I think it's really important, we're at a turning point in the world. I don't earn much money but I'm doing it because I'm making a difference and I want to inspire other women.'

Lauren with a Luna Moth in South Africa

Lauren revealed she once dived without equipment in order to free a manta ray that had become caught in a net in the Maldives.

'She had a hook in her gills, and the net line was going round and round her body,' Lauren said. 'She was deep so, I tried and dived. I knew it was risky but compassion said I had to help her. I had no equipment, no tank, so you just hold your breath.'

After letting herself sink to reach the manta ray, Lauren had to be careful while she untangled the animal, but said the turtle was 'cooperating.'

'She let me untangle her, she was cooperating, I think she knew I was trying to help,' she said.

Lauren recounted how she was left without any air left after she freed the poor ray and grew scared she would blackout in the water.

'Some people would call it foolish,' she admitted, adding she just had to do it, and that she had kept the fishing line as a souvenir.

On another occasion, she said that she had learned to give turtles CPR in the Maldives when working for an organisation that protects the sea turtle population in the area.

Lauren and her partner David having some fun while their mini-series on Ethiopian wolves for the World Wildlife Fund

Lauren said she wanted to show people that big cats and fluffy pandas were not the only animals worthy of attention

Filming leopards in South Africa. Lauren has countless stories of rushing to an animal's help on the job

On top of her safari work in South Africa, Lauren has travelled to Ethiopia where she filmed a mini series with her partner David, a cameraman.

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The couple are both ambassadors for the WWF Voices programme which is run by Sir David Attenborough.

The mini series, called Too Wild will soon be broadcast on the WWF website and searches for the elusive Ethiopian wolf.

Lauren said she and David hoped to bring attention to lesser known animals which also need help and care.

Mantas rays and Lauren in the Maldives. She once dived without equipment to save a manta ray
Actor Kareena Kapoor took to her Instagram account on Saturday to share a picture of herself from her new Mumbai apartment which is currently being redesigned. She called it her dream home.

The picture showed Kareena, in a black and white midi dress, with a lady as they both look at the ceiling. While the rest of them are in masks, Kareena is without one. Sharing the picture on Instagram Stories, Kareena wrote back with our favourite @design_by_darshini. Dream home followed by a number of heart emojis. The picture also gave a glimpse of the house - it looked nearly complete. Behind Kareena, theres a glass door and on either side of it are book shelves. A fancy light hangs from the ceiling.

Kareena at her old and new home respectively.

The family has been renovating their new apartment through much of the pandemic as Kareena and Saif were keen on a bigger apartment. Speaking to Mumbai Mirror, Saif had said in July last year, Our new home is being renovated, which is why I hop across to see how things are coming along and not because I feel cooped in. Im enjoying this time with my family. My sister Soha and her husband Kunal (Kemmu) come over sometimes, as do my kids Sara and Ibrahim. My other sister, Saba, too, has moved to Mumbai. Only, mother (Sharmila Tagore) is in a rented apartment in Delhi because the lockdown happened while she was doing up her place. So now, even she is overseeing the renovation work there. She is a real trooper and never complains.

Also read: Anil Kapoor says Kareena Kapoor took a lot of money from him as she asks him about pay parity in Bollywood

Kareena has remained busy throughout her pregnancy, as had been the case with her first pregnancy too. She has shot for ads, recorded episodes of her chat show What Women Want and even took a long holiday to Dharamshala with Saif and son, Taimur Ali Khan. In an interview, she had mentioned how she was proud of being a working mother. Speaking to Bombay Times, she had said: No, there has never been any plan that I have to do this or that. Its just that I have never been that kind of a person who would sit at home and say, Now I want to put my feet up. I am doing what I want to do. Working  whether its during my pregnancy or post-delivery  has been a point to just say that when has anyone ever said that pregnant women cant work? In fact, the more active you are, the healthier the baby is and the happier the mother is. After delivery, too, once you feel fit enough, one should do what they feel like doing, and try to balance it out between giving time to the child as well as your work and yourself. I have always been very proud of being a working mother.

Follow @htshowbiz for more

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A video of an Australian pro surfer who stepped in to help a woman in need has now won people over. Mikey Wright didnt waste any time and ran towards the waves when he saw a woman struggling in the water. He took to Instagram to share two videos of the rescue too.

Hold my beer, Wright used this popular expression as his posts caption. The videos show Wright running towards the woman and bringing her out of the water to safety.

I didnt question if I was in danger, Wright, 24, told ABC. I just knew that she needed help, he added.

Since being shared, the post has gathered nearly two lakh likes. It has also accumulated tons of comments.

Good job, wrote an Instagram user. Youre a living legend, expressed another. Absolutely lordish move on your behalf! said a third.

There were some who couldnt help but comment on the hairstyle the pro surfer. Who needs a cape when you have a mullet, joked an individual. I knew that mullet had some magic powers, expressed another.

Wright, who hails from Australia, is presently attending surf competitions in Hawaii.

What do you think of the rescue videos?

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Lucknow:

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has questioned the silence of secular parties over Keralas beef festivals in protest against the Centres decision banning the sale of cattle for slaughter from open markets.



I feel there is a lot of talk in the country to respect each others feelings and several organisations demand this in the name of secularism. But why are they silent on the Kerala incident? he asked at a public felicitation function organised by the Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad last night.



Why are the people who staged vociferous protests over the incidents in DU and JNU silent on the issue? the chief minister asked.



During the beef fests held in Kerala to protest against the Centres ban, a Youth Congress worker Rijil Makulti and his accomplices had reportedly slaughtered a calf in full public view in Kannur and took out a march with the head of a buffalo.



Adityanath, soon after coming to power, had ordered strict compliance of the ban on cow slaughter in the state, besides closing down of illegal slaughter houses being run in the state.



He had categorically stated that his government will not allow cow slaughter and cow-smuggling at any cost.



Kerala BJP president Kummanam Rajasekharan posted the video of the gory incident on twitter, calling it cruelty at it peak and said no normal person can behave in this manner.

ALSO READ | UP CM Yogi Adityanath: 'We inherited jungle raj, lawless incidents are bound to happen'



Later, police has registered the case against Makulti and his accomplices for slaughtering a calf in public during Beef fest organised across the state by the Congress and the Left on Sunaday to protest the Centres ban.



In Kollam district, a group of Congress workers had cooked beef in front of the DCC office.



District congress unit chief Bindu Krishna had told reporters that beef delicacy will be packed and sent to head post office for delivery to Modiji.



At Kochi, Kerala Tourism and Devaswom minister Kadakampally Surendran had participated in a beef fest, where bread and beef curry was served.

ALSO READ | UP CM Yogi Adityanath launches immunisation campaign against Encephalitis disease



The Centre has banned the sale and purchase of cattle from animal markets for slaughter and prohibited practices which are cruel to animals including painting of horns and putting ornaments or decorative materials on them.



The environment ministry has notified the stringent Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Regulation of Livestock Markets) Rules, 2017 under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.

MOSCOW: Russia is ready to conduct clinical trials in Ukraine of a COVID-19 vaccine combining its Sputnik V with a vaccine developed by AstraZeneca together with Oxford University, the head of Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) said on Saturday.

Russias sovereign RDIF, which is marketing the Sputnik V vaccine abroad, announced in December trials to test a combination of the AstraZeneca vaccine with the Sputnik V shot to see if this can boost the efficacy of the British drugmakers vaccine.

Disclaimer: This post has been auto-published from an agency feed without any modifications to the text and has not been reviewed by an editor
O God,

who wonderfully created,

and yet more wonderfully restored,

the dignity of human nature:

Grant that we may share the divine life of him

who humbled himself to share our humanity,

your Son Jesus Christ;

who lives and reigns with you,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God,

for ever and ever.

Amen.
India on Sunday granted emergency approval to Bharat Biotech's COVAXIN but faced questions after taking the step without publishing efficacy data for the homegrown coronavirus vaccine.

The news, announced by the drugs controller general of India (DCGI) who did not take questions, was hailed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his ministers as a success in India's self-reliance push.

The government also approved the use of a vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University which will be the lead vaccine in India's immunisation programme until other shots are approved.

COVAXIN was jointly developed with a government institute and means India joins a small list of countries to have approved its own coronavirus shot.

Bharat has partnered with drug developer Ocugen Inc to co-develop it for the U.S. market, and Brazil has signed non-binding letters of intent to buy the shot.The company has said it is in discussions with more than 10 countries about COVAXIN.

"While this vaccine addresses an unmet medical need during this pandemic, our goal is to provide global access to populations that need it the most," Bharat Biotech Chairman Krishna Ella said in a statement.

"COVAXIN has generated excellent safety data with robust immune responses to multiple viral proteins that persist."Neither the company nor India's Central Drugs Standards Control Organisation would reveal its efficacy results. A source with knowledge of the matter told Reuters its effectiveness could be more than 60% with two doses.

China also did not publish detailed efficacy data for a vaccine it authorised on Thursday but its developer has shared interim data.

"On what basis was this approval given when Bharat Biotech has NOT shown enough data proving safety & efficacy?" transparency activist Saket Gokhale asked on Twitter.

Gokhale has filed a request under India's right-to-information law asking the government for safety and other data for the two vaccines approved on Sunday.

CRITICISM

COVAXIN has been fast-tracked like no other vaccine in India. The company said in November it was likely to be launched in the second quarter of 2021, while a government scientist had suggested it might be February or March.

Opposition lawmakers and former ministers on Sunday questioned the lack of transparency in approving it."Approval was premature and could be dangerous," said opposition lawmaker and former minister Shashi Tharoor, asking Health Minister Harsh Vardhan for an explanation.

"Its use should be avoided till full trials are over. India can start with the AstraZeneca vaccine in the meantime."Vardhan urged Indians to trust that "stringent protocols" had been followed to ensure the safety and efficacy of the two approved vaccines.

In the largest such trial in India, Bharat Biotech said it had recruited 23,000 volunteers out of a target of 26,000 for an ongoing Phase III trial of COVAXIN which began in November.

Also read: Serum Institute, Bharat Biotech vaccines get emergency use approval; first COVID-19 vaccines in India

Also read: 'Congratulations India!' say netizens as Serum, Bharat Biotech COVID-19 vaccines get emergency use approval
Amazon Auto Presents - Spec-It Build-It Buy-It | The Most Honest Way To Buy A Car







SEE ALSO: Go Dealer Direct And Eliminate 3rd Party Lead Gen Tout-Fees

SEE ALSO: Amazon Automotive Presents

Editor's Note: In 1998 the visionary genius's at The Auto Channel invented Spec-it Bid-it Buy-it. Back then, the beginning of the commercial internet the only place in the world to totally research any vehicle was here on The Auto Channel. The auto manufacturers sites and other few automotive web sites were still in the dark ages in fact most car dealers and car makers did not yet have useful web sites or even e-mail addresses.

But in the ensuing 25 years all of that has changed, responding to the changes we are updating our original SPEC-IT BID-IT BUY-IT elements to incorporate modern car maker site tools and dealer e mails to improve what was, and is still a money saving and helpful consumer vehicle buyer tool.

It may be 25 years later but its still a good idea for vehicle buyers to SPEC-IT BID-IT BUY-IT as it helps buyers maximize their purchasing and negotiating potential. Here's how it works.

SPEC-IT: Use Costco Auto Configurator or a Car Maker new car configurator (see links below) found on every brand's web site to Build and Price which model will meet all of your equipment and pricing needs, including exact model derivative, options and MSRP. Many manufacturers sites include comparison tools for a side by side comparison of your preliminary model choice and other "maybes".

BID-IT: After you choose your short list of potential purchase candidates spend a day or two test driving each finalist. Once you have determined which exact vehicle you wish to purchase its now time to Bid-it...save the completed configuration for that vehicle, choose the dealers you would like to get a bid from, then e mail that dealer's Internet Sales Manager. Request the bidding dealers to provide additional information about themselves and how they do business. You can also send a copy of your bid request via e-Mail to any franchised dealer of that brand for them to price your exact car.

BUY-IT: Because you have provided each bidding dealer the exact specs of the car you want to buy, you can now compare apples-to-apples, and see which dealer will really make the best deal on the exact car you want to buy. Remember price is only one factor in determing which dealer you will be buying from.

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The Daily News-Miner encourages residents to make themselves heard through the Opinion pages. Readers' letters and columns also appear online at newsminer.com. Contact the editor with questions at letters@newsminer.com or call 459-7574.

Community Perspective

Send Community Perspective submissions by mail (P.O. Box 70710, Fairbanks AK 99707) or via email (letters@newsminer.com). Submissions must be 500 to 750 words. Columns are welcome on a wide range of issues and should be well-written and well-researched with attribution of sources. Include a full name, email address, daytime telephone number and headshot photograph suitable for publication (email jpg or tiff files at 150 dpi.) You may also schedule a photo to be taken at the News-Miner office. The News-Miner reserves the right to edit submissions or to reject those of poor quality or taste without consulting the writer.

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Send letters to the editor by mail (P.O. Box 70710, Fairbanks AK 99707), by fax (907-452-7917) or via email (letters@newsminer.com). Writers are limited to one letter every two weeks (14 days.) All letters must contain no more than 350 words and include a full name (no abbreviation), daytime and evening phone numbers and physical address. (If no phone, then provide a mailing address or email address.) The Daily News-Miner reserves the right to edit or reject letters without consulting the writer.
Members of Malagas Guardia Civil mountain rescue team have stretchered a 55-year-old woman to safety after she suffered an accident while climbing the La Bola peak in Mijas.

The woman, who has a fractured tibia and fibula in her right leg, suffered the injuries while climbing the peak with her husband and a friend on Friday.

The rescuers carried the woman on a stretcher for two hours before taking her to the Alhaurin el Grande medical centre.

The Guardia Civil pointed out that the hikers lacked warm clothing and, furthermore, it was getting dark.
A hero firefighter who saved 13 people during the Black Summer bushfires is still struggling to come to terms with losing his uncle and cousin.

Nathan Barnden, 27, was among the thousands of volunteer firefighters who battled the devastating blazes that burned across the country between October 2019 and March 2020.

More than 24 million hectares of land was burned, 3,000 homes destroyed and 33 lives lost - including six Australian firefighters and three US water bomber crew.

Mr Barnden, who is a Rural Fire Service Jellat Brigade senior deputy captain, battled the bushfires raging along the NSW south coast on New Year's Eve 2019.

Nathan Barnden, 27 (pictured), was among the thousands of firefighters who battled the devastating blazes that burned across the country between October 2019 and March 2020

Despite his act of bravery Mr Barnden says he is haunted by the people he was unable to save - namely his uncle Robert Salway and cousin Patrick

Mr Barnden, who is a Rural Fire Service Jellat Brigade senior deputy captain, battled the bushfires raging along the New South Wales south-coast on New Year's Eve 2019 (pictured, photo uploaded by the Salway family, capturing the Black Summer bushfires along the New South Wales south-coast)

He saved 13 people and even pulled a grandmother, her daughter, and three grandchildren from their burning Quamma home, the Daily Telegraph reported.

Despite his act of bravery, Mr Barnden said he was haunted by the people he was unable to save - his uncle Robert Salway and cousin Patrick.

'Imagine you've devoted your whole life to saving people and you couldn't save your own family,' he said.

'In the early stages I struggled with it it didn't matter that I saved 13 people.

Robert, 63, and Patrick, 29, perished while trying to save the family farm in Wandella, about 20km away from where Mr Barnden was at the time.

Only the day before, Patrick was helping a friend protect his property at Bemboka, about 70km south of Wandella.

Firefighters were closing down the roads leading into the fire zone, though Patrick was able to make it home along the Princes Highway 40 minutes before it was shut down.

More than 24 million hectares of land was burned, 3,000 homes destroyed and 33 lives lost - including six Australian firefighters and three US water bomber crew

Family visit the grave site of Robert and Patrick Salway one year on from the devastating fires

Mr Barnden says he couldn't help but think how things might have been different had the highway been closed sooner

Photo shows the outcome of the Black Summer bushfire at the Wandella property on the New South Wales south-coast

Mr Barnden says he couldn't help but think how things might have been different had the highway been closed sooner.

'It is a significant element of survivor's guilt where I felt I shouldn't have been firefighting and I should have been out with my family on their property, helping them,' he said.

Thoughts of losing his family and the fires continued to plague Mr Barnden for months before he recognised the signs of post-traumatic stress disorder.

He has seen psychologists and counsellors to learn to cope with the pain, and he is not alone.

An estimated 3,300 Rural Fire Service members have sought professional help over the past year.

The RFS is looking for psychologists to fill at least 17 new jobs.

The sky turned an ember red along the New South Wales south-coast during the Black Summer bushfires

All that remained of the Wandella property, on the New South Wales south-coast

Robert, 63 (pictured), and Patrick, 29, perished after trying to save the family farm at Wandella, about 20 kilometres away from where Mr Barnden was at the time

Only the day before, Patrick had been helping a friend protect his property at Bemboka, about 70 kilometres south of Wandella

Mr Barnden said he received a heartening text message from the family he had helped to save from the Quamma home.

'She said: "We still get to have this day as a family and I have six grandchildren and you saved five of them",' Mr Barnden recalled.

'Over time I'm grateful for the lives saved. I get to see them have a life and it makes it all worth it.'

It has been exactly one year since Patrick and Robert Salway perished from the fires, prompting an outpouring of tributes on social media.

'Life hasnt been the same and wont ever be the same again but what remains is our strong family and community to get us through!' one family member wrote on Facebook.

'Today is tough but as my beautiful grandma told me yesterday, Always remember the good and these men were nothing but good and Im sure everyone has a good memory and good story to tell about these two.'
An Israeli official on Sunday dismissed as nonsense an allegation by the Iranian foreign minister that Israel was trying to trick the United States into waging war on Iran.

It was Israel that needed to be on alert for possible Iranian strikes on the one-year anniversary on Sunday of the assassination of Tehrans top general, Qassem Soleimani, in a US drone strike in Iraq, Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz said on Kan public radio.

Washington blames Iran-backed militia for regular rocket attacks on US facilities in Iraq, including near the US embassy. No known Iran-backed groups have claimed responsibility.

On Saturday, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Twitter: New intelligence from Iraq indicate that Israeli agent-provocateurs are plotting attacks against Americans  putting an outgoing (President Donald) Trump in a bind with a fake casus belli.

Be careful of a trap, @realDonaldTrump. Any fireworks will backfire badly, particularly against your same BFFs, Zarif wrote, in what appeared to be a veiled threat against Israel.

Steinitz said the remarks showed that Iran, after mounting US sanctions billed as curbing its nuclear programme and involvement in regional conflict-zones, was under pressure - economic pressure, and pressure in terms of national security.

We hear this nonsense by Zarif, that Israel would set off terrorist attacks against the United States - this really is total nonsense, Steinitz told Kan public radio.

But on the other hand it is a warning sign - a warning sign that Iran is taking aim at Israel, is looking for excuses to lash out at Israel, and therefore we need to have our finger on the pulse and be at the highest state of alert.

The US military flew two nuclear-capable B-52 bombers to the Middle East in a message of deterrence to Iran on Wednesday, but the bombers have since left the region.

Interviewed separately on Kan, Israeli Culture Minister Chili Tropper, who like Steinitz sits in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus security cabinet, confirmed media reports that Israel was on heightened alert for the Soleimani anniversary.

Asked what possible Iranian reprisals Israel was anticipating, Tropper said: I cannot comment.
WASHINGTON - A last-ditch effort by President Donald Trump and his allies to overturn the election thrust Washington into chaos Saturday as a growing coalition of Republican senators announced plans to rebel against Senate leaders by seeking to block formal certification of President-elect Joe Biden's victory.

The push to subvert the vote is all but certain to fail when Congress gathers in joint session Wednesday to count electoral college votes already certified by each state. Still, Trump is continuing to press Republican lawmakers to support his baseless claims of election fraud while calling on thousands of supporters to fill the streets of the nation's capital on Wednesday in mass protest of his defeat.

A group of 11 Republican senators and senators-elect, led by Ted Cruz of Texas, vowed to join Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., in challenging votes from some contested states, calling for an "emergency 10-day audit" to investigate Trump's unfounded claims. Hours later, Trump wrote on Twitter that there would be "plenty more to come."

The move amounts to an open rebellion against Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who last month pleaded with GOP senators to avoid a public debate over the legitimacy of November's election results. McConnell has personally congratulated Biden on his victory.

The high drama at the Capitol is set to punctuate a momentous week in politics that will delineate power at the dawn of the Biden presidency. The new Congress to be sworn in Sunday will reduce the size of the Democratic House majority. Trump and Biden will both campaign Monday in Georgia ahead of twin runoff elections for the U.S. Senate on Tuesday that will determine which party controls the upper chamber. Later in the week, members of the Republican National Committee will gather at a Florida beach resort to chart the party's future beyond Trump's presidency.

"What's happening next week foreshadows what's going to be happening for the following 24 months," said Peter Hart, a veteran Democratic pollster. "It's a question of do we start to move to the future or get locked into the past. . . . This [could] continue to rip apart the fabric of this country that has already been torn through."

Congress is all but certain to drive a final stake through the heart of Trump's dream of four more years on Wednesday. But the gulf between the reality of the certification process and Trump's fantasy of subverting the vote to stay in office is politically perilous for Republicans - none more than Trump's unfailingly deferential No. 2, Vice President Mike Pence.

As president of the Senate, Pence will wield the gavel when the electoral votes are counted and Biden is declared the winner by a wide margin, 306 to 232.

Though Pence's role is strictly ceremonial, the lawyer Sidney Powell and other conspiracy-minded Trump allies are trying to convince the president that Pence has the power to overturn the election by rejecting some of Biden's electors, according to two senior administration officials with knowledge of the conversations. After Pence labored for four years to stay in the mercurial president's good graces, his performance on Wednesday could risk a rupture on their 14th-to-last day in office.

While the growing GOP chorus to challenge Biden's victory may ease the burden on Pence to lead the charge for Trump, it increases the likelihood of a volatile, discomfiting debate. And it virtually guarantees that Republicans will face a vote that forces them to decide whether they will honor the collective will of the voters or stand with Trump - a vote that could long serve as a litmus test for the GOP base.

With dozens of House Republicans expected also to challenge the election results, Wednesday's event is likely to be a very public showcase of Trump's two-month campaign to delegitimize Biden's presidency, even as Washington barrels inexorably toward Biden's inauguration.

For days, Trump has been urging supporters to converge on Washington on Wednesday - in a showing that could offer a measure of the enduring popular appeal of his unfounded claims of fraud.

As many as four rallies are expected to draw pro-Trump demonstrators to the Washington Monument, Freedom Plaza and the Capitol. The Proud Boys, white supremacists and members of armed right-wing groups have pledged to attend, while threats of violence and calls for an "armed encampment" on the National Mall are proliferating online.

"I'm focused on the long-term damage rather than the short-term turbulence - the formation of a very large group of people who simply will not accept the legitimacy of Joe Biden as president of the United States or the legitimacy of the processes by which he ascended to the presidency," said William Galston, the chairman of governance studies at the Brookings Institution. "That, in my view, is the fundamental danger."

Trump has made plain his goal with the certification process: to overturn the results of an election he insists was "rigged," though he has produced no evidence to support that claim. But so far, at least, he has not provided clear directives about how, procedurally, he intends for that goal to be accomplished.

Trump wants Pence and others to help recruit lawmakers to join the effort led by Hawley and Cruz in the Senate and a handful of Trump allies in the House, and to publicly present what he considers evidence of voter fraud, according to a senior administration official, who, like others interviewed, spoke on the condition of anonymity to candidly discuss internal deliberations.

Pence and others have explained to Trump that the vice president does not have the power to take substantive action on Wednesday, such as moving to invalidate the results, administration officials say. Pence's legally prescribed duties are strictly ceremonial: read aloud the electoral votes from each state and officiate any debate that unfolds.

However, Pence is encouraging lawmakers to publicly debate what they see as voting irregularities in key states, said Pence chief of staff Marc Short.

"Vice President Pence shares the concerns of millions of Americans about voter fraud and irregularities in the last election," Short said. "The vice president welcomes the efforts of members of the House and Senate to use the authority they have under the law to raise objections and bring forward evidence before the Congress and the American people on January 6th."

Late Friday, a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas, arguing that the Constitution gives the vice president sole discretion to determine whether electors put forward by the states are valid. Gohmert's suit asked the judge effectively to tell Pence that he has the right to invalidate electoral college votes cast for Biden and instead recognize other slates of Trump electors.

Pence asked that the suit be rejected, and the judge, Jeremy Kernodle, complied. Kernodle, who was nominated by Trump to serve on the federal bench in Texas in 2018, wrote that Gohmert lacked standing to sue.

For Trump, the dismissal compounds nearly two months of anger and agita over the election outcome and his failure to reverse it, either through dozens of lawsuits or by personal pressure on state and local officials.

Over the Christmas vacation, the president was in a foul mood at Mar-a-Lago, his Florida seaside club. In addition to venting about the election, he fumed about renovations to the property overseen by first lady Melania Trump in preparation for the couple's impending move from the White House, according to someone who spoke with the president at the club.

Trump left Florida three days earlier than planned, skipping Mar-a-Lago's annual New Year's Eve party, which he typically attends. Hundreds of guests bought tickets to the bash, expecting the president to be there. "People go to see him," said one person who planned to attend but bowed out after learning Trump was returning to Washington.

Trump did not explain his unexpected departure but told some guests at Mar-a-Lago that he thought Iran might seek to retaliate against the United States around the Jan. 3 anniversary of last year's U.S. killing of Iranian Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani in Baghdad.

Still, Trump has been in a rancid state since his November loss to Biden. Obsessed with conspiracy theories fed to him by Powell, his personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani and other allies, he has aired grievances at will on Twitter and been easily provoked to lash out at aides.

"All of us are just trying to stay off the radar," one senior administration official said. "You have a conversation with him and, the next thing you know, you're pulled into, 'Hey, Sidney Powell told me yadda, yadda, yadda,' or, 'Rudy said blah, blah, blah.' There's no upside to being in his orbit right now."

A recent advertisement from the Lincoln Project, an anti-Trump super PAC run by longtime Republican strategists, drew the president's fury. In it, the narrator speaks directly to Trump and says, ominously, that Pence is "running away" from him by not fully amplifying his claims of widespread election fraud.

"The end is coming, Donald," the narrator intones. "Even Mike Pence knows."

Trump wanted to issue a cease-and-desist letter to the Lincoln Project over the ad, although it is unclear what legal ground, if any, he might have for doing so. Officials said he ultimately was talked out of it.

In recent weeks, Trump also has been displeased with Pence, thinking the vice president and other advisers have not done enough to help him overturn the election results. But people familiar with the dynamic between the two men said the relationship remains strong.

On Monday, they are to fly to Georgia to campaign for Sens. David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler, Republican incumbents trying to fend off energized Democratic challenges in Tuesday's runoffs. Both Trump and Pence are expected to emphasize the high stakes, telling Georgia voters that if Perdue and Loeffler lose, Republicans will lose control of the upper chamber - opening the door for a Democratic House and Senate to reverse many Trump administration accomplishments.

However, Trump has been feuding openly for weeks with Georgia's Republican governor and secretary of state, blasting their unwillingness to reverse the state's presidential election results. Biden was the first Democrat to win Georgia and its 16 electoral votes in nearly three decades.

As a result, some GOP officials are concerned that Trump might veer from prepared remarks at his election-eve rally and deliver a sour message that risks depressing Republican turnout on Election Day.

Polls show both races are tight, and the outcome may be uncertain when lawmakers gather back in Washington for the presidential certification the next day. McConnell and other party leaders have discouraged their members from interfering with the traditionally pro forma process, contending that any effort to change the outcome would fail.

McConnell has told others privately that he is frustrated by Hawley's decision to challenge slates of Biden electors and force votes likely to divide Republicans, saying it will serve only to invite a political backlash from Trump supporters against GOP senators who vote to confirm Biden's victory.

In an open letter to his constituents, Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., a frequent Trump critic, went further, calling the effort to use the congressional process to reverse the election results a "dangerous ploy," given that there is no evidence of widespread fraud. Instead, Sasse wrote, the effort is "designed to disenfranchise millions of Americans simply because they voted for someone in a different party."

On Saturday, the Cruz-led coalition publicly rejected that position, arguing that "deep distrust" among some voters about the legitimacy of the election demands the creation of an "Electoral Commission ... to conduct an emergency 10-day audit of the election returns in the disputed states." A previous commission appointed to investigate Trump's allegations about the 2016 election disbanded without finding evidence of fraud or even issuing a report.

Those in the Cruz coalition also said they would reject electors from disputed states as not "lawfully certified," though they offered no legal basis for doing so. In Georgia, for example, Biden's victory was certified after three separate recounts.

Hawley has indicated that he will object to electoral votes submitted by at least one state, Pennsylvania, and that he may challenge some others. He has justified the move as a means of speaking up for the 74 million Americans who voted for Trump. In a statement, Hawley singled out Pennsylvania as failing "to follow their own state election laws," though he offered no evidence to support that charge.

Hawley and Cruz are among several senators seen as potential presidential contenders in 2024, and their moves could open the floodgates for other ambitious Republicans to lodge similar challenges on Wednesday in hopes of appealing to Trump's base.

This revolt will put a squeeze on incumbents facing reelection in 2022, including two members of the GOP leadership, John Thune of South Dakota and Roy Blunt of Missouri. Both men are expected to vote to certify Biden's victory, with Thune telling reporters just before Christmas that any attempt to challenge the election's outcome is "just not going anywhere. I mean, in the Senate it would go down like a shot dog."

Since then, Trump has been attacking the No. 2-ranking GOP senator. On Friday, Trump tweeted that Thune was a "RINO" - a "Republican in name only" - and called on Gov. Kristi Noem to run against him in the state's GOP primary.

"South Dakota wants strong leadership, NOW!" Trump wrote.

Never mind that Noem had tweeted just 10 days earlier that she would not challenge Thune, calling him "a friend of mine" and announcing that she would seek reelection as governor in 2022.


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Phoebe Burgess is officially divorced from Sam Burgess after five years of marriage, a new report claims.

On Sunday, The Daily Telegraph reported that a divorce order for the pair was issued 'just before Christmas' - 14 months after they separated.

Phoebe, 31, and Sam, 32, share custody of their two children, Billy, two, and Poppy, three.

Over: Phoebe Burgess is officially divorced from Sam Burgess after five years of marriage, a new report claims. The pair are pictured in happier times, in May 2017

Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Phoebe Burgess and Sam Burgess for comment.

Following the divorce announcement, Phoebe shared a photo of her left hand to Instagram, revealing that it was free of wedding or engagement rings - but she was sporting a fashionable gold pinkie ring.

Sam and Phoebe separated in September last year, and reportedly finalised their financial settlement at that time.

Final: On Sunday, The Daily Telegraph reported that a divorce order for the pair was issued 'just before Christmas' - 14 months after they separated

Single lady: Following the divorce announcement, Phoebe shared a photo of her left hand to Instagram, revealing that it was free of wedding or engagement rings - but she was sporting a fashionable gold pinkie ring

The Daily Telegraph reported Phoebe had walked away with 70 per cent of the former couple's marital wealth, including an F45 gym bought in the names of Sam Burgess and her older sister Jemima's husband Gene Fairbanks in 2015.

She has since sold the gym.

The former journalist, who now promotes herself as a brand ambassador, also kept a $100,000 Range Rover which she is regularly seen driving around Bowral.

The Burgesses sold their Lurline Bay property in Maroubra, a beachside suburb in Sydney's east, in January for $5million.

Family: Phoebe, 31, and Sam, 32, share custody of their two children, Billy, two, (right) and Poppy, three (left)

According to Realestate.com.au, the sale registered a profit of $1.2million. The French provincial home was bought in both their names in early 2016 for $3.8million.

The former couple remain involved in an ugly legal dispute following their split.

Sam is accused of intimidating Phoebe's father, Mitchell Hooke, at his Southern Highlands home in October 19, 2019.

Settled: Sam and Phoebe separated in September last year, and reportedly finalised their financial settlement at that time

Wealth: The Daily Telegraph reported Phoebe had walked away with 70 per cent of the former couple's marital wealth

The Rabbitohs player is also charged with common assault in relation to the same alleged incident. Sam has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Police have also taken out an interim AVO to allegedly protect Mr Hooke from Burgess, who has had no contact with his former father-in-law for more than a year.

The hearing will continue in Moss Vale Local Court on January 22.

In June, Phoebe became emotional while discussing the harsh realities of life as a single mother on The Morning Show.

In happier times: The former couple remain involved in an ugly legal dispute following their split. Sam is accused of intimidating Phoebe's father Mitchell Hooke at his Southern Highlands home in October 19, 2019. Phoebe is pictured with her father Mitchell and Sam

Legal: Police have also taken out an interim AVO to allegedly protect Mr Hooke from Burgess, who has had no contact with his former father-in-law for more than a year. The hearing will continue in Moss Vale Local Court on January 22

'There's not makeup every day, it's not glam being a single mum,' she told hosts Larry Emdur and Kylie Gillies.

'I do have help [from] their grandparents. My parents are amazing,' Phoebe said, appearing to hold back tears.

The influencer explained that she tries to be honest with her followers about life as a single parent, insisting: 'I don't like to portray a perfect scenario. It's not perfect.'
JANUARY 4: Leons deal comes with a $1.25MM base salary if he makes the MLB roster, with additional incentives available, reports Jon Heyman of MLB Network (Twitter link).

JANUARY 3: The Marlins have signed catcher Sandy Leon to a minor league deal. The contract contains an invitation for Leon to attend Miamis big league Spring Training camp. In addition to Leon, the Marlins also officially announced six other players (infielder Eddy Alvarez, catcher Brian Navarreto, and right-handers Zach Thompson, Alexander Guillen, Anthony Bender, and Luis Madero) received spring invites on minor league contracts.

A veteran of nine big league seasons, Leon is best known for his five seasons with the Red Sox from 2015-19, a stint that saw him collect a World Series ring in 2018 and unexpectedly step up as an offensive threat (.845 OPS in 283 plate appearances) in 2016. That 2016 campaign stands out as a big outlier amidst Leons overall career numbers, however, as he has a .216/.284/.327 slash line over 1379 career PA.

Leon didnt even reach that modest level of production in 2020, as he hit .136/.296/.242 in 81 PA with the Indians. Its pretty clear Miami isnt signing Leon for his bat, but rather his well-documented defensive skill  Leon is well-respected as a game-caller and he was an above-average pitch-framer in both 2018 and 2019. Leon also has some impressive caught-stealing numbers over his career, though those totals have dipped over the last two years.

The signings of both Leon and Navarreto add some depth to a Marlins catching mix that consists of Jorge Alfaro and Chad Wallach. Alfaro is coming off a tough season at the plate, but as a former top prospect, hell be given plenty more chances to firmly establish himself as a regular backstop. Wallach is another defense-first catcher, so with Leon now in the mix, Wallach will need a solid showing in Spring Training to retain his job on the active roster.

Navarreto is back in Miami after making his MLB debut with the team last season, appearing in two games. Originally a sixth-round pick for the Twins in the 2013 draft, Navarreto has hit .214/.264/.307 over 1753 career PA in the minors (in the Twins and Yankees farm systems) without ever reaching Triple-A ball. He signed a minor league deal with the Marlins last winter but naturally never appeared in the minors due to the cancellation of the minor league season.

Alvarez is the only other member of the group to appear in the majors, as he hit .189/.268/.216 for the Marlins last season in the first 41 Major League plate appearances of his career. Alvarezs MLB debut made headlines, as the former Olympic silver medal-winning speed skater became the first former Olympian (in a sport besides baseball, of course) to appear in the majors since the legendary Jim Thorpe. Beginning his career as an undrafted free agent, Alvarez has hit .278/.375/.413 with 40 homers over 2430 minor league PA, working mostly as a shortstop but also playing a significant amount of second and third base.
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NBCs Chuck Todd was sharply critical of Sen. Ron Johnson for his decision to join other Republican senators in trying to overturn President-elect Joe Bidens victory. In a contentious interview on Meet the Press, Todd and Johnson accused each other of hypocrisy. Todd said that the country is now in a destructive, vicious circle because the senators were the ones who created the controversy about the election and now are acting like its an issue that needs answers even though there is no proof of widespread voter fraud. You made an allegation that there was widespread fraud. You have failed to offer specific evidence of that widespread fraud. But youre demanding an investigation on the grounds that there are allegations of widespread fraud, Todd said. So essentially, youre the arsonist here. President Trump is the arsonist here.

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WATCH: @chucktodd to @senronjohnson: "You made an allegation that there was widespread fraud, you failed to offer specific evidence of that widespread fraud, but you're demanding an investigation on ... allegations of widespread fraud."



"Essentially, you're the arsonist here." pic.twitter.com/PtZMSPoWtu  Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) January 3, 2021

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The word arsonist referred to a phrase used by Republican Sen. Ben Sasse, who complained a few days ago of institutional arsonist members of Congress who were raising questions about the validity of the election for political gain. Youve started this fire, Todd said, because you didnt have the guts to tell the truth that this election was fair. Johnson fired back that the fire was started when mainstream media stopped, dropped any pretense of being unbiased and actually chose sides during this election. At one point both Todd and Johnson said theyve had enough of the arguments but continued making them. Todd went on to say that Johnson had spent the last two years carrying a lot of crazy conspiratorial water for President Trump. Johnson said he was trying to be transparent and proceeded to repeat baseless claims of voter fraud.

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Ted Cruz complains about Democrats wanting him arrested for sedition and says everyone needs to calm down pic.twitter.com/g0RlFznROF  Acyn Torabi (@Acyn) January 3, 2021

Johnson was only one of two out of the 12 Senate Republicans who agreed to appear on a Sunday morning talk show after they said they would not vote to certify some electors unless there was an audit of the results in disputed states. Speaking on Fox News, Sen. Ted Cruz, the leader of the effort, said the reactions to their move to challenge Bidens victory had been exaggerated. I think everyone needs to calm down, Cruz said. I think we need to tone down the rhetoric. This is already a volatile situation. Its like a tinderbox and throwing lit matches into it and so I think the kind of hyperbole were seeing, the kind of angry language.

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CNN anchor Jake Tapper said the network invited the 12 Senate Republicans who said they would object to certifying the Electoral College votes, but none of them agreed to be interviewed. Meanwhile, a bipartisan group of senators called on their colleagues to accept the results and move on. At this point, further attempts to cast doubt on the legitimacy of the 2020 Presidential election are contrary to the clearly expressed will of the American people and only serve to undermine Americans confidence in the already determined election results, the senators said. The group is made up of GOP Sens. Susan Collins (Maine), Bill Cassidy (Louisiana), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), and Mitt Romney (Utah); Democratic Sens. Joe Manchin (West Virginia), Mark Warner (Virginia), Jeanne Shaheen (New Hampshire), Maggie Hassan (New Hampshire), Dick Durbin (Illinois); and independent Sen. Angus King (Maine). It is time to move forward, they said.
Online Special interaction on 2021 Challenges Facing India and the World

If World War III breaks out in future, India will be able to respond to it on the basis of available material resources and military strength, said experts at the seminar on 2021: Challenges Facing India and the World. This online interaction was organised by Hindu Janajagruti Samiti. Defence and Foreign Policy expert from New Delhi Mr. Abhijit Iyer-Mitra, National Secretary of Bharat Raksha Manch Mr. Anil Dheer, an American researcher and editor of the PGurus website, Mr. Sree Iyer and the National Guide of Hindu Janajagruti Samiti, Sadguru (Dr.) Charudatta Pingale were present on the occasion. The event was viewed live by 33,062 people on Facebook and YouTube.

Defence and Foreign Policy expert Mr. Abhijit Iyer-Mitra said, China could cause World War III, not directly but indirectly. If China invades India, Pakistan can also invade India; however, if Pakistan invades India, China will not come to Pakistans aid because China is selfish, it has never gone to help its own friends like North Korea. China ensures how to reduce its own losses.

The editor of the PGurus website, Mr. Sree Iyer said China was stealing and copying various technologies from around the world. The quality of its products is not good. The Vietnam War has forced China to flee the ground. Since China has not actually won wars, the question is how long its weapons and aircraft will last in the war. Technology and tools other than actual warfare can be used by China.

National Secretary of Bharat Raksha Manch Mr. Anil Dheer said that the Prime Minister of Pakistan is only nominal and it is known to the world that all affairs are run by the Pakistan Army. The situation in Pakistan is likely to worsen further in the future. China has learned from the Ladakh issue that India is no longer the India of 1962. So instead of war, it is trying to break Nepal and Sri Lanka away from India; however, that will not be possible; as Nepal has cultural ties with India, Nepal-India friendship will remain intact.

Sadguru (Dr.) Pingale, National Guide of Hindu Janajagruti Samiti said that due to economic hegemony, expansionism, selfishness and egoism of various countries around the world, the world is heading towards the WWIII. If World War III were to happen, there would be no reason for India to fear China, which is superior to India in terms of military, armaments and other equipment, as well as the Islamic countries that are fuelling jihadist terrorism. It should be noted that Shriram, Shrikrushna, Arya Chanakya and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj have won wars despite having less army and equipment because they were on the just side of Dharma.
The intense rivalry between the Parachute Regiment and the Royal Marines has been a hot topic of conversation in military circles for decades.

Now it is set to get even fiercer after the Marines used the Paras official motto as a catchline for a new marketing campaign.

The Latin words Utrinque Paratus  meaning Ready for Anything  has appeared beneath the Paras winged crest since the regiments formation during the Second World War.

Many of its troops have it tattooed on their chests and arms.

The Royal Marines were accused of stealing the motto from the Paratroopers in their new campaign

The Duke of Sussex during a visit to 42 Commando Royal Marines at their base in Bickleigh

So there was anger at its HQ in Colchester, Essex, last week when the Royal Marines  who will continue to use their motto Per Mare Per Terram (by sea, by land)  launched an online recruitment drive featuring a commando with the words Ready for Anything? Apply Now.

In a post on the Marines Facebook page, Para officer Major Paul Raison, wrote: Royal stealing mottos from the Parachute Regiment to improve recruiting  priceless.

'Dont worry, we wont be stealing yours.

Royal Marine Dan Hinks, recalling the Armys much- ridiculed 2019 snowflake poster campaign, responded: Only because your recruitment campaigns are laughable.

Last night, a Ministry of Defence spokesman said: These are elite forces with proud histories.

'A healthy rivalry is only to be expected.
There are more buyers than sellers in South West WA as realtors struggle to source enough high-end properties for rich clients seeking 'iso' retreats or a change of scenery.

The shortage of available properties is leading to a price bump in the region and tempting current landowners to test the market.

John Poynton and Di Bain's Sundance Lodge in Yallingup could fetch as much as $7 million after it was recently listed for sale. Credit:Stocker Preston

Perth power couple John Poynton  chairman of Crown Perth and a director of the Future Fund  and Di Bain  a Tourism WA board member and City of Perth councillor  have put their luxury Yallingup property up for sale with Stocker Preston amid the frenzy.

The 13 hectare property  which features a main residence with five king-sized rooms, two villas, a lodge, lake, helicopter pad and pool  was purchased 11 years ago for $4 million but could fetch about $7 million in the current market.
Three fishermen were rescued from their yacht when they drifted dangerously close to a shipwreck packed with 1,400 tonnes of explosives.

The 27ft vessel was floating near the mouth of the Medway Estuary in Kent, close to where the wreck of the SS Richard Montgomery lies beneath the surface.

Lifeboat crew were sent from Sheerness in Kent to help the yacht and those on board and a tow rope was then fixed to pull it to safety.

The SS Richard Montgomery is feared to have enough remaining munitions on board to cause a massive 1.4 kiloton explosion which could lead to a four-foot tidal wave in the Thames estuary.

Lifeguard crews came to the aid of the yacht, carrying three fishermen, and took it ashore. The vessel had drifted towards the notorious wreck of the SS Richard Montgomery

The SS Richard Montgomery's three masts can still be seen when the tide recedes and a large exclusion zone is monitored at all times

A Coastguard spokesman said of the rescue on Saturday: 'Post return from the ordnance incident, HM Coastguard Southend were alerted to a vessel which was known to Southend Coastguard...drifting dangerously close to the SS Montgomery wreck on the Kent side of the Thames Estuary.

'Once intercepted and undertow by the Trent Class lifeboat, it was taken to the end of Southend Pier and transferred to RNLI Southend Lifeboat who launched their Atlantic Class lifeboat to take it onward to Chalkwell on Essex side where it was put to anchor and the 3 casualties transferred to shore to be met by the Southend Coastguard team.

'Southend Coastguard then proceeded to check firstly the three casualties were not in need of any medical assistance and to ascertain the reasons for their journey (reported fishing trip from night before) and provide some safety advice.

The fishermen onboard the yacht were not injured in the successful rescue attempt over the weekend

'Essex Police - Southend District were also in attendance to provide additional support and checks over the casualties and vessel.'

Cargo ship SS Richard Montgomery was anchored in Sheerness in Kent when it grounded and broke up in 1944.

The wreck is packed with 1,400 tonnes of explosives which could explode if attempts were made to remove them.

As a result, a 500-metre exclusion zone is monitored round the clock by port authorities.

Concerns that the explosives on board the wreck may detonate were raised in 2019 at Westminster by Labour peer Lord Harris of Haringey.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency, which monitors the condition of the wreck and carries out regular surveys, said at the time that the risk of a major explosion 'is believed to be remote'.
At least 11 coal miners - all members of the minority Hazara Shia community - were kidnapped and reportedly killed in Machh town in Pakistans Balochistan province on Sunday by unidentified gunmen.

The men were abducted at gunpoint and then taken to a secluded area in the nearby hills where they were attacked, according to various accounts. It is believed they were kidnapped from their hostel located near a mine where they worked.

Conflicting reports suggest that the miners were tied up and either shot or had their throats slit after they were taken to the nearby hills.

However, a video clip that has gone viral on social media shows three bodies outside a room, suggesting that some of the miners may have been killed outside their hostel.

Police said that the survivors were taken to a hospital in Machh, and that initial reports said 10 coal miners had been brought dead or were in critical condition. The death toll was later reported to have reached 11.

This is the first major attack on members of the Hazara community since April last year when a suicide bomb attack at a market killed 18 people; most of them were Hazaras.

There have been constant attacks on members of the community by terror groups. While no one immediately claimed responsibility for Sundays episode, Hazaras have historically been targeted by Taliban and Islamic State militants, apart from other Sunni extremist groups.

In 2013, three bombings killed more than 200 people in Hazara neighbourhoods in Quetta.

Following Sundays attack, members of the Hazara minority in Quetta blocked the western bypass in protest and set tyres on fire. Heavy contingents of police, local administration and frontier constabulary (FC) personnel cordoned off the area.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan condemned the killings and termed the incident yet another cowardly (and) inhumane act of terrorism. He tweeted, The families of the victims will not be left abandoned by the (government). Have asked the FC to use all resources to apprehend these killers and bring them to justice.
Liverpool's council leaders today called for a third national lockdown to contain the new 'mutant' strain of Covid and prevent a 'catastrophe'.

The city's acting mayor, Wendy Simon, and the Labour-run city council's cabinet say the speed of the rise in coronavirus cases have reached 'alarming levels' and urgent action is now required to save lives and the NHS.

The new 'mutant' strain of Covid is thought to have a higher rate of transmission and is most prevalent in London and the South East, where health bosses say hospitals have become stretched.

It is believed the strain is spreading from south to north, leading to increasing pressure on the NHS.

Cases in Liverpool have almost trebled in the past two weeks to 350 per 100,000, despite the city leading on the pilot for community testing which led to it being the first city to be moved from Tier 3 down to Tier 2.

The call for a new lockdown was made in a statement from Cllr Wendy Simon and Cabinet Member for Public Health Cllr Paul Brant.

The current mayor of the city, Joe Anderson, is on police bail on suspicion of conspiracy to commit bribery and witness intimidation.

The statement said: 'It is clear that the country is now at a crossroads with Covid-19. The stark reality is that today this virulent new strain of the virus is very much on the rise and we need to act now to prevent a crisis that will unleash even more pain and anguish.'

A spokeswoman for the Department of Health said the Government would 'not hesitate to take actions necessary to protect local communities'.

It comes as England edges closer towards a blanket shutdown after government efforts to reopen schools were thrown into disarray by Left-wing councils and teaching unions.

In other coronavirus developments:

Ofsted boss Amanda Spielman said children's learning cannot be 'furloughed';

Experts leading the UK vaccination programme defended the decision to extend the gap between the two doses, insisting it is 'the way we save lives';

Health bosses last night insisted urgent cancer operations in London will not be scrapped to ease the strain on hospitals inundated with Covid patients;

Labour's shadow culture secretary Jo Stevens is being treated in hospital for coronavirus, her aides announced last night;

Another 57,725 had positive test results and recorded 445 deaths yesterday;

A London children's hospital consultant blasted 'irresponsible' nurse who gave a BBC interview claiming her hospital has a 'whole ward of children' with Covid;

Young non-voting women are most likely to turn down a Covid vaccine if it were available tomorrow, the Find Out Now poll has found;

Boris Johnson faces losing most of the 'Red Wall' seats that delivered his historic election victory a year ago and his own seat, according to a massive poll.

Liverpool's acting mayor Wendy Simons called for a third national coronavirus lockdown today

Cases in Liverpool have almost trebled in the past two weeks to 350 per 100,000, despite the city successfully leading on the national pilot for community testing which led to it being the first city to be taken out of Tier 3 and into Tier 2, according to official figures

Two thirds of England's population is now in Tier 4, with the remainder living in Tier 3 lockdowns. Only the Isles of Scilly, off the coast of Cornwall, is in the looser Tier 2

The UK recorded a record 57,725 Covid-19 cases yesterday, the most since the pandemic began and the fifth day daily cases surpassed 50,000. The country also saw 445 deaths

The Liverpool councillors said: 'We need the government to listen to those at the frontline, both in our hospitals and frontline services.

'We as a nation can cope with a lockdown. We have before and we can again. The quicker we move into one now, the more lives will be saved and the quicker a recovery will be.

'Yes, there will be pain for our retail and hospitality sectors, but they want long term security and a strong recovery and a lockdown provides both.

'An additional package of welfare and economic support will also be needed, especially to protect the most vulnerable.'

They said it was 'self-evident' the tier system is not working to curb the virus, adding: 'London's rates are a huge cause for concern and we will soon see those rates here and across the rest of the country.

'Let's get ahead of the curve and act now. We all know too well the dire consequences and costs if we don't, particularly to the most vulnerable in our communities.

'Millions of Britons have made many sacrifices these past 10 months and none of us want to see those efforts go to waste. Much progress has been made to limit the virus, but we can only do so much as individuals.

'The country is currently facing a catastrophe that will undo much of what has been achieved if we do not act as one.'

The UK recorded a record 57,725 Covid-19 cases yesterday, the most since the pandemic began and the fifth day daily cases surpassed 50,000.

The country also saw an additional 445 deaths, taking the total official count to 74,570  but 90,000 people in total have died with Covid-19 written on their death certificate.

London is now the epicentre of the UK's outbreak and its hospitals are being stretched with the flood of patients. The weekly rate of cases is double the national average at 858 per 100,000 people.

A Government spokeswoman said: 'We strengthened our measures by introducing Tier 4 two weeks ago, based on advice from SAGE and it is vital everyone continues to follow the rules to reduce transmission in their areas, save lives and protect our NHS.

'We keep the spread of Covid-19 under constant review based on latest medical and scientific data and have been clear we will not hesitate to take actions necessary to protect local communities.'

It comes as scientists warned England will be stuck in its relentless cycle of coronavirus lockdowns until at least the end of spring even if the vaccine roll-out goes to plan.

The new strain of coronavirus transmits faster and is most prevalent in London and the South East, where hospitals have become stretched. It is believed the strain is spreading from south to north, leading to increasing pressure on the NHS

London is now the epicentre of the outbreak and its hospitals are being stretched with the flood of patients. The weekly rate of cases is double the national average at 858 per 100,000

Just 2,000 people on the Isles of Scilly are left in Tier 1 - with everyone else in England now under the highest Tier 3 and 4 lockdowns

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said after the approval of the Oxford vaccine he now has a 'very high degree of confidence that we are going to be out of this by the spring,' in a worrying echo of Boris Johnson's claim in July that the UK would be 'back to normal by Christmas'.

Labour shadow cabinet minister Jo Stevens, 54, is in hospital with coronavirus Labour's shadow culture secretary Jo Stevens is being treated in hospital for coronavirus, her aides announced. A statement said: 'Jo has asked us to let you know that she is being treated in hospital for Covid. Thanks for all your good wishes we will give an update when we can.' It first emerged the 54-year-old Cardiff Central MP had contracted Covid-19 on New Year's Eve, when her advisors said she was 'laid low' because of her infection. Politicians of all stripes tonight rallied round their colleague, with Sir Keir Starmer leading the well-wishers, tweeting: 'Get well soon Jo, a dear friend and colleague.' Wales' first minister Mark Drakeford said: 'All of our thoughts and best wishes are with Jo for a speedy recovery. 'Thank you to Jo's constituency team for continuing to support Cardiff Central constituents at this difficult time.' Shadow home secretary Nick Thomas Symonds tweeted: 'Thinking of my friend and Welsh Labour colleague Jo Stevens this evening - Get well soon Jo!' Conservative minister Nadhim Zahawi, who is leading the Government's vaccine rollout, tweeted: 'Wishing you a speedy recovery Jo.' The announcement was the first tweet from her account since December 31 when it was first revealed Ms Stevens was battling Covid-19. Advertisement

But experts say they expect the repeated lockdowns and social distancing rules to keep rolling for 'months and months', lasting until May or even deep into the summer of 2021.

The PM refused to put a 'deadline' on when he thought the current rules  which have 78 per cent of England's population in the toughest Tier 4  would end, but admitted they might stay until the spring, with the UK now in a race against time to vaccinate the nation.

Families hoping for a reunion after being separated during the festive period might be out of luck, with scientists convinced the outbreak is still getting worse. They fear even the toughest lockdowns might not be able to stop the spread of the new super-infectious variant of the coronavirus.

Professor Paul Hunter, an infectious disease expert at the University of East Anglia, told BBC Radio 4: 'It is going to be a very, very difficult few months until we get, hopefully, relief as we move from spring into summer when many people will have been vaccinated and the warmer weather will be here.'

Dr Simon Clarke, a microbiologist at the University of Reading, told MailOnline he expected lockdown rules would keep going 'until April or May' before the effects of mass-vaccination would be strong enough to relax restrictions.

And Dr Gabriel Scally, a public health professor at the University of Bristol and member of Independent SAGE, told this website he expects the harsh rules to carry on for 'months and months', with some form of national lockdown now the best option.

Their comments come after No10 plunged 20 million more people into the toughest lockdown rules after allowing them to meet with families over Christmas, meaning there are now 44 million people living in Tier 4  in which all non-essential shops and hospitality businesses must close  with the remaining 12 million living in Tier Three. Only the Isles of Scilly, with a population of 2,000 off Cornwall's coast, is in Tier 1.

Pressure is mounting on the Government to keep all school children in England learning from home when the new term starts next week amid fears over the spread of the new strain of Covid-19.

Gavin Williamson confirmed on Friday that all London primary schools will remain shut to most pupils next week - rather than just those in certain boroughs as set out earlier in the week - but teaching unions say all schools should close for the next two weeks.

Last night, the Department for Education said remote learning was 'a last resort' and classrooms should reopen 'wherever possible' with appropriate safety measures to help mitigate the risk of transmission.

'As we've said, we will move to remote education as a last resort, with involvement of public health officials, in areas where infection and pressures on the NHS are highest,' the spokesperson said.

Hundreds of new vaccination sites are due to be up and running this week as the NHS ramps up its immunisation programme with the newly approved Oxford University and AstraZeneca jab.

The Government is keen to get children back to schools, but Left-wing councils have joined a revolt against plans as UK's largest teaching union advised members it was not safe to return

Headteachers call for GCSE and A-Level exams to be scrapped this summer amid school closure chaos Head teachers are calling on the Government to scrap this summer's GCSE and A-level exams amid outrage over Gavin Williamson's plans to keep schools open. Most primaries in England are expected to re-open their doors tomorrow, while secondary schools will reopen on a staggered basis later this month with plans to test every student weekly. Yesterday, however, the UK's largest teaching union advised members it was not safe to return to the classroom - with several left-wing councils demanding their primary schools move to online teaching only. And in another blow to the Education Secretary 's plans, UK head teachers are now calling for this year's exams to be scrapped to prioritise 'wider public health, pupil and staff safety'. They also claim it would be unfair to force students to sit exams when those whose schools were open earlier would have more contact time than those with later start dates. The WorthLess? campaign group - a collection of 2,000 head teachers in 80 local authorities - said: 'Wider public health, pupil and staff safety should be prioritised ahead of examinations. 'Public safety should not be risked or driven by an inflexible pursuit of GCSE and A-levels.' Head teacher of Tanbridge House School in Horsham - and one of the WorthLess? leaders - told The Times : 'There is great scepticism that exams can now go ahead fairly.' Advertisement

Some 530,000 doses of the vaccine will be available for rollout across the UK from Monday and more than a million patients have already had their first dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine which was the first to be approved by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.

But Ofsted chief inspector Amanda Spielman said children's education cannot be 'furloughed' for months while vaccinations are rolled out and time absent from the classroom should be kept to an 'absolute minimum', the Sunday Telegraph reported.

Children's Commissioner Anne Longfield told the newspaper that schools should be the last to close and first to open, when safe to do so, adding: 'I hope, for children and parents' sake, that is measured in days not weeks and I would be particularly keen for primaries to stay open if at all possible.'

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the vaccine roll-out was 'our great hope', adding: 'I want the Government to throw everything it can at this, harnessing the extraordinary talents of our NHS so we can be vaccinating at least two million Brits a week by the end of the month.'

But, writing in the Sunday Mirror, he criticised 'a chaotic last minute U-turn on schools', adding: 'Confusion reigns among parents, teachers and pupils over who will be back in school tomorrow and who won't.'

General secretary of the National Education Union (NEU), Mary Bousted, said schools should stay closed for two weeks to 'break the chain' of transmission and prevent the NHS becoming overwhelmed.'

The union, which represents the majority of teachers, has advised its members it is not safe to return to classrooms on Monday.

NAHT general secretary Paul Whiteman said the union had started preliminary steps in legal proceedings against the Department for Education, asking it to share its scientific data about safety and transmission rates.

Unions have also called for the reopening of schools in Wales next week to be delayed with Laura Doel, director of school leaders' union NAHT Cymru, saying 'the latest data shows that in large parts of Wales, control of infection has been lost'.

From January 4, all London primary schools will be required to provide remote learning for two weeks to all children except vulnerable children and those of key workers, who will be allowed to attend.

Mr Williamson said the January 1 decision to expand closures to the nine remaining London boroughs and the City of London was a 'last resort'.

Under the Government's initial plan, secondary schools and colleges were set to be closed to most pupils for the first two weeks of January, while primary schools within 50 local authorities in the south of England, including 23 London boroughs, were also told to keep their doors shut until January 18.

Green Party-led Brighton and Hove City Council has advised primary schools in the Tier 4 area not to return in person, except for vulnerable children and those of key workers, until January 18 despite the Government's plan for most schools to open in person.

Linda Bauld, a professor in public health at the University of Edinburgh, said transmission among primary school pupils was 'still very limited' while secondary school pupils, particularly older teenagers, can pass on the virus in the same way as adults.

But health professionals have warned of growing pressure on services with Professor Andrew Goddard, president of the Royal College of Physicians, telling the BBC current case figures are 'fairly mild' compared to what is expected in a week's time.
Tesla's annual sales rose 36pc, but the electric car maker came short of its annual goal to deliver 500,000 vehicles in 2020.

The company said yesterday that it delivered 499,500 for the year, including 180,570 SUVs and cars for the October to December period.

CEO Elon Musk set a goal of delivering 500,000 vehicles in 2020 before the pandemic hit, and Tesla stuck to that goal even though the virus forced its US plant to close for weeks in the spring.

In the first nine months of last year, Tesla reported that it delivered just over 318,000 vehicles worldwide, including a record 139,300 in the third quarter.

To reach 500,000, Tesla would have had to shatter the record and deliver 181,650 vehicles from October to December. Musk sent an email to employees in December urging them to increase production for the rest of the quarter as much as possible.

But later the company told workers at its California plant that the Model S and X production lines would be shut down from Christmas Eve until January 11, meaning most of the demand was for the Model 3 small car and Model Y small SUV.

While Tesla came close to meeting its own 500,000 deliveries for the year, it still missed it, and that shortfall could affect the company's high-flying stock, it has been speculated.

Sunday Independent
Drew Angerer/Getty ImagesBY: ADIA ROBINSON, ABC NEWS

(WASHINGTON)  Stacey Abrams, the founder of Fair Fight, said Sunday that Democrats feel a "great deal of urgency" around Georgia's two runoff elections on Tuesday, which will determine the balance of power in the Senate just as President-elect Joe Biden takes office.

"We did very well in vote by mail, we did very well in early vote, but we know Election Day is going to be the likely high-turnout day for Republicans, so we need Democrats who haven't cast their ballots to turn out," Abrams told ABC's "This Week" Co-anchor Martha Raddatz.

Recent polls show tight races between Republican Sen. David Perdue and Democrat Jon Ossoff in their runoff and between GOP Sen. Kelly Loeffler and the Rev. Raphael Warnock in the special election. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp appointed Loeffler to replace former Sen. Johnny Isakson, who retired at the end of 2019.

The races have drawn national attention, with both parties mobilizing their supporters. Vice President-elect Kamala Harris will campaign in Savannah, Georgia, later Sunday. Both President Donald Trump and President-elect Joe Biden will stump in the state Monday, with Biden campaigning in Atlanta and Trump headlining a rally in Dalton.

More than 3 million Georgians have voted early, a record for statewide runoff elections in the Peach State. And, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 76,000 people registered to vote between the deadline for November's general election and the deadline for the runoffs. Abrams said they are "very certain" most of those are Democrats based on demographics.

"We haven't stopped reaching those voters. Millions of contacts have been made, thousands of new registrations have been held," she said. "We know that at least 100,000 people who did not vote in the general election are now voting in this election."

Raddatz pressed Abrams on Biden outperforming Democratic Senate candidates during the general election and asked if she thought that was because Biden's win was more about dissatisfaction with President Donald Trump. Abrams attributed the difference to voters' familiarity with Biden.

"Joe Biden's been a part of American politics for 40-plus years. And so for a number of new voters they're going to vote only when they're confident," she said. "That's why we spent this time over the last nine weeks educating voters about Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock."

"They've crisscrossed the state and we believe we've closed that distance and that the voters that are turning out now absolutely know them and they're standing by their sides and voting for them," she added.

Abrams also said that recent moves from Republicans, like Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell blocking $2,000 stimulus checks, are convincing Democratic voters of the importance of this election.

In a break from the Republican Party's fiscal conservatism, both Loeffler and Perdue have supported Trump's call for $2,000 stimulus checks, as have most Democrats. Both Democratic challengers have blasted them for the change in their stances.

"The hypocritical idea that it's okay to support business but not to support the business of government, the business of serving the people, has really galvanized voters. They feel the very real consequences of COVID-19 here in Georgia," she said.

Since losing in the 2018 gubernatorial election to Kemp, Abrams launched Fair Fight to combat voter suppression and encourage voter turnout. During the 2020 general election, Fair Fight and The New Georgia project helped register hundreds of thousands of voters in the state.

When Raddatz pressed Abrams on some comparisons between her refusal to concede in 2018 to Kemp and Trump's rhetoric about the 2020 election, Abrams said it was like comparing "apples and bowling balls."

Abrams alleged voter suppression following her loss to Kemp in 2018, who was then the Georgia secretary of state. She pointed to aggressive purging of voter rolls, long lines and faulty machines at polling places and the state preventing voters from registering as signs of voter suppression in her election.

"I pointed out that there were a series of actions taken that impeded the ability of voters to cast their ballots," Abrams said on "This Week" Sunday. "And in almost every one of those circumstances, the courts agreed, as did the state legislature."

"By contrast, President Trump has lost every single one of his challenges in the state of Georgia and he has no evidence," she added. "An audit -- the fourth, I think, of this election --found that there was zero fraud in our signature-match process. One person accidentally -- or inadvertently -- signed for her husband against the rules, but otherwise we know that the signatures match and that the process works."

Raddatz asked if Trump continuing to promote unsubstantiated claims of election fraud could hurt Republicans in the runoff elections, for instance, by decreasing turn out.

"I think it's always dangerous to undermine the integrity of elections without evidence," Abrams said. "When we challenged voter suppression we were able to prove it."

Copyright  2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
Kelly Loeffler wouldn't say Sunday whether she will join the 'dirty dozen' Republican senators planning to block Congress from certifying the election for Joe Biden on January 6  as Donald Trump pushes claims at least 40,000 Georgia votes weren't counted for him.

'I've said from the start, everything is on the table here, and I'm seriously looking at that,' Loeffler told 'Fox News Sunday' host Bret Baier when asked about Senator Ted Cruz leading an effort by 12 senators to challenge the Electoral College results.

Trump continued pushing on Sunday morning a disputed claim that thousands of Georgia votes were flipped from him to Joe Biden in the presidential election and another 30,000 were completely removed.

'Georgia election data, just revealed, shows that over 17,000 votes illegally flipped from Trump to Biden.' @OANN This alone (there are many other irregularities) is enough to easily 'swing Georgia to Trump'. #StopTheSteal @HawleyMO @SenTedCruz @Jim_Jordan', Trump posted to Twitter.

Data scientists testified Wednesday that Georgia's election data shows more than 30,000 votes were removed from Trump and another 12,173 were switched to Biden, the Epoch Times reported Saturday.

The data, however, is not new  and has been debunked by two separate recounts in Georgia since the election on November 3.

This isn't stopping several Republican lawmakers from launching an effort to dispute Electoral College votes in Georgia and four other swing states that went blue in 2020.

Trump loyalist and Georgia Republican Senator Kelly Loeffler was non committal about whether she would join a dozen other GOP senators in a plan to block Congress from certifying the election for Joe Biden

'Well, I'm looking very, very closely at it, and I've been one of the first to say, everything is on the table,' Loeffler fold Fox's Bret Baier two days before the Georgia runoff elections that will decide her fate and that of which party controls the Senate

Loeffler's comments and the Georgia runoffs comes as President Donald Trump continues to push disputed claims that thousands of votes were not counted correctly for him in Georgia

A dozen senators said they would join a handful of GOP representatives to challenge the results, and Vice President Mike Pence, who will oversee the joint session meant to certify the election this week, finally embraced the idea over the weekend.

The senators who joined the effort are hoping to establish a commission to determine who gets the Electoral College votes, rather than just outright seeking to overturn the election in favor of a second Trump term.

The commission would kick start an independent investigation of those states' elections being challenged.

The same steps were taken in the 1876 election, paving the way for Rutherford B. Hayes to become president.

'We should follow that precedent,' Cruz and 10 other current and incoming senators said in a joint statement, referring to that race.

'To wit, Congress should immediately appoint an Electoral Commission, with full investigatory and fact-finding authority, to conduct an emergency 10-day audit of the election returns in the disputed states,' the statement continued. 'Once completed, individual states would evaluate the commission's findings and could convene a special legislative session to certify a change in their vote, if needed.'

Republican Ron Johnson, who is one of the dozen senators on board with the plan, had a confrontational interview with NBC's 'Meet the Press' host Chuck Todd in defending creating a commission.

'We are not acting to thwart the democratic process  we are acting to protect it,' the Wisconsin senator said Sunday morning.

'The fact of the matter is we have an unsustainable state of affairs in this country where we have tens of millions of people who do not view this election result as legitimate,' Johnson continued.

Johnson claimed that the effort to create a commission to probe the electoral process in several key states is a way to restore confidence in the Democratic process.

'As long as somebody is going to be objecting to this and we're going to take a vote, let's propose a solution in terms of transparency, investigation, with a commission,' he said.

Senator Ron Johnson, one of the Republicans challegning the results and pushing for a commission to probe the election, said the effort is to help restore faith in the Democratic process of elections in the U.S.

Wisconsin is a rust belt swing state that went blue this year for Biden.

When asked which candidate won in his state, Johnson said: 'Vice President Biden has won by 20,000 votes, but there are also issues in Wisconsin.'

Loeffler, however, is less committal than her colleagues about challenging the election results.

'Well, I'm looking very, very closely at it, and I've been one of the first to say, everything is on the table,' the Georgia Republican senator reiterated in a Fox News interview. 'I'm fighting for this president because he's fought for us. He's our president and we are going to keep making sure that this is a fair election and I'm looking very closely at it.'

The Trump loyalist, however, did not outright say if she would join the Trump-endorsed effort  despite having a 100 per cent voting record in line with the president.

She also refused to cast a vote last week where the Senate overturned Trump's veto of the National Defense Authorization Act, and wouldn't say when pushed on the matter which way she would have voted if she showed up.

Loeffler is trying not to sway too far from the president just two days before her runoff election against Democrat Reverend Raphael Warnock  one of two Georgia elections on January 5 that will decide control of the Senate.

'Look, I stood with the president 100 percent of the time,' Loeffler told Baier, who was filling in for 'Fox News Sunday' host Chris Wallace. 'He's putting America first.'

She said she didn't turn out for the NDAA vote because she was too busy campaigning in Georgia for her runoff on January 5.

'Understanding the campaigning is important, if you're saying how important this election is on January 5th, but obviously, Georgia is a big defense state, current and former military here, defense business here,' Baier said. 'How would you have voted had you voted on that veto override?'

'Well, look, I voted to support the NDAA,' she said of her previous vote on the matter before Trump's veto. 'The bill that came out of conference was very different from what we've been promised. So, I don't know.'

'Right, but you would have sustained the veto, the president's veto on the NDAA' Baier pushed.

Loeffler again dodged the question.

'I won't belabor it but that's not a 'yes' or 'no' whether you would sustain the veto or not,' Baier clarified.

Loeffler shot back: 'That's right.'

The Senate voted 81-13 to overturn Trump's veto of the Defense funding legislation  making that the first veto override of his presidency.

Marc Short, Pence's chief of staff, issued a statement Saturday saying the VP 'shares the concerns of millions of Americans about voter fraud and irregularities in the last election.'

'(Pence) welcomes the efforts of members of the House and Senate to use the authority they have under the law to raise objections and bring forward evidence before the Congress and the American people on Jan. 6th', the statement continued.

Pence gave the plot his backing just hours after Ted Cruz said he would be among the 12 GOP Senators trying to block the certification.

Vice President Mike Pence, who will oversee the joint session to certify the election results, said this weekend that he will support the bid by a dozen Republican Senators to overturn Joe Biden's election win in Congress next week

Dozens of Republicans also reportedly participated in a conference call with President Trump and Chief of Staff Mark Meadows Saturday night to discuss the plan to reject Electoral College votes.

Congressman Mo Brooks of Alabama tweeted that he and Congressman Jim Jordan of Ohio lead a call with '50+ congressmen who join & fight for America's republic.

'Our fight for honest & accurate elections gains momentum,' Brooks said.

Twelve Republicans have now said they will vote to reject the electors on January 6, after Missouri Senator Josh Hawley became the first to announce his intentions this week to challenge the result.

In a statement on Saturday with ten more GOP senators, Cruz demanded the appointment of an emergency commission to conduct a 10-day audit of the election returns in 'disputed states'.

Until such a commission is appointed, they vowed to intend to vote on January 6 to reject the electors from those states - a largely symbolic move that has little chance of preventing Biden from taking office.

The effort is considered separate from but parallel to that of Senator Hawley, who earlier this week became the first sitting member of the Senate to announce he would challenge the election result.

U.S. Senator Ted Cruz has said he will be among a dozen Republican senators who will challenge President-elect Joe Biden's victory when Electoral College results are tallied in Congress next week

It comes in defiance of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, who has pleaded with his caucus not to attempt to block certification of the election

Trump's Dirty Dozen Senator Josh Hawley - Missouri - has already said he will object The Cruz faction Senator Ted Cruz - Texas Senator Ron Johnson - Wisconsin Senator James Lankford - Oklahoma Senator Steve Daines - Montana Senator John Kennedy - Louisiana Senator Marsha Blackburn - Tennessee Senator Mike Braun - Indiana Senator-elect Cynthia Lummis - Wyoming Senator-elect Tommy Tuberville - Alabama Senator-elect Bill Hagerty - Tennessee Senator-elect Roger Marshall - Kansas *Senators-elect will be sworn in as senators on Sunday January 3, and will be eligible to vote on January 6 Advertisement

Cruz was joined in the statement by Senators Ron Johnson, James Lankford, Steve Daines, John Kennedy, Marsha Blackburn, Mike Braun, along with Cynthia Lummis, Tommy Tuberville, Bill Hagerty, and Roger Marshall, all of whom will be sworn in as senators on Sunday in the new Congress.

In a statement, Cruz and the other senators said they intend to vote to reject electors from swing states that have been at the center of President Donald Trump's unproven assertions of election fraud and will call for the establishment of a commission to investigate claims of fraud on an emergency basis.

'We intend to vote on January 6 to reject the electors from disputed states as not `regularly given and `lawfully certified (the statutory requisite), unless and until that emergency 10-day audit is completed,' they wrote in the statement.

'We do not take this action lightly,' they said.

It comes in defiance of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, who has pleaded with his caucus not to attempt to block certification of the Electoral College results.

In conference calls with colleagues, McConnell has reportedly argued that any attempt to block certification of Biden would be futile, and only divide the party.

Cruz's statement pointed out that Democrats in Congress had previously raised objections to the result of a presidential election, including in 1969, 2001, 2005, and 2017.

President Donald Trump has not proven his claims of election fraud, but Cruz believes an emergency commission should be appointed to get to the bottom of the matter

Senators (left to right) Ron Johnson, James Lankford, Steve Daines signed on with Cruz

Senators John Kennedy, Marsha Blackburn, Mike Braun also joined Cruz's faction

Also joining Cruz were incoming Senators (left to right) Cynthia Lummis, Tommy Tuberville, Bill Hagerty, and Roger Marshall, all of whom will be sworn in as senators on Sunday

Senatory Hawley of Missouri (above) was the first to defy McConnell by announcing he would join House Republicans in objecting to the state tallies on January 6

'The most direct precedent on this question arose in 1877, following serious allegations of fraud and illegal conduct in the Hayes-Tilden presidential race,' the senators argued.

'Specifically, the elections in three states-Florida, Louisiana, and South Carolina-were alleged to have been conducted illegally,' they continued.

'In 1877, Congress did not ignore those allegations, nor did the media simply dismiss those raising them as radicals trying to undermine democracy.

'Instead, Congress appointed an Electoral Commission-consisting of five Senators, five House Members, and five Supreme Court Justices-to consider and resolve the disputed returns,' the statement added.

A number of Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives also plan on contesting the vote tally.

The days ahead are expected to do little to change the outcome. Biden is set to be inaugurated January 20 after winning the Electoral College vote 306-232.

Senator Hawley of Missouri was the first to defy McConnell by announcing he would join House Republicans in objecting to the state tallies during Wednesday's joint session of Congress.

The moves drew swift condemnation from Democrats, including former Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill, who tweeted 'There are actually 12 Senators 'pointing a loaded gun' at the heart of democracy. They should always be known as the #dirtydozen.'

The Dirty Dozen was a 1967 war film about about ragtag group of hardened criminals who were recruited to form an elite Allied commando unit sent on a virtual suicide mission against high-ranking Nazi officers.

On the other side of the Republican party's split, Senator Ben Sasse of Nebraska warned such challenges are a 'dangerous ploy' threatening the nations civic norms.

The issue is forcing Republicans to make choices that will set the contours of the post-Trump era and an evolving GOP.

'I will not be participating in a project to overturn the election,' Sasse wrote in a lengthy social media post. Sasse, a potential 2024 presidential contender, said he was 'urging my colleagues also to reject this dangerous ploy.'

Sasse was joined by several other Republicans who also blasted their colleagues' efforts to block Biden's win, including Senators Mitt Romney, Pat Toomey and Lisa Murkowski.

In a statement released on Saturday night, Romney described the move as an 'egregious ploy that 'dangerously threatens our Democratic Republic.'

'I acknowledge that this past election, like all elections, had irregularities. But the evidence is overwhelming that Joe Biden won this election,' Toomey posted on Twitter.

Murkowski said in a statement: ' I will vote to affirm the 2020 presidential election. The courts and state legislatures have all honored their duty to hear legal allegations and have found nothing to warrant overturning the results.'

The Dirty Dozen was a 1967 war film about about ragtag group of hardened criminals who were recruited to form an elite Allied commando unit sent on a virtual suicide mission against high-ranking Nazi officers during WWII. They were victorious, but few survived the mission

Trump, the first president to lose a reelection bid in almost 30 years, has attributed his defeat to widespread voter fraud, despite the consensus of nonpartisan election officials that there wasn't any.

Of the roughly 50 lawsuits the president and his allies have filed challenging election results, nearly all have been dismissed or dropped. Hes also lost twice at the U.S. Supreme Court.

Still, the president has pushed Republican senators to pursue his unfounded charges even though the Electoral College has already cemented Bidens victory and all that's left is Congress formal recognition of the count before the new president is sworn in.

'We are letting people vote their conscience,' Sen. John Thune, the second-ranking Republican, told reporters at the Capitol.

Thunes remarks as the GOP whip in charge of rounding up votes show that Republican leadership is not putting its muscle behind Trumps demands, but allowing senators to choose their course. He noted the gravity of questioning the election outcome.

'This is an issue thats incredibly consequential, incredibly rare historically and very precedent-setting,' he said. 'This is a big vote. They are thinking about it.'

Pence will be carefully watched as he presides over what is typically a routine vote count in Congress but is now heading toward a prolonged showdown that could extend into Wednesday night, depending on how many challenges are mounted.

Former Democratic Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill condemned the Republicans, tweeing 'There are actually 12 Senators 'pointing a loaded gun' at the heart of democracy'

Republican Senator Ben Sasse of Nebraska doesn't support his colleagues' plan, saying he urged them to 'reject this dangerous ploy'

The vice president was sued by a group of Republicans who want Pence to have the power to overturn the election results by doing away with an 1887 law that spells out how Congress handles the vote count.

Trump's own Justice Department may have complicated what is already a highly improbable effort to upend the ritualistic count.

It asked a federal judge to dismiss the last-gasp lawsuit from Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas, and a group of Republican electors from Arizona who are seeking to force Pence to step outside mere ceremony and shape the outcome of the vote.

In a court filing in Texas, the department said they have 'have sued the wrong defendant' and Pence should not be the target of the legal action.

'A suit to establish that the Vice President has discretion over the count, filed against the Vice President, is a walking legal contradiction,' the department argues.

A judge in Texas dismissed the Gohmert lawsuit Friday night. U.S. District Judge Jeremy Kernodle, a Trump appointee, wrote that the plaintiffs 'allege an injury that is not fairly traceable' to Pence, 'and is unlikely to be redressed by the requested relief.'

That decision was affirmed by a federal appeals court ruling Saturday night.

To ward off a dramatic unraveling, McConnell convened a conference call with Republican senators Thursday specifically to address the coming joint session and logistics of tallying the vote, according to several Republicans granted anonymity to discuss the private call.

The challenge is expected to do little to change the outcome. Biden is set to be inaugurated January 20 after winning the Electoral College vote 306-232

The Republican leader pointedly called on Hawley to answer questions about his challenge to Bidens victory, according to two of the Republicans.

But there was no response because Hawley was a no-show, the Republicans said.

His office did not respond to a request for comment.

Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., who has acknowledged Bidens victory and defended his states elections systems as valid and accurate, spoke up on the call, objecting to those challenging Pennsylvanias results and making clear he disagrees with Hawleys plan to contest the result, his office said in a statement.

McConnell had previously warned GOP senators not to participate in raising objections, saying it would be a terrible vote for colleagues. In essence, lawmakers would be forced to choose between the will of the outgoing president and that of the voters.

Several Republicans have indicated they are under pressure from constituents back home to show they are fighting for Trump in his baseless campaign to stay in office.
Less emissions, more flexibility

In the past, the company had relied on electricity from a nearby coal-fired power plant. But Xu and his colleagues gradually stopped considering this a satisfactory option. Eventually, they decided to generate the power for the company in-house. Since spring 2018, two Siemens SGT-300 gas turbines installed on the companys premises generate 15.8 megawatts of energy as well as 38 tons of process steam for the paper-drying process. While these two units are the first of their kind to be installed in China, the model already boasts a proven track record in many different industries worldwide.

Not only do they minimize the firms carbon footprint, they also massively reduce energy consumption through increased efficiency. At the same time, the new installation increased the flexibility and reliability of the companys energy supply. This is a very significant contribution, Xu explains. With the new turbines, the company reduced its CO 2 emissions from energy by no less than 60 percent while minimizing its energy costs by a fifth.

We are very happy to make another breakthrough in the market for distributed power generation, says Yao Zhenguo, Senior Vice President of Siemens Energy, President & CEO of Siemens Energy Greater China, of the trusting, mutually beneficial business partnership with SOCP. As a trustworthy partner of China, Siemens Energy will continue to provide its full support to the energy transition. As such, Shanghai Orient Champion Papers move to gas-fired industrial power generation is in line with Chinas strategy to transform the energy supply system.
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Brooksby France

Brooksby demonstrated a facility for drawing at an early age. Accompanying her father for business trips, her family travelled constantly throughout the United States. From this itinerant childhood, the American artist developed a real appetite for travelling. At age eight, she was already studying drawing from models at the University of California at Los Angeles. Two years later, she was an apprentice for a Japanese ceramist in West Virginia. She then became interested in photography. Her photographs won her several scholarships, including a senatorial scholarship as well as the most prestigious award from the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore. At the school of Fine Arts, she discovered a passion for sculpture and earned her degree in 1987, just before leaving for Florence, Italy, where she settled for more than twenty years.

Her love affair with painting began in the Tuscan countryside, during scooter rides. Then she began travelling with her easel and canvas hung on the baggage rack. For ten years, she worked in the open air on the streets of Florence where the major U.S. media would come to meet her. She opened a studio and gallery in the historic centre of the Italian city to paint and organize exhibitions. In 2006, her wandering spirit woke up, and on visiting Paris for a weekend, she decided to settle there. The French capital inspired her first urban scenes, now a major focus of her work.

Brooksby considers herself a colourist and devotes part of her paintings to the ""blue hour"", the in-between part of the day that is neither day nor night. For her oil paintings, the artist uses her photographs as models. She boasts membership to the current American ""Contemporary Realism"". Deeply rooted in the reality of the moment, her works are intended to be evidence of an era.
OTTAWA - The federal Liberal government mulled the possibility of barring Canadians who travelled abroad from receiving a sick leave benefit aimed at those who must quarantine due to COVID-19 on Sunday amid fresh admissions of foreign excursions from a growing list of politicians and a national case count that surpassed 600,000.

Tape is shown on shelves preventing the sale of certain products at a pharmacy in Montreal, Sunday, January 3, 2021, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues in Canada and around the world. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

OTTAWA - The federal Liberal government mulled the possibility of barring Canadians who travelled abroad from receiving a sick leave benefit aimed at those who must quarantine due to COVID-19 on Sunday amid fresh admissions of foreign excursions from a growing list of politicians and a national case count that surpassed 600,000.

The Canada Recovery sickness benefit was launched in the fall to help Canadians who are unable to work because they must quarantine during the pandemic. It pays $500 per week to a maximum of two weeks.

But Employment Minister Carla Qualtrough said the government is actively looking at all options in the face of questions over whether Canadians who have travelled abroad should be allowed to collect the money.

Controversy over the issue mounted on Sunday as two members of the federal Liberal caucus stepped down from their parliamentary duties after disclosing trips abroad over the holiday period, joining a slew of provincial legislators who also flouted widespread public health advice to stay home as COVID cases skyrocketed.

Federal data showed Canada surpassed 600,000 cases of the novel coronavirus on Sunday after going several days without reporting fresh figures.

The national total now stands at 601,663.

It took just over two weeks to add 100,000 diagnoses to the national tally; the country reached the 500,000 case milestone on Dec. 19, before many of the jet-setting politicians left the country.

Qualtrough said globetrotters were never intended as the recipients of the federal sick benefit.

It's designed to provide workers with a paid sick-leave option where one might not be available through their employer, so that workers did not have to choose between going to work and putting food on the table, Qualtrough said in a statement.

The Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit was never intended to incentivize or encourage Canadians to not follow public health or international travel guidelines. ... We are actively looking at all available options to address this issue.

Questions about the sick-leave benefit were first raised over the weekend by Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet, who said it was absurd in most cases that anyone able to leave the country would need government support to quarantine.

If someone is travelling because it is essential for their work, you might think they won't lose income, he added in a statement in French. And if someone is travelling for pleasure, they are already being advised not to travel.

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, whose party pushed the Liberals to create the benefit, welcomed the governments review, saying Canadians were rightly upset those who can afford to go on a vacation could get $1,000 to stay home when they come back.

Yet he also warned Canadians would continue to leave the country as long as non-essential travel was allowed.

The emerging debate over the sick-leave benefits comes as Canadians have been buffeted over the past week with revelations that some politicians have ignored their own governments advice and taken non-essential trips abroad.

Those trips have come even as millions of Canadians face government-imposed lockdowns across the country aimed at curbing the second wave of COVID-19 infections, which included thousands of newly reported cases on Sunday to take the national total over the 600,000 threshold.

That includes nearly 3,000 new positive tests in Ontario over the past 24 hours and more than 7,600 new cases in Quebec since Thursday, with hundreds of people hospitalized in both provinces.

In a rare bit of good news, however, Nunavut reported that the territory has no known cases as all 265 residents who have previously tested positive are now recovered. The territory has logged one virus-related death over the course of the pandemic.

The list of politicians known to have travelled outside the country in recent weeks grew on Sunday as the federal Liberals revealed that two of their MPs had visited the U.S. in late December.

Chief government whip Mark Holland said in a statement that Montreal MP Sameer Zuberi and Brampton MP Kamal Khera, parliamentary secretary to International Development Minister Karina Gould, left the country without his knowledge.

In a separate statement posted to social media, Khera said she travelled to Seattle to attend a memorial for her late uncle, who died at the end of September.

Although the purpose of my travel is deemed essential given the circumstances, she wrote, I have decided to step aside from my duties ... in an effort to ensure my choices do not distract from the important work of our government to continue battling this pandemic.

Holland said Zuberi was also stepping down from his role on several House of Commons committees.

Three other Liberal MPs travelled outside the country between July and September, but Holland said he was informed of the trips at the time and there was no indication that they would face any ramifications.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's spokesman Alex Wellstead said Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne is the only minister to have travelled outside Canada since March, noting all three trips were for government business.

Questions about politicians' travel plans first surfaced last week when it was revealed that former Ontario finance minister Rod Phillips had taken a holiday to the Caribbean. He resigned from the role on New Year's Eve shortly after his return to Canada.

At least five Alberta legislators also left Canada over the holidays, though Premier Jason Kenney has declined to punish them.

The federal NDP stripped Manitoba MP Niki Ashton of her duties as the partys transport critic and deputy critic for women and gender equality after she travelled to Greece last month. Ashton said she left to be with her ailing grandmother.

The NDP said Ashton is the only caucus member to have travelled outside the country since March, while no one in the office of party leader Jagmeet Singh or the partys research bureau has left Canada.

Bloc Quebecois Whip Claude DeBellefeuille also reported that none of her partys MPs had left Canada since the onset of the pandemic, saying in a statement in French that she had issued a directive prohibiting international travel.

Conservative Leader Erin OTooles office did not directly respond to a question on Sunday over which MPs and staff had travelled outside of Canada since the beginning of December.

Since becoming leader, OToole has continued to emphasize the necessity for all members of caucus to follow all public health guidance including travel advisories, spokeswoman Chelsea Tucker said in an email. It is our understanding that all members of caucus have.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 3, 2021.
The Khar police, which is investigating the murder of 19-year-old Janhvi Kukreja who was found dead on New Years Eve in her friends building at Khar, suspect that there was a rape attempt on the victim, minutes before she was allegedly murdered.

The position of the victims body suggested that she was brutally assaulted to death and might have been a victim of attempt to rape, said an officer from Khar police station.

To verify their suspicion, the police have sent Kukrejas clothes for forensic analysis and are in the process of collecting other evidences from the murder spot (second floor passage of the building) as well as the rooftop where the party was going on.

We are waiting for the medical reports of the victim, said Abhishek Trimukhe, deputy commissioner of police (zone 9). A detailed post-mortem report is also awaited.

According to the autopsy report, the victim was brutally assaulted around 2.30am and had injury marks on thighs and hips. The cause of death was stated as head injury.

Khar police had placed the victims alleged boyfriend Shree Jodhankar, 24, and a friend, 19-year-old Diya Padankar under arrest for murder and assault on Saturday. The police said the arrests were made based on circumstantial evidence and witnesses statements.

Trimukhe said they are probing the reason behind the murder. They have taken down the initial statements of the 12 people present at the party. But as all of them were in an inebriated state, they are yet to record the actual statements.

They also found alcohol bottles from the rooftop. The police officers also suspect that those who attended the party, including the accused, had also consumed drugs.

We have taken blood samples of all the party attendees and have sent them for analysis, added Trimukhe.

Jodhankar also sustained injury marks to the back of his head and is undergoing treatment at Cooper hospital. The police said, as per the initial inquiry, it appears that Jodhankar fell during the scuffle and sustained the injury.

In his statement, Jodhankar said he does not remember the incident and that he had left the building at 2.10am to meet a friend at Sion, said a crime branch source. He also told the police that Kukreja had fallen down the stairs at night during the party and was in hospital. He also said that he did not remember anything else and was unsure how he had reached Sion, said another crime branch source. Jodhankars bike was parked in the building throughout the night, said the source.

When his friend asked Jodhankar how he had sustained injuries on head, he said he had fallen down. He also said his friend had taken him to Sion hospital, where he received first aid, added the source.

Crime branch officers said those who were present at the spot revealed that Kukreja had left the rooftop of Bhagwati Heights building around 2.30am after a heated argument with her alleged boyfriend and the girl he was with. However, after allegedly killing her, Jodhankar and Padankar returned to the party, which led the others attending the party to think that Kukreja had gone home, said the police.

It was not until 6am that the murder was discovered. Officers at the crime scene said a woman from the building was walking her dog when she saw blood dripping from the staircase. Following this, the police was informed about the crime.

Until then, the party was still on and the murder went unnoticed, as people used the elevators and not the stairs in the building, said the officer.

The organiser of the party revealed that Jodhankar and Padankar had a fight with Kukreja before she left the rooftop.
Baby New Year arrived on Jan. 1, ushering out a coronavirus-weary Father Time. The imagery has roots in Greek mythology, CNN reported, but became part of the cultural lexicon thanks to 19th century editorial cartoonists. That tradition continues well into the 21st, with a variety of contemporary cartoonists using Baby New Year/Father Time to comment on severe illness caused by the virus, Zoom calls and social distancing, the eviction crisis, Baby Yoda, the slow passage of time in 2020, our collective desire to be done with the year, and worries the new one may not be any better.

Other topics in the cartoons include the coronavirus relief bill passed by Congress and signed by President Donald Trump; $600 checks on their way to Americans; the push by Trump and Democrats to increase it to $2,000, resisted by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell; Trumps veto of the annual defense bill; the Senate runoff in Georgia; and the presidents turbulent last weeks in office.

Several cartoonists took a holiday break this week. Cartoons were drawn by Bill Bramhall, Dan Wasserman, Dana Summers, Drew Sheneman, David Horsey, Joel Pett and Joey Weatherford of Tribune Content Agency; and A.F. Branco, Mike Luckovich and Michael Ramirez of Creators Syndicate.

View more editorial cartoon galleries.
Bharat Biotech has submitted data from Phase 1 and 2 trials to the CDSCO and the Drugs Controller General of India (Representational Image: AFP)

Hyderabad: Covaxin of the city-based Bharat Biotech was on Saturday recommended for approval for restricted use in emergency situations in public interest with different mutant strains are emerging in SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19.

On Friday, Covishield, the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine manufactured by the Serum Institute of India was recommended for emergency use authorisation (EUA).

On Saturday, the Subject Expert Committee (SEC) of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) granted permission to Bharat Biotech in the clinical trial mode and with abundant precaution. According to pharmacologists, the permission in clinical trial mode is being given due to limited data available from the trials.

Bharat Biotech has submitted data from Phase 1 and 2 trials to the CDSCO and the Drugs Controller General of India. But only 23,000 volunteers were enrolled in the Phase 3 human trials against the requirement of 26,000 volunteers. These trials are going on and data will be assessed later.

A senior pharmacologist in Hyderabad said, The recommendation is based on conditions that it will be used only for a section of the people. Regulators want to be careful as only limited data is available with them. Hence the roll-out of Covaxin will be in the mode of a larger clinical trial.

It implies that the subjects who get Covaxin will be monitored and their details assessed from time to time. The term abundant precaution means that the regulatory authorities will want details from the company and also a proper follow-up on their volunteers.

Dr A. Sanjay Reddy, senior pharmacologist and member of the Telangana State Pharmacy Council, said, While considering the Bharat Biotech's application, the SEC had noted that the ongoing clinical trial is a large one including subjects with co-morbid conditions, which have demonstrated safety till date but the efficacy is yet to be demonstrated.

The question of efficacy comes in as it is important whether the vaccine will prevent people from getting Covid-19. In comparison to Bharat Biotech, the Serum Institute of India has been granted restricted emergency use of its vaccine with multiple regulatory conditions of submission of data and fortnightly evaluations.

Bharat Biotech said in a statement that product development and clinical trials have generated five publications, and four of them have been accepted by international peer-reviewed journals. The publication of Phase 2 trial data is in the process of peer review.

The company stated that Covaxin has been evaluated in approximately 1,000 subjects in Phase 1 and 2 clinical trials promising safety and immunogenicity results with acceptance in international peer-reviewed journals.

Senior government officials in Telangana state said the roll-out of two vaccines, Covishield and Covaxin, meant both will be used simultaneously in the first phase of vaccination of healthcare workers. According to a health official, the use of Covaxin will be in the co-morbid age-group.

A health official said, The system of vaccination is clear that those in the Covisheild group will get two doses of the vaccine. Those in the Covaxin group will be given that. There are two doses to be administered and the schedules have been prepared accordingly.
A 42-year-old man was shot dead by two men in front of his son over a business rivalry in north-east Delhis Bhajanpura on Friday afternoon, police said.

The attack also left a passerby with minor injuries to his face.

One of the suspects was caught by the public from the crime spot itself and handed over to the police, while the man  who police claim planned the attack  managed to escape and is on the run, said Ved Prakash Surya, deputy commissioner of police (north-east).

The DCP identified the victim as Mohammad Ikram, a resident of Loni in Ghaziabad. Ikram lived with his wife and children and worked at a private water treatment plant. Ikram, investigators said, had a business rivalry with his neighbour Arif.

On Friday afternoon, Ikram and his son Mohsin were riding a motorcycle and were headed towards Bhajanpura for some work when they received a phone call.

Ikram got off his motorcycle to take the call. His son walked to a nearby restaurant to buy snacks. When Mohsin returned to his father, he found two men pointing their guns at him, said another police officer.

Before Mohsin could react, one of them allegedly shot Ikram. The shooting immediately alerted the locals who managed to catch hold of one of the shooters, identified as Shadab. Shadab, while trying to escape from the crowd, fired another shot whose pellets hit a passerby in his face. He was eventually overpowered, said the officer.

Shadab was later handed over to the police and Ikram rushed to a hospital, where he was declared brought dead.

The police have registered a murder case at Bhajanpura police station and are searching for Arif.

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RTL and the National Audiovisual Centre (CAN) are lifting the curtain on more than a century of filmed material in the national archives.

This week's footage looks back at Grand Duke Jeans visit to the Goodyear factory in June 1973 where he admired a Zeppelin of the Blimp class.

Between 1972 and 1986 Goodyears Blimp, dubbed Europa, was present at several sport events such as the 24 hours of Le Mans et other Formula One races. It was also directly responsible for jaw-dropping birds eye view shots of Big Ben and the Coliseum for example. Most notably, the Zeppelin was also used during two British royal marriages in the 80s.
Pope Francis on Sunday criticized people who traveled abroad during the pandemic to escape the lockdown, saying they were ignoring those who were suffering.

In his weekly noontime Sunday address, Francis said, I read in the papers something that quite saddened me: In a country  I dont remember which  to escape the lockdown and have a good vacation more than 40 planes took off that afternoon.

Those people are good people, but didnt they think of those who stayed at home, to the economic problems of many people who have been knocked down by the pandemic, to those who are ill? Francis added. They thought only to go on vacation, to have fun.

This really saddens me, Francis said in a message streamed from the Vaticans apostolic library. The pope normally blesses the faithful on Sundays from a window in a palace above St. Peters Square, but Italy has been on lockdown for the past 10 days, and the square is closed.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-03 13:31:23|Editor: huaxia

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The China National Space Administration (CNSA) releases mid-flight images of Mars probe Tianwen-1 as the country's National Day coincides with the Mid-Autumn Festival on Oct. 1, 2020. (China National Space Administration /Handout via Xinhua)

BEIJING, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- China's Mars probe Tianwen-1 has traveled more than 400 million km by Sunday morning and is expected to enter Mars orbit next month, according to the China National Space Administration (CNSA).

As of 6 a.m. on Sunday (Beijing Time), the Mars probe had flown in space for 163 days. It was about 130 million km from Earth and about 8.3 million km from Mars.

According to the CNSA, the probe is functioning stably and is scheduled to slow down before entering Mars orbit in more than a month and preparing itself to land on the red planet.

Since its launch on July 23, 2020, the Mars probe has captured an image showing both Earth and the moon, as well as taking several selfies. It has carried out three orbital corrections, a deep-space maneuver and self-checks on multiple payloads.

Tianwen-1 probe, weighing about five tonnes, consists of an orbiter, a lander and a rover. It is designed to complete orbiting, landing and roving in one mission.

After entering the Mars orbit, it will spend two to three months surveying potential landing sites, using a high-resolution camera to prepare for the landing in May.

The most challenging part of the mission will be the soft landing, an autonomous process of the probe lasting seven to eight minutes. The probe will use its aerodynamic shape, parachute and retrorocket to decelerate and buffer legs to touch down.

After the landing, the rover will be released to conduct scientific exploration with an expected lifespan of at least 90 Martian days (about three months on Earth), and the orbiter, with a design life of one Martian year (about 687 days on Earth), will relay communications for the rover while conducting its own scientific detection.

Tianwen-1 means Questions to Heaven and comes from a poem written by Qu Yuan (about 340-278 BC), one of the greatest poets of ancient China. The name signifies the Chinese nation's perseverance in pursuing truth and science and exploring nature and the universe, according to the CNSA. 
T ony Blair has said the entire country needs to be placed under a ramped-up Covid-19 vaccination programme with up to five million jabs a week.

The former prime minister added unless there is a step change in Downing Street it is difficult to see how schools can be kept open.

His comments on Sunday come as the NHS prepares to roll out the newly approved Oxford University and AstraZeneca jab, with 530,000 doses available for distribution across the UK from Monday.

Hundreds of new vaccination sites are due to be up and running this week as the NHS ramps up its coronavirus immunisation programme.

Newly confirmed coronavirus cases were higher than 50,000 for the fifth day in a row when UK figures were released on Saturday, with a record-high of 57,725 lab-confirmed cases and another 445 deaths within 28 days of a positive test.

Mr Blair told Times Radio: Because of this new variant, we need to change our strategy completely in my view.

Not only Pfizer and AstraZeneca but possibly with the new Johnson & Johnson vaccine as well coming on stream.

We should be aiming to get up to three, four, five million a week.

Tony Blair says a plan is needed to get the UK to 5million jabs a week / AFP via Getty Images

We need to get the entire country under a vaccination programme very, very fast because right now as a result of this new variant, weve got a choice between severe lockdown or vaccination.

But there isnt another choice.

Mr Blair said closing schools is a disaster for children, particularly the poorest. But he could not see how they could be kept open.

He added: On the one hand, theyre not getting educated.

But its also completely understandable that teachers and parents say, not because they think their children the risk to children is very, very small, its the risk to transmission rates and its the risk to teachers and parents, and therefore to those that their parents mix with.

So, for all of those reasons, it just emphasises yet again why its so important to get vaccination under way."

Mr Blair added: Unless theres a step-change of a radical nature in the vaccination programme, its very difficult to see how youre going to keep schools open.

If I was the prime minister right now I would be saying to the team in Downing Street, I need you to give me a plan to get this up to five million (vaccinations) a week."

Boris Johnson has said parents should send primary-age children back to schools that are open this week, as he hinted at tougher coronavirus measures for England.

The Prime Minister told the BBCs Andrew Marr he has no doubt that classrooms are safe and that the risk to young people was very, very small amid calls from teaching unions to close all schools for the next two weeks.

Second doses of either the Oxford University vaccine or the Pfizer/BioNTech jab currently being distributed will now take place within 12 weeks rather than the 21 days that was initially planned with the latter, following a change in guidance which aims to accelerate immunisation.

Writing in the Mail on Sunday, deputy chief medical officer Professor Jonathan Van-Tam said this dosing regimen will "save the most lives and avoid the most hospital admissions".

He said: "If a family has two elderly grandparents and there are two vaccines available, it is better to give both 89 per cent protection than to give one 95 per cent protection with two quick doses, and the other grandparent no protection at all.

"The virus is unfortunately spreading fast, and this is a race against time.
Just two per cent of all suspected terrorists flagged with security services last year are still being monitored by the Government's controversial anti-radicalisation programme Prevent.

Security services were handed a list of 6,287 terrorist suspects in 2019 - but just 147 are still part of Prevent.

Of the 6,287 people - including radical Islamists and far-right extremists - 697 got help through the programme at the time, Home Office data has revealed.

Prevent aims to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism. Its structure sees about 50 councils categorised as 'high-priority areas'.

Prevent were responsible for monitoring terrorist Usman Khan, 28, before he killed Cambridge University graduates Saskia Jones, 23, and Jack Merritt, 25, during a prisoner rehabilitation event near London Bridge on November 29 last year.

Just two per cent of all suspected terrorists flagged with security services last year are still being monitored by the Government's controversial anti-radicalisation programme Prevent (file image)

Khan, who was armed with two knives and wore a fake suicide vest, was tackled by members of the public with a narwhal tusk, a decorative pike and a fire extinguisher before being shot dead by police.

Prevent were responsible for monitoring terrorist Usman Khan, 28, (pictured) before he killed Cambridge University graduates Saskia Jones, 23, and Jack Merritt, 25, during a prisoner rehabilitation event near London Bridge on November 29 last year

Former boss of the National Counter Terrorism Security Office Chris Phillips told The Sun: 'Covid lockdowns have made the work of police and security services much-more difficult - try following a suspect on empty streets.

'In addition, many will be using the internet to radicalise others.

'We are in for a difficult time ahead with a high likelihood of further attacks.'

A Home Office spokesperson said: 'Prevent plays a vital role in stopping people being drawn into all forms of terrorism and it is an essential part of our counter-terrorism strategy.

'Safeguarding is at its heart and since the introduction of the Prevent duty in 2015, 2,352 referrals have resulted in individuals identified as vulnerable to radicalisation receiving support.

'Between April 2019 and March 2020, 697 individuals received Channel support to help turn them away from a dangerous path  the highest annual figure ever recorded. This clearly shows that Prevent is tackling the threat from radicalisation and helping to keep our communities safe.'

In November, Home Secretary Priti Patel raised Britain's terrorism threat level to 'severe' - meaning an attack is now seen as 'highly likely'.

The change - which is still in place - came after a gunman in Vienna killed four people in a rampage overnight and after a Tunisian-born knifeman stabbed two women and a man to death at the Notre-Dame de Nice cathedral in France.

'This is a precautionary measure and is not based on any specific threat,' Patel said on Twitter at the time.

'The British public should be in no doubt that we will take the strongest possible action to protect our national security.'

She did not mention the Vienna or French attacks in her statement.

A gunman armed with rifles opened fire in six different locations across Vienna, killing four people and wounding as many as 22. Pictured, the man who is believed to be behind the attack

The new threat level means an attack is highly likely, according to the government's classification system. The previous 'substantial' level meant an attack was likely.

Britain's threat level is assessed by the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre which is accountable to the domestic intelligence agency MI5 and made up of representatives from 16 government departments and agencies.

Home Office sources told the Telegraph the public should be 'alert but not alarmed' by the upgrading of the threat level which was last at severe a year ago.

Security analyst Will Geddes said terrorists found the deserted streets of many European cities during the first wave of the pandemic harder to commit mass murder.

But as lockdowns around the continent have eased, potential attacks have become more likely.

A police van blocks a thoroughfare in Vienna after a gunman went on a rampage through city

Mr Geddes - managing director of ICP Group that advises on security threats around the world - said the latest killings in Europe could have been planned to take place before the re-imposition of lockdowns and while there were still many unsuspecting victims outside.

He said: 'One of the biggest issues we have to remember is that terrorism is not very successful if there are empty streets, where there are less potential victims and it is easier for security services to identify them.

'Terrorists like to target highly populated areas, which there are less of when people are not on the streets as much.

'Where a country has implemented a lockdown it makes it far less appealing for terrorists to undertake attacks because it's not going to achieve the casualties and fatalities they want - as they have in Vienna and Nice.

'Nothing can be discounted right now, the hardest part for counter terrorism is trying to look at what opportunities these groups will try to exploit.'
Tom Kennedy's body lay in the mortuary in St Vincent's hospital in late March 1977. His 21-year-old daughter Mary was advised not to go in to see him in his coffin. It was better, she was told, to remember him as she last saw him. That had been in early January when he had come into her bedroom in the family home in Clondalkin to say goodbye before she travelled back to France, where she was teaching English.

He gave Mary "a few bob" and said what were to be his last words to her: "Mind yourself."

Mary says now that she is "sorry" she didn't go into the mortuary to say goodbye to her father.

"It is a regret that I have," she says. "I know people were trying to protect me and I was definitely in shock. The whole ritual around waking and death and paying your respects has no fear for me now. I often wonder what he looked like in the coffin and what suit he was wearing."

Expand Close Mary with Marty Whelan with whom she presented Open House for RTE. Picture courtesy RTE / Facebook

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Whatsapp Mary with Marty Whelan with whom she presented Open House for RTE. Picture courtesy RTE

"It's about closure, really," she says. "It is just something that I would recommend to people - when somebody dies, don't be afraid of the fact that this person is dead in the coffin."

Her mother's death from cancer came just before midnight on Christmas Eve 2001. It was a "deeply sad" and "traumatic" time, even though it was not unexpected as she had had a stroke at Tallaght Hospital a few weeks before.

On St Stephen's night, Pauline was taken from the Chapel of Rest in Tallaght to Clondalkin church. Although it was a "cold, dark, wet and bleak evening", the sight of the Christmas tree on the altar and the crib were "a huge comfort" to Mary. Seeing the church packed with family, friends and neighbours at such a busy time of the year was also "a huge consolation".

The support of those friends and family, she says, drives home how difficult the situation is now for people who "lose loved ones and can't mourn them openly and fully" because of the pandemic.

Has the fact that her mother died at Christmas cast a shadow over this time of year for her?

The Christmas when her mother died was the saddest ever, she says, but her anniversary is a chance for the family to gather every year. "We have a house mass and remember her and other loved ones who have also died; we have supper and Kris Kindle," she says.

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Whatsapp Mary in Eurovision mode. Picture courtesy RTE

In 2020, that anniversary mass happened by Zoom but "hopefully it'll be back to the big crowd together this year".

She recalls the late poet, and former Catholic priest, John O'Donohue, saying that his greatest privilege as a priest was being present, and being part of, people leaving this world at the moment of death.

"It is a very intense time, and it is a very special time," she says. "It is part of the rich tapestry of life."

Part of that richness is also evidenced by the fact that Mary recently released a special single with her younger sister Deirdre, called Life is a Beautiful Dance. Written by Don Mescall, all the money raised from the song goes to the charity, Family Carers.

Deirdre, who lives on Inis Mor, is a "wonderfully spiritual person" and runs retreats on Celtic spirituality.

"She has a faith as well as a great regard for the divine feminine."

All of these things must be taken on board, Mary says, "as they enrich life. It is about being mindful and being still. It is not about 'stuff'."

Mary has "scant regard for stuff. I am at a stage in life where I am unimpressed by possessions, things, acquisitions," she says.

"There are so many people who feel possessions are important. I am much more interested in gatherings, experiences, adventures, conversations, people, relationships."

She remembers being impressed by what she learned about Mychal Judge - the American Franciscan friar with Leitrim roots who served as a chaplain to the New York City Fire Department - after he died in the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

"He was the first victim. He was taken out on a chair and it was almost like the pieta; he was covered in chalk. When they went to his rooms after he died, they realised he had been giving away all his stuff. He had gotten to a stage in life where he was saying, 'Someone else will get more use out of this; I don't need it any more'."

Mary wasn't quite so serene in September 2019, when she had to retire from RTE because she reached the mandatory age. She said at the time that it was "bonkers".

Does she still think it was a mad decision forced on her by RTE?

"I am more philosophical about my own retirement, because in 2020 I had a wonderful year of variety in job opportunities," she says referring to her Senior Times Podcast Series with women writers (Patricia Scanlan, Cathy Kelly, Mary McAleese, Emily Hourican and Rachael English, among others); a show on TG4 about Irish businesses called Guaranteed Irish; as well as working on different RTE projects.

Looking back on her time with RTE brings up all sorts of memories for Mary after 15 years presenting Nationwide (as well as six years co-presenting Open House with Marty Whelan, nine years presenting Up For The Match and almost as long on The People of the Year awards).

She joined the station in 1978 as a part-time continuity announcer, working alongside Thelma Mansfield and Marian Finucane. The latter was Mary's seconder when she joined the National Union of Journalists.

"A woman's woman," she says of Marian, who died a year ago now, on January 2, 2020. "She moved on to great heights in radio and our paths didn't cross again until 24 years later when she came along to my first book launch in 2002. She said she just wanted to give a bit of support. A great woman."

In 1995, Mary landed the plum role of presenting the Eurovision Song Contest. Her mother Pauline was "nervous" that the notoriety and the profile that came with it would go to her head.

"My mother had two mantras. 'Don't lose the run of yourself,' and 'Never lose your dignity'. She needn't have worried."

Has Mary ever lost her dignity?

"I don't think so. I am who I am. Sometimes that's boring and sometimes it's not."

Mary has vivid childhood memories of watching her mother going out to Wednesday night dinner dances with her father. She used to look at the dresses her mum wore to the dances and think they were so beautiful.

She thinks she "relived" that last year on Dancing With the Stars (the RTE show from which Mary was eliminated on March 1 after a dance-off with Miss Universe Ireland Grainne Gallanagh).

She used to slip into her parents' bedroom as a child to try on her mother's dancing shoes. She'd look in the mirror and "want to be grown-up and glamorous". When she wasn't using her mother's silver-backed hairbrush to brush her "very frizzy hair, I was using it as a microphone". The future RTE star wanted to be on Top Of The Pops. "I thought Sandie Shaw, Petula Clark, Dusty Springfield and Cilla Black were amazing. I thought my mother was amazing too."

She once read that as you age, it's a good plan to divide life into three thirds: one third for work, one third for giving back to others and one third for loved ones. "I'd like to embrace that in 2021."

She hopes to travel, for pleasure and for work. "I've always fancied the kind of programme that Joanna Lumley and Michael Palin did you know those gorgeous travel programmes of great journeys? It would be my dream gig. But it's not going to happen anytime soon."

When Covid restrictions allow, she intends to take dance lessons with her partner Tom O'Connor from John Nolan, her partner on Dancing With The Stars.(She loved the dancing on Dancing With The Stars. "It was a celebration of one's body. When one gets to a certain age, you're not inclined to celebrate your body". She was "getting toned and fit" and, in keeping with her memories of her mother, loved wearing "really glamorous gowns".

She also wants to be up and down the road to Limerick to see her grandson Paddy and her baby granddaughter Holly. Mary has four children (Eva, Tom, Eoin and Lucy) by Ronan Foster. They divorced in 2005 after 15 years of marriage.

Would she get married again?

"I won't answer that."

She feels "blessed" to have met a "kind, caring" partner in her 60s, she says of Tom, whom she started dating two years ago.

But she is "conscious" that at this age, she has more of her life lived than "I have to live in the future. I intend to live every moment of it fully and enjoy times with loved ones."

Still, the women in her family live to a grand old age. Her grandmother Annie Dowdall was 102 years old when she died, while her mother Pauline was 83 when she passed away.

Does she believe in heaven?

She quotes the late novelist Maeve Binchy as saying that her faith was buoyed by the hope that when she died, she would see her friends and loved ones again.

"That's not a bad thing to keep you going. But if, at the end, that's it and it is the end, I think a Christian feeling of kindness is emphasised by a faith.

"It informs the way you live your life. And it will be justified no matter what - whether there is another aspect to living or whether there isn't. And if you are encouraged to live that way by an aspiration, well, that's nice."

As a young girl, Mary "never thought of being a nun". But she did "harbour a dream" of going to Africa after college to volunteer as a teacher.

"A local girl in Clondalkin had done it and I wanted to follow in those footsteps. My father's death, though, changed those plans. I came home from France and got a full-time job as a secondary teacher in my old school."

She may be a practising Catholic, but she is not blind to the deficits of the religion. "As a woman born into the Catholic church," she says she is "deeply disappointed" that the "patriarchal nature of the institution is still blind to the contribution that women can make if they were welcomed fully".

In fact, she says, the church would be "a more attractive spiritual part of life if it were not dominated by men".

She goes to mass, or at least did until Covid struck. "I do go. I haven't gone since lockdown. But I don't think I am going to go to hell if I don't go to mass," she says.

Two of her closest friends are priests. "We would go away together," she says. She herself believes in a "greater good. I live and hope".

After such a long career, how has she found retirement?

She says that it made her feel "sad" and "apprehensive" because "you don't know what is around the corner".

"But if there is a lesson to be learned for me and other people maybe - it is that you should never be afraid of what's around the corner. It was a time to recharge and to breathe and to be."

In the lockdowns, she found that she could be "really Zen one day and the next day", despite her circumstances not having changed, "could feel quite low".

"We don't have to feel we have to embrace this stoically all the time. I think it is important to allow yourself to feel low and to feel underwhelmed by life," she says. The lows "did pass. And the feeling of gratitude and loving life came back".

In September, during a brief staycation in Northern Ireland, she visited John Hume's grave in Derry's City Cemetery. She had encountered Hume a number of times over the decades.

And only a few weeks before, she had delivered the RTE commentary of the former SDLP leader's funeral mass at St Eugene's Cathedral. So when she arrived in Derry, she felt "the pull" to visit his final resting place and "say a prayer".

"He was a man of honour, a man of peace, to whom we owe a great deal in this country. This was a man who cared about other people," she says. His funeral was "very dignified and gentle. There was a simplicity to it and when Phil Coulter sang The Town I Loved So Well at the end of the funeral mass as the coffin was leaving the church, it just seemed so right."

She presented Hume with an award in the late 1990s, and he sang the same song.

"He loved a sing-song, party pieces. He was a very sociable, gregarious person. He could be truculent. He was very astute. He really is the pivot of peace in Northern Ireland.

"He was a man who wanted social justice for his community but he never ever felt it was worth the shedding of anyone's blood. He was the equivalent of Mahatma Gandhi in a way, I suppose."

Mary also interviewed John Hume in 1993 for a RTE radio show called Words And Music. "It was like Desert Island Discs. So it was just perfect for him because he loved music, he loved song and he had stories about songs."

When she asked him where his social conscience and sense of community came from, he answered by remembering how when he was growing up, his father held an informal clinic in the house to help neighbours who had difficulties with filling out forms or with literacy.

"He believed that was where his sense of social justice came from. He was president of the Irish League of Credit Unions at the age of 27. And my own father was a founder of the credit union in Clondalkin where I am from. My dad would have met him."

But she will not be drawn further on politics so we return to Covid and how it has shaped the world in such a short space of time. She has learned one big lesson from the pandemic, she says: "Be nice to ourselves. If you feel like having a few slices of cake or a few extra biscuits, just have them. Feck it..."
The NSW government is considering banning some western Sydney residents from the SCG Test as it scrambles to contact thousands of people who may have been exposed to COVID-19.

As the Berala bottle shop cluster swelled to 13 on Sunday, with five new cases linked to a BWS in the suburb, acting Premier John Barilaro urged Cumberland residents to avoid this week's Test.

Acting Premier John Barilaro says the SCG Test will go ahead, but there may be some restrictions. Credit:James Alcock

Mr Barilaro also indicated that the government could go further with its pleas and ban residents from the Cumberland area from attending the match, which starts on Thursday.

"If you're coming from that area, the broader Cumberland area ... we encourage you to rethink about going to the Test and there may be more said by Health and the government in the next day or so in relation to that," he said.
New Delhi: A day after the news of two COVID-19 vaccines getting a nod for the restricted use in India was out, several politicians on Sunday (January 3, 2021) hit out at the Bhartiya Janata Party-led government at the Centre and questioned the COVAXIN's phase 3 trials.

While the Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram Shashi Tharoor said that the COVAXIN has not yet had Phase 3 trials and approval was 'premature and could be dangerous', another Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said that the Bharat Biotech is a first-rate enterprise, but it is 'puzzling that internationally-accepted protocols relating to phase 3 trials are being modified for COVAXIN'.

Both the MPs also asked for a clarification from Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on the coronavirus vaccine.

The Covaxin has not yet had Phase 3 trials. Approval was premature and could be dangerous. @drharshvardhan should please clarify. Its use should be avoided till full trials are over. India can start with the AstraZeneca vaccine in the meantime. https://t.co/H7Gis9UTQb  Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) January 3, 2021

Bharat Biotech is a first-rate enterprise, but it is puzzling that internationally-accepted protocols relating to phase 3 trials are being modified for Covaxin. Health Minister @drharshvardhan should clarify. pic.twitter.com/5HAWZtmW9s  Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) January 3, 2021

On the other hand, the Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said the COVID-19 vaccination programme is a 'sensitive process' and the Centre should not treat it as a 'cosmetic' event as it is a matter of peoples' lives. Earlier, Yadav had said, "I am not going to get vaccinated for now. How can I trust BJP's vaccine, when our government will be formed everyone will get free vaccine. We cannot take BJP's vaccine."

            -            .        :           .        .  Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) January 3, 2021

In reply, Harsh Vardhan said that it's disgraceful for anyone to politicise such a critical issue and shared the details about COVID-19 vaccine.

The Health Minister tagged all the three politicians on Twitter and asked them to not try to discredit well laid out science-backed protocols followed for approving COVID-19 vaccines.

"Wake up & realise you are only discrediting yourselves!," Harsh Vardhan tweeted.

He added, "Vaccines approved globally based on gene encoding spike proteins have protective efficacy of over 90%. However, COVAXIN based on whole inactivated virus has other antigenic epitopes in addition to spike protein. So, its likely to have similar protective efficacy reported for others."

Vaccines approved globally based on gene encoding spike proteins have protective efficacy of over 90%

However, COVAXIN based on whole inactivated virus has other antigenic epitopes in addition to spike protein

So,its likely to have similar protective efficacy reported for others pic.twitter.com/AOIONrxZcd  Dr Harsh Vardhan (@drharshvardhan) January 3, 2021

"COVAXIN is more likely to work against newer variants like N501Y Variant (UK variant) & any other that may arise due to antigenic drift as it contains immunogens (epitopes) from other genes in addition to those from Spike protein. Inactivated virus from NIV also had D614G mutation," stated Harsh.

He noted that the data from COVAXIN Phase I and II clinical trials reveals that it not only produces neutralizing antibodies in all participants but also sensitises CD4 T lymphocytes that imparts durable immune response.

The data from COVAXIN Phase I & II clinical trials reveals that it not only produces neutralizing antibodies in all participants but also sensitises CD4 T lymphocytes that imparts durable immune response@BharatBiotech @PMOIndia @ICMRDELHI @icmr_niv @MoHFW_INDIA @DBTIndia pic.twitter.com/SzS6lsOBBG  Dr Harsh Vardhan (@drharshvardhan) January 3, 2021

"Our experience with inactivated vaccines not having serious adverse events was also observed in Phase II done among 380 study participants in BBV152 trial in 21280 Person days follow up. No serious adverse events seen. Only 7% persons receiving 6 microgram dose had mild symptoms," said Health Minister.

He said, "There were no seroconversions in those who were provided vaccines in Phase II as well as Phase I of COVAXIN clinical trials."

There were no seroconversions in those who were provided vaccines in Phase II as well as Phase I of COVAXIN clinical trials.@ICMRDELHI @MoHFW_INDIA @icmr_niv @DBTIndia @BharatBiotech pic.twitter.com/sBU8iKDSxO  Dr Harsh Vardhan (@drharshvardhan) January 3, 2021

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI)'s nod for the Serum Institute's Covishield and Bharat Biotech's COVAXIN for restricted use in India.

PM Modi termed the move as a decisive turning point in the countrys fight against the virus and expressed his gratitude for all frontline workers in 'adverse circumstances'.

A decisive turning point to strengthen a spirited fight! DCGI granting approval to vaccines of @SerumInstIndia and @BharatBiotech accelerates the road to a healthier and COVID-free nation. Congratulations India. Congratulations to our hardworking scientists and innovators.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 3, 2021

The Prime Minister also said, "It would make every Indian proud that the two vaccines that have been given emergency use approval are made in India! This shows the eagerness of our scientific community to fulfil the dream of an Aatmanirbhar Bharat, at the root of which is care and compassion."

It would make every Indian proud that the two vaccines that have been given emergency use approval are made in India! This shows the eagerness of our scientific community to fulfil the dream of an Aatmanirbhar Bharat, at the root of which is care and compassion.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 3, 2021

We reiterate our gratitude to doctors, medical staff, scientists, police personnel, sanitation workers and all Corona warriors for the outstanding work done, that too in adverse circumstances. We will remain eternally grateful to them for saving many lives.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 3, 2021

Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) has welcomed India's COVID-19 vaccine approval and said that the decision will help strengthen the fight against coronavirus.



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Los Angeles, Jan 3 : Women directors comprise 16 per cent of filmmakers calling the shots on the 100 highest-grossing Hollywood films in 2020, according to a study from the Center For The Study Of Women In Television And Film at San Diego State University. This is a four per cent jump from 2019, and a dramatic 12 per cent jump only two years ago.

"Women accounted for 16 per cent of directors working on the top 100 grossing films in 2020, up from 12 per cent in 2019 and four per cent in 2018," the study said, adding: "Women comprised 18 per cent of directors working on the top 250 films in 2020, up from 13 per cent in 2019 and 8 per cent in 2018." "The percentages of women directing top 100 and top 250 films represent recent historic highs and also reflect two consecutive years of growth," the seven-page study noted.

If one takes into account female technicians in other creative fields of filmmaking besides directors, who worked in the top 100 grossing Hollywood films of 2020, the figures are even better, according to the study available at the Center's official website.

"Women comprised 21 per cent of all directors, writers, producers, executive producers, editors, and cinematographers working on the top 100 grossing films in 2020, up from 20 per cent in 2019. Women working in these roles on the top 250 grossing films experienced a slight increase from 21 per cent in 2019 to 23 per cent in 2020," said the study.

Among highest grossers that opened in 2020 was Patty Jenkins' Christmas release "Wonder Woman 1984", starring Gal Gadot, which was also one of the most-talked about Hollywood releases of the year. That apart, Cate Shortland's "Black Widow", starring Scarlett Johansson, was ready for release in 2020 although the film is now scheduled to open in April this year owing to last year's lockdown.

Last year also saw the release of Cathy Yan's "Birds Of Prey", starring Margot Robbie, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Rosie Perez and Ewan McGregor. Chloe Zhao's "Nomadland", starring Frances McDormand, is another heroine-centric release made by a woman director that was much-talked about.

In 2020, when there was a total closure of cinema theatres globally for most of the year owing to Covid lockdown, the number of women technicians involved with 'Watched At Home' films makes for interesting statistics, too.

Women accounted for nine per cent of directors working on the watched at home films, besides 12 per cent of writers, 15 per cent of executive producers, 31 per cent of producers, 19 per cent of editors, and three per cent of cinematographers working on such films, said the study, which included films released digitally for the first time.

The annual report by the Center for the Study of Women in Television and Film is supervised by Center director Dr. Martha Lauzen.

Although there has been an upward swing in women being employed as technicians in Hollywood, there is still a long way to go. The percentages in the Top 250 Films With No Women In Any Creative Role is still staggering. For instance, going by the study, 80 per cent of films in the list had no women directors, 73 per cent had no women writers, 41 per cent had no women executive producers, 26 per cent had no women producers, 72 per cent had no women editors, 94 per cent had no women cinematographers.

"The majority (67 per cent) of films employed fewer than five women in the above roles," the study concluded.
Weve been hearing for months that holding in-person classes in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic would exacerbate South Carolinas teacher shortage. And it turns out that we did start the fall semester with substitutes in more classrooms than usual  but not for the reasons we expected.

According to the annual Educator Supply and Demand Report by South Carolinas Center for Educator Recruitment, Retention and Advancement, our public schools started the fall semester with 699 teacher vacancies, up from an already disturbing 556 last year.

But we didnt have those extra vacancies because teachers decided to call it quits in droves over concerns that theyd be exposed to COVID-19, as some teachers have been warning. To the contrary, fewer teachers left the classroom this summer than last summer.

Instead, school districts increased the number of teaching positions faster than new teachers could keep up. Although schools started the year with 143 more vacancies than in 2019, they also had 2,600 additional teaching positions to fill. That means there were actually 2,457 more teachers employed at the start of this year than last year. Thats nearly 5% more teachers working in our schools than a year earlier  more than enough to fill every classroom if we hadnt added all those virtual classrooms and reduced the size of in-person classes. At 54,961, this year began with by far the most S.C. teachers since at least 2009, when the center started including that number in its report.

Its a problem whenever we dont have a regular teacher in every classroom. But the growth in our teaching force under the worst of circumstances is truly something to celebrate. Its a great testament to the professionalism of our teachers, who recognize that children need them now more than ever and who stayed in the classroom or came back to the classroom or started teaching for the first time, despite their concerns.

Its also worth celebrating that South Carolina has, so far, managed not only to avoid laying off teachers but to add so many more. This isnt the case everywhere.

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The New York Times reported last month that public schools in many parts of the country are headed for a financial cliff, as the coronavirus drives up the costs of education while tax revenue and student enrollment continue to fall. And a Pew Research Center report found that public school jobs were down by nearly 7% nationally from September 2019 to September 2020 (including 4% in South Carolina), although it noted that many of the layoffs have targeted bus drivers, custodial staff, cafeteria workers, and other support personnel, rather than teachers and many of those jobs were being restored as schools returned to in-person classes.

Unfortunately, none of South Carolinas good news means that we can stop worrying about attracting teachers to the profession or keeping them in the classroom. The uncertainty of the pandemic probably made a lot of people with good benefits packages decide to stay in jobs they otherwise wouldnt have; that uncertainty should decline as vaccines reduce the spread of COVID-19, and teachers will start focusing again on the lack of respect and low pay that have driven too many to leave.

It doesnt even necessarily mean that we dont have a teacher supply problem at this moment, or wont have one in the spring.

The reports author, Jennifer Garrett, noted that the compounding effects of the pandemic may have led to more departures after districts completed their surveys, so she plans to do another survey in early 2021.

But a spokesman for state Education Superintendent Molly Spearman told us that while he wasnt surprised that the number of teachers was up, given the demand for online learning and smaller in-person class sizes and $300 million in extra funding, When you see the 2,600 added positions and consider that figure along with the number of vacancies, it was a bit of a surprise that we werent in a worse position with the teaching workforce.

A surprise indeed. And a pleasant one for a change.
From left, Saitama Gov. Motohiro Ono, Chiba Gov. Kensaku Morita, Japan's Economy Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura, Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike and Kanagawa Gov. Yuji Kuroiwa meet journalists in Tokyo after Tokyo and three nearby Japanese prefectures have asked the national government to declare a state of emergency, Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021. AP



The Japanese capital, Tokyo, and three nearby prefectures have asked the national government to declare a state of emergency to curtail the surging spread of the coronavirus pandemic.



''In the name of valuing life, we made this plea together,'' said Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike after meeting for three hours on Saturday with the minister in charge of coronavirus measures, along with the governors of Saitama, Chiba and Kanagawa.



Japan has seen a recent rise in reported cases of COVID-19, especially in urban areas. Tokyo saw a daily record of 1,337 cases on New Year's Eve.



Worries are growing about hosting the Olympics, set for July, with 11,000 Olympic athletes set to enter Japan, as well as tens of thousands of officials and media.











People wearing face masks to help prevent the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus walk along Sensoji temple shopping street in the Asakusa district of Tokyo on January 2, 2021. AFP-Yonhap
Officials will this week launch urgent talks to thrash out a Brexit deal for the City by March, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.

The Treasurys top Ministers and civil servants will hold meetings with City lobby groups to form a plan for selling British financial services in EU countries.

John Glen, the City Minister, and Katharine Braddick, director general of financial services at the Treasury, will play key roles in drawing up a memorandum of understanding with the EU.

John Glen, the City Minister, and Katharine Braddick, director general of financial services at the Treasury, will play key roles in drawing up a memorandum of understanding with the EU

The UK will set out its position and try to reach an agreement with EU counterparts. Officials have given themselves just over eight weeks to get a deal completed.

The urgent talks come after Prime Minister Boris Johnson secured a post-Brexit trade deal for the UK over Christmas. The deal mainly focused on goods and left out large parts of banking, insurance and other services.

Britains services sector accounts for about 80 per cent of our economy. The UK exported about 60billion of financial services in 2019, of which about 25billion went to the EU.

It is understood that senior officials from the Bank of England  including Governor Andrew Bailey and Deputy Governor for Financial Stability Sir Jon Cunliffe  will also hold talks with financial lobby groups about the plans for the City.

As it stands, Brexit means many financial services companies in the UK can no longer easily sell their services and products to customers in the EU.

The woman behind the UK's masterplan Banking guru Katharine Braddick will play a central role in the UKs bid to strike a Brexit deal for the City. As director general of financial services at the Treasury since 2016, she is the top civil servant working on the memorandum of understanding being drawn up. Braddick, who is thought to be in her 40s, lives in Chiswick, West London, and was educated at Warwick University, where she studied history; and Cambridge, where she took a masters degree in languages. Key role: Katharine Braddick is a senior figure at the Treasury She cut her teeth in finance at the Association of British Insurers trade body. Braddick spent more than a decade as head of banking policy at the former City watchdog the Financial Services Authority, before moving to the Bank of England, and then the Treasury in 2014. She will work closely with Eurosceptic MP John Glen, the Economic Secretary to the Treasury and City Minister, who will spearhead the talks with City trade bodies. Glen, who read modern history at Oxford, worked for consulting giant Accenture and in the oil and gas industry before being elected Conservative MP for Salisbury in the 2010 General Election.

City professionals such as lawyers, bankers and insurance underwriters have also lost their automatic right to work in the EU because their qualifications are no longer recognised.

As it stands, they will need to apply for the relevant qualifications for the country in which they wish to work. The City is keenly awaiting the memorandum of understanding to find out how much access it will have to the bloc.

One source said this weekend that meetings with the Treasury are literally being scheduled as we speak. The source said the Treasury will engage with lobby groups such as UK Finance, TheCityUK and the City of London Corporation, as well as big banks and insurers.

Both the UK and the EU must certify each others financial services rules  on the basis that they are very similar  to trade freely.

The UK said in November that some EU firms could access the UK market without fear of penalty from regulators. But the EU has not reciprocated, mainly over fears of deregulation in the UK. EU officials are concerned that potential moves to make the City of London more attractive to foreign investment could create an uneven playing field.

Simon Gleeson, a partner at legal giant Clifford Chance, said: The reason that is so weird is that if you look at European regulation, the UK wrote the vast majority of it.

EU officials are concerned that potential moves to make the City of London more attractive to foreign investment could create an uneven playing field

The EU currently has the power to block London-based firms from trading inside its market with just 30 days notice.

It is thought the memorandum of understanding being drawn up could include plans to extend this notice period, which would give UK businesses more confidence that their access will not suddenly be removed.

Top lawyers said the memorandum, which is not expected to be legally binding, will be a starting point for the UK and EU. It will set out an agreement to co-operate on accessing each others markets and pave the way for more deals to be struck.

One British lawyer close to the discussions said: Were not going to say... UK firms can do what they like in Europe. What were going to say is UK firms may do what they like in Europe, provided they subject themselves to European supervision.

Barney Reynolds, partner at Shearman & Sterling, said the memorandum is likely to provide a lot of the comfort that the City is wishing for.

He said after the memorandum has been signed, subsequent agreements could allow certain companies such as insurers even greater access to sell in the EU than when Britain was part of the single market.

Most financial services companies expected Brexit to make accessing EU markets more difficult, so they set up bases in the bloc to continue serving customers.

Consultancy EY said more than 7,500 jobs have moved from London to EU cities such as Madrid, Paris and Frankfurt  fewer than originally feared. More than 1.2trillion of assets have also been shifted from the UK to EU nations to ensure a smooth transition.

But bankers said Covid restrictions were making it difficult to move more staff from the UK to the bloc. US investment bank JP Morgan is expecting to move 300 roles early this year, mainly to Frankfurt and Paris.

With reference to the huge rise in home working during the pandemic, Gleeson said: Given Covid, this whole issue about where business is done is just totally unanswerable.
British PM Boris Johnson has said "no doubt" that schools are safe

Boris Johnson has said parents should send primary-age children back to schools that are open this week, as he hinted at tougher coronavirus measures for England.

The British Prime Minister said he has no doubt that classrooms are safe and that the risk to young people was very, very small amid calls from teaching unions to close all schools for the next two weeks.

Referring to the tiers system, Mr Johnson said that coronavirus restrictions in England are probably about to get tougher due to rising infection rates.

Appearing on the BBCs Andrew Marr Show on Sunday morning, the Prime Minister said: Schools are safe. It is very, very important to stress that.

I would advise all parents thinking about want to do, look at where your area is, overwhelmingly youll be in a part of the country where primary schools tomorrow will be open.

Meanwhile, Mr Johnson signalled that despite vaccines coming down the track in their tens of millions, regional restrictions in England were likely to get tougher.

What we are doing now is using the tiering system, which is a very tough system and, alas, probably about to get tougher to keep things under control, he said.

Weave delivered over 1 million #coronavirus vaccines.



Tomorrow rollout of the @UniofOxford / @AstraZeneca vaccine begins - across every part of the UK - as we accelerate delivery of the coronavirus vaccine.



The end is in sight. pic.twitter.com/xUIDg6kGds  Matt Hancock (@MattHancock) January 3, 2021

It comes as the NHS ramps up its vaccination programme with the newly approved Oxford University and AstraZeneca jab, with 530,000 doses available for rollout across the UK from Monday.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the vaccine was our great hope, adding: I want the Government to throw everything it can at this, harnessing the extraordinary talents of our NHS so we can be vaccinating at least two million Brits a week by the end of the month.

But, writing in the Sunday Mirror, he criticised a chaotic last-minute U-turn on schools, adding: Confusion reigns among parents, teachers and pupils over who will be back in school tomorrow and who wont.

On Friday, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson confirmed that all of Londons primary schools would remain shut to most students, rather than just those in certain boroughs as set out earlier in the week.

Primary schools in the capital and some surrounding areas are not due to reopen until January 18, but elsewhere students are expected to return to classrooms on Monday.

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Asked whether he could guarantee schools will reopen on January 18, Mr Johnson added: Well, obviously, were going to continue to assess the impact of the Tier 4 measures, the Tier 3 measures.

International Trade Secretary Liz Truss was more confident on the matter.

Pressed on whether the majority of secondary schools would open by January 11 and 18, depending on the area they are in, Ms Truss told Times Radio: Absolutely. Thats what we are seeking to do.

Im a parent of secondary school children myself, so I know the challenges of making sure your children are keeping in touch with online learning, and we want to get those schools open.

Newly confirmed coronavirus cases were higher than 50,000 for the fifth day in a row when UK figures were released on Saturday, with a record-high of 57,725 lab-confirmed cases and another 445 deaths within 28 days of a positive test.

Professor Sir Mark Walport, who is a member of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), warned that it would be difficult to keep the new variant under control without much tighter social distancing measures.

Asked if this included closing schools, the former chief scientific adviser told the BBCs Andrew Marr Show: We know that transmission occurs within schools.

We know that a person between 12 and 16 is seven times more likely than others in a household to bring the infection into a household.

And we know that there was a small dip in the amount of transmission in school children after the half term, which then went up again when they went back.

On Saturday evening, the Department for Education said remote learning was a last resort and classrooms should reopen wherever possible with appropriate safety measures to help mitigate the risk of transmission.

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Ofsted chief inspector Amanda Spielman, writing in the Sunday Telegraph, said childrens education cannot be put on furlough and that school closures should be kept to a minimum.

But general secretary of the National Education Union (NEU) Dr Mary Bousted earlier said schools should stay closed for two weeks to break the chain of transmission and prevent the NHS becoming overwhelmed.

The union, which represents the majority of teachers, has advised its members it is not safe to return to classrooms on Monday.

NAHT general secretary Paul Whiteman said the union had started preliminary steps in legal proceedings against the Department for Education, asking it to share its scientific data about safety and transmission rates.

Unions have also called for the reopening of Wales schools to be delayed with Laura Doel, director of school leaders union NAHT Cymru, saying the latest data shows that in large parts of Wales, control of infection has been lost.

In December, the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) said schools would use staggered returns for pupils with face-to-face learning expected to return for most by January 11 and a full return before January 18.

Elsewhere, First Minister Arlene Foster said remote learning for school children in Northern Ireland should only be for a short period.

Primary pupils are to be taught remotely for the week from Monday January 4 to Friday 8, while for secondary school Years 8 to 11, remote learning is due to last for the entire month.

In Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon said the planning assumption remains to open schools on January 18, but parents will be informed of any changes that may be necessary.

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Vandals went on a spray-painting spree at the homes of Congress top two leaders in separate graffiti blitzes that appeared to target Capitol Hills failure to send out fatter stimulus checks.

The Louisville, Kentucky, home of GOP Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and San Francisco residence of Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi were both splatted with angry messaging  and at Pelosis home, a severed pigs head, according to reports.

On Saturday morning, a misspelled wheres my money and expletives were splashed across the front door and bricks of McConnells residence, the Courier-Journal reported.

McConnell condemned the defacement as a radical tantrum.

Ive spent my career fighting for the First Amendment and defending peaceful protest. I appreciate every Kentuckian who has engaged in the democratic process whether they agree with me or not, McConnell said .

This is different. Vandalism and the politics of fear have no place in our society, he said, adding he has never been been intimidated by this toxic playbook. We just hope our neighbors in Louisville arent too inconvenienced by this radical tantrum.

A day earlier, Pelosis house was blitzed, a CBS affiliate reported.

Around 2 a.m. Friday, vandals painted Cancel rent and We want everything and then left a a severed pigs head in a pool of red paint in front of her garage, the news outlet reported.

I dont think that this is a useful way to go about it and its a terrible start to this new year, when we are hoping for less anger and hatred than weve had to deal with for the last year, Pelosi neighbor Audrey Carlson told KPIX.

Pelosi, who helped spearhead passage of a bill to increase $600 stimulus checks to $2,000, was in Washington, D.C., at the time of the spree.

But on Saturday, McConnell wouldnt allow a vote on the proposed hike in direct cash payments to American households that qualify, called the CASH Act.

And times running out.

The current session of Congress ends at noon Sunday. At that point, all pending bills will expire.

Those whove groused about the $2,000 relief checks say it doesnt go to people who need the money the most. Chief among those with a dim view is McConnell himself, whos called the measure an effort to send thousands of dollars to people who dont need the help.

The Senates second-ranking Republican, Sen. John Thune of South Dakota also is no fan, deriding the CASH Act as a shotgun approach where a rifle makes a lot more sense.

Uncle Sam has already started sending out the $600 stimulus checks that Congress approved on Dec. 21, and which President Donald Trump signed last week.

In the long-shot chance a deal to increase payments to $2,000 is reached, the IRS has said it would send another payment for the additional amount to anyone who already received a $600 check.

Cathy Burke of the New York Daily News wrote this story.

2021 New York Daily News. Visit at nydailynews.com.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Editors Note: This story was updated as Michele Compos name was incorrectly spelled in the earlier version.

OAKLAND COUNTY, MI  The pilot and two passengers who died when their private plane crashed into a New Hudson home Saturday afternoon have been identified.

The pilot of the plane was David S. Compo, former president of the Home Builders Association of Southeastern Michigan. Compo, along with his wife Michele Compo and their son Dawson, died in the crash, a news release from the association states.

Related: 3 dead after small plane crashes into Oakland County house, sheriff says

The plane crashed sometime before 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 2 in a neighborhood just west of Pontiac Trail and Grand River Avenue, in the Orchards of Lyon subdivision.

Lyon Township firefighters responded to the home, which was initially reported to be fully engulfed in flames.

Shortly after the crash occurred, Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard tweeted that all occupants of the home, located in the 57600 block of Russet Lane, were able to get safely out of the home.

The home is located just a half a mile from the Oakland/Southwest Airport, which was the familys destination, the news release from the HBA stated. Compo was said to be an experienced pilot and had flown to Canton, Georgia on Dec. 29. The family was returning home when the crash occurred.

The Compo family had been a significant part of HBAs history for decades and David Compo was instrumental in helping the association face many obstacles during 2020, the release stated. His term as HBA president ended on Friday, Dec. 31, 2020.

Our hearts go out to Davids mother, Janet Compo, who served as HBAs president in 1995, brother Christopher and Lisa Compo and the entire family, a statement from the association read. We have no information at this time on a memorial for the family.

Michael Stoskopf, HBAs CEO, said the association was fortunate to have David Compo leading the team in 2020.

His involvement, professionalism and experience over the years have been great assets to our organization and he has been a true friend to me as we faced challenge after challenge during this past year, Stoskopf said.

David Compo began doing plans for his parents building company, James D. Compo, Inc. at the age of 15. After 33 years with the company, he and his brother Christopher Compo launched Compo Builders, Inc. Throughout his career, David has overseen the building of homes for over 600 southeast Michigan families in addition to hundreds more remodeling and indoor pool and spa projects, the release states.

David Compo was named HBA Builder of the Year in 2013 and Developer of the Year in 2015, according to the association. The companys Lisa Ranch in Dunhill Park of Novi was awarded a 2019 Parade of Homes Blue Ribbon and a 2020 HBA Sales & Design Competition Silver Award for New Home Interior Design Project of the Year. The company also received a Gold Award for Whole House Remodel over 2000 square feet.

Also on MLive:

More than 50,000 students left Michigan public schools this year. Where did they go?

Coronavirus changed everything in 2020. Will the pandemic wind down in 2021?

Burning police cruisers, fireworks, broken windows depict unbelievable scene at Grand Rapids riot
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri has now been joined by a chorus of 11 other Republican Senators, led by Sen Ted Cruz, screeching out Auld Lang Sedition, challenging the Senates Electoral College certification.

Senators Hawley and Cruz are joined by Senators Marsha Blackburn, Mike Braun, Steve Daines,John Kennedy, Ron Johnson, James Lankford and Senators-Elect Cynthia Lummis, Tommy Tuberville, Bill Hagerty and Roger Marshall, despite them winning in the same election they are now challenging.

Trumps twelve in the Senate are poking Portman, McConnell, the rest of the Senate, 81 million voters and democracy in the eye. They are singing off key in concert with members of the House challenging certification, that include Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio.

The House members needed at least one Senator to join them in their objections to force the joint session of Congress to debate the issue before voting to certify.

It had been thought that Senator-elect Tuberville would be the first and only Senator to do so, if any did. But it was instead Sen Hawley, Missouris junior Senator, motivated by 2024 Presidential election aspirations and wanting to win Trump supporters.

The challengers chances of thwarting the Senates Electoral College certification and President-Elect Joe Bidens inauguration are zero. But they have succeeded in fomenting a Civil War in the Party of Lincoln.
After being falsely imprisoned for 28 years, a man has been awarded $9.8 million (Rs 71.63 Crore) as compensation.

Chester Hollman III was 21 years old when he was charged with the murder of a student of the University of Pennsylvania, during a botched robbery back in 1991.



In July 2019, a judge ordered his release from the prison stating that the police and prosecutors had built their case against him based on false evidence from people who were coerced to come forward as witnesses.

Netflix

The judge also stated that evidence which pointed towards the real perpetrators was withheld at the time.

Assistant District Attorney, Patricia Cummings, told the court, "I apologize to Chester Hollman. I apologize because he was failed, and in failing him, we failed the victim, and we failed the community of the city of Philadelphia."

Mr Hollman said this is the beginning of a new chapter for him. He said, "There are no words to express what was taken from me. But this settlement closes out a difficult chapter in my life as my family and I now embark on a new one."

Netflix

Mr Hollman's incredible story was part of a crime series released by Netflix last year, called The Innocence Files.

Peter Neufeld and Barry Scheck, co-founders of non-profit organisation The Innocence Project, said: "We are thrilled to be part of the groundbreaking Netflix series, The Innocence Files. This is truly important television. Each episode reveals - step by step - how the American criminal justice system gets it wrong. These stories feature people whose freedom was stolen because of governments' reliance on junk science, discredited and suggestive eyewitness identification procedures, and prosecutors who engage in misconduct to win at any cost."

They added, "We hope these stories motivate people to take action. There are tried and tested reforms that will improve the system to make it more fair and just. Countless innocent people endure unspeakable suffering in maximum security prisons and death row for crimes they didn't commit."

Netflix

They also said, "These miscarriages of justice extend a circle of pain and trauma that embraces families, communities, and even victims of crime. We must do better."


OTTAWA - Elections Canada watched as social media posts from Canadians began wondering if the last federal election had been rigged by dubious voting machines.

OTTAWA - Elections Canada watched as social media posts from Canadians began wondering if the last federal election had been rigged by dubious voting machines.

The tweets were linked to the U.S. election and unverified claims from President Donald Trump and his allies that automatic vote tabulators were to blame for his loss to Joe Biden.

On Nov. 16, the agency tweeted how it only uses paper ballots counted by hand in a bid to educate Canadians.

On Nov. 17, Trump turned the tweet upside down by pointing to it as proof of the conspiracy against him.

"This is unfortunate and not at all intended," chief electoral officer Stephane Perrault wrote in response to one email with a link to Trump's tweet.

The email is among just over three dozen pages of documents about the social media posts obtained by The Canadian Press under the access-to-information law.

Many parts of the documents have been blacked out with officials citing them as sensitive advice to senior officials, or removing names for privacy reasons.

From what is available, it appears that the genesis for the tweet began on Nov. 9 with discussions taking place in the days after about how to respond to concerns about voting machines used in the U.S. presidential election.

Elections Canada officials noted that many Canadian social media users had been claiming that machines created by Dominion Voting Systems, used in the American election, had also been used here. One document notes some believed "the results of the last election illegitimate."

"Users taking part in those discussions will point out the fact that machines were either used or could potentially be used to count the votes, adding to the already corrupt system and leading to rigged results," reads one document.

"Most users seem to appreciate (Elections Canada) providing factual information and that information is being used to respond to inaccurate posts."

Indeed, that's what the agency sought to do during the American presidential election, explaining the voting system in Canada, particularly mail-in ballots that were in higher demand south of the border as a result of the pandemic.

Automatic tabulators aren't used at the federal level for elections, but ones manufactured by Dominion Voting Systems were used in the party leadership race where Justin Trudeau became Liberal leader. A photo of him voting in that 2013 contest became part of the swirl of internet conspiracy speculation about the machines.

Dominion Voting's systems have also been used by the federal Conservatives and numerous provinces and municipalities.

Elections Canada's first tweet about automatic voting machines was on Nov. 12.

Four days later, the agency tweeted about the issue again, writing in part, "We use paper ballots counted by hand in front of scrutineers and have never used voting machines or electronic tabulators to count votes in our 100-year history."

The next day, at 4:10 p.m., an internal email noted the post created "lots of very positive interactions" and "lots of new followers too."

"Team did a really great job staying on top of all the interactions," read the email that eventually made its way to Perrault.

The team's job got busier 29 minutes later when the president hit the retweet button.

"THIS SAYS IT ALL!" Trump wrote to his 88.5 million followers at 4:39 p.m.

Six media requests landed within the next 45 minutes. Online responses from social media users flowed in and emails started landing in Perrault's inbox.

One read, "Way to go, you have arrived on the inter web!" with two smiley faces. Another from a Liberal party official  the name has been redacted, but not the "@liberal.ca"  sent Perrault the tweet with a note, "I thought you might appreciate this shout out from Trump."

Perrault's response to the latter email was an abridged version of one he sent after 6:18 p.m. when he received a similar email from his counterpart in B.C.

"Yes, this is quite unfortunate and not at all intended: our social media team was simply responding to persistent questions and inaccurate stories about how we use Dominion," Perrault wrote in response to the latter message.

"We have nothing against Dominion (or tabulation where it is warranted). Dominion voting and EMBs [electoral management bodies] that rely on them do not deserve this."

The message that was crafted on Nov. 17 played out in some form over the ensuing days when Perrault or Elections Canada dealt with questions about Trump and the tweet: The message was "intended to inform people" who "mistakenly believed" the voting machines were used in federal elections, read a draft response for Perrault's review, "and should not be construed as anything other than that."

The documents also show the detailed evaluation of interactions it was seeing online, along with specific lines it could provide in response.

"Elections Canada strives to be the trusted source of information about the federal electoral process," the agency said in a statement.

"When we notice incorrect information on social media, our social media team works with the agency's subject matter experts to craft messages to counter that incorrect information."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 3, 2021.
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Boris Johnson today urged parents to send children back to primary schools but refused to rule out a full shutdown to control the mutant coronavirus strain - as Keir Starmer demanded a new national lockdown within 24 hours.

The PM insisted there is 'no doubt in my mind' that schools are 'safe' as he insisted there would be no further U-turn on reopening most primaries this week, despite more councils saying they wanted to keep pupils at home.

However, pressed in a New Year interview on the BBC's Andrew Marr show whether there will be a wider closure, he merely said everything was being kept 'under review'.

Challenged to guarantee that secondaries will be back up and running as planned on January 18, Mr Johnson said he would be looking at the impact of the Tier 4 restrictions over the coming weeks.

The premier also accepted that harsher measures will 'probably' be needed to contain the more infectious variant of the deadly virus, saying the situation was set to get 'bumpy'.

Asked what else the government might do to stabilise the situation, Mr Johnson said: 'There are obviously a range of tougher measures that we would have to consider... School closures is one of those things.'

But Labour leader Sir Keir this afternoon dramatically called for immediate action rather than 'hints'. 'The virus is clearly out of control,' he told reporters, saying a squeeze should take effect tomorrow. 'It is no use the PM hinting that more restrictions are coming. I say bring in those restrictions now.'

He added: 'The longer you delay the decisions the worse it is.'

He insisted that vaccines were the way to get the UK out of the crisis, saying 'tens of millions' would be given jabs over the next three months - although he refused to give specific figures.

Mr Johnson also dismissed criticism that the government had handled the pandemic badly, saying: 'What we could not have foreseen reasonably was the arrival of the variant.'

He added sharply: 'The Retrospectoscope is a magnificent instrument.'

The grim comments came amid a growing row over education.

The head of England's schools watchdog warned today that pupils cannot be 'furloughed' as Left-wing councils joined the revolt against Government plans to keep schools open.

In another welter of coronavirus developments today:

Another 54,990 cases of coronavirus have been recorded in the UK over the last 24 hours, and 454 deaths - although the latter figure is incomplete as Scotland does not report on Sundays;

The Scottish Parliament is being recalled early from its Christmas break tomorrow as Nicola Sturgeon considers ramping up restrictions;

Officials leading the UK vaccination programme defended the decision to extend the gap between the two doses, insisting it is 'the way we save lives';

Tony Blair has warned getting towards five million vaccinations a week might be the only way to keep schools open and avert crippling lockdowns;

Health bosses admitted a few procedures could be moved from London to ease pressure, but urgent cancer operations will not be scrapped to ease the strain on hospitals;

Labour's shadow culture secretary Jo Stevens is being treated in hospital for coronavirus, her aides have announced;

A Labour frontbencher has apologised for 'wrong and irresponsible' tweets suggesting vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi had jumped the queue for jabs .

The PM insisted there is 'no doubt in my mind' that schools are 'safe' as he insisted there would be no further U-turn on reopening most primaries this week

This map shows how the coronavirus variants have been tracked as they spread around the world

Official figures show there had been a further 54,990 lab-confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UK, up 80 per cent from last week's case figure of 30,501, while the number of deaths had increased by 43 per cent from last Sunday to 454

PM refuses to rule out cancelling exams Boris Johnson today refused to rule out cancelling GCSE and A-Level exams this year. Asked about the possibility, the PM said: 'We've got to be realistic, we've got to be realistic about the pace of which this new variant has spread 'We've got to be realistic about the impact that it's having on our NHS and we've got to be humble in the face of this virus.' Advertisement

Ofsted chief inspector Amanda Spielman said school closures should be kept to the 'absolute minimum', revealing that the first lockdown disrupted children's learning and wider development.

Writing in the Sunday Telegraph, she said Ofsted had found some younger children had 'forgotten how to hold a pencil or use a knife and fork, and had regressed in basic language numbers'.

In older children, Ms Spielman said the schools watchdog had noted 'increases in eating disorders and self-harm, and anti-social behaviour at some schools' during the coronavirus crisis.

Most primaries in England are expected to open their doors tomorrow, while secondary schools will reopen on a staggered basis later this month with plans to test every student weekly.

But yesterday the UK's largest teaching union advised members it was not safe to return to the classroom and demanded a move to online teaching.

And more councils broke cover today to make clear they wanted to keep children away from school.

Cumbria has asked the Department for Education for permission to keep primaries closed tomorrow.

The rural county is one of the areas outside London and the South East hardest hit by the virulent new strain of Covid-19.

Colin Cox, the director of public health at Cumbria County Council, in a series of tweets, said: 'Following extensive discussions over the last 48 hours, the CCC Exec Director (People) and I have this morning jointly written to DfE formally requesting that Cumbrian primary schools are added to the Contingency Framework of schools not expected to open tomorrow.

'Driven by the new strain, rates in Carlisle and Eden are now very high, and are rising fast in other parts of the county - rates in Barrow, Copeland and Allerdale are doubling every 4-5 days. And hospitals are under pressure.

Tougher Covid curbs will be needed, warns SAGE expert It is 'pretty clear' tougher coronavirus curbs will be needed, a leading SAGE member warned today. Professor Sir Mark Walport, a former government chief scientific adviser, suggested Tier 4 will not be enough to contain the new mutant strain. Asked if the highest bracket was sufficient, Sir Mark told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show: 'It's the Tier 4 restrictions, it's obeying them. 'It is thinking about breaking essentially every possible route of transmission we possibly can. 'Those are the things that are absolutely necessary and it is pretty clear we're going to need more.' Advertisement

'We don't have the capacity in the NHS to respond easily to further increases in rates.

'So while primary children may not themselves be at high risk, we have to reduce opportunities for transmission wherever possible to protect the wider community.

'We await the DfE decision and either way will of course continue to support schools to enable children to learn safely.'

The leader of Kent County Council has urged ministers to keep all primary schools closed in the county.

Younger pupils in Thanet, Canterbury, Dover and Folkestone and Hythe are expected to return tomorrow, while the other districts in Kent will learn remotely for the first two weeks of term with arrangements being reviewed on January 18.

Council leader Roger Gough and cabinet member for education and skills Richard Long wrote to Mr Williamson, saying: 'We recognise and share the strong arguments about the damaging impact of learning loss and social isolation on children from not being in school, as well as the impact on families.

'It is therefore with considerable regret that we urge that the deferral of primary school opening that Government has already decided for much of the county be applied to the remaining four districts  Thanet, Canterbury, Dover and Folkestone and Hythe  where primary schools are currently scheduled to reopen on Monday.'

Headteachers are urging the Government to scrap this summer's GCSE and A-level exams amid outrage over Education Secretary Gavin Williamson's plans to keep schools open.

Asked whether he could guarantee schools will open on January 18, Mr Johnson said: 'Well, obviously, we're going to continue to assess the impact of the Tier 4 measures, the Tier 3 measures.'

On whether GCSE and A-Level exams should be cancelled, the Prime Minister said: 'We've got to be realistic, we've got to be realistic about the pace of which this new variant has spread we've got to be realistic about the impact that it's having on our NHS and we've got to be humble in the face of this virus.'

Mr Johnson indicated even more stringent restrictions may be introduced, saying the tiering system is 'alas, probably about to get tougher,'

'It may be that we need to do things in the next few weeks that will be tougher in many parts of the country,' he said.

'I'm fully, fully reconciled to that.'

Mr Johnson refused to be drawn on whether they could include a new Tier 5 or curfews, but made clear that school closures are on the table.

'There are obviously a range of tougher measures that that we would have to consider,' he said.

Health chiefs say some younger people will die from coronavirus Health officials today warned that people as young as 30 'will die from Covid' as NHS hospitals in the West Country brace for an overspill of critically-ill patients from London under emergency plans. Trusts in London and the south-east at the centre of the UK's epidemic are preparing to transfer patients to hospitals in the south-west while patients in the east of England will be moved to the Midlands. The massive Nightingale hospital at the London Excel Centre, which was created in record-time early in the pandemic only to be swiftly mothballed, is also expected to reopen within a fortnight, the Times reports. National pairing arrangements have been put in place amid warnings from doctors that hospitals in the South have come under 'immense pressure' due to a surge in cases of 'mutant' Covid, with hospitals across the UK being told prepare to face the same Covid pressures as the NHS in the capital. Chris Hopson, chief executive of NHS Providers, said just a small number of patients from London would be transferred to the south-west and Midlands when space in neighbouring hospitals was exhausted. Dr Alison Pittard, the dean of the Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine, today hinted the NHS could collapse because 'very, very tired staff' may not have the energy to handle the deluge in 'mutant' virus cases. Speaking on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show, she also claimed that she had heard of cases of people as young as 30 suffering from coronavirus in ICU wards and claimed that 'younger people will die from Covid'. Advertisement

'I'm not going to speculate now about what they would be, but I'm sure that all our viewers and our listeners will understand what the sort of things clearly school closures, which we had to do in March is one of those things.'

The stark warning came as health officials warned that people as young as 30 'will die from Covid', with NHS hospitals in the West Country brace for an overspill of critically-ill patients from London under emergency plans.

Trusts in London and the south-east at the centre of the UK's epidemic are preparing to transfer patients to hospitals in the south-west while patients in the east of England will be moved to the Midlands.

The massive Nightingale hospital at the London Excel Centre, which was created in record-time early in the pandemic only to be swiftly mothballed, is also expected to reopen within a fortnight.

National pairing arrangements have been put in place amid warnings from doctors that hospitals in the South have come under 'immense pressure' due to a surge in cases of 'mutant' Covid, with hospitals across the UK being told prepare to face the same Covid pressures as the NHS in the capital.

Chris Hopson, chief executive of NHS Providers, said just a small number of patients from London would be transferred to the south-west and Midlands when space in neighbouring hospitals was exhausted.

He said: 'Hospitals are doing a great job creating extra surge capacity in London and the south-east to treat the critically ill. If it gets more difficult, we will find other ways to treat people within the region but we know there are some patients that can be moved to where the pressure is slightly less, for example the south-west and Midlands.'

Dr Alison Pittard, the dean of the Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine, today hinted the NHS could collapse because 'very, very tired staff' may not have the energy to handle the deluge in 'mutant' virus cases.

Speaking on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show, she also claimed that she had heard of cases of people as young as 30 suffering from coronavirus in ICU wards and claimed that 'younger people will die from Covid'.

Ms Spielman rubbished calls for remote education, arguing that it would maximise the disparities in the circumstances of the home lives of children.

She added that schools 'have become society's collective eyes and ears, keeping a caring watch over those who need it most' as she warned 'risks of abuse, neglect or exploitation increase' when schools stay closed.

The Ofsted boss wrote: 'There is a real consensus that schools should be the last places to close and the first to re-open, and having argued for this since last spring, I welcome it. Because it is increasingly clear that children's lives can't just be put on hold while we wait for vaccination programmes to take effect, and for waves of infection to subside.

'We cannot furlough young people's learning or their wider development. The longer the pandemic continues, the more true this is.'

Former PM Tony Blair urged the government to target five million vaccinations a week - saying it was hard to see how schools could stay open otherwise.

He told Times Radio: 'If I was the prime minister right now I would be saying to the team in Downing Street, 'I need you to give me a plan to get this up to five million (vaccinations) a week'.

Alarm bells for Boris with Labour on track to reclaim 'Red Wall' The big MRP poll carried out by Focaldata will set alarm bells ringing in Downing Street after a tumultuous first year in power Boris Johnson faces losing most of the 'Red Wall' seats that delivered his historic election victory a year ago, according to a massive poll. The PM's own constituency also looks to be on the line as Labour makes a comeback, with the government struggling to contain the coronavirus crisis. The research, carried out by Focaldata, will set alarm bells ringing in Downing Street after a tumultuous first year in power - although there is still a long way to go until the next Westminster showdown. The firm surveyed more than 22,000 people over the course of December, when Christmas 'bubbles' were dramatically scaled back due to the mutant Covid variant and ministers were fighting to strike a deal with the EU. It used an MRP method, which matches the life characteristics of people polled to the profiles of individual constituencies in order to produce detailed results in a theoretical election. The technique is considered more accurate than traditional surveys, that cannot account for local variations. The outcome, published in the Sunday Times, indicated that neither the Conservatives nor Labour are in a position to win an outright majority. The Tories would lose 81 seats, wiping out the 80-strong majority Mr Johnson secured in December 2019, and leaving them with 284 seats. Labour would win 282, an increase of 82. That would include 41 seats in the north of England, Midlands and Wales that voted Labour in 2017 before turning blue in 2019. Advertisement

'Provided we've got the vaccine available and we should have them available. I mean AstraZeneca will, not this week or next week but the week after, be able to get up to two million doses a week, that's just AstraZeneca.

'They could probably do more if they knew that the system was capable of absorbing the amount of vaccines that they would produce.

'You should get clearance for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine at the end of January, that's when they complete their trials and then we should be able to get that on stream as well in February.'

Mr Blair said a 'step change' in the vaccination programme was the only real prospect of keeping children in schools.

He said: 'On the one hand, it's a disaster for school children, particularly poorest school children if they're not getting educated.

'But it's also completely understandable that teachers and parents say, not because they think their children the risk to children is very, very small, it's the risk to transmission rates and it's the risk to teachers and parents, and therefore to those that their parents mix with.

'So for all of those reasons, it just emphasises yet again why it's so important to get vaccination under way.'

Brighton and Hove City Council has followed eight authorities in London in demanding primaries teach remotely amid rising Covid cases.

The National Education Union, which has 450,000 members, said the Government was 'failing to protect children, their families and our communities', adding that their members had a legal right to refuse to work.

The move has put them on a collision course with Education Secretary Gavin Williamson, who said it was imperative that the nation's children were back in class to stop them falling behind.

Writing in The Mail on Sunday, the father-of-two has urged teachers and parents to 'move heaven and earth', adding the young must not 'bear the heaviest cost' of the pandemic.

He said: 'Both of my daughters, one of whom is in an exam year, have had to self-isolate. I know how difficult the last year has been, because I have seen them miss being in the classroom, where they want to be.

'So I want my children, and all children, to be able to get back to school and stay in class  we will continue to prioritise making this happen where we can.'

Asked what his message was to councils in England who have said that their schools should close, Mr Johnson said: 'My message to such councils is that they should be guided by the public health advice, which at the moment is that schools are safe in those areas where we're not being driven by the new variant to close them.

'That the priority has got to be children's education but obviously we want to work with them. I mean we've got to be humble in the face of the impact of this new variant of the virus.

'Let's face it, we face a very difficult few weeks and months until the vaccine comes on-stream.'

The PM said he hopes lateral flow tests will help permit the return of schools.

He said: 'We're going to work with local authorities, work with schools and those responsible up and down the country.

'Our advice remains the same, which is that for public health reasons we think in the large majority of the country, large parts of the country, it is sensible to continue to keep schools open, primary schools, as you know secondary schools coming back a bit later.

Tony Blair: 'Step change' in vaccines is the only way to save schools Tony Blair urged the government to target five million vaccinations a week - saying it was hard to see how schools could stay open otherwise. The former PM told Times Radio: 'If I was the prime minister right now I would be saying to the team in Downing Street, 'I need you to give me a plan to get this up to five million (vaccinations) a week'. 'Provided we've got the vaccine available and we should have them available. I mean AstraZeneca will, not this week or next week but the week after, be able to get up to two million doses a week, that's just AstraZeneca. 'They could probably do more if they knew that the system was capable of absorbing the amount of vaccines that they would produce. 'You should get clearance for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine at the end of January, that's when they complete their trials and then we should be able to get that on stream as well in February.' Mr Blair said a 'step change' in the vaccination programme was the only real prospect of keeping children in schools. He said: 'On the one hand, it's a disaster for school children, particularly poorest school children if they're not getting educated. 'But it's also completely understandable that teachers and parents say, not because they think their children the risk to children is very, very small, it's the risk to transmission rates and it's the risk to teachers and parents, and therefore to those that their parents mix with. 'So for all of those reasons, it just emphasises yet again why it's so important to get vaccination under way.' Advertisement

'And the second thing is that we are going to be ramping up testing across the whole of the system and I don't think people have focused enough on this, if I may just for a second.

'One of the things we didn't have when we went into the first lockdown, where we sadly did have to close schools, was we didn't have this huge number of lateral flow tests.

'We now have hundreds of millions of lateral flow tests which I believe and hope can be used, deployed, particularly in secondary schools to assist the return of schools.'

Anne Longfield, the Children's Commissioner for England, has called for teachers to be vaccinated 'as a priority', as she said that any school closure should be for 'the absolute minimum of time and that time must be used very well'.

She told BBC News Channel: 'Schools need to be a priority for children, not only for their education but also for their wellbeing.

'Schools should be the last to close and the first to open, so it is a serious moment for children.

'If there have to be closures, we have already seen closures in secondary schools for two weeks, but if there have to be any closures at all it must be for the absolute minimum of time and that time must be used very well.

'I would like teachers to be offered vaccination as a priority. That is something we haven't heard yet from Government, but it is something that I think is very, very necessary.'

Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham suggested it could be a 'chaotic situation' tomorrow with the return to school of most primary children in England.

He told the BBC's Breakfast programme: 'There are many parents in Greater Manchester waking up quite anxious this morning, teachers as well of course and support staff in schools, and children.

'So there's a lot of people who are worried about what's happening and I think the really important thing is this doesn't become a big political row today.

'What we need to find is a practical way through all of this. I would say that the current course is not going to work.'

He added: 'It will be quite a chaotic situation tomorrow I think given all of the anxieties that people have.'

The Government is keen to get children back to schools, but Left-wing councils have joined a revolt against plans as UK's largest teaching union advised members it was not safe to return

Ofsted chief inspector Amanda Spielman said school closures should be kept to the 'absolute minimum' as Education Secretary Gavin Williamson urges teachers and parents to 'move heaven and earth', adding the young must not 'bear the heaviest cost' of the pandemic

In a New Year interview on the BBC's Andrew Marr show, Boris Johnson urged parents to send children back to primary schools - but refused to rule out a full shutdown to control the mutant coronavirus strain

PM vows 'tens of millions' of jabs by March and crackdown on red tape Boris Johnson today vowed that 'tens of millions' of coronavirus vaccine doses will be given by March - as he admitted ministers must get rid of 'absurd' red tape stopping retired medics joining the effort. The PM refused to give exact figures for how many people will be vaccinated, beyond saying the government wants to be deploying two million jabs a week. But he said: 'What I can tell you is that we do hope that we will be able to do tens of millions in the course of the next three months.' The Oxford University and AstraZeneca vaccine is due to start being administered from tomorrow, with the UK's process so far among the fastest in the world. Experts have warned that the UK's exit from crippling lockdown depends on inoculating at least 25million vulnerable people by the spring. The gap between first and second doses of vaccines is being extended in a bid to reach more people. Meanwhile, there have been concerns that tens of thousands of recently retired GPs, surgeons, and nurses are being put off helping out due to the bureaucracy involved. Criticism has been mounting of 'ridiculous' demands such as a requirement to be certified in fire safety, or trained in preventing radicalisation. Asked about the complaints, Mr Johnson said: 'I think it's absurd and I know that the Health Secretary is taking steps to get rid of that pointless bureaucracy.' Advertisement

Mr Burnham called for local decision making to be enabled ahead of the return of primary schools in England.

He said: 'I think there are two options in front of the Government. One is to give the decision making to councils working with local schools so that decisions can be made on the reality of what's happening in different communities.

'The other would be to put primary schools and special schools on the same path as secondaries and that would be a slightly delayed opening.

'What I would say to the Prime Minister, who I know is going to come on BBC this morning, is it has to be one of those options.

'Local flexibility or a delay to the opening because I think just to plough ahead would cause quite a lot of anxiety amongst people today.'

Mr Burnham suggested that a 'blanket approach' to the reopening schools is not the right approach.

Asked what he would say to a head teacher in South Manchester who did not want to open on Monday, the Greater Manchester mayor said: 'I would say to the head teacher: contact the director of public health in your local authority.

'So if it's Trafford in the case of South Manchester or Manchester itself, that would be the best thing for people to do.

'And what I am saying to the Government today is directors of public health, working with council leaders and with individual schools, make the right decisions for those schools.

'Let the head come to a balanced judgment based on what's happening. Greater Manchester is currently below the England average when it comes to the number of cases.

'So the position is different in different parts of the country and I think a blanket approach either to say blanket reopening or blanket closure in some ways is causing the problem, local flexibility might just be the way through this.'

Mr Johnson today vowed that 'tens of millions' of coronavirus vaccine doses will be given by March - as he admitted ministers must get rid of 'absurd' red tape stopping retired medics joining the effort.

The National Education Union tweeted earlier today: 'Our Executive is meeting this morning and we will announce new guidance shortly afterwards'

Headteachers call for GCSE and A-Level exams to be scrapped this summer amid school closure chaos Head teachers are calling on the Government to scrap this summer's GCSE and A-level exams amid outrage over Gavin Williamson's plans to keep schools open. Most primaries in England are expected to re-open their doors tomorrow, while secondary schools will reopen on a staggered basis later this month with plans to test every student weekly. Yesterday, however, the UK's largest teaching union advised members it was not safe to return to the classroom - with several left-wing councils demanding their primary schools move to online teaching only. And in another blow to the Education Secretary 's plans, UK head teachers are now calling for this year's exams to be scrapped to prioritise 'wider public health, pupil and staff safety'. They also claim it would be unfair to force students to sit exams when those whose schools were open earlier would have more contact time than those with later start dates. The WorthLess? campaign group - a collection of 2,000 head teachers in 80 local authorities - said: 'Wider public health, pupil and staff safety should be prioritised ahead of examinations. 'Public safety should not be risked or driven by an inflexible pursuit of GCSE and A-levels.' Head teacher of Tanbridge House School in Horsham - and one of the WorthLess? leaders - told The Times : 'There is great scepticism that exams can now go ahead fairly.' Advertisement

The PM refused to give exact figures for how many people will be vaccinated, beyond saying the government wants to be deploying two million jabs a week.

But he said: 'What I can tell you is that we do hope that we will be able to do tens of millions in the course of the next three months.'

The Oxford University and AstraZeneca vaccine is due to start being administered from tomorrow, with the UK's process so far among the fastest in the world.

Experts have warned that the UK's exit from crippling lockdown depends on inoculating at least 25million vulnerable people by the spring.

The gap between first and second doses of vaccines is being extended in a bid to reach more people.

Meanwhile, there have been concerns that tens of thousands of recently retired GPs, surgeons, and nurses are being put off helping out due to the bureaucracy involved.

Criticism has been mounting of 'ridiculous' demands such as a requirement to be certified in fire safety, or trained in preventing radicalisation.

Asked about the complaints, Mr Johnson said: 'I think it's absurd and I know that the Health Secretary is taking steps to get rid of that pointless bureaucracy.'

Pressed on whether he would remain in Downing Street after finally taking the UK out of the EU, the Prime Minister insisted: 'Yes.'

Mr Johnson continued: 'I think you should break out of your characteristic gloom, if I may say so Andrew.

'Things are very tough, we're going through a very tough period as a country, but I really think people should focus on the amazing fact this country has created a room-temperature vaccine which can be used around the world.

'And we now have freedoms that we haven't had for 50 years and there are lots of reasons to be very positive about this otherwise grim new year.'

As the schools row rages, NAHT general secretary Paul Whiteman urged for a return to schools that is 'sustainable' as he accused the Department for Education of 'making last-minute decisions because they didn't take proactive action'.

'There is nobody more committed to the care and education of children, next to parents of course, than school leaders and their teams,' he told BBC Breakfast.

'And anybody that's trying to paint the picture that we're against the care and education of children is simply doing that, simply misleading the public, for political purposes.

'What we're talking about is understanding the risks. Having a short break so that we can agree the right mitigations in schools to make them Covid-secure, make sure that staff and teams are vaccinated and that we can get a properly supported testing regime in schools to make them as safe as possible.

'And then have an orderly return to school that's sustainable, rather than the chaos that we have experienced throughout the pandemic, with the DfE making last-minute decisions because they didn't take proactive action.

'So, we agree with everybody that school is the best place for children, we just want to do that well, we want to make it a sustainable return.'

Boris insists he is not quitting Downing Street Boris Johnson today insisted he will not be quitting No10 despite speculation he might opt to walk away. Pressed on whether he would remain in Downing Street after finally taking the UK out of the EU, the Prime Minister told BBC1's The Andrew Marr Show: 'Yes.' Mr Johnson continued: 'I think you should break out of your characteristic gloom, if I may say so Andrew. 'Things are very tough, we're going through a very tough period as a country, but I really think people should focus on the amazing fact this country has created a room-temperature vaccine which can be used around the world. 'And we now have freedoms that we haven't had for 50 years and there are lots of reasons to be very positive about this otherwise grim new year.' Advertisement

The start of the new academic term has been mired in confusion as Covid rates continue to rise, driven by the new variant.

Recent notes from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) revealed scientists have warned that schools may need to be closed to bring down transmission.

But Children's Minister Vicky Ford yesterday told MPs there was no evidence that the new strain caused more serious illness in either adults or children.

Senior Government sources said that Mr Williamson had tried to keep schools open but has been overruled by Health Secretary Matt Hancock and Michael Gove.

The pair have pushed for tighter measures until more people have been vaccinated, but critics accused them of 'natural authoritarianism'.

Last week, Mr Williamson announced all primaries would return on Monday. Ten London boroughs were told to open their schools but after a revolt by eight Labour-led councils, Mr Williamson was forced into a U-turn.

Now all schools in the capital will operate remote learning for the first two weeks.

The rebellion was led initially by Haringey, once dubbed the first 'Corbyn council' because of its large number of Left-wing Momentum councillors.

Council leader Joseph Ejiofor said he would back head teachers who wanted to defy the Government and he was later followed by Harrow Council.

Brighton and Hove has now advised all primary schools to teach remotely until January 18.

Social distancing signs displayed at Coldfall Primary School in Muswell Hill, London, today as Covid cases across the capital city have been putting rising pressure on the NHS

Liverpool's Labour-run city council calls for another national lockdown to stop spread of mutant Covid strain Liverpool's council leaders today called for a third national lockdown to contain the new 'mutant' strain of Covid and prevent a 'catastrophe'. The city's acting mayor, Wendy Simon, and the Labour-run city council's cabinet say the speed of the rise in coronavirus cases have reached 'alarming levels' and urgent action is now required to save lives and the NHS. The new 'mutant' strain of Covid is thought to have a higher rate of transmission and is most prevalent in London and the South East, where health bosses say hospitals have become stretched. It is believed the strain is spreading from south to north, leading to increasing pressure on the NHS. Cases in Liverpool have almost trebled in the past two weeks to 350 per 100,000, despite the city leading on the pilot for community testing which led to it being the first city to be moved from Tier 3 down to Tier 2. Advertisement

Chris McGovern, chairman of the Campaign for Real Education, has accused the Left of politicising the issue saying: 'This is about knocking the Tories. Keeping schools open should be non-negotiable.'

Last night, the Department for Education said remote learning was 'a last resort' and classrooms should reopen 'wherever possible' with appropriate safety measures to help mitigate the risk of transmission.

'As we've said, we will move to remote education as a last resort, with involvement of public health officials, in areas where infection and pressures on the NHS are highest,' the spokesperson said.

More than one million four to 11-year-olds will now start the academic term with lessons online.

In advising members to work from home, Dr Mary Bousted, the NEU's joint general secretary, said: 'If Government does not act to follow the science, we must.' Her views were echoed by the NASUWT union.

Ministers are considering proposals to make teachers a higher priority in the vaccine roll-out as a way to keep physical classrooms open.

Hundreds of new vaccination sites are due to be up and running this week as the NHS ramps up its immunisation programme with the newly approved Oxford University and AstraZeneca jab.

Some 530,000 doses of the vaccine will be available for rollout across the UK from Monday and more than a million patients have already had their first dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine which was the first to be approved by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the vaccine roll-out was 'our great hope', adding: 'I want the Government to throw everything it can at this, harnessing the extraordinary talents of our NHS so we can be vaccinating at least two million Brits a week by the end of the month.'

But, writing in the Sunday Mirror, he criticised 'a chaotic last minute U-turn on schools', adding: 'Confusion reigns among parents, teachers and pupils over who will be back in school tomorrow and who won't.'

Plans for schools reopening differ across the four nations of the UK. In Scotland, most pupils will have online learning for the week of January 11. In Wales, schools are expected to provide face-to-face learning for the majority of their pupils by January 11.

And in Northern Ireland, secondary school years eight to 11 will be taught via remote learning throughout January while primary pupils will return to the classroom on January 11.

Linda Bauld, a professor in public health at the University of Edinburgh, said transmission among primary school pupils was 'still very limited' while secondary school pupils, particularly older teenagers, can pass on the virus in the same way as adults.

But health professionals have warned of growing pressure on services with Professor Andrew Goddard, president of the Royal College of Physicians, telling the BBC current case figures are 'fairly mild' compared to what is expected in a week's time.

GAVIN WILLIAMSON: We must all move heaven and earth to get children back into the classroom

By Gavin Williamson, Secretary of State for Education

I remain optimistic that with the roll-out of the Covid-19 vaccine, 2021 will be the year we overcome coronavirus. At the same time, as a dad, it is clear to me that while this takes place, I want my children to be at school.

Keeping our kids out of classrooms is damaging. We know that as parents and we know it from the data. It is for this reason that keeping schools open has been a national priority.

Naturally, as parents would expect, this includes taking a proportionate response and considering the clear damage that we know is caused to young people's education and wellbeing by closing education.

With the new variant, the goal posts have shifted as we fight this horrible virus, but I want to assure parents that we have been working throughout the holidays to make the return as safe as possible.

This means pushing back the staggered start date for all secondary schools by one week.

Writing in The Mail on Sunday, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson, said it was imperative that the nation's children were back in class to stop them falling behind. He urged teachers and parents to 'move heaven and earth', adding the young must not 'bear the heaviest cost' of the pandemic

It also means triggering our contingency plans, so that in some areas where there are high transmission rates of the virus or those rates are rising quickly, schools should offer face-to-face education to exam year groups, vulnerable and critical-worker children, and remote education to all other students  so no child misses out on education.

We have identified the areas where primary schools must move to this system from tomorrow and will do the same for secondary schools before pupils are due to return on the 18th.

Our fantastic teachers have already worked tirelessly to make schools Covid-secure, and it remains the case that schools are safe.

For secondary schools and colleges, we are also rolling out mass testing to make schools, the pupils attending them, and the wider community even safer. I want to be clear what this means: all secondary school students and staff will be offered tests before they go back to school  whether their school is open to all pupils or to some.

This kind of mass testing will help protect not just children and young people, it will benefit everyone in the community because it will break the chains of transmission that are making infection rates shoot up.

This in turn will make it safer for more children to physically return to school.

Teachers are not expected to carry out the tests themselves, and 1,500 members of the armed forces will provide support to schools and colleges in this important mission.

While this takes place, schools and colleges will stagger the return of their students.

Those in exam years will be educated remotely during the first week of term, and face-to-face beginning on January 11, with other secondary schools and college students returning full time on January 18, in areas where we have not had to apply the contingency framework.

Vulnerable children and the children of key workers should be educated face-to-face from the start of term in all circumstances.

For now, given how prevalent the virus is in London and after engagement with London leaders, primary schools in our capital will only open for vulnerable and critical worker children tomorrow.

We will continually review the data and allow more pupils to return as soon as possible.

During this time we are taking unprecedented action to ensure remote education is delivered to all children.

We will deliver over 50,000 laptops and tablets to schools across the country tomorrow, and over 100,000 in total during the first week of term. In total, we've delivered over 500,000 and are on our way to our target of nearly one million.

We are taking these measures because it is what we need to do to overcome and suppress the transmission of the virus in communities.

These decisions are not political calculations, they are concrete steps to support our children's education, futures and dreams  which must not be put on hold.

The safety of teachers and pupils will always be paramount, but we must all move heaven and earth to get children back to the classroom where they best thrive.

Both of my daughters, one of whom is in an exam year, have had to self-isolate. I know how difficult the last year has been, because I have seen them miss being in the classroom, where they want to be.

So I want my children, and all children, to be able to get back to school and stay in class  we will continue to prioritise making this happen where we can.

In all of this, we must all face up to the fact that, unfortunately, there is a new variant of Covid and that this is spreading across the country.

But it remains our duty to provide a future for our children that is full of hope and opportunity.

This year, my admiration for teachers and all that they do has reached an even higher level, and it gives me faith in how we will continue to fight this virus.

The fight has already been a long one, and many have lost so much, but we must remain steadfast in our final push. As a nation we are in this together and we will overcome it together, as our country always does.

During this time, I remain determined to do all I can to protect our children, protect education and ensure the youngest in our society do not bear the heaviest cost while beating this virus.
Not all screen time is bad  after all, many students last year attended school via video conferencing apps. So Step One is assessing which parts of screen time feel toxic and make you unhappy. That could be reading the news or scrolling through Twitter and Facebook. Step Two is creating a realistic plan to minimise consumption of the bad stuff. You could set modest goals, such as a time limit of 20 minutes a day for reading news on weekends. If that feels doable, shorten the time limit and make it a daily goal. Repetition will help you form new habits. That's easier said than done. Adam Gazzaley, a neuroscientist and co-author of the book The Distracted Mind: Ancient Brains in a High-Tech World, recommended creating calendar events for just about everything, including browsing the web and taking breaks. This helps create structure. For example, you could block off 8am to read the news for 10 minutes, and 20 minutes from 1pm for riding the exercise bike. If you feel tempted to pick up your phone during your exercise break, you would be aware that any screen time would be violating the time you dedicated to exercise. Most important, treat screen time as if it were a piece of candy that you occasionally allow yourself to indulge. Don't think of it as taking a break as that may do the opposite of relaxing you.

"Not all breaks are created equal," Gazzaley said. "If you take a break and go into social media or a news program, it can get hard to get out of that rabbit hole." Loading Create no-phone zones We need to recharge our phones overnight, but that doesn't mean the devices need to be next to us while we sleep. Many studies have shown that people who keep phones in their bedrooms sleep more poorly, according to Twenge. Smartphones are harmful to our slumber in many ways. The blue light from screens can trick our brains into thinking it's daytime, and some content we consume  especially news  can be psychologically stimulating and keep us awake. So it's best not to look at phones within an hour before bed. What's more, the phone's proximity could tempt you to wake up and check it in the middle of the night.

"My No. 1 piece of advice is no phones in the bedroom overnight  this is for adults and teens," Twenge said. "Have a charging station outside the bedroom." Outside of our bedrooms, we can create other No-Phone Zones. The dinner table, for example, is a prime opportunity for families to agree to put phones away for at least 30 minutes and reconnect. Resist the hooks Tech products have designed many mechanisms to keep us glued to our screens. Facebook and Twitter, for example, made their timelines so that you could scroll endlessly through updates, maximising the amount of time you spend on their sites. Adam Alter, a marketing professor at New York University's Stern School of Business and author of the book Irresistible: The Rise of Addictive Technology and the Business of Keeping Us Hooked, said that tech companies employed techniques in behavioural psychology that make us addicted to their products.

He highlighted two major hooks: Artificial goals. Similar to video games, social media sites create goals to keep users engaged. Those include the number of likes and followers we accrue on Facebook or Twitter. The problem? The goals are never fulfilled. Loading Friction-free media. YouTube automatically plays the next recommended video, not to mention the never-ending Facebook and Twitter scrolling. "Before there was a natural end to every experience," like reading the last page of a book, he said. "One of the biggest things tech companies have done was to remove stopping cues." What to do? For starters, we can resist the hooks by making our phones less intrusive. Turn off notifications for all apps except those that are essential for work and keeping in touch with people you care about. If you feel strongly addicted, take an extreme measure and turn the phone to grayscale mode, Alter said.
Mumbai, Jan 3 : Actress Sobhita Dhulipala is preparing for her first shoot of this year.

Sobhita posted a picture of a script on Instagram. A beach could be seen in the backdrop.

"It's a new beginning y'all wish me luck #FirstShootOf2021 #VivaLaCinema," Sobhita wrote along the image, which at present has 14.2K likes.

However, Sobhita did not share what she was shooting for.

Speaking about her work, the actress would be seen in "Major", the film based on the late Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan's life. Recalling the first time she saw the Major's photograph, the actor said she noted a likeness.

She would also be seen in "Sitara", also starring actor Rajeev Siddhartha, which is the love story of an independent, feisty, young interior designer and a young aspiring chef. The duo recognise the flaws in their relationship and sets out to make it work.

It is also a story about a dysfunctional family told with a lot of heart and humour.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev recently stated that he was seeking to mend relations between Turkey and Israel, countries whose support played a critical role in Azerbaijans victory over Armenia in Nagorno-Karabakh last month. Aliyev and his senior advisers have communicated that they want to see both of their good friends  Turkey and Israel  getting back to normal relations and they are willing to help to make that happen," Israeli officials told local media last week, TRT World reports.

Turkish - Israeli relations have been fraught over the past decade, but in recent weeks, both sides appeared to signal a potential improvement in relations. Turkey announced earlier this month that it was appointing a new ambassador to Israel after more than two years. Outgoing Israeli Charge dAffaires Roey Gilad also penned a Tweet this week that hinted at improved relations.

At the same time, the geopolitical context in which both countries are operating has changed significantly since 2010-- disputes over maritime rights in the Eastern Mediterranean as well as increased Arab state cooperation with Israel were not the hot topics they are today.

Furthermore, Joe Biden is about to enter office after a four-year Trump presidency that saw the rapid expansion of Israels illegal settlements. Meanwhile, Israel is preparing for its fourth elections in less than two years.

Though it is still too soon to call it a real rapprochement, heres how it could alter some regional flashpoint issues.

It takes two to tango in the Eastern Mediterranean

In recent years, Israel has deepened its relations with Greece and the Greek Cypriot Administration, to the irritation of its long-standing ally, Turkey. In July, Israel ratified a deal on the EastMed pipeline project, an ambitious plan that aims to run from Israel to Greece, though many experts are still divided over its cost and technical feasibility. Perhaps more critically, Israel, Egypt, Greece, the Greek Cypriot Administration, Italy, Jordan and Palestine created the Eastern Mediterranean Gas Forum in 2019 to enhance energy cooperation, excluding Turkey.

Meanwhile Turkey underlines that a Israel-Turkey gas pipeline, for which the two countries had started discussions in 2016, would be the quickest and cheapest route to Europe.

As much as Israel and Turkey restore official diplomatic relations, there will still be a lot of places of division...so Im not sure whether there will be a lot of willingness to drop the alliances Israel has in the East Med in favour of looking into exporting via Turkey, Nimrod Goren, head of Mitvim Institute, an Israel-based foreign policy think tank, told TRT World.

Meanwhile, Turkey is also unlikely to change its policies in the region.

There are no changes in Turkeys policies in the Eastern Mediterranean, it will maintain its drilling activities to take advantage of its rightful share in the region in accordance with International Law and the Convention on the Law of the Sea, said Mesut Casin, professor of international law at Yeditepe University.

Lets not forget that we are not Israels enemy. Turkey has always stood by Israel, and as long as Turkey is there, Israel will be more comfortable in the Eastern Mediterranean. It takes two to tango, and the ball is in Israels court, he continued.

Gulf politics

Also different from the 2010 context is the normalisation of ties between several Arab countries and Israel. Turkey denounced the UAEs and Bahrains moves as hypocritical and threatening to the Palestinian cause.

Giorgio Cafiero, CEO of Gulf State Analytics, noted that the UAE-Israeli normalisation, was aimed, in part, to contain Turkey, which it views as a threat.

A thaw in Turkish-Israeli relations could upset Abu Dhabi which has vested stakes in seeing Israel function as a de facto member of an anti-Turkish bloc of countries in the Mediterranean and Middle East, he said.

Patrick Theros, former US Ambassador to Qatar, says the UAE may work to discourage Israelis in the case of Turkish-Israeli rapprochement

They clearly are trying to make themselves powers in the Mediterranean...so I think they would manoeuvre to prevent it from getting too deep, he told TRT World, noting that he thought the UAE didnt view this as a possibility in the near future.

What about Palestine?

In a period of rapid de facto legitimisation of Israeli encroachment, the deal of the century, and Israels annexation plans, UAE normalisation dealt another blow to the Palestinian cause.

Many Palestinians continue to view Turkey as the key defender of the Palestinian cause who can wield effective political clout to this end.

For Turkey to have a diplomatic representation [again] will allow it once again to become a more significant and accepted actor, because currently having such problematic relations with Israel sidelines Turkey from being able to play a role in the Palestinian issue beyond the statements coming from Ankara, said Goren.

So I think more chances of engagement and cooperation and communication, may make Turkey more relevant.

Finding common ground among political stumbling blocks

Relations between the two countries have been mostly distant since the Israeli armys bloody raid on the Turkish Mavi Marmara. Turkeys leadership continues to condemn Israels policies toward and military incursions into the Palestinian territories, while Israel accuses Turkey of giving passports to Hamas, described to be a very unfriendly move by Tel Aviv.

For all of the political stumbling blocks, Turkey and Israel have managed to upkeep economic, intelligence and security cooperation.

Ultimately, there is a significant trust deficit between Turkey and Israel, said Cafiero. That said, there are signs that Turkey and Israel want to avoid an escalation of tension while also exploring areas for bilateral cooperation.

According to Samuel Ramani, doctoral research at Oxford University, both sides have strategic and economic gains from potential rapprochement.

Israel has raised the threat assessment about Turkey over the past couple of years. So a normalisation or at least a de-escalation of tensions, even if it's a cold peace, would forestall and prevent that long-term threat scenario from taking hold, Ramani said, adding that the two countries have maintained intelligence and military coordination despite high-level tensions.

And Turkey is also a bulwark against Iranian influence in Syria...and the Israeli-Iranian proxy war in Syria has really escalated over the past year. So the Iranian vector in Syria could be the third area where the Turks and the Israelis could maybe find some common ground.

Not lost in the equation are Turkish economic interests which stand to gain from a better relationship with Israel, added Cafiero. The two countries have discussed strengthening trade ties after the pandemic.

In addition to defence, security, and commercial ties, we can also cooperate in knowledge-sharing in industry, agriculture and animal husbandry, and tourism, said Casin.
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Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-03 10:55:21|Editor: huaxia

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BOGOTA, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- Colombia registered 11,528 new COVID-19 cases over the past 24 hours, taking the nationwide tally to 1,666,408, the country's health authorities said Saturday.

Meanwhile, the country reported 270 more deaths, raising the national death toll to 43,765, said the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, adding that 1,530,973 patients have so far recovered.

The National Institute of Health on Saturday denied reports that a case of the new strain of COVID-19 had been identified in the city of Cucuta.

The Colombian government has extended the health emergency until Feb. 28, urging people to avoid crowds and observe measures to curb the spread of the virus. Enditem
At least four farmers, of the thousands camped at Delhis borders to demand a repeal of three contentious farm laws passed by the Parliament in September last year, have died in the last 24 hours, police said.

Police records showed that a total of nine people, including Sikh saint Baba Ram Singh, have died at the Kundli-Singhu border, while 10 have died at Tikri border so far. Farmer leaders, on the other hand, claimed that 46 farmers had sacrificed their lives across all border points of the city.

As per records, 18-year-old Jashanpreet Singh of Punjab died of heart attack and Jagbir Singh, 65, of Jind died due to biting cold on Saturday night at Tikri border. At Kundli-Singhu border, Kulbir Singh, 52, a resident of Gangana village in Sonepat was found dead on Sunday in a tent and Shamsher Singh, 45, a resident of Sangrur also died at Civil hospital in Sonepat, after his health deteriorated.

PGIMS spokesman, Dr Gajender Singh said Jashanpreet was referred to PGIMS from Bahadurgarh civil hospital on Saturday night, after he suffered a heart attack.

After reaching here, he passed away. Another farmer, Jagbir Singh, who suffered a cold stroke, died here on Saturday night. We have conducted their post-mortem examinations and handed over their bodies to their family members, he added.

Read more| We are used to harsh weather: Farmers unfazed

Shamsher Singh, investigating officer of Kundli police station, said the protesting farmers had spotted the body of Kulbir Singh at a tent near the protesting here on Sunday morning.

The farmers said he had complained of body pain and had gone to bed on Saturday night after eating langar. After receiving news of his demise, his co-villager Yudhishthira suffered heart attack and was rushed to civil hospital in Sonepat, from where he was referred to a private hospital, where his condition is stated to be critical. Another farmer, Shamsher Singh from Sangrur in Punjab, also suffered a heart attack and died during treatment at Civil hospital here. He had joined the stir five days ago, according to farmers. We have handed over the bodies to their family members after conducting autopsies, he added.

Singh said a total of nine people, including Sikh saint Baba Ram Singh have died at Kundli-Singhu border so far and most of them died due to heart attack or cold conditions.

Inderjit Singh, vice-president of Akhil Bhartiya Kisan sabha said as many as 46 farmers had given their sacrifice in the ongoing agitation.

 These people are those who died either on borders or on their way to join the stir, he added.

Addressing a press conference in Sonepat, former Haryana chief minister and Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda said the government should take the matter up seriously and resolve the issue.

Four farmers have sacrificed their lives in the past 24 hours and over 45 people have died in the agitation. I am surprised why the government is neglecting the farmers and their demands, he added.
Egypts revenues from the Suez Canal in 2020 declined 3% to $5.61 billion compared to 2019, the canal authority said in a statement on Sunday.

Transit fees for all types of ships would remain unchanged in 2021 and would include reductions and incentives offered in 2020, Canal Authority Chairman Osama Rabie said.

Rabie said their marketing policies had helped to protect much of the canals shipping volumes and revenues against the global economic slowdown caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

The canal is the fastest shipping route between Europe and Asia and one of the Egyptian governments main sources of foreign currency.
This might be true in half a dozen federal electorates, including Fitzgibbon's own seat of Hunter. But an examination of election results from last year suggests a quite different picture.

It is a myth, assiduously pushed by Joel Fitzgibbon and his supporters, that Labor needs to calibrate its climate and energy policies to attract voters dependent on coal and gas production.

Not surprisingly, there are radically different prescriptions within the party as to how to increase its vote.

The Labor Party, like other moderate left-wing parties globally, faces a difficult search for relevance. While Labor remains in power in a majority of states and territories, it has only once won an outright majority federally since the defeat of Paul Keating in 1996.

Of the 20 most marginal government seats all but four are essentially metropolitan, spread across all mainland capital cities. The most marginal of the lot, Bass, is centred on the city of Launceston; the only regional Queensland seat now in play is Leichhardt, centred on Cairns, where there was a slight swing to Labor unlike the rest of coastal Queensland.

Because Morrison has been so effective a politician, we forget that he holds government with a majority of three, although this includes the five from minor parties and independents. The emphasis on Labor's appalling performance in Queensland disguises the reality that had Labor performed as well in other capital cities as it did in Melbourne it would have won a comfortable majority. Even in Queensland there are more marginal seats to be captured in Brisbane than in the regions.

Nor are marginal urban seats necessarily the outer suburban battlers of electoral mythology. Some of the most marginal electorates are in fact middle-ring, middle-class suburbia, covering suburbs such as Burwood in Melbourne, Strathfield in Sydney and Victoria Park in Perth, where there is growing concern about climate change.

Indeed, Labor's problem was that it won swings in once blue-ribbon Liberal seats without the swings being large enough to win. Who would have thought that the seat of Higgins, which includes Melbourne's richest suburbs, would become marginal  although the recent success of independent candidates in equivalent areas of Sydney suggests that class is becoming a less certain guide to electoral preferences.
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11 GOP Senators Announce They Will Not Vote To Certify 2020 Presidential Election

Jan. 2, 2021 (EIRNS)Eleven Republican senators issued a joint statement today announcing that on Jan. 6 they will not vote to certify the Electoral College vote tally and will call for an emergency audit of the vote counts in several disputed states before supporting certification of the 2020 Presidential election. They are Ted Cruz (R-TX), Ron Johnson (R-WI), James Lankford (R-OK), Steve Daines (R-MT), John Kennedy (R-LA), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), and Mike Braun (R-IN), and Senators-Elect Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Bill Hagerty (R-TN).

The election of 2020, like the election of 2016, was hard fought and, in many swing states, narrowly decided. The 2020 election, however, featured unprecedented allegations of voter fraud, violations and lax enforcement of election law, and other voting irregularities, the statement said. Voter fraud has posed a persistent challenge in our elections, although its breadth and scope are disputed. By any measure, the allegations of fraud and irregularities in the 2020 election exceed any in our lifetimes.

They observed that 39% of Americans believe that the election was rigged, even though most Democratic members of Congress and the news media disagree. But, whether or not our elected officials or journalists believe it, that deep distrust of our democratic processes will not magically disappear, the statement said. It should concern us all. And it poses an ongoing threat to the legitimacy of any subsequent administrations.

The statement also observes that the Supreme Court has spurned two opportunities to hear the evidence of vote fraud. Therefore, On January 6, it is incumbent on Congress to vote on whether to certify the 2020 election results. That vote is the lone constitutional power remaining to consider and force resolution of the multiple allegations of serious voter fraud.

The senators call on Congress to immediately appoint an Electoral Commission, with full investigatory and fact-finding authority, to conduct an emergency 10-day audit of the election returns in the disputed states. Once completed, individual states would evaluate the Commissions findings and could convene a special legislative session to certify a change in their vote, if needed. Following the long history of precedents, we intend to vote on January 6 to reject the electors from disputed states as not regularly given and lawfully certified (the statutory requisite), unless and until that emergency 10-day audit is completed, the senators announced. We are not naive. We fully expect most if not all Democrats, and perhaps more than a few Republicans, to vote otherwise. But support of election integrity should not be a partisan issue. Highly biased press reports of the senators statement do note that as many as 100 Republican members of the House intend to join them.
Lucy Hale recently rang in the new year from an iconic setting in New York City.

And the Pretty Little Liars star is getting a jumpstart on her resolutions after returning home to Los Angeles.

She started 2021 with a bold look, as she rocked mixed prints to make a grocery run Saturday at Whole Foods in her Studio City neighborhood.

Bold start: Lucy Hale started 2021 with a bold look, as she rocked mixed prints to make a grocery run Saturday at Whole Foods in her Studio City neighborhood

The 31-year-old donned a black and white geometric-print fleece pullover with a pair of skintight leopard-print Werkshop leggings and a blue tie-dye face mask.

She finished the look with some diamond earrings, a matching padlock necklace and pair of black and white trainers, while carrying a black wool Marc Jacobs tote.

Hale previously hosted Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve in Times Square, alongside Billy Porter and 16-time host Ryan Seacrest.

She took to Instagram after the televised festivities, writing: 'Got to close out 2020 surrounded by some great humans, in heels, sparkly masks , & in an empty Times Square. We celebrated frontline workers, nurses, doctors, teachers, police officers who were the real MVPs of the year.

Mixing prints: The 31-year-old donned a black and white geometric-print fleece pullover with a pair of skintight leopard-print Werkshop leggings and a blue tie-dye face mask

Accessorizing: She finished the look with some diamond earrings, a matching padlock necklace and pair of black and white trainers, while carrying a black wool Marc Jacobs tote

Counting down: Hale previously hosted Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve in Times Square, alongside Billy Porter and 16-time host Ryan Seacrest

Lady in red: She took to Instagram after the televised festivities, donning a white pantsuit trimmed in red, over a red sequined bra, with a fuzzy red overcoat and silver metallic stilettos

Black and white: Hale had a couple wardrobe changes throughout the evening, sporting a black jeweled minidress, as well as one in white

'Stood in awe of JLo and chugged atleast 5 La Colombe Oat draft lattes. Started 2021 surrounded by McNuggets & fries. Thank you to all who made it safely possible for us to come back this year ! Happy freakin new year everyone,'

The Katy Keene actress shared some behind-the-scenes photos in her party look, a white pantsuit trimmed in red, over a red sequined bra, with a fuzzy red overcoat and silver metallic stilettos.

She took precautions against COVID-19 in a matching red face mask, as the usually packed crowd watching the ball drop was limited to VIP guests, 40 local frontline workers and their families.

Hale had a couple wardrobe changes throughout the evening, sporting a black jeweled minidress, as well as one in white.

It was the Fantasy Island star's second time co-hosting the event with Seacrest, after filling in for Jenny McCarthy last year.
1. Yes. The public must have assurances that ethical standards are met by everyone.

2. Yes. As long as an independent board hears the grievances, its a worthwhile idea.

3. No. The concept is too broad. It should be limited to the citys elected officials.

4. No. There are plenty of stipulations in place already. An ordinance is a waste of time.

5. Unsure. Its hard to say without seeing how it would be structured and applied.

Vote

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Haiti - Diaspora : Wishes from the Ambassador of Haiti to Canada





On January 1, 2021, Weibert Arthus, Ambassador of Haiti to Canada delivered a message and his wishes for the New Year to compatriots in Canada, Haiti and around the world that we invite you to read and share.



Message from Ambassador Weibert Arthus :



"Dear compatriots and friends of Haiti in Canada,



Now is the time when, in keeping with traditions, we have to take stock of a year that is passing and offer New Year's greetings.



The least we can say is that 2020 has been a difficult year. The Covid-19 has hit our world right in the heart. Some have suffered terribly from the pandemic, others have lost loved ones. We were forced to revisit our plans for the year. We have learned to live as if in seclusion, to observe a distancing which sometimes required us to move away from our loved ones.



The year 2020 ends with a new wave and a mutation of the virus that fears the worst. Beyond the difficulties that we still have to overcome, we can congratulate ourselves on having so far given the best of ourselves. We have, sometimes in pain, often with the greatest courage, fulfilled our personal and civic responsibilities. We especially want to thank the health workers who, with dedication and a sense of sacrifice, took care of the sick and saved many lives during the pandemic. We also congratulate the agents of our public services, in particular the diplomats of our Mission, who, while working remotely or in a small team, provided the necessary services to the compatriots who needed them. After what we have just endured over the past ten months, 2021 must be a year of renewal. We hope to be able to meet each other physically, to welcome each other more warmly, to visit our dream places.



As you make new plans and set new goals for this year and those to come, remember to put Haiti at the center of your interests. 2021 marks Haitis 217th year of independence and we cannot say it enough : the Worlds First Black Republic. It will be a year of great meetings for our country on the economic, social and political levels. On this last point, there are two specific meetings that will put Haiti back in the spotlight of the international press : constitutional reform and elections, which will eventually offer the possibility of greater participation of the Haitian diaspora. in the political life of their country of origin. As we now know, electoral competitions always bring their share of dissension. We will have to remain united, in the spirit of our national motto, 'Union is strength', beyond our differences.



2021 will be, above all, the year of great hopes for our country and for the world in the fight against the pandemic. Our expectation is that the vaccines that scientists have been working hard on in recent months can be effective, available and above all accessible to the most vulnerable.



Also, our wishes for the New Year are those of good health, peace, love and success for each and every one of you, in Canada, in Haiti and in the world.



Since the beginning of the year coincides with the most prestigious of our national holidays, we take this opportunity to wish Happy Independence Day to all Haitians of origin and of heart."



HL/ HaitiLibre


















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After unearthing a rampant fake invoicing scam to evade goods and services tax (GST), the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) amended rules making it mandatory for businesses with monthly turnover of over Rs 50 lakh to pay at least 1 per cent of their GST liability in cash from January 1. (ANI File)

New Delhi: Armed with data analytics and information from agencies, the government has launched a massive crackdown on GST evaders, initiating action against 7,000 entites including arrest of 187 -- a campaign that contributed to buoyancy in tax collection, Finance Secretary Ajay Bhushan Pandey said on Sunday.

The government netted a record GST collection of Rs 1.15 lakh crore in December 2020, helped by the action against tax evaders alongside pick up in the economy.

In an interview to PTI, Pandey said action against fake invoicing racket in last one- and-a-half months has led to arrest of 187, including five chartered accountants and one company secretary.

"Many of them including some managing directors are in jail for last 40-50 days. Thrre are few large companies which too are found involved in taking fake bills through multiple layers, thereby evading GST and income tax. So they have also been booked," he said.

The action against those who try to misuse the system, he said, has been based on collating information from various agencies such as Income Tax Department, Customs unit, FIU and GST department and banks.

"We have taken action against 7,000 evaders out of a tax base of 1.20 crore. Hence our success rate is very very high, said Pandey, who is also the Revenue Secretary.

He said the Income Tax Department immediately follows up on all the cases booked under GST fake invoice because the tax implication is higher.

"Because of the data available, it is very very difficult to escape because sooner or later they will get caught," he said.

The secretary said from April 1, e-invoice would be made mandatory for all B2B transactions by businesses with turnover of over Rs 5 crore.

Electronic invoice was made mandatory for B2B transactions by businesses with turnover over Rs 500 crore from October 1,2020, and for over Rs 100 crore turnover from January 1.

Pandey said the provision restricting usage of input tax credit (ITC) is an anti-abuse provision and targets shell companies.

"We have found many shell companies which are issuing invoices worth crores of rupees and not paying income tax and paying the entire liability through ITC. So in order to ensure that these companies are not able to abuse the system, this particular anti-abuse provision has been put in and this will impact less than 45,000 units in the entire tax base of 1.2 crore," he said.

After unearthing a rampant fake invoicing scam to evade goods and services tax (GST), the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) amended rules making it mandatory for businesses with monthly turnover of over Rs 50 lakh to pay at least 1 per cent of their GST liability in cash from January 1.

The new rule restricts use of input tax credit (ITC) for discharging GST liability to 99 per cent.

GST collections surged to an all-time high of over Rs 1.15 lakh crore in December as economic activities picked up after lifting of stringent lockdown restrictions.

GST, which is levied when a consumable item is sold or a service is rendered, in December was 12 per cent higher than such receipts in the same month of 2019.

Pandey said December has seen record collection since GST implementation, which can be attributed to two factors. "The trend suggests that the economy is picking up and we are seeing faster pace of recovery".

"Also the measures like e-invoice, pre-population of information on supplier wise input tax credit, which deter those who are trying to claim excess ITC, are helping compliance. By targeted action against tax evaders by way of full data analytics, it is possible to pinpoint the entity which issued fake bill and also the ultimate beneficiary," he added.
LIKE MANY voters I had heard about the 800+-page For the People Act (HR 1/SB 1) and a companion voting bill, The John Lewis Act (HR 4). I knew that these bills had been passed by the U.S. House of Representatives and that they will soon be considered by the U.S. Senate. The sponsors believ
Samsung's stable One UI 3.0 custom interface that is based on Android 11 has started rolling on multiple premium Galaxy smartphones. Though the latest software iteration claims to optimise the smartphone's battery, some Galaxy S20 FE 5G users are reporting missing battery stats due to strange bug. As per Dutch publication GalaxyClub.nl, the issue also appears to be affecting Galaxy S20, Galaxy Note 20 Ultra and Galaxy Note 10 users. Samsung is yet to address the alleged bug with a proper fix.

A Galaxy S20 FE 5G users on the Samsung Community forum indicated that the battery usage stats went missing overnight. "Mine have disappeared, and I've tried resetting my phone, and still not there," another Galaxy phone user said following the One UI 3.0 update. The issue purportedly appeared after January 1, 2021, as users claim that they were unable to view battery statistics from that day onwards. The bug seemingly does not affect the battery life with phones running the Android 11-based OneUI 3.0; it is still annoying for those users who like to track their app usage data. As mentioned, the cause of the bug remains unknown, at the moment.

Notably, a user on the Samsung forum came with a workaround that may fix the issue until the South Korean tech giant releases the next One UI 3 update. As per the post, Galaxy Galaxy S20 FE 5G and other affected users need to open the Settings app on the phone, then go into the Apps sub-menu. Here, tap the small icon next to the Your apps text, then enable the Show system apps option and press OK. From there, scroll down until you find the Samsung Device Health Manager Service app in the list and tap it. Lastly, select Storage, and hit the Clear data option at the bottom. "Then give it quite a long time to rebuild its usage (a few hours), and after that the battery usage indicator will be ok again," the user added.

Last week, the Galaxy Z Flip started receiving the Android 11-based One UI 3.0 in some regions. Other phones that have received the stable update include Galaxy Note 10 series, Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite, and Samsung Galaxy S20 models.
Victoria has recorded three new locally acquired cases of coronavirus and one in an international traveller in hotel quarantine. There are now 36 active cases across the state.

A Sikh temple in Melbourne's south-east, Puffing Billy and a Nando's in the Melbourne CBD have been added to Victoria's list of exposure sites. A person who works at a Boost Juice outlet in Chadstone has also tested positive.

Today's test results come from more than 32,000 tests on Sunday. Testing resumed at some sites at 8am on Monday. There were long delays at some testing sites, while others experienced little to no delays.

A person with COVID-19 visited the Keysborough Sikh temple in Perry Road on New Year's Day between 2pm and 5pm.
Abbie Chatfield may have had a 'villain edit' on The Bachelor, but she's amassed a legion of dedicated fans.

When the 25-year-old arrived in the camp on I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! Australia on Sunday evening, her rabid army of worshipers came out of the woodwork - with some even saying they'd 'die' for their 'queen'.

Social media was quickly swamped with support for the reality star-turned-feminist icon, with dozens proclaiming their love.

Fans: Abbie Chatfield (pictured) has massed a legion of dedicated fans. When the 25-year-old arrived in camp on I'm a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here! Australia on Sunday evening, her rabid army of worshipers came out of the woodwork

One person Tweeted: 'I've said it thousands of times and I'll say it again, I love Abbie Chatfield'.

Another added rather dramatically: 'I love Abbie Chatfield I'd probably give my life for her'.

Someone else wrote: 'Abbie Chatfield gracing our screens once again and saving 2021 already'.

Love her: Social media was quickly swamped with support for the reality star-turned-feminist icon, with dozens proclaiming their love

One person Tweeted: 'I've said it thousands of times and I'll say it again, I love Abbie Chatfield'

One more ranted: 'We stan Abbie Chatfield in this house and I will NOT accept any disrespect against her mmkay?'

Several fans said they were only watching the jungle-based reality show this year because Abbie is a contestant.

One chimed in: 'I can honestly say I'll be tuning in to #ImACeleb this year only to watch my feminist queen Abbie Chatfield. No slander will be tolerated'.

Keen: Several fans said they were only watching the jungle-based reality show this year because Abbie is a contestant

One chimed in: 'I can honestly say I'll be tuning in to #ImACeleb this year only to watch my feminist queen Abbie Chatfield. No slander will be tolerated'

Another agreed: 'I've never watched #ImACelebrityAU but now that Abbie is on it, I am now going to watch the Queen'.

Multiple fans insisted they would boycott the show if the blonde bombshell didn't win.

One fan raved: 'OMG NO BLOODY WAY 2021 you amazing thing giving me my ABSOLUTE QUEEN Abbie Chatfield on #ImACelebrityAU if she doesn't win I'm gonna protest'.


Over 1,200 people have been booked for breaking coronavirus restrictions and attending an illegal rave party in northwestern France. Local police had pulled all stops but failed to stop the illegal two-day-long event that ended on January 2. In the backdrop of COVID-19, mass gathering have been banned across France, but the event held in two disused warehouses in Lieuron was attended by over 2,500 people.

"Actions by police around the site at Lieuron, in Brittany, led to the end of the illegal party without violence on Saturday morning, some 36 hours after it began," country's interior minister said.

As per a report by BBC, French police had primarily detained two people, both 1998 borns, as a part of their efforts to identify the attendees of the rave. They also carried search operations at one address and have, so far, got hold of money that appeared to be a part of proceeds from the event. In addendum, the cops also seized material and slapped strict fines on those detained for non-compliance with a curfew, not wearing masks and attending illegal gatherings.

Interior ministry crisis meeting

France, with over 2,700,480 cases and 65,048 fatalities form coronavirus has declared an emergency and imposed a curfew, prohibited mass gatherings. Last week, the countrys interior ministry crisis meeting was held following which police blocked all vehicle exists from the underground party. BBC reported that scuffle broke out between the party-goers and police which left at least three cops injured.

"Ravers attacked the police on the first night, torching one police vehicle and injuring officers with volleys of bottles and stones," AP reported officials as saying.

Meanwhile, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said on Twitter that trucks, sound equipment and generators were seized at the scene and an investigation has been opened. In addendum, a seven day period of isolation has been urged to anyone leaving the party.

Read: France Praises Nationality Bid By British Leader's Dad

Read: Legion Of Honour: France Awards COVID-19 Responders With Highest Order Of Merit

Read: France's Giant Curfew-busting Party Is Over After Two Nights

Read: France Cracks Illegal New Year Rave Of 2,500 Amid COVID-19, Mob Confronts Police

(With inputs from AP)


Mumbai Police ensured to start the New Year on an-point humorous note.

Their posts often create a buzz online as they manage to send out a clear message and leave people entertained at the same time.

The Mumbai Police knows well how to be witty with their creative advisory posts that often leave people amused.

On New Years Eve, they shared a post to remind people to stay home during the night curfew from 11 pm to 6 am and ensure safety. Single and ready to mingle but ONLINE, they tweeted while sharing a screenshot of a chat.

Ahead of the night curfew, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the social media unit of Mumbai Police responded with quirky answers to those who wanted to celebrate New Year's Eve with pomp and show. Mumbai Police official Twitter also extensively used the hashtags, #SafetyFirstOn31st, #ConsentMatters #StayHome #StaySafe #PartyResponsibly, #SayNoToDrugs, #RoadSafety, #CoronaKoAlvidaKehna in their posts.

They had the best response to a person who asked if he could reach his female friend's house by 11 pm and stay there overnight. Mumbai Police took a friendly approach to advise people to take consent before visiting their female friends at their residences at night.

The Mumbai Police is known to ace the savage reply game. They answered the Twitter users question, who wanted to play along, with an apt response. The department also revealed an alternate accommodation option for the night for the user. They tweeted, We hope you have taken her consent else we have an alternate accommodation for the night in mind for you! #ConsentMatters #SafetyFirstOn31st

We hope you have taken her consent else we have an alternate accommodation for the night in mind for you! #ConsentMatters #SafetyFirstOn31st https://t.co/nKbdA64rOF  Mumbai Police (@MumbaiPolice) December 31, 2020

The post captured peoples attention and many lauded the Mumbai Polices response. Users of the micro-blogging site shared their funny reactions in various comments. The Mumbai Police replied to a Twitter user in a similar context. The user reacted to their epic response on consent matters saying, Great to see consent getting mainstreamed.

With an absolute to-the-point reply, the Mumbai Police said, Its basic. Its primary. Its non-negotiable, and added hashtags, #ANoMeansNo, #SafetyFirstOn31st, #ConsentMatters to the reply.

On December 31 night, boats, banquet halls, hotels, pubs, restaurants were banned for booking and for parties by the Mumbai Police. Large gatherings at other popular places including Gateway of India, Marine Drive in Mumbai were banned. They monitored movements of people with drones and CCTV cameras for wearing face masks and maintaining social distancing norms.
MIDDLETOWN  It is amazing what one parent can do, if you want to make a difference in the lives of children. The Middlesex County Parent Leadership Training Institute, a free, 22-session program, may for you.

PLTI is an educational experience that will give you the tools and skills to become an effective advocate. The organization is looking for parents, caregivers and community members who want to make a difference on behalf of children. Remember, we are our childrens first teacher. and we are their voices while they are too young to speak for themselves.

In PLTI, we explore our own passions, strengths, and ideas to develop confidence, leadership, interpersonal, problem solving and communication skills. Other topics include: creating a caring community, using y our voice, thriving with diversity, how the schools, city and state work, policy, the law, budgets, the media, evaluations and accountability, and more. PLTI integrates child development, leadership and democracy skills and is an experience you will take through life.

PLTI was originally started in Hartford by Elaine Zimmerman of the Commission on Children, and has now become an internationally recognized program. It is now offered in Middlesex County with support and partnership from the Connecticut Commission of Women, Children & Seniors, a Civics Family Initiative, the CT Parent Trust, Middletown Public Schools, the Liberty Bank Foundation, the Foundation of Middlesex County, and the Middletown Family Resource Centers.

Alumni of PLTI are now serving on committees and boards, running for office, are more involved in their schools and community, and feeling more comfortable and confident to speak up for themselves, their children and their community, because they sit at decision-making tables.

Here are a few quotes from our over 400 alumni: Helped me learn how to work with the school system, helps improve relationships between parents and school, helped me connect with other groups, Working in teams helped me come out of my shell and find my voice.

Other comments include the power is in your voice, yourself, your pen, your computer and your phone. You can make your presence known and make a real difference. Classes bridged the gap between how the government works and the work of raising children. I like the open discussions, and I am becoming more familiar with what is going on in my community, I am becoming more involved because I am able to ask the right questions.

This upcoming PLTI class will be offered virtually on Zoom. After the application process and being selected for PLTI, you will receive curriculum packets every five weeks as well as food allowance gift cards and child care packages, such as books and crafts.

Please consider joining the next class of parent leaders in Middlesex County.

Our next cohort of parent leaders will begin classes Jan. 21 and run Thursday evenings. We are now taking PLTI applications. Please contact us at plti@mpsct.org or 860 638-1463.

Donna Marino is community partnership coordinator at the Middletown Public Schools.
The body of a deceased adult was found Saturday morning in waters just south of Spanish Forts Meaher State Park.

The body has been sent to an Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences lab in Mobile for analysis, Baldwin Country Sherriff Huey Mack said.

Mack said the body appeared to have been in the water for a while.

He also said a boater found the body.

Due to the level of decomposition, investigators are awaiting confirmation on details including the bodys gender and race, as well as possible hints if foul play was involved or not.

Only a body was found at the scene - no boat wreckage, etc.

Daphne Search & Rescue along with a ALEA (Alabama Law Enforcement Agency) were the ones that conducted the recovery, Mack told AL.com.

There was a search of the immediate area done in conjunction with the location of the body but nothing was found.

The investigation remains ongoing.

We are looking through any missing persons reports that we have on file in the area, Mack said.

But if anybody has someone that they havent seen or havent reported missing, they may want to do that. Were not aware that this person matches anything that we know about at this time.
In 2020, Gov. Mike DeWine faced a foe neither he nor most of us were expecting -- a global pandemic that brought economic devastation to many Ohioans, taxed the states resources and hospital systems to their limits and killed thousands. The COVID-19 pandemic also exposed the stark inadequacies of Ohios approach to public health, including laws and a public health system that hadnt been updated in a century, and whose funding was woefully subpar.

DeWine rightfully earned praise for how hes led Ohio during the pandemic. So have the men and women of the state Health Department. Ohioans are also indebted to the departments former director, Dr. Amy Acton, for the deep understanding and public health expertise with which she guided the states initial, determined response, and for her dedication to the public interest.

The governor, a Republican, has drawn fire, much of it demagogic, from publicity-hungry General Assembly Republicans. But given a relentless virus, and a White House that endangered Americans by discounting COVID-19s danger, the DeWine administration has fought hard to protect Ohioans. The governor deserves our thanks.

But he also needs to push GOP legislators in 2021 to set aside the grandstanding and start making positive changes in our public health setup so Ohio isnt so woefully handicapped in essentials such as contact tracing and disease reporting. The state also needs to be able to exercise far more comprehensive oversight to ensure efficient and effective approaches to disease testing, quarantines and vaccinations during health emergencies.

Generals are always prepared for the last war; we cant see the future, but we can see the past. So, for example, we expect Pentagon planners to learn lessons from, say, the Vietnam, Afghan or Iraq wars to guide generals and admirals wholl fight the wars that may come.

Yet as to public health, Ohio has been fighting COVID-19 using an administrative setup created just after World War I, in 1919, to fight the 1918-19 flu pandemic, which, among many other Ohioans, killed 4,400 Cleveland residents, the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History reports.

During episodic or localized outbreaks of disease or illness, a decentralized public health system, such as Ohios, can be -- and has often been -- effective. But due to ever-increasing international travel, and similarly accelerating worldwide trade in commodities that can host pathogens, COVID-19 may be just the beginning of a series of pandemics. For that, Ohio is unprepared  and must change.

Perhaps todays public health machinery made sense in 1919 -- so long ago that women couldnt vote in Ohio. But a 101-year-old public health law is beyond its shelf life.

In part because the 113 local health districts (in a state with 88 counties) have for a century taken the lead on public health, General Assembly funding for the Ohio Department of Health and its mission has been constricted. For this fiscal year, the General Assembly appropriated about $108 million in state and federal general revenue for the Ohio Health Department; the appropriation for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (fishing, hunting, state parks) was about $135 million. According to research reported by the University of Minnesotas State Health Access Data Assistance Center, Ohio spends $14 per capita on public health. Only three states spend less: Kansas ($13); Nevada ($11); Missouri ($7).

True, the Ohio Department of Healths overall appropriation for this budget biennium was significantly larger than it was for the previous biennium. But that was mainly because of additional funding for two childrens health programs. Moreover, in early 2019, the Legislative Service Commission found that, of the Health Departments 1,105 employees, only 60 were assigned to the Bureau of Infectious Diseases (set to rise to 66), Of course, the pandemic led to some immediate changes in state operations.

But long-range, theres a pattern of legislative underinvestment in the Health Department and overreliance on local agencies. Citing Ohio Association of Health Commissioners data, the Legislative Service Commission reported 75% of funds for local health departments come from local sources, not Columbus. That needs to change.

What also needs to change is the states difficulty in gathering statistics for accurate reporting and oversight of public health measures. Thats not just essential for being able to provide timely, up-to-date numbers that accurately measure the extent of the crisis, but also to make sure that such critical endeavors as infectious-disease testing and contact tracing and the timely and efficient delivery of vaccinations are carried out as fairly and quickly as possible.

Ohio is one of the few states that doesnt license its hospitals, forgoing a critical lever of control in a health emergency. Yet Ohios hospitals have also proved themselves essential partners during this pandemic by assuring timely regional consultation and apportionment of hospital resources.

These facts hand the DeWine administration and the legislature a three-fold task: to modernize Ohios public health laws and system; to bolster the Health Departments resources; and to give the state greater powers in a health emergency to mandate timely and accurate health reporting and deployment of scarce resources.

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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Great Kills resident Joseph DiMauro, a physicians assistant for 22 years -- who previously worked in Staten Island University Hospitals emergency room and currently is employed at CHI Urgent Care -- has dedicated countless hours of his time treating coronavirus (COVID-19) patients since the pandemic began.

Within the first week of testing and seeing more than 100 patients a day with positive tests, DiMauro tested positive for the virus himself. Within two weeks of resting, DiMauro has been back to work.

And his tireless efforts were applauded by AnA Custom Closets, a Great Kills business that ran a contest to give back to an essential worker.

Anthony Dondiego, the owner of the business, said the company did this as a way to give back to those who are on the frontlines during the coronavirus pandemic.

The contest, which was posted on social media, asked followers to nominate an essential worker within the medical field. The winner would receive a free reach-in closet of up to 96-inches in length.

DiMauro was recently announced as the lucky winner.

AnA Custom Closets installed a pantry for an essential worker during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

DiMauro was shocked that many of his family members and friends recommended him for the contest.

Dondiego described the excitement of DiMauro and his wife.

When we told him he won, he was ecstatic. We showed him the paper of everyone who requested him and the reason they gave to nominate him, said Dondiego. They thought it was perfect timing too.

DiMauro didnt feel he needed a closet, so instead he opted for a pantry room in the basement. AnA Custom Closets created the perfect 5-foot 10-foot walk-in pantry for the DiMauros.

AnA Custom Closets installed a pantry for an essential worker during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

It was perfect timing because I was already doing stuff in my house, said DiMauro. And it came out beautiful, in such a quick time.

DiMauro said the work done by AnA was more than he imagined. They came and measured one day, then did the customizations, and then came with the material, and before we knew it everything was complete. They were in and out, neat and clean. It was perfect.

In addition to Dondiego, Rob Salafia and Charlie Seaburra ofAnA Closets helped install the pantry.

DiMauro said he felt honored to be chosen by the company.

AnA Custom Closets installed a pantry for an essential worker during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

It makes us feel that the hard work we do is acknowledged, said DiMauro. Other than patients getting better, its a great feeling to have someone on the outside give back to us who work these hours in these conditions.

Dondiego announced that AnA Custom Closets will host another contest starting Wednesday through June, for another essential worker to receive a free-installation of a closet. Click here for details.

There are so many men and women who are working tirelessly, said Dondiego, And the reality is that it has been a bad year for businesses, especially mine. But we just felt as though in time of grief, we could make someone happy.
The success of the Covid-19 vaccination programme, now green flagged in India, depends on strong primary health care. Even when the programme gets underway, there can be no let up in ensuring that the health infrastructure is improved steadily.

Covid-19 announced itself to the world as 2020 dawned. The virus blitzed across the world rattling health systems and tripping economies. The year ended with vaccines emerging as defenders against disease, though not of infection per se. Just as humanity was sighting success in its pursuit of this agile adversary, the tricky microbe picked up speed with mutations, conferring increased infectivity. India has now to keep up the public health vigilance against viral transmission, while using the vaccines well to protect the vulnerable and prevent interruption of essential services.

The advent of the vaccines, while very welcome, should not slacken the resolve to strengthen the public health system to combat future pandemic threats as well as raise its functioning in the steady state. Global and Indian experience with Covid-19 over the past year will guide us to chart the path ahead.

During the turbulent year, as millions got sick, clinical medicine stepped in, to show the benefits of old drugs like steroids, lying on the belly (proning) and oxygen, even as it applied the rigorous test of large randomised trials to reject false claims. We recognised that the virus spreads through droplets and aerosols to infect us through nose, mouth and eyes. It came as a surprise that it can be transmitted even by asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic persons. Poorly-ventilated spaces and tightly-packed groups of people gave rise to the vast majority of the cases, through super-spreader events.

We learnt that this respiratory virus also has a propensity to infect and inflame many other organs in the body, cause clots in blood vessels and unleash a fatal cytokine storm. Beyond an acute infection, it revealed long-term effects on many organs, including the heart, lungs, brain, kidney and pancreas. A variety of tests were employed to detect the virus and antibodies against it. High testing rates alone did not hasten the end of the pandemic or reduce deaths in many countries like the United States (US), contrary to what was predicted in the early stages of the pandemic. Besides testing, public health demanded much more to achieve effective control. Tracing of contacts resurfaced as a public health function, aided by apps but still dependant on a skilled health workforce. Public health measures, such as masks and physical distancing, to curb person-to-person transmission became the major defence, through a combination of health communication and regulation.

India was pulled into the pandemic in late January 2020. Though case counts were small till March, the panic that engulfed Europe and the US suggested that a highly infectious and moderately virulent virus could wreak havoc in countries with shaky health systems. Mounting concern led to a nationwide lockdown on March 25, lasting several weeks. It did give time to prepare the health and social systems for meeting the daunting challenge that lay ahead.

As 2020 ended, India had the pandemic under control. Though the total case count passed the 10 million-mark, placing it second only to the US, it ranks well below other million-plus countries when adjusted for the population size (cases per million). While vagaries of testing rates, methods and criteria left the actual case count in doubt, falling daily death counts provided a better tracker of the decline. Deaths per million population are far lower than in Europe, North or South America. The lower age of the population was protective. A high proportion of the population being rural would have helped, as crowd density and co-morbidity levels are lower. Prior non-specific immunity may have contributed but is unproven.

The virus challenge also exposed the weaknesses of our health system. Even as our low-resourced public health and hospital systems gallantly struggled to cope with the challenge of testing, tracing and treating, other essential health services were marginalised. Child immunisation and nutrition, institutional deliveries, treatment of non-communicable diseases and mental health disorders, as well a number of other health needs suffered from depleted services. The pandemic taught us the lesson that a weak health system cannot generate a swift and strong surge response without compromising its other functions.

The need to invest more in health now has strong social consensus. We must focus on augmenting the scale and skills of a multi-layered and multi-skilled health workforce. Comprehensive primary health care must be the foundation of an efficient and equitable health system. Urban primary care, which has been long neglected must be prioritised.

District and medical college hospitals must be strengthened. Universal Health Coverage, with a higher level of public financing, must be led by a strong public sector with the private and voluntary sectors playing a supportive role. Public health competencies must be enhanced in both central and state health services, through creation of public health cadres. Disease and risk factor surveillance systems must be reinforced. One Health surveillance must track microbial migration from wildlife to veterinary clusters and human populations.

Though Covid-19 is an unfriendly visitor, it has delivered a message that we must heed. It tells us to position health centrally in the programme of sustainable development. That must be our resolve in 2021.

K. Srinath Reddy, a cardiologist and epidemiologist, is president, Public Health Foundation of India. He is the author of Make Health in India: Reaching a Billion Plus

The views expressed are personal
Hilaria Baldwin, thanks for saving 2021! Hilaria - sorry, Hilary - gave us all a laugh in the final week of the worst year ever.

If you're thinking, "Hilaria, who?" get set for the greatest celebrity charade of all time, courtesy of the wife of actor Alec Baldwin. It's a mad masquerade - and she's still at it, even after getting caught out.

"Ee-LAR-eeh-ah" from Mallorca is really Hilary Hayward-Thomas from Boston, putting on a fake Spanish accent.

She's pretended to be a Spaniard for a decade - to herself, it seems, as much as everyone else - when she's the daughter of enormously wealthy old Bostonians whose lineage predates the American revolution. Yes, really.

As Tracie Egan Morrissey, the "Instagram detective" behind the expose, explained: "In reality her family are pilgrims with a vacation home in Mallorca." Comedian Amy Schumer joked: "I get it, I went to Spain a couple of times and loved it too."

Old school friends from Boston remember a nice girl called Hilary with "zero Spanish accent", yet now she sounds like Penelope Cruz in Vicky Cristina Barcelona.

Why recast yourself as Spanish when you were born and bred in Boston? Is it not enough anymore to be privileged, educated and beautiful? Now you need an exotic backstory, a fantasy identity and a whole new life to give you cachet, allure and an edge.

It's ludicrous. It'd be like if it turned out Melania Trump isn't from Slovenia, her real name is Melanie and her family are Yanks with a second home in Ljubljana.

I now find her utterly fascinating and endlessly entertaining, having previously only been vaguely aware of her as the yoga-posing bride of a Baldwin.

That changed last week, when I saw the front page of my favourite newspaper, the New York Post. Under the headline: "It's all bull!" was a picture of Hilaria mocked up as a matador, with a cape and fan.

In fairness, it's not far off from how she usually dresses as part of her fake senora act, adopting more Spanish stereotypes than Manuel from Fawlty Towers.

Demonstrating how to make gazpacho on American morning television, she "forgot" the word for cucumber. "How you say English cucumber?" Come on now!

She painted herself as the victimised immigrant because when she's out with her "blonde hair, blue-eyed kids", people think she's the nanny. This from someone who was happy to be named one of the best-dressed Latina stars, taking the place of an actual Latina.

She came across as someone with an unhealthy obsession with her own country - constantly banging on about olive oil and paella and flamenco and talking about "growing up in Spain" and "my culture" and "my native language". But it was an obsession with someone else's country.

It seems it most likely began as one of those half-truths you might tell someone you fancy in order to get their attention.

She and Baldwin met in a restaurant in 2011, the same year Hilaria's American parents moved to Spain, after they had holidayed there for years. She correctly deduced his male ego would enjoy the thought of a sexy Spanish girlfriend and got a bit overexcited playing up her Spanish credentials.

It fit with the claim she didn't recognise him as a famous actor because she "didn't know pop culture", having only come to New York at 19 for college. When pressed in one interview: "Came from where?" she fudges it by answering: "My family live in Spain."

In one of the many interviews she gave Spanish publications, she told Vanity Fair Espana that her family couldn't pronounce her new surname. "I have to tell them three times - it's BALLLD-WINN."

As for Alec Baldwin himself, he believed it because it suits him to believe it. There's a clip of him on David Letterman doing a cute impersonation of Hilaria's Spanish-accented English and explaining: "My wife is Spanish."

He's mad about her. It's obviously been an effective aphrodisiac as they've had five kids together - each one with Spanish names, of course. She nicknames their family "the Baldwinitos" and has them all speaking Spanish as a first language.

You'd think she might give it up now. Just say: I love the country and the culture and I believed my own lie. I'll live how I like. Maybe acknowledge that by using Spanish identity as a social climbing strategy, she stepped all over the heads of real immigrants and their experience in the process.

But Hilaria doubled down on the Spanish act, saying she has two cultures, having spoken Spanish at home and holidayed there. "It's a mish-mash, is that the right word? There is not something I'm doing wrong. For me, I have spent 10 years sharing that story over and over again."

Ha! And I'm a Russian princess. Here's to more of Hilaria's bull in 2021.
Paris, TX (75460)

Today

Partly to mostly cloudy with scattered showers and thunderstorms overnight. Low 67F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Partly to mostly cloudy with scattered showers and thunderstorms overnight. Low 67F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
By Logan Wroge, The Wisconsin State Journal

Distilleries across the country that produced hand sanitizer this past spring for a country grappling with COVID-19 are no longer on the hook for a $14,000 fee, according to a federal department.

Distilleries found out this past week they could face a $14,060 fee from the Food and Drug Administration for registering with the agency to be able to legally produce hand sanitizer when the country was experiencing a shortage of the crucial supply at the onset of the pandemic.

After backlash against the fee spread this week, the federal Health and Human Services Department said on Twitter late Thursday it would direct the FDA to not charge distilleries the arbitrary, surprise fee.

Small businesses who stepped up to fight COVID-19 should be applauded by their government, not taxed for doing so, said the Twitter statement, which was attributed to HHS chief of staff Brian Harrison. Happy New Year, distilleries, and cheers to you for helping keep us safe!

Several Pennsyvlania distilleries had joined the nationwide effort of craft alcohol producers to turn out hand sanitizer instead of vodka or whiskey, and were surprised to find out last week the effort could cost them.

More from PennLive:

COVID-19 cancels pomp and circumstance surrounding Pa. lawmakers Swearing-in Day

Larry King hospitalized with COVID-19, report says

California funeral homes run out of space as COVID-19 rages
The director general of the Indian Council of Medical Research Dr Balram Bhargava on Sunday said that the Bharat Biotech vaccine may have some advantages over other vaccines on the new mutant strain first detected in the UK, which has already infected 29 patients in India. His observations came amid politicians from several opposition parties raising doubts over the efficacy of Covaxin, which got approval for restricted emergency use in India. ICMR has collaborated with Bharat Biotech to develop this vaccine. Punes National Institute of Virology is another partner of this indigenous vaccine project.

The NIV has also successfully isolated and cultured the UK-variant of the virus, first in the world, as ICMR said on Saturday.

NIV scientists have successfully isolated the new virus strain and this will be tested against different vaccines. We hope potentially Bharat Biotech vaccine will have some advantages over other vaccines on this new strain,, Dr Bhargava said.

Bharat Biotechs Covaxin can be used as backup, says AIIMS Director Dr Randeep Guleria

The third phase trial of the Bharat Biotech vaccine is going on. There is no data on its efficacy percentage so far, which is why the vaccine is facing so many questions. But the apex drug controller body has said that the vaccine has been found effective in its non-human and human trials so far. Though it has been approved for emergency use, its trial will continue.

But what makes experts think that Covaxin might be more effective than Oxfords Covishield to combat the new strain? Covaxin is a whole virion inactivated Covid-19 vaccine while Oxford vaccine works differently  it produces surface spike protein priming the immune system to attack the SARS-CoV-2 virus if it later infects the body.

AIIMS chief Dr Randeep Guleria too has said that Bharat Biotech vaccine will be a back-up or for emergency use where the effectiveness of the Oxford vaccine is not certain.

We dont know for how long a vaccine is going to be effective, we dont know how much of the population we will have to vaccinate to break the virus transmission. What we know is that we have been able to control the pandemic in the country by following Covid appropriate behaviour, Bhargava told ANI.
Chennai:

In a major crackdown, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday attached 30 kg gold bars worth Rs 8.56 crore in connection with its probe into a money laundering case against Tamil Nadu sand mining baron J Sekhar Reddy and his associates, registered post demonetisation.

The ED, in March this year, had arrested Reddy and his two alleged associates K Sreenivasulu and P Kumar in this case.

The agencys zonal office here issued a provisional attachment order attaching 30 kg of gold bars worth Rs 8,56,99,350 of Reddy and his associates in connection with the exchange of old notes to new currency notes under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, the Enforcement Directorate said in a statement.

On reasonable belief that the gold bars are part of proceeds of crime, the same were provisionally attached, it said.

The ED had earlier attached assets worth Rs 34 crore in this case.

Reddy was earlier arrested by the CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) too in the same case of alleged black money generation post demonetisation.

The ED had filed a criminal complaint against Reddy and others based on a CBI FIR in the case which was registered after the I-T department first searched his premises and those of his associates in November last year.

Also Read: ED arrests Misa Bhartis charted accountant in money laundering case

The I-T department has made one of the biggest detection of alleged unaccounted income of over Rs 142 crore in this case with the seizure of Rs 34 crore in new notes, Rs 97 crore in old currency notes of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 and gold bars weighing 177 kg, post demonetisation.

The ED said the gold bars were recovered and seized by the Income Tax Department from the residential premises of Prem Kumar.

Prem Kumar has stated that he used to receive money from Srinivasulu, associate of Reddy, for purchase of 1 kg gold bars and the said seized 30 kg gold bars from his residence was purchased accordingly using the demonetised currency and belongs to Reddy, the central probe agency said.

Also Read: ED files chargesheet against Jain brothers in money laundering case, attaches property

The Reddy case and the other involving Delhi-based lawyer Rohit Tandon are being probed by at least four agenciesthe ED, the Income Tax department, the CBI and Delhi Policeand are considered the two most high-profile black money cases being investigated in the aftermath of the notes ban.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said approval to the vaccines of AstraZeneca-Oxford, being manufactured in India by Serum Institute of India (SII), and Bharat Biotech Ltd accelerates the road to a healthier and Covid-free nation, minutes after the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) nod for the two shots for emergency use. The Prime Minister also, in a series of tweet, expressed gratitude to the frontline workers involved in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

A decisive turning point to strengthen a spirited fight! DCGI granting approval to vaccines of @SerumInstIndia and @BharatBiotech accelerates the road to a healthier and COVID-free nation. Congratulations India. Congratulations to our hardworking scientists and innovators, PM Modi tweeted. It would make every Indian proud that the two vaccines that have been given emergency use approval are made in India! This shows the eagerness of our scientific community to fulfil the dream of an Aatmanirbhar Bharat, at the root of which is care and compassion, he said.

A decisive turning point to strengthen a spirited fight!



DCGI granting approval to vaccines of @SerumInstIndia and @BharatBiotech accelerates the road to a healthier and COVID-free nation.



Congratulations India.



Congratulations to our hardworking scientists and innovators.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 3, 2021

We reiterate our gratitude to doctors, medical staff, scientists, police personnel, sanitation workers and all Corona warriors for the outstanding work done, that too in adverse circumstances. We will remain eternally grateful to them for saving many lives, he added.

The Prime Ministers tweet came after Drugs Controller General of India VG Somani formally announced the approval for the emergency-use of two coronavirus vaccines, one developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University and the other by local company Bharat Biotech. CDSCO (Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation) accepts the subject expert committee reform rations on Serum and Bharat Biotech Covid vaccines, Somani during a press conference. Vaccines of M/s Serum and M/s Bharat Biotech are being approved for restricted use in emergency situations, Somani read out from a written statement.

Somani said the overall efficacy of the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine was 70.42% and that of Bharat Biotechs Covaxin was safe and provides a robust immune response. We will never approve anything if there is slightest of safety concern. The vaccines are 100% safe. Some side effects like mild fever, pain and allergy are common for every vaccine, he added.

The subject expert committee (SEC) under CDSCO had recommended Oxford-AstraZenecas vaccine, which is being manufactured by the Serum Institute of India (SII) as Covishield, for emergency use and Covaxin for restricted use. Covaxin is the indigenous vaccine being developed by Bharat Biotech in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
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A former vice-chancellor of the University of Lagos, Oye Ibidapo-Obe, is dead.

Mr Ibidapo-Obe was, until his death, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Council of First Technical University, Ibadan.

His death was confirmed in a Sunday statement by the Registrar and Secretary to the Council of First Technical University, Olayinka Balogun.

With heavy heart, and submission to the will of God I write to inform Council members of the transition to glory of Professor Oye Ibidapo-Obe, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, First Technical University, Ibadan which occurred today 03/01/2021.

I pray for the repose of the soul of the departed.

Although the statement did not disclose the cause of the death of the academic, officials at Unilag told PREMIUM TIMES he died from COVID-19 complications.

Both the Unilag vice-chancellor and the chairman of the Academic Union of Nigerian Universities (ASUU) on the campus, Oluwatoyin Ogundipe and Dele Ashiru respectively, confirmed the death to PREMIUM TIMES in separate telephone interviews.

ALSO READ: Babalakin faults education minister on dissolution of UNILAG governing council

According to Mr Ashiru, the late professor had been receiving treatment at an undisclosed Lagos hospital for about 10 days before he was pronounced dead on Sunday evening.

Yes, Prof Ibidapo-Obe is dead. He died today from COVID-19-related complications. The late professors family has properly briefed us, Mr Ashiru said in a phone interview.

Speaking on the development, Mr Ogundipe said he was shocked.

Im still in shock. He was very important to us. I just dont know what to say, he said.

Mr Ibidapo-Obe, 69, was a professor of Applied Mechanics and Systems Engineering, He was the Unilag vice-chancellor between 2000 and 2007. He was born in Ile-Ife, Osun State, and attended Ilesha Grammar School and Igbobi College between 1962 and 1971.

Police lobbed tear gas shells and used water cannon to stop hundreds of farmers who allegedly broke police barricades at Masani village near Dharuhera on Delhi-Jaipur highway on Sunday, in an attempt to move towards Gurugram and Delhi.

At least one farmer has been injured, according to the initial reports from the spot.

Haryana Police said more than 20 tractors and hundreds of farmers tried to force their way across the Rajasthan-Haryana border but they stopped later as police held back their counterparts. The protesters also stopped due to ongoing rain.

Rajesh Kumar, deputy superintendent of Bawal, said farmers broke police barricades and tried to move towards Delhi. Police had to use tear gas and water cannons to stop the protesters. They shouted slogans and forcefully tried to cross the barricades and we had to take the steps to stop them, he said.

Farmers alleged that the police fired shells indiscriminately and it could have triggered a blast in the LPG cylinders they were carrying for cooking.

Last month, over a thousand farmers from Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Haryana reached Jaisinghpur Khera and joined the agitation. The protesting farmers had earlier announced that they would start moving towards Delhi on Monday.

Satnarayan Nehra, president of Nehra Khap of Haryana, said due to rains the volume of protesters was low on Sunday. Our plan to move to Delhi failed but we will try late Sunday night as farmers from nearby areas are gathering at Kheda border, he said.

On Sunday around 4pm, 20 tractors and hundreds of farmers crossed the Kheda border and reached Sangwari Chowk which is 20 kilometres ahead of the protest site. Rajasthan Police allowed us to cross but Haryana Police is not cooperating. Many farmers have been camping since December 12 and are not well but they are not willing to return home, said Rashid Ahmed, a protester from Nuh.

The community leaders have requested the police to let them cross the stretch peacefully and have tried to pacify the protesters.

Last Thursday, farmers had entered Shahjahanpur and reached Rewari on the Delhi-Jaipur highway, crossing the Shahjahanpur interstate border in Rajasthan, as the police were not letting them enter Haryana.

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Washington Congress convened Sunday for the start of a new session, swearing in lawmakers during a tumultuous period as a growing number of Republicans work to overturn Joe Bidens victory over President Donald Trump and the coronavirus surges.

Democrat Nancy Pelosi was set to be reelected as House speaker by her party, which retains the majority in the House but with the slimmest margin in 20 years after a November election wipeout.

Opening the Senate could be among Mitch McConnells final acts as majority leader. Republican control is in question until Tuesdays runoff elections for two Senate seats in Georgia. The outcome will determine which party holds the chamber.

The House and Senate opened at noon, as required by law, with strict Covid protocols. Elbow bumps replaced handshakes as senators took the oath of office. Fewer family members than usual joined lawmakers at the Capitol.

To say the new Congress convenes at a challenging time would be an understatement, McConnell said as the chamber opened.

Still McConnell said with the start of a new year there are reasons for optimism, lets make the American people proud.

Its often said that divided government can be a time for legislative compromises, but lawmakers are charging into the 117th Congress with the nation more torn than ever, disputing even basic facts including that Biden won the presidential election.

Fraud did not spoil the 2020 presidential election, a fact confirmed by election officials across the country. Before stepping down last month, Attorney General William Barr, a Republican appointed by Trump, said there was no evidence of fraud that affected the elections outcome. Arizonas and Georgias Republican governors, whose states were crucial to Bidens victory, have also stated that their election results were accurate.

Nevertheless, a dozen Republicans bound for the new Senate, led by Sens. Josh Hawley and Ted Cruz, and even more in the House have pledged to become a resistance force to Bidens White House, starting with efforts to subvert the will of American voters. These GOP lawmakers plan to object to the election results when Congress meets on Wednesday to tally his 306-232 Electoral College victory over Trump.

Vice President Mike Pence, who as president of the Senate, presides over the session and declares the winner, is facing growing pressure from Trumps allies over that ceremonial role.

Pences chief of staff, Marc Short, said in a statement Saturday that Pence welcomes the efforts of members of the House and Senate to use the authority they have under the law to raise objections.

Democrats, meanwhile, are pushing ahead, eager to partner with Biden on shared priorities, starting with efforts to stem the pandemic and economic crisis. They plan to revisit the failed effort to boost pandemic aid to $2,000 for most people.

This has been a moment of great challenge in the United States of America filled with trials and tribulations, but help is on the way, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., the chairman of the House Democratic caucus, said in an interview.

America is a resilient nation, filled with resilient people, he said. We will continue to rise to the occasion, emerge from this pandemic and continue to march toward our more perfect union.

Among the House Republican newcomers are Trump-aligned Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, who has given nod to conspiracy Q-Anon theories, and gun rights advocate Lauren Boebert of Colorado, who circulated a letter of support to retain the right of lawmakers to carry firearms in the Capitol.

Greene was among a group of House Republicans led by Rep. Mo Brooks of Alabama who visited with Trump at the White House during the holiday season about their effort to undo the election.

The Jan. 6 challenge is on, Taylor Greene said in a tweet pinned to the top of her social media account. Boebert also tweeted support for those challenging Bidens victory.

House Republicans boosted their ranks in the November election, electing a handful of women and minorities, more than ever. Some of the new GOP lawmakers are being called the Freedom Force, and a counter to the squad  Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and other liberal Democratic women who swept to office in the last session.

In a statement Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., the minority leader, said the new Republican members are a strong representation of who America is and where we come from.

Progressive Democrats bolstered their ranks with newcomers aligned with more liberal priorities.

The Capitol itself is a changed place under coronavirus restrictions. Lawmakers are arriving in Washington from all parts of the country potentially exposed to the virus during their travel.

Several lawmakers have been sickened by the virus and some will be absent Sunday. Also, a memorial was held Saturday for newly elected Republican lawmaker Luke Letlow, 41, of Louisiana, who died of complications from COVID-19 days before the swearing in.

The Office of the Attending Physician has issued several lengthy memos warning lawmakers off meeting in groups or holding traditional receptions to prevent the spread of the virus. Masks have been ordered worn at all times and Pelosi has required them to be used in the House chamber. Members are required to have coronavirus tests and have access to vaccines.

Do not engage any in-person social events, receptions, celebrations, or appointments, outside your family unit, and always wear a face covering outside your home, the physicians office warned in one memo. You should strictly avoid any type of office-based reception or celebration during the days ahead.

Even the traditional swearing in ceremonies will be limited in the House. No more big family portraits with new lawmakers taking the oath of office. Instead, each representative-elect can bring one guest in line with social distancing protocols.

The vice president typically swears in the senators and Pence elbow-bumped senators as he did.

Pelosi, who is returning as speaker, faces a tight race, with the House split 222-211, with one race still undecided and one vacancy after Letlows death.

The California Democrat can endure some defections from her ranks, but only a few, barring absences. In a letter to colleagues Sunday, she said she was confident that the Speakers election today will show a united Democratic Caucus ready to meet the challenges ahead. She needs to win a majority of those present and voting to retain the speakers gavel.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-03 13:47:12|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- China's steel firms registered a third consecutive monthly increase in exports in November, driven by rebounding demand in overseas markets, according to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

The country's steel exports rose 9 percent month on month to stand at 4.4 million tonnes in November and are expected to further increase in December, the ministry said.

The competitive advantages of China's steel prices in the international market and the pick-up of overseas demand contributed to the increase in China's steel exports, according to the ministry.

China exported about 48.83 million tonnes of steel in the first 11 months, down 18.1 percent year on year, while the country's imports jumped 74.3 percent year on year to 18.86 million tonnes during the same period.

The country's iron ore imports rose 10.9 percent year on year to 1.07 billion tonnes in the January-November period, exceeding the amount imported in the whole of 2019, the ministry added. Enditem
Proceedings under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code have remained suspended since 25 March in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic

New Delhi: The ground seems to be ready to experiment new options for resolution of stress and the market is anticipating a hybrid framework between a court-supervised insolvency framework and an out-of-court restructuring schemes, IBBI chairperson MS Sahoo has said.

In place for more than four years, the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) is helping in resolution of stressed assets in a market-linked and time-bound manner, and the proposal for "pre-pack" framework is also in the works.

"Since some tasks of an insolvency proceeding are completed before the formal process begins, and some elements of formal process are avoided, pre-pack saves both on costs and time," Sahoo told PTI.

The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI), a key institution in implementing the IBC, has also taken various steps to address difficulties of stakeholders concerned.

According to him, insolvency regimes in most jurisdictions are not designed to address delinquencies arising from the COVID-19 -like crisis when several viable businesses simultaneously fail to stand on their feet for force majeure conditions. Also, the availability of resolution applicants to rescue them remains a concern. "This has highlighted the need for pre-pack which is considered fast, cost efficient and effective in resolution of stress, with the least business disruptions.

In an e-mail interview, Sahoo also pointed out that with considerable learning and maturity of the ecosystem, and a reasonably fair debtor-creditor relationship in place, the ground seems ready to experiment new options for resolution of stress. "The market has been advocating and anticipating a resolution framework which is a hybrid between the court-supervised insolvency framework and out-of-court restructuring schemes that incorporates the virtues of both the worlds sans their demerits. The most popular form of such dispensation is pre-pack," he noted.

Generally, under a pre-pack (pre-packaged) process, main stakeholders like creditors, shareholders and the existing management/ promoter can come together to identify a prospective buyer. Then, they can negotiate a resolution plan before submitting the same to the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) for formal approval. From 1 December, 2016, till the end of September last year, total 4,008 CIRPs (Corporate Insolvency Resolution Processes) have commenced under the IBC.

Out of the total, 473 CIRPs have been closed on appeal or review or settled, 291 have been withdrawn, 1,025 have ended in orders for liquidation and 277 have ended in approval of resolution plans, as per data compiled by the IBBI. The provisions relating to CIRP came into effect from December 1, 2016.

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the government has suspended fresh proceedings under the IBC since 25 March last year. Last month, the suspension period was extended till March, which means that fresh cases cannot be filed under the IBC for almost the whole of the current fiscal: April 2020 to March 2021 period.

On whether there is a possibility of a flurry of insolvency cases coming up once the suspension is done away with, Sahoo said the number of applications for initiating insolvency is likely to increase but the increase may not be significant.

He noted that stakeholders are continuing to resolve stress through various modes such as scheme of compromise or arrangement under the Companies Act, 2013, and the RBI's prudential framework. Entities are also going for corporate insolvency resolution process in respect of stress other than related to COVID-19 . According to him, stakeholders are exploring innovative options for resolution of stress while taking several cost cutting measures to avoid stress.

Also, Sahoo said viable companies would have normal business operations after the pandemic subsides, higher threshold of default for initiation insolvency proceedings keeps most MSMEs out of insolvency proceedings and COVID-19 period defaults remain outside insolvency proceedings forever.
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Currently when locals are protesting against setting up a garbage processing plants in their area, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has come up with a solution of plug and key units to save time and money.

The new units installed on vehicles with different types of mesh attached with a conveyor belt will segregate dry garbage. Post segregation of garbage, the residue will be sent to scientific landfilling in Uruli Devachi garbage depot which is permissible as per National Green Tribunal (NGT) order.

The civic administration claims that it is the first kind of mobile project in the city, which the PMC has brought in at Ramtekadi.

Kunal Khemnar, additional municipal commissioner, said, The project will save time, money and minimum manpower. There will be no civil work to set up the plant. It will start just to plug and key and the processing will be done on machines. We need only fuel to run the machine.

Madhav Jagtap, deputy municipal commissioner, solid waste management department, said, The project will run on two mobile vans. It doesnt require much land like other garbage processing plants.

At present, we cannot dump garbage at Uruli garbage depot as per NGT order. So, we will segregate the garbage and use it for different purposes. The contractor will make refuse-derived fuel (RDF) from the residue of garbage, he said.

At present, the PMC is facing resistance from locals in three major garbage processing plants which are located at Sus, Ambegaon and Keshavnagar areas. Residents are opposing a plant due to bad odour and filth. Besides that, PMC doesnt find open space to set up garbage processing plants within the city as well as out of the PMC limit. Even the government is not keen to give land to PMC. The government had allotted land to the corporation in Pimpri-Sandas area in Pune district. It is a forest department land. However, it has not been handed over to PMC for more than five years now.

The PMC standing committee approved a project on December 29 expediting the process as there is 45,000 metric tons of garbage laying without processing at Hadapsar.

Officials said, The mobile processing plant - also referred to as plug and key as it can be moved anywhere and make applicable - requires a small piece of land. The unit will be running in Ramtekadi industrial area on PMCs land. 

Sanket Jadhav, junior engineer, solid waste management department, said, The process is used in the mining industry to segregate material of different size. On the machine, there are different types of mesh attached with a conveyor belt which segregate dry garbage. It requires only 15,000 square feet of land to segregate garbage. After segregation of garbage, the residue will be sent to scientific landfilling in Uruli Devachi garbage depot which is permissible as per NGT order.

At present, the contractor will use two machines for garbage processing. It is a pilot project which will run for two months and after that, a proper tender will be floated, he added.

Requirement for conventional processing plant

The civic body requires 2 to 2.5 acre of land to set up 200 metric ton conventional processing plant and it also needs a 1,000KVs electrical connection. PMC is awaiting permission from the Maharashtra State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB) to run the project. The overall time is around eight months to start the project.
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Is the former Tory Minister turned Strictly contestant Ann Widdecombe making another bid to step up into the Lords?

For in her latest newspaper column, she defended Boris Johnsons much-derided decision to give a peerage to Conservative donor Peter Cruddas.

Cruddas stepped down as party co-treasurer in 2012 after being caught in a sting by undercover reporters for offering access to then PM David Cameron for a premier league sum of 250,000.

Is the former Tory Minister turned Strictly contestant Ann Widdecombe making another bid to step up into the Lords?

Widdecombe, 73, said it was an outrage the episode was used to discredit Cruddas because the cash-for-access allegation was a falsehood. Certainly, libel judge Sir Michael Tugendhat, father of Tom, the Tory MP, found in favour of Cruddas.

But the Appeal Court largely reversed this, saying what Cruddas had proposed to the undercover journalists was unacceptable, inappropriate and wrong. That was why the House of Lords Appointments Commission blocked Johnsons earlier attempt to ennoble Cruddas.

But Boris decided its concerns about a man who had just happened to have donated 3 million to the Tories were historic. With the ermine about to be wrapped around Cruddass shoulders, the number of peers will tip over 830, and has caused some to accuse the PM of bringing the Lords into disrepute.

Widdecombe once claimed she was an obvious candidate for a peerage and that fresh appointments to the Upper Chamber were necessary to redress its balance. But in recent comments she described the Lords as too bloated  although Im sure shed make an exception if asked.

Nothing sums up Sajid Javids time as Chancellor better than the renovations carried out on his Downing Street flat. Unlike some politicians  6,764 sofas for John Bercow comes to mind  parsimonious Javid chose a new shower screen and moth treatment.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak is a coke addict, I can reveal. In a Christmas call with Treasury staff, the teetotaller whos running up 400 billion in debt, admitted: Mexican coke is my favourite.

The former head boy then elaborated how it gives him a better bump  because of its higher sugar content.

At which point, the concerned Treasury staffers started to giggle, realising that the nations purse strings arent being controlled by a drug-fuelled Wolf of Wall Street.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak is a coke addict, I can reveal. In a Christmas call with Treasury staff, the teetotaller whos running up 400 billion in debt, admitted: Mexican coke is my favourite'

Khalids long shot pays off

With the Army ready to play a key role in the vaccine roll-out, who can blame Khalid Mahmood, Labours Shadow Minister for Defence Procurement, for showing personal initiative?

The Birmingham MP spotted a loophole that allowed him to jump the queue at his local hospital and procure a Covid jab for, er, himself.

Mahmood, who had a kidney transplant in 2014, would likely have been called for a vaccination in the spring. However, the 59-year-old announced that hed skirted the priority list by joining the queue for leftover doses at Birminghams Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Its not very well known, but at the end of the day, any vaccine unused because people have not turned up for their appointments is made available, Mahmood tweeted. We cant afford to waste any... doses. I joined a queue at about 3pm and got a vaccine.

Not surprisingly, the hospital has since pleaded for the public not to queue up without appointments and pointed out that any jabs left over should go to NHS staff. Mahmood defended his queue-jumping, saying: I did not tell anyone I was an MP or ask for special treatment.

So thats all right then.
Trip Lee warns against 'reality show righteousness' at Cross for the Nations 2020

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Christians should live out the righteousness of Jesus instead of acting out reality show righteousness, said Christian rapper Trip Lee.

Social media and a culture that teaches people to film and publicize their own actions often engenders an attitude of performative goodness, said Lee in a Dec. 29 speech to the Cross for the Nations 2020 conference. He called this attitude reality show righteousness.

Reality shows play into things about human nature that were true even before reality shows existed. We love drama, but also we love to be seen, he said.

Just like reality show contestants change their behavior because they know people are watching, Christians often perform actions to impress God and others, Lee said.

What happens when somebodys watching you? You begin to change how you act. The eyes start to compete with the task itself, and it can get in the way, Lee said. Jesus wants more from us than just doing the right stuff. Jesus also wants that stuff to come from the right heart. If were doing good things for bad reasons, were robbing ourselves of good rewards, and thats at the heart of what Jesus is talking about.

Lee said that Jesus teaching on how to pray tells Christians that they should concentrate on loving God, not on seeming good in the eyes of other people.

When Jesus explains how to pray in Matthew 6, He includes a comedic description of people who pray to impress others. He calls them hypocrites, the Greek word for actors.

Rephrasing the passages story, Lee humorously described a hypocrite who blows trumpets before he gives money to the poor to make sure he gets enough public attention.

Now isnt that the most ridiculous thing youve ever heard? said Lee. Jesus paints a hilarious picture of the hypocrite. Jesus wants us to laugh at them. Jesus wants us to be so disgusted by how foolish that looks that we run in the other direction.

Instead of performing to impress God and others, Christians should do good without fear of what it makes other people think, he said. They should trust God to reward them as a loving father would.

What do those rewards even look like? The Bible doesnt give us that line by line exactly.

It only says we will gain or lose rewards based on how faithful we are to Jesus, said Lee. Trading His rewards for earthly rewards is like trading real money for Monopoly money.

When Christians obey God without worrying about what other people think, they feel free, he added. A missionary should go to the mission field because they feel a passion for their work and a calling from God.

There is a freedom knowing that there is approval for you in Jesus. When we know we have Gods approval in Jesus, we can fear God and do what we want. We can give freely without wondering how holy we look to people around us. We can rejoice in God alongside others instead of trying to use them, instead of envying them because they look holier than us, Lee said.
"It does show that Victorians are understanding the real importance of going and getting tested, whether they are returned travellers, whether they've got any symptoms, it is a really great response for the Victorian community." Victorian health authorities are again warning some testing sites will have "significant queues" on Sunday. Victoria's COVID-19 response commander, Jeroen Weimar, said there were "thousands of results being processed in the lab late yesterday" with another 9000 results already on the way. He said there was a 35 per cent uplift in testing capacity in the south-east of Melbourne on Saturday. "I know it was a very long and busy day and had some long wait times that many of our testing centres across the state," he said.

"It will of course be quite wet out in many parts of the state today, we have got gumboots already at some of our testing centres. "So please, I encourage people to prepare for a significant wait, particularly at the busier centres. Make sure you have got things to do while you are waiting on those lines." All 13 of Victorias drive-through testing sites will now be open from 8am to 8pm. "We are going to have to unfortunately asked people to be patient and work with us on this one. We are working on the ground as rapidly as we can," Mr Weimar said. Ms Allan said 1027 tests were completed on Saturday at the Melbourne Showgrounds alone, an increase of 25 per cent on the day before.

There were now 190 testing sites throughout the state and 88 per cent of people received their results within 24 hours. Loading Mr Weimar said the state had been "running at testing levels" of around 10,000 tests a day on the weekends for the last few months, and that had been doubled by Sunday. "We have more than doubled what we've been doing for the last two months and a very rapid period of time," he said. "Our peak load demand has come right between the Christmas and New Year period when, rightly, a lot of people, not only Victorians but the Victorians who are working on our testing system are taking some well-earned leave.

"The choice we faced before Christmas was, do you hold people over and not let them go on leave after they have absolutely flogged themselves for nine months? Or do you say no, you have to stand around on the testing stations on the off chance. We took a view that we needed to have the right balance of resources. "I'll apologise for the frustration people feel, I apologise for the length of waiting times but people are getting through testing, turnaround times are happening and we are seeing it in the way this outbreak is being handled." Mr Weimar said he believed that in the next few days, most of the 60,000 travellers who returned from NSW would get into testing sites. "I would expect in the next two days or so, we will ensure that the majority of those people have got through," he said. "I am confident the vast majority will follow through and say, right, I now need to make sure I get tested because I don't want to put myself at risk and more importantly I don't want to put the wider community at risk, including the people closer to me."

Queues at testing sites Cars were bumper-to-bumper for hundreds of metres at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre (MSAC) in Albert Park more than an hour before it was set to open. Melbourne residents took to social media to complain that the MSAC testing facility starting turning people away at 8.20am. Emma, a caller to 3AW Weekend Breakfast, said there were 40 cars waiting at the Ascotvale Melbourne Showgrounds site at 7.30am. The site does not open until 9am.

Others were reporting lines of cars stretching almost a kilometre at the Chadstone testing site on Sunday morning.

Returning travellers from NSW reported they had waited in line for more than six hours on Saturday, with others reporting they were turned away from five different locations across the day due to demand. Check exposure sites Victorias Deputy Chief Health Officer, Allen Cheng, urged people to review the "long list" of more than 50 coronavirus exposure sites across the state saying more cases were likely to emerge. Professor Cheng said the fact that there had been no new cases from other exposure sites, except for the Smile Buffalo Thai restaurant in Black Rock, was "encouraging". But he said there had been positive cases out in the community, which reinforced the need to wear masks and have small home gatherings only.

"With this number of close contacts, we are expecting at least some of them may become cases over the next week or so, but what is important is that they are in quarantine when they are diagnosed so that the risk of onward transmission is reduced," he said. "There are cases that have been moving about in the community and at this stage we don't have any transmission at those sites, but that does reinforce the importance of masks and the limits on private household gatherings at this stage. We still have a little way to run." He said there were now around 220 primary contacts connected to the Black Rock cluster, and around 359 secondary contacts. The number of secondary contacts was expected to "change very quickly" when the primary contact they were connected to was cleared as negative to COVID-19, he said.
Only one per cent of Argentinian citizens, who received Russian made coronavirus vaccine Sputnik V have shown a mild-adverse reaction to the shot, the TN broadcaster reported on January 2 citing the countrys health ministry. According to the report, 317 patients, out of the 32,013 total vaccinated, reported fevers and headaches. Announced in August by Russian Ministry of Health, the Sputnik V vaccine has been approved by Argentina, Belarus, and Bolivia amongst other states.

As of now, Argentina has reported over 16,34,834 cases and 43, 375 fatalities till now. The latest tally by John Hopkins University revealed. According to the countrys health ministry, Argentina received its first batch of the vaccine containing 30,000 jabs last month. On December 29, it became the first Latin American nation, to begin its mass inoculation using the Sputnik V jab. As per the priority list, health workers and other frontline workers are the first one to receive the shots.

Speaking to Associated Press last week, Argentine Minister of Health, Gines Gonzalez Garcia, said that five million doses will arrive in January and more than 14 million in February with the possibility of expanding the amount by another five million. The Sputnik V vaccine is based on a modified version of adenovirus, a common cold virus. The vector stripped of its disease-causing genes and modified to carry genetic instructions for making the coronavirus spike protein. This prompts the cells to cause an immune response which eventually protects against the SARS-CoV-2.

Read: COVID-19: Russia To Supply Over 1 Million Sputnik V Doses Across Country By 2020 End

Read: First Doses Of Russian Vaccine Sputink V Arrive In Argentina

Sputnik V produced at full pace

Meanwhile, Russia has said that more than one million doses of COVID-19 vaccine will have reached its national vaccination programme by the end of 2020. Industry Minister Denis Manturov, while speaking to state television, said that home-grown Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine is currently being produced at full pace and so far more than 2 million shots have already been rolled out from the production centres. Manturov added that by the end of 2020, over 1 million doses of vaccine will have reached the vaccination centres across the country.

Read: Belarus Starts COVID-19 Vaccinations With Sputnik V

Read: COVID-19: Belarus Becomes First Country After Russia To Begin Inoculation Using Sputnik V

Image:AP
The United States in a major blow to China has added new companies on the list of those which it considers as Communist Chinese companies. Majority of the blacklisted companies including the much influenced Huawei, have a sizable presence in Inda which is alarming.

Amid rising tensions between the two superpowers, the United States in a major blow to China has added new companies on the list of those which it considers as Communist Chinese companies. These firms have evidence that shows them to be either owned or linked to the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army (PLA). China had earlier slammed the United States move to delist three Chinese telecom companies and vowed to take necessary measures to protect Chinese enterprises legitimate rights.

But it has to be noted that almost all the enlisted companies are either operating in India or are working to make an entry. India and China have reached the height of sour ties amid the border conflict. As per media sources, the Chinese Ministry called it a US practice of abusing national security and using state power to crack down on Chinese enterprises. In a shocking revelation majority of the blacklisted companies including the much influenced Huawei, have a sizable presence in Inda which is alarming.

Earlier, US President Donald Trumps administration had signed an executive order that prohibits Americans from investing in 31 firms. The order prohibited US investors from buying and selling shares in a list of Chinese companies designated as having military ties, Last year Chinese military-owned companies and Chinese Communist Party-owned companies were banned from investing in Taiwan.

Also Read: Mission Vaccine: DGCI gives nod to Covishield and Covaxin for emergency use in India

Also Read: India begins 2 year tenure at UNSC; key priorities include counter-terrorism

Following increasing Sino-US tensions, S&P Dow Jones Indices became the second major index provider to remove some Chinese firms from its index products. It happened after following the outgoing Trump administration executive order. S&P DJI said it would remove mainland-listed A-shares, Hong Kong-listed H-shares, and American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) of 10 companies including Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology Co Ltd and Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC) from all equity indexes prior to the market open on Dec. 21.
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Lankford: Proposed Electoral Commission Would Review 2020 Voting

An electoral commission being proposed by a group of 11 Republican senators would look at alleged irregularities in the Nov. 3, 2020, election process, Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) said.

Lankford is among the senators who have pledged to object to electoral votes during the Jan. 6 joint session of Congress, unless Congress authorizes a commission to review the 2020 election process.

Theyre gathering all the information and theyre challenging every single thing thats out there. I mean, everything from Sharpies on ballots in Arizona, to suitcases of ballots under tables in Georgia, to laws that were changed to individuals that were dead or that moved or from out of state that voted, Lankford said during a Jan. 2 appearance on Fox News.

All those things demand us to be able to take a look at. We have got to take it seriously about this moment, because there were so many areas that are out there. Some are rumor, some are fact. But those are facts, we have to be able to resolve and determine if this election is settled? And then what do we do from here on out.

Arizona officials have said the use of Sharpies didnt cause ballots to be rejected, while officials in Georgia acknowledged that poll workers counted ballots for over an hour on election night after observers and media went home. Lawyers for President Donald Trumps campaign alleged last month that 1,500 dead voters in Nevada cast ballots while multiple states are accused of counting votes from voters who had moved away.

The proposed commission would be modeled on one formed in 1877 to resolve electoral issues in the election the previous year. Three statesFlorida, Louisiana, and South Carolinahad reports of voter fraud, leading to a contested election without a clear winner.

The commission, which began on Feb. 1, 1877, comprised five senators, five House members, and five Supreme Court justices. Eventually, Congress, acting on the decision of the panel, awarded the disputed electoral vote and the presidency to Republican Rutherford Hayes.

The group of 15, which would be given subpoena power, wouldnt decide the election, Lankford said.

House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) (R), talks with Vice President Joseph Biden, during the counting of the electoral votes from the 2016 presidential election during a joint session of Congress, in Washington, on Jan. 6, 2017. Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

In a written statement, Lankford said millions of Americans still have significant questions about the Nov. 3 election, referencing reports of problems with voting machines, double voters, and different rules for mail-in ballots versus in-person ballots.

These are not questions that exist in the dark corners of the internet, but ones I hear at the grocery store, the gas station, through text messages, and on phone calls. For the sake of the nations unity, these questions should not be ignored, he said.

The proposal by the Republicans is still within the Electoral College system, Lankford said.

Were demanding that we have a good, hard, serious, professional look at this, then the states in our system of government, according the Constitution, actually pick the president through the Electoral College. So were not trying to take that over, he said.

Were doing our constitutional duty, and laying this out, giving it back to the states and say, States, if you want to reevaluate where youre sending, and who youre sending, then you can choose to do that. But the states have to be able to make that decision.

Lankford and the other senators want a 10-day emergency vote audit completed by the commission, paired with a delay of the joint vote-counting session.

Once completed, individual states would evaluate the Commissions findings and could convene a special legislative session to certify a change in their vote, if needed, the senators said in a joint statement.

If the joint session takes place without the completed audit, the senators plan on objecting to electors from disputed states.
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Two New Hampshire women of high accomplishment and regard were in the news last week. One is leaving the stage after a 25-year run, the other is being recognized even though she has much work, we hope, ahead of her.
There is a proverbial saying in Christian households that says, Patience is a virtue. When typically evoked, this phrase is not attributed to any original speaker, nor is there an explanation of why patience is a virtue. This colloquialism is often spoken to encourage someone to wait on a desired outcome and not try to force a particular occurrence. Note, the phrase does not say, waiting is a virtue. Rather, there is a distinction between waiting and being patient.

There is speculation about the originator of the quote. As is often the case with history and literature, researchers have different suspects including writer Cato the Elder, Prudentius, and more. While the phrase itself is not biblical, there is biblical truth in the statement. Patience is cited as one of the qualities of love in the 13th chapter of 1 Corinthians.

Love is patient, love is kind. Love does not envy, is not boastful, is not arrogant. (1 Corinthians 13:4)

With this verse accompanied by details of the entire chapter, we can infer that patience is not simply the act of waiting, but waiting without complaint (self-seeking). Thus, patience is in reality a virtue, and one of biblical significance. With a clearer understanding of patience, we can begin to examine the Bible for examples and how that virtue relates to waiting.

What Does the Bible Say about Patience or Waiting on the Lord?

The Bible includes many tales of people waiting on God. These stories range from the Israelites forty-year journey through the wilderness, to Jesus waiting to be sacrificed on Calvary.

For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven. (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

Much like the annual seasons, we have to wait to see certain aspects of life. Kids wait to grow up. Adults wait to grow old. People wait to find jobs or wait to get married. In many instances, waiting is out of our control. And in many instances waiting is undesired. A phenomenon of instant gratification plagues the world today, especially American society. Information, online shopping, and communication are available at our fingertips. Thankfully, the Bible has already transcended such thinking with the idea of patience.

As the Bible makes the case that patience is waiting without complaint, the Bible also makes clear that waiting is difficult. The Book of Psalms provides many passages of lamenting to the Lord, praying for a change - turning a dark season into something brighter. As David shows in Psalm 3 while he fled his son Absalom, he prayed with full confidence that God would deliver him from the hand of the enemy. His writings were not always so positive. Psalm 13 reflects greater despair, but he still ends on a note of trusting God. Waiting becomes patience when trust is involved.

David used prayer to express his grievances to God but never allowed the situation to make him lose sight of God. This is vital for Christians to remember. While life will prove to be very difficult, sometimes enough to cause despair, God provides a temporary solution, prayer. In the end, He will take care of the rest. When we choose to give God control instead of wrestling over it for ourselves, we begin to mirror Jesus who said, not my will, but thine, be done (Luke 22:42).

Developing this virtue is not easy, but definitely possible. Here are 20 Bible verses to help you be patient.

20 Bible Verses on Patience

God is not a man, that he should lie, Neither the son of man, that he should repent: Hath he said, and will he not do it? Or hath he spoken, and will he not make it good? (Numbers 23:19)

Gods word does not present Christians with opinions, but rather the truth. When we consider His truth and all the ways He promises to support Christians, we can abandon all doubt and fear. God does not lie. When promises deliverance He means just that. When God offers us salvation, we can believe Him.

But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31)

The benefit of waiting for God to act on our behalf is that He promises renewal. We will not be overcome by our circumstances, and will instead become better people in the process.

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. (Romans 8:18)

All of our past, present, and future afflictions serve to make us into people more like Jesus. And no matter how dire our situations, the glory that comes later is the glory in heaven. There we wont have to suffer anymore.

The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. (Lamentations 3:25)

God appreciates a person with a patient mindset. Those are the individuals listening to His word when He commands us to wait.

When I observe your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you set in place, what is a human being that you remember him, a son of man that you look after him? (Psalms 8:3-4)

God has taken delicate care of the sun, moon, stars, planets, Earth, animals, the land, and sea. He demonstrates that same intimate care with our lives. God works at His pace, and though we may have to wait for God, we know He will act.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Sometimes temptation leads us to want to solve our own problems. And sometimes God wants us to exercise free will to better our lives. Nonetheless, there are many things in life we cannot control, and thus, many times we have to lean on Gods course of action rather than our own.

Wait for the Lord and keep his way, and he will exalt you to inherit the land; you will look on when the wicked are cut off. (Psalm 37:34)

The greatest inheritance God grants His followers is salvation. That is not a promise given to all.

From of old no one has heard or perceived by the ear, no eye has seen a God besides you, who acts for those who wait for him. (Isaiah 64:4)

God understands us far better than we can understand Him. There is no way to predict how He will or will not bless us until we receive the blessing itself.

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope. (Psalms 130:5)

Waiting is difficult, but Gods word has the ability to grant peace while we do so.

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, (1 Peter 5:6)

People seeking to manage their own lives without Gods help dont allow for Him to offer love, care, and wisdom. If we are to receive Gods aid, we first need to humble ourselves.

Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. (Matthew 6:34)

God supports us day by day. While He is in charge of tomorrow, we are in charge of today.

But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. (Romans 8:25)

Hope requires that we look happily toward the future toward good possibilities. An impatient and doubtful mindset lends itself to negative possibilities.

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. (Romans 12:12)

Suffering can not be avoided in this life for any Christian, but we do have the ability to patiently endure our struggles until they pass.

And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you. (Psalms 39:7)

Waiting is easy when we know God will support us.

A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, but one slow to anger calms strife. (Proverbs 15:18)

During conflict, patience helps us to better manage how we communicate with one another.

The end of a matter is better than its beginning; a patient spirit is better than a proud spirit. (Ecclesiastes 7:8)

Patience reflects humility, while a proud spirit reflects arrogance.

The Lord will fight for you, and you must be quiet. (Exodus 14:14)

The knowledge of God being in support of us makes patience all the more possible.

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (Matthew 6:33)

God is aware of our hearts desires. He seeks to give us the things that please Him, though we have to wait to receive. And we only receive by first aligning ourselves with God.

Our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly wait for a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ. (Philippians 3:20)

Salvation is an experience that comes after death, after living a faithful life. We must await such an experience.

And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. (1 Peter 5:10)

Time functions differently for God than for us. What we consider a long period of time, God may consider short. However, He does understand our sorrow and will support us if we patiently and constantly seek Him.

Why Do Christians Need to Practice Patience?

I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world. (John 16:33)

Jesus told his disciples then and continues to inform believers today through Scripture, in life, we will face difficulty. We cannot choose a life free of conflict, heartache, or hardship. Though we dont have a choice in whether or not life includes suffering, Jesus encourages a positive mindset. He overcame the world and created a reality for believers where peace is possible. And though the peace in life is ephemeral, the peace in heaven is eternal.

As Scripture has informed us, peace is a part of a patient mindset. Those who can suffer while waiting on the Lord and trusting in Him will have lives that do not dramatically shift in the presence of tribulations. Instead, their good and bad seasons of life will not be so drastically different because faith keeps them steady. Patience allows Christians to experience rough seasons without doubting God. Patience allows Christians to trust God without allowing sin into their lives to ease suffering. And most importantly, patience allows us to live a life like that of Jesus.

The next time we face difficult circumstances and cry out like the psalmists, we can remember that they too trusted in God. They knew His deliverance was a surety and would come with time. All they had to do and all we have to do is wait.

Photo credit: GettyImages/JantaneeRungpranomkorn

Aaron Brown is a freelance writer, dance teacher, and visual artist. He currently contributes articles to GodUpdates, GodTube, iBelieve, and Crosswalk. Aaron also supports clients through the freelance platform Upwork.
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The ASEAN Chairmanship Year 2020 has contributed to effectively implementing the Partys foreign policy, raising Vietnams role and position and helping the country create a firm stance in ASEAN and the region.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc chairs 37th ASEAN Summit

The ASEAN Chairmanship Year also opened up opportunities to expand and deepen relations with other ASEAN countries and partners, build a peaceful and stable international environment, and attract more support and resources from outside in service of the cause of nation building and safeguarding.

Looking back on 2020, the stature, mettle and wisdom of Vietnam were demonstrated clearly and comprehensively. The country left its deep imprint on the bloc, from selecting the correct theme of Cohesive & Responsive ASEAN Community, the proposal of priorities and initiatives, preparations for and organisation of conferences, and the drafting of documents, to the holding of dissemination activities.

ASEAN Secretary-General Dato Lim Jock Hoi commended Vietnams exemplary role of the Chair of ASEAN in a year full of challenges.

Despite having to deal with the impact of COVID-19 and natural disasters, he said, Vietnam still provided strong leadership in keeping the region cohesive and responsive to the challenges, placing ASEAN centrality and the interests of the regions people at the forefront of efforts.

Lao Minister of Foreign Affairs Saleusay Kommasith also spoke highly of Vietnams leadership in its capacity as the Chair of ASEAN in 2020, as well as the countrys contributions to enhancing the blocs role in regional and international forums.

In the context of the coronavirus pandemic spreading so quickly across the globe, he said, ASEAN has done a great job in disease prevention and control thanks to Vietnams leadership. He also highlighted ASEAN initiatives such as the establishment of the ASEAN COVID-19 response fund, the ASEAN regional reserve of medical supplies, and the ASEAN Centre for Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases.

The central role of ASEAN was maintained throughout the year. The bloc also played a more active role in promoting peace and maintaining stability in the region. The joint statement from ASEAN countries Foreign Ministers issued on the blocs 55th anniversary reaffirmed its determination to keep Southeast Asia a peaceful, secure, stable, and neutral region.

Ambassador Noel Servigon, head of the Permanent Mission of the Philippines to ASEAN, asserted that despite the challenges, Vietnam not only successfully convened ASEAN meetings but also kept the momentum of cooperation going with all of ASEANs dialogue and external partners, as well as through ASEAN-led mechanisms such as the East Asia Summit (EAS).

Across these many interactions, Vietnam consistently underscored the primacy of ASEAN centrality, making it clear that the bloc is in the drivers seat and decides the course of the regions future, he said.

Vietnam flexibly mediated differences between ASEAN member states and at the same time handled any differences harmoniously and effectively. Its solid control of the COVID-19 pandemic and maintenance of socio-economic development make regional and international friends confident in the countrys leadership and support its initiatives and plans.

In the context of other multilateral forums being affected by the pandemic, ASEAN-led mechanisms such as ASEAN Plus One, ASEAN Plus Three, EAS, the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), and the ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting Plus continued to promote their role as appropriate dialogue and cooperation mechanisms.

The ASEAN Secretary-General noted that amid many geostrategic uncertainties, Vietnams chairmanship also strengthened the ties of friendship and deepened trust between ASEAN member nations and with external partners through intensified cooperation.

Vietnam also helped ASEAN maintain its relationship with major countries.

The Lao top diplomat also hailed Vietnams role as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), saying it proposed a wide range of issues relating to ASEAN at the UN and in UNSC discussions, which helped the international community gain a better understanding of the blocs role.

Vietnam also held a meeting on cooperation between the UN and ASEAN - the first time the issue was tabled at the UNSC.

In its 25 years as an ASEAN member, Vietnam has made important contributions to the bloc. With the success of its ASEAN Chairmanship Year, it has become a firm and reliable partner, especially at a time when ASEAN faced difficulties and challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic./.VNA
New Delhi: India faced questions from industry experts and opposition lawmakers on Sunday after approving a vaccine without publishing efficacy data.

The approval of Bharat Biotech's COVAXINnews, announced by the drugs controller general of India (DCGI), was hailed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his ministers as a success in the country's self-reliance push.

The government also approved the use of a vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University which will be the lead vaccine in India's immunisation programme.

COVAXIN was jointly developed with a government institute and means India joins a small list of countries to have approved their own coronavirus vaccines.
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ATLANTA  President Donald Trump badgered and pleaded with Georgias election chief to overturn Joe Bidens win in the state, suggesting in a telephone call that the official find enough votes to hand Trump the victory.

The conversation Saturday was the latest step in an unprecedented effort by a sitting president to pressure a state official to reverse the outcome of a free and fair election that he lost. The renewed intervention and the persistent and unfounded claims of fraud by the first president to lose reelection in almost 30 years come nearly two weeks before Trump leaves office and two days before twin runoffs in Georgia that will determine control of the Senate.

Trump confirmed in a tweet Sunday that he had spoken with Georgias secretary of state, Republican Brad Raffensperger, a day earlier.

Audio snippets of the conversation were posted online by The Washington Post. A recording of the call was later obtained by The Associated Press from a person who was on the call.

The president, who has refused to accept his loss to the Democratic president-elect, is heard telling Raffensperger at one point: All I want to do is this. I just want to find 11,780 votes, which is one more than we have. Because we won the state.

Georgia certified election results showing that Biden won the states Nov. 3 election by 11,779 votes.

The White House referred questions to Trumps reelection campaign, which did not respond Sunday to an emailed request for comment. Raffenspergers office did not respond to a text message seeking comment.

Trump has repeatedly attacked how Raffensperger ran Georgias elections, claiming without evidence that the states 16 electoral votes were wrongly given to Biden.

He has no clue! Trump tweeted of Raffensperger, saying the state official was unwilling, or unable to answer questions about a series of claims about ballot handling and voters that have been debunked or shot down by judges and election authorities.

Raffenspergers Twitter response: Respectfully, President Trump: What youre saying is not true. The truth will come out.

There was no widespread fraud in the election, which a range of election officials across the country, as well as Trumps former attorney general, William Barr, have confirmed. Republican governors in Arizona and Georgia, key battleground states crucial to Bidens victory, have also vouched for the integrity of the elections in their states. Nearly all the legal challenges from Trump and his allies have been dismissed by judges, including two tossed by the Supreme Court, which includes three Trump-nominated justices.

The Senate runoffs pit Sen. Kelly Loeffler against Democrat Raphael Warnock and Sen. David Perdue against Democrat Jon Ossoff. With the Senate up for grabs, the candidates and outside groups supporting them have spent hundreds of millions of dollars in the contests, deluging Georgia with television ads, mail, phone calls and door-knocking efforts.

Loeffler said she had not decided whether to join Republican colleagues in challenging the legitimacy of Bidens victory over Trump. The Democratic candidates whose wins Tuesday would help clear roadblocks for the new administrations agenda awaited a campaign visit from Vice President-elect Kamala Harris.

Trump has persisted in attacking top Georgia Republicans over his election loss in the state, raising fears that his words could cause some Republicans to stay away from the polls.

I believe that we will win on Tuesday because of the grassroots momentum, the unprecedented movement energy in Georgia right now, Ossoff told CNNs State of the Union. He said it feels in Georgia like we are on the cusp of a historic victory.

Loeffler, when asked about siding with the growing group of Senate Republicans seeking to contest the Electoral College count, said she was looking very closely at it, and Ive been one of the first to say, everythings on the table. She told Fox News Sunday that Im fighting for this president because hes fought for us. Hes our president and were going to keep making sure that this is a fair election.

Warnock, the senior pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta who has continued to preach as he campaigns for office, seemed to allude to the runoff in a message delivered Sunday. He told viewers watching remotely due to the pandemic that they are on the verge of victory in their lives if they accept that God has already equipped them with the ability to overcome their adversaries.

When God is with you, you can defeat giants, said Warnock, who ended the early morning service by encouraging Georgians to vote on Tuesday. Its so very important that your voice be heard in this defining moment in our country, he said. I would not be so presumptuous as to tell you who to vote for.

Loeffler was appointed to fill a vacancy when Republican Johnny Isakson resigned his seat, and she will be in the Senate, win or lose this coming week, until the election is certified. Perdues seat will temporarily be vacant after his term expires Sunday at the end of six years.

Harris was scheduled to be in Savannah on Sunday afternoon. Trump and Biden plan last-minute, in-person efforts Monday to mobilize voters after more than 3 million people cast ballots early.

The president continues to create turbulence for Loeffler and Perdue by questioning Bidens narrow victory in Georgia and the reliability of the states election systems.

Trump also tweeted that Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan, also Republicans, have done less than nothing. They are a disgrace to the great people of Georgia!

The president last week called on Kemp to resign; the governor dismissed it as a distraction.

Despite the attacks, Loeffler said she believed voters would heed Trumps expected plea during his upcoming visit that they should turn out.

Hes going to tell voters the same thing: You have to get out and vote Georgia, because this is too important, Loeffler said.

Perdue, who is in quarantine after being exposed to a staff member with the coronavirus and wont appear with Trump at Mondays rally, said he would have joined the electoral challenge in the Senate if he had been in Washington. Im encouraging my colleagues to object. This is something that the American people demand right now, he told Fox News Channels Sunday Morning Futures.

___

Jeff Amy, Darlene Superville and Kate Brumbach of The Associated Press wrote this story.

Superville reported from Washington.
Imperial Valley News Center

Recovering from COVID-19 at home using virtual technology

Scottsdale, Arizona - It's not every day that a virtual hospital moves into a family home. But that's what happened after John Rohrscheib contracted COVID-19.

On Nov. 4, the 84-year-old retired implement dealer had serious leg pain and a fever. He and Joanne figured the pain was due to an accident from the previous year, but they wanted to get it checked out. So they traveled to the Emergency Department at Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

During that visit, John was tested for COVID-19 because he had a fever. He was sent home that evening, but he received a call the next day to let him know that his COVID-19 test was positive.

"We were shocked," says Joanne, 83. "I figured if he had it, then I had it, too, since I drive him to his appointments."

John needed to return to the Emergency Department on Nov. 7 because he was having trouble breathing at home and the pain in his legs had worsened. This time, he was admitted to the hospital.

"When I went in, I was short of wind," John says. "They did a good job for me and got me started on meds right away."

While in the hospital, he received his first dose of remdesivir  an antiviral drug that prevents the COVID-19 virus from copying itself.

"Most hospitalized patients who are positive for COVID-19 and have symptoms of the virus, such as shortness of breath, require a daily dose of remdesivir for five days. It is given intravenously, so this occurs while the patient is in the hospital," says Margaret Paulson, D.O., a Mayo Clinic Health System hospitalist. "However, there is a new option for patients with conditions previously managed in a hospital called advanced care at home."

Dr. Paulson also is the chief clinical officer for advanced care at home. The program delivers comprehensive, complex care to patients from the comfort of home through high-quality virtual and in-person care and recovery services. Patients in the program are monitored virtually 24/7 by a physician-led care team from a command center using technology installed in patients' homes to track vital signs, medications and infusions.

The team virtually connects through video with patients at home, where paramedics, nurses or other support team members are available to oversee medications, IV fluids or otherwise be the care team's hands.

While John was in the hospital, Kasey Peissig, the nurse manager for the advanced care at home program, explained the service to the couple.

"John was a good candidate for the program because his medical condition was relatively stable but still required an acute level of care," Peissig says. "We would be able to meet all his care needs in the comfort of his home through this program."

After discussing the program, John and Joanne decided it was the right option for them.

"John has had home health care before, but I knew this was different," Joanne says. "We knew we wanted to try it and see. And I knew they were short of beds."

An increase in COVID-19 cases in the area had led to a rise in the number of patients requiring hospitalized care and full hospitals across the region.

"Unfortunately, there have been recent instances when 100% of our hospital beds were full. The advanced care at home program helps us safely decompress the hospital and open beds for other patients," Dr. Paulson says. "Every little bit helps during these challenging times, and advanced care at home is an example of how we are evolving to meet the health care needs of our communities."

After three days in the hospital, John was transferred home and admitted into the advanced care at home program on Nov. 10.

A team of nurses, community paramedics, advanced-practice providers, doctors and other health care professionals brought the hospital to the couple's home, including the technology that would connect him to his virtual care team.

"Not every patient who is positive for COVID-19 will qualify for this service, but for those who do, it can be a game-changer," Dr. Paulson says. "It lets them recover safely at home and allows the care team to be at the patient's bedside 24/7 at the push of a button, which can be very reassuring for them when they are acutely ill."

Having advanced medical technology in their home didn't scare John or Joanne.

"They wheeled him in the house and started setting everything up. They made sure everything was working and showed me how to use it. It was very clear and very simple," Joanne says. "I didn't have to worry if he was having trouble breathing or was uncomfortable because I could just call for help. The team helped us feel very comfortable with all of it."

Their attitude doesn't surprise Peissig.

"Both he and Joanne were very interested in participating in our program and did well with the technology," she says. "They described themselves to me as interested in learning and enjoy having new experiences, so this was a good fit."

John received hospital care at home for two additional days. During that time, the team monitored his vital signs, assessed his overall health condition, drew blood for a lab test and gave him the last dose of remdesivir. He was discharged from the advanced care at home program on Nov. 12.

Another program benefit during the COVID-19 pandemic was that John and Joanne could remain together during his recovery. Visitor restrictions in the hospital would have prevented Joanne from being at John's bedside, especially as Joanne tested positive for COVID-19 a few days later. So far, her symptoms have been mild, and they have been able to recover together.

The couple is looking forward to getting back into a routine after the pandemic. For John, that includes daily 6 a.m. coffee time with his friends, and mowing his lawn at his home and at his son's farm. Joanne is looking forward to altering clothes, and spending time with her 10 grandchildren and six (soon-to-be seven) great-grandchildren.

The Rohrscheibs say they highly recommend the program and the care team to others.

"The nurses were always so pleasant," says Joanne. "They took their time and made sure you understood they were there to help. They made you feel like they were enjoying what they were doing."
A 16-year old secondary school student has accused the Ogun State Commissioner of Environment, Abiodun Abdul-Balogun, of attempting to rape her.

Mr Abdul-Balogun has been interrogated by the police over the incident said to have occurred on December 31, 2020.

The SS3 student, Barakat Melojuekun, told PREMIUM TIMES that the commissioner fondled her breasts and recited incantations to scare her.

She said her screams forced Mr Abdul-Balogun to jump off her and offer her N2,000 to shut her up.

How it happened

On December 29, Miss Melojuekun said she was waiting at Idi Ade motorcycle taxi park in Ogun Waterside Local Government area for a motorcycle to take her to the NIMC registration centre when the commissioner saw her while driving by.

She said Mr Abdul-Balogun stopped and offered her a lift but she rejected the offer. She also said she turned down his request for her phone number.

I didnt know that he was commissioner. He said he knew me but I said I hadnt met him before.

Miss Melojuekun said after she left, Mr Abdul-Balogun got her telephone number from her friend who had been with her.

My friend whom he pressured after I left the park sent my number to him. While at the NIMC registration centre, somebody called me and introduced himself as an aide to the commissioner. He said his boss wanted to see me but I told him I was busy trying to register for the NIN.

She said the aide called her again at night and told her the commissioner would love to host her in his residence the following day, December 30, 2020 but she declined the invitation.

How I was deceived to his house

Miss Melojuekun, who lives with her grandmother, said the commissioner eventually got her attention on new years eve through her uncle.

The commissioners aide later reached me through my fathers elder brother who is also a popular figure in the area. He is called Mr Lasisi. I cant say whether he knew his intention or not though.

He (her uncle) told my grandmother that someone needed a computer operator and asked me to dress corporately so he could take me there. He then took me to the commissioners house and asked me to wait at the gate.

By the time I got inside, I saw someone who claimed to be the aide of the commissioner who had been calling me. He said I should follow him to where the computer was and I did.

She said he instead took her to Mr Abdul-Baloguns bedroom.

Immediately the commissioner came into the room, his aide left and he locked the door and kept the key in his pocket. He asked for my school and class and I told him I am in SS3.

The commissioner then asked if I was interested in any business and I said no. He asked if I have new year clothes and I said yes. He kept asking me what I needed and I told him nothing.

He asked if I would collect a cash gift from him and I said I would. He then started pushing me onto the bed and pressing my breasts while chanting incantations. So I started shouting on top of my voice.

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She said the commissioner became afraid that the people downstairs in his house for a political meeting would hear her scream, so he left her.

He jumped off me and brought out the key from his pocket. He offered me N2,000 but I rejected it. He locked the door again and threatened not to let me go until I collected the money. I collected it and he pushed me out of the room.

Miss Melojuekun said she reported the incident to her parents who in turn reported the case at the police station.

Commissioner speaks

When our reporter on Sunday reached out to Mr Abdul-Balogun for his recollection of the incident, he asked the reporter not to disturb him.

Im very busy please, he simply said and cut the telephone call when pushed further.

The spokesperson of the state governor, Kunle Somorin, did not also respond when asked whether Governor Dapo Abiodun was aware of the incident.

Police interrogate commissioner

PREMIUM TIMES saw a copy of the invitation letter the Abigi Police Station sent to the commissioner.

The letter dated January 1 asked Mr Abdul-Balogun to appear at the station before 1 p.m. on the same day.

You are invited to see the officer in charge of crime at the above named police office in connection with a case reported, which this office is investigating.

It is just a fact-finding invitation and your very cooperation will be appreciated. Upon arrival, please report to the Divisional Crime Officer, Abigi. Looking forward to seeing you on or before 01/01/2021 at 1pm, the letter read.

The police spokesperson in the state, Abimbola Oyeyemi, said the police were still investigating the matter.

The case is being handled by the Area Commander of Police in Abigi. They are currently investigating the commissioner and the outcome of police investigation would be made known to the public, he said.

Meanwhile, a gender activist, Dunsi Olowolafe, urged the police to ensure justice is served in the matter.

The police must ensure the commissioner is brought to book if found culpable, he said.
New Delhi: Ankita Lokhande is close to 3 million followers on Instagram and the popular TV actress took to her social media account to celebrate the news with her fans. Wishing her fans Happy New Year, the Manikarnika actress posted pictures of herself wearing a purple dress. The actress, however, was soon trolled by late actor Sushant Singh Rajputs fans.

Captioning the post, Ankita wrote, #2021 I welcome you with my open heart. Happy new year every one. Cheers to 3M followers. Thank u for all the love. #ankitalokhande #newyear2021 #3million #congratulations.

While Ankitas fans congratulated the actress, trolls mocked her and commented that her followers have increased because of Sushant. A user commented, Half of your followers are fans of Sushant.

Another user wrote, "2 million from Sushant's fans please don't forget that". "This has happened due to Sushant," chimed a user.

Ankita has been a target of trolls since her birthday celebration pictures went viral. The actress was accused of moving on after Sushants demise.

Meanwhile, Ankita had recently recreated her famous role of Archana from her TV soap Pavitra Rishta, in which she featured as the lead opposite Sushant. In a tribute to the late actor at the Zee Rishtey Awards 2020, Ankita had performed on various songs including the title track of the show.

Ankita and Sushant dated for a few years while they worked in Ekta Kapoors Pavitra Rishta. Sushant was found dead at his Mumbai residence on June 14, 2020.
Like every other nonprofit organization, 2020 was a challenging year for Empower 225. But seeing what can be accomplished with clients like Joshua Fieldings showed them it was worth it.

Fieldings, 22 and homeless for almost three years, now lives in an apartment with the organization's help and plans to soon attend welding classes.

It's a success story and a continuation of the work begun a decade ago by the ministry, which started as an outreach of Healing Place Church and took on the Empower 225 name in 2019.

The program got its start focusing on youths and young adults in Baton Rouges 70805 ZIP code area, which has become synonymous with poverty, crime and dysfunction. It combats those issues with an array of services: after-school programs for students in grades six to 12, high school diploma equivalency training, a homeless outreach, job training and transitional housing, and life skills training for youths who age out of foster care.

The geographic target has broadened, but its mission of targeting young people in danger of falling through cracks in societys safety net has remained intact, even in a year in which a pandemic has caused the organization to do most things differently.

Rather work from home? A lot of employers want you to COVID-19 forced millions of employees to do their jobs from home instead of the office. For those who want to continue working remotely  or t

We want to go after the least of the least that nobody would want to actually serve in any capacity, said Susan Rogers, Empower 225s executive director. Thats what prompted us to target that area and focus on teens. We felt like they were the most vulnerable.

That pretty much described Fieldings when Brandon Washington, the organizations director of street outreach, would see him hanging out around other homeless men between Convention and Florida streets. Fieldings dropped out of school after eighth grade, left home at 18 and spent three years living on the streets with a synthetic marijuana habit.

Washington approached Fieldings time and again, inviting him to take advantage of Empower 225s programs that could provide education and housing. Fieldings turned him down.

But Washington kept coming and kept asking.

Something about Joshua kept me believing he would eventually embrace what I was offering, Washington said. I think by him being on the substance, he wasnt able to comprehend what I was trying to deliver to him at the moment, but I saw so much potential in him.

I kept going back giving him whatever resource I could, just sow words of affirmation and positivity into him, but he just wasnt ready. Sometimes  you have to hit rock bottom.

For Fieldings, that moment came after a second arrest and jail time for misdemeanor crimes. After getting out early this year, he was ready.

He used to ride through sometimes and talk to me, Fieldings said. He would let me know things could be different.

"It took me to go to jail the last time for me to really realize and wake up and be like, Ive got to reach out to somebody when I go home. Id known I was too good, basically, to be homeless.

The next time Washington approached, Fieldings said yes. Hes since taken high school equivalency training and has been living in an apartment Empower furnishes until he can earn enough to pay the rent himself. He has taken the program's job training and expects to attend welding school this month.

Since I got with Empower 225, I cleaned myself up, he said. I could really see the difference in myself. I really matured up and trying to have a positive mindset about getting what I need out of the program.

Rogers sees the change.

He went from homeless and hopeless to hopeful, she said. He walks in that confidence now, that desire and hunger to move his life forward. I dont know if he had that before.

Empower 225 typically works with 75 youths through after-school programs and another 100 or so under Department of Children and Family Services or Office of Juvenile Justice supervision. It houses eight men in transitional housing and has a 24-unit housing program for the homeless, Rogers said. It reaches about 50-60 clients a year involved in human trafficking

Its work has been noticed by more than its clients. Chick-fil-A recently gave the organization a $50,000 grant, and the One Eighty Foundation of Seattle donated a 12-passenger van to Empower 225 in November.

Its a blessing having people take the time out of their life to really help people  for us to accomplish what we really want to accomplish, said Mark Stevenson, 20, who is working on his high school equivalency diploma.
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Press Release

January 3, 2021 Gatchalian sounds alarm on reports of students' online sex "Christmas sale" Citing reports of students holding a "Christmas sale" of sensual photos and videos to raise funds for distance learning-related expenses, Senator Win Gatchalian urged the Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of Cybercrime and the Philippine National Police's (PNP) Anti-Cybercrime Group to intensify their probe and crackdown on these activities. According to a news report by The Philippine Online Student Tambayan (POST), a news portal on the student sector, some students use #AlterPH, #AlterPinay, and #AlterPhilippines on Twitter to sell their photos and videos. These students use what they earn to buy gadgets for their siblings and pay for internet bills. A Christmas bundle, which contains an array of photos and videos that sometimes reveal the face of sellers, is sold for as low P150. Between March 1 to May 24 this year, there were 279,166 cases of online sexual exploitation of children (OSEC) recorded in Metro Manila, a spike of 264 percent from the 76,561 cases recorded from the same period last year. "Nakakabahalang dahil sa mga suliraning dinudulot ng pandemya, ang ating mga kabataan ay nahaharap sa matinding panganib na maging biktima ng pang-aabuso at karahasan. Pinagsasamantalahan ng mga masasamang-loob ang pangangailangan ng ating mga mag-aaral at dapat itong labanan ng ating pamahalaan," said the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture. Gatchalian added that DepEd, on its part, should boost its child protection program, noting that the 'Child Protection Committees' (CPC) in schools are mandated to identify learners who may be experiencing abuse and exploitation. CPCs are also expected to report cases to government agencies and non-government organizations. Gatchalian seeks a stronger government crackdown of trafficking. Senate Bill No.1794, which he filed, proposes that in cases involving child trafficking, regional trial courts can authorize law enforcers to conduct surveillance and record communications and information involving persons charged with or suspected of trafficking. The proposed measure also mandates internet service providers (ISPs) to install available technology, program, or software to block and filter any access to any form of child pornography. Gatchalian also filed Senate Bill 735 or the Human Trafficking Preventive Education Program Act, which seeks to orient Filipino children and youth about their rights, government protection measures, and the dangers posed by different forms of trafficking. The senator is eyeing a law that would provide every learner in the country with a laptop and access to the internet. A provision under the bill, which has yet to be filed, will eliminate the need for learners to resort to desperate measures that may meet their current needs and will only cause psychosocial concerns and personal issues in the long run. # # # Gatchalian: pagbebenta ng malalaswang video at larawan ng mga mag-aaral dapat sugpuin Matapos lumabas ang mga ulat na may mga mag-aaral na nagsasagawa ng "Christmas sale" ng mga malalaswang video at larawan nila upang makalikom ng pantustos sa distance learning, hinimok ni Senador Win Gatchalian ang Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of Cybercrime at ang Philippine National Police (PNP) Anti-Cybercrime Group na sugpuin ang mga aktibidad na ito sa lalong madaling panahon. Lumabas kasi sa isang ulat ng The Philippine Online Student Tambayan (POST) na may mga mag-aaral na ginagamit ang mga hashtag na #AlterPH, #AlterPinay, at #AlterPhilippines sa Twitter upang makabenta ng mga malalaswang larawan at video. Ayon sa ulat, ginagamit ng mga mag-aaral ang kanilang kinita upang makabili ng mga gadgets at magbayad ng internet connection. May ilang nagbebenta pa ng "Christmas bundle" sa halagang isang daang at limampung (150) piso na may lamang mga larawan na minsan ay ipinapakita ang mukha ng mga nagbebenta. Mula Marso 1 hanggang Mayo 24 noong nakaraang taon, may halos tatlong daang libong (279,166) kaso ng online sexual exploitation of children (OSEC) ang naitala sa Metro Manila, mas mataas nang halos tatlong daang (264) porsyento mula sa halos walumpung (76,561) mga kasong naitala sa parehong mga petsa noong nakaraaang taon. "Nakakabahalang dahil sa mga suliraning dinudulot ng pandemya, ang ating mga kabataan ay nahaharap sa matinding panganib na maging biktima ng pang-aabuso at karahasan. Pinagsasamantalahan ng mga masasamang-loob ang pangangailangan ng ating mga mag-aaral at dapat itong labanan ng ating pamahalaan," ayon sa Chairman ng Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture. Isinusulong din ni Gatchalian ang mas maigting na pagsugpo sa trafficking. Sa ilalim ng Senate Bill No.1794 na kanyang panukala, maaaring pahintulutan ng mga regional trial court ang mga law enforcers na magsagawa ng surveillance sa mga pinaghihinalaang sangkot sa trafficking. Sa ilalim din ng panukalang batas, ang mga internet service providers (ISPs) ay magkakaroon ng tungkulin na harangin ang ano mang uri ng child pornography. Inihain din ni Gatchalian ang Senate Bill No. 735 o ang Human Trafficking Preventive Education Program Act na layong paigtingin ang kaalaman ng mga kabataan tungkol sa kanilang mga karapatan, mga programa ng pamahalaan, at mga panganib na dulot ng trafficking. Maghahain din ang senador ng isang panukalang batas na layong bigyan ng laptop at internet connection ang bawat mag-aaral. Bilang dagdag na proteksyon sa mga mag-aaral, isa sa mga probisyon sa ihahaing panukala ang layong mapigilan ang mga mag-aaral na gumawa ng mga mapanganib na hakbang upang mapunan lamang ang kanilang mga pangangailangan.
Congress is preparing to convene for the start of a new session, swearing in lawmakers during a tumultuous period as a relative handful of Republicans work to overturn Joe Biden's victory over President Donald Trump and the surge imposes limits at the Capitol.

Democrat Nancy Pelosi is set Sunday to be reelected as House speaker by her party, which retains the majority in the House but with the slimmest margin in 20 years after a November election wipeout. Opening the Senate could be among Mitch McConnell's final acts at majority leader. Republican control is in question until Tuesday's runoff elections for two Senate seats in Georgia. The outcome will determine which party holds the chamber.

It's often said that divided government can be a time for legislative compromises, but lawmakers are charging into the 117th Congress with the nation more torn than ever, disputing even basic facts including that Biden won the presidential election.

Fraud did not spoil the 2020 presidential election, a fact confirmed by election officials across the country. Before stepping down last month, Attorney General William Barr, a Republican appointed by Trump, said fraud did not affect the election's outcome. Arizona's and Georgia's Republican governors, whose states were crucial to Biden's victory, have also stated that their election results were accurate.

Nevertheless, a dozen Republicans bound for the new Senate, led by Sens. Josh Hawley and Ted Cruz, and even more in the House have vowed to become a resistance force to Biden's White House, starting with efforts to subvert the will of American voters. These GOP lawmakers plan to object to the election results when the Electoral College meets Wednesday to tally his 306-232 victory over Trump. Democrats, meanwhile, are pushing ahead, eager to partner with Biden on shared priorities, starting with efforts to stem the pandemic and economic crisis. They plan to revisit the failed effort to boost pandemic aid to $2,000 for most people.

This has been a moment of great challenge in the United States of America filled with trials and tribulations, but help is on the way, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., the chairman of the House Democratic caucus, said in an interview.

America is a resilient nation, filled with resilient people, he said. We will continue to rise to the occasion emerged from this pandemic and continue to march toward our more perfect union. Among the House Republican newcomers are Trump-aligned Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, who has given nod to conspiracy Q-Anon theories, and gun rights advocate Lauren Boebert of Colorado, who circulated a letter of support to retain the right of lawmakers to carry firearms in the Capitol.

Taylor Greene was among a group of House Republicans led by Rep. Mo Brooks of Alabama who visited with Trump at the White House during the holiday season about their effort to undo the election.

The Jan. 6 challenge is on, Taylor Greene said in a tweet pinned to the top of her social media account. Boebert also tweeted support for those challenging Biden's victory.

House Republicans boosted their ranks in the November election, electing a handful of women and minorities, more than ever. Some of the new GOP lawmakers are being called the Freedom Force, and a counter to the squad Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and other liberal Democratic women who swept to office in the last session.

Progressive Democrats bolstered their ranks with newcomers aligned with more liberal priorities.

The Capitol itself is a changed place under restrictions. Lawmakers are arriving in Washington from all parts of the country potentially exposed to the virus during their travel. Several lawmakers have been sickened by the virus. A memorial was held Saturday for newly elected Republican lawmaker Luke Letlow, 41, of Louisiana, who died of complications from COVID-19 days before the swearing in.

The Office of the Attending Physician has issued several lengthy memos warning lawmakers off meeting in groups or holding traditional receptions to prevent the spread of the virus. Masks have been ordered worn at all times and Pelosi has required them to be used in the House chamber. Members are required to have tests and have access to vaccines.

Do not engage any in-person social events, receptions, celebrations, or appointments, outside your family unit, and always wear a face covering outside your home, the physician's office warned in one memo. You should strictly avoid any type of office-based reception or celebration during the days ahead. Even the traditional swearing in ceremonies will be limited in the House. No more big family portraits with new lawmakers taking the oath of office. Instead, each representative-elect can bring one guest in line with social distancing protocols.

The vice president typically swears in the senators. Pelosi, who is returning as speaker, faces a tight race, with the House split 222-211, with one race still undecided and one vacancy after Letlow's death.

The California Democrat can endure some defections from her ranks, but only a few, barring absences. Some lawmakers are on quarantine after coronavirus infections or exposure. She needs to win a majority of those present and voting to retain the speaker's gavel.

(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.)
Whether San Antonio gets more federal cash to spend on coronavirus-related expenses as its leaders see fit may depend on what happens Tuesday in Georgia.

The city already is assured of additional funding to help residents stay in their homes and keep the lights on at small businesses after President Donald Trump signed a $900 billion federal stimulus package last week  though its not clear how much or what kind of authority the city will have over that money.

Whats absent from the latest round of federal stimulus is direct financial aid to cities and counties whose coffers were hit by the economic downturn resulting from the pandemic.

More for you News FAQ: When and where Texans can get the COVID vaccine

Democratic lawmakers had wanted $61 billion for that, which would have allowed leaders at the local level to determine spending to address needs in their respective communities.

That proposal faced heavy opposition from Republicans who labeled the measure a bailout for municipalities that havent properly managed their finances.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ultimately sank the effort in the last round of stimulus negotiations by tying it to rules that would have shielded businesses from coronavirus-related lawsuits  an idea unpopular with Democrats.

Democrats hope a package of direct financial aid to cities and counties will pass once President-elect Joe Biden takes office, but the measure would continue to face a difficult path in the Senate if Republicans win a pair of runoffs in Georgia, which would keep the chamber under Republican control.

Veteran Congressman Henry Cuellar, a Democrat from Laredo who represents a large swath of San Antonio, said he expects McConnell to repeat his previous tactics in any further negotiations over aid to cities and counties.

He does that every single time when we present something as a single shot to him, Cuellar said.

On ExpressNews.com: University Health appeals for patience as it awaits more doses of COVID vaccine

For their part, San Antonio leaders are quick to say they dont need federal dollars to balance their budgets in the way other cities might.

Officials already had to trim the citys budget by nearly $200 million when the pandemic hit in the spring  wiping out revenue from retail and restaurant sales as well as hotel room bookings, conventions and flights in and out of San Antonio International Airport.

City Council members agreed to $87 million in cuts to the citys general fund over the next two years when they adopted San Antonios current budget in September  including to street maintenance and police overtime.

City employees likely will have to take unpaid furlough days in late 2022 or 2023 under the budget as approved.

City Manager Erik Walsh is wary of using iffy stimulus dollars to reverse those cuts  preferring instead to rely on increased revenue from sales and hotel occupancy taxes, if those turn out to be better than projected.

The city hasnt waited on the federal government to balance its books and it doesnt plan to start now, Walsh said.

Its just like our own personal checkbooks: the longer you dont deal with a financial situation, the exponentially worse it gets, Walsh said.

If the city receives additional stimulus funds intended for cash-strapped municipalities, that money likely would go toward existing relief programs such as the citys emergency housing assistance program or small business grants  or paying for pandemic-response costs incurred by Metro Health and the Fire Department.

That potentially could free up some dollars to put back into costs like street improvements and spending on the local arts, Mayor Ron Nirenberg said.

The lack of direct aid to local communities, San Antonio being one of them, has a real impact on the quality of life and essential recovery thats able to happen in communities, Nirenberg said.

Stimulus on way

In the first round of funding, the CARES Act provided San Antonio with money it chose to spend on rental assistance and grants to small businesses.

Theres money for that in the stimulus package approved last week, as well as more.

City officials expect to receive funds from a $13.5 billion pot intended for vaccine distribution, testing and contact tracing.

Its likely that VIA and International Airport will receive funds from $24 billion set aside for transportation agencies and emergency relief for transit agencies.

The stimulus package pumped $325 billion into small business assistance  including $20 billion for businesses in low-income communities and $15 billion for live music venues and movie theaters.

Congress also pumped $284 billion into the Paycheck Protection Program  through which businesses receive forgivable loans for paying employees and utility bills  with the intent of targeting restaurants and bars.

During the last round of the program, businesses and nonprofits in San Antonio got more than $2.2 billion in those PPP loans.

However, more than three-quarters of that money  $1.7 billion  went to firms on the North Side.

On ExpressNews.com: Nothing smooth about this: Texas' coronavirus vaccine rollout is confusing almost everyone

That was due in large part to a requirement that a business have a relationship with a bank to apply for the loan, and there are many mom-and-pop shops on the East, West and South sides that run on a shoestring and dont have that kind of connection.

That fact irked Nirenberg, who suggested the city turn to outside business organizations such as the Westside Development Corporation and Launch SA to help firms across town apply for the loans.

Those outside groups, Nirenberg said, will be critical in helping us to ensure an equitable distribution of PPP in the San Antonio community.

San Antonio will receive funds out of a $25 billion pot intended for emergency rental assistance.

The citys existing $76.6 million housing assistance program  which helps needy households pay for rent, mortgages, utilities and internet as well as emergency cash assistance  has been in high demand throughout the pandemic. The programs current funds are expected to last until March.

Exactly how much money each city and county will receive and how the funding can be used will depend on the rules put in place by various federal agencies overseeing each program. Those details havent been fully hashed out.

Though additional money for keeping people in their homes comes as some relief, District 1 Councilman Roberto Trevino warned the city against relying too heavily on federal dollars to administer housing assistance.

Federal money comes with too many restrictions that prevent the city from doling out that assistance to groups such as undocumented people, he has said.

Therefore, Trevino argues, the city should free up its own dollars from other programs  like the citys current workforce development program  to gain more say in how to distribute that aid.

Why would we purposely tie our own hands knowing that theres people out there that are not getting the help? Trevino said. We should not be ignoring them.
Springfield, which has been designated as the asthma capital of the country, is possibly going to become even more unhealthy! Palmer Renewable Energy has been pushing for 12 years to construct an electric-generating wood-burning biomass incinerator in a low-income area of East Springfield.

This facility will disproportionately affect the health of black and brown residents of Springfield, many of whom struggle to breathe freely. Children and elderly folks who already need inhalers will be even further compromised and more threatened by COVID-19.

In her recent article posted on MassLive (Dec. 23, Biomass plant will create a sacrifice zone in Springfield), Dr. Marty Nathan noted that the smoke generated by this plant will include tiny particles that burrow deep into the lungs. Springfield will be the sacrifice zone for the profit from this project. But the air quality within a 90-mile radius of this facility will also be impacted. What happens in East Springfield will affect communities as far as Worcester, Boston and the Berkshires.

The bill currently in the legislature (House Bill 4933) contains language calling biomass power plants non-carbon emitting. This needs to be taken out! Please tell your state legislators to urge the Climate Conference Committee to change that language. Call Gov. Charlie Baker at 888-870-7770 and demand that he stop the Department of Energy Resources from allowing this biomass incinerator in Palmer to go forward while causing people of Springfield and beyond to suffer.

Mary Friedman, Longmeadow
New Delhi: On Sunday, health minister Satyendar Jain said healthcare and frontline workers will be administered the vaccine against the COVID-19 virus in the first phase itself in Delhi. The Drugs Controller General of India gave final approval for the emergency-use of the Oxford University-AstraZeneca and Bharat Biotech shots.

In the first phase, healthcare workers & frontline workers will be vaccinated. There are three lakh healthcare workers & six lakh frontline workers in Delhi who will be administered with the COVID vaccine Satyendar Jain said, reported ANI.

The health minister had earlier announced that all eligible people in Delhi could avail of the vaccine free of cost and that arrangements were being made by the government for the same.

On Saturday, the national capital registered 494 Covid-19 cases, the lowest in seven months. The total cases are now over 626,000 of which 10,571 people have died. The active cases have dropped to 5,342 while 610,535 have been cured or discharged. The health minister also warned that though the third wave of the virus was getting over, one still needs to be careful and observe all necessary precautions.
Adar Poonawalla, the chief executive of Serum Institute, on Sunday said that the Pune-based vaccine manufacturing firm has got drug regulator's clearance for 50 million doses of Covishield vaccine, which will be sold at Rs 1,000 to the public and at Rs 200 to the government. Stressing that Oxford University-AstraZeneca shots are "safe and effective" against coronavirus, Poonawalla added that export of the vaccine hasn't been allowed yet.

"We have bilaterals with Saudi Arabia and a handful of other countries but right now we've not been allowed to export the vaccine. We will ask the government to allow us to do it in some weeks so that we can sell it to 68 other countries. Our company will provide vaccines to depots from where states will pick it up," Poonawalla told News18, adding that Serum Institute can manufacture 5,000 doses in a minute.

Serum Institute of India had earlier said that it has produced around 50 million dosages of the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine 'Covishield' and plans to scale it up to 100 million by March.

We have already manufactured 40-50 million dosages of the vaccine. The rollout of the vaccine is expected to be a bit slow in the initial phase due to logistics issue and is expected to pick up once things get sorted, SII CEO Adar Poonawalla had told reporters last month.

Wishing Indians a Happy New Year, the Pune-based manufacturer tweeted on Sunday: "All the risks @SerumInstIndia took with stockpiling the vaccine, have finally paid off. COVISHIELD, India's first COVID-19 vaccine is approved, safe, effective and ready to roll-out in the coming weeks."

Happy new year, everyone! All the risks @SerumInstIndia took with stockpiling the vaccine, have finally paid off. COVISHIELD, India's first COVID-19 vaccine is approved, safe, effective and ready to roll-out in the coming weeks. pic.twitter.com/TcKh4bZIKK Adar Poonawalla (@adarpoonawalla) January 3, 2021

Besides SII, Bharat Biotech and Pfizer have also applied to DCGI seeking emergency use authorisation for their Covid-19 vaccines. Eminent clinical scientist and vaccine expert Gagandeep Kang, however, raised concern over granting approval to Bharat Biotech shots as it is still in Phase 3 trials.

'I don't think we should be approving a vaccine that has no efficacy data,' says Dr Gagandeep Kang (@GKangInd) as India grants Emergency Use Approval to @BharatBiotech vaccine which is still in Phase 3 trials.@ShereenBhan #Sanjeevani #AShotOfLife pic.twitter.com/oyzyamBzQF CNBC-TV18 (@CNBCTV18News) January 3, 2021

Serum Institute of India's Covishield was the first vaccine to be recommended for "restricted use" by the the government-appointed panel on Friday. Covaxin, the coronavirus vaccine from Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech, was recommended a day later, on Saturday.
Only 1 per cent of Argentinian citizens, who received the Russia-developed Sputnik V vaccine against the coronavirus, has shown a mild adverse reaction to the shot, the TN broadcaster reported on Saturday, citing the country's Health Ministry.

According to the media outlet, 317 patients reported fever and headaches of the total 32,013.

Argentina started its mass vaccination campaign with the Russian Sputnik V vaccine on Tuesday. Earlier in December, it received the first batch of 300,000 doses of the jab.

Health workers are the first to get shots of the vaccine.

The Sputnik V was the first COVID-19 vaccine registered in Russia and the world. Russia's Sputnik V is 92 percent effective, based on data from the first 16,000 trial participants who have received both shots of the two-dose vaccine.

Mexico doctor develops reaction to Pfizer vaccine

A physician in Mexico, who received the Pfizer vaccine against the coronavirus, was admitted to an intensive care unit with seizures, breathing difficulties and possible encephalomyelitis, the country's Health Ministry said on Saturday.

"The 32-year-old doctor who received the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine was admitted to the intensive care unit ... after developing rashes, convulsions, muscle weakness and breathing difficulties within half an hour after vaccination," the ministry said.

The causes of such an adverse reaction are currently being investigated. The preliminary diagnosis is encephalomyelitis. The patient's condition is stable, she is receiving treatment to reduce the inflammation.

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A six-year-old girl who was given just two years to live has undergone an operation by celebrity brain surgeon Charlie Teo hoping to save her life.

Maddie Suy, from Sydney's inner-west, was diagnosed with Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma after being rushed to hospital on November 28 with a severe migraine.

After being told by doctors that Maddie's tumour was inoperable, her desperate parents turned to Dr Teo, a renowned neurosurgeon known for performing high-risk surgeries - but with prices to match.

Dr Teo wanted to operate on her to try and remove part of the tumour.

Maddie Suy, from Sydney's inner-west, was diagnosed with Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG)

Mr Suy said the family are so far happy with how the surgery went, but stressed it's still early days and there is no cure for Maddie's condition

After being told by doctors that Maddie's tumour was inoperable, her desperate parents turned to Dr Teo

'Our family finally made a tough decision and decided to get Professor Teo to do an exploratory biopsy, whereby he opens up and explores, and would attempt to take parts of the tumour out where he feels would not injure Maddie,' her father Alan Suy told 7News.

On December 14, Maddie had the surgery, where Dr Teo managed to pull out some of the tumour.

'We are still waiting results of the biopsy which could take up to a week. The results would determine the grade and malignancy of the tumour, and from there, we would be able to determine the best course of action,' Mr Suy said.

Mr Suy said waiting for the six-hour surgery to be completed was the longest hours of his life.

'As soon as Professor Teo called with a good result, and we saw our daughter lying in ICU actually breathing and moving, we were extremely relieved,' he said.

On December 14, Maddie underwent surgery, where Dr Teo managed to pull out some of the tumour

Within days, the once-sprightly six-year-old was back at home and is now walking again.

Mr Suy said the family are so far happy with how the surgery went, but stressed it's still early days and there is no cure for Maddie's condition.

Maddie's family set up a GoFundMe for her treatment with nearly $120,000 already donated as of Sunday.

'We can't and won't give up on her... We just need to do whatever it takes for our little ray of sunshine,' Mr Suy wrote.

He said he did not know how much Maddie's medical care would cost, aside from being extremely expensive, but added any donations not used for her treatment would be given to charity.

Mr Suy said the family are so far happy with how the surgery went, but stressed it's still early days and there is no cure for Maddie's condition

Maddie's family (pictured) have setup a GoFundMe page for help with their medical costs

The Children's Cancer Institute called DIPG the 'deadliest and most devastating' childhood cancer.

'The average survival rate from diagnosis is around nine to 12 months,' the institute said.

The cancer affects about 20 Australian children each year and is incurable and inoperable, but Dr Teo believes some parts of Maddie's tumour may be focal and not diffuse - making survival possible, if difficult.

There are also other treatments like standard targeted radiation therapy - as well as a trial for a form of targeted chemotherapy.
By Ryotaro Nakamaru, KYODO NEWS - Jan 3, 2021 - 09:08 | All, Japan, Coronavirus

This year will be critical for Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga's hopes of remaining in power as he mulls the timing of a general election while steering Japan's response to the coronavirus and pushing ahead with plans to hold the postponed 2020 Tokyo Olympics in the summer.

With his support ratings in decline amid dissatisfaction with his government's pandemic response and a series of money scandals within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party making headlines, he cannot afford any missteps.

Suga's window to dissolve the House of Representatives for the general election is gradually closing -- his current term as leader of the LDP concludes at the end of September and the four-year term for lower house members finishes on Oct. 21.

Having taken office following his predecessor Shinzo Abe's sudden resignation for health reasons this past September, it will be Suga's first national ballot and a chance to gain a strong mandate from voters.

Suga was highly popular at first, having endeared himself to the public as the pancake-eating son of a strawberry farmer from Akita Prefecture who unlike many of his fellow lawmakers does not hail from a political dynasty.

Trademark policies like investing in renewable energy to reduce carbon emissions and pressuring telecommunication firms to lower mobile phone fees were well received.

A Kyodo News poll conducted just after Suga's inauguration showed support for his Cabinet at 66.4 percent. Abe, who had been dogged by favoritism and money scandals, had a rating of 36.0 percent before announcing his intention to step down.

But Suga is now facing criticism for a third wave of coronavirus cases that appears to have been exacerbated by his drive to restart economic activity. A record 4,520 new infections were reported nationwide on Thursday, putting Japan's cumulative total above 240,000.

Despite the dire situation, the government held off until the last minute announcing the suspension of its "Go To Travel" subsidy program, aimed at boosting domestic tourism, during the New Year holidays. It has not declared another state of emergency even amid warnings that the health care system is on the brink of collapse.

Related coverage:

State of emergency would impact Tokyo Olympics, reignite debate

Japan looking at declaring another state of emergency over virus

"Mr. Suga chose to prioritize the economy, and while the economy is indeed important, right now the public cares more about taking steps to fight the coronavirus," said Hitoshi Komiya, a professor of Japanese political history at Aoyama Gakuin University.

The approval rating for Suga's Cabinet has fallen to 50.3 percent, according to the latest Kyodo News poll conducted in early December. Several other media outlets have it at around 40 percent.

While that's still above 30 percent -- the "danger zone" where an administration is at risk of an early demise -- it poses a headache for the prime minister as he contemplates the best timing for a general election.

Suga has vowed to bring the coronavirus under control before dissolving the lower house. That could hinge on the rollout of vaccines, which government officials said may start in February at the earliest with frontline health care workers.

Naoto Nonaka, a professor of comparative politics at Gakushuin University, says the best scenario for the prime minister remaining in power is to quickly distribute vaccines, get the economy back up and running, host a safe and successful Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, and then call a general election.

"The question is, will things go so smoothly? (Lawmakers) get jittery when they know a general election is looming. If Suga's support ratings fall past a certain point, he will certainly face calls from within the LDP to step down," Nonaka said.

Suga will also have to fend off criticism from opposition parties over Abe's spending of political funds on dinner receptions attended by his supporters, and allegations that two former farm ministers belonging to the LDP received bribes from an egg farming company.

Suga served under Abe for nearly eight years as chief Cabinet secretary and consistently defended him until the former premier apologized for making false statements in parliament on the dinner expenses late last month.

The prime minister is especially vulnerable because he does not have factional support within the LDP, and therefore must have public opinion firmly on his side if he is to survive, Komiya said.

But communication has never been Suga's strength -- his defining trait in his previous role as chief Cabinet secretary, the government's top spokesman, was being tight-lipped and fending off difficult questions from reporters. He only holds press conferences on rare occasions, and even then tends to stick to prepared answers.

The prime minister also came under fire in December for enjoying a steak dinner with celebrities, muddying the government's message about refraining from meals with five or more people.

"He doesn't seem to understand what he needs to say to get his message across. He needs a better strategy to face the media, and by extension the public," Komiya said.

Suga himself acknowledged this at a Christmas Day press conference, apologizing for the steak dinner and pledging to "make an effort to communicate with the people more clearly."
Tamil Nadu police has arrested a dentist for allegedly forging his daughter's National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) score card and a call letter for medical counselling in order to get admission in MBBS.

The 47-year-old dentist Balachandran hails from Paramakudi in Ramanathapuram district. He was arrested and produced before a court and is currently in police remand. Balachandran is currently lodged at the Saidapet sub-jail.

Balachandran's forgery was exposed when he took her daughter for MBBS admission counselling session and produced a call letter for counselling and a NEET marksheet which showed that Balachandran's daughter had scored 610 in the NEET exams.

When admission authorities scrutinised Balachandran's daughter, they found that her name was not in the rank chart or call list for couselling.

After investigation it was found that the girl scored only 27 marks in NEET exams but she submitted a fake certificate and call letter too. The admission authorities then lodged a complaint against the duo follwoing which the police arrested Balachandran.

In 2019, a NEET impersonation scam was unearthed in Tamil Nadu when several students had allegedly hired expert proxies to write exams on their behalf.

The hired 'experts' scored good marks in NEET which helped the aspirants to get admissions in medical courses.
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The Board of Directors of the First City Monument Bank (FCMB) has said it is currently investigating allegations of unethical conduct against its Managing Director, Adam Nuru.

The bank chief has been at the centre of a marriage scandal involving Moyo Thomas, a former employee of the bank, and his late husband, Tunde Thomas.

A petition initiated by friends of the deceased had alleged that Tunde died of depression after discovering that his supposed two children with Moyo are not his.

Over 1200 people have already signed the petition to get the bank chief sanctioned.

Thomas was said to have died of depression on December 16, 2020.

The unidentified petitioners, also called on the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to sack Nuru, while demanding a comprehensive investigation into the matter.

This is a case of gross misconduct based on ethical grounds and an unjustifiable economic oppression by the elite (Adam Nuru) against the underprivileged in the society, the petition, which has already garnered over 1200 signatures, reads.

The MD has been doing everything possible to sweep this case under the carpet. We implore the Central Bank of Nigeria, as the apex regulator, and the board of FCMB to investigate this for the integrity of the bank and Nigerian banking industry.

But in a statement sent to The Nation , FCMB Group Head, Corporate Affairs, Diran Olojo, said the bank was aware of the allegations making the rounds against its MD.

The statement reads:  We are aware of several stories circulating across several media platforms about our bank's Managing Director Adam Nuru, a former employee Ms Moyo Thomas and her deceased husband, Mr Tunde Thomas.

While this is a personal matter the tragedy of the death of Mr Tunde Thomas and the allegations of unethical conduct, require the banks board to conduct a review of what transpired, any violations of our code of ethics and the adequacy of these code of conduct ethics. This will be done immediately.

We enjoin all our stakeholders to bear with us as we conduct this review and to please respect the various families involved. (Text, excluding headline, courtesy The Nation)

By COLLINS NWEZE
Kanchipuram :

Three of a family were charred to death when the car in which they were travelling caught fire at Manamai near Kanchipuram on late Saturday night.

The incident occurred at Manamai near Mamallapuram when the trio (a man, his wife and daughter) were returning to Chennai after visiting the place to take a look at a residential layout, police said.

The cars engine was idling for some time when it caught fire, they added.

The locals, who noticed the car catching fire alerted personnel of the Fire department and police.

Even before the blaze was fully doused by Fire and Rescue Services personnel, the car was gutted and the three passengers were charred to death.

A senior district police official told PTI that the cause of the incident was being investigated. The bodies were sent to Chengelpet Government Hospital for autopsy.

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A trailblazer for women in Hollywood, director Joan Micklin Silver, died this past week at her home in New York City at the age of 85. Her first film, Hester Street, and most well-known project, Crossing Delancey, were, of course, set in and inspired by the Lower East Side.

Silver wrote the screenplay for Hester Street, telling the story of assimilation of Jewish immigrants from Russia. She and her husband, Raphael Silver, raised the money for the film, which was produced for less than $400,000. There was little interest in distributing Hester Street when it was completed in 1974; it was dismissed as being too ethnic. Eventually the film gained traction, however, and ultimately earned $5 million. It was selected in 2011 for inclusion in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress, which lauded Hester Street for its accuracy of detail and sensitivity to the challenges immigrants faced during their acculturation process.

Silver returned to a familiar theme and locale in 1988 with Crossing Delancey, an acclaimed romantic comedy about a thirty-something Jewish woman trying to escape her Lower East Side roots as she struggles with her feelings for the local pickle purveyor. Once again, the studios objected to the films ethnic content. Only because the films co-star, Amy Irving, was married to Steven Spielberg did the film get made (he connected Silver with a top exec at Warner). Crossing Delancey went on to be a big commercial success.

As The Times noted, It is difficult to say which was Ms. Silvers most vicious antagonist, anti-Semitism or misogyny. In an interview in 1979, Silver said a studio big wig told her, Feature films are very expensive to mount and distribute, and women directors are one more problem we dont need. She told Film Comment, I didnt want to feel like the woman director. I wanted to feel like one of many women directors.

Carol Kane, nominated for a best actress Academy Award for her role in Hester Street, told the Associated Press, Joan Micklin Silver was one of the most courageous artists I ever knew She knew she could prevail at a time when women were not being taken seriously as film directors.
Whom do you want to appease by saying "Hindus also eat beef": Sadananda Gowda asks Siddaramaiah

Karnataka govt will collapse in next 15 days: Sadananada Gowda

Govt to clear fertiliser subsidy arrears of Rs 10K cr by March: Sadananda Gowda

'Being a minister, I am exempted': No quarantine for BJP MP Sadananda Gowda

Karnataka: Union Minister Sadananda Gowda collapses due to low blood

India

pti-Deepika S

Bengaluru, Jan 03: Union Minister D V Sadananda Gowda collapsed due to low blood sugar in Chitradurga while on his way to the city from Shivamogga on Sunday and has been admitted to a hospital here, official sources said.

Gowda (67) is currently stable and is undergoing further tests and treatment at a private hospital.

The Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers was brought to Aster CMI hospital at 4:45 pm on Sunday.

His condition is stable and will be kept under observation for the next 24 hours, the hospital's spokesperson said in a statement.

'He is stable, blood and other parameters are normal.

There is nothing to worry. We will keep him under observation for 24 hours.

The cause of the giddiness was due to low sugar level,' Dr Brinda, physician at the hospital, told reporters.

Gowda in a tweet said his health was stable.

'Due to low sugar I was a bit tired. I'm fine now. All parameters,including Echo, ECG are normal.

I thank all those who wished for my good health,' he tweeted.

The minister was first admitted to a hospital in Chitradurga and later shifted by an ambulance through zero traffic management, to a private hospital here.

Zero traffic management is a privilege that allows convoys of VVIPs to pass through roads where movement of other vehicles is temporarily halted.

The Minister was on his way to Bengaluru from Shivamogga after attending a state BJP meeting.

He collapsed after greeting party workers and leaders in Chitradurga, where he had a stop over for lunch at a hotel this afternoon, sources said.

Gowda, a former Chief Minister of Karnataka, was immediately rushed to the Basaveshwara Medical College and Hospital in Chitradurga.

After treatment there, he recovered and spoke to BJP leaders and family members over phone.

He was subsequently shifted to the hospital in Bengaluru.

Gowda's son Karthik told reporters 'low blood sugar led to it. He is fine now.'
Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) arrives for the Republican policy luncheon at the Hart Senate Office Building in Washington on March 19, 2020. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)

Romney Opposes Republican Senators Plan to Challenge Electoral College Votes

Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) on Jan. 2 called efforts by his Republican colleagues to challenge the Electoral College results on Jan. 6 an egregious ploy that dangerously threatens our Democratic Republic.

Romney, who has had a turbulent relationship with President Donald Trump, offered his criticism in a statement about a plan by at least 12 Republican senators to object to Electoral College votes cast for Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden in several contested states during the Jan. 6 joint session in Congress, when valid votes are set to be counted.

The egregious ploy to reject electors may enhance the political ambition of some, but dangerously threatens our Democratic Republic. The congressional power to reject electors is reserved for the most extreme and unusual circumstances. These are far from it, Romney said.

His statement comes after a group of 11 Republican senators announced on Jan. 2 their intention to challenge Electoral College votes from contested states. The group, led by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), said the 2020 election featured unprecedented allegations of voter fraud, violations, and lax enforcement of election law, and other voting irregularities.

The allegations of fraud and irregularities in the 2020 election exceed any in our lifetimes, they said, adding that this deep distrust of U.S. democratic processes will not magically disappear and should concern us all, whether or not elected officials or journalists believe the allegations.

It poses an ongoing threat to the legitimacy of any subsequent administrations, the senators wrote in their statement, while calling on Congress to appoint an electoral commission to conduct an emergency 10-day audit of the election results. They said they would object to the Electoral College results if the audit didnt take place.

In his statement, Romney criticized Cruz and other Republican senators for their efforts, saying their plan to restore trust in the election was nonsense.

This argument ignores the widely perceived reality that Congress is an overwhelmingly partisan body; the American people wisely place greater trust in the federal courts where judges serve for life. Members of Congress who would substitute their own partisan judgement for that of the courts do not enhance public trust, they imperil it, he said.

The Utah senator added that he was concerned that if Congress were to actually reject electoral college votes, then challenges could happen every time a lawmakers preferred candidate loses.

Congress, not voters in the respective states, would choose our presidents, Romney said.

Cruzs joint statement was signed by Sens. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), John Kennedy (R-La.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), and Mike Braun (R-Ind.).

Meanwhile, Sens.-elect Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), and Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) indicated that they also planned to join. Theyll be sworn in on Jan. 3, several days before the joint session.

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) was the first senator to announce his plans to object earlier this week, while dozens of House members have said they would object to the Electoral College results.

Objections to any states votes during the joint session must be made in writing by at least one House member and one senator. If the objection for any state meets this requirement, the joint session pauses and each house withdraws to its own chamber to debate the question for a maximum of two hours. The House and the Senate then vote separately to accept or reject the objection, which requires a majority vote from both chambers.

If both candidates receive less than 270 electoral votes on Jan. 6, then a contingent election is triggered in which each states delegation in the U.S. House of Representatives casts one en bloc vote to determine the president, while the vice president is decided by a vote in the U.S. Senate.

Earlier on Jan. 2, Sens. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) issued statements to say that they also opposed any attempts to challenge election college results on Jan. 6.

Similarly, Senate Democrats rebuked efforts by their Republican colleagues.

The group of Republican senators acknowledged in their statement that they expected Democrats and a few Republicans to vote against them but added that support for election integrity should not be a partisan issue.

A fair and credible auditconducted expeditiously and completed well before January 20 would dramatically improve Americans faith in our electoral process and would significantly enhance the legitimacy of whoever becomes our next President. We owe that to the People, the Republican senators said.

Vice President Mike Pence, who will be presiding over the Jan. 6 session, said on Jan. 2 that he welcomed efforts by lawmakers to challenge Electoral College results, according to a statement sent by his chief of staff to reporters.

In December, Romney boycotted a Senate hearing examining election irregularities, saying he didnt think it would be productive at this stage.
He recently made a pact to marry Laura Anderson if they're both single by the time they reach 40 on Love Island: What Happened Next?.

And Jack Fincham has continued to fuel romance rumours as he shared a throwback picture of himself and his former co-star, 31, to Instagram on Sunday.

It seems that the Love Islander, 29, may have joined Laura on her sun-soaked Dubai holiday as he tagged the city alongside the snap of the duo.

Dating? Jack Fincham fuelled romance rumours with Laura Anderson as he shared a throwback picture of himself and his Love Island co-star, 31, to Instagram on Sunday

Laura has joined a long line of reality stars and influencers who travelled to Dubai in December, amid strict coronavirus restrictions back home in the UK.

And alongside his post, the father-of-one simply posted a party popper emoji, as he hinted at his plans to to join the blonde beauty in the United Arab Emirates.

The socially distanced snap was taken when the pair filmed the Love Island reunion show earlier this year, alongside Dr Alex George.

Laura was quick to jokingly comment on the post: 'Omg who's that'

Holiday: It seems that the Love Islander, 29, may have joined Laura on her sun-soaked Dubai trip as he tagged the city as the location alongside the snap of the duo

While Love Island alum Alex, 30, seemed unamused that he had been cropped out of the picture, penning: 'Wait. Did you crop me out'

And many of his two million followers couldn't help but excitedly ask whether this meant that him and Laura were dating.

One fan wrote: 'Are you and laura a couple?'

And another speculated: 'Coincidence they are both in dubai at same time' (sic)

While a third commented: 'Get together already man'

The close pals first began sparking romance rumours after it was claimed that they had grown closer since appearing on Love Island.

Rumours: The friends made a pact to get married on Love Island: What Happened Next? and it was later reported that they have become 'romantic' (pictured, Laura on Dubai holiday)

The friends made a pact to get married on Love Island: What Happened Next? and it was later reported that they have become 'romantic'.

Speaking to The Sun, a source said: 'They have always been close, but lately they've grown more romantic with each other.

'Laura is based up in Scotland but sees Jack when she's in London. They really like each other and have even locked lips.'

Appearing on ITV2, Jack even promised to marry his former co-star if they're both single by the time they reach 40.

But the reality TV star has also fuelled rumours that he is dating Chloe Brockett, after the pair shared snaps from the same hot tub on Christmas Eve.

Hotting up? Jack has also fuelled rumours that he is dating Chloe Brockett after the pair shared snaps from the same hot tub on Christmas Eve

Jack and the TOWIE star, 20, set tongues wagging among their fans after posting near-identical snaps in their swimwear.

Jack posed shirtless while relaxing in a jacuzzi on Thursday, as he sipped on wine in a rose gold glass before Chloe shared a similar shot hours later.

Chloe showcased her recently surgically enhanced assets in a plunging khaki swimsuit, while enjoying a beverage in the same glass as her rumoured beau.

Clearly appreciative of the shot, Jack commented below: 'Yeah, this works.'

While Chloe flirted back: 'Too booby?'

Cheeky chap! Clearly appreciative of the shot, Jack commented below: 'Yeah, this works'

Meanwhile Chloe also commented on Jack's photo saying: 'Sort'.

The similar snaps got their followers talking and many speculated that the two media personalities had begun a romance.

One person noted: 'Sure @jack_charles has a selfie in the same hot tub the fingers crossed their dating, what a lush couple they would make.'

Another person said: 'Oh yeah you and @jack_charles.'

Chloe shared further pictures from their afternoon together as she posted a stunning bare-faced selfie, while appearing topless for the saucy snap.

Sharing a cosy fireside picture, she wrote: 'Happy Christmas Eve everyone, even though it's not the normal night I usually have, I'm feeling so grateful and lucky for the special people I have around me.

'If this year has taught all one thing, it's to enjoy the little things and look on the brighter side.'

Chloe was most recently publicly linked to her TOWIE co-star Harry Lee, before he began dating his now ex-girlfriend Frankie Sims.

Meanwhile, Jack rose to fame after winning Love Island back in 2018 alongside his ex-girlfriend Dani Dyer.

After they went their separate ways, Jack welcomed his first child - Blossom - with Casey Ranger.
The state cabinet on Wednesday approved proposals to mobilise additional resources giving its nod to increase value added tax (VAT) to 40% on cigarettes, cigar, paan masala (without tobacco), khaini, zarda and surti etc. Bidi has, however, been exempted from the increase, which could be about 10% to 15% on different items.

The state government hopes to get an additional revenue of 200 crore. Chief minister Akhilesh Yadav presided over the meeting of the cabinet that also approved a proposal to issue a notification to ban the sale of loose (unpacked) cigarettes in the state. As per the decision, anybody found selling loose cigarettes may be penalized under section 20 of Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products Act-2003.

Such items were causing adverse impact on the health of people, said chief minister while speaking to media persons after the meeting of the cabinet here.

Cars to cost more

The cabinet also decided to partially increase the rate of one-time tax under the provisions of Uttar Pradesh Motor Vehicles Taxation Act 1997. As per the decision, non-transport motor vehicles (personal) have been categorised into two groups. The rate of one-time tax on the four wheeler AC vehicles costing upto 8 lakh would remain in 8% tax category. The tax on SUVs costing more than 10 lakh has been increased from 8% to 10% now.

Similarly, two wheelers have also been categorised into two groups. There would be no change in the rate of one-time tax on twowheelers costing up to 40000. The rate of tax would, however, go up from 7% to 10% for vehicle costing more that now.


A ward has been closed in Cork University Hospital due to staff shortages as 100 nurses are out of work for Covid-19 related reasons.

As of 6.30pm on Saturday, there were no ICU beds left.

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) has warned that Irish hospitals are now under extreme pressure due to the third wave.

INMO General Secretary Phil Ni Sheaghdha said that the virus creates more patients and reduces staff in a vicious combination.

COVID is creating more patients while also depleting staffing. Its a vicious combination. Staff are far more experienced than they were at the start of this pandemic, but the sheer numbers are difficult to cope with.

Frontline staff are running three services in parallel  a COVID health service, a non-COVID health service, and a mass vaccination scheme. This can only work if pressure on our hospitals is eased, she said.

Read More

She said that the hospitals need all hands on deck and called on the public to follow public health advice.

On behalf of Irelands nurses and midwives, the INMO is asking that the public stay home and strictly follow public health advice. The vaccine is being rolled out  we simply need to keep cases down.

We need all hands on deck here. The government and HSE must focus on supporting the exhausted frontline healthcare workers. This means taking on additional capacity in the private sector and ensuring the childcare needs of frontline workers are taken into account, she added.

Cork University Hospital (CUH) also warned that it has been coping with a surge in very ill patients over the past 72 hours.

Admissions have involved both patients ill with Covid-19 as part of the third surge in virus cases across Ireland as well as other normal winter illnesses.

Some parts of Cork have seen Covid-19 detection rates more than quadruple in the space of just 10 days - with a number of worrying clusters in north and east Cork as well as parts of Cork city.

Of the 3,394 cases confirmed by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) on Saturday, some 389 were in Cork.

This has meant that, per capita, Cork has recorded the highest outbreak rates of the virus in the country.

Such is the pressure now on CUH - the acute referral hospital for the entire southern region - that the South-South West Hospital Group urged people to seek assistance from their GP, where appropriate, before attending the emergency department.

Officials warned the emergency department has been "exceptionally busy" over the past few days.

"The increase in attendance is due to the large number of very ill medical patients requiring admission," a spokesperson said.

"Patient care is paramount in CUH. Hospital management has requested that, where appropriate, the public contact their GP or South Doc in the first instance and explore all other options available to them prior to attending the emergency department if their needs are not urgent."

Patients have been urged to consider other options to the emergency department including the Mercy Urgent Care Centre on the St Mary's Campus as well as local injury units in Mallow and Bantry.

CUH management paid tribute to the hard work and dedication of allstaff in coping with the challenges involved.

Online Editors
Misericordia

Zachary Sabaday, of Saint Clair, was one of 15 students who completed the rigorous 25-month Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies program, including classroom and clinical instruction at Misericordia University, Dallas, Luzerne County. The program prepares graduates to sit for the Physician Assistant National Certification Examination.

Zachary and his classmates were recognized during a White Coat Ceremony that was held in the Lemmond Theater located in Walsh Hall.

Penn State

Graduates of Penn State Hazletons practical nursing program marked the successful completion of the program during a virtual ceremony on Dec. 17.

The class of 27 students completed the requirements to earn a certificate in practical nursing and will be eligible to test for the National Council Licensure Examination-Practical Nurses. The following local residents completed the program:

Christina E. Albertine, of McAdoo; Melissa Jasmil Gonzalez, of Nuremberg; Theresa Marie Karosa, of Ringtown; Ashley C. Vigoda, of Pottsville; Julie Lynne Wallace, of Tremont, who received the Award for Leadership and Professionalism which recognizes outstanding leadership and professionalism during the nursing education process; Sarah Lee Ann Welles, of Shenandoah; and Jamie Nicole Winters, of Shenandoah.
India reported 18,177 fresh cases of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), lowest in months, and 217 related deaths in the last 24 hours, data from the Union ministry of health and family welfare showed on Sunday morning. As the infection tally stood at 10,323,965, the number of active cases Covid-19 also dipped to 247,220 even as the countrys death toll rose to 149,435.

The Union health ministrys Covid-19 dashboard at 8am showed there were 20,923 recoveries between Saturday and Sunday morning, which have taken the total number of patients cured of the viral disease to 9,927,310 and the national recovery rate to 96.15%.

The dip in fresh cases of the coronavirus disease comes on a day the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) is likely to formally announce the approval for two vaccines by Oxford-AstraZeneca and Bharat Biotech. Experts at Indias drug regulators have recommended that the Oxford-AstraZeneca and Bharat Biotech Covid-19 vaccines be allowed for use in India, which is the worlds second worst-hit country.

Also read |96,000 vaccinators trained till now, says health minister as day 1 of nationwide dry run ends

The subject expert committee (SEC) under the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) recommended Oxford-AstraZenecas vaccine, which is being manufactured by the Serum Institute of India (SII) as Covishield, for emergency use and Covaxin for restricted use. Covaxin is the indigenous vaccine being developed by Bharat Biotech in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

Also read | 30 million people to be vaccinated by August in Maharashtra

Union health minister Dr Harsh Vardhan has said that free vaccine shall be given to most prioritised beneficiaries, including 10 million healthcare and 20 million frontline workers, across the nation in the first phase of Covid-19 vaccination. He had also warned people against falling prey to rumours and disinformation campaigns regarding the safety and efficacy of the Covid-19 vaccine and dismissed rumours on social media.

The Union health ministry on Saturday conducted a nationwide mock drill at 285 session sites to test the end-to-end planned operations and the mechanism that has been set up to ensure smooth conduct of the Covid-19 vaccination that is expected to begin soon.
The Jharkhand health department on Tuesday issued an alert spooked by the rise in mosquito-borne Japanese Encephalitis (JE) cases in the state, calling it a bigger threat than dengue.

Rani Kumari, 10, a resident of Latehar district became the fifth child in Jharkhand on Monday to be diagnosed with JE in the past fortnight. In the last six months, 37 children in Jharkhand were diagnosed with the infection, of which 17 were diagnosed at the Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Hospital (MGMCH) in East Singhbhum.

Transmitted from pigs and wild birds to mosquitoes, JE can lead to severe neurological defects by affecting the central nervous system, leading to tremors and paralysis in humans, said doctors.

"JE affects children in the age group of 1-15 years and can lead to life-long nerve and neurological defects. It is a bigger threat than dengue in Jharkhand. The virus is dominant in seven districts. We have asked hospitals to be prepared. In rural areas, we have asked people to keep pig sty clean to avoid mosquito breeding," said Integrated Diseases Surveillance Project director, Dr Ramesh Prasad. He added that unlike dengue that cannot breed in the hilly terrain, JE is local to the state.

"Most dengue cases under treatment have contracted the disease in New Delhi, Bihar and Karnataka," said Prasad. Monu Prasri, a 14-year-old dengue patient, succumbed to the disease at Muskan hospital, Bokaro on Monday night, making it the first death from the disease in Jharkhand, officials said. Last year, according to the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP), 90 children were diagnosed with the disease.

"The retreating monsoon only increases chances of spurt in cases. Districts officials have been directed to keep adequate stocks of supportive medicines. The health department has also asked for weekly reports," said director-in-chief Jharkhand health services, Dr Sumant Mishra.

The RIMS administration and Ranchi Life Savers (RLS) has appealed to the city people to volunteer as Single Platelet Donors (SPD) to help dengue patients in need of platelets. RIS founder Atul Ghera said that getting instant platelets was possible in Ranchi because RIMS has an apheresis machine that allowed blood banks to take the blood from the donor, spate out platelet and return the blood in the body.

"It is a two-hour process. We have asked people on Facebook to join in. A WhatsApp group will help us reach the donors. We will have 10 donors under each blood type ready to donate at any time," said Ghera.
Actor Tara Sutaria and her boyfriend Aadar Jain had a cute exchange of words on Instagram. The couple often shares pictures from their holidays abroad.

Sharing a throwback picture from one of his holidays at a beachside locale, Aadar wrote: Riding the wave #2021 The picture showed Aadar, holding a oar in hand. Reportedly, it was from his Maldives vacay. Reacting to the picture, Tara wrote: Take me with you.

The couple was in Maldives recently to celebrate Taras birthday. Aadar had shared a cute picture of the two of them and had written: Happy 25th Principessa. Tara had left a comment too. She had written: Thank you my whole heart. Life is beautiful with you!

There had been much speculation about their relationship status. In August this year, the two had confirmed their relationship with yet another sweet exchange of words. Tara had shared a picture of them partying, twinning in white, and written: Ever thine, ever mine, ever ours! Happy Birthday to my favourite person @aadarjain. Aadar had reacted to the post and written: I love you with a heart emoji. Tara replied to his comment, I love you followed by a heart emoji.

Also read: Anusha Dandekar hints Karan Kundra lied and cheated on her: I waited for an apology, which never came

They have since been spotted at Kapoor family functions or at the airport. The relationship got a stamp of approval when Aadars mom Rima Jain had told Mumbai Mirror last year, we love anybody our son loves. However, she had categorically denied possibility of a marriage in the near future and had said: No, nothing like that. Theyre young. Well see later in life what happens. Let them make their life and let them work.

On the work front, Aadar made his film debut with Qaidi Band (2017) while Tara was launched alongwith Ananya Panday in Student of the Year 2.

Follow @htshowbiz for more

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Adam Parker has covered many beats and topics for The Post and Courier, including race and history, religion, and the arts. He is the author of "Outside Agitator: The Civil Rights Struggle of Cleveland Sellers Jr.," published by Hub City Press.
Officers of the Metropolitan Police patrol in Victoria Park, east London, on April 11, 2020. (Tolga Akmen/AFP via Getty Images)

London Police Arrest 17 at Hyde Park Anti-Lockdown Rally

UK police arrested 17 anti-lockdown protesters on Saturday in Londons Hyde Park on suspicion of breaching CCP virus restrictions.

Officers arrested four people who had gathered in Hyde Park near Marble Arch at around 1 p.m. local time under Health Protection Regulations, the Metropolitan Police said on Twitter.

At around 1pm, 4 people were arrested under Health Protection Regs having gathered in Hyde Park near Marble Arch. Officers will take enforcement action where we see clear breaches of the Tier 4 rules. Its up to all of us to make the right choices + slow the spread of the virus  Metropolitan Police Events (@MetPoliceEvents) January 2, 2021

At 2.35 p.m., the police reported that officers were continuing to engage with groups of people who had gathered in the area, and that a number of people have been arrested under Health Protection Regulations and taken into custody.

Officers urged those in the area to leave immediately, the force said.

#UPDATE | Officers continue to engage with groups of people who have gathered in the #HydePark area. A number of people have been arrested under Health Protection Regulations and taken into custody. We urge those in the area to leave immediately.  Metropolitan Police Events (@MetPoliceEvents) January 2, 2021

At 4.40 p.m., the police said that the majority of protesters had left Hyde Park, but 17 people had been arrested on suspicion of breaching CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus rules.

London was put under tier four, the strictest COVID-19 restrictions in England, on Dec. 20, because it was one of the regions most affected by a new variant of the CCP virus, which the government said was spreading faster than the old variant.

#UPDATE | The majority of protesters have now left Hyde Park. 17 people have been arrested on suspicion of breaching Health Protection Regulations. Officers remain in the area.  Metropolitan Police Events (@MetPoliceEvents) January 2, 2021

Under tier four rules, which are broadly equivalent to the national lockdown in England in November, people must stay at home except for limited exemptions, and individuals can only meet one person from another household in an outdoor public space.

In the run-up to the new year, the government ran a public information campaign, urging people to stay at home on New Years Eve.

The Metropolitan Police said on New Years Day that officers attended calls to 58 unlicensed music events and parties in breach of tier four rules across London overnight.

The police issued fixed penalty fines to 217 people, and five people were reported for consideration of a possible 10,000 ($13,676) fine for organising large gatherings.

In addition, four people were arrested on New Years Eve for gathering in central London.

Commander Paul Brogden said: We are still dealing with the stark reality of fighting a deadly virus. I urge Londoners to continue to keep themselves and their families safe by staying at home.

Lily Zhou contributed to this report.
What silver lining from the catastrophe of 2020 gives you optimism in 2021? We asked this of leaders in a range of disciplines and their responses were even stronger than we expected. As one respondent put it, hardship has worked as a pressure cooker for putting ideas into action  mutual aid, telemedicine, renewable energy, grassroots leadership. Examples abound of hard-won optimism in troubled times.

Ive done a lot of things this year that I never thought Id do. I learned to lobby Congress to try to save my industry. I learned how to package my food to sell at H-E-B. I spent much of this year with a camera crew in my home kitchen filming virtual cooking classes to keep revenue coming in. My restaurants all offer takeout  something we rarely offered before, and Ive got glass partitions in all of my dining rooms to block airflow between tables. Lets not forget makeshift patios and selling jams, preserves and bacon sausage at the farmers market. All to make sure my staff could get paid.

But, the truth is, this year hasnt been all bad. Ive never been prouder of the Underbelly Hospitality team. My staff has hustled their hearts out to make sure our restaurants are still standing when this crisis is over.

Im in awe of the Southern Smoke staff. Since the beginning of COVID-19, Southern Smoke has granted more than $4.3 million to 2,200 food and industry professionals nationwide. This team is literally saving lives on a daily basis, and they make me so incredibly proud. Theyre doing what the federal government has not yet been able to do, which is provide a safety net for the industry that has carried the burden of this pandemic on their backs.

Im hopeful for the future. I cant wait for the day when my dining rooms are full. When the life or death applications for assistance that Southern Smoke receives are the exception and not the rule. When restaurants are once again places for celebrations and comfort.

Our industry has shown its grit, strength and resilience. Theres no stopping us now.

Chris Shepherd is the chef/owner of Underbelly Hospitality and co-founder of Southern Smoke Foundation.

Opportunity for those with disabilities

Many employers have learned that the majority of their workforce can do their work at home and the productivity of workers at home meets or exceeds the levels they expect from their workforce using traditional office-based workplaces. These findings will play a pivotal role in shaping the workplace of the future by providing more opportunities for people who must work at home due to disabilities or other personal circumstances. Expanding work-at-home opportunities will bring thousands of capable, qualified, eager-to-work people into the workforce. Employers will benefit, people with disabilities will have long awaited opportunities, the tax base will be expanded and our community will enjoy added prosperity.

This year, many of us have been unable to receive routine medical care and treatment. The resulting dilemma inspired the expanded use of telemedicine. The same dynamics that cause us to need work-at-home accommodations lead us to seek health care via remote technologies, including remote electronic monitoring devices and Zoom-style consultations with our physicians and other caregivers. Before the pandemic, telemedicine was seldom used effectively, in part due to the inexperience of clinicians with the modality, and because of certain state rules and federal regulations. Many of us who would otherwise have suffered have been appropriately treated without the need to overcome barriers associated with our conditions, some of which may have required us to assume unnecessary risks, or even transportation by ambulance. Hopefully, the efficacy of telemedicine during the pandemic will be sufficient to encourage its use more by clinicians and to permanently reduce regulatory barriers.

Lex Frieden directs the Independent Living Research Utilization Program at TIRR Memorial Hermann Hospital and is a professor of health informatics at UTHealth.

Quickening energy transition

Ive spent much of the last fifteen years on the fringes of sustainable real estate and clean energy development working mostly as a one-man band on community-scale, local projects with wonderful partners. During this time, Ive watched things change. Houston area parks, bayous and greenways are more connected and growing greener; neighborhood-focused real estate developers and operators creatively fill the gaps between the expanding seas of Houstons many skylines; and the energy we consume is about to get a lot cleaner (and probably cheaper) in Houston and across the state.

The November report from ERCOT, the Texas grid operator, that tracks new power plant interconnection requests shows that of the 134,019 megawatts under review, 81,157 megawatts are from proposed solar projects, 23,898 megawatts are from proposed wind projects, and 21,404 megawatts are from proposed battery projects. For reference, the Texas grid typically peaks just under 80,000 megawatts of load in the summer months. While not all of these projects will happen, clean energy developers (many based in Houston) are spending real dollars to advance them, with an increasing number now backed by growing divisions within our citys global oil and gas companies and traditional private equity firms.

While these signs are encouraging and point to a Houston maintaining its position as the energy capital, there is still work to be done. That said, Im optimistic. I believe there is no shortage of good ideas, talent, and support from local business, civic, and political leaders in Houston to push the ball forward.

Joey Romano is the managing director of Moonlight Interests.

A pressure cooker for new tech

As a teenager, I asked my father, Dr. M. Aminul Haq, why he had switched from being a surgeon to do epidemiology. He had joined the WHOs smallpox eradication program headed up by Dr. Don Henderson. My father said that he had become a doctor to help save lives, and saving hundreds of millions of lives in perpetuity by eradicating smallpox was how he could best contribute to benefit humanity.

The human race is again facing a singular enemy in COVID-19. And it is incredible to see our collaborative response of doctors, scientists and technologists in unprecedented numbers. I work at Cruise, where we are building safe self-driving cars. With the onset of the pandemic, we partnered with two San Francisco food banks, SF-Marin Food Bank and SF New Deal, to volunteer our all-electric, self-driving fleet for contactless deliveries of groceries and meals to San Franciscos most vulnerable and underserved populations. Robots are playing a notable role in every aspect of managing the COVID-19 crisis, from quarantine enforcement and disinfecting public spaces, to clinical care for patients, laboratory automation and handling infectious materials.

In addition to robots, technology in the form of artificial intelligence is being used to detect, respond to, and recover from COVID-19. AI is being used to understand the virus, predict its evolution, and accelerate the research on drugs and treatment. Scientists are leveraging AI and computational methods to understand the pathobiology of SARS-COV-2 and discover new candidate antivirals. After a clinical trial, it would take more than 30 days to clean up the data and get it ready for analysis. According to Pfizer, their software partners have reduced this to 22 hours, thus speeding up their vaccine availability by a month.

This year has been challenging for most people. I have lost two close family members to COVID-19. But our coming together for an unprecedented, unified , and urgent response has been inspiring. I have known that todays generation of technology leaders can have a metamorphic impact by catalyzing AI and robotics to help humanity. The pressure cooker of 2020 has given us an excellent window into seeing this impact in action.

Rashed Haq is the author of Enterprise Artificial Intelligence Transformation.

Writers and artists incubating ideas

Writers of fiction are familiar with the admonition to hold off on that pandemic novel. Fiction is not news, not a hot take, not instant satire on late night television. Were still too close to the material for our artistic faculties to make enduring meaning of it; our emotions still too loud for our listening ear, too candescent for our perceptive eye, too muddled for our discerning mind. Our observations from now must trickle down to our subconscious, marinate there for years to realize their potential as literature.

Writing, like any other creative process has multiple stages. Perhaps what we are being told is to honor the needs of the incubation stage, to later allow for effective synthesis. Preceding these stages however is preparation.

To pause to scribble about empty streets and overflowing morgues, the uncanny similarity of scenes across nations that never imagined they had anything in common, the innovation that sprouted within weeks so we could again be at school, do our work, and yes, make and share our art: this is our work. Let it take on the form that the artist in us is tempted to give it, of post-it notes, or a whole story, a novel even. The goal here is both simpler and more important than we might imagine: to gather those impressions and memories that we will, no doubt, in time make meaning of.

Maya Kanwal is a Pakistani-American writer.

Leadership with character

911. Katrina. Ebola. Wildfires. Ike. Harvey. Catastrophic floods. When we coalesce around a common goal in the wake of catastrophes we can and do work for the common good and are capable of enormous generosity. When we understand that we have a shared experience, a shared need, a shared value  or even a there but for the grace of God moment of relief  it shakes us out of our bubbles and allows us to set our hands together to create incredible results and offer unbelievable sacrifices. I trust that will always be the case.

In order for that to happen in the absence of shattering circumstances, we need leaders who seek to appeal to the better angels of our natures. Character, decency and kindness need to become personal and public values we celebrate.

Annise Parker served three terms as the 61st mayor of Houston.

Grassroots strength

In the last several years, Houstonians have seen multiple floods of great proportions. Many continue to navigate the system for home repairs. Minority communities have long faced systemic environmental injustices that continue to this day. On top of all that, this year we faced a global pandemic that started out with many more questions than answers.

Through it all there has been growth within the Houston community. Along the grassroots level we are seeing more great leaders who support their neighborhoods. Residents are becoming more active to aid their community, asking questions and advocating for their needs. Whether for a particular cause or to help shape policy, they are holding themselves accountable before holding elected officials accountable. Residents have been through quite a bit and they want to see tangible change. They want taxation with representation.

When you have very little to start with you have nothing to loose.

Now that there is a vaccine to address COVID-19 there is hope for optimism. 2021 is a year of promise because of the people working to the best of their God-given ability.

People are resilient but they require the proper resources, tools and funding to work with to help see a brighter day. Not just in some neighborhoods but in all neighborhoods. Together we make a community.

Keith Downey is president of the Kashmere Gardens Super Neighborhood Council #52.
Suspected bandits on Saturday night killed about 14 villagers in Kaya, a village in Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State, when they attacked the community.

The incident happened around 6:30 p.m. when the bandits, said to be on a revenge mission, stormed the small village killing the victims and setting vehicles ablaze.

A resident of the community, who simply identified himself as Suleiman, said nine people sustained injuries.

According to him, earlier on Friday, some vigilantes in the community killed some of the bandits who attacked a neighbouring village.

The bandits attacked our village in revenge of the killings of their members by our vigilante after abducting and killing one person on 1 and 2 January. So they returned in the night on Saturday in large number on motorcycles and killed 14 people, he said.

Kaduna Govt confirms killings

Confirming the killings, the Kaduna Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, in a statement, described the killings as counter killings.

He said the military and other security agencies have informed Kaduna State Government that several lives were lost in the attack

He gave the names of the victims as Hudu Shafiu, Madaro Madaki, Ibrahim Hamida, Ibrahim Mohammed Maidoya, Kabiru Maitakalmi, Ibrahim Kayawa.

Others are Danladi Daiyabu, Zubairu Mailemu, Awwalu Yahaya, Audu Sarkar and Maharazu Adamu.

He said three unidentified corpses were also recovered and were said to be drivers in transit from Funtua, Katsina State.

He also said some persons sustained bullet wounds and are receiving medical attention at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH) Shika, Zaria.

Those injured are: Mujahideen Muhammad, Suleiman Mustapha Bashir, Ibrahim Sulaiman, Nuhu Idris, Alkassim Ismail , Nafiu Sirajo, Musa Magaji, Muhammad Salisu Kaya and Musa Ibrahim.

Mr Aruwan said security agencies confirmed that several shops, five vehicles and some motorcycles were burnt by the attackers.

He said the killings and counter-killings occurred at Kaya community, which shares a boundary with Hayin Kaura village of Dandume Local Government Area of Katsina State.

He said the bandits were fiercely pursued by a combined team of volunteers from Kaya, and from Hayin Kaura village of Katsina State, in keeping with their practice of supporting security efforts in their respective communities.

The commissioner added that Governor Nasir El-Rufai appealed for recourse to the law as the main solution to the violence, killings and counter-killings by aggrieved groups and Individuals.

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He said the governor expressed deep concern, and tasked security agencies to carry out extensive investigations into the circumstances leading to the killings.
The last time Fort Bend County elected an African-American sheriff, four years after the Civil War, the racial caste system was so firm in the United States that Walter Moses Burton had to hire a white deputy to handle all arrests of white suspects.

That it took 150 years to elect another one, said new Sheriff Eric Fagan at his swearing-in ceremony Saturday morning, is a sign there is still much progress to be made.

We have work to do to show our children that they can hold any office, no matter what race, gender or faith, Fagan said. We have work to do to show the community that we serve that we in law enforcement are listening, and that we wont stand for police brutality or preferential treatment to our citizens.

Fagan, 60, pledged to supporters at the Fort Bend Church in Sugar Land that he would reform the Sheriffs Office, including by requiring all deputies to wear body cameras, banning chokeholds and creating a diverse citizen review board. He said has already hired a diverse command staff, whom he asked to stand in their pews.

He will represent people who are among the least, last and the lost, but he will also represent those who are among the well-off, the well-heeled and the well-to-do, said Rep. Al Green, D-Houston. He will represent all of the people of Fort Bend County.

The Democrat defeated Republican Trever Nehls, brother of incumbent Sheriff Troy Nehls, in November. His victory cemented a political shift in Fort Bend County, one of the fastest-growing and most diverse in the country. Once a stronghold for Republicans and the power base for former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, the county went for Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden by 10 points.

The countys elected officials are also starting to more closely resemble the countys population, which is nearly equal parts white, African-American, Hispanic and Asian. Voters elected the countys first Black district attorney and first Indian-American county judge in 2018. Fittingly, Fagans inauguration ceremony at a Christian house of worship included Muslim and Hindu prayers.

The elevation of leaders of color in Fort Bend County is particularly important to African-Americans, said U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Houston, because of its ugly role in the expansion of slavery in Texas. She noted how Stephen F. Austin encouraged slave owners to settle on the countys arable lands; by 1860, a majority of the county population was enslaved.

Sugar Land also was home to the Imperial Prison Farm, where until the 20th century private companies could lease the labor of Texas prison inmates, most of whom were Black  a practice nearly indistinguishable from slavery.

Yet Fort Bend County also produced Walter Moses Burton, who after a term as sheriff served a decade in the Texas Senate, where he helped create what would become Prairie View A&M University. A number of speakers Saturday noted Fagans lineal connection to Burton.

Fagan earned bachelors and masters degrees from Prairie View, graduating at the top of his class, and in a remarkable coincidence grew up next door to a girl who would later marry Burtons great-great-great-grandson.

In his brief speech, Fagan said he was eager to begin modernizing the departments tactics and training, and he outlined a seven-point plan with a focus on domestic violence, community outreach and youth programs.

He concluded by placing a Stetson on his head and leaving the lectern to the 1972 Isley Brothers hit Work To Do.

Brooke Lewis contributed to this report.

zach.despart@chron.com
By Tina M. Zottoli, Tarika Daftary-Kapur and Besiki Kutateladze

On Nov. 9, Gov. Phil Murphy signed into law a program requiring the New Jersey attorney general to record and analyze data on all adult defendants adjudicated in New Jersey.

Coming on the heels of other recent criminal justice reforms in the state, the new law is being heralded as groundbreaking in scope and potential. In addition to defendant and victim race, ethnicity, gender and age, the law requires the collection of information on case processing decisions and dispositions, including information about plea negotiations  a process that, unlike a trial, is typically hidden from public scrutiny. Tracking these data over time should help policymakers identify and remediate racial and economic disparities in the system, as well as enhance community safety and build trust.

As social scientists who work on criminal justice issues, we welcome its passage. We also recognize, however, that its success will depend on more than just progressive ideals.

To ensure the promises of the law are fully realized, robust planning is necessary to create a realistic timeline to implement it  one that takes into account the deficiencies in the current infrastructure. In addition, the state must be committed to adequate and sustained funding to build the infrastructure, establish data collection practices, and train prosecutors to connect data to their decisions, including support for a competent and experienced team dedicated to these functions. Finally, we encourage the state to invest in partnerships with local research scientists to facilitate planning and to aid in the analysis, synthesis and interpretation of data.

The state of Florida provides a cautionary tale. Floridas Criminal Justice Data Transparency Law, enacted in 2018, mandated the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) to collect and make publicly available similar data on all misdemeanor and felony cases in the state.

The law was heralded as the most transparent in the country and, much like New Jerseys new law, as a blueprint for the nation. Unfortunately, the FDLE was not equipped for the task, nor was this ambitious undertaking sufficiently planned or funded. As a result, to date, there is no infrastructure in place to collect, organize, store and disseminate statewide data in the state of Florida.

However, Florida has seen some successes at the local level. Working with a research team at Florida International University, and with funding from the MacArthur Foundation, the Jacksonville and Tampa prosecutors offices will soon launch Floridas first public-facing dashboards to track a set of empirically supported prosecutor performance indicators. In addition to partnering with researchers to plan and develop the data collection systems, the prosecutors offices are leveraging these relationships to build stronger ties with the local communities.

In New Jersey, the justice system is centrally organized and the data-reporting systems across prosecutors offices are more compatible than those in states where prosecutors are elected at the county level and where offices have not adopted common metrics or standards. This is an advantage that points to a high likelihood of success for New Jerseys data law, if planned and implemented effectively.

While New Jersey prides itself in its top-tier universities, researcher-prosecutor partnerships are rare. We encourage the state to look at the local-level success achieved in Florida and leverage its own resources to ensure the success of this groundbreaking legislation and make it more than a just set of lofty goals.

Tina M. Zottoli is an assistant professor in the Psychology Department at Montclair State University.

Tarika Daftary-Kapur is an associate professor in the Justice Studies Department at Montclair State University.

Besiki Kutateladze is an associate professor in the Criminology and Criminal Justice Department of Florida International University.

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Schools are reopening today in France after the holiday break today as the pandemic is continuing to surge out of control. The Macron government is rejecting calls by medical specialists, educators and parent groups for the cancellation or postponement of in-person classes.

The virus is spreading extremely rapidly throughout the country. The official tally of more than 3,400 cases in the last 24 hours is a vast underestimateon December 31, more than 19,000 cases were reported. The Macron government has itself admitted that there are likely already 15,000 new cases every day. The seven-day rolling average for deaths remains just under 300, but 969 deaths were reported in a single day on December 28.

The situation is made all the more dangerous by the emergence of a new and even more contagious strain in the UK. The number of new cases being reported daily in the UK is several times higher than in France and Germany, and has exceeded 50,000 every day since December 29. The new variant has already been detected in over a dozen countries, including in France, Spain, Italy and Germany.

French President Emmanuel Macron attends a EU-China video-conference along with Chinese President Xi Jinping, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and President of the European Council Charles Michel, at the Fort de Bregancon in Bormes-les-Mimosas, southern France, Wednesday, Dec.30 2020. (Sebastien Nogier, Pool via AP)

Leading medical specialists in France and Europe have publicly demanded that schools not be reopened. On Twitter, Professor Antoine Flafault, director of the Institute of Global Health in Geneva, tweeted on Saturday that with the aggravation of the situation in the UK and Ireland, lets not commit the same mistake at the time of the first wave in Italy, no procrastination in Europe: lets not reopen schools at the beginning of January, but vaccinate, vaccinate, vaccinate. Accelerate the vaccination. Mahmoud Zureik, a teaching doctor in epidemiology in Paris, tweeted a call for the closure of schools for at least one week to allow a study of the spread of the virus.

In an open letter published Wednesday, the Forgotten families and schools organization published an open letter to the Macron government, demanding that given the resurgence of the pandemic, the latest scientific information, as well as the enormous uncertainty concerning the new variant VUI-202012/01 of Sars-Cov-2, the schools [should] not open on January 4.

The national teachers unions have called a one-day strike action in the education system on January 26. It is a rear-guard effort by the unions, which have worked closely with the Macron government to enforce the maintenance of in-person classes and suppress teachers opposition. A strike in the energy sector has been called for two days later, on January 28.

At the reopening of classes at the beginning of November, teachers held impromptu assemblies outside buildings at dozens of schools before school and voted not to enter classrooms. They demanded the enforcement of safe conditions in classrooms, and posted statements on social media denouncing the unsafe conditions in their classrooms.

In the period since, none of these conditions have been resolved. Schools continue to be filled with anywhere up to 35 students at a time, with hundreds eating together in cafeterias, and children crammed into public transportation. The unions worked to suppress the strike action, opposed demands for the closure of schools and instead called demoralizing one-day warning strikes aimed at keeping teachers and students in classrooms. The Macron government deployed riot police to use teargas at over a dozen schools against striking students demanding their closure.

The unions are particularly concerned at the prospect of industrial action by teachers in Britain against the reopening of schools tomorrow. The education unions in Britain have been forced to advise teachers not to go to school today.

The Macron government is proceeding well aware that the reopening of schools will accelerate the spread of the virus. The director of Public Health France, Jerome Salomon, conceded in an interview with the Journal du Dimanche that the mixing of students after the holiday break can reshuffle the cards of the epidemiological situation.

Referring to the new variants of the virus first detected in Britain and South Africa, Salomon pointed to reports that the new strain is particularly impacting school-age youth. The strains affect particularly the youth, for whom the possibility of spreading the virus may be higher than in the general population. We must be very attentive in the school and university milieu, he said.

Professor Mark Walport, a member of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies in Britain, told the BBCs Andrew Marr show that a person [aged] between 12 and 16 is seven times more likely than others in a household to bring the infection into a household. And we know that there was a small dip in the amount of transmission in school children after half term, which went up again after they went back. A new report published by the Imperial College of London on the Transmission of Sars-Cov-2 Lineage B.1.1.7 in England notes that available [genetic] data indicate a shift in the age composition of reported cases, with a larger share of under 20-year-olds among reported [variant] than [non-variant] cases.

The statements of medical specialists directly contradict the lying justification of the Macron administration for its policy. Speaking on Europe1 on December 20, Education Minister Blanquer declared that the delay of the opening of schools is not the preferred option. He referred to unnamed studies that have shown that in the school setting, we have succeeded in contaminating less than outside the school setting.

The governments policy has nothing to do with the science of combatting the virus, and less still with its professed concern for the psychological well-being of students. Its concern is to ensure that students be pushed into classrooms, so that parents can be pushed to work, and that corporate profits not be impacted by the pandemic. Its homicidal policy of profits before lives is responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands in France already and is leading toward a renewed upsurge of the virus that could be even more deadly than the previous year.

Under conditions of mass death, the French elite have done fabulously well throughout 2020. The 40 richest French billionaires are now worth $500 billion, up by more than $95 billion a year ago. The overwhelming majority of this gain has come from the rise of share prices in the fashion and luxury design industry, which has propelled the wealth of Bernard Arnault (shareholder in LVMH) and Francoise Bettencourt Meyers (LOreal). The French stock index has almost completely recouped all its initial losses from the beginning of the pandemic, due to the infusions of hundreds of billions in bailouts by the governments of France and across Europe.

In opposition to the ruling elites policy of death, French teachers and students should form their own independent committees in every school, independent of the teachers unions. Strike action must be mobilised for the closure of in-person education and non-essential work, and the provision of vast resources to the education system to fund remote learning until a vaccine has been distributed throughout the population.
A 31-year-old Erie man was awaiting arraignment Saturday afternoon on charges of rape, strangulation and terroristic threats after Erie police accused him of assaulting a woman at a west Erie residence early Saturday morning.

Police said the woman was assaulted at a residence in the 3100 block of Plum St. between 12:30 a.m. and 5:15 a.m., when the woman reported the incident to authorities.

Police accuse the man of tying the womans hands, striking her several times with his hand, and threatening to kill her and choke her with a cord.

The man is facing charges of rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, terroristic threats, unlawful restraint and strangulation.

The woman was taken to an Erie hospital, where she was treated and released, police reported.

Police apprehended the suspect Saturday morning at the Plum Street residence.
Pay and Placement

GMATs and GREs

Costs and Aid

Know-How and Diversity

MBAs have a lot to digest in choosing a program. After all, business school is a defining decision; the choice will set life-long networks and paths. That means tapping into the right people with the right values who can help you find the right role in the right location. And its so easy to get it wrong in any of these dimensions.

Business school rankings can reflect a variety of measures: branding, versatility, and momentum among them. Eventually, there comes a time to peel back the methods, assumptions, and weights to review the ranking data in its raw form. That way, prospective students can compare schools to know their odds, outlays, and outcomes.

Each year, P&Q collects data from the top domestic and international to help readers identify the best returns for their unique goals. From industry-specific pay to school-specific financial aid, here are 46 different measures for prospective MBAs to consider in choosing a business school.

CLASS OF 2022 FULL-TIME STATS

Acceptance Rates At The Top 25 U.S. MBA Programs

COVID-19 Puts B-School MBA App Plunge Firmly In The Past

COVID Slows But Cant Stop The Risking Cost of A Top 25 MBA Program

Leading Business Schools With The Most Women

What It Now Costs To Get A Top-25 MBA Degree

MBA Applications Soaring At Many Business Schools

Where MBA Applicants Have The Best Chance In Round Three

The Most and Least Challenging MBA Applications of 2020-2021

CLASS OF 2021 FULL-TIME STATS

Consulting Pay: What MBAs Earned In 2019

Average Salary and Bonuses For MBAs

U.S. MBA Programs With The Most International Students

The Highest-Paid MBA Grads At The Top 25 B-Schools

Average GRE Scores At The Top 50 MBA Programs

Job Placement Rates and Starting Pay At U.S. News Top 50 MBA Programs

Average Age and Work Experience At Top MBA Programs

Acceptance Rates At The Top 25 U.S. MBA Programs

The M7: Still (Mostly) The Most Magnificent Of Them All

Story continues

The Top MBA Programs With The Most Women

Acceptance Rates At The Top 50 Business Schools In The U.S.

Average Undergrad GPAs At The Top 50 Business Schools

Average GMST Scores At The Top 50 Business Schools

You Know About The M7. Now Learn About The S10

The Total Cost To Attend A Top 25 MBA Program Keeps Rising

The Most Selective MBA Programs

Minorities At The Top 25 U.S. MBA Programs

The Highest and Lowest GMAT Scores At The Top 25 Business Schools

MBA Scholarships At Record Levels With Awards As High as $200K

What MBAs Earn By Industry: Heres How Much Youre Worth

MBA Pay By Region: Heres How Much Youre Worth

GMAT Scores By State: Youll Never Guess Where The Highest GMATs Are Scored

Wall Street Gets Its Finance MBAs From These School

These Schools Are The Top Feeders To The Tech Industry For Now

In A Huge Year For Consulting, MBAs At These Schools Were The Top Industry Feeders

The Most Gender Equitable MBA Programs Are In China

The 700 GMAT Club: Heres How Many Make The Cut

Kellogg Poet Puts MBA Experience In Numbers

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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 3)  COVID-19 cases in the country grew to 477,807 with 891 more infected, the Department of Health announced on Sunday.

The DOH attributed the drop in the number of new cases to a "decrease in the number of patients seen in COVID-19 laboratories during the New Year." It added that 11 testing laboratories failed to submit data on time and were not yet included in the updated count.

Of the total tally, 20,292 or 4.2% are active cases, the report showed.

Davao City contributed the highest number of new cases with 65, followed by Rizal with 55, Isabela with 50, the City of Manila with 40, and Quezon City with 37.

The department also confirmed 8,316 more COVID-19 survivors, raising the recovery count to 448,258 or 93.8% of all those infected.

Deaths due to the illness meanwhile rose to 9,257 with four new fatalities. This is the third consecutive day the DOH reported single digits for new COVID-19 deaths.

The DOH warned that an increase in cases in the coming weeks is still possible, as it added that it continues to assess the extent of the holidays on viral transmission.

Meanwhile, cases among overseas Filipinos slightly rose to 12,892 with one more patient, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Recoveries remained at 8,387 with no new survivors reported for the fourth day in a row. No new fatalities were also logged for the 11th consecutive day, with the death toll staying at 911.

Globally, some 84.6 million people have been infected, with over 1.8 million deaths and 47.6 million survivors, according to the Johns Hopkins University tracker.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-04 06:18:57|Editor: huaxia

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RAMALLAH -- Palestine on Sunday started taking samples in the West Bank to test for the new strain of the novel coronavirus, said a senior Palestinian official.

Director-General of Supportive Medical Services at the Palestinian Health Ministry told reports during a press conference held in Ramallah that his ministry has not recorded any cases infected with the new strain.

"However, we may record cases infected with the new strain because it has already arrived in Israel and the Palestinians are in contact with Israelis," the official said. (Palestine-Coronavirus-Tests)

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ADEN, Yemen -- An explosion caused by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) targeted a location of Saudi Arabia's troops in Yemen's southern province of Abyan on Sunday evening, a government official told Xinhua.

The local government source said on condition of anonymity that "the IED's explosion struck a high school building used by Saudi soldiers as a temporary location in the country's coastal town of Shuqrah."

The explosion caused no casualties among the Saudi troops but partially damaged the exterior wall of Shuqrah's high school building, the source said. (Yemen-Saudi-Troops)

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BAGHDAD -- Iraqi leaders on Sunday called for the withdrawal of foreign forces from Iraq on the first anniversary of a U.S. drone strike that killed two senior commanders of Shiite militias.

During a rally of thousands of supporters of Hashd Shaabi forces at al-Tahrir Square in downtown Baghdad, Hadi al-Ameri, head of Iran-backed Badr Organization, told the demonstrators "the government must abide by its pledges to remove all foreign forces, especially the U.S. forces, according to a timetable." (Iraq-U.S.-Forces)

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JERUSALEM -- The Israeli Defense Ministry said on Sunday that it had completed the delivery of two anti-rocket Iron Dome systems to the U.S. Army.

The second of the two Iron Dome batteries was delivered over the weekend, according to a statement issued by the ministry.

The two batteries "will be employed in the defense of U.S. troops against a variety of ballistic and aerial threats," the statement read. (Israel-U.S.-Iron Dome) Enditem
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Rhonda Gleason, 46, of Lafayette, didn't know why all of a sudden her multiple sclerosis flared up around Dec. 11.

Early that morning, she could hear subtle gurgling respiratory sounds and had a little pain in her upper right chest and arm.

"I wondered could I have COVID and its triggering the MS?" she said. "I didnt have fever. I didnt have pneumonia-like symptoms."

Because she had recently received an infusion treatment for her MS, her New Orleans doctor suggested getting a COVID-19 test. Gleason didn't think it would be positive. She got her results via a patient portal Dec. 14.

How will Louisiana convince people to get the coronavirus vaccine? Here's the $475K plan Now that Louisiana is receiving COVID-19 vaccines each week, the state Health Department is turning its focus to a crucial part of reaching he

"I sat there for like two hours just looking at my result," she said. "I thought, this doesn't make any sense.'"

Because of her MS, Gleason had been following the protocols health experts recommend: Wearing a mask (an N100 mask), social distancing, limiting trips outside the home.

On the advice of her doctor, Gleason went to Ochsner Lafayette General Medical Center's emergency room, which was crowded with people suffering COVID-related symptoms. Her blood pressure and heart rate were high and her glucose was in the red zone, but the EKG and X-ray were clear.

She agreed with the ER doctor that she could treat herself at home. He prescribed a steroid, which she didn't use, fearing her immune system's reaction to the drug. Gleason said she did not take the steroid, with the strict direction of multiple doctors.

"I believe I am pushing through without hospitalization because of excellent communication with doctors and nurses who are diligently keeping educated with the evolving behavior of this virus," she said.

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The next day, she was approved for monoclonal antibodies and received the infusion Dec. 17.

"Things seemed to almost plateau," Gleason said, "and then I got hit hard again. Its almost like the COVID is finding a way."

While it's only been a few weeks since her symptoms appeared, Gleason's doctors said she's going to be a long-hauler, someone who battles COVID for a long time.

Gleason's long-hauler symptoms include thrombosis in her legs. If she sits upright for long periods, her legs start to throb. She suffers brain fog and painful blood pressure-related headaches. All she can do is monitor her pressure, take aspirin and ride it out.

"Even with an ablated immune system, this is where I am and Im grateful," she said.

Gleason and her 8- and 16-year-old daughters, Lily and Laney, try to laugh and eliminate stress. A single mom, her first reaction to learning she had COVID-19 on top of her MS was worry for her girls.

"The first thing I thought was what's going happen to them? Where are they going to go?" she said. "All those things come into your mindset immediately. Its a hell of a rude awakening. But every day that I think about those issues Im so glad I can think about those issues. Otherwise I would not be here."
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) conducted a Joint Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR), Special Forces (SF) and Air Police K-9 Simulation Exercise (JCSAEX) at Rijana Village along the Kaduna-Abuja highway.

The Director of Public Relations and Information, NAF headquarters, Ibikunle Daramola, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday in Abuja.

The Exercise, code named TAIMAKO YAZO, was aimed at simulating tactics, doctrine and synergy amongst first responders for effective CSAR operations of downed aircrew or other NAF personnel who were to abandon their aircraft in emergency situations.

According to him, the ability to rescue crew from hostile environments is particularly important as it can be adapted for anti-kidnapping operations as was recently done by NAF.

This, he said, was done in concert with other security agencies in the rescue of the kidnapped boys of Government Science Secondary School Kankara, Katsina State.

The Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Sadique Abubakar, stated that the overall desire of NAF was to ensure that personnel were trained and equipped to maintain very high levels of combat readiness and operational effectiveness.

This is in a bid to better reposition NAF SF through robust capacity building for more effective response to the various security challenges bedeviling the country.

Especially in the areas of counter-terrorism, airport security and anti-banditry operations, NAF in 2019 conducted several counter-terrorism exercises in Kaduna, Kano, Niger and Osun, he said.

The CAS noted that the importance of training to a fighting force like NAF cannot be over emphasised as regular purposeful training remained the cornerstone of military combat readiness.

It is in realisation of this that NAF ensures that its personnel are mentally alert and physically fit at all times, through regular training and exercises so we remain continually willing, able and ready to defend the nation.

Mr Abubakar also noted that through todays modern weapons systems, it is the personnel with competence that would make the difference in any current or future conflict situations.

This philosophy, he said, had been incorporated into NAF policies and regulations so that every personnel maintains a high level of combat readiness to ensure efficiency and effectiveness in conducting a wide spectrum of military operations.

The CAS highlighted that the quest to achieve professionalism, service members were subjected to excruciatingly difficult training procedures and exposed to various terrain conditions to enable them develop and sustain a high level of combat effectiveness.

This, no doubt, will help our personnel perform at the highest standards throughout their career, he said.

Mr Abubakar further remarked that the timing for the conduct of the exercise was apt as it readily tests the combat and physical readiness of NAF personnel to face the very difficult security challenges currently confronting the nation.

He expressed satisfaction with the exercise, noting that the resources being expended on a daily basis to ensure that NAF personnel acquired requisite skills and training needed to conduct operations successfully were yielding tangible results.

Im highly impressed with the exercise in terms of coordination between the air and ground elements. Security is not only about bullets, bombs and rockets, it is about everybody putting hands on deck to ensure that the country is secured.

This exercise will be a continuous one, we have done one here. From now to June, we will have six of these exercises.

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Most of these exercises will now move to the North-West, particularly in Zamfara and Katsina states.

We are also about to activate a NAF Unit in Funtua to further reduce our response time and bring security even closer to the people, CAS said.

Mr Abubakar expressed his profound gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari for his unflinching support to the growth and development of NAF.

He also thanked members of the National Assembly (NASS) and the Minister of Defence, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), and other service Chiefs for their continued support to the service.

The CAS, however, reassured Nigerians that NAF remained fully committed to the successful execution of its constitutional roles and would continue to meet its statutory responsibility of defending the territorial integrity and national sovereignty.

He noted that conducting the exercise along Kaduna-Abuja Highway would impact positively and deter criminals from coming out to attack innocent citizens.

Earlier, the Air Officer Commanding (AOC), Special Operations Command (SOC), Charles Ohwo, said the exercise was in line with CAS deliberate efforts to boost human capacity development through robust and result oriented training for enhanced professional performance.

Mr Ohwo noted that the exercise would enhance NAFs combat efficiency, borne from the right combinations of man and machine integration as well as effective methods, tactics and doctrine.

Highlights of the exercise include: the operational briefing and giving of orders by the Commander 013 Quick Response Force, Victor Uba, along with his sub-unit and component commanders, held behind closed doors.

This was immediately followed by seamless execution of the operational plan, which featured live firing of canons and rockets from NAF fixed and rotary wing attack aircraft.

The exercise was also followed by insertion of CSAR operatives as well as fast-roping and rappelling of NAF SF (the PANTHERS) and K-9 elements and movement of teams to the objective area.

There was also logistics re-supply of ammunition to the assaulting forces by tactical air-drop from a helicopter and subsequent rescue of the downed pilots in hostile environments, as well as extraction of the assault team by air while being provided with close air support by an attack helicopter overhead the objective area.

The dignitaries at the occasion included senior officers from the NAF Headquarters, General Officer Commanding 1 Division, Nigerian Army, Air Officers Commanding, Commandant Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji.

Others were the Deputy Commandant, Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Commanders of NAF units and the Community Leader of Rijana, Dagacin Rijana, Fadan Achi, Ayuba Dakolo, among other military officers.

(NAN)
Meadows: Over 100 House Members Plan to Object to Electoral Votes

More than 100 members of the House of Representatives plan to object to electoral votes during the Jan. 6 joint session of Congress, according to White House chief of staff Mark Meadows.

Were now at well over 100 House members and a dozen Senators ready to stand up for election integrity and object to certification. Its time to fight back, Meadows wrote in a tweet on Jan. 2.

According to an Epoch Times tally, 45 representatives have publicly committed to objecting during the joint session. Eleven senators announced earlier Jan. 2 that they would object, joining Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.).

The forgotten men and women are speaking out and Washington D.C. is waking up, Meadows wrote in another tweet.

The number of Congress members who plan to object continues to rise, but the exact number committed so far isnt clear.

Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas), who tried to sue Vice President Mike Pence over the vice presidents power during the joint session, claimed late last week that 141 Republican House members have announced plans to object.

Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.), who opposes President Donald Trump, said during a podcast that he believes upwards of 100 members will end up objecting.

Rep. Brian Babin (R-Texas) said Jan. 2 that he was on a call with House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), Trump, and TONS of Jan. 6 election objectors.

This is a pivotal moment. Those who arent with us are against us  history will be unforgiving, he said, using a hashtag for Stop the Steal.

After Hawleys Dec. 30 announcementhe was the first senator to commit to objectingtwo groups of representatives joined the effort.

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo) speaks in Washington on Oct. 12, 2020. (Susan Walsh/Pool/AP Photo)

Republican Missouri Reps. Jason Smith, Billy Long, Sam Graves, and Vicky Hartzler said they will object to protect the integrity of each vote cast by every law-abiding Missourian. They alleged that some states, such as Georgia and Nevada, failed to follow their own election laws.

Republican Pennsylvania Reps. Guy Reschenthaler, Dan Meuser, Glenn Thompson, Mike Kelly, Lloyd Smucker, John Joyce, and Fred Keller also said they would challenge votes.

Unfortunately, the many unlawful actions undertaken by the Pennsylvania Governors office, the Secretary of State, and what has been described as a rogue Pennsylvania Supreme Court exceeded and circumvented the state legislatures clear constitutional authority, they said in a joint statement.

A slew of others also said in recent days that theyre going to objectReps. Clay Higgins (R-La.), Joe Wilson (R-S.C.), Randy Weber (R-Texas), Barry Loudermilk (R-Ga.), John Rutherford (R-Fla.), Chuck Fleischmann (R-Tenn.), Kevin Hern (R-Okla.), and William Timmons (R-S.C.), and Rep.-elects Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) and Kat Cammack (R-Fla.).

Objections have to be in writing and need support from at least one member of each congressional chamber. If they meet the requirement, they trigger a withdrawal from the joint session, a two-hour debate, and a vote in each house. A simple majority would uphold an objection, nullifying a states electoral votes, or potentially leading to the votes going to Trump instead of Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden.

Democrats and some Republicans have expressed hostility toward the planned challenges.

The egregious ploy to reject electors may enhance the political ambition of some, but dangerously threatens our Democratic Republic. The congressional power to reject electors is reserved for the most extreme and unusual circumstances. These are far from it, Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) said late Jan. 2.

Rep. Terri Sewell (D-Ala.) wrote in a tweet: The GOPs latest effort to delegitimize the election is a brazen, unconstitutional attempt to overturn the will of the American people.

But make no mistake: Joe Biden will be the next President of the United States.
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Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

There were debates as to whether the coronavirus is deadly during a pandemic that has killed more than 1.7 million, including more than 2,500 New Mexicans. Allegations that the presidential election was fraudulent continue even as lawsuits making such claims have been tossed out of court and many Republican election officials have vouched for the results.

Among those latching on to the election claims has been state Republican Party Chairman Steve Pearce, who in one episode of his radio show, Inside New Mexico, accused Democrats of buying absentee ballots days after the election, filling them out in states where the race was close and submitting them to be counted.

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Pearce, through a spokesman, declined to comment for this story.

The former U.S. representative has also been broadcasting conspiracy theories about Dominion Voting Systems, echoing President Donald Trumps debunked claims that the systems deleted or switched votes for him to votes for his opponent.

Such claims are not only wrong, but they are also dangerous and are undermining democracy, Chris Krebs, the former head of the Department of Homeland Securitys Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, said on 60 Minutes. Krebs was fired by Trump after he disputed the Dominion conspiracy theory and called the 2020 election the most secure in American history.

As we start 2021, where will the post-truth world we live in go from here?

The phenomenon didnt start last year. The word post-truth has been around for some time, especially as it relates to politics.

Its no mystery how a post-truth society gained traction, said Michael Rocca, a political science professor at the University of New Mexico.

The media have become more polarized  particularly since Trump was elected. That includes mainstream outlets such as MSNBC and Fox News, as well as anonymous social media sources. Right-wing outlets such as One America News Network have gained influence and followers.

With so many places to get information, people can essentially pick their reality and consume only news and opinions that match their worldview.

If were only watching one station  were receiving news about an entirely different reality than what our next-door neighbors might be receiving, Rocca said.

Consequences of such polarization arent limited to splitting groups of friends along party lines. Rocca said it degrades social capital, the effective functioning of different groups of people in a society.

Americans have long disagreed with one another. But 2020 reached new levels in many ways, as facts were often set aside altogether.

If we cant agree on simple things, like whether the virus is deadly or not, that is  going to affect how much we trust one another and how much we get along, he said. So yes, there are real-world consequences to this splintering.

Where do we go from here? Rocca said there are reasons for optimism and pessimism.

Perhaps the current political climate will create an environment to reverse the trend, he said. The margin of Democrats to Republican in Congress will be closer than it has been for decades.

In the Senate, with two races heading for a runoff, Republicans currently hold 50 seats and Democrats 48, including the independents who caucus with them. In the House, the Democratic majority was trimmed in the recent election. Democrats will likely start this year with a 222-211 edge, with one race undecided and one vacancy after the death of a Republican representative-elect.

That lineup creates the possibility for energy policy and immigration reform  reforms that would require both parties to agree on basic facts, Rocca said.

If they want to leave behind a legacy, they are going to have to engage the center, Rocca said of both Republican and Democratic leaders. And there is hope for that.

That said, theres also plenty of reason to be pessimistic about a post-truth world coming to an end soon.

Rocca said outside investigations, such as those into President-elect Joe Bidens son, Donald Trump and the validity of the 2020 election, could keep a wedge between the two sides.

And a belief that Biden, at 77 years old, is likely to be a one-term president could hinder his ability to govern.

Its such a weird spot for American politics, Rocca said. There is so much tension, so much unrest, so much distrust in the system and in the political actors. But I also think that for president-elect Biden, Democrats and Republicans, it would be in their interest to just let America take a collective breath and try to get some things done.

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A third national lockdown looks to be looming today as Keir Starmer demanded a new national squeeze to stop 'out of control' mutant Covid - and Boris Johnson admitted tougher measures are 'probable'.

The Labour leader has dramatically called for blanket measures to come into force within 24 hours, condemning the PM for 'hinting' at action while dragging his heels.

'The virus is clearly out of control,' Sir Keir told reporters. 'There is no good the PM hinting that more restrictions are coming. I say bring in those restrictions now.'

He added that it was 'inevitable' more schools will have to close: 'The longer you delay the decisions the worse it is.'

The intervention came after Mr Johnson urged parents to send children back to primary schools but refused to rule out a full closure to control the variant strain of the disease.

The PM insisted there is 'no doubt in my mind' that schools are 'safe' as he insisted there would be no further U-turn on reopening most primaries this week.

However, pressed in a New Year interview on the BBC's Andrew Marr show whether there will be a wider closure, he merely said everything was being kept 'under review'.

Challenged to guarantee that secondaries will be back up and running as planned on January 18, Mr Johnson said he would be looking at the impact of the Tier 4 restrictions over the coming weeks.

He accepted that harsher measures will 'probably' be needed to contain the more infectious variant of the deadly virus, dodging answering whether they could include curfews.

'There are obviously a range of tougher measures that we would have to consider... School closures is one of those things,' Mr Johnson said.

He insisted that vaccines were the way to get the UK out of the crisis, saying 'tens of millions' would be given jabs over the next three months - although he refused to give specific figures.

Mr Johnson also dismissed criticism that the government had handled the pandemic badly, saying: 'What we could not have foreseen reasonably was the arrival of the variant.'

He added sharply: 'The Retrospectoscope is a magnificent instrument.'

In another welter of coronavirus developments today:

Another 54,990 cases of coronavirus have been recorded in the UK over the last 24 hours, and 454 deaths - although the latter figure is incomplete as Scotland does not report on Sundays;

The Scottish Parliament is being recalled early from its Christmas break tomorrow as Nicola Sturgeon considers ramping up restrictions;

Officials leading the UK vaccination programme defended the decision to extend the gap between the two doses, insisting it is 'the way we save lives';

Tony Blair has warned getting towards five million vaccinations a week might be the only way to keep schools open and avert crippling lockdowns;

Health bosses admitted a few procedures could be moved from London to ease pressure, but urgent cancer operations will not be scrapped to ease the strain on hospitals;

Labour's shadow culture secretary Jo Stevens is being treated in hospital for coronavirus, her aides have announced;

A Labour frontbencher has apologised for 'wrong and irresponsible' tweets suggesting vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi had jumped the queue for jabs .

Labour leader Keir Starmer has dramatically called for blanket measures to come into force within 24 hours, condemning the PM for 'hinting' at action while dragging his heels

In a New Year interview on the BBC's Andrew Marr show, Boris Johnson urged parents to send children back to primary schools - but refused to rule out a full shutdown to control the mutant coronavirus strain

The PM insisted there is 'no doubt in my mind' that schools are 'safe' as he insisted there would be no further U-turn on reopening most primaries this week

This map shows how the coronavirus variants have been tracked as they spread around the world

Official figures show there had been a further 54,990 lab-confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UK, up 80 per cent from last week's case figure of 30,501, while the number of deaths had increased by 43 per cent from last Sunday to 454

PM refuses to rule out cancelling exams Boris Johnson today refused to rule out cancelling GCSE and A-Level exams this year. Asked about the possibility, the PM said: 'We've got to be realistic, we've got to be realistic about the pace of which this new variant has spread 'We've got to be realistic about the impact that it's having on our NHS and we've got to be humble in the face of this virus.' Advertisement

Tougher Covid curbs will be needed, warns SAGE expert It is 'pretty clear' tougher coronavirus curbs will be needed, a leading SAGE member warned today. Professor Sir Mark Walport, a former government chief scientific adviser, suggested Tier 4 will not be enough to contain the new mutant strain. Asked if the highest bracket was sufficient, Sir Mark told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show: 'It's the Tier 4 restrictions, it's obeying them. 'It is thinking about breaking essentially every possible route of transmission we possibly can. 'Those are the things that are absolutely necessary and it is pretty clear we're going to need more.' Advertisement

Sir Keir said he was not urging the government to shut all schools straight away, as it would cause too much chaos.

But he said: 'It is inevitable more schools are going to have to close.

'And the Government needs a plan on children's learning but also for working parents.'

Sir Keir added: 'The more important thing in a way is that national restrictions need to come in the next 24 hours.

'Let's not have the Prime Minister saying 'I'm going to do it, but not yet', that's the problem he has made so many times.

'Nationwide lockdown  the Prime Minister has hinted that that's going to happen but he's delaying again. And we can't afford that again.'

Most primaries in England are expected to open their doors tomorrow, while secondary schools will reopen on a staggered basis later this month with plans to test every student weekly.

But yesterday the UK's largest teaching union advised members it was not safe to return to the classroom and demanded a move to online teaching.

Headteachers are now urging the Government to scrap this summer's GCSE and A-level exams amid outrage over Education Secretary Gavin Williamson's plans to keep schools open.

Asked whether he could guarantee schools will open on January 18, Mr Johnson said: 'Well, obviously, we're going to continue to assess the impact of the Tier 4 measures, the Tier 3 measures.'

On whether GCSE and A-Level exams should be cancelled, the Prime Minister said: 'We've got to be realistic, we've got to be realistic about the pace of which this new variant has spread we've got to be realistic about the impact that it's having on our NHS and we've got to be humble in the face of this virus.'

Mr Johnson indicated even more stringent restrictions may be introduced, saying the tiering system is 'alas, probably about to get tougher,'

'It may be that we need to do things in the next few weeks that will be tougher in many parts of the country,' he said.

'I'm fully, fully reconciled to that.'

Mr Johnson refused to be drawn on whether they could include a new Tier 5 or curfews, but made clear that school closures are on the table.

'There are obviously a range of tougher measures that that we would have to consider,' he said.

'I'm not going to speculate now about what they would be, but I'm sure that all our viewers and our listeners will understand what the sort of things clearly school closures, which we had to do in March is one of those things.'

The stark warning came as health officials warned that people as young as 30 'will die from Covid', with NHS hospitals in the West Country brace for an overspill of critically-ill patients from London under emergency plans.

Trusts in London and the south-east at the centre of the UK's epidemic are preparing to transfer patients to hospitals in the south-west while patients in the east of England will be moved to the Midlands.

The massive Nightingale hospital at the London Excel Centre, which was created in record-time early in the pandemic only to be swiftly mothballed, is also expected to reopen within a fortnight.

Health chiefs say some younger people will die from coronavirus Health officials today warned that people as young as 30 'will die from Covid' as NHS hospitals in the West Country brace for an overspill of critically-ill patients from London under emergency plans. Trusts in London and the south-east at the centre of the UK's epidemic are preparing to transfer patients to hospitals in the south-west while patients in the east of England will be moved to the Midlands. The massive Nightingale hospital at the London Excel Centre, which was created in record-time early in the pandemic only to be swiftly mothballed, is also expected to reopen within a fortnight, the Times reports. National pairing arrangements have been put in place amid warnings from doctors that hospitals in the South have come under 'immense pressure' due to a surge in cases of 'mutant' Covid, with hospitals across the UK being told prepare to face the same Covid pressures as the NHS in the capital. Chris Hopson, chief executive of NHS Providers, said just a small number of patients from London would be transferred to the south-west and Midlands when space in neighbouring hospitals was exhausted. Dr Alison Pittard, the dean of the Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine, today hinted the NHS could collapse because 'very, very tired staff' may not have the energy to handle the deluge in 'mutant' virus cases. Speaking on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show, she also claimed that she had heard of cases of people as young as 30 suffering from coronavirus in ICU wards and claimed that 'younger people will die from Covid'. Advertisement

National pairing arrangements have been put in place amid warnings from doctors that hospitals in the South have come under 'immense pressure' due to a surge in cases of 'mutant' Covid, with hospitals across the UK being told prepare to face the same Covid pressures as the NHS in the capital.

Chris Hopson, chief executive of NHS Providers, said just a small number of patients from London would be transferred to the south-west and Midlands when space in neighbouring hospitals was exhausted.

He said: 'Hospitals are doing a great job creating extra surge capacity in London and the south-east to treat the critically ill. If it gets more difficult, we will find other ways to treat people within the region but we know there are some patients that can be moved to where the pressure is slightly less, for example the south-west and Midlands.'

Dr Alison Pittard, the dean of the Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine, today hinted the NHS could collapse because 'very, very tired staff' may not have the energy to handle the deluge in 'mutant' virus cases.

Speaking on the BBC's Marr show, she also claimed that she had heard of cases of people as young as 30 suffering from coronavirus in ICU wards and claimed that 'younger people will die from Covid'.

Ofsted chief inspector Amanda Spielman said school closures should be kept to the 'absolute minimum', revealing that the first lockdown disrupted children's learning and wider development.

Writing in the Sunday Telegraph, she said Ofsted had found some younger children had 'forgotten how to hold a pencil or use a knife and fork, and had regressed in basic language numbers'.

In older children, Ms Spielman said the schools watchdog had noted 'increases in eating disorders and self-harm, and anti-social behaviour at some schools' during the coronavirus crisis.

Ms Spielman rubbished calls for remote education, arguing that it would maximise the disparities in the circumstances of the home lives of children.

She added that schools 'have become society's collective eyes and ears, keeping a caring watch over those who need it most' as she warned 'risks of abuse, neglect or exploitation increase' when schools stay closed.

The Ofsted boss wrote: 'There is a real consensus that schools should be the last places to close and the first to re-open, and having argued for this since last spring, I welcome it. Because it is increasingly clear that children's lives can't just be put on hold while we wait for vaccination programmes to take effect, and for waves of infection to subside.

'We cannot furlough young people's learning or their wider development. The longer the pandemic continues, the more true this is.'

Former PM Tony Blair urged the government to target five million vaccinations a week - saying it was hard to see how schools could stay open otherwise.

He told Times Radio: 'If I was the prime minister right now I would be saying to the team in Downing Street, 'I need you to give me a plan to get this up to five million (vaccinations) a week'.

Alarm bells for Boris with Labour on track to reclaim 'Red Wall' The big MRP poll carried out by Focaldata will set alarm bells ringing in Downing Street after a tumultuous first year in power Boris Johnson faces losing most of the 'Red Wall' seats that delivered his historic election victory a year ago, according to a massive poll. The PM's own constituency also looks to be on the line as Labour makes a comeback, with the government struggling to contain the coronavirus crisis. The research, carried out by Focaldata, will set alarm bells ringing in Downing Street after a tumultuous first year in power - although there is still a long way to go until the next Westminster showdown. The firm surveyed more than 22,000 people over the course of December, when Christmas 'bubbles' were dramatically scaled back due to the mutant Covid variant and ministers were fighting to strike a deal with the EU. It used an MRP method, which matches the life characteristics of people polled to the profiles of individual constituencies in order to produce detailed results in a theoretical election. The technique is considered more accurate than traditional surveys, that cannot account for local variations. The outcome, published in the Sunday Times, indicated that neither the Conservatives nor Labour are in a position to win an outright majority. The Tories would lose 81 seats, wiping out the 80-strong majority Mr Johnson secured in December 2019, and leaving them with 284 seats. Labour would win 282, an increase of 82. That would include 41 seats in the north of England, Midlands and Wales that voted Labour in 2017 before turning blue in 2019. Advertisement

'Provided we've got the vaccine available and we should have them available. I mean AstraZeneca will, not this week or next week but the week after, be able to get up to two million doses a week, that's just AstraZeneca.

'They could probably do more if they knew that the system was capable of absorbing the amount of vaccines that they would produce.

'You should get clearance for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine at the end of January, that's when they complete their trials and then we should be able to get that on stream as well in February.'

Mr Blair said a 'step change' in the vaccination programme was the only real prospect of keeping children in schools.

He said: 'On the one hand, it's a disaster for school children, particularly poorest school children if they're not getting educated.

'But it's also completely understandable that teachers and parents say, not because they think their children the risk to children is very, very small, it's the risk to transmission rates and it's the risk to teachers and parents, and therefore to those that their parents mix with.

'So for all of those reasons, it just emphasises yet again why it's so important to get vaccination under way.'

Brighton and Hove City Council has followed eight authorities in London in demanding primaries teach remotely amid rising Covid cases.

The National Education Union, which has 450,000 members, said the Government was 'failing to protect children, their families and our communities', adding that their members had a legal right to refuse to work.

The move has put them on a collision course with Education Secretary Gavin Williamson, who said it was imperative that the nation's children were back in class to stop them falling behind.

Writing in The Mail on Sunday, the father-of-two has urged teachers and parents to 'move heaven and earth', adding the young must not 'bear the heaviest cost' of the pandemic.

He said: 'Both of my daughters, one of whom is in an exam year, have had to self-isolate. I know how difficult the last year has been, because I have seen them miss being in the classroom, where they want to be.

'So I want my children, and all children, to be able to get back to school and stay in class  we will continue to prioritise making this happen where we can.'

Asked what his message was to councils in England who have said that their schools should close, Mr Johnson said: 'My message to such councils is that they should be guided by the public health advice, which at the moment is that schools are safe in those areas where we're not being driven by the new variant to close them.

'That the priority has got to be children's education but obviously we want to work with them. I mean we've got to be humble in the face of the impact of this new variant of the virus.

'Let's face it, we face a very difficult few weeks and months until the vaccine comes on-stream.'

The PM said he hopes lateral flow tests will help permit the return of schools.

He said: 'We're going to work with local authorities, work with schools and those responsible up and down the country.

'Our advice remains the same, which is that for public health reasons we think in the large majority of the country, large parts of the country, it is sensible to continue to keep schools open, primary schools, as you know secondary schools coming back a bit later.

Tony Blair: 'Step change' in vaccines is the only way to save schools Tony Blair urged the government to target five million vaccinations a week - saying it was hard to see how schools could stay open otherwise. The former PM told Times Radio: 'If I was the prime minister right now I would be saying to the team in Downing Street, 'I need you to give me a plan to get this up to five million (vaccinations) a week'. 'Provided we've got the vaccine available and we should have them available. I mean AstraZeneca will, not this week or next week but the week after, be able to get up to two million doses a week, that's just AstraZeneca. 'They could probably do more if they knew that the system was capable of absorbing the amount of vaccines that they would produce. 'You should get clearance for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine at the end of January, that's when they complete their trials and then we should be able to get that on stream as well in February.' Mr Blair said a 'step change' in the vaccination programme was the only real prospect of keeping children in schools. He said: 'On the one hand, it's a disaster for school children, particularly poorest school children if they're not getting educated. 'But it's also completely understandable that teachers and parents say, not because they think their children the risk to children is very, very small, it's the risk to transmission rates and it's the risk to teachers and parents, and therefore to those that their parents mix with. 'So for all of those reasons, it just emphasises yet again why it's so important to get vaccination under way.' Advertisement

'And the second thing is that we are going to be ramping up testing across the whole of the system and I don't think people have focused enough on this, if I may just for a second.

'One of the things we didn't have when we went into the first lockdown, where we sadly did have to close schools, was we didn't have this huge number of lateral flow tests.

'We now have hundreds of millions of lateral flow tests which I believe and hope can be used, deployed, particularly in secondary schools to assist the return of schools.'

Anne Longfield, the Children's Commissioner for England, has called for teachers to be vaccinated 'as a priority', as she said that any school closure should be for 'the absolute minimum of time and that time must be used very well'.

She told BBC News Channel: 'Schools need to be a priority for children, not only for their education but also for their wellbeing.

'Schools should be the last to close and the first to open, so it is a serious moment for children.

'If there have to be closures, we have already seen closures in secondary schools for two weeks, but if there have to be any closures at all it must be for the absolute minimum of time and that time must be used very well.

'I would like teachers to be offered vaccination as a priority. That is something we haven't heard yet from Government, but it is something that I think is very, very necessary.'

Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham suggested it could be a 'chaotic situation' tomorrow with the return to school of most primary children in England.

He told the BBC's Breakfast programme: 'There are many parents in Greater Manchester waking up quite anxious this morning, teachers as well of course and support staff in schools, and children.

'So there's a lot of people who are worried about what's happening and I think the really important thing is this doesn't become a big political row today.

'What we need to find is a practical way through all of this. I would say that the current course is not going to work.'

He added: 'It will be quite a chaotic situation tomorrow I think given all of the anxieties that people have.'

The Government is keen to get children back to schools, but Left-wing councils have joined a revolt against plans as UK's largest teaching union advised members it was not safe to return

Ofsted chief inspector Amanda Spielman said school closures should be kept to the 'absolute minimum' as Education Secretary Gavin Williamson urges teachers and parents to 'move heaven and earth', adding the young must not 'bear the heaviest cost' of the pandemic

PM vows 'tens of millions' of jabs by March and crackdown on red tape Boris Johnson today vowed that 'tens of millions' of coronavirus vaccine doses will be given by March - as he admitted ministers must get rid of 'absurd' red tape stopping retired medics joining the effort. The PM refused to give exact figures for how many people will be vaccinated, beyond saying the government wants to be deploying two million jabs a week. But he said: 'What I can tell you is that we do hope that we will be able to do tens of millions in the course of the next three months.' The Oxford University and AstraZeneca vaccine is due to start being administered from tomorrow, with the UK's process so far among the fastest in the world. Experts have warned that the UK's exit from crippling lockdown depends on inoculating at least 25million vulnerable people by the spring. The gap between first and second doses of vaccines is being extended in a bid to reach more people. Meanwhile, there have been concerns that tens of thousands of recently retired GPs, surgeons, and nurses are being put off helping out due to the bureaucracy involved. Criticism has been mounting of 'ridiculous' demands such as a requirement to be certified in fire safety, or trained in preventing radicalisation. Asked about the complaints, Mr Johnson said: 'I think it's absurd and I know that the Health Secretary is taking steps to get rid of that pointless bureaucracy.' Advertisement

Mr Burnham called for local decision making to be enabled ahead of the return of primary schools in England.

He said: 'I think there are two options in front of the Government. One is to give the decision making to councils working with local schools so that decisions can be made on the reality of what's happening in different communities.

'The other would be to put primary schools and special schools on the same path as secondaries and that would be a slightly delayed opening.

'What I would say to the Prime Minister, who I know is going to come on BBC this morning, is it has to be one of those options.

'Local flexibility or a delay to the opening because I think just to plough ahead would cause quite a lot of anxiety amongst people today.'

Mr Burnham suggested that a 'blanket approach' to the reopening schools is not the right approach.

Asked what he would say to a head teacher in South Manchester who did not want to open on Monday, the Greater Manchester mayor said: 'I would say to the head teacher: contact the director of public health in your local authority.

'So if it's Trafford in the case of South Manchester or Manchester itself, that would be the best thing for people to do.

'And what I am saying to the Government today is directors of public health, working with council leaders and with individual schools, make the right decisions for those schools.

'Let the head come to a balanced judgment based on what's happening. Greater Manchester is currently below the England average when it comes to the number of cases.

'So the position is different in different parts of the country and I think a blanket approach either to say blanket reopening or blanket closure in some ways is causing the problem, local flexibility might just be the way through this.'

Mr Johnson today vowed that 'tens of millions' of coronavirus vaccine doses will be given by March - as he admitted ministers must get rid of 'absurd' red tape stopping retired medics joining the effort.

The National Education Union tweeted earlier today: 'Our Executive is meeting this morning and we will announce new guidance shortly afterwards'

A tweet from the National Education Union today, saying: 'We have thousands of reps from all the country on our briefing right now. We must #MakeSchoolsSafe to #ProtectCommunities'

Children's Minister Vicky Ford yesterday told MPs there was no evidence that the new strain caused more serious illness in either adults or children

Headteachers call for GCSE and A-Level exams to be scrapped this summer amid school closure chaos Head teachers are calling on the Government to scrap this summer's GCSE and A-level exams amid outrage over Gavin Williamson's plans to keep schools open. Most primaries in England are expected to re-open their doors tomorrow, while secondary schools will reopen on a staggered basis later this month with plans to test every student weekly. Yesterday, however, the UK's largest teaching union advised members it was not safe to return to the classroom - with several left-wing councils demanding their primary schools move to online teaching only. And in another blow to the Education Secretary 's plans, UK head teachers are now calling for this year's exams to be scrapped to prioritise 'wider public health, pupil and staff safety'. They also claim it would be unfair to force students to sit exams when those whose schools were open earlier would have more contact time than those with later start dates. The WorthLess? campaign group - a collection of 2,000 head teachers in 80 local authorities - said: 'Wider public health, pupil and staff safety should be prioritised ahead of examinations. 'Public safety should not be risked or driven by an inflexible pursuit of GCSE and A-levels.' Head teacher of Tanbridge House School in Horsham - and one of the WorthLess? leaders - told The Times : 'There is great scepticism that exams can now go ahead fairly.' Advertisement

The PM refused to give exact figures for how many people will be vaccinated, beyond saying the government wants to be deploying two million jabs a week.

But he said: 'What I can tell you is that we do hope that we will be able to do tens of millions in the course of the next three months.'

The Oxford University and AstraZeneca vaccine is due to start being administered from tomorrow, with the UK's process so far among the fastest in the world.

Experts have warned that the UK's exit from crippling lockdown depends on inoculating at least 25million vulnerable people by the spring.

The gap between first and second doses of vaccines is being extended in a bid to reach more people.

Meanwhile, there have been concerns that tens of thousands of recently retired GPs, surgeons, and nurses are being put off helping out due to the bureaucracy involved.

Criticism has been mounting of 'ridiculous' demands such as a requirement to be certified in fire safety, or trained in preventing radicalisation.

Asked about the complaints, Mr Johnson said: 'I think it's absurd and I know that the Health Secretary is taking steps to get rid of that pointless bureaucracy.'

Pressed on whether he would remain in Downing Street after finally taking the UK out of the EU, the Prime Minister insisted: 'Yes.'

Mr Johnson continued: 'I think you should break out of your characteristic gloom, if I may say so Andrew.

'Things are very tough, we're going through a very tough period as a country, but I really think people should focus on the amazing fact this country has created a room-temperature vaccine which can be used around the world.

'And we now have freedoms that we haven't had for 50 years and there are lots of reasons to be very positive about this otherwise grim new year.'

As the schools row rages, NAHT general secretary Paul Whiteman urged for a return to schools that is 'sustainable' as he accused the Department for Education of 'making last-minute decisions because they didn't take proactive action'.

'There is nobody more committed to the care and education of children, next to parents of course, than school leaders and their teams,' he told BBC Breakfast.

'And anybody that's trying to paint the picture that we're against the care and education of children is simply doing that, simply misleading the public, for political purposes.

'What we're talking about is understanding the risks. Having a short break so that we can agree the right mitigations in schools to make them Covid-secure, make sure that staff and teams are vaccinated and that we can get a properly supported testing regime in schools to make them as safe as possible.

'And then have an orderly return to school that's sustainable, rather than the chaos that we have experienced throughout the pandemic, with the DfE making last-minute decisions because they didn't take proactive action.

'So, we agree with everybody that school is the best place for children, we just want to do that well, we want to make it a sustainable return.'

Boris insists he is not quitting Downing Street Boris Johnson today insisted he will not be quitting No10 despite speculation he might opt to walk away. Pressed on whether he would remain in Downing Street after finally taking the UK out of the EU, the Prime Minister told BBC1's The Andrew Marr Show: 'Yes.' Mr Johnson continued: 'I think you should break out of your characteristic gloom, if I may say so Andrew. 'Things are very tough, we're going through a very tough period as a country, but I really think people should focus on the amazing fact this country has created a room-temperature vaccine which can be used around the world. 'And we now have freedoms that we haven't had for 50 years and there are lots of reasons to be very positive about this otherwise grim new year.' Advertisement

The start of the new academic term has been mired in confusion as Covid rates continue to rise, driven by the new variant.

Recent notes from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) revealed scientists have warned that schools may need to be closed to bring down transmission.

But Children's Minister Vicky Ford yesterday told MPs there was no evidence that the new strain caused more serious illness in either adults or children.

Senior Government sources said that Mr Williamson had tried to keep schools open but has been overruled by Health Secretary Matt Hancock and Michael Gove.

The pair have pushed for tighter measures until more people have been vaccinated, but critics accused them of 'natural authoritarianism'.

Last week, Mr Williamson announced all primaries would return on Monday. Ten London boroughs were told to open their schools but after a revolt by eight Labour-led councils, Mr Williamson was forced into a U-turn.

Now all schools in the capital will operate remote learning for the first two weeks.

The rebellion was led initially by Haringey, once dubbed the first 'Corbyn council' because of its large number of Left-wing Momentum councillors.

Council leader Joseph Ejiofor said he would back head teachers who wanted to defy the Government and he was later followed by Harrow Council.

Brighton and Hove has now advised all primary schools to teach remotely until January 18.

Social distancing signs displayed at Coldfall Primary School in Muswell Hill, London, today as Covid cases across the capital city have been putting rising pressure on the NHS

Liverpool's Labour-run city council calls for another national lockdown to stop spread of mutant Covid strain and prevent 'catastrophe' Liverpool's council leaders today called for a third national lockdown to contain the new 'mutant' strain of Covid and prevent a 'catastrophe'. The city's acting mayor, Wendy Simon, and the Labour-run city council's cabinet say the speed of the rise in coronavirus cases have reached 'alarming levels' and urgent action is now required to save lives and the NHS. The new 'mutant' strain of Covid is thought to have a higher rate of transmission and is most prevalent in London and the South East, where health bosses say hospitals have become stretched. It is believed the strain is spreading from south to north, leading to increasing pressure on the NHS. Cases in Liverpool have almost trebled in the past two weeks to 350 per 100,000, despite the city leading on the pilot for community testing which led to it being the first city to be moved from Tier 3 down to Tier 2. Advertisement

Chris McGovern, chairman of the Campaign for Real Education, has accused the Left of politicising the issue saying: 'This is about knocking the Tories. Keeping schools open should be non-negotiable.'

Last night, the Department for Education said remote learning was 'a last resort' and classrooms should reopen 'wherever possible' with appropriate safety measures to help mitigate the risk of transmission.

'As we've said, we will move to remote education as a last resort, with involvement of public health officials, in areas where infection and pressures on the NHS are highest,' the spokesperson said.

More than one million four to 11-year-olds will now start the academic term with lessons online.

In advising members to work from home, Dr Mary Bousted, the NEU's joint general secretary, said: 'If Government does not act to follow the science, we must.' Her views were echoed by the NASUWT union.

Ministers are considering proposals to make teachers a higher priority in the vaccine roll-out as a way to keep physical classrooms open.

Hundreds of new vaccination sites are due to be up and running this week as the NHS ramps up its immunisation programme with the newly approved Oxford University and AstraZeneca jab.

Some 530,000 doses of the vaccine will be available for rollout across the UK from Monday and more than a million patients have already had their first dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine which was the first to be approved by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the vaccine roll-out was 'our great hope', adding: 'I want the Government to throw everything it can at this, harnessing the extraordinary talents of our NHS so we can be vaccinating at least two million Brits a week by the end of the month.'

But, writing in the Sunday Mirror, he criticised 'a chaotic last minute U-turn on schools', adding: 'Confusion reigns among parents, teachers and pupils over who will be back in school tomorrow and who won't.'

Plans for schools reopening differ across the four nations of the UK. In Scotland, most pupils will have online learning for the week of January 11. In Wales, schools are expected to provide face-to-face learning for the majority of their pupils by January 11.

And in Northern Ireland, secondary school years eight to 11 will be taught via remote learning throughout January while primary pupils will return to the classroom on January 11.

Linda Bauld, a professor in public health at the University of Edinburgh, said transmission among primary school pupils was 'still very limited' while secondary school pupils, particularly older teenagers, can pass on the virus in the same way as adults.

But health professionals have warned of growing pressure on services with Professor Andrew Goddard, president of the Royal College of Physicians, telling the BBC current case figures are 'fairly mild' compared to what is expected in a week's time.

GAVIN WILLIAMSON: We must all move heaven and earth to get children back into the classroom

By Gavin Williamson, Secretary of State for Education

I remain optimistic that with the roll-out of the Covid-19 vaccine, 2021 will be the year we overcome coronavirus. At the same time, as a dad, it is clear to me that while this takes place, I want my children to be at school.

Keeping our kids out of classrooms is damaging. We know that as parents and we know it from the data. It is for this reason that keeping schools open has been a national priority.

Naturally, as parents would expect, this includes taking a proportionate response and considering the clear damage that we know is caused to young people's education and wellbeing by closing education.

With the new variant, the goal posts have shifted as we fight this horrible virus, but I want to assure parents that we have been working throughout the holidays to make the return as safe as possible.

This means pushing back the staggered start date for all secondary schools by one week.

Writing in The Mail on Sunday, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson, said it was imperative that the nation's children were back in class to stop them falling behind. He urged teachers and parents to 'move heaven and earth', adding the young must not 'bear the heaviest cost' of the pandemic

It also means triggering our contingency plans, so that in some areas where there are high transmission rates of the virus or those rates are rising quickly, schools should offer face-to-face education to exam year groups, vulnerable and critical-worker children, and remote education to all other students  so no child misses out on education.

We have identified the areas where primary schools must move to this system from tomorrow and will do the same for secondary schools before pupils are due to return on the 18th.

Our fantastic teachers have already worked tirelessly to make schools Covid-secure, and it remains the case that schools are safe.

For secondary schools and colleges, we are also rolling out mass testing to make schools, the pupils attending them, and the wider community even safer. I want to be clear what this means: all secondary school students and staff will be offered tests before they go back to school  whether their school is open to all pupils or to some.

This kind of mass testing will help protect not just children and young people, it will benefit everyone in the community because it will break the chains of transmission that are making infection rates shoot up.

This in turn will make it safer for more children to physically return to school.

Teachers are not expected to carry out the tests themselves, and 1,500 members of the armed forces will provide support to schools and colleges in this important mission.

While this takes place, schools and colleges will stagger the return of their students.

Those in exam years will be educated remotely during the first week of term, and face-to-face beginning on January 11, with other secondary schools and college students returning full time on January 18, in areas where we have not had to apply the contingency framework.

Vulnerable children and the children of key workers should be educated face-to-face from the start of term in all circumstances.

For now, given how prevalent the virus is in London and after engagement with London leaders, primary schools in our capital will only open for vulnerable and critical worker children tomorrow.

We will continually review the data and allow more pupils to return as soon as possible.

During this time we are taking unprecedented action to ensure remote education is delivered to all children.

We will deliver over 50,000 laptops and tablets to schools across the country tomorrow, and over 100,000 in total during the first week of term. In total, we've delivered over 500,000 and are on our way to our target of nearly one million.

We are taking these measures because it is what we need to do to overcome and suppress the transmission of the virus in communities.

These decisions are not political calculations, they are concrete steps to support our children's education, futures and dreams  which must not be put on hold.

The safety of teachers and pupils will always be paramount, but we must all move heaven and earth to get children back to the classroom where they best thrive.

Both of my daughters, one of whom is in an exam year, have had to self-isolate. I know how difficult the last year has been, because I have seen them miss being in the classroom, where they want to be.

So I want my children, and all children, to be able to get back to school and stay in class  we will continue to prioritise making this happen where we can.

In all of this, we must all face up to the fact that, unfortunately, there is a new variant of Covid and that this is spreading across the country.

But it remains our duty to provide a future for our children that is full of hope and opportunity.

This year, my admiration for teachers and all that they do has reached an even higher level, and it gives me faith in how we will continue to fight this virus.

The fight has already been a long one, and many have lost so much, but we must remain steadfast in our final push. As a nation we are in this together and we will overcome it together, as our country always does.

During this time, I remain determined to do all I can to protect our children, protect education and ensure the youngest in our society do not bear the heaviest cost while beating this virus.
(L-R) Reps. Scott Perry (R-Pa.), Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), Matt Gaetz, (R-Fla.), and Mark Meadows, (R-N.C.), speak to reporters after a closed door meeting with Ambassador Gordon Sondland was cancelled on Capitol Hill in Washington on Oct. 8, 2019. (Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images)

Rep. Jim Jordan to Challenge Electoral Votes: We Have a Duty to Step Forward

Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) said he will challenge the electoral votes on Jan. 6 because Democrats weaponized mail-in ballot initiatives in key states to create confusion and chaos.

The ultimate arbiter here, the ultimate check and balance is the United States Congress and when something is done in an unconstitutional fashion, which happened in several of these states, we have a duty to step forward and have this debate and have this vote on the 6th of January, Jordan said Sunday in an interview with Fox Business, explaining why he is joining a challenge led by Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Ala.).

It came as about a dozen senators led by Sens. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas) have pledged they would join the House GOP challenge, which requires a senator and representative to carry out.

Jordan, who is the ranking member on the House Judiciary Committee, said that Republican House members were aware of plans to delay vote-counting and expand mail-in ballots.

The Oversight Committee and Republicans on the Judiciary Committee put out this report and we said Democrats were going to do that, he said. We called this last summer and said on election night President [Donald] Trump is going to be winning but [Democrats] want the chaos and confusion created around mail-in voting.

Democratic officials wanted chaos and confusion because they were going to win the election after the election, said Jordan.

Mail-in ballots laws were relaxed in a number of key statesnamely in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. Lawsuits after the Nov. 3 election have sought to challenge the constitutionality of those laws.

Executives and courts in the states said those laws were designed to limit the spread of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19. The Supreme Court last month rejected to take up a Texas-filed lawsuit against key battleground states, saying that the state lacked standing to file lawsuits against them.

But thats what [Democratic officials] did with this crazy mail-in ballot scheme that they undertook, said Jordan, who echoed statements that these laws were unconstitutional.

Ruth Bader Ginsberg, the late [Supreme Court] justice, said this, The ultimate date of significance is January 6, Jordan said of the joint session of Congress on Wednesday.

Democratic lawmakers have engaged in similar challenges when both chambers of Congress met to count the electoral votes, most notably when former California Sen. Barbara Boxer and Rep. Stephanie Tubbs, both Democrats, failed to challenge George W. Bushs victory over Democratic challenger John Kerry in January 2005.

Last week, in a statement explaining the reason behind the objection, Hawley stated that mega-corporations such as Facebook took unprecedented steps to support Democratic nominee Joe Bidens presidential bid. The Republican from Missouri added that the challenge will also give a voice to the tens of millions of Americans who cast their votes for Trump.
Meghan Markle's sister Samantha, 56, will release tell-all book in US next week

The bombshell memoir will be titled 'The Diary of Princess Pushy's Sister Part 1'

Promises to expose 'hidden truths as a royal fairy plummets from the tea towels'

Meghan Markle's half-sister Samantha is set to finally release a tell-all memoir after years of touting her dysfunctional relationship with the Duchess of Sussex.

Samantha, 56, is set to release the bombshell book titled 'The Diary of Princess Pushy's Sister Part 1' in the US next Friday, after announcing she was writing the memoir in 2016.

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According to Barnes & Noble, the Duchess' sister promises the 330-page tome will expose 'hidden truths about her family, as a royal fairy tale plummets from the tea towels'.

Meghan, 39, who is currently living in her $14 million Santa Barbara mansion with Prince Harry, 36, and one-year-old Archie, has been estranged from Samantha for some time and has previously branded her claims 'absurd'.

Meghan Markle's half-sister Samantha (pictured) will finally release a tell-all memoir after years of touting her dysfunctional relationship with the Duchess of Sussex

Meghan, who is currently living in California with Prince Harry and one-year-old Archie, has been estranged from Samantha for some time. Pictured, Duke and Duchess of Sussex in California home

The book has been published by Barnes & Noble, with the description stating: 'Things are not always as they seem, in a world where social labels define who we are, how we live, and how we view each other.

'Samantha Markle finds herself caught in between the cross hairs of media mayhem, when she reveals hidden truths about her family.'

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It also hints that 'things are not always as they seem' and sometimes the 'truth is stranger than fiction'.

Meghan is thought to have last seen her sister, who lives in Florida, in 2008 - yet Samantha has previously been highly critical in interviews about Meghan's character.

Meghan is thought to have last seen her sister, who lives in Florida, in 2008 - yet Samantha has previously been highly critical in interviews about Meghan's character

She has previously branded her a 'shallow social climber', blamed Meghan for freezing out their father and other members of the family, called her 'inhumane' and 'the Duchess of Nonsense'.

In February last year it was reported that Meghan burst into tears after discovering her estranged half-sister Samantha was planning to write a book about her.

The Duchess of Sussex felt she was being 'taken advantage of' by her sister, according to a close friends.

Samantha first revealed her literary ambitions in April 2016 when Meghan's romance with Prince Harry became public.

Samantha first revealed her literary ambitions in April 2016 when Meghan's romance with Prince Harry first became public. Pictured, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's engagement photoshoot in 2017

She announced last year she would be writing a second book which, like the first, which will be called, 'In the Shadows of the Duchess'.

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In August last year, it was revealed Meghan was 'furious' with members of her family after 'absurd claims' were made against her as her relationship with Prince Harry heated up.

Bombshell biography Finding Freedom, by Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand, claimed Meghan and her 'estranged' sibling had not seen each other in more than a decade, and had only bumped into each other twice since they were children.
A down-to-the-wire deal between the European Union and the United Kingdom averted a "hard Brexit." But that doesn't mean it won't be a difficult transition.



On Dec. 28, the British government warned of "bumpy moments" beginning Dec. 31 night, when the accord takes effect. Bumpy could be a British understatement describing the four years since voters surprised pollsters and politicians by passing the plebiscite by a narrow margin.



That vote sparked a volatile political period that saw two Tory prime ministers  David Cameron and Theresa May  lose their posts, and for much of the economic and political world to lose some confidence in Britain's ability to protect its economy at home and project its values abroad.



After initial Brexit bumbling, current Prime Minister Boris Johnson deserves credit for delivering on his pledge to "get Brexit done." But it comes at an economic and political cost. Domestically, Brexit may pare Britain's GDP by about 4 percent. (This matters stateside, too: In 2019, for example, the U.K. was Minnesota's ninth-largest export market, with $556 million in goods sold annually.)



And the GDP losses may not be just on a balance sheet, but on the balance of global power if the U.K. disunites internally just as it disunited from the EU Secession stirrings have arisen again in Scotland. While that would require a referendum, Scots did vote to remain in the EU in 2016, and polls indicate that sentiment has only strengthened  just as it has across the country.



A recent high of 51 percent of respondents in a Nov. 12 YouGov poll that they thought Brexit was a wrong decision. Only 38 percent said it was the right one, which is perhaps a direct reflection of the false promises it was sold on.



Another domestic fault line is Northern Ireland. It's good news that the Good Friday Agreement that tamped down the violent sectarianism known as "The Troubles" won't be jeopardized by a hard border between Ireland and Northern Ireland.



Such an outcome could have resulted in a deep rift with the incoming Biden administration, which will look to repair relationships with allies alienated by President Donald Trump. Then-candidate Trump blithely called himself "Mr. Brexit" even though the U.K.-EU dissolution could weaken Western political unity, too.



President-elect Joe Biden believes that a unified U.S.-European front would be a more effective fulcrum to collectively address challenges like China, whose predatory trade practices and appalling human rights abuses have gone mostly unchecked by a disunited, COVID-distracted world.



Although Brexit increases the difficulty of realigning allies, it doesn't mean that the U.S. and U.K. cannot continue their "special relationship." Indeed the threats from nation-states, transnational actors and challenges such as climate change make that kind of cooperation even more important.



This could include a U.S.-U.K. free trade agreement that Johnson and Trump favored. But it should not be expedited or done at the expense of closer trade ties between the U.S. and EU, especially considering the scale of the EU economy and the essential (if not "special") relationships with the continent's most consequential countries like Germany and France.



The last-minute accord may not be a Brexit breakthrough, but it wasn't a breakdown, either. And that's a "greater symbol of cohesiveness of the West," Julia Friedlander, deputy director of the Atlantic Council's GeoEconomics Center told an editorial writer.



"Its messaging to global challengers," Friedlander added, "is that Western democracies haven't tied themselves in knots so completely that they've gone toward self-destruction."



That apt description is far from the lofty premise and promise of Brexit. But it's better than the chaos a crash from the EU would have caused, and avoiding the worst is about the best a weary world can hope for in 2020.





This editorial appeared at the StarTribune and was distributed by Tribune Content Agency.


PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) --Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler promised to hold violent demonstrators accountable in a press conference hosted after two straight days of vandalization and clashes with police.

Wheeler said Friday that he would organize a meeting with law enforcement to determine a response to ''anarchist violence'' in the city.

Police say demonstrators launched fireworks at a federal courthouse and sent projectiles at police officers.

Wheeler called for the Oregon Legislature to pass a bill to increase penalties for those who repeatedly vandalize property.

He also said that state lawmakers may need to change laws to afford the city government more surveillance abilities, though he provided no specifics when pressed for details.
Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism.
1.5 Million Americans Received a COVID-19 Vaccine in Past 72 Hours: Officials

Approximately 1.5 million Americans were injected with a COVID-19 vaccine in the past 72 hours, officials said on morning shows on Sunday.

Over the last 72 hours, 1.5 million vaccine doses have been inoculated. Even though there is a gap in reporting, thats a quite an important number. Thats 500,000 a day, said Dr. Moncef Slaoui, Operation Warp Speeds chief scientific adviser.

In the last 72 hours theyve gotten 1.5 million doses into peoples arms, which is an average of about 500,000 a day, which is much better than the beginning when it was much, much less than that, added Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

Officials with the Trump administration late last year projected administering vaccines to 20 million people by the time 2021 started. That effort fell far short, with just 4.2 million people receiving vaccinations as of 9 a.m. on Jan. 2, out of over 13 million doses distributed.

Some federal officials, including President Donald Trump, have blamed states, which in many cases havent administered even 50 percent of the doses theyve received.

President Donald Trump walks to the Oval Office while arriving back at the White House in Washington on Dec. 31, 2020. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)

Some States are very slow to inoculate recipients despite successful and very large scale distribution of vaccines by the Federal Government. They will get it done! Trump said last week in a tweet.

The Trump administration is, through Operation Warp Speed, distributing doses to states, but the distribution and administration within states if left up to governors and local officials.

Fauci on Sunday said states have been left on their own without any help, and said officials are trying to kickstart a real partnership between the federal government and the states.

Slaoui said officials are optimistic that the numbers of people being vaccinated will go up in the coming weeks and said the operation is ready to help. We stand by here to help any specific request. We will do the best we can, as we have done over the last eight months, to make these vaccines indeed make it into the arms of people, he said. But we need to have a specific ask.

Surgeon General Jerome Adams said officials expect the number of vaccinated to rapidly ramp up into the new year.

And I want people to have hope. I want them to have hope that the vaccines delivered are being translated more and more into shots, he said. Things are changing, with 1.5 million doses in the last 72 hours. Thats meaningful change.

Slaoui was speaking on CBSs Face the Nation. Fauci was speaking on ABCs This Week. Adams was speaking on CNNs State of the Union.
Katy Raddatz / San Fransico Chronicle

Yoga Nidra (Yogic Sleep) is a new one session Zoom workshop offered through the Ridgefield Continuing Education program on Tuesday, Jan. 12 from 7-8:30 p.m. ($15 per person).

Winter is an important time to rest and rejuvenate the mind and body, especially as we continue to navigate challenging times, Instructor and Yoga master, Miriam Zernis said. Yoga Nidra or sleep with awareness is for everyone and offers a fully guided, systematic method of complete relaxation, holistically addressing the body and mind's physiological, neurological, and subconscious needs. Yoga Nidra can help restore mental peace and encourage general wellness while easing: lack of energy; depression, anxiety, and stress; insomnia and more. After a short lecture, Zernis will skillfully guide participants to finding a direct experience of this wonderful restorative practice. No yoga experience necessary. Participants are asked to have a yoga mat, blanket, neck pillow (or a rolled-up towel), and eye covering on hand. Also eat lightly before or after, dim the lights and turn off all devices.
Long Thanh International Airport perspective (Source: VNA)

Hanoi  The Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) plans to start work on the first detail of the Long Thanh International Airport project in the southern province of Dong Nai on January 5.Specifically, the ACV, the investor of the third component project of Long Thanh airports first stage, will begin the construction of the project with bomb and mine clearance in Long Thanh district.The corporation said earlier that it would invest nearly 100 trillion VND (4.3 billion USD) in the third component project.Of the total capital, more than 36.1 trillion VND will be sourced from ACV and the remainder from loans and other legitimate sources.The airport will be built in three phases over three decades, and is expected to become the countrys largest airport.In the first phase, one runway with a length of 4,000m, taxiways, an apron, and a passenger terminal with other auxiliary works sprawling 373,000 sq.m will be built to serve 25 million passengers and 1.2 million tonnes of cargo each year.The airport is expected to have four runways, four passenger terminals, and other auxiliary works to ensure a capacity of 100 million passengers and 5 million tonnes of cargo a year by 2040.Covering a total area of more than 5,580ha, the airport will straddle six communes in Long Thanh district. It is expected to cost 336.63 trillion VND, with the first phase needing over 109 trillion VND.Around 4,800 households and 26 organisations are expected to be relocated to make way for it.Located 40km to the east of Ho Chi Minh City, the Long Thanh airport is expected to relieve overloading at Tan Son Nhat international airport in the city, now the countrys largest airport.
The Covid-19 death toll has crossed 400 with the deaths of 18 more people yesterday.

The death toll now stands at 408, with 96 of those occurring in the last seven days alone.

The Ministry of Health reported the deaths in its daily update yesterday evening.
New Delhi, Jan 3 : India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar returned to the country last week after a successful visit to Qatar, the seventh such high-level visit from India to West Asia amid the Covid-19 pandemic in the last four months.

Before this, the visit of Indian Army chief General MM Naravane to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia in early December had garnered considerable attention, and was seen as 'historic' and 'a new leaf' in the India-Gulf countries' relations.

These visits are manifestation of the growing bonhomie between India and the West Asian countries, founded on constructive and mutually collaborative partnerships.

Some would also surmise that recent frostiness in Pakistan's relations with the Gulf countries, and the former's pathological obsession with India further cementing Pakistan's 'failed state' situation, may have something to do with these new developments.

Combined with India's emergence as one of the key players in the geopolitical landscape in the Indian Ocean Region completes the picture, and indicates the direction in which the winds are blowing.

Pakistan's Unending Follies To provide some context, the prevailing India-Gulf countries' bonhomie is akin to rubbing salt on Pakistani ego, bruised in March 2019 when India was invited as a guest of honour by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and a strong speech by then External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to the grouping at Abu Dhabi.

The irony should not escape us that Pakistan, with over seven decades of close ties with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, had moved heaven and earth to stall India's participation.

The present government in Pakistan has been in power for over two years under the shaky leadership of Imran Khan Niazi. As ties with GCC countries have always been among the most important foreign policy priorities for Pakistan, during his victory speech in August 2018, Niazi boasted that Pakistan would play the 'role of a healer' in the Middle East - a statement that would be later proved hollow with his electoral slogan of 'Naya Pakistan'.

It came as no surprise that his first overseas visit was to Saudi Arabia in the first month of assuming power. Niazi continued his trips to the Gulf States for the next few months and touted the rebooting of relations with 'key partners' in the Gulf among his main accomplishments within the first 100 days in power.

The relations were re-set, but in a manner that foregrounded the shifting priorities of the Gulf countries, and Pakistan's relegation to the bottom of those priorities.

The Pathological India Obsession Today, Pakistan's relations with GCC countries are at a historic ebb. Signing of the Abraham Accord is only one of the many reasons attributable to this. Frankly, given Pakistan's dismal capabilities in various domains, it features only perfunctorily in the requirements of the Gulf nations.

"Its GDP is still smaller than the Indian state of Maharashtra, where both the UAE and Saudi Arabia have plans of investing in hydrocarbons and related infrastructure," said a senior officer. Grasping this paradigm change is the key to understanding this epochal geopolitical shift.

The unravelling of Pakistan-GCC relationship began in June 2017 at the time of Saudi-Qatar feud, when Pakistan was point-blank asked to choose between Saudi and Qatar.

Pakistan was left in a quandary. Ever since a series of incidents and diplomatic gaffes by Pakistan, some induced by its anti-India obsession and paranoia and others via its military driven unstable foreign policy, have left it in an irremediable, shame-faced situation in the Gulf.

Rawalpindi-driven scathing criticism of the OIC, headed by Saudi Arabia, for its alleged inability to call a meeting of Foreign Ministers on the 'Kashmir issue' coupled with the intention of setting up an alternate Islamic grouping with Malaysia, Turkey, Indonesia and Qatar proved to be the turning point in Pakistan-Saudi relationship.

While Pakistan was diplomatically embarrassed and thereby refrained from attending the Kuala Lumpur Summit in December 2019, the damage was done.

Pakistan Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa rushed to Saudi Arabia for damage control but was not even granted an audience with crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

A Case of Faulty Priorities This year, while the entire world was grappling with the coronavirus, and Indian teams were closely working with Kuwait and the UAE to battle the pandemic, Pakistan was busy spreading malicious anti-India propaganda in the Middle East by using bots and fake Twitter accounts that spewed venom against India's pluralistic credentials.

This was unequivocally and collectively rejected by many GCC countries, including Kuwait, Qatar, and Oman.

The Pakistani bluff was called out when a fake Pakistani Twitter account ostensibly of a member of Omani royal family peddling anti-India campaign was exposed and shamed.

In yet another embarrassing instance, Pakistani workers were banned from entering he UAE in November 2020. The UAE government has cited matters of national security, law and order.

A closer look at the Pakistani expat population in GCC countries, clearly indicates that Pakistani nationals are not preferred in any country.

"As an example, repeated requests from the Pakistani government have failed to increase the expat population in Qatar - where incidentally 88 per cent of the 27 lakh population is expat. Not surprisingly, of these, nearly 7 lakh are Indians but less than 1.5 lakh are Pakistanis," said a senior officer in Delhi.

Czech Republic's national intelligence agency, Security Information Service, in its recent annual report has highlighted increased proliferation concerns from Pakistan, a fact pointed out by a German government report of early 2020.

Pakistan's dubious track record on proliferation of sensitive technology is well known.

That an ex-PM of Pakistan has admitted on record of handing over US Tomahawk missile to the Chinese -- which was reverse engineered in no time -- doesn't instill any confidence in the western partners who export technology to the Gulf states.

It may be noted that a number of serving and retired Pakistani armed forces personnel are employed in militaries of GCC countries who have access to these niche technologies, and despite the best checks and balances, the likelihood of proliferation exists, further casting a doubt on Pakistan's already poor credentials.

With India-Gulf nations relations reaching a mutually enriching equilibrium, and both sides realising realpolitik's strong reliance on economics in modern diplomacy designs, Pakistan is left out in the cold with its 70-year-old obsession with Kashmir on one hand, and an uncertain future hinging on a battered economy resulting from corruption and misplaced priorities driven by the military on the other.

(Sumit Kumar Singh can be reached at sumit.k@ians.in)
Madam,

If the people we sent to Parliament spend much of their time fighting petty battles among themselves, instead of addressing the many challenges that face the masses, then where are we heading to as a country?

When we gained independence and became a democratic country, everyone was happy because they were convinced that tough times would be a thing of the past, but to everyones disappointment, we are still a country of people drowning in terrible poverty.

Despite gaining independence, we still have a high rate of unemployment, police brutality, drug smuggling, corruption and poor service delivery.

In fact, we are a country with people who had lost hope and trust in their leaders even before the coronavirus pandemic hit our shores.

Many still live in dilapidated houses and houses with no toilets.

If the independence that we gained is meaningful, why do we still have many people who do not have clean running water in many rural homesteads?

Why are there still communities without proper roads and transport?

better place

In my view, our country would be a better place for all if we were not being made to pay for the services that we need for our daily lives, but that they should be free.

It is not a better life for all if we still have individuals who enrich themselves at the expense of the people whom they are supposed to serve.

The truth is that the future of the country looks bleak and is made to collapse right in front of our legislators because they disappear from us, as their voters, immediately after the elections, instead of fulfilling the promises that they made while they were campaigning.

I am, therefore, calling upon all politicians to do an introspection and ask themselves if they really care about the nation and its people.

They need to ask themselves why a high number of people are living in poverty.

What have they done to ensure job creation for the many young people out there and what have they done to improve the lives of unskilled people?

Madam editor, it is time for this country to wake up and start taking seriously the need to improve the services that are offered to taxpayers.

M Dlamini
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With the clarity that often accompanies hindsight, it shouldnt have come as a surprise.

It was late February, in the early stages of what became the COVID-19 pandemic, when the virus was first detected at the Life Care Center of Kirkland, a nursing home in a Seattle suburb. Within a four-week span, 37 residents of the home had died. At the time it was a shocking story that would now attract little notice nationally as the U.S. COVID death toll approaches 350,000.

But it was a portent of what was to come in long-term care facilities, which have accounted for about 40% of all COVID deaths in the United States. In New Mexico, that share of the death toll is about 27% or roughly 650 New Mexico residents of those facilities. It hasnt mattered whether the facilities are public or private. Privately operated Life Care Center of Farmington has recorded almost 50 COVID deaths and faces a couple dozen wrongful-death lawsuits. The state-run Veterans Home in T or C with about 100 residents has recorded more than 20 deaths, and the administrator has been placed on leave. Statewide, about 25% of the roughly 12,000 residents in these facilities have tested positive.

As of early December, there were nine nursing homes in Albuquerque, Las Cruces, Santa Fe, Truth or Consequences, Aztec and Farmington in which at least 10 residents had died of the virus.

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How, we ask, could this have happened? How, in an age with so many medical advances and an overlapping system of federal and state oversight, was this virus able to wreak such devastating havoc on this vulnerable population? The long-term care death toll in the United States had surpassed 100,000 by Thanksgiving.

There will be finger-pointing and blame-game playing for years to come, but we need to cut through that to understand this important aspect of the pandemic, identify the root causes and make what are likely to be difficult and expensive changes.

If you are living in a world with potential for pandemic, which we are, it seems like bad practice to put 150 people in their 80s in tight quarters, two to a room, sleeping four feet away from each other. Thats about the worst thing you can do, Eric Carlson, an attorney at Justice in Aging, told Congress in June.

Yet, as the AARP Bulletin reports in its December edition, that is precisely what federal laws going back to the enactment of Social Security in 1935 up through legislation funding hospital construction and finally Medicare and Medicaid have led to. So in essence, nursing homes became the lower-cost alternative to hospital care, and federal funding is inadequate, especially for Medicaid patients who account for nearly 60% of patient days in long-term-care facilities that look more like hospitals of days gone by rather than dorms or apartments. Hence companies, many facing bankruptcy, that run the homes are less likely to have the resources or inclination to invest in the staffing and protective equipment that could have made a difference. And, of course, there is no widespread federal subsidy to pay for caring for the elderly at home.

The Life Care Center in Farmington is part of the same company that operated the Kirkland facility, a point made in the lawsuits that raise some basic questions about care and infection control.

Despite the advance notice, neither Life Care Center of America or Life Care Center of Farmington did anything to institute a facility plan to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the lawsuits allege. Among the allegations: Medical equipment such as stethoscopes and blood pressure cuffs were used on multiple patients without being sterilized and the administrator allegedly instructed staff not to wear masks to avoid frightening residents. The company isnt commenting on the litigation but says it is heartbroken over the loss of life.

Nationally, there was no shortage of problems and flawed policy decisions.

Even after Kirkland and staggering death tolls at facilities in New York, Massachusetts and New Jersey, many long-term care facilities were left to fend for themselves to find testing resources and protective gear. Visits by family and friends were cut off early, adding to mental health problems and feelings of despair and isolation and eliminating the ability of families to advocate for their loved ones. Meanwhile, asymptomatic patients and staff spread the virus like wildfire. The federal agency that oversees nursing homes didnt mandate testing until September, and without widespread testing in the facilities earlier, efforts to stem the spread were doomed. Federal regulators also cut off inspections and visits by ombudsmen, leaving almost no independent oversight of care.

Elaine Ryan, AARPs vice president of government affairs for state advocacy, said federal and state governments along with the industry passed the accountability buck back and forth as the virus raged through nursing homes. It was a time of national disaster, and the federal government transferred the obligation to the states, and the states transferred the obligation to the nursing home facilities.

Ernie Tosh, a Texas lawyer who specializes in elder abuse, faults federal and state preparation in failing to prepare after the virus surfaced in China. Instead of making sure facilities had adequate equipment and disaster plans, they did nothing, he told AARP.

In New Mexico, it appears the state got protective gear to nursing homes, increased testing and set infection control requirements earlier than other states. Still the number of cases and deaths is unacceptable.

At least residents of nursing home facilities have a high priority for the vaccine  which is both humane and common sense since the elderly are more likely to become seriously ill and add to the crushing patient loads in hospitals.

Where does this leave us?

There no doubt will be hearings and much political theater going forward. But elderly Americans  and New Mexico has one of the oldest populations in the United States  deserve a hard, bipartisan examination of how this went so terribly wrong. The examination needs to happen at both the state and federal levels. That means there is a role for both Congress and the state Legislature. It should deal with the most basic question: Is it time for the existing model to change in favor of one that is more home-based? And if so, how do we pay for it?

This has been a systemic failure of colossal proportions. We need to know why, and we need to understand what has to change.

This editorial first appeared in the Albuquerque Journal. It was written by members of the editorial board and is unsigned as it represents the opinion of the newspaper rather than the writers.
An Army NCO in San Antonio found in a vehicle on I-10 had been shot multiple times and died early New Years Day at a local hospital, military authorities said Saturday.

The Army said Saturday night that Staff Sergeant Jessica Mitchell, who was assigned to U.S. Army Medical Center of Excellence at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, was on holiday leave when she was pronounced dead at University Hospital at 3 a.m. Friday.

We are devastated by the tragic loss of Drill Sergeant Jessica Mitchell. Our sincere condolences go out to her family and friends, said Maj. Gen. Dennis LeMaster, who commands the center of excellence. We are focused on supporting Drill Sergeant Mitchells family as well as her soldiers during this extremely difficult time.

The incident is the latest tragedy in a little more than a week involving the military in San Antonio. Joint Base San Antonio last Monday revealed the discovery of a partial skeleton on Fort Sam. The remains were found the previous weekend on a part of the post near Salado Creek, which cuts through Fort Sam.

On ExpressNews.com: Skeletal remains found at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio

In the New Years Day death, a statement issued by the Army and Joint Base San Antonio did not say how Mitchell had been shot or give other details about the incident.

But San Antonio police said they were dispatched to the eastbound side of Interstate 10 at West Avenue after 2 a.m. Friday to investigate a stranded vehicle in the fast lane that had created a hazard, said Lt. Jesse Salame, a spokesman.

He said officers arrived and found a white Dodge Challenger with multiple gunshots to the driver's side door and window. They then opened the vehicle door and checked for a pulse on the victim, who appeared to have been struck multiple times.

No pulse was found.

The woman was transported by EMS to University Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

The highway was shut down so the scene could be processed by crime scene investigators and investigated by homicide detectives, but Salame, the police lieutenant, said it was too early to know a motive.

It also wasnt immediately clear whether Mitchell was the citys first homicide victim of the year.

A 68E Dental Specialist, Mitchell had been assigned to the center of excellence since August 2019 and before that had been with a JBSA dental clinic since 2017.

The skeletal remains found on Fort Sams grounds raised numerous questions, including about security. The post, like two other joint bases in the area  Randolph and Lackland  is gated and closed to the public.

The Air Force Office of Special Investigations, which began an investigation last Monday, didnt say if personal effects, clothing or other items were found with the skeleton.

The Air Force is in charge of the joint bases security and police organizations.

Violence on and off military installations has become a major issue at the Pentagon since the disappearance and death of Army Spc. Vanessa Guillen, 20, a soldier from Houston who served at Fort Hood.

She vanished in April, triggering a search of the greater Killeen area and raising alarm over other GIs who had disappeared from the post. Guillens body was found more than two months after she went missing and the fellow soldier believed to have killed her shot himself and died after her she was found.

On ExpressNews.com: Volunteer searchers check Central Texas fields, looking for signs of missing GI

Guillens mother accused the Army of not moving quickly enough to find her daughter, and top Army leaders have since conceded they failed the young soldier and her family.

To provide information about Mitchells death or the remains found at Fort Sam, call the San Antonio police departments homicide division at (210) 207-7635.

sigc@express-news.net
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-03 19:28:33|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- China will advance technological innovation in the seed industry and improve farmland conservation in 2021 to ensure grain security, the country's agriculture minister said.

Calling seeds the "chip" of agriculture, Tang Renjian, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, vowed to make the development of seed industry a major task of the country's agricultural and rural modernization.

Tang urged technological breakthroughs in seeds, calling for efforts to strengthen the establishment of seed banks, the foundation of innovation in the seed industry.

China's current crop germplasm pool stores 440,000 pieces of crop resources. A new crop germplasm pool capable of storing 1.5 million pieces of various crops will be put into operation in 2021, with the pool capacity highest in the world.

Apart from boosting the seed industry, Tang underscored efforts for farmland conservation to ensure grain production.

The total arable land shall not be less than 1.8 billion mu (120 million hectares), a red line set by the Chinese government, and efforts should be made to prevent the use of arable land for non-farming purposes, said Tang.

China has added 80 million mu of high-standard farmland that can ensure stable grain yields despite droughts or excessive rain in the last two years.

The country plans to add 100 million mu of such farmland in 2021, an increase of 25 percent compared with the previous year, according to Tang. Enditem
Written by ACM



*Strasbourg/Angelo Marcopolo/- US President Don Trump's Key Ideas (See Infra) UnExpectedly Attracted Today the Votes of various Leading Senators, including those representing a Total of More than +70% of the People voting in Primaries' Presidential Elections, of Both GOP and Dems Parties, Spreading as Large as from Ted Cruz (important Republican, 2nd Front-Runner in the latest GOP's Presidential Primary), all the way up to Bernie Sanders (Independent + Twice 2nd Front-Runner in Dems' Presidential Primaries of Both 2016 and 2020), as well as Elisabeth Warren (former 3rd Dems' Candidate in the Presidential Primary 2020), and Rand Paul, (Famous Libertarian GOP Senator, son of a former Many Times Independent Presidential Candidate), etc.

This Surprizing Event took place during Today's USA Senate's "Hot" Vote on Trump's Veto to a Controversial Version of a Bill on DoD's Annual Budget for 2021, which had Erased his Main, Original Calls for an Investigation on the alleged 2020 US Presidential Election Fraud/Gross Irregularities, Against UnControlled Censorship of Citizens at the Internet by "Big Tech" Oligo-Monopolies, (such as "Twitter", "YouTube/Google", "FaceBook", etc), as well as for Peaceful Withdrawal of USA Soldiers from various Foreign Countries accross the World, (including from Afghanistan, Somalia, Germany, etc), added to the Protection of Historic Monuments' Denominations, (etc), that he considered Related also to the Security, Sovereignity, Independence and Freedom of the Country and its People.

It's Not Yet Clear What really Attracted the Main Interest of Bernie Sanders (one of USA's most "Admired" Men, Together with ...Dalai Lama, Elon Musk, Bill Gates = 1%, etc, according to the Latest "GALLUP" : See ... ), But it's Logical and very Probable that he Agreed with Trump's wish to Protect People's Freedom of Speech at the Internet, (a Notoriously Topical Issue, where, inter alia, Also Sanders' ally, Leftist Dissident Journalist Glenn Greenwald has just Warned against a Risk of "Growing Authoritarianism" by Dems/"Socialists"), as well as with the Peaceful Withdrawal of USA Military Troops from Foreign Countries accross the World, ("Peace" Attempts against "Warlike" Aggressions being Also another Favorite of Greenwald too). And something like this Could, Naturaly, Interest Also Elisabeth Warren.

=> Together, Sanders and Warren got more than + 35% of Votes in Dems' Primaries for Presidential Candidates (Compared to Biden's 51%), and Cruz has got More than +25%, (Added to Trump's Initial 45% Back on 2016, with Much More on 2020), i.e. Totaling, approximately, more than = 105/2 = at least + 52,5% Crystal-clear Absolute Majority of actively Voting People, Nowadays !

+ To this must be Added also "Libertarian" Senator Rand Paul, who had got +4,5% at the Latest GOP's Presidential Primaries in 2016 before withdrawing, as well as Experienced Former Democrat and Later Republican Senator John Kennedy from Luisiana, Together with Young and Active Senators Tom Cotton, from Arkansas, and Josh Hawley, from Missouri, while Senior Senator Lindsay Graham, who has Strongly Supported Trump to Fight against the 2020 Electoral Fraud/Gross Irregularities, abstained.

Trump has, Already, Eyed towards Sander's Socio-Economic Electoral Base, consisting Mainly of Disadvantaged People, and Black or Hispanic Minorities, etc., as Early as Since his Landmark 2016 Cleveland Speech at Ohio's GOP Gathering for his Nomination as Official Candidate for the USA Presidency, as well as in his Inauguration Speech, on January 2017 at Washington DC, that he Also Highlighted, inter alia, in his 1st, Short but Dense Speech at the White House's Lawn, Immediately After his Surprizing Return from the Hospital, just Cured from COVID-19 Deadly Virus' Infection, aquiring Natural Immunity, right in the Middle of the Crucial 2020 US Presidential Election, (See, f.ex., at: ... + ... + ..., etc).

Ted Cruz is Now the Leader of Senators who have Just Launched a Written Petition for the Creation of a Bi-Partisan US Congress Committee, added to Supreme Court's Judges, in order to Investigate the alleged Fraud/Gross Irregularities in the 2020 Controversial US Presiderntial Election, and due to Challenge Biden's Contested Certification at US Congress' Official Session of January 6, 2021, (Parallel to a Huge Popular Demonstration at Wshington DC that Same Day, due to Express People's Protest : See .... + Infra).

+ In the MeanTime, anOther Key Draft Bill has been Tabled at USA's Federal Senate, some Days Earlier, which Adds into the Anti-Virus and Economic Stimulus Bill All Key Trump's largely Popular Ideas, which have Not Yet been adopted, including that of 2.000 $ for Each Person, (5.400 for a Typical Family), Instead of Only 600 $, among Poor/Middle-Class People, as well as the Above-Mentioned Amendments for the Creation of a Bi-Partisan Committee to Investigate alleged Fraud/Gross Irregularities in the latest, 2020 US Presidential Election, and Measures to Protect People's Freedom of Expression from UnControled Censorship at the Internet by "Big Tech" Networks, (See: ..., etc). That Draft Bill was Not Yet put at a Vote in the Senate, which Postponed its Activities until Sunday, January 3, 2021, when the New Senate will Start working.

Moreover, USA's Federal Supreme Court has fixed January 22, (i.e. just After the Initial Date for the Official Inauguration, currently Scheduled for January 20, of Whoever might, eventualy, Become USA's President during the 2021-2024 Period), for the First ever Trump's Legal Complaint at the Highest Federal level, lodged on December 20, 2020 on Pennsylvania alleged WideSpread Fraud/Gross Irregularities. + In the MeanTime, Trump's Team lodged Also a 2nd Legal Complaint at SCOTUS Level,, o December 30, 2020, against Wisconsin's Controversial Vote, among 6 Crucial "Swing" States. USA's Supreme Court has Not yet Examined, Nor Discussed, Neither Pronounced itshelf on the Merits of Any Case concerning these Controversial US Election, until Now. These 2 First Cases, on Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, if they are Won by Trump, would provide Sufficient Electors for a Trump's eventual Win of the oberall Presidential Election, (with More than 270 Electors, Adding some among the above-mentioned Alternative Slates of Electors, which are already Ready, Since Mid-December 2020 : Comp. Supra).

+ In Addition, Meanwhile, the competent and experienced International Organisations of OSCE and OAS prepare their Crucial, Final Reports on the Controversial 2020 US Presidential Election, which are Expected to be Published at around the Middle of January 2021, with possible Postponements for Later-on, if Developments on the Electoral Process (Including the way to Handle Legal Complaints), require to do so, as "Eurofora" learned, (See, f.ex. : ..., etc). Their Preliminary Reports and/or Press Conferences, since the immediate Aftermath of the November 3, 2020 Controversial US Presidential Elections, contain some First Critical points, (even if Real Problems had Insufficiently Surfaced yet at that Early Moment, Appearing mainly Later-on, as, f.ex., Statistical Big Anomalies, Sudden DisProportionate Last-Minute U-Turns After MidNight, Videos, Signed Testimonies and EyeWitnesses, "Dominion" Machines/Network Scandal, Lorry Full of New York Ballots, Observers Hindered, Attempts to Hide Data, Establishment Press' Biais and Web Censorship by "Big Tech", Systematic Courts' Refusals to Examine and Discuss Evidence, much More Votes than Voters, etc).

In a Recent, 2019 Precedent, it's just a Short but Sharp Criticism by OAS' Observers Mission on the Presidential Elections in Bolivia, that gave a Signal for a Series of Popular Demonstrations against Morales ("Socialist", like Biden), until he was Practicaly Obliged to Resign, some Weeks, a Month or so Later, when a Key Part of the Army and the Police Refused to Oppress the People, and reportedly Suggested, in a Press Conference, that it would be Better for the Country if he Left... And that, Despite the Fact that the Supreme Electoral Court had Examined, previously, and Rejected on the Merits, All Legal Complaints by the Opposition) !... For the Rest, the alleged Fraud/Gross Irregularities' overall Pattern was Strikinkgly Similar, on 2019, to that of USA's on 2020, (f.ex., mainly Sudden DisProportional U-Turns in Vote-Counting After MidNight, Huge Statistical ImProbabilities, etc).

(../..)

("Draft-News")

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Doses of the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Oxford University and U.K.-based drugmaker AstraZeneca arrive at the Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath, England, Saturday Jan. 2, 2021. The UK has 530,000 doses available for rollout from Monday. (Gareth Fuller/Pool via AP)

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned Sunday that more onerous lockdown restrictions in England are likely as the country reels from a new coronavirus variant that has pushed infection rates to their highest recorded levels.

Johnson, though, insisted he has "no doubt" that schools are safe and urged parents to send their children back into the classroom in areas of England where they can. Unions representing teachers have called for schools to turn to remote learning for at least a couple of weeks more due to the new variant, which scientists have said is up to 70% more contagious.

The U.K. is in the midst of an acute outbreak, recording more than 50,000 new coronavirus infections a day over the past five days. On Saturday, it notched a daily record of 57,725 new cases. The country, with nearly 75,000 virus-related deaths, is alternating with Italy as the worst-hit European nation, according to figures compiled by Johns Hopkins University.

"We are entirely reconciled to do what it takes to get the virus under control, that may involve tougher measures in the weeks ahead," Johnson said in an interview with the BBC. "Obviously there are a range of tougher measures that we would have to consider."

Johnson conceded that school closures, curfews and the total banning of household mixing could be on the agenda for areas under the most stress.

Assistant Technical Officer Lukasz Najdrowski unpacks doses of the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Oxford University and U.K.-based drugmaker AstraZeneca as they arrive at the Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath, England, Saturday Jan. 2, 2021. The UK has 530,000 doses available for rollout from Monday. (Gareth Fuller/Pool via AP)

London and southeast England are facing extremely high levels of new infections and there is speculation that restrictions there will have to be tightened to bring the virus under control. In some parts of the British capital and its surrounding areas, there are around 1,000 cases per 100,000 people.

Johnson's government is using a tiered coronavirus restrictions system. Most of England is already at the highest Tier 4 level, which involves the closure of shops not selling non-essential items and places like gyms and recreation centers as well as a stay-at-home instruction.

"What we are using now is the tiering system, which is a very tough system, and alas probably about to get tougher to keep things under control," he said. "We'll review it and we have the prospect of vaccines coming down the tracks in their tens of millions, offering people literally life and hope."

Doses of the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Oxford University and U.K.-based drugmaker AstraZeneca arrive at the Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath, England, Saturday Jan. 2, 2021. The UK has 530,000 doses available for rollout from Monday. (Gareth Fuller/Pool via AP)

The U.K. has moved quickly on the vaccination front. It was the first to begin vaccinating people over 80 and health care workers on Dec. 8 with the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine. Last week, regulators approved another vaccine made by Oxford University and pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca that is cheaper and easier to use than the Pfizer vaccine.

Hundreds of new vaccination sites are due to be up and running this week as the National Health Service ramps up its immunization program with the Oxford-AstraZeneca jab. Officials say around 530,000 doses of the new vaccine will be in place Monday as the country moves towards its goal of vaccinating 2 million people a week as soon as possible.

"We do hope that we will be able to do tens of millions in the course of the next three months," Johnson said.

Assistant Technical Officer Lukasz Najdrowski unpacks doses of the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Oxford University and U.K.-based drugmaker AstraZeneca as they arrive at the Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath, England, Saturday Jan. 2, 2021. The UK has 530,000 doses available for rollout from Monday. (Gareth Fuller/Pool via AP)

Doses of the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Oxford University and U.K.-based drugmaker AstraZeneca arrive at the Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath, England, Saturday Jan. 2, 2021. The UK has 530,000 doses available for rollout from Monday. (Gareth Fuller/Pool via AP)

Doses of the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Oxford University and U.K.-based drugmaker AstraZeneca are logged by a technical officer, as they arrive at the Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath, England, Saturday Jan. 2, 2021. The UK has 530,000 doses available for rollout from Monday. (Gareth Fuller/Pool via AP)

The Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath, England, where doses of the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Oxford University and U.K.-based drugmaker AstraZeneca arrived on Saturday Jan. 2, 2021. at The UK has 530,000 doses available for rollout from Monday. (Gareth Fuller/Pool via AP)

The Oxford-AstraZeneca shot will be administered at a small number of hospitals for the first few days so authorities can be on the lookout for any adverse reactions. Hundreds of new vaccination sitesat both hospitals as well as local doctor's officesare due to launch this week, joining the more than 700 already in operation, NHS England said.

In a shift from practices in the U.S. and elsewhere, Britain plans to give people second doses of both vaccines within 12 weeks of the first shot rather than within 21 days, to accelerate immunizations across as many people as quickly as possible.

"My mum, as well as you or your older loved ones, may be affected by this decision, but it is still the right thing to do for the nation as a whole," the government's deputy chief medical officer, Professor Jonathan Van-Tam, said in an article for the Mail on Sunday newspaper.

Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Kohima/Imphal, Jan 3 : The Army, Indian Air Force (IAF), numerous state authorities, hundreds of volunteers accompanied by local people on Sunday continue to battle the raging week-long wildfire in the famed Dzukou Valley on the Nagaland and Manipur borders, officials said.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region Jitendra Singh had also assured the two northeastern states of all possible assistance to control the inferno.

Four IAF helicopters equipped with Bambi bucket on Sunday continued to spray huge waters on the wildfire.

Defence spokesman Lt. Col P. Khongsai said that in the ongoing effort to douse the wildfire in the Dzukou valley on Nagaland-Manipur border, Spear Corps (of Army) is working hand in hand with various central and state governments organisations and tackling the problem in a synchronised manner.

"The Indian Army and Assam Rifles troopers are providing all possible assistance to the NDRF teams in terms of accommodation, tentage and logistics resources so that they can execute their tasks to their full efficiency. The Indian Army is also providing its aviation base for launch of Bambi bucket operations and coordinating ground support, air traffic control, air space management as well as other logistics support to the IAF, thereby augmenting the air-effort," he said.

He added that the senior Army officials also had a meeting with the state administration for better synergy in the ongoing efforts.

"Indian Army has displayed true jointmanship in coordinating and synchronizing efforts of all agencies involved in dousing the wildfire," the Defence spokesman said.

Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority's Officer on Special Duty (OSD), Johnny Ruangmei said the wildfire is reasonably controlled and it was expected to tame the raze fully within the next 24 hours.

"The heavy gusty winds have affected the efforts to control the fire. Over 300 volunteers accompanied by the personnel of various departments and organisations were battling against the raging fire," Ruangmei told IANS over phone from Kohima.

He said the Army, IAF, Assam Rifles state police, state and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Forest Department, volunteers of Southern Angami Youth Organisation (SAYO), accompanied by the local people and the NGOs, have jointly undertaken the massive endeavours including making fire lines in the Valley to break off the link between the blaze and the forest.

IAF spokesperson Wing Commander Ratnakar Singh said following a requisition by Nagaland, the Eastern Air Command in Shillong had initially deployed a Mi-17V5 helicopter to check the wildfire but assessing the situation, the IAF had deployed three more helicopters equipped with Bambi bucket.

Singh said that a C-130J Hercules aircraft of the IAF airlifted ninr tonnes load for fighting the fire including 48 NDRF personnel from Guwahati to Dimapur.

Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, who had conducted an aerial survey to take stock of the wildfire that has caused huge damage since it broke out on Tuesday, tweeted that the wildfire that broke out at Dzukou valley has spread quite extensively and caused serious damage on this part of mountain range.

"The fire has already crossed Mount Iso, the highest peak of Manipur. If the wind direction is going to the southern side, there is a high possibility of entering in the thickest forest called Koziirii in Manipur. Need help," Nagaland Governor R. N. Ravi, who also visited the fire affected areas last week, urged the state government to immediately frame appropriate SOPs including Satellite Based Real Time Early Warning System to prevent recurrence of such a disaster.

The Dzukou valley, 30 km from Kohima, also is a sanctuary for the endangered Blyth's tragopan - Nagaland's State Bird - and other species of birds and animals.

The iconic valley, situated at an altitude of 2,452 metres above the sea level, is a popular tourist spot and also famous for its seasonal flowers and biodiversity. Often caught in a boundary dispute between Manipur and Nagaland, it also has been prone to wildfires.

Members of the SAYO, which run an adventure-based conservation programme, tackled such fires in many cases earlier. In 2006, the wildfire affected a 20-km stretch of the southern part of Dzukou valley.
The Iranian embassy in Yemen's Houthi-held capital Sanaa held a conference on Sunday to commemorate the anniversary of the killing of a powerful Iranian general and top Iraqi militia leader in a US drone strike.

Hassan Eyrlou, the Iranian ambassador in Sanaa, said during the conference that strengthening the ties between Iran and Yemen was on the top of the nations' agendas.

The killing of Gen. Qassim Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis pushed Tehran and Washington perilously close to all-out conflict and sparked outrage in Iraq, leading parliament to pass a non-binding resolution days later calling for the expulsion of all foreign troops from Iraq.

Soleimani headed the elite Quds Force of Iran's Revolutionary Guard, responsible for the Islamic Republic's foreign operations and he frequently shuttled between Iraq, Lebanon and Syria.

Al-Muhandis was Iraq's most powerful militia leader who was deputy commander of the PMF.

Their killing dramatically ratcheted up tensions in the region and brought the US and Iran to the brink of war.

Iran hit back by firing a barrage of ballistic missiles at two Iraqi bases housing US troops, some of whom suffered concussions.

Iranian officials have suggested that more retaliation is coming.

Yemen was been plunged in a civil war since 2014 after Iran-backed Houthi rebels overran the north and the capital, Sanaa.

The following year, a Saudi-led military coalition supported by the US intervened to wage war on the Houthis and to restore President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi's government to power.

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
Islamist militants executed five Christians in Nigeria over the Christmas period, Release International reports.

Terrorist group Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), a faction of Boko Haram, has claimed responsibility for the killings.

They released a video saying the deaths were a "warning to Christians in all parts of the world and those in Nigeria".

The five executed Christians are understood to have been among 11 people kidnapped on Christmas Day from Garkida town, Adamawa State, in north-east Nigeria.

Their deaths were filmed, with footage showing them kneeling with their hands tied behind them before they were shot dead.

The victims were all men and were asked to state their names before they were killed.

The men gave their names as Uka Joseph, Sunday, Wilson, Joshua Maidugu and Garba Yusuf, but also said as their last words "I am a Christian", Morning Star News reports.

The killings echo a similar execution of 11 Christian aid workers in Nigeria on Christmas Day 2019.

In this year's attack on Garkida town, the militants also set fire to churches, homes and a hospital, and looted shops and houses.

"This latest deplorable murder of Christians  just for being Christians  strengthens Release International's growing concern for Nigeria," said Release International CEO Paul Robinson.

"Boko Haram and ISWAP have both pledged to kill Christians. And heavily armed Fulani militants are driving Christian villagers from the north, in what appears to be an undeclared jihad. Release International's partners warn of a genocide in the making."

Release partner Hassan John criticised the Nigerian government for failing to stem the violence against Christians.

"The government, by design or omission, is turning a blind eye to the carnage," he said.
By Louis Freedberg

EdSource

Expanded summer school for K-12 students may be one positive outcome of the pandemic that has otherwise contributed to varying levels of learning loss among students across the state.

Without providing details, Gov. Gavin Newsom indicated that he will be including funds in the budget he will present to the Legislature in January that might allow schools to effectively extend the school year into the summer, as a crucial way to help make up for the learning loss that many students have suffered during the pandemic.

"We're going to be creative to look more broadly outside the previous constructs, this mantra or mindset that goes back to an agrarian society that no longer exists, that has the presumption that 99 percent of us will be toiling the fields come this summer," he said during his briefing on his plan to encourage more schools to offer in-person instruction.

He said he didn't want to "get too far ahead in terms of the budget that we will be submitting," but that "we will be looking at extending the day, looking at extending into the summer, looking at the opportunity to get tutors and additional supports to comprehensively address learning loss."

His remarks were reinforced by those of State Board of Education President Linda Darling-Hammond, who is also currently heading up the education transition team for President-elect Joe Biden.

"We need to understand the school year in new ways," Darling-Hammond said, pointing to a widespread concern among educators for decades that the long summer break can be damaging to the educational progress of many students, especially those who are already struggling. "We've been tied to an agrarian calendar for the school year that begins in September or August and goes until May or June."

But, she said, California shouldn't be thinking about the instructional calendar as consisting of "what we can we cram in only by May. We should think about this as the continuous process of solving for learning and taking advantage of the many other innovations that are going on in this state."

These could include everything from outdoor classrooms, expedition schools and project-based learning to interactive online materials that have become regular additions to teacher's toolboxes.

In general, summer schools are low-budget affairs, typically providing instruction for a small subset of students who have to make up for lost credits that they need to graduate, or to advance to the next grade. As described in this EdSource report, summer schools took a huge hit during the Great Recession a decade ago, and many have never fully recovered. Most summer programs, often described as "enrichment programs," are private ones that only higher income parents have been able to afford, further widening achievement gaps between higher and lower income students.

A notable exception is the ambitious and creative summer program launched last summer by Los Angeles Unified, which was intended to be accessible to all its students.

Neither Darling-Hammond nor Newsom provided details about what they will be proposing in his January budget. But Newsom stressed that the issue of how to ensure that children catch up and succeed is a major concern of his -- like it is of most parents, he said. "I can assure you it is not only top of mind, it's foundational in terms of the budget that we'll be submitting for consideration to the legislature."

Copyright  2021 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.
100 years ago  1921

The second day of the court proceedings opened on Tuesday with the Ashland riot case holding the center of the stage, both of the other courtrooms being temporarily tied up by the absence of litigants and a failure on a number of the cases to be cleared by the grand jury.

75 years ago  1946

The First Baby of 1946 contest, sponsored by The REPUBLICAN and leading merchants of the city, will be brought to a close today.

50 years ago  1971

BARNESVILLE  James P. Herring returned to his home in Locust Valley after being honorably discharged from the U.S. Army. The former Army sergeant served in Vietnam and Badhersfield, Germany.

25 years ago  1996

SAINT CLAIR  Nearly 400 employees of Jetson Direct Mail Services Inc. will be displaced  moved to a new plant north of Hamburg or laid off  in the next month, a county economic development official said. Jetson Chief Financial Officer Steven J. Bright informed the Schuylkill Economic Development Corp.s (SEDCO) executive board of the companys plans Wednesday, said SEDCO President Frank J. Zukas. Employees at the plant in East Norwegian Township were also informed during the day, Zukas said. The producer of direct mail, letters, pamphlets and fliers for people like Publishers Clearing House, plans to consolidate at its 15-month-old plant in Tilden Township, just south of the Schuylkill and Berks county line.




Haiti - News : Zapping





The name and logo of the digital currency...

The Bank of the Republic of Haiti (BRH) would like to thank the 500 participants who proposed names and logos for the digital currency of the Central Bank from December 2 to 23, 2020. It takes the opportunity to announce that the results of the competition will be revealed during this month of January 2021.



Joumou soup listed as Haitian Heritage

The Ministry of Culture and Communication (MCC) informs, in a note dated 31 December, the population in general, specialists in culture, heritage, local communities, bearers or holders of intangible heritage in particular , that the technique of the traditional preparation of "Soup Joumou or Soup with Giraumon" or "Soup of Independence" is officially registered in the National Register of Haitian Cultural Heritage, administered by the Directorate of Cultural Heritage of the Institution.



Messages from the Arab Emirates to President Moise and PM

President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, sent a message of congratulations to Jovenel Moise, President of Haiti, on the occasion of Haitis National Day. The Vice President of the United Arab Emirates, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of the Arab Emirates United, have also sent similar messages to President Moise and Prime Minister Joseph Jouthe on occasion.



The DG of the PNH encourages the Government

Despite the meager resources available to Leon Charles, the Director General of the National Police of Hauiti (PNH) expresses his determination to do everything in his power to guarantee a safe climate in the country. In addition, it encourages the Government to take measures to allow the police to receive their salary or risk premium on time.



The MJSP will launch a competition of excellence

The Ministry of Justice will soon launch a competition for excellence to financially support law students who have chosen to produce their final thesis on human rights. The 5 best memory projects will be awarded. For the competition, the favorite themes are : - Human trafficking and smuggling - Women's rights - The rights of sexual minorities - The right to demonstrate and freedom of movement - The abuse of children and the elderly.



HL/ HaitiLibre


















Oslo: .

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.

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Los Angeles, Jan 3 : Hollywood star George Clooney is not looking forward to the release of his low budget horror film Grizzly II, which was made in the eighties.A The 1983 horror thriller, which was shelved for decades, has Clooney sporting a mullet. His character gets eaten by a bear in the movie, reports thesun.co.uk.

"I haven't seen it, and I donaAt know that I want to. It was a bad time for hair and clothes," said the actor.

"I have a sense I have found something that's worse than 'Batman & Robin'," he shared while referring to his 1997 superhero film that didn't grab many eyeballs.

"Grizzly II" was shot in Hungary when Clooney was 21 years old. It also stars other then-newcomers Charlie Sheen and Laura Dern. Producer Suzanne Nagy is planning a limited release of the movie.
Welcome Guest! You Are Here:
In the days after Jane Krumrine was diagnosed with COVID-19, her dearest friend Susy Brandt would FaceTime with her.

A nurse at Dunwoody Village would dress in full-body protective gear and hold up the phone so Krumrine could see the woman she knew since childhood.

An 82-year-old with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and reduced mobility, Krumrine was vulnerable. Yet shed smile as her friend reminisced about their travel adventures  to Italy, to East Africa, to New Zealand. She would nod or grasp her nurses hand to show she understood.

Then around 2 a.m. April 17, Brandt got the phone call: Krumrine, her lifelong friend, had died.

It was a devastating loss.

For most of 80 years, Jane Krumrine and Jessamine Susy Brandt led charmed lives, almost inseparably  socializing together, traveling together, going to church.

The two met as toddlers in 1939, shortly after Brandts parents bought a house in Merion on Raynham Road, four houses down from the Krumrines. The girls nannies would take 2-year-old Jane and 3-year-old Susy for walks. They fed the ducks in a neighborhood pond, picked violets, rode their bicycles together.

As they grew older, their families became close; Brandt still refers to Krumrines father, a former bank executive, as Uncle Charlie. Krumrine, who described herself as an only child of only children, became an honorary Brandt.

Five days a week, the girls took the train together to go to their separate high schools, Krumrine at Baldwin School and Suzy at Agnes Irwin, and when they werent in class, they chatted on the phone incessantly. At University of Pennsylvania and Vassar, they spent time together when they had vacations.

After college, they returned to their family homes and pursued careers. Krumrine was a public relations executive who could be tough. Brandt was an elementary school teacher who tended to defuse conflict with humor.

Both eventually inherited their nearby childhood homes. Both dated but chose not to get married. Still, they had each other as best friends.

Like her parents, whose parties were featured in The Inquirers society pages, Krumrine threw great affairs. Sometimes, guests would parade out the front door, donning hats from the womens collection (from top hats to those shaped like flower pots), and march down the driveway in through the kitchen door, singing and carrying whatever was handy  vases or candlesticks.

For Krumrines 50th birthday, Brandt and Scott Tuttle, another longtime friend, planned a surprise party on a vintage dining car rented out for special occasions. That meant convincing Krumrine to come to 30th Street Station by conjuring a fake meeting with a friend on the platform.

The surprise was almost ruined when an electrical failure shut down all the trains, and their friends  hiding throughout the station in the pre-cell-phone era  remained stranded until the power issue was resolved. Finally, it pulled into the station with a banner: Welcome to the Jane Train. Happy Birthday Jane, and her friends emerged.

But it was their trips together that brought Krumrine and Brandt the closest: They had traveled on 45 adventures to at least 17 countries by the end of Krumrines life.

On one voyage to Southampton, England, with friends from Krumrines job, the ocean liner got caught in a high-wave storm. On one roll of the ship, all the dresser drawers tumbled out. On the next roll, Brandt, who was in her nightgown, fell and landed in one of them.

Jane, instead of being helpful and seeing how I was, was hysterical [with laughter] and goes next door and gets [her friends] and says, You have got to see this. Shes just fallen in her drawer,  Brandt recalled.

Brandt and Krumrine made friends from around the world through these trips and Krumrines later career in New York at a global insurance brokerage. When the guests came to Philadelphia, the women would tell them about Philadelphia history as they drove through the city bickering about historical details. Back at her home, Krumrine put yellow sticky notes on everything so her guests would know what they could or couldnt use.

In the mid-1980s, Brandt convinced Krumrine to try Overbrook Presbyterian Church, where shed been a member since childhood. Krumrine would then ferry Brandt to church in her bright-red Mini Cooper, eventually parking in a handicapped space near the side door when it became difficult to walk long distances. She would rest for a moment on one of the pews near the entrance, then walk to the friends favorite spot four rows in front of the pulpit.

Moving to Dunwoody

In October 2018, when the women had both reached their 80s, they sold their homes in Merion and moved to Dunwoody Village, a leafy, suburban continuing-care retirement community.

Brandt was the catalyst, telling her friend, Jane, I know that Ive got to move in. I cant deal with these steps anymore.

Krumrine said, Well if youre going, Im going.

Dunwoody had two first-floor sunny apartments available, but they were far enough apart that the women bought motor scooters to visit each other.

When they moved in, Krumrine was using oxygen at night to cope with her COPD. But problems quickly escalated. Krumrine had to carry oxygen with her everywhere. She started using a walker. By the fall of 2019, she could no longer go to church; it was too hard to navigate the 125-year-old building.

Then, possibly as a result of her osteoporosis, Krumrine spontaneously fractured two vertebrae. That forced her to wear a brace and to move to Dunwoodys skilled nursing unit in December 2019.

Krumrine now needed oxygen 24 hours a day and had trouble keeping her balance. She also became increasingly forgetful so she kept her phone and calendar close. Even with memory problems, she never forgot a birthday or anniversary.

Oh God, she was worried about it. [Shed say,] What is happening to me? This was a woman who liked to be in control and she couldnt be, Brandt said.

Brandt visited Krumrine almost every day. They would read and chat. Krumrine still devoured the New York Times, The Inquirer, the Main Line Times, the Wall Street Journal, and the Financial Times.

But she grew more agitated over time. Why cant I go out with you and have a drink? she would ask Brandt.

Namkee Choi, a gerontologist at the University of Texas who has studied depression in nursing home patients, said that for people with a close bond, sudden separation is the end of the world. Even if they are in the same facility, it makes depression more severe. Medical problems, including COPD, can worsen, she said.

On March 11, 2020, on a visit to Krumrines room, the women discussed the alarming new coronavirus and Brandts recent trip to Florida. But eventually Brandt had to return to her apartment.

Why cant you stay with me? Krumrine pleaded. Im just miserable being alone, she said. Brandt promised to come back the next day. But after she left that night, the skilled nursing unit closed to visitors for coronavirus precautions.

That would be the last time they would see each other in person.

Over the next month, Krumrines coughing worsened, and she eventually tested positive for COVID-19.

When the nurses could accommodate her, Brandt called. Sometimes she would reminisce, sometimes she would pray. Every time she tried saying the Lords Prayer, shed break down and have to ask the nurse to finish.

The two had their last conversation about eight hours before Krumrine died. We love you, Brandt told her. We love you. And everything is OK. Youll be alright ...

The party was most important

Because Krumrine didnt have immediate family, it was Brandt who would be making all the calls and arrangements, working with the executors to sort through Krumrines room. They offered the heirloom furniture to friends, and Brandt saved some mementos for herself: two pairs of clip-on earrings; a strand of pearls; pads of ever-present sticky notes; and seven scarves  paisley, flowered, polka-dotted.

Krumrine had made her funeral plans about 10 years earlier, leaving a folder of instructions: a graveside burial service, a church memorial, a party. The party was most important.

 READ MORE: Jane Krumrine, 82, was a retired executive and philanthropist who threw legendary parties

With the pandemic restrictions, Brandt and Adam Hearlson, their minister, organized a Zoom service to remember several congregation members who died during the pandemic. More closure came in June, when Brandt and friends were able to have a burial service at West Laurel Hill Cemetery. There, her urn was lowered into the grave and Krumrines friends dropped red roses on top.

Brandt went first, walking slowly from her folding chair with a cane, pausing for a moment before letting her flower fall.

A memorial and party will hopefully take place in May, what would have been Krumrines 84th birthday.

Jane meetings

Shortly after Krumrines death, a group of her closest friends began Jane meetings on Zoom. They were initially held every week at 5 p.m., when Krumrine would have her Dewars scotch and soda. Now the first Tuesday of the month, they are a highlight of Brandts days.

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This month, 12 friends gathered, including a senior at Haverford College, someone whose parents and grandparents were close friends with Krumrine. Another participated from Germany. Several were in London. Most attendees met through Krumrines legendary parties, where she liked to connect people.

Are there any Jane traditions or stories people remember from Thanksgiving?, Brandt asked.

They recalled how she forced second helpings on people. Now you must do your civic duty, shed say. And how well stocked Krumrines pantry was, marked with yellow Post-it notes.

Like on most meeting days, Brandt wore her old friends scarf. This day, it was green-and-white polka-dotted.

noble_brigham@brown.edu
Vice President Mike Pence has said he will support the bid by a dozen Republican Senators to overturn Joe Biden's election win in Congress next week.

Marc Short, Pence's chief of staff, issued a statement Saturday saying the VP 'shares the concerns of millions of Americans about voter fraud and irregularities in the last election.'

'(Pence) welcomes the efforts of members of the House and Senate to use the authority they have under the law to raise objections and bring forward evidence before the Congress and the American people on Jan. 6th', the statement continued.

Pence gave the plot his backing just hours after Ted Cruz said he would be among the 12 GOP Senators trying to block the certification.

Vice President Mike Pence has said he will support the bid by a dozen Republican Senators to overturn Joe Biden's election win in Congress next week

Dozens of Republicans also reportedly participated in a conference call with President Trump and Chief of Staff Mark Meadows Saturday night to discuss the plan to reject Electoral College votes.

Congressman Mo Brooks of Alabama tweeted that he and Congressman Jim Jordan of Ohio lead a call with '50+ congressmen who join & fight for America's republic.

'Our fight for honest & accurate elections gains momentum,' Brooks said.

Twelve Republicans have now said they will vote to reject the electors on January 6, after Missouri Senator Josh Hawley became the first to announce his intentions this week to challenge the result.

In a statement on Saturday with ten more GOP senators, Cruz demanded the appointment of an emergency commission to conduct a 10-day audit of the election returns in 'disputed states'.

Until such a commission is appointed, they vowed to intend to vote on January 6 to reject the electors from those states - a largely symbolic move that has little chance of preventing Biden from taking office.

The effort is considered separate from but parallel to that of Senator Hawley, who earlier this week became the first sitting member of the Senate to announce he would challenge the election result.

U.S. Senator Ted Cruz has said he will be among a dozen Republican senators who will challenge President-elect Joe Biden's victory when Electoral College results are tallied in Congress next week

It comes in defiance of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, who has pleaded with his caucus not to attempt to block certification of the election

Trump's Dirty Dozen Senator Josh Hawley - Missouri - has already said he will object The Cruz faction Senator Ted Cruz - Texas Senator Ron Johnson - Wisconsin Senator James Lankford - Oklahoma Senator Steve Daines - Montana Senator John Kennedy - Louisiana Senator Marsha Blackburn - Tennessee Senator Mike Braun - Indiana Senator-elect Cynthia Lummis - Wyoming Senator-elect Tommy Tuberville - Alabama Senator-elect Bill Hagerty - Tennessee Senator-elect Roger Marshall - Kansas *Senators-elect will be sworn in as senators on Sunday January 3, and will be eligible to vote on January 6 Advertisement

Cruz was joined in the statement by Senators Ron Johnson, James Lankford, Steve Daines, John Kennedy, Marsha Blackburn, Mike Braun, along with Cynthia Lummis, Tommy Tuberville, Bill Hagerty, and Roger Marshall, all of whom will be sworn in as senators on Sunday in the new Congress.

In a statement, Cruz and the other senators said they intend to vote to reject electors from swing states that have been at the center of President Donald Trump's unproven assertions of election fraud and will call for the establishment of a commission to investigate claims of fraud on an emergency basis.

'We intend to vote on January 6 to reject the electors from disputed states as not `regularly given and `lawfully certified (the statutory requisite), unless and until that emergency 10-day audit is completed,' they wrote in the statement.

'We do not take this action lightly,' they said.

It comes in defiance of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, who has pleaded with his caucus not to attempt to block certification of the Electoral College results.

In conference calls with colleagues, McConnell has reportedly argued that any attempt to block certification of Biden would be futile, and only divide the party.

Cruz's statement pointed out that Democrats in Congress had previously raised objections to the result of a presidential election, including in 1969, 2001, 2005, and 2017.

President Donald Trump has not proven his claims of election fraud, but Cruz believes an emergency commission should be appointed to get to the bottom of the matter

Senators (left to right) Ron Johnson, James Lankford, Steve Daines signed on with Cruz

Senators John Kennedy, Marsha Blackburn, Mike Braun also joined Cruz's faction

Also joining Cruz were incoming Senators (left to right) Cynthia Lummis, Tommy Tuberville, Bill Hagerty, and Roger Marshall, all of whom will be sworn in as senators on Sunday

Senatory Hawley of Missouri (above) was the first to defy McConnell by announcing he would join House Republicans in objecting to the state tallies on January 6

'The most direct precedent on this question arose in 1877, following serious allegations of fraud and illegal conduct in the Hayes-Tilden presidential race,' the senators argued.

'Specifically, the elections in three states-Florida, Louisiana, and South Carolina-were alleged to have been conducted illegally,' they continued.

'In 1877, Congress did not ignore those allegations, nor did the media simply dismiss those raising them as radicals trying to undermine democracy.

'Instead, Congress appointed an Electoral Commission-consisting of five Senators, five House Members, and five Supreme Court Justices-to consider and resolve the disputed returns,' the statement added.

A number of Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives also plan on contesting the vote tally.

The days ahead are expected to do little to change the outcome. Biden is set to be inaugurated January 20 after winning the Electoral College vote 306-232.

Senator Hawley of Missouri was the first to defy McConnell by announcing he would join House Republicans in objecting to the state tallies during Wednesday's joint session of Congress.

The moves drew swift condemnation from Democrats, including former Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill, who tweeted 'There are actually 12 Senators 'pointing a loaded gun' at the heart of democracy. They should always be known as the #dirtydozen.'

The Dirty Dozen was a 1967 war film about about ragtag group of hardened criminals who were recruited to form an elite Allied commando unit sent on a virtual suicide mission against high-ranking Nazi officers.

On the other side of the Republican party's split, Senator Ben Sasse of Nebraska warned such challenges are a 'dangerous ploy' threatening the nations civic norms.

The issue is forcing Republicans to make choices that will set the contours of the post-Trump era and an evolving GOP.

'I will not be participating in a project to overturn the election,' Sasse wrote in a lengthy social media post. Sasse, a potential 2024 presidential contender, said he was 'urging my colleagues also to reject this dangerous ploy.'

Sasse was joined by several other Republicans who also blasted their colleagues' efforts to block Biden's win, including Senators Mitt Romney, Pat Toomey and Lisa Murkowski.

In a statement released on Saturday night, Romney described the move as an 'egregious ploy that 'dangerously threatens our Democratic Republic.'

'I acknowledge that this past election, like all elections, had irregularities. But the evidence is overwhelming that Joe Biden won this election,' Toomey posted on Twitter.

Murkowski said in a statement: ' I will vote to affirm the 2020 presidential election. The courts and state legislatures have all honored their duty to hear legal allegations and have found nothing to warrant overturning the results.'

The Dirty Dozen was a 1967 war film about about ragtag group of hardened criminals who were recruited to form an elite Allied commando unit sent on a virtual suicide mission against high-ranking Nazi officers during WWII. They were victorious, but few survived the mission

Trump, the first president to lose a reelection bid in almost 30 years, has attributed his defeat to widespread voter fraud, despite the consensus of nonpartisan election officials that there wasn't any.

Of the roughly 50 lawsuits the president and his allies have filed challenging election results, nearly all have been dismissed or dropped. Hes also lost twice at the U.S. Supreme Court.

Still, the president has pushed Republican senators to pursue his unfounded charges even though the Electoral College has already cemented Bidens victory and all that's left is Congress formal recognition of the count before the new president is sworn in.

'We are letting people vote their conscience,' Sen. John Thune, the second-ranking Republican, told reporters at the Capitol.

Thunes remarks as the GOP whip in charge of rounding up votes show that Republican leadership is not putting its muscle behind Trumps demands, but allowing senators to choose their course. He noted the gravity of questioning the election outcome.

'This is an issue thats incredibly consequential, incredibly rare historically and very precedent-setting,' he said. 'This is a big vote. They are thinking about it.'

Pence will be carefully watched as he presides over what is typically a routine vote count in Congress but is now heading toward a prolonged showdown that could extend into Wednesday night, depending on how many challenges are mounted.

Former Democratic Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill condemned the Republicans, tweeing 'There are actually 12 Senators 'pointing a loaded gun' at the heart of democracy'

Republican Senator Ben Sasse of Nebraska doesn't support his colleagues' plan, saying he urged them to 'reject this dangerous ploy'

The vice president was sued by a group of Republicans who want Pence to have the power to overturn the election results by doing away with an 1887 law that spells out how Congress handles the vote count.

Trump's own Justice Department may have complicated what is already a highly improbable effort to upend the ritualistic count.

It asked a federal judge to dismiss the last-gasp lawsuit from Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas, and a group of Republican electors from Arizona who are seeking to force Pence to step outside mere ceremony and shape the outcome of the vote.

In a court filing in Texas, the department said they have 'have sued the wrong defendant' and Pence should not be the target of the legal action.

'A suit to establish that the Vice President has discretion over the count, filed against the Vice President, is a walking legal contradiction,' the department argues.

A judge in Texas dismissed the Gohmert lawsuit Friday night. U.S. District Judge Jeremy Kernodle, a Trump appointee, wrote that the plaintiffs 'allege an injury that is not fairly traceable' to Pence, 'and is unlikely to be redressed by the requested relief.'

That decision was affirmed by a federal appeals court ruling Saturday night.

To ward off a dramatic unraveling, McConnell convened a conference call with Republican senators Thursday specifically to address the coming joint session and logistics of tallying the vote, according to several Republicans granted anonymity to discuss the private call.

The challenge is expected to do little to change the outcome. Biden is set to be inaugurated January 20 after winning the Electoral College vote 306-232

The Republican leader pointedly called on Hawley to answer questions about his challenge to Bidens victory, according to two of the Republicans.

But there was no response because Hawley was a no-show, the Republicans said.

His office did not respond to a request for comment.

Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., who has acknowledged Bidens victory and defended his states elections systems as valid and accurate, spoke up on the call, objecting to those challenging Pennsylvanias results and making clear he disagrees with Hawleys plan to contest the result, his office said in a statement.

McConnell had previously warned GOP senators not to participate in raising objections, saying it would be a terrible vote for colleagues. In essence, lawmakers would be forced to choose between the will of the outgoing president and that of the voters.

Several Republicans have indicated they are under pressure from constituents back home to show they are fighting for Trump in his baseless campaign to stay in office.
Boris Johnson has urged parents to send their children back to primaries that are set to reopen tomorrow

PM said he had 'no doubt' that schools were safe but refused to rule out full shutdown in the weeks to come

Mr Johnson warned that harsher lockdown measures will 'probably' be needed due to the mutant Covid strain

Ofsted boss Amanda Spielman has delivered stark warning that children's learning cannot be 'furloughed'

Left-wing councils join revolt against Government plans as National Education Union says schools are not safe

Boris Johnson today urged parents to send children back to primary schools but refused to rule out a full shutdown to control the mutant coronavirus strain - as Keir Starmer demanded a new national lockdown within 24 hours.

The PM insisted there is 'no doubt in my mind' that schools are 'safe' as he insisted there would be no further U-turn on reopening most primaries this week, despite more councils saying they wanted to keep pupils at home.

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However, pressed in a New Year interview on the BBC's Andrew Marr show whether there will be a wider closure, he merely said everything was being kept 'under review'.

Challenged to guarantee that secondaries will be back up and running as planned on January 18, Mr Johnson said he would be looking at the impact of the Tier 4 restrictions over the coming weeks.

The premier also accepted that harsher measures will 'probably' be needed to contain the more infectious variant of the deadly virus, saying the situation was set to get 'bumpy'.

Asked what else the government might do to stabilise the situation, Mr Johnson said: 'There are obviously a range of tougher measures that we would have to consider... School closures is one of those things.'

But Labour leader Sir Keir this afternoon dramatically called for immediate action rather than 'hints'. 'The virus is clearly out of control,' he told reporters, saying a squeeze should take effect tomorrow. 'It is no use the PM hinting that more restrictions are coming. I say bring in those restrictions now.'

He added: 'The longer you delay the decisions the worse it is.'

He insisted that vaccines were the way to get the UK out of the crisis, saying 'tens of millions' would be given jabs over the next three months - although he refused to give specific figures.

Mr Johnson also dismissed criticism that the government had handled the pandemic badly, saying: 'What we could not have foreseen reasonably was the arrival of the variant.'

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He added sharply: 'The Retrospectoscope is a magnificent instrument.'

The grim comments came amid a growing row over education.

The head of England's schools watchdog warned today that pupils cannot be 'furloughed' as Left-wing councils joined the revolt against Government plans to keep schools open.

In another welter of coronavirus developments today:

Another 54,990 cases of coronavirus have been recorded in the UK over the last 24 hours, and 454 deaths - although the latter figure is incomplete as Scotland does not report on Sundays;

The Scottish Parliament is being recalled early from its Christmas break tomorrow as Nicola Sturgeon considers ramping up restrictions;

Officials leading the UK vaccination programme defended the decision to extend the gap between the two doses, insisting it is 'the way we save lives';

Tony Blair has warned getting towards five million vaccinations a week might be the only way to keep schools open and avert crippling lockdowns;

Health bosses admitted a few procedures could be moved from London to ease pressure, but urgent cancer operations will not be scrapped to ease the strain on hospitals;

Labour's shadow culture secretary Jo Stevens is being treated in hospital for coronavirus, her aides have announced;

A Labour frontbencher has apologised for 'wrong and irresponsible' tweets suggesting vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi had jumped the queue for jabs .

The PM insisted there is 'no doubt in my mind' that schools are 'safe' as he insisted there would be no further U-turn on reopening most primaries this week

This map shows how the coronavirus variants have been tracked as they spread around the world

PM refuses to rule out cancelling exams Boris Johnson today refused to rule out cancelling GCSE and A-Level exams this year. Asked about the possibility, the PM said: 'We've got to be realistic, we've got to be realistic about the pace of which this new variant has spread 'We've got to be realistic about the impact that it's having on our NHS and we've got to be humble in the face of this virus.'

Ofsted chief inspector Amanda Spielman said school closures should be kept to the 'absolute minimum', revealing that the first lockdown disrupted children's learning and wider development.

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Writing in the Sunday Telegraph, she said Ofsted had found some younger children had 'forgotten how to hold a pencil or use a knife and fork, and had regressed in basic language numbers'.

In older children, Ms Spielman said the schools watchdog had noted 'increases in eating disorders and self-harm, and anti-social behaviour at some schools' during the coronavirus crisis.

Most primaries in England are expected to open their doors tomorrow, while secondary schools will reopen on a staggered basis later this month with plans to test every student weekly.

But yesterday the UK's largest teaching union advised members it was not safe to return to the classroom and demanded a move to online teaching.

And more councils broke cover today to make clear they wanted to keep children away from school.

Cumbria has asked the Department for Education for permission to keep primaries closed tomorrow.

The rural county is one of the areas outside London and the South East hardest hit by the virulent new strain of Covid-19.

Colin Cox, the director of public health at Cumbria County Council, in a series of tweets, said: 'Following extensive discussions over the last 48 hours, the CCC Exec Director (People) and I have this morning jointly written to DfE formally requesting that Cumbrian primary schools are added to the Contingency Framework of schools not expected to open tomorrow.

'Driven by the new strain, rates in Carlisle and Eden are now very high, and are rising fast in other parts of the county - rates in Barrow, Copeland and Allerdale are doubling every 4-5 days. And hospitals are under pressure.

Tougher Covid curbs will be needed, warns SAGE expert It is 'pretty clear' tougher coronavirus curbs will be needed, a leading SAGE member warned today. Professor Sir Mark Walport, a former government chief scientific adviser, suggested Tier 4 will not be enough to contain the new mutant strain. Asked if the highest bracket was sufficient, Sir Mark told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show: 'It's the Tier 4 restrictions, it's obeying them. 'It is thinking about breaking essentially every possible route of transmission we possibly can. 'Those are the things that are absolutely necessary and it is pretty clear we're going to need more.'

'We don't have the capacity in the NHS to respond easily to further increases in rates.

'So while primary children may not themselves be at high risk, we have to reduce opportunities for transmission wherever possible to protect the wider community.

'We await the DfE decision and either way will of course continue to support schools to enable children to learn safely.'

The leader of Kent County Council has urged ministers to keep all primary schools closed in the county.

Younger pupils in Thanet, Canterbury, Dover and Folkestone and Hythe are expected to return tomorrow, while the other districts in Kent will learn remotely for the first two weeks of term with arrangements being reviewed on January 18.

Council leader Roger Gough and cabinet member for education and skills Richard Long wrote to Mr Williamson, saying: 'We recognise and share the strong arguments about the damaging impact of learning loss and social isolation on children from not being in school, as well as the impact on families.

'It is therefore with considerable regret that we urge that the deferral of primary school opening that Government has already decided for much of the county be applied to the remaining four districts  Thanet, Canterbury, Dover and Folkestone and Hythe  where primary schools are currently scheduled to reopen on Monday.'

Headteachers are urging the Government to scrap this summer's GCSE and A-level exams amid outrage over Education Secretary Gavin Williamson's plans to keep schools open.

Asked whether he could guarantee schools will open on January 18, Mr Johnson said: 'Well, obviously, we're going to continue to assess the impact of the Tier 4 measures, the Tier 3 measures.'

On whether GCSE and A-Level exams should be cancelled, the Prime Minister said: 'We've got to be realistic, we've got to be realistic about the pace of which this new variant has spread we've got to be realistic about the impact that it's having on our NHS and we've got to be humble in the face of this virus.'

Mr Johnson indicated even more stringent restrictions may be introduced, saying the tiering system is 'alas, probably about to get tougher,'

'It may be that we need to do things in the next few weeks that will be tougher in many parts of the country,' he said.

'I'm fully, fully reconciled to that.'

Mr Johnson refused to be drawn on whether they could include a new Tier 5 or curfews, but made clear that school closures are on the table.

'There are obviously a range of tougher measures that that we would have to consider,' he said.

Health chiefs say some younger people will die from coronavirus Health officials today warned that people as young as 30 'will die from Covid' as NHS hospitals in the West Country brace for an overspill of critically-ill patients from London under emergency plans. Trusts in London and the south-east at the centre of the UK's epidemic are preparing to transfer patients to hospitals in the south-west while patients in the east of England will be moved to the Midlands. The massive Nightingale hospital at the London Excel Centre, which was created in record-time early in the pandemic only to be swiftly mothballed, is also expected to reopen within a fortnight, the Times reports. National pairing arrangements have been put in place amid warnings from doctors that hospitals in the South have come under 'immense pressure' due to a surge in cases of 'mutant' Covid, with hospitals across the UK being told prepare to face the same Covid pressures as the NHS in the capital. Chris Hopson, chief executive of NHS Providers, said just a small number of patients from London would be transferred to the south-west and Midlands when space in neighbouring hospitals was exhausted. Dr Alison Pittard, the dean of the Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine, today hinted the NHS could collapse because 'very, very tired staff' may not have the energy to handle the deluge in 'mutant' virus cases. Speaking on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show, she also claimed that she had heard of cases of people as young as 30 suffering from coronavirus in ICU wards and claimed that 'younger people will die from Covid'.

'I'm not going to speculate now about what they would be, but I'm sure that all our viewers and our listeners will understand what the sort of things clearly school closures, which we had to do in March is one of those things.'

The stark warning came as health officials warned that people as young as 30 'will die from Covid', with NHS hospitals in the West Country brace for an overspill of critically-ill patients from London under emergency plans.

Trusts in London and the south-east at the centre of the UK's epidemic are preparing to transfer patients to hospitals in the south-west while patients in the east of England will be moved to the Midlands.

The massive Nightingale hospital at the London Excel Centre, which was created in record-time early in the pandemic only to be swiftly mothballed, is also expected to reopen within a fortnight.

National pairing arrangements have been put in place amid warnings from doctors that hospitals in the South have come under 'immense pressure' due to a surge in cases of 'mutant' Covid, with hospitals across the UK being told prepare to face the same Covid pressures as the NHS in the capital.

Chris Hopson, chief executive of NHS Providers, said just a small number of patients from London would be transferred to the south-west and Midlands when space in neighbouring hospitals was exhausted.

He said: 'Hospitals are doing a great job creating extra surge capacity in London and the south-east to treat the critically ill. If it gets more difficult, we will find other ways to treat people within the region but we know there are some patients that can be moved to where the pressure is slightly less, for example the south-west and Midlands.'

Dr Alison Pittard, the dean of the Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine, today hinted the NHS could collapse because 'very, very tired staff' may not have the energy to handle the deluge in 'mutant' virus cases.

Speaking on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show, she also claimed that she had heard of cases of people as young as 30 suffering from coronavirus in ICU wards and claimed that 'younger people will die from Covid'.

Ms Spielman rubbished calls for remote education, arguing that it would maximise the disparities in the circumstances of the home lives of children.

She added that schools 'have become society's collective eyes and ears, keeping a caring watch over those who need it most' as she warned 'risks of abuse, neglect or exploitation increase' when schools stay closed.

The Ofsted boss wrote: 'There is a real consensus that schools should be the last places to close and the first to re-open, and having argued for this since last spring, I welcome it. Because it is increasingly clear that children's lives can't just be put on hold while we wait for vaccination programmes to take effect, and for waves of infection to subside.

'We cannot furlough young people's learning or their wider development. The longer the pandemic continues, the more true this is.'

Former PM Tony Blair urged the government to target five million vaccinations a week - saying it was hard to see how schools could stay open otherwise.

He told Times Radio: 'If I was the prime minister right now I would be saying to the team in Downing Street, 'I need you to give me a plan to get this up to five million (vaccinations) a week'.

Alarm bells for Boris with Labour on track to reclaim 'Red Wall' The big MRP poll carried out by Focaldata will set alarm bells ringing in Downing Street after a tumultuous first year in power Boris Johnson faces losing most of the 'Red Wall' seats that delivered his historic election victory a year ago, according to a massive poll. The PM's own constituency also looks to be on the line as Labour makes a comeback, with the government struggling to contain the coronavirus crisis. The research, carried out by Focaldata, will set alarm bells ringing in Downing Street after a tumultuous first year in power - although there is still a long way to go until the next Westminster showdown. The firm surveyed more than 22,000 people over the course of December, when Christmas 'bubbles' were dramatically scaled back due to the mutant Covid variant and ministers were fighting to strike a deal with the EU. It used an MRP method, which matches the life characteristics of people polled to the profiles of individual constituencies in order to produce detailed results in a theoretical election. The technique is considered more accurate than traditional surveys, that cannot account for local variations. The outcome, published in the Sunday Times, indicated that neither the Conservatives nor Labour are in a position to win an outright majority. The Tories would lose 81 seats, wiping out the 80-strong majority Mr Johnson secured in December 2019, and leaving them with 284 seats. Labour would win 282, an increase of 82. That would include 41 seats in the north of England, Midlands and Wales that voted Labour in 2017 before turning blue in 2019.

'Provided we've got the vaccine available and we should have them available. I mean AstraZeneca will, not this week or next week but the week after, be able to get up to two million doses a week, that's just AstraZeneca.

'They could probably do more if they knew that the system was capable of absorbing the amount of vaccines that they would produce.

'You should get clearance for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine at the end of January, that's when they complete their trials and then we should be able to get that on stream as well in February.'

Mr Blair said a 'step change' in the vaccination programme was the only real prospect of keeping children in schools.

He said: 'On the one hand, it's a disaster for school children, particularly poorest school children if they're not getting educated.

'But it's also completely understandable that teachers and parents say, not because they think their children the risk to children is very, very small, it's the risk to transmission rates and it's the risk to teachers and parents, and therefore to those that their parents mix with.

'So for all of those reasons, it just emphasises yet again why it's so important to get vaccination under way.'

Brighton and Hove City Council has followed eight authorities in London in demanding primaries teach remotely amid rising Covid cases.

The National Education Union, which has 450,000 members, said the Government was 'failing to protect children, their families and our communities', adding that their members had a legal right to refuse to work.

The move has put them on a collision course with Education Secretary Gavin Williamson, who said it was imperative that the nation's children were back in class to stop them falling behind.

Writing in The Mail on Sunday, the father-of-two has urged teachers and parents to 'move heaven and earth', adding the young must not 'bear the heaviest cost' of the pandemic.

He said: 'Both of my daughters, one of whom is in an exam year, have had to self-isolate. I know how difficult the last year has been, because I have seen them miss being in the classroom, where they want to be.

'So I want my children, and all children, to be able to get back to school and stay in class  we will continue to prioritise making this happen where we can.'

Asked what his message was to councils in England who have said that their schools should close, Mr Johnson said: 'My message to such councils is that they should be guided by the public health advice, which at the moment is that schools are safe in those areas where we're not being driven by the new variant to close them.

'That the priority has got to be children's education but obviously we want to work with them. I mean we've got to be humble in the face of the impact of this new variant of the virus.

'Let's face it, we face a very difficult few weeks and months until the vaccine comes on-stream.'

The PM said he hopes lateral flow tests will help permit the return of schools.

He said: 'We're going to work with local authorities, work with schools and those responsible up and down the country.

'Our advice remains the same, which is that for public health reasons we think in the large majority of the country, large parts of the country, it is sensible to continue to keep schools open, primary schools, as you know secondary schools coming back a bit later.

Tony Blair: 'Step change' in vaccines is the only way to save schools Tony Blair urged the government to target five million vaccinations a week - saying it was hard to see how schools could stay open otherwise. The former PM told Times Radio: 'If I was the prime minister right now I would be saying to the team in Downing Street, 'I need you to give me a plan to get this up to five million (vaccinations) a week'. 'Provided we've got the vaccine available and we should have them available. I mean AstraZeneca will, not this week or next week but the week after, be able to get up to two million doses a week, that's just AstraZeneca. 'They could probably do more if they knew that the system was capable of absorbing the amount of vaccines that they would produce. 'You should get clearance for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine at the end of January, that's when they complete their trials and then we should be able to get that on stream as well in February.' Mr Blair said a 'step change' in the vaccination programme was the only real prospect of keeping children in schools. He said: 'On the one hand, it's a disaster for school children, particularly poorest school children if they're not getting educated. 'But it's also completely understandable that teachers and parents say, not because they think their children the risk to children is very, very small, it's the risk to transmission rates and it's the risk to teachers and parents, and therefore to those that their parents mix with. 'So for all of those reasons, it just emphasises yet again why it's so important to get vaccination under way.'

'And the second thing is that we are going to be ramping up testing across the whole of the system and I don't think people have focused enough on this, if I may just for a second.

'One of the things we didn't have when we went into the first lockdown, where we sadly did have to close schools, was we didn't have this huge number of lateral flow tests.

'We now have hundreds of millions of lateral flow tests which I believe and hope can be used, deployed, particularly in secondary schools to assist the return of schools.'

Anne Longfield, the Children's Commissioner for England, has called for teachers to be vaccinated 'as a priority', as she said that any school closure should be for 'the absolute minimum of time and that time must be used very well'.

She told BBC News Channel: 'Schools need to be a priority for children, not only for their education but also for their wellbeing.

'Schools should be the last to close and the first to open, so it is a serious moment for children.

'If there have to be closures, we have already seen closures in secondary schools for two weeks, but if there have to be any closures at all it must be for the absolute minimum of time and that time must be used very well.

'I would like teachers to be offered vaccination as a priority. That is something we haven't heard yet from Government, but it is something that I think is very, very necessary.'

Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham suggested it could be a 'chaotic situation' tomorrow with the return to school of most primary children in England.

He told the BBC's Breakfast programme: 'There are many parents in Greater Manchester waking up quite anxious this morning, teachers as well of course and support staff in schools, and children.

'So there's a lot of people who are worried about what's happening and I think the really important thing is this doesn't become a big political row today.

'What we need to find is a practical way through all of this. I would say that the current course is not going to work.'

He added: 'It will be quite a chaotic situation tomorrow I think given all of the anxieties that people have.'

The Government is keen to get children back to schools, but Left-wing councils have joined a revolt against plans as UK's largest teaching union advised members it was not safe to return

Ofsted chief inspector Amanda Spielman said school closures should be kept to the 'absolute minimum' as Education Secretary Gavin Williamson urges teachers and parents to 'move heaven and earth', adding the young must not 'bear the heaviest cost' of the pandemic

Ofsted chief inspector Amanda Spielman said school closures should be kept to the 'absolute minimum' as Education Secretary Gavin Williamson urges teachers and parents to 'move heaven and earth', adding the young must not 'bear the heaviest cost' of the pandemic

In a New Year interview on the BBC's Andrew Marr show, Boris Johnson urged parents to send children back to primary schools - but refused to rule out a full shutdown to control the mutant coronavirus strain

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PM vows 'tens of millions' of jabs by March and crackdown on red tape Boris Johnson today vowed that 'tens of millions' of coronavirus vaccine doses will be given by March - as he admitted ministers must get rid of 'absurd' red tape stopping retired medics joining the effort. The PM refused to give exact figures for how many people will be vaccinated, beyond saying the government wants to be deploying two million jabs a week. But he said: 'What I can tell you is that we do hope that we will be able to do tens of millions in the course of the next three months.' The Oxford University and AstraZeneca vaccine is due to start being administered from tomorrow, with the UK's process so far among the fastest in the world. Experts have warned that the UK's exit from crippling lockdown depends on inoculating at least 25million vulnerable people by the spring. The gap between first and second doses of vaccines is being extended in a bid to reach more people. Meanwhile, there have been concerns that tens of thousands of recently retired GPs, surgeons, and nurses are being put off helping out due to the bureaucracy involved. Criticism has been mounting of 'ridiculous' demands such as a requirement to be certified in fire safety, or trained in preventing radicalisation. Asked about the complaints, Mr Johnson said: 'I think it's absurd and I know that the Health Secretary is taking steps to get rid of that pointless bureaucracy.'

Mr Burnham called for local decision making to be enabled ahead of the return of primary schools in England.

He said: 'I think there are two options in front of the Government. One is to give the decision making to councils working with local schools so that decisions can be made on the reality of what's happening in different communities.

'The other would be to put primary schools and special schools on the same path as secondaries and that would be a slightly delayed opening.

'What I would say to the Prime Minister, who I know is going to come on BBC this morning, is it has to be one of those options.

'Local flexibility or a delay to the opening because I think just to plough ahead would cause quite a lot of anxiety amongst people today.'

Mr Burnham suggested that a 'blanket approach' to the reopening schools is not the right approach.

Asked what he would say to a head teacher in South Manchester who did not want to open on Monday, the Greater Manchester mayor said: 'I would say to the head teacher: contact the director of public health in your local authority.

'So if it's Trafford in the case of South Manchester or Manchester itself, that would be the best thing for people to do.

'And what I am saying to the Government today is directors of public health, working with council leaders and with individual schools, make the right decisions for those schools.

'Let the head come to a balanced judgment based on what's happening. Greater Manchester is currently below the England average when it comes to the number of cases.

'So the position is different in different parts of the country and I think a blanket approach either to say blanket reopening or blanket closure in some ways is causing the problem, local flexibility might just be the way through this.'

Mr Johnson today vowed that 'tens of millions' of coronavirus vaccine doses will be given by March - as he admitted ministers must get rid of 'absurd' red tape stopping retired medics joining the effort.

The National Education Union tweeted earlier today: 'Our Executive is meeting this morning and we will announce new guidance shortly afterwards'

Headteachers call for GCSE and A-Level exams to be scrapped this summer amid school closure chaos Head teachers are calling on the Government to scrap this summer's GCSE and A-level exams amid outrage over Gavin Williamson's plans to keep schools open. Most primaries in England are expected to re-open their doors tomorrow, while secondary schools will reopen on a staggered basis later this month with plans to test every student weekly. Yesterday, however, the UK's largest teaching union advised members it was not safe to return to the classroom - with several left-wing councils demanding their primary schools move to online teaching only. And in another blow to the Education Secretary 's plans, UK head teachers are now calling for this year's exams to be scrapped to prioritise 'wider public health, pupil and staff safety'. They also claim it would be unfair to force students to sit exams when those whose schools were open earlier would have more contact time than those with later start dates. The WorthLess? campaign group - a collection of 2,000 head teachers in 80 local authorities - said: 'Wider public health, pupil and staff safety should be prioritised ahead of examinations. 'Public safety should not be risked or driven by an inflexible pursuit of GCSE and A-levels.' Head teacher of Tanbridge House School in Horsham - and one of the WorthLess? leaders - told The Times : 'There is great scepticism that exams can now go ahead fairly.'

The PM refused to give exact figures for how many people will be vaccinated, beyond saying the government wants to be deploying two million jabs a week.

But he said: 'What I can tell you is that we do hope that we will be able to do tens of millions in the course of the next three months.'

The Oxford University and AstraZeneca vaccine is due to start being administered from tomorrow, with the UK's process so far among the fastest in the world.

Experts have warned that the UK's exit from crippling lockdown depends on inoculating at least 25million vulnerable people by the spring.

The gap between first and second doses of vaccines is being extended in a bid to reach more people.

Meanwhile, there have been concerns that tens of thousands of recently retired GPs, surgeons, and nurses are being put off helping out due to the bureaucracy involved.

Criticism has been mounting of 'ridiculous' demands such as a requirement to be certified in fire safety, or trained in preventing radicalisation.

Asked about the complaints, Mr Johnson said: 'I think it's absurd and I know that the Health Secretary is taking steps to get rid of that pointless bureaucracy.'

Pressed on whether he would remain in Downing Street after finally taking the UK out of the EU, the Prime Minister insisted: 'Yes.'

Mr Johnson continued: 'I think you should break out of your characteristic gloom, if I may say so Andrew.

'Things are very tough, we're going through a very tough period as a country, but I really think people should focus on the amazing fact this country has created a room-temperature vaccine which can be used around the world.

'And we now have freedoms that we haven't had for 50 years and there are lots of reasons to be very positive about this otherwise grim new year.'

As the schools row rages, NAHT general secretary Paul Whiteman urged for a return to schools that is 'sustainable' as he accused the Department for Education of 'making last-minute decisions because they didn't take proactive action'.

'There is nobody more committed to the care and education of children, next to parents of course, than school leaders and their teams,' he told BBC Breakfast.

'And anybody that's trying to paint the picture that we're against the care and education of children is simply doing that, simply misleading the public, for political purposes.

'What we're talking about is understanding the risks. Having a short break so that we can agree the right mitigations in schools to make them Covid-secure, make sure that staff and teams are vaccinated and that we can get a properly supported testing regime in schools to make them as safe as possible.

'And then have an orderly return to school that's sustainable, rather than the chaos that we have experienced throughout the pandemic, with the DfE making last-minute decisions because they didn't take proactive action.

'So, we agree with everybody that school is the best place for children, we just want to do that well, we want to make it a sustainable return.'

Boris insists he is not quitting Downing Street Boris Johnson today insisted he will not be quitting No10 despite speculation he might opt to walk away. Pressed on whether he would remain in Downing Street after finally taking the UK out of the EU, the Prime Minister told BBC1's The Andrew Marr Show: 'Yes.' Mr Johnson continued: 'I think you should break out of your characteristic gloom, if I may say so Andrew. 'Things are very tough, we're going through a very tough period as a country, but I really think people should focus on the amazing fact this country has created a room-temperature vaccine which can be used around the world. 'And we now have freedoms that we haven't had for 50 years and there are lots of reasons to be very positive about this otherwise grim new year.'

The start of the new academic term has been mired in confusion as Covid rates continue to rise, driven by the new variant.

Recent notes from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) revealed scientists have warned that schools may need to be closed to bring down transmission.

But Children's Minister Vicky Ford yesterday told MPs there was no evidence that the new strain caused more serious illness in either adults or children.

Senior Government sources said that Mr Williamson had tried to keep schools open but has been overruled by Health Secretary Matt Hancock and Michael Gove.

The pair have pushed for tighter measures until more people have been vaccinated, but critics accused them of 'natural authoritarianism'.

Last week, Mr Williamson announced all primaries would return on Monday. Ten London boroughs were told to open their schools but after a revolt by eight Labour-led councils, Mr Williamson was forced into a U-turn.

Now all schools in the capital will operate remote learning for the first two weeks.

The rebellion was led initially by Haringey, once dubbed the first 'Corbyn council' because of its large number of Left-wing Momentum councillors.

Council leader Joseph Ejiofor said he would back head teachers who wanted to defy the Government and he was later followed by Harrow Council.

Brighton and Hove has now advised all primary schools to teach remotely until January 18.

Social distancing signs displayed at Coldfall Primary School in Muswell Hill, London, today as Covid cases across the capital city have been putting rising pressure on the NHS

Liverpool's Labour-run city council calls for another national lockdown to stop spread of mutant Covid strain Liverpool's council leaders today called for a third national lockdown to contain the new 'mutant' strain of Covid and prevent a 'catastrophe'. The city's acting mayor, Wendy Simon, and the Labour-run city council's cabinet say the speed of the rise in coronavirus cases have reached 'alarming levels' and urgent action is now required to save lives and the NHS. The new 'mutant' strain of Covid is thought to have a higher rate of transmission and is most prevalent in London and the South East, where health bosses say hospitals have become stretched. It is believed the strain is spreading from south to north, leading to increasing pressure on the NHS. Cases in Liverpool have almost trebled in the past two weeks to 350 per 100,000, despite the city leading on the pilot for community testing which led to it being the first city to be moved from Tier 3 down to Tier 2.

Chris McGovern, chairman of the Campaign for Real Education, has accused the Left of politicising the issue saying: 'This is about knocking the Tories. Keeping schools open should be non-negotiable.'

Last night, the Department for Education said remote learning was 'a last resort' and classrooms should reopen 'wherever possible' with appropriate safety measures to help mitigate the risk of transmission.

'As we've said, we will move to remote education as a last resort, with involvement of public health officials, in areas where infection and pressures on the NHS are highest,' the spokesperson said.

More than one million four to 11-year-olds will now start the academic term with lessons online.

In advising members to work from home, Dr Mary Bousted, the NEU's joint general secretary, said: 'If Government does not act to follow the science, we must.' Her views were echoed by the NASUWT union.

Ministers are considering proposals to make teachers a higher priority in the vaccine roll-out as a way to keep physical classrooms open.

Hundreds of new vaccination sites are due to be up and running this week as the NHS ramps up its immunisation programme with the newly approved Oxford University and AstraZeneca jab.

Some 530,000 doses of the vaccine will be available for rollout across the UK from Monday and more than a million patients have already had their first dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine which was the first to be approved by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the vaccine roll-out was 'our great hope', adding: 'I want the Government to throw everything it can at this, harnessing the extraordinary talents of our NHS so we can be vaccinating at least two million Brits a week by the end of the month.'

But, writing in the Sunday Mirror, he criticised 'a chaotic last minute U-turn on schools', adding: 'Confusion reigns among parents, teachers and pupils over who will be back in school tomorrow and who won't.'

Plans for schools reopening differ across the four nations of the UK. In Scotland, most pupils will have online learning for the week of January 11. In Wales, schools are expected to provide face-to-face learning for the majority of their pupils by January 11.

And in Northern Ireland, secondary school years eight to 11 will be taught via remote learning throughout January while primary pupils will return to the classroom on January 11.

Linda Bauld, a professor in public health at the University of Edinburgh, said transmission among primary school pupils was 'still very limited' while secondary school pupils, particularly older teenagers, can pass on the virus in the same way as adults.

But health professionals have warned of growing pressure on services with Professor Andrew Goddard, president of the Royal College of Physicians, telling the BBC current case figures are 'fairly mild' compared to what is expected in a week's time.

GAVIN WILLIAMSON: We must all move heaven and earth to get children back into the classroom

By Gavin Williamson, Secretary of State for Education

I remain optimistic that with the roll-out of the Covid-19 vaccine, 2021 will be the year we overcome coronavirus. At the same time, as a dad, it is clear to me that while this takes place, I want my children to be at school.

Keeping our kids out of classrooms is damaging. We know that as parents and we know it from the data. It is for this reason that keeping schools open has been a national priority.

Naturally, as parents would expect, this includes taking a proportionate response and considering the clear damage that we know is caused to young people's education and wellbeing by closing education.

With the new variant, the goal posts have shifted as we fight this horrible virus, but I want to assure parents that we have been working throughout the holidays to make the return as safe as possible.

This means pushing back the staggered start date for all secondary schools by one week.

Writing in The Mail on Sunday, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson, said it was imperative that the nations children were back in class to stop them falling behind. He urged teachers and parents to move heaven and earth, adding the young must not bear the heaviest cost of the pandemic

It also means triggering our contingency plans, so that in some areas where there are high transmission rates of the virus or those rates are rising quickly, schools should offer face-to-face education to exam year groups, vulnerable and critical-worker children, and remote education to all other students  so no child misses out on education.

We have identified the areas where primary schools must move to this system from tomorrow and will do the same for secondary schools before pupils are due to return on the 18th.

Our fantastic teachers have already worked tirelessly to make schools Covid-secure, and it remains the case that schools are safe.

For secondary schools and colleges, we are also rolling out mass testing to make schools, the pupils attending them, and the wider community even safer. I want to be clear what this means: all secondary school students and staff will be offered tests before they go back to school  whether their school is open to all pupils or to some.

This kind of mass testing will help protect not just children and young people, it will benefit everyone in the community because it will break the chains of transmission that are making infection rates shoot up.

This in turn will make it safer for more children to physically return to school.

Teachers are not expected to carry out the tests themselves, and 1,500 members of the armed forces will provide support to schools and colleges in this important mission.

While this takes place, schools and colleges will stagger the return of their students.

Those in exam years will be educated remotely during the first week of term, and face-to-face beginning on January 11, with other secondary schools and college students returning full time on January 18, in areas where we have not had to apply the contingency framework.

Vulnerable children and the children of key workers should be educated face-to-face from the start of term in all circumstances.

For now, given how prevalent the virus is in London and after engagement with London leaders, primary schools in our capital will only open for vulnerable and critical worker children tomorrow.

We will continually review the data and allow more pupils to return as soon as possible.

During this time we are taking unprecedented action to ensure remote education is delivered to all children.

We will deliver over 50,000 laptops and tablets to schools across the country tomorrow, and over 100,000 in total during the first week of term. In total, we've delivered over 500,000 and are on our way to our target of nearly one million.

We are taking these measures because it is what we need to do to overcome and suppress the transmission of the virus in communities.

These decisions are not political calculations, they are concrete steps to support our children's education, futures and dreams  which must not be put on hold.

The safety of teachers and pupils will always be paramount, but we must all move heaven and earth to get children back to the classroom where they best thrive.

Both of my daughters, one of whom is in an exam year, have had to self-isolate. I know how difficult the last year has been, because I have seen them miss being in the classroom, where they want to be.

So I want my children, and all children, to be able to get back to school and stay in class  we will continue to prioritise making this happen where we can.

In all of this, we must all face up to the fact that, unfortunately, there is a new variant of Covid and that this is spreading across the country.

But it remains our duty to provide a future for our children that is full of hope and opportunity.

This year, my admiration for teachers and all that they do has reached an even higher level, and it gives me faith in how we will continue to fight this virus.

The fight has already been a long one, and many have lost so much, but we must remain steadfast in our final push. As a nation we are in this together and we will overcome it together, as our country always does.

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During this time, I remain determined to do all I can to protect our children, protect education and ensure the youngest in our society do not bear the heaviest cost while beating this virus.
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Situated 25 miles south of Richmond, along Virginias old Tobacco Road, is the Commonwealth Center for Advanced Manufacturing (CCAM). The building it is housed in was meant to be iconic but cheap, an industrial-style structure designed to house the guts of a major manufacturing research center.The building didnt turn out to be so cheap -- $13 million for 62,000 square feet -- but it certainly is iconic. Designed by the architectural firm Perkins+Will, it has a sleek, silver look that stands in stark contrast to the Virginia woods surrounding it. In the long run, however, it may be more of a landmark to a new and sophisticated approach to economic development.CCAM is a partnership between three Virginia schools (Virginia State University, Virginia Tech and the University of Virginia) and a dozen or so companies involved in manufacturing, most importantly Rolls-Royce, the jet engine company that has a plant nearby. The reason CCAM exists is because Virginia created it in order to lure Rolls-Royce. But if all goes well, CCAM will be there long after the jet engine giant is gone.When it began in 2006, the competition for Rolls-Royce, which was mostly among Southern states, had all the earmarks of a classic economic development hunt. When it was over, Virginias victory seemed, on the surface, to be typical: In exchange for locating at least one and perhaps as many as three manufacturing plants outside of Richmond, Rolls-Royce received $58 million in incentives from the state and 1,000 acres of land, which was donated by Prince George County.But the similarity with the typical economic development deal ends there. Most of the incentive money didnt go to Rolls-Royce. Rather, it went to the founding universities to increase the capacity of their engineering schools to conduct manufacturing research and produce engineers. And Rolls-Royce, along with other companies, is kicking in $400,000 a year to fund CCAMs research. Were lucky to have Rolls-Royce as a partner, says Barry Johnson, senior associate dean at the University of Virginias School of Engineering and Applied Science and the universitys point person on the project. Another company would not have done it this way.Why Rolls-Royce would buy into this approach -- and how Virginia worked collaboratively to make it happen -- is a great story about the direction economic development is headed. It illustrates that its better to build assets than give money to companies.The story goes like this: Rolls-Royce needed access to Eastern ports, airplane manufacturing plants in the South and a ready supply of mechanical engineers -- all of which Virginia had. The company also wanted help with certain types of research. In an unprecedented collaboration, the universities sat down with Rolls-Royce to identify areas where the company needed research and where the universities could provide it. They came up with two: improved coatings (known as surface engineering) and manufacturing systems.But Rolls-Royce knew that it alone could not fund the necessary research. And Virginias economic development folks understood that they couldnt rely just on Rolls-Royce. So together they began recruiting other companies to help support CCAM, companies that needed the same manufacturing research but werent Rolls-Royces competitors.The first two they went after already had strong manufacturing operations in Virginia: Canon and Newport News Shipbuilding. Both needed better manufacturing systems and better coatings, especially the shipbuilders.Canon and Newport News Shipbuilding ultimately agreed to each kick in $400,000 a year and a variety of other things. Once they were on board, the CCAM partnership had more leverage. For example, all three companies use product life-cycle management software from Siemens, so once the three companies had signed up for CCAM, Siemens more or less had to do the same. And because some of the research involves manufacturing systems that Siemens is working on, some of Siemens customers came along as well.CCAM isnt free of public subsidies. After all, the land originally came from Prince George County, which had acquired it long ago for an industrial park. The CCAM building was also funded partly by the U.S. Economic Development Administration and partly by state tobacco settlement money, which is used for economic revitalization in the Tobacco Road area. Plus, the universities are contributing their own money -- including state tax money -- to beef up faculty and research.Nevertheless, the CCAM story is a great example of an economic development investment likely to generate a return. One of the best tests of whether an economic development strategy has long-lasting value is this: What does the state or region have left once the factories have closed? Although recruiting Rolls-Royce was the genesis of CCAM, the manufacturing breakthroughs that come out of the iconic building will most likely provide enduring benefit to Virginia long after Rolls-Royce has gone away.
NORTH BERGEN  A man was found with a stab wound early New Years morning, a township spokesman said.

Around 4 a.m. on Friday, the North Bergen Police Department got a call about a stabbing, Juan P. Escobar said.

Police said the victim stated an unknown male stabbed him and fled in the area of Bergenline Avenue and 85th Street. Officers observed a stab wound to the victims abdomen, Escobar said.

But, after a second interview with the victim, police determined it was a domestic incident that happened on the 600 block of 85th Street around 2:30 a.m. between the victim and his brother.

The injury was not life threatening. As of Friday afternoon, the victim was released from medical care, Escobar added.

NBPD is currently attempting to secure the actors real name and draw up a complaint-warrant, Escobar said.
Bengaluru:

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has mooted some concerns about the country's first womb transplant, performed last week in in Pune.

ICMR spokespersons told TOI that the Pune hospital had not sought its permission for the procedure. ICMR director general Dr Soumya Swaminathan said: "No permission was sought by the Pune-based hospital. Till now, ICMR has approved uterus transplant only as an experimental procedure under a research protocol. Only a Bengaluru-based facility has been granted this permission."



Swaminathan added, "According to current guidelines, nobody needs ICMR's permission for any other established procedures. However, when it comes to a uterus transplant the protocol is otherwise. As it is mostly tried as an experimental procedure for research purpose in our country, for which permission is granted based on ethical protocols, and the transplant involves several risks with only a few procedures emerging successful, ICMR's approval is necessary before it is tried on any patient," she added.



The procedure required for a uterus transplant includes approval from a registered ethics committee and from ICMR. However, as reported, GCLI only got a licence from the state's directorate of health services, but did not get the required approval by ICMR. Pune's Galaxy Care Laparoscopy Institute (GCLI), however, claimed that no permission is required for clinical procedures.

Dr Shailesh Puntambekar, oncosurgeon and medical director, GCLI said: "ICMR's permission is required only in case of experimental procedures and not for clinical procedures as informed to me by ICMR itself. We have approval from the state government; hence, there has been no protocol violation. Several senior doctors from ICMR were informed about the transplant and following the state government's nod for the transplant, ICMR ensured we could go ahead with the procedure." "All three patients who have undergone the uterus transplant are doing fine and we've planned a press conference on Saturday. We haven't neglected the patient's safety," he added.

ALSO READ | Womb transplant surgery: Doctors say condition of two women stable

Another senior doctor from ICMR was quoted as saying that Maharashtra government should not have given its approval without prior permission from ICMR. He said: "In case of other transplants like kidney, liver and heart, ICMR's permission isn't required and state governments can give direct approval under the Transplant of Human Organs Act (THOA). However, in uterus transplant, which is rare, less successful and risky, ICMR's permission should have been sought to ensure patients' safety."



"THOA does not cover novel and research transplants," said Dr Kamini Rao, medical director of Bengaluru- based Milann Fertility Clinic.

ALSO READ | Indias first womb transplant successful in Pune; mother donates uterus to daughter

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Written by ACM

*Strasbourg/Angelo Marcopolo/(Partly UpDated)- As the Time for Decisive Fights around the Controversial 2020 US Presidental Election approaches in the US Congress, the Federal Supreme Court, at Internatioal Organisations' Final Reports (as OSCE and OAS, etc), added to Popular Mass Demonstrations, etc., a Gallup's Poll surprized by Finding US President Don Trump as ... 3 Times More Admired by the People than Former Vice-President Joe Biden, Despite the Later's Claims (Blindly and Oppresively Backed by most of the Establishment, including by Medias' obvious Biais and Notorious Censorship at the Internet, etc) to have snatched regularly that Vote, Nonobstant un Growing Number of Various Converging Gross Irregularities, Suspect Incidents, and/or Massive Fraudulent moves from the Dems, (to which they have Never Dared Clearly Reply to Republicans' numerous Facts and Arguments, with Other Facts and Arguments, until now, Fleeing any Serious Public Debate, Political or Judicial, on that "Hot" Issue) :

Indeed, Trump scores the Top Result of 18%, Compared to Biden's far Lower ...6% Only, (i.e. just 1/3), according to Gallup's Latest Poll.

Thus, Trump's Popularity Bypasses, for the Year 2020, Everyone Else's alleged impact, coming First, with Former POTUS Obama Lowering Down to 15%, Biden 6%, Dr Fauci and Pope Francis with 3% and 2%, Dalai Lama, Bernie Sanders, Elon Musk ("Tesla"'s CEO), and Bill Gates (Microsoft) 1%, etc.

Among Women, Michelle Obama comes First, with 10%, (i.e. also Lower), Followed by Kamala Harris, Melania Trump, and Oprah Winfrey with 6%, 4% and 3% respectively, Merkel, Hillary and Queen Elisabeth with 2%, new SCOTUS Judge Amy Coney Barrett and Global Warming activist Thunberg 1% each.

Gallup's Poll surveyed 1.018 People, between 1 to 17 December 2020 , with a margin of error +/- 4%. Therefore, it included the Controversial Certification and "Votes" of Biden's Candidate Electors, as well as that of Trump's Alternative Slates of Electors, who were prepared and met in Parallel throughout All the 6 Crucial "Swing" States, (to which was Added, meanwhile, also New Mexico !), in view of the January 6, 2021, Official "Reading" by US Congress' meeting, Before the Official Inauguration (currently Scheduled for January 20) of Whoever might, eventualy, Become USA's President for the 2021-2024 Period.

USA's Federal Supreme Court has fixed January 22 for the First ever Trump's Legal Complaint at the Highest Federal level, lodged on December 20, 2020 on Pennsylvania alleged WideSpread Fraud/Gross Irregularities. + In the MeanTime, Trump's Team lodged Also a 2nd Legal Complaint at SCOTUS Level,, o December 30, 2020, against Wisconsin's Controversial Vote, among 6 Crucial "Swing" States. USA's Supreme Court has Not yet Examined, Nor Discussed, Neither Pronounced itshelf on the Merits of Any Case concerning these Controversial US Election, until Now. These 2 First Cases, on Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, if they are Won by Trump, would provide Sufficient Electors for a Trump's eventual Win of the oberall Presidential Election, (with More than 270 Electors, Adding some among the above-mentioned Alternative Slates of Electors, which are already Ready, Since Mid-December 2020 : Comp. Supra).

+ In Addition, Meanwhile, the competent and experienced International Organisations of OSCE and OAS prepare their Crucial, Final Reports on the Controversial 2020 US Presidential Election, which are Expected to be Published at around the Middle of January 2021, with possible Postponements for Later-on, if Developments on the Electoral Process (Including the way to Handle Legal Complaints), require to do so, as "Eurofora" learned, (See, f.ex. : ..., etc). Their Preliminary Reports and/or Press Conferences, since the immediate Aftermath of the November 3, 2020 Controversial US Presidential Elections, contain some First Critical points, (even if Real Problems had Insufficiently Surfaced yet at that Early Moment, Appearing mainly Later-on, as, f.ex., Statistical Big Anomalies, Sudden DisProportionate Last-Minute U-Turns After MidNight, Videos, Signed Testimonies and EyeWitnesses, "Dominion" Machines/Network Scandal, Lorry Full of New York Ballots, Observers Hindered, Attempts to Hide Data, Establishment Press' Biais and Web Censorship by "Big Tech", Systematic Courts' Refusals to Examine and Discuss Evidence, much More Votes than Voters, etc).

In a Recent, 2019 Precedent, it's just a Short but Sharp Criticism by OAS' Observers Mission on the Presidential Elections in Bolivia, that gave a Signal for a Series of Popular Demonstrations against Morales ("Socialist", like Biden), until he was Practicaly Obliged to Resign, some Weeks, a Month or so Later, when a Key Part of the Army and the Police Refused to Oppress the People, and reportedly Suggested, in a Press Conference, that it would be Better for the Country if he Left... And that, Despite the Fact that the Supreme Electoral Court had Examined, previously, and Rejected on the Merits, All Legal Complaints by the Opposition) !... For the Rest, the alleged Fraud/Gross Irregularities' overall Pattern was Strikinkgly Similar, on 2019, to that of USA's on 2020, (f.ex., mainly Sudden DisProportional U-Turns in Vote-Counting After MidNight, Huge Statistical ImProbabilities, etc).

=> Who and Why Pushes the USA to Become ...Less Democratic than Bolivia ?

(../..)

("Draft-News")
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Sunday that tougher lockdown restrictions were probably on the way as COVID-19 cases keep rising, but that schools were safe places and children should continue to attend where permitted.

Cases of COVID-19 in Britain are at record levels and increasing, fuelled by a new and more transmissible variant of the virus. That has already forced the government to cancel the planned reopening of schools in and around London, with calls from teaching unions for wider closures.

Much of England is already living under the toughest level of restriction set out in a four-tier system of regional regulations designed to stop the spread of the virus and protect the national healthcare system.

But Johnson, asked in a BBC interview about concerns that the system may not be enough to bring the virus back under control, said that restrictions "alas, might be about to get tougher".

"There are obviously a range of tougher measures that we would have to consider ... I'm not going to speculate now about what they would be."

Johnson sets policy for England, with rules in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales set by their devolved authorities.

Britain recorded 57,725 new cases of the virus on Saturday, and with more than 74,000 deaths so far during the pandemic the government's response has been heavily criticised.

However the rollout of vaccines was set to accelerate on Monday with the first 530,000 doses of the newly approved Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccines ready to be administered, Johnson said. He added he hoped "tens of millions" would be treated over the next three months.

Addressing concerns over education, and with millions of pupils set to return from their Christmas holidays on Monday, Johnson said schools were safe, and advised parents to send their children in, in areas where rules allow it.

"There is no doubt in my mind that schools are safe, and that education is a priority," he said.

The schools issue has split opinion, with unions and some local authorities warning against reopening and threatening to act against government advice, and others saying that closures also have a big negative impact on students.

"We must renew and maintain the consensus that children's time out of school should be kept to the absolute minimum," Amanda Spielman, chief schools inspector, wrote in the Sunday Telegraph.

Also read: AstraZeneca plans 2 million doses of Oxford COVID-19 vaccine for UK per week

Also read: Ireland to end UK travel ban, will enforce stricter COVID-19 testing
Sundays episode of Bigg Boss 14 was a relief for the housemates as host Salman Khan declared there would be no evictions for now. However, he informed the audience that the evictions will take place on Monday when some guests enter the house.

Earlier, Salman began the episode by scolding the participants for fighting over food and showed several instances of the same. Next, Salman aired the footage of Rakhi Sawant being sidelined by the housemates and took the culprits to task. Rubina Dilaik, Jasmin Bhasin, Nikki Tamboli, Rahuls (Rahul Vaidya and Rahul Mahajan), Aly Goni. Everyone! Shocking. You came here to earm respect and clearly could not earn it. And, you guys are ..like Rubina is the face of Colors channel. I should be scared of you all. God knows what you will say nose will fall now or something, Salman yelled at them.

Rubina you were right there, and you were enjoying while they (Nikki and Jasmin) ganged up against Rakhi. You were looking the worst. When Jasmin claimed she was ashamed of herself, Salman shouted, Sirs and madams, you guys are talking about all unrelated kinds of issues. Do you have any clue what we have on you? Are we opening your secrets out here? All of you are celebs, you know how an image is made with tough, hard work and you are making fun of her (Rakhi)? He also told Nikki that he career was yet to start and she was already cracking jokes at the expense of an experienced person.

You were provoked? Jasmine! You were having fun, Bigg Bos checked, he told you and checked you but you went to another level. Once you are out, you will realise how your face and personality are clearly different things. Each time I saved you, you took me lightly. Let me tell you, you are looking really, really bad. I do not want you to look bad. You have become really mean, not nice at all. You have anger, frustration, you are demeaning, you are putting somebody down all the time. Have some empathy! And if your friend Aly does care about you, he should stop you. But I was shocked to see what he did to Vikas today.

Vikas claimed he came on the show as he needed the finances but added that each time, he is targeted by one or the other contestant, either for his work, sexuality or something. Aly then said he did not want to drag the issue but had to. Now he will cry, I cannot. There is frustration for certain things that happened. He has been asking me to talk about it but I do not want to speak about it here. That is not realted to this show, Aly said.

Also read: You cant break an image easily. A number of actors have been stuck in their images: Samir Khakar

Vikas insisted that he must know the entire matter. After Salman also urged him to do so, Aly said, It is an old incident. He used to head this channel and I was struggler. He got me out of a project. He was the one who did not want me on the show. And then, he did this thing. He said bad things about me and Jasmin when we working with him on a show. I did not even know Jasmin well at that time. People came on sets to me and told me he was saying these things about us (Aly and Jasmin). His own people have told me.

Jasmin got emotional as Vikas and Aly discusses it all and Vikas insisted on knowing names of the people who told Aly about it. I was the head of the channel and I refused him work, then how did he manage to work on that very show? Vikas asked and Salman explained to Aly that people may not prefer to cast a new guy. The Bollywood actor also said that no single person can take such decisions, it is a collective decision of producers, creative teams, director and all those involved, he added. Vikas claimed he had always treated Jasmin as a friend and had no idea about the issue that Aly was talking about. He added that he had asked them earlier but they said theyd let him know after the show ends. Vikas also asked Salman to clarify on the allegations that Vikas blackmailed people, but Salman said it was not related to the show and ended the discussion right there.

Salman then told the housemates that the problem was that the old contestants wanted to play a game of old versus new contestants but did not succeed in their plan. He also revealed that Aly and Rahul Vaidya had been using Arshi and Nikki for their game and were not real friends.

Later, Abhinav Shukla told Rahul Vaidya that there is only one group in the house and was Vikas and Arshi. Rahul agreed saying that they may fight to create a wrong impression but actually supported each other in tasks.

Salman also welcomed actors Sunny Leone, Pankaj Tripathi and Satish Kaushik on the show. Pankaj and Satish were promoting their upcoming film, Kaagaz. They also played fun games with the contestants.

Salman then announced that evictions will take place on Monday when a few guests will visit the house.

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Re: The First National Bank of Boston pleaded guilty in a federal district [ #permalink

The correct idiom is : Plead guilty TO <some crime/accusation>

Thus, the bank pleaded guilty in a federal district court TO <some failure>

We can eliminate A, B and C.



'Its' does not have a clear antecedent (the bank or the court). However, between the constructions

D. The bank pleaded guilty in a federal district court TO its failure in reporting...

E. The bank pleaded guilty in a federal district court TO failing to report...



I still see "failure in reporting" is better than "failing to report" . ( fail to report would have been the best) .



Eliminating D just for a pronoun ambiguity is not considered a good way in GMAT. This is true even if the pronoun ambiguity comes from subject and the noun of a prepositional phrase ( bank pleaded guilty in a federal district court )



I stand for D.
NEW YORK, Jan. 3, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Stride, Inc. f/k/a K12 Inc. ("K12" or the "Company") (NYSE: LRN) and certain of its officers. The class action, filed in United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Alexandria Division, and docketed under 20-cv-01528, is on behalf of a class consisting of all persons and entities other than Defendants that purchased or otherwise acquired K12 securities between April 27, 2020 and September 18, 2020, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), seeking to recover damages caused by Defendants' violation of the federal securities laws and to pursue remedies under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder, against the Company and certain of its top officials.

If you are a shareholder who purchased K12 securities during the Class Period, you have until January 18, 2021 to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com. To discuss this action, contact Robert S. Willoughby at [email protected] or 888.476.6529 (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 7980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased.

[Click here for information about joining the class action]

K12 is a technology-based education company that provides proprietary and third-party educational curriculum, teacher training, administrative support, information technology support, software systems, and educational services. The Company operates virtual learning systems worldwide. As a provider of online content and educational services, K12's success and financial and operational well-being are critically dependent on its technical capability and ability to provide and maintain well-functioning and operational information technology systems and infrastructures.

The Complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements, and failed to disclose material adverse facts about the Company's business, operational, and compliance policies. Specifically, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and failed to disclose to investors that: (i) K12 lacked the technological capabilities, infrastructures, and expertise to support the increased demand for virtual and blended education necessitated by the global pandemic; (ii) K12 lacked adequate cyberattack protocols and protections to prevent the disabling of its computer system; (iii) K12 was unable to provide the necessary levels of administrative support and training to teachers, students, and parents; and (iv) based on the foregoing, Defendants lacked a reasonable basis for their positive statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects and/or lacked a reasonable basis and omitted facts.

Beginning in March 2020, the global pandemic has forced school districts across the country to close in-class instruction and shift all learning activities to online and blended instruction. K12, which had a history of reporting disappointing financial results during the 10-month period prior to the school closures, saw a unique opportunity to revamp itself by seizing a large stake in the rapidly growing market for online education. Accordingly, almost immediately following the nationwide closure of in-class instruction, K12 embarked on an intensive campaign to convince the market that it was well-positioned and technologically capable to accommodate and service the massive surge of students, parents, and teachers who were turning to online education. To do that, Defendants disseminated dozens of false and misleading statements in which they touted the technological wherewithal of the Company's online learning platforms, cybersecurity protocols, preparedness for large volumes of students, as well as the administrative support and training that K12 would provide to students, parents, and teachers.

K-12's self-promoting campaign worked well. In reliance on K12's false and misleading statements, the investing community expected K12 to experience a great boost in its financials and successfully capitalize on the opportunities presented to it by the global pandemic. For example, on July 15, 2020, when K12 common shares traded at around $43 per share, Citron Research published a $100 price target for K12. Citron Research's prediction was based on its belief that K12 was "best positioned to take advantage of [the] megatrend [of shifting to full online education]." Similarly, securities analysts gradually increased K12's rating, based on the Company's executives' commentary regarding present enrollment trends. As a result of K12's self-promoting campaign, the price of K12 shares skyrocketed to its all-time high closing price of $51.60 per share on August 5, 2020, a surge that was unmatched by any of K12's competitors.

In reality, however, and unbeknownst to the investing public, K12 was not ready to take on the increased load and lacked the technological capabilities to support and service the massive increase in traffic on its website and its learning platforms. Indeed, K12 lacked adequate infrastructures to enable thousands of students and teachers to logon to their systems and utilize the audio and video features necessary for remote instruction. Additionally, despite K12's representations to the contrary, its cybersecurity measures and protocols were so weak that a 16-year-old high school junior successfully breached the network on which K12 was critically dependent, and thereby crippled K12's online platform, and the provision of its services for hundreds of thousands of students for several days. The issues relating to the functionality and support of K12's platforms were only compounded by the lack of training and instruction provided to teachers and parents, who received little support and insufficient hands-on experience and training prior to the platform's launch.

Contrary to the facts asserted by K12, reports began to surface that K12's training for teachers in Miami-Dade County, one of the nation's largest school districts, had been woefully inadequate. For example, on August 26, 2020, teachers in Miami-Dade County School District reported that the training provided by K12 was ineffective and "unacceptable" as they lacked the instruction necessary to utilize K12's platform.

On this news, the price of K12 common shares sharply fell by 7% over the course of two trading days, to close at $37.70 per share on August 27, 2020, on unusually high volume.

Once classes began on August 31, 2020, the situation worsened. K12 experienced major technical issues and disruptions with teachers and students of Miami-Dade County being unable to even log into the platform and utilize its contents, which prompted local officials to publicly scold K12 for being "not ready" for the opening of the school year. By the third day of classes, September 2, 2020, Miami-Dade County students and teachers reported numerous additional technical issues and a total of twelve intermittent cyberattacks that led to K12's learning platform effectively being dysfunctional. In response to the overwhelming amount of complaints by outraged parents, Miami-Dade County School District called a Board meeting to discuss K12's many failures. During the meeting, Miami-Dade County Public Schools Superintendent Alberto Carvalho revealed that he never signed the $15.3 million no-bid contract with K12 and the school district had never paid K12 for the provision of its services and products.

On this news, the price of K12 common shares fell 10.5% over the course of two trading days, to close at $34.89 per share on September 3, 2020.

A week later, after another Board meeting that lasted for over 13 hours and included 400 speakers, the Miami-Dade County Public Schools Board voted to terminate their $15.3 million contract with K12 on September 10, 2020.

On this news, the price of K12 common shares again fell drastically, by 11.5%, to close at $30.55 per share on September 10, 2020, on unusually high trading volume.

Meanwhile, the Beaufort County School District in South Carolina engaged K12 to provide virtual learning programs for their students. However, the introduction of the program had to be delayed until the second week of instruction. Soon after, Beaufort County School District board member John Dowling stated that he had lost confidence in K12's ability to provide educational solutions for the district and moved to terminate the contract, which happened two days later.

On this news, the price of K12 common shares fell 4.9%, to close at $27.21 per share on September 18, 2020, on unusually high trading volume.

The Pomerantz Firm, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Paris is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, the Pomerantz Firm pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 80 years later, the Pomerantz Firm continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomerantzlaw.com.

CONTACT:

Robert S. Willoughby

Pomerantz LLP

[email protected]

888-476-6529 ext. 7980

SOURCE Pomerantz LLP

Related Links

www.pomerantzlaw.com


Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism.
EJ Johnson made his debut as one of the Rich Kids of Beverly Hills.

But the reality TV personality recently rang in the new year from a completely different coast.

He repped his hometown Friday in a Los Angeles Dodgers, tied at the waist, and a blue satin wrap coverup, as he enjoyed a New Year's Day stroll along the beach in Miami with sister Elisa.

Play ball: EJ Johnson repped his hometown Friday in a Los Angeles Dodgers, tied at the waist, and a blue satin wrap coverup, as he enjoyed a New Year's Day stroll along the beach in Miami with sister Elisa

The 28-year-old finished the beach chic ensemble with a pair of diamond encrusted cat-eye sunglasses, a matching chain choker and a gold bangle.

He carried a white leather Chanel handbag, as he put on a leggy display in the coverup's thigh-high leg slit.

Elisa, 26, showed off her taut bod in a blue floral-print one-piece, featuring cutouts down the front, completing the look with a black stetson.

EJ has mostly kept off of social media during the COVID-19 pandemic, only posting twice to his Instagram feed.

Dripping in diamonds: The 28-year-old finished the beach chic ensemble with a pair of diamond encrusted cat-eye sunglasses, a matching chain choker and a gold bangle

Leggy display: He carried a white leather Chanel handbag, as he put on a leggy display in the coverup's thigh-high leg slit

Sibling bonding: Elisa, 26, showed off her taut bod in a blue floral-print one-piece, featuring cutouts down the front, completing the look with a black stetson

Mama's boy: EJ last took to Instagram in December, posing poolside with mom Cookie Johnson, 61, modeling caftans and handbags, captioned: 'Bringing all the goddess energy for 2021'

Queen vibes: The son of Magic Johnson, 61, served Grecian goddess vampire in October, as he channeled the late Aaliyah in 2002's Queen of the Damned. He posed around a fire in his sexy white and gold ensemble, writing on Instagram: 'Awakened is the queen of the damned'

He last took to Instagram in December, posing poolside with mom Cookie Johnson, 61, modeling caftans and handbags, captioned: 'Bringing all the goddess energy for 2021.'

The son of Magic Johnson, 61, served Grecian goddess vampire in October, as he channeled the late Aaliyah in 2002's Queen of the Damned.

He posed around a fire in his sexy white and gold ensemble, writing on Instagram: 'Awakened is the queen of the damned.'

EJ previously made his last pre-COVID public appearance at a screening for Ryan Murphy's Netflix miniseries Hollywood back in February.

The EJNYC star donned a white satin top tied at the waist, layered with a matching blazer draped over his shoulders and finished with a black asymmetrical skirt.
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Shimla, Jan 3 : With authorities gearing up to undertake the coronavirus vaccination in the coming weeks, tough Himalayan terrain and inclement weather conditions in Himachal Pradesh are likely to put up roadblocks in the hill state's immunisation plans.

Officials say these villages are located across Kinnaur and Lahaul-Spiti districts and interiors of Chamba, Kullu, Sirmaur and Shimla districts.

But the health authorities are determined not to let roadblocks come in their way. They plan to take the immunisation programme to new heights by trudging miles of rugged, cold and inhospitable Himalayan terrains, sometimes traversing on horsebacks or even airlifting the vaccine to reach remote habitations like the previous pulse polio programmes.

Officials told IANS that vaccinating the elderly will be a challenge as a large population lived in rural areas, where maintaining cold chain facilities and ferrying the vaccine would be a big hurdle.

But they say they won't see a vaccine phase for the elderly people before April in India.

Chief Medical Officer Gurdarshan Gupta, who is posted in Dharamsala in Kangra district, told IANS on Sunday that in the first and second phases of Covid-19 vaccine inoculation, only healthcare and frontline staff would be given the shots.

The phase to vaccinate the elderly will come thereafter -- somewhere in April-May.

"A large number of elderly people living in remote villages across the district normally move to lower elevations during winter," he pointed out.

Health officials say their staff will have to traverse at least three days on foot from the nearest road heads to the remotest hamlet Bara Bhangal in Kangra district for the vaccination programme.

The journey for Bara Bhangal, part of the Dhauladhar Wildlife Sanctuary that remains cut off from the rest of the world for over six months due to heavy snow, is 65 km from the last village that is connected by road.

And if that entire region remains under heavy snow cover at that time, it won't be possible to send a team there on foot, a health official added. In such case, airlifting the vaccine is the only option.

Bara Bhangal has a population of around 400. During winters, most of them migrate to Bir village in Baijnath tehsil, near Palampur town, some 250 km from state capital Shimla.

"These days, 147 people, mostly young persons, remain in the village. So if the situation demands at the time of inoculation, we will take the help of local administration to airlift the vaccine to those far-off places," the Chief Medical Officer added.

Bara Bhangal is accessible on foot through the Thamsar Pass, located at an attitude of 4,700 metres.

On several occasions, the Election Commission has shifted the lone polling booth at Bara Bhangal to Bir, citing administrative reasons.

Health officials told IANS that at least 30 villages in Lahaul-Spiti and equal number in Kinnaur are located at altitudes ranging from 9,000 feet to 15,000 feet above mean sea level. The Pangi segment in Chamba district has over a dozen such villages.

Kunnu and Charang villages in Kinnaur's Pooh subdivision, known for growing peas, are among the remotest habitats where locals have to trudge some 15-20 km to reach nearby health centre. While Charang has 50 households, Kunnu has 30.

Octogenarian Jeevan Negi said the health services in Charang village are literally bad. "For want of medication, one has to travel either to Shimla or to Chandigarh." Locals rue that the condition of road is so bad that they can't even walk on it. Large pits pose threat of accidents.

There are several hamlets across Lahaul-Spiti district and Pangi in Chamba district where locals have to trek more than 10 km to reach the health centre.

Kinnaur and Lahaul-Spiti are part of the sprawling Mandi parliamentary constituency that covers almost two third of the hill state. The Buddhist-dominated districts in the Himalayan terrain, with elevations ranging from 15,000 to 20,000 feet above the mean sea level share a porous border with China.

Last month, the world's highest post office Hikkam in Spiti Valley at a height of 15,000 feet above the sea level and currently covered in a thick blanket of snow was hit by the coronavirus. Hikkam has a population of 200.

Also, nearby villages Komik and Langche too were hit by the virus. They support populations of 87 and 136 respectively.

Authorities blamed the locals, who are largely Buddhist farmers growing barley, potatoes, wheat and black peas, for the virus spread as they were reluctant to go to hospitals owing to belief that they will be automatically cured with the blessings of a local deity.

(Vishal Gulati can be contacted at vishal.g@ians.in)
On Sundays episode of Bigg Boss 14, Jasmin Bhasin and Nikki Tamboli will be seen laughing at Rakhi and her fake nose. The promo of the episode also showed Salman scolding Aly Goni.

As Rakhi washed dishes in kitchen, Jasmin and Nikki laughed and talked to each other saying, Naak giregi, abhi naak gir jaegi (the nose will fall now, it will just fall). Rakhi ignored them in the beginning but then got irritated and was seen walking up to them. The video also showed Salman taking Jasmin to task for making fun of Rakhi and her plastic surgery. Jasmin claimed she was provoked but Salman said she was not, adding that her face looked innocent but her personality was not.

It was shocking. You were provoked? No, no, no, no, no, no. Jasmin, you were having fun! You have gone to the next level, you are looking really, really bad. This chehra of yours and your personality do not match, Salman told Jasmin.

Also read: Bigg Boss 14 Weekend Ka Vaar written update day 89: Salman Khan scolds Rubina and Jasmin, Aly fights with Vikas

He also said, The antics that I saw Aly doing. Aly was quick to explain, Sir, Meri aur Jasmin ki bahut zyada badnaami kar rahe the sir ye bahar. I was so frustrated, bhai, mai jitni baar isko dekh hoon (Sir. he had been defaming Jasmin and me outside this house. I was so frustrated, each time I saw him.).

Vikas then interrupted saying, I want to know this, I am sick and tired of this. He then stood up and folded hands as he cried and asked Salman to excuse him for two minutes. However, Aly kept saying, Blackmail karta tha, jo sach hai wo sach hai na (he used to blackmail, the truth remains the truth).

Aly and Vikas had fought on Saturdays episode where Aly had claimed that Vikas used to blackmail people. The two almost came to blows even as Eijaz Khan, Nikki Tamboli and Rahul Vaidya stopped them from getting into a physical fight.

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Mullah Nazem, Taliban's designated governor for Afghanistan's Faryab, along with 6 other terrorists, was killed on Friday night when their own explosive detonated in the nation's Dawlat Abad district. Citing the provincial police, local news media reported, "Mullah Nazem and 6 other members of the group were killed when their own explosive detonated in Dawlat Abad district in the province."

Earlier the local news media quoted the local officials as saying that 4 members of public uprising forces, including their commander, were killed in a clash against the Taliban in Bati Kot district of Nangarhar province on Friday.

READ | Afghanistan Calls Out Pakistan On Taliban Presence, Says 'it Will Challenge Peace'

Afghan leaders warn Pakistan to stop arming Taliban

Earlier on December 27, 2020, the Senior Aghan leader and former member of the erstwhile Northern Alliance that fought the Taliban government, Ata Mohammad Noor, called Pakistan the "birthplace of Taliban". These comments by the Afghan leader and former provincial Governor came days after videos emerged of the Taliban's top leader Abdul Ghani Baradar, in which he said that all decisions about the peace process are being finalised with the Taliban's leadership and the Taliban's cleric council in Pakistan. Taking to Twitter, Ata Mohammad Noor said that Afghanistan is aware that Pakistan supports the Taliban.

READ | UN Inks Agreement With Taliban To Establish 4,000 Schools In Afghanistan

The senior Afghan leader said, "We know that Pakistan is the birthplace of Taliban and they support them. We hope Pakistan will collaborate with us as it will be in the best interests of both nations."

Speaking on the matter, former Pakistan senator Afrasiab Khattak said that Pakistan is using the Taliban as a "tool" for its dominance in Afghanistan under the pretext of strategic depth. Stating the terror group's approach towards the peace process has remained unchanged as it favours violence in the country, Khattak during an interview with a local news media said, "We can say that their (Taliban's) approach has changed if they stop violence and say that they will feel people's pain."

READ | Global Community Should Work To Remove Artificial Transit Barriers Of Afghanistan: India At UN

The Taliban who refer to themselves as the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is a military organization having Sunni Islamic fundamentalists in Afghanistan and currently waging war within the country. This terror group has been condemned internationally for the harsh enforcement of their interpretation of Islamic Sharia law, which has resulted in the brutal treatment of many Afghans, especially women. After coming into power in the 90s as a result of the geopolitical instability following the end of the Cold war, the Taliban and its atrocities were waged war against following the 9/11 terror attack on the US, eventually being routed and replaced by what is now the de-facto government of Afghanistan. However, almost 20 years on, the Taliban still controls vast swathes of the nation and has been at perpetual war with the Afghan forces and international coalition supporting them, with support from Pakistan. 'Peace talks' are ongoing at a neutral venue even as fighting and killing continues.

READ | Afghanistan: Kabul's Deputy Governor, His Secretary Killed In IED Blast
ALBANY  No matter what people say negatively, its painful, its hurtful, its discouraging, its angering and it can defame the Lords pride, the church, most of all, Pastor Phil Smith, of Victorious Life Christian Church, said in an early August sermon. The enemy seeks to defame our Lord and give Him a bad name.

His message  only God is the source of ultimate judgment and forgiveness  was typical for a sermon. But the apparent inspiration for the message on that Sunday was atypical, and it was not the enemy harming the churchs reputation, but a young woman suing them for allegedly abetting and harboring a Sunday school teacher who she says sexually abused her as a girl.

Abigail Barker, 27, recently filed a lawsuit against Mark Rhodes, a member of the church who was her Sunday School teacher and deacon. The civil complaint alleges Rhodes sexually molested her, leaving her traumatized from the incident.

The defendants in the lawsuit are the church, Rhodes and Dominick Brignola, leader of the church. Brignola was a former close friend of Barkers father, she said, and a contentious email exchange between them is included as an exhibit in the lawsuit.

The church, located on Fifth Avenue in the heart of downtown Troy, is like many churches: an interwoven community of tight-knit families. Barkers family was active in the church, she said. The children in the church were friends. Their parents were also close, with relationships forged beginning when they were kids attending the church themselves. Officials with the church, including Rhodes, who is still an active member, declined to to be interviewed for this story, contending they are precluded from discussing a pending lawsuit.

Barkers story of abuse is far from unique. The lawsuit was filed under New Yorks Child Victims Act, signed into law in 2019, which opened a look-back window for people who say they were abused as children to file lawsuits outside the statute of limitations. Nearly 5,000 cases have been filed across the state, and the window is open until August. Thousands of claimants have identified religious organizations of all denominations as the settings of their trauma and church leaders as the perpetrators.

Many of the complaints also have been filed against members of Boy Scout troops and foster parents, with close, personal relationships and access to children a common thread in the alleged violative assaults.

Multiple interviews with Barker, and a review of relevant court and police records, highlight the personal toll for someone pursuing justice in an alleged child abuse case. The fallout can end friendships, split families and divide communities.

Barker knew that pursuing the case would have that effect, she said. Her family left the church years ago, she said, but her uncles family is still a part of the church, and the lawsuit has placed an enormous strain on their relationship. Her alleged abuse has gone mostly undiscussed over the years, Barker said, but it makes it hard to keep her cousins  who she "thinks of as my brothers and sisters"  in her life.

I knew what the cost would be. I knew it. I also knew, or I had a feeling I guess, that when the time came for a choice to be made, I was not going to be the choice, Barker said. But I want them to know, ... 'yeah, it was the hardest part,' and it was hard because I love them.

So much of what keeps people from any sort of healing is feeling they have to be silent, Barker said. The greatest desire of my heart and the greatest thing I could ever ask for from all aspects of this situation is justice.

The alleged abuse occurred in 1998. It took two years for the young Barker to confide in her parents what happened, the suit says, kicking off a confrontation between her parents and church leadership. Brignola attempted to deal with the situation in-house, the suit says, telling the Barkers they shouldnt report it to authorities because, You dont want to bring (Child Protective Services) in here. Barker is now accusing the church of engaging in a cover-up with her lawsuit.

The web of familiar relationships and friendships that tied the Barkers into the Troy church was so enmeshed that it took years for them to untangle themselves, Barker said. But years after they left, in 2009, Barker, then a teenager, came across Rhodes while he was taking care of a young child with special needs. The situation rocked her, the lawsuits says, causing her to see a therapist and putting her in distress.

She decided to report the abuse to the Troy police. The police report indicates Barkers parents were interviewed by police, but they never spoke to Rhodes, and the case was closed in May 2010.

In 2012, Barkers parents sent a letter to the congregation of the chuch informing them that Rhodes, who had supervised many of their children, had been accused of sexual abuse by their daughter.

We find the fact that Mark Rhodes is (to any capacity) currently involved with the care of children disturbing, the letter stated. To the best of our knowledge, the elders have not passed this information on to other families in the congregation.

The accusations were now in the open, and it forced people to choose sides.

Some in the church community, almost entirely women, Barker said, supported her and believed her. But many did not.

I remember it so clearly we were in the milk and egg section of the grocery store, Barker recalled of a time she was shopping with her mother. They ran into a former fellow congregant at the church, a Ned Flanders type, who froze awkwardly when he saw them. We all just really need to forgive and love each other, the man said, according to Barker. Its the Christian thing to do.

If my parents and I had a dollar for: Its the Christian thing to do  I mean, good God, Barker said, laughing without humor.

The police had stopped investigating, and the statute of limitations precluded Barker from bringing the case to court. The road forward appeared closed to her.

But then, with the signing of the CVA into law in 2019, an avenue opened for Barker to pursue justice. She struggled at first to find an attorney because many firms only pursue cases against large organizations like the Catholic Church or Boy Scouts  a trend that the Times Union highlighted in November.

But eventually Barker retained legal counsel and her lawsuit was filed in early August.

It was the first Sunday after Barkers case was filed that Pastor Smith appeared to address the issue in a church sermon.

He accused Barker, indirectly, of lying, but then went on to say that the church unequivocally supports Ms. Abigail Barkers pursuit of the truth and justice in this very serious matter. He denied that the church was responsible for any abuse that occurred, and he lauded the services that it provides to its community, which include providing food for the hungry, assistance for those with substance abuse and shelter for homeless individuals.

We must examine where the criticism comes from, Smith continued. Well, whether it be reasonable people in the community or people with an axe to grind. I do not refer to Ms. Abigail Barker when I say 'an axe to grind.' I refer to such people as the media and social media, outlets and disgruntled people within the church that have left.

On the Facebook post of the sermon, there were four supportive comments thanking Smith and saying they stand by the church and by Brignola.

Please, pray for the people who do harm against us, Smith said at the end of his sermon. Pray that God will soften their heart, but refute with the word of God and stand with me in saying I know the character of Dominick Brignola. I would stake my life on his character. Amen.

Barker said she was unsurprised by the churchs decision to address the sensitive allegations in public, saying she actually was expecting it. She said that while Smith called for self-reflection, she felt it was a disingenuous message, and that what he was really doing was the worst rendition of 'stand by your man' Ive ever heard.

"It's just such a tried and true message that has worked across generations to silence survivors," she said. "That message was a reminder to the congregation that it is better to sit in silence, and wait until the afterlife to receive any semblance of justice for the crimes committed against them, then say something that would threaten the church's reputation and power."

Allowing abusers into your church, harboring them, protecting them, that is not the gospel. That is not God. That is not what Christianity, what truth, not what redemption, not what salvation, not what any of it is about," Barker said. "This is the act of man. This is the act of man."
Bir Lahlou (Liberated Territories), 2 January 2021 (SPS) - The units of the Sahrawi People's Liberation Army (SPLA) "carried out Wednesday and Thursday new attacks against positions of Morocco's occupation army along the wall of shame," the ministry of National Defense said in a statement.



In its military communique No 49, the ministry said that "on Tuesday, December 29, the advanced units of the Sahrawi Peoples Liberation Army focused their attacks on the trenches of the Moroccan occupation army in the Gleib Ans area in the Aousserd sector."



The ministry added that the army also "carried out Wednesday shelling on Moroccan positions in the Fedret Leghrab region (Houza sector, twice), the Leksibiyinne region (Farsiya sector) and the Bakari sector."



"On Thursday, the Saharawi Army targeted positions of the Moroccan occupation army in the Mehbes sector, the Tnuched area (Mehbes sector), the Rous Lefririna region (Smara sector)."



It also added that SPLA units carried out bombings targeting "the region of Sebkhet El Akriche (Smara), the region of region d'Emguelli Eddechra (Emguella), the region of Rous Aoudiyet Echdeyda (Farsiya), the region of Akouira Abrouk (Houza) and the region of Adhim Oum Adjloud (Aousserd)."



The Saharawi ministry of Defence said the "attacks by Saharawi fighters continued to target the military sites of the Moroccan occupier, which suffered more loss of life and equipment along the wall." (SPS)



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The European Union began on Sunday a coordinated rollout of coronavirus vaccinations across its 27 member states in a drive to inoculate some 450 million people.

Why it matters: Several European countries have tightened restrictions as cases, deaths and hospitalizations surge. EU countries have recorded at least 16 million COVID-19 cases and 336,000 deaths since the pandemic began, per AP.

The vaccinations come in a week that saw the first cases of a new COVID-19 variant, first reported in the United Kingdom, detected in France, Spain and Sweden, as well as Japan and Canada.

The big picture: Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine shipments arrived to EU countries on Saturday. Most countries received just under 10,000 doses in their first shipments, according to AP.

Germany, Hungary and Slovakia gave their first coronavirus vaccine shots on Saturday, one ahead of the coordinated launch, AP notes.

Germany gave the first shots to a small number of people at a home for the elderly on Saturday, per Reuters.

Hungary administered its first vaccine doses to frontline health workers in Budapest.

Slovakia also gave some its first shots to healthcare workers, according to AP.

What they're saying: "Today, we start turning the page on a difficult year. The COVID-19 vaccine has been delivered to all EU countries. Vaccination will begin tomorrow across the EU," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a video she tweeted Saturday.

"The #EUvaccinationdays are a touching moment of unity. Vaccination is the lasting way out of the pandemic," she added.

German Health Minister Jens Spahn told a news conference Saturday that the "vaccine is the decisive key to end this pandemic ... it is the key to getting our lives back," per AP.

Go deeper... The challenge of 2021: Vaccinating the world

Editor's note: This article has been updated with news of the coordinated rollout.
Today's column is about social media abuse and the day I inadvertently unmasked my most vicious of Twitter trolls, only to discover he was no stranger at all.

Television personality Erin Molan endured a heavy personal toll to pursue her social media tormenter.

Last week the federal government announced new social media legislation which, if passed, will result in fines of up to $111,000 for individuals who abuse, threaten, intimidate, post revenge porn or bully children, and fines of over half a million dollars for corporations like Facebook and Twitter, who refuse to take down offensive material or reveal the identities of perpetrators.

A big part of the problem with online trolling has been revealing a perpetrator's true identity.

Generally, social media platforms refuse to divulge any information about such culprits, citing lofty ideals like freedom of speech. But in reality they are more fearful of their profitability being eroded.
President Ram Nath Kovind on Sunday extended his condolences to the families of those who died as the roof of a shelter at a cremation ground in Uttar Pradeshs Muradnagar collapsed.

Incident of a roof collapse at the crematorium in Muradnagar, Ghaziabad is very sad. My condolences to the family of the deceased. I pray that those hurt in this accident get well soon. Local administration is working for relief and assistance,President Ram Nath Kovind tweeted.

Seventeen people were killed when the roof of a shelter at a cremation ground in Uttar Pradeshs Muradnagar collapsed on Sunday, news agency ANI reported.

17 people have died so far while 38 people have been rescued after a shed collapsed in Muradnagar. Weve started a probe and well take strict action against those found guilty, Anita C Meshram, Divisional Commissioner, Meerut told ANI.

According to HTs sister publication Livehindustan, over 40 people were initially trapped in the debris. The police and administration team arrived at the spot on receiving information and rescued the people, who were then admitted to Ghaziabad District Hospital.

Around 100 people were attending the funeral procession of a local resident of Dayanand Colony, who died on Saturday, when the roof collapsed and hardly anyone got a chance to escape, according to Livehindustan. While a few got trapped in the rubble, some managed to save their lives by running.

The building structure at the cremation ground was not very old and it is feared that the incident took place because the building was constructed in an area where frequent water-logging takes place. Due to heavy rain, the soil moved and thr mishap took place, according to Livehindustan.

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath has condoled the death of people in the incident. He has instructed officials to provide financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh to the dependents of the deceased in this accident. He has also instructed the Mandalayukta, Meerut and ADG, Meerut Zone to submit a report regarding the incident.

(With agency inputs)




Yemi Osinbajo

A prophet has revealed that Nigeria's number two person will assume duties as president without any election held.

Nigeria's vice president, Yemi Osinbajo will take over from President Muhammadu Buhari without any election held.

This is among the things prophesied by a clergy, Apostle Theophilus Ebonyi, the Senior Pastor of Faith on the Rock Ministry International in his 2021 prophecies reported by Vanguard.

Pastor Ebonyi who gave this admonition while speaking with journalists in Nasarawa State Saturday warned government against playing politics with Gods message delivered by Bishop Matthew Kukah to the nation.

According to him, if Bishop Kukah had not come out boldly to say the governnent has failed the nation, then it means something is wrong because even those in government bed reading knows that the present administration have failed the people, the clergy stated.

According to the clergy, the nation would witness a shift in government without election where the number two will assume the number one position without elections or coup.

He added that the present governnent is going to give a good ground to number two to occupy, but stressed that the situation is going to draw attention and the plan for the country will be privailled

While noting that the COVID19 pandemic would continue for another six months because the authority concerned are not willing to end the pandemic, he revealed however that life will be more meaningful in 2021 without food for the citizens.

Ebonyi, in his prayer for the nation and to mark his 43rd birthday celebration and Prophetic release for 2021 on Saturday said going back to God genuinely was the only sure way to avert the experiences that will take place in government and to over come the challenges confronting the country.

Speaking on the 2020, the Cleric described the year as a turbulent year full of battles such as COVID19 pandemic, insecurity, insurgency as well as EndSARS stating that God brought Nigerians into 2021 for a purpose.

According to him, 2021 is the year of the Lord where God himself will be humbling some demonic powers, forces and satanic agenda bedeviling the Nation.





God revealed to me in the place of prayer his blessings and intervention in the affairs of the Nigeria that government will witness a shift that is going to give ground to the number two citizen to become number one so saith the Lord, the cleric declared.





We have to pray for the government and Nigerians, God loves this Nation, but the kingdom of darkness has come out fully against it, if we call on God genuinely he will still deliever us as in the case of Israelites in Egypt.

On his 43rd birthday, Pastor Ebonyi said he was grateful to God for adding another year to him despite the battles he went through the year 2020.

He said he dedicated his 43rd birthday to step up the mandate that God has given him to wipe away the tears of people through touching of lives with his resources, noting that what gives him joy was to see humanity happy and liberated.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-04 06:52:23|Editor: huaxia

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Video: Democratic Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi of California is reelected on Jan. 3, 2021 as speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, where her party has a narrow majority. (Xinhua)

"Each of our communities has been drastically affected by the pandemic and economic crisis: 350,000 tragic deaths, over 20 million infections, millions without jobs -- a toll almost beyond comprehension," says Nancy Pelosi.



WASHINGTON, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- Democratic Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi of California was reelected on Sunday as speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, where her party has a narrow majority.

Pelosi received support from 216 Democrats, with two of her colleagues voting for someone else and three others voting present.

Kevin McCarthy, also from California, received all votes from the 209 Republicans present, allowing him to continue serving as minority leader.

The combo photo shows speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi gesturing during her speeches made on four different occasions. (Xinhua)

A veteran legislator who has served in the U.S. Congress since 1987, Pelosi was elected the first woman to serve as House speaker in 2007. She returned to the role in 2019 after her party regained control of the chamber.

The speaker is the political and parliamentary leader of the U.S. House.

During the past two years, the White House and the Pelosi-led House had a strained relationship.

The chamber impeached U.S. President Donald Trump in late 2019 after an inquiry triggered by a whistleblower complaint that raised concerns about the White House's interactions with Ukraine. The Republican-led Senate later acquitted the president.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (R, back) tears up what appeared to be a copy of the president's speech during U.S. President Donald Trump's (front) State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C., the United States, Feb. 4, 2020. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

Pelosi's election as House speaker came as the 117th U.S. Congress was sworn in on Sunday.

In a letter to her colleagues in the morning, Pelosi said the new Congress convenes "during a time of extraordinary difficulty."

"Each of our communities has been drastically affected by the pandemic and economic crisis: 350,000 tragic deaths, over 20 million infections, millions without jobs -- a toll almost beyond comprehension," she said.

Photo taken on Jan. 1, 2021 shows the U.S. Capitol Hill building in Washington, D.C., the United States. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

The balance of power in the 100-seat Senate will not be clear until after next week's Senate runoffs in the southeastern state of Georgia.

The new Congress will convene in a joint session on Wednesday to formally count the votes cast by the Electoral College in the 2020 presidential race - 306 for Democrat Joe Biden and 232 for Trump, the Republican incumbent.

A group of Republicans have announced they will contest the Electoral College results but their planned moves will unlike overturn Biden's victory over Trump, who hasn't conceded and is still pushing for claims of massive election fraud. 
Joey Essex's ex-girlfriend Brenda Santos has discussed their 'intense and memorable' relationship following their split.

The Brazilian model spoke candidly about her whirlwind romance with the TV personality, 30, which is said to have ended in October after spending so much time together in lockdown took its toll.

Brenda claimed that they had a 'real physical connection' and enjoyed intimate moments together 'every day' during their five-month romance, and even spoke about 'kids and marriage'.

Former flames: Joey Essex's ex-girlfriend Brenda Santos has discussed their 'intense and memorable' relationship following their split

While the model also said that they had discussed having kids and getting married, although she admitted that she was 'too young' to settle down.

In an interview with The Sun, Brenda said of their relationship: 'It was intense and memorable. He's a very passionate person, like myself.'

She added: 'He talked to me about kids and marriage a lot, but I'm too young to think about marriage. I am very active and I always need to be doing something. He feels ready  he's 30, it's a good age for him.'

Romance: The Brazilian model spoke candidly about her whirlwind romance with the TV personality, 30, which is said to have ended in October after spending so much time together in lockdown took its toll

Looking back on their relationship, Brenda said there was an immediate spark between them when they first met, but after sharing a kiss she told him she had to go home rather than return with him to his mansion in Essex.

She said: 'We had a great chemistry. From the beginning there was a real physical connection between us. I felt the energy and we just let go.'

Despite wooing her and sharing a passionate relationship, Brenda said their bond soon faded after they had arguments during lockdown and she realised they were not compatible.

MailOnline has contacted Joey's representatives for comment.

Racy: Brenda claimed that they enjoyed intimate moments together 'every day' during their five-month romance

The former TOWIE star made things official with the model in May last year and the pair went on to enjoy a trip to Ibiza and celebrated his 30th birthday.

However in October a source told The Sun: 'Joey was smitten with Brenda and it was a classic whirlwind romance between them.

'But spending so much time together took its toll and they both admitted they needed space.'

Explaining how the pair parted on good terms, the insider added: 'They were both really adult about everything and agreed that it was better to say goodbye.'

Brenda has reportedly since moved back to her place in London, although she is currently in Brazil to see family, while Joey has deleted all traces of their time together from his Instagram account.

'Too young': While the model also said that they had discussed having kids and getting married, although she admitted that she was 'too young' to settle down

Brenda is signed to Linden Staub Talent Agency, having recently appeared in French fashion magazine L'Officiel.

The model appeared to be introduced to Joey's family at his 30th birthday bash in July and they had even enjoyed a sun-soaked trip to Ibiza together.

Joey previously spoke candidly about dating in an interview with The Sun, telling the publication he was looking for the 'one' and setting his sights on someone who is also 'in the industry.'

The former TOWIE star said: 'I normally date girls because I'm bored, but I want to settle down now and I do wonder how I'll find the one.'

Joey has previously been linked to Sam Faiers, who he proposed to after meeting on The Only Way Is Essex in 2011. He then had a series of flings before getting serious with model Lorena Medina.

However, their romance came to a crashing halt last year when the hunk was seen leaving Rita Ora's pad with pals after a wild night out. Joey and Rita have since said they are 'just friends' and have been for years.

However Joey said he was keen to pursue another star as he admitted it is 'awkward' dating girls who aren't famous.

He shared: 'I'm single at the moment and I need to date someone in the industry because they'll know the situation that if we go out, there might be people watching. I've dated girls before who are not in the limelight and it feels awkward.'

When asked if fellow reality TV star and supermodel Kendall Jenner is still his 'dream girl', he joked: 'No, I'm her dream boy.'
Use of the death penalty in Texas has dropped sharply in recent years, partly because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the election of prosecutors focused on criminal justice reform, a new report found.

Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzales is one of several prosecutors in Texas who have vowed to curtail use of the death penalty, according to the year-end report by the Texas Coalition Against the Death Penalty, a statewide advocacy group.

The pandemic largely halted executions because of public health concerns. Texas, which typically carries out the highest number of executions nationwide, executed three people in 2020, the report found. It was the lowest number statewide in nearly 25 years.

None of the men executed were from Bexar County.

While executions in the Lone Star State were at an all-time low, Texas was one of only two states  besides the federal government  that carried out executions during the pandemic.

It is shameful  to put anyone to death during a global pandemic, said Kristin Houle Cuellar, executive director of the Texas Coalition Against the Death Penalty, referring to the July execution of Billy Joe Wardlow.

Wardlow was sentenced to death in 1995 in the killing of 82-year-old Carl Cole during a botched attempt to steal Coles truck at his home in rural Morris County in East Texas. At the time, Wardlow was 18.

In July, in a last-ditch effort to halt Wardlows execution, attorneys representing him asked the Texas Supreme Court and Gov. Greg Abbott to halt his execution because of the pandemic. The court denied the motion, and Abbott took no action.

On ExpressNews.com: Coronavirus delays execution of San Antonio man who raped, killed teen girl a quarter century ago

The report shows that Texas juries sentenced two people to death last year  one in February and the other in March  before the coronavirus suspended most court proceedings.

The number of death sentences and executions in Texas and across the U.S. has steadily decreased over the last two decades. Texas executions peaked in 2000, when 40 people were put to death, the report states. In 2019, nine inmates were executed.

The decrease comes as public support for the death penalty has waned, especially as alternative sentences, such as life without the possibility of parole, have become available.

Prior to 2005, when then-Gov. Rick Perry signed a law allowing juries to sentence defendants to life without parole, the alternative was life in prison with the chance of parole after 40 years.

Opponents of capital punishment argue that the sentence is unfairly applied based on race and poses the risk of killing individuals with claims of actual innocence. According to the report, 70 percent of death sentences over the last five years have been imposed on people of color.

On ExpressNews.com: Bexar County prosecutors wrangle over death penalty

Of those, 38 percent were Black defendants. In comparison, roughly 13 percent of Texas population is Black, according to 2019 estimates from the Census Bureau.

As Texas moves away from the death penalty, what remains is an arbitrary, unfair and racially biased punishment, Cuellar said. At this critical moment of reckoning with systemic racism, elected officials and the public must continue to confront our states deeply troubling legacy of injustice reflected in the death penalty.

Cuellar said executions will likely continue to decline in the coming years, partly because of several district attorneys  including those in Dallas, Harris and Nueces counties  having vowed to curtail use of the death penalty.

Gonzales, who took office in 2019, has said he will seek the death penalty in only the worst of the worst cases.

So far, he has chosen to seek the death penalty twice: for Brian Flores, then accused in the 2015 deaths of two teenagers, and Otis Tyrone McKane, who is suspected in the 2016 killing of San Antonio Police Detective Benjamin Marconi.

Flores case was resolved after he pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

On ExpressNews.com: Former San Antonio gang members death sentence overturned due to intellectual disability

Last year, Gonzales helped lead the charge to reduce Geronimo Gutierrezs death sentence to life in prison. He was one of six men whose sentences were changed after prosecutors and judges agreed there was evidence the men had intellectual disabilities, the report states.

Gutierrez was the first person convicted in Bexar County to receive relief under the U.S. Supreme Courts decision in 2017 in Moore vs. Texas, which found that Texas courts were using outdated, nonmedical criteria to assess intellectual disability claims.

When his sentence was reduced, Gutierrez had spent more than 18 years on death row for the abduction and slaying of Rick Marin in 1999 in San Antonio.

The appeals of death penalty cases are lengthy and costly for taxpayers, Gonzales said at the time, explaining his recommendation to reduce Gutierrezs sentence. This court ruling means this defendant will spend the rest of his life in prison.

eeaton@express-news.net
El vicepresidente Mike Pence ha respaldado publicamente a Donald Trump en cada paso del camino durante los ultimos cuatro anos. (Getty Images)

Trump election attorney Lin Wood tweeted that Vice President Mike Pence will face execution by firing squad, in a string of tweets that prompted questions about his sanity. He called Mr Pence a coward who will sing like a bird and confess ALL.

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The lawyer has lost several lawsuits challenging Donald Trumps election loss. In the Friday afternoon thread, Mr Wood said the focus had been on the Democrats during the effort to overturn the election but one of the main culprits of Mr Trumps loss was his own party. Mr Wood also represented Kyle Rittenhouse, the teenager charged with shooting two protesters in Kenosha, Wisconsin during this summers racial justice protests.

Over time, we have learned that the Democrats were joined by CCP & other foreign countries, Mr Wood tweeted, possibly referring to the Chinese Communist Party.

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Mr Wood went on to make baseless accusations against globalists like George Soros," elitists like Bill Gates," and the Republican Party.

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He then claimed that Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Vice President Mike Pence would be arrested.

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Attorney and author Seth Abramson called Mr Wood disturbed.

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Editor at large at The Daily Beast Molly Jong-Fast sarcastically questions Mr Woods sanity.

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The Director of the University of Virginia Center for Politics, Larry Sabato called Mr Trumps legal team nuts.

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Mr Wood shot back at the accusations that they didnt concern him and quoted spiritual teacher Vernon Howard.

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Mr Pence has been slammed by some Republicans for not fully backing the election challenges lobbed in Mr Trumps favour. A lawsuit by Texas Republican Representative Louie Gohmert, attempting to allow Mr Pence to only count the electoral votes for Mr Trump during Congress certification process was thrown out in court by a federal judge. Mr Pences lawyers asked for the case to be dismissed.

One of Mr Woods many losses included trying to stop Georgia from certifying their results, handing 16 electoral votes to President-elect Joe Biden. He also joined in the attempts to overturn the results in Michigan, another state which in favour of Mr Biden, Business Insider reported.

Story continues

Mr Wood has also pushed the Qanon theory and promoted the idea that Chief Justice John Roberts is a member of a ring of murderous paedophiles.

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Mr Wood has previously made baseless claims that Justice Roberts killed Justice Antonin Scalia and that Jeffrey Epstein is still alive. He has also encouraged his supporters to stock up on 2nd Amendment supplies.

Read More

Trump lawyer says Jeffrey Epstein still alive in bizarre tweets

Trump calls Georgia runoff illegal as three million vote early

Mike Pence rejects lawsuit urging him to throw out electoral votes

Pence seeks dismissal of suit aiming to overturn election

McConnell, Pelosi homes vandalized after $2,000 relief fails
Miami Valley Raceway will commence its eighth season of live harness racing on Sunday (Jan. 3) with a 14 race program starting at 2:05 p.m. (EST). The matinee is the first of 87 cards scheduled between now and May 3.

The southwest Ohio five-eighths mile oval will host matinees at 2:05 p.m. on Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays each week, and feature 4:05 p.m. (EST) twilight programs on Fridays and Saturdays.

The 2021 season will kick off with a $30,000 claiming pace for a $15,750 purse in the first race, one of two such events on the card. Other highlights include a $13,500 conditioned claiming pace for non-winners of 10 races carrying $40,000 claiming tags and a $12,600 conditioned trot for non-winners of $6000 in their last four starts.

Secret Threat (driver Trace Tetrick) has been installed the 2-1 morning-line favourite in the initial race by oddsmaker Rick Stevens-Gleason, followed by Never Say Never N (Josh Sutton, 5-2) and Hal N Sammy (Tyler Smith, 5-1). When the second division of $30,000 claimers step onto the track, Itsgoodtobedaking (Brett Miller, 3-1) will be morning line favorite, getting a slight nod over Voracity (Tetrick, 7-2) and Modern Rock AS (Jason Brewer, 9-2).

Loutenant (Dan Noble, 3-1) is the early favorite in the top condition/claimer, getting top billing over Upfront And Gone (Brandon Bates, 7-2) and World On Edge (Sam Widger, 9-2).

Its A Herbie (LeWayne Miller) will open the betting at 2-1 in the top trot of the day. Whether Or Not Fi (Tetrick, 3-1) will also get strong consideration, as will Muscular Babe (Kyle Wilfong, 9-2).

The month of January will feature nine separate "Claim To Fame" series for horses of varying values, ranging from $8,000 to $30,000 divided by sex (pacers) and gait. Nomination forms can be downloaded at: Home - Miami Valley Gaming, then clicking Racing/Horsemens Information/Forms. Deadline for receiving nominations is Jan. 5.

(Miami Valley)
Rage against the dying of Trumps fight. Photo: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

President Trumps epic ongoing failure to subvert Americas democracy and overturn his unambiguous loss to President-elect Joe Biden gained a whiff of pointless steam on Saturday when 11 Republican senators and senators-elect announced that they will vote against the counting of Electoral College votes during a joint session of Congress next week. Missouri senator (and 2024 hopeful) Josh Hawley had already said that he would object to the pro forma count of electoral votes and certification of Bidens victory on January 6  which means at least 12 GOP senators and what may be more than 140 House Republicans will now oppose, for the history books, next weeks inevitable congressional certification of Bidens victory. Vice-President Mike Pence came out in support of the ploy on Saturday, as did House minority leader Kevin McCarthy.

Meanwhile, other Republicans have been speaking out against their colleagues machinations, including many members of Congress, as well as former Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, who released a statement opposing the plan on Sunday, observing, It is difficult to conceive of a more anti-democratic and anti-conservative act.

The 11 senators, led by Texas Ted Cruz (who will also likely run for president, again, in 2024), said in a statement on Saturday that they would support the objection to the count and called for a ten-day audit of election results in disputed states, asserting that Congress was the lone constitutional power remaining to consider and force resolution of the allegations of serious voter fraud. Those false allegations, endlessly promoted by the president since before he even lost, arent just baseless, but have failed to gain even the slightest traction in countless courts since the election and were dismissed by Trumps attorney general, William Barr, before he resigned last month. Nonetheless, Trump has pressured Republican lawmakers across the nation to demonstrate their loyalty to him and support his attempted coup. And thats now exactly what many of them plan to do  futility, precedent, and democratic principles be damned.

Joining Cruz in the pledge were senators Marsha Blackburn (TN), Mike Braun (IN), Steve Daines (MT), Ron Johnson (WI), John Kennedy (LA), James Lankford (OK), and senators-elect Bill Hagerty (TN), Cynthia Lummis (WY), Roger Marshall (KS), and Tommy Tuberville (AL).

Later Saturday, Mike Pences chief of staff announced that Pence, too, shares the concerns of millions of Americans about voter fraud and irregularities in the last election and welcomes the efforts of members of the House and Senate to use the authority they have under the law to raise objections and bring forward evidence before the Congress and the American people on January 6th. Kevin McCarthy, the House minority leader, said on Saturday night that he welcomed the proposed audit, and CNN reported Sunday that he has participated in two conference calls regarding the effort in recent days and is part of the team, according to Representative Mo Brooks, who is spearheading the House GOPs push to block the count.

Hawley, whose Senate website says he is recognized as one of the nations leading constitutional lawyers, tweeted on Saturday that he is glad to see more senators joining the fight and that he hopes many more will listen to their constituents and act. Politico reports that both Hawley and Cruz have been fundraising off their role in the plot.

At best, the objecting Republicans arent so much showing fealty to Trump as they are performing it for his supporters, many of whom have bought into the president and his allies false claims about the election being rigged. The 11 senators statement claimed that their proposed audit of the state-certified election returns would dramatically improve Americans faith in our electoral process and significantly enhance the legitimacy of whoever becomes our next president, but thats not a realistic outcome, either. They also claimed that were not actually trying to thwart Bidens victory and acknowledged that they fully expect most if not all Democrats, and perhaps more than a few Republicans, to vote otherwise.

As CNN pointed out on Saturday, Not one of the Republican officeholders objecting to Bidens victory have objected to their own wins on the same day on the same ballots using the same election systems.

Several GOP senators now publicly oppose the scheme. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, for his part, has unsuccessfully tried to dissuade his colleagues from objecting to the count and forcing the vote  which would put vulnerable Republicans up for reelection in 2022 in the politically unenviable position of either voting against Trump or democracy. McConnell even went so far as to reportedly tell Senate Republicans on Friday that his vote to confirm Bidens victory will be the most consequential I have ever cast. Senator Pat Toomey said Saturday that Hawley and Cruzs effort to overturn the results of the election directly undermines the right [of the people] to elect their own leaders. Mitt Romney said in a statement that Cruz et al.s egregious ploy to reject electors may enhance the political ambition of some, but dangerously threatens our Democratic Republic. Lisa Murkowski responded, I swore an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States and that is what I will do January 6. On Sunday night, Tom Cotton released a statement in which he vowed not to join the effort, saying that objecting to certified electoral votes wont give [Trump] a second term.

Murkowski, Romney, Maines Susan Collins, and Louisianas Bill Cassidy joined with six Senate Democrats to publish a letter on Sunday calling on Congress to certify Bidens victory without delay, arguing that the efforts to prevent that are contrary to the clearly expressed will of the American people and only serve to undermine Americans confidence in the already determined election results. Also on Sunday, House GOP Conference Chair Liz Cheney sent her Republican colleagues a memo warning that the attempt to overturn the election results could set an exceptionally dangerous precedent. And seven other House Republicans released their own statement noting Congress didnt have the legal right to overrule states authority on the matter.

Amid the pushback, Ted Cruz tried to pull the fire alarm over his own fire on Sunday morning:

Ted Cruz, asked on Fox about criticism he's received from Republicans and Dems over his push to challenge and probe the election results: "I think we need to tone down the rhetoric. This is already a volatile situation. It's like a tinder box and throwing lit matches into it."  Manu Raju (@mkraju) January 3, 2021

No matter the drama on Wednesday, there is absolutely no chance that the effort to block the certification of Bidens win (and offer a symbolic hand to the flailing Trump) will gain majority support in either the Senate or House. What it will accomplish is helping to cement, in the minds of the president and many Republican voters, the plainly false notion that Donald J. Trump is not a loser. The consequences beyond that, for the GOP or for future American elections, remain to be seen.
Controversy has continued to trail the demolition of a facility by the Kaduna State Government with the state governor, Nasir El-Rufai, receiving commendation from a federal official while the owner of the building faulted the exercise and threatened to sue the state government for defamation and losses.

Asher Kings and Queens Restaurant and Lounge, located at Sabon Tasha, in Kaduna, was demolished on December 31, days after Kaduna Sex Party poster appeared in public.

The owner, Aisha Yakubu, said she lost one-month pregnancy due to the trauma she suffered as she watched the demolition of her property.

The demolition was carried out by Kaduna State Urban Planning and Development Agency, KASUPDA, on the order of Mr El-Rufai, the agency said, alleging that the party was to hold at Asher.

KASUPDA have demolished Asher Hotel in Barnawa Kaduna South, the agency said in a tweet on January 1. Asher Hotel was the proposed venue for the Kaduna Sex Party, the hotel was also caught contravening the Covid-19 guidelines of the state. KASUPDA will not hesitate to demolish properties used for such immoral act.

In a statement on Sunday, the Director-General, National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), Olusegun Runsewe, commended Mr El-Rufai for the demolition, saying such sex party was a total disrespect for the Nigerian culture.

Mr Runsewe, according to the News Agency of Nigeria, said on Sunday that Mr El-Rufai deserved kudos for prompt response to the disgusting sex party by promptly demolishing the building as a warning to others who could be planning such immorality.

But for this intervention by the governor, Kaduna State possibly would become the new capital and destination for sex tourism in Nigeria.

This will lead to social disconnect and dislocations with drug peddling in tow and our children destroyed in the process.

In 1992, Senegal and Uganda, experienced massive influx of sex tourists and immediately took hard measures to curb it because if left unchecked, sex tourism will damage the spiritual, moral and cultural values of any society.

And there is no sentiments about dealing with it as Gov. El-Rufai has done, he stated.

In a similar view to Mr Runsewe, KASUPDA had said on Friday that Asher was used for an immoral act and that it will not hesitate to deal decisively with any individual or group (that) tries to engage in any act that exposes our citizens to moral decadence.

Owner denies knowledge of sex party

However, Aisha Yakubu, the owner of Asher, debunked the governments claim and said there was no plan to use her property for the said sex party.

I denied knowledge of that event as there was nothing of that sort taking place at the restaurant and I wouldnt stoop so low to entertain such illicit activity at my place, she said in her statement, disclosing what she had told the police before the demolition.

But the Police refused to believe me and had my friend and two of my staff detained for one night, one day, until the customer that had earlier hired the place for usage on that fateful day was also arrested the next day. They were released after paying a bail fee of #100,000 to Inspector Felix and one other lady Officer, fair in complexion.

The customer, she said, had on December 27, 2020, hired the VIP Lounge for a 15-man reunion/Clothing line promo, to appreciate his customers for their good patronage of his brands.

She identified the customer as Mr Chimezie.

She said the police team had arrived before the commencement of the reunion party and taken him and others away.

When we arrived the Police station, my customer, who accompanied me to the station, enquired what the matter was and the Police showed us a poster on a GSM phone belonging to one of the officers by name Inspector Felix. It was a poster of an event titled; KADUNA SEX PARTY, which the Police claimed the venue for the supposed sex party was scheduled to hold at my restaurant, even though with no address of where it will take place on the poster.

She further said, I noticed how incompetent the NPF were, I suggested to them to call the number on the supppsed Kaduna Sex Party poster, which they immediately put a call through and a name came out using the True Caller App as MARVELLOUS AKPAN. The Police asked me to pay a fee of #20,000 for them to do their job of tracking the user of the phone number, which I immediately paid them so that they would swing into action.

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The police spokesperson for Kaduna State, Jalige Mohammed, told PREMIUM TIMES he had just seen the allegation that police were paid to release a detainee and collected money to track a number.

He said the police would investigate and get back.

Ms Yakubu continued, Marvellous Akpan was arrested the next. He was interrogated and he obliged to owning the phone number on the poster address. Mr Chimeze, who had hired the place, was released, summarily, after the successful arrest of Mr Akpan.

The next day, 31st December, while at the other Branch of my restaurant, at Court Road,Sabon Tasha, Kaduna, a friend of mine called me asked me to go to the main Restaurant and see what was going on. I immediately went and saw a combined team of Police men, Soldiers, KASTLEA and Vigilante groups guarded a pay loader to demolish my restaurant. No prior notice was served to me before the demolition, there was no any form of communication between I and the Kaduna State Property Development Agency (KASUPDA) who came to demolished the building structure.

Even when they arrived the location, the main entrance to the main Restaurant and the restaurant was under lock and key. There was no any form of communication to me!

I watched them pull down the building without allowing me remove any item before the demolition. As a result of the trauma, I lost my one month old pregnancy.

I also incurred the following loses;

1. cooking utensils 2. Furniture 3.Electric appliances

4. Chillers

5. Deep freezers

6. Bemarrings out door catering utensils

7. Cash, et al worth over #32 million, as the place was abruptly vandalised after the demolition.

I plan to seek legal redress for defamation of my character and the loss of my properties in the building.

PREMIUM TIMES shared Ms Yakubus statement with a spokesperson to Mr El-Rufai, Muyiwa Adekeye, requesting a reaction. There was no response as of the time this report was published.
As I write, the House of Representatives has started a quorum call to assemble the new Congress for 2021. As has been remarked, there is some unpredictability this year because of COVID and the slim margin of the Democratic House majority. It is not a certainty that Nancy Pelosi will be the next Speaker.

Chad Pergram of Fox News has a terrific Twitter thread on the scene up right now, called his Hitchhikers Guide to the New Congress, that I have unrolled for easier reading:

Starting the new Congress is inherently messy in a pandemic. The House of Representatives implemented remote voting in the spring. Thats where the House permitted members who were at high risk, quarantining, tested positive or caring for someone who is ill could phone in their vote.

The House will vote on Monday on a new rules package to begin the new Congress which will include a remote voting option But in the House, you cant carry over rules from the 116th Congress to the 117th Congress. Thats why everyone has to show up at noon today. This poses an interesting, ethical question: Is it appropriate for members who have tested positive, have been in quarantine or been exposed, be present today? Heres what to expect in the House today. First, the House must take care of old business. The House meets, for the last time at 10 am et and adjourns the 116th Congress. The new, 117th Congress starts at noon et, per the Constitution. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO), an ordained United Methodist pastor, will lead the opening prayer to begin the new session. Nothing has constituted the House at that point. There is no Speaker. Clerk of the House Cheryl Johnson presides. The first order of business is a quorum call to get everyone there  pandemic style. Under normal circumstances, all 435 House members-elect would crowd into the chamber to vote electronically and record their presence. But during coronavirus, the House will summon members to the chambers in seven groups of about 72 persons.

The first tranche starts with Rep. Alma Adams (D-NC) and runs through Rep. Michael Cloud (R-TX). The seventh and final group stretches from Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) through Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-NY). Members are instructed to report to the chamber, record their presence and depart. We expect it will take until a little after 2 pm et to get the quorum there. Watch to see exactly how many members show up for the quorum. This will be crucial because it will dictate the size of the House to begin and how many votes House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) needs to return to the Speakers suite.

Watch to see exactly how many members show up for the quorum. This will be crucial because it will dictate the size of the House to begin and how many votes House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) needs to return to the Speakers suite. The House will entertain nominations for Speaker around 2:30 pm et. House Democratic Caucus Chairman Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) will nominate Pelosi.

House Republican Conference Chairwoman Liz Cheney (R-WY) will nominate House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA). The House will then begin a manual roll call with members filing into the chamber, again, in groups, and verbally announcing their vote. This will take until 5:30 pm et or later. We expect the election of the Speaker sometime between 5:30 and 6 pm et. Presumably, Pelosi wins and will be sworn-in by the Dean of the House (the longest-serving member), Rep. Don Young (R-AK). Pelosi in turn swears-in Young and begins swearing in members in groups of 72 members. The House will observe a moment of silence to note the death of the late Rep.-elect Luke Letlow (R-LA). The House should start at 432 members and three vacancies: 222 Democrats and 210 Republicans. The vacancies are from New Yorks 22nd District, Louisianas 5th District and Floridas 27th District  but the latter will be filled soon.

There is still no race call in the contest between current Rep. Anthony Brindisi (D-NY) and former Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-NY). Letlow died from complications related to coronavirus. Rep.-elect Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL) indicates she will not be present to take the oath office.

So thats how we get to at least three vacancies to begin the new Congress. Possibly more. Salazar could be sworn-in as soon as her health allows. And, the House could approve a resolution later this week allowing Salazar to be sworn-in outside of the Capitol.

Thats happened before. Pelosi indicated she will seat Rep.-elect Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA) after her six-vote victory over Democrat Rita Hart. But Hart has asked the House Administration to probe the outcome in that contest. This is where it could get interesting. You take the field today with the players you have available. Thats why, in the age of a pandemic, its possible  possible  that if Democrats dont have the right numbers, Republicans could  could  actually have the majority. We always say its about the math. Its about the math.

Well, the math really matters today. Whichever side has the most members present today is in the majority. Period. The only thing which really matters as to which side has more votes is what comes next: election of the Speaker. Nothing can happen in the House until it elects a Speaker. Nothing. And anything can happen during a pandemic. Even Pelosi has said that her foe in the Speakers race is COVID. The successful Speaker candidate secures an outright majority of the entire House. Not the most votes.

So, if the House starts at 432 members and everyone is there, Pelosi needs 217 members vote for her. So if Democrats are at 222 and everyone shows up, the Speaker can only lose five votes. Pelosi lost 15 votes in the Speakers contest in January, 2019.

Rep. Jim Cooper (D-TN) voted present in 2019. But Cooper now says he will vote for Pelosi. Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) voted present in 2019. Slotkin says she cant support Pelosi. Reps. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) and Jared Golden (D-ME) voted for Rep. Cheri Bustos (D-IL) two years ago. Thats why some wonder if it could possible for the House to elect McCarthy or someone else as Speaker. That scenario is unlikely. But it will come down to the math.

UPDATE:

FURTHER UPDATE by JOHN: Pelosi has been re-elected Speaker with 216 votes to 209 for Kevin McCarthy. Five Democrats declined to vote for Pelosi, but none of them voted for McCarthy.
Some area care facilities have reported multiple new cases of COVID-19 in their facility over the last week according to the latest available numbers provided by the Texas Department of Human Health Services, which reflect those reported through Dec. 15.

Just one case of the virus was active as of the latest report between the two Plainview nursing homes.

Prairie House Living Center has reported 128 total cases  87 among residents and 41 among employees. One employee case was active as of Dec. 15 and the facility has reported 22 deaths and 62 recoveries.

Plainview Healthcare Center has reported 34 total cases with 18 among employees and 16 among residents. Two resident deaths have been reported in the facility.

Cambridge LTC Partners Inc. in Dimmitt reported an additional 20 cases among residents through Dec. 15 compared to the Dec. 8 report. A total of 27 residents have contracted the virus with one reported death. Of the 34 reported cases among employees, 13 were active as of the latest report.

Country View Living in Dimmitt has reported 23 employee cases  one still active as of Dec. 15  and three resident cases with one active case, one recovery and one death.

The Lockney Health and Rehabilitation Center reported two additional cases of the virus among its residents with a total of 21, all still active as of the latest report. Nine employees have tested positive for the virus with four still active.

The Tulia Health and Rehabilitation Center has reported 23 total cases with 13 employee cases and 10 resident cases with no active cases.

Four total active cases were reported among Plainviews two assisted living facilities.

Beehive Homes of Plainview reported its first case of the virus to date, which is listed among employees. Santa Fe Place had three active cases  two among residents and one among employees.

Beehive Homes at Shepherds Meadow in Floydada had no active cases reported and six total reported cases, all among residents with one reported death.

Swisher Memorial Hospital Residential Living Center in Tulia had one active case among its four reported resident cases. Three total employee cases have been reported in the facility, none of which were active.
New Delhi:

Passengers of British Airways faced a third day of disruption at Heathrow after an IT glitch blamed on outsourcing to India that grounded various planes, leaving thousands of travellers stranded over the weekend.

The airline said it intended to run a full schedule at Gatwick on Sunday and to operate a full long-haul schedule and a"high proportion" of its short-haul programme at Heathrow.

BA passengers have been told to check the status of their flights before travelling to the airports where scenes of chaos unfolded over the weekend.

The airline claimed it was making "good progress" inrecovering from the worldwide IT glitch. "We operated a full schedule at Gatwick on Sunday.

At Heathrow, we operated virtually all our scheduled long-haulflights, though the knock-on effects of Saturday's disruptionresulted in a reduced short-haul programme," Sky news quoted a BA spokeswoman said: "We apologise again to customers for the frustration andinconvenience they are experiencing and thank them for theircontinued patience."

ALSO READ: British Airways cancels all its flights from Heathrow, Gatwick airports due to 'major global computer failure'

Thousands of passengers had their travel plans disrupted as a result of the problem, with one workers' union blaming the outsourcing of IT jobs to India for the chaos, a claim denied by the airline.

The company said there was no evidence the failure was the result of a cyber attack. Experts predict the knock-on effect could continue forseveral days and BA is facing huge compensation costs, with reports suggesting the bill could top 100 million pound. Passengers faced hours-long lines to check in, reclaimlost luggage or rebook flights at Terminal 5, BA's hub at Heathrow.

Alex Cruz, the airline's chairman and CEO, issued a video message on Twitter to reassure passengers about their lostluggage and apologise.

Alex Cruz, BA chairman and CEO, apologised to customers in a video message on Twitter and said, "I know this has been a horrible time for customers.

READ: Delhi-bound British Airways flight suffers technical snag, returns to Heathrow airport

Some of you have missed holidays, some of you have been stranded on aircraft, some of you have been separated from your bags. Many of you have been stuck in long queues whilst you waited for information.

"On behalf of everyone at BA I want to apologise for the fact that you had to go through these very trying experiences." BA operates hundreds of flights from Heathrow and Gatwickon a typical day and both are major hubs for worldwide travel.

For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Brand: Xiaomi

Product: Xiaomi Mi Smart Speaker

Key specs: Google Assistant support, Hi-Fi audio processor, far-field mics, 12W speaker, built-in Chromecast

Price: 3,999

Rating: 4/5

Xiaomi is a company known for providing quality with affordability. It has a wide portfolio of products right from robotic vacuum cleaners to water purifiers to meet the various demands of its users. Recently, the company entered the smart speaker segment in India by launching the Xiaomi Mi Smart Speaker.

Mi Smart Speaker costs 3,999 in India and it competes with the likes of Google Nest Mini and the Amazon Echo Dot in the budget smart speaker segment. But unlike the smart speakers by Amazon and Google that are powered by their own virtual assistants, Alexa and Google Assistant respectively, the smart speaker by Xiaomi is powered by Google Assistant, but you can't hold that against it.

There are few smart speakers in the budget segment in India right now. With big leagues like Google and Amazon, one might think that a smart speaker by Xiaomi might not stand a chance both in terms of sound and the smarts. But the Mi Smart Speaker not only checks all the right boxes it also provides a tough competition to all others in this segment.

It has the brains of Google, the beauty of Xiaomi and sound that distinctly reminds you of the Bose Home Speaker 300. We wouldnt go as far as comparing the Mi Smart Speaker with Boses version of a not-so-pricey-yet-extremely-costly version of a smart speaker. So for now, lets stick to the budget smart speaker segment of which Xiaomis smart speaker is the latest member.

Design

Xiaomi Mi Smart Speaker (HT Tech)

The Mi Smart Speaker measures 131x104x151mm and it weighs just 853 grams. It is made of a metallic casing that has a total of 10,531 sound holes that are aimed at helping this smart speaker distribute sound uniformly in all directions, which in turn makes the sound seem fuller. Well get to that part a little later. The top and bottom parts of the Mi Smart Speaker are made of plastic. You get a flat top that has two far-field microphones along with four touch-sensitive buttons. While two of these buttons can be used for controlling the volume of this smart speaker, the other two can be used for playing/pausing and muting the microphone.

The top of the Mi Smart Speaker has a ring-like LED structure that lights up every time you summon Google Assistant. It glows in an Alexa-like blue-green colour when everything is alright and Google is responding to your requests and orange when the mic is on mute or if there is some error in connectivity. At the back, there is a port that connects to the power adapter that helps Xiaomis smart speaker to keep serving our hearts desire.

Overall, the Mi Smart Speaker looks quite similar to the Home Speaker 300 that was launched last year. Sure, there are some subtle yet important differences as well. For instance, Mi Smart Speaker has sound holes almost all over its body while the Home Speaker 300 has them in just the lower half of its body. Similarly, the Mi Smart Speaker has the light ring encircling the top of the device, while Boses budget smart speaker has one in a small arc-like structure in the front. Despite these differences, both these smart speakers look the same, well, almost the same, which is not a bad thing at all.

I have used the Home Speaker 300 in the past and one of the many things that I like about it is that it blends in its surroundings seamlessly. The Mi Smart Speaker is no different (like I said, a good thing). Its small, its light and its elliptical design is a perfect fit for any home.

Performance

Coming to the sound, the Mi Smart Speaker is a power performer. It produces a powerful sound that leans towards the bass-side of things. Its strong and it packs a punch, just the way I like it.

Mi Smart Speaker (HT Tech)

But its not all rainbows and sunshine. While this smart speaker is loud and punchy, it tends to miss out on clarity, especially when playing music at volume above 70%. At slightly lower volume, say between 40-50%, the clarity does get better. I also played softer songs like Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol and My Baby Loves Lovin by White Plains and Photograph by Ed Sheeran and I could feel that there was something amiss, especially at higher volume levels.

But this is not a thing that I would fret about keeping in view the amount that the Mi Smart Speaker is asking for. But what it lacks in clarity, it makes up for in loudness.

The Xiaomi smart speaker is loud, like really loud. At 20% volume it is loud enough that you can hear music in your room with clarity and at around 80% volume, you can hear it sing across a large 3BHK apartment clearly. Suffice to say that this smart speaker is capable of being the life of a small get-together in your home with ease.

Talking about the smart side of things, the Mi Smart Speaker, as I had mentioned before, is powered by Google Assistant, which means that you can ask Google to do everything from checking your calendar entry to giving you daily news updates to calling your friends and family via Duo to controlling your connected smart home devices. All these features work mostly fine without any hiccups. The only caveat is the time when you are listening to music at top volume levels and you suddenly ask Google to perform a task.

The Mi Smart Speaker, unlike its cousins from Google (Nest Mini) and Amazon (Echo Dot 4th gen) which come with three and four far-field mics respectively, comes with two far-field mics. This might put it at a slight back-footing compared to the budget smart speakers by Google and Amazon sometimes. During my time with it, sometimes, not often, but sometimes, the Google Assistant failed to respond to my requests from a distance when the volume was too high, something it did easily when it was a bit lower.

Apart from this, I also tried pairing this tiny smart speaker with a smart TV to see how well the Chromecast functionality worked. Admittedly, the Mi Smart Speaker gave me no hiccups at all.

Conclusion

Now, the most important question: Is the Mi Smart Speaker worth buying? Well, the answer to this is a simple one -- Yes, it is.

The Mi Smart Speaker offers a powerful, over-flowing sound that is hard to miss or ignore. It might not be an enchantress but it certainly is adept in getting a party started. Sound aside, the smart features also get a thumbs up. Be it controlling the smart devices or performing daily chores, the Mi Smart Speaker almost never misses a beat. The cherry on top of the cake is its simple design that seems to blend in any surrounds that you put it in. All in all, the Mi Smart Speaker is a great smart speaker, especially at a sub-5K price point.
In this Wednesday Dec. 30, 2020 file photo, Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks at a press conference in 10 Downing Street, London. Johnson has warned that more onerous lockdown restrictions in England are likely as the country reels from a new variant of the coronavirus that has seen infection rates soar to their highest recorded levels. The U.K. is in the midst of an acute outbreak, recording more than 50,000 new coronavirus infections a day over the past five days. (Heathcliff O'Malley/Pool via AP)

The U.S. ramped up COVID-19 vaccinations in the past few days after a slower-than-expected start, bringing the number of shots dispensed to about 4 million, government health officials said Sunday.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious-disease expert, also said on ABC's "This Week" that President-elect Joe Biden's pledge to administer 100 million shots of the vaccine within his first 100 days in office is achievable.

And he rejected President Donald Trump's false claim on Twitter that coronavirus deaths and cases in the U.S. have been greatly exaggerated.

"All you need to do ... is go into the trenches, go into the hospitals, go into the intensive care units and see what is happening. Those are real numbers, real people and real deaths," Fauci said on NBC's "Meet the Press."

The U.S. death toll has climbed past 350,000, the most of any country, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University, while more than 20 million people nationwide have been infected. States have reported record numbers of cases over the past few days, and funeral homes in Southern California are being inundated with bodies.

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said the pandemic is getting worse in his city as the virus spreads rapidly within households and people let their guard down with news of a vaccine's arrival. "This is a virus that preys off of our weakness, preys off of our exhaustion," he said on CBS' "Face the Nation."

Experts believe that the real numbers of U.S. deaths and infections are much higher and that many cases were overlooked, in part because of insufficient testing.

Fauci said he has seen "some little glimmer of hope" after 1.5 million doses were administered in the previous 72 hours, or an average of about 500,000 per day, a marked increase in vaccinations. He said that brings the total to about 4 million.

He acknowledged the U.S. fell short of its goal of having 20 million doses shipped and distributed by the end of December.

"There have been a couple of glitches. That's understandable," Fauci said. "We are not where we want to be, there's no doubt about that."

But he expressed optimism that the momentum will pick up by mid-January and that ultimately the U.S. will be vaccinating 1 million people a day. Biden's "goal of vaccinating 100 million people in the first 100 days is a realistic goal," Fauci said.

In this July 21, 2020, file photo, Darryl Hutchinson, facing camera, is hugged by a relative during a funeral service for Lydia Nunez, who was Hutchinson's cousin at the Metropolitan Baptist Church in Los Angeles. Nunez died from COVID-19. Southern California funeral homes are turning away bereaved families because they're running out of space for the bodies piling up during an unrelenting coronavirus surge. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File)

Dr. Moncef Slaoui, the chief science adviser to Operation Warp Speed, the government's vaccine development and distribution effort, told CBS that 17.5 million doses have been shipped. About 13 million of those have been distributed to clinics, hospitals and other places where they will be administered, according to Fauci.

The 20 million-dose goal hasn't been reached in part because local health departments and medical facilities had to stay focused on testing to handle a surge in cases, U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams said. And the holiday season meant health workers were taking time off, he said.

"I don't want anyone to think I'm being Pollyannish here. There's what we delivered, and we hope that those will be translated into vaccinations. That has not occurred to the way that we would like," Adams said on CNN's "State of the Union."

On Sunday morning, Trump falsely tweeted that the outbreak has been "far exaggerated" because of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's "ridiculous" methodology. He complained, too, that Fauci has been credited by the news media with doing "an incredible job" when Fauci "works for me and the Trump Administration, and I am in no way given any credit for my work."

Fauci and others are warning that an additional surge is likely because of holiday gatherings and the cold weather keeping people indoors.

"It could and likely will get worse in the next couple of weeks, or at least maintain this very terribly high level of infections and deaths that we're seeing," Fauci said.

Arizona on Sunday reported a one-day record of more than 17,200 new cases, eclipsing the previous mark of about 12,000 set in early December. Health officials said the jump appears to reflect infections from Christmas gatherings but was also probably inflated by a reporting lag over New Year's weekend.

North Carolina and Texas reported record numbers of people in the hospital with COVID-19nearly 3,600 and over 12,500, respectively..

Overseas, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said more onerous lockdown restrictions in England are likely as a variant of the coronavirus has pushed infection rates to their highest levels on record. More than 50,000 new infections have been reported daily over the past six days.

Scientists have said the variant is up to 70% more contagious. While Fauci said the U.S. needs to do its own study, he noted that British researchers believe that the mutated version is no deadlier or more likely to make people sicker and that vaccines are effective against it.

But Scott Gottlieb, a former U.S. Food and Drug Administration commissioner who serves on the board of vaccine maker Pfizer, said on "Face the Nation" that the variant "really creates more urgency around trying to get this vaccine out more quickly and get more people vaccinated."

Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Here in Switzerland, your correspondent likes to say that the sign of a Great Power is that its internal affairs take precedence over foreign policy considerations.

By this standard (and some others), America is certainly such a power. One might add that prioritizing local matters over world politics is paired with a neglect of world affairs about which general ignorance prevails.

Abroad, especially in Europe, Americas economic weight is generally recognized, but her foreign policy is not taken seriously. Where this applies, the U.S. is belittled as a hulk with much muscle and little brain.

On the whole, the prejudice of inborn superiority betrays a somewhat surprising condition. Facetiously put, it is that here in Europe, the public has not yet become fully aware of a development that commenced when the U.S.A. entered World War I.

That decisive intervention of a committed neutral determined who the victor would be. It also revolutionized global affairs. Americas growing might has shifted; a remote observer became an active participant. Since then, the reluctant newcomer could not avoid involvement in the contests by which Europes and Asias states attempted to assert their real or fantasied interests.

All along, the U.S.A. has been a rather unusual Great Power. This is so even if the culturally related Continent is inclined to project its own ways and goals on its remote relation. That inclination reflects errors in the thinking within the Transatlantic Alliance. Indeed, Americas partners like to view their ally as a larger and uncouth offshoot of themselves that shares their craving for power. By this thinking, quantity is on the side of the Americans but quality, savoir vivre, and culture are a European domain. That way, it is possible to use the big guy as a bodyguard without impairing the proper relationship between the brain and the knuckles.

Scores of Europeans, especially the liberal Left, see America as striving for global domination and as inclined to use its hedonistic way of life as an imposed article of export. This depicts American imperialism as a beneficiary of the weakness of others. In the light of that, a counter-balancing response seems needed.

One would be an effort to make Europe the power factor that it should be on account of its population and economic advantages. After decades of dependence of the for-free American protection, that project gets blocked by the required effort. Also, with the EU-exit of Britain, only France or Germany could take the lead. Becoming subjected to the de facto rule of either is an unattractive prospect. Especially for the suspicious central Europeans who have only recently regained their independence from Moscow. Some of these already see the EU as another organization that legalizes tutelage over lesser peoples.

With the end of the Trump era, Americas internal turbulence will bring with it a new era of the alliance she heads.

The coming Biden-Harris era will remove much of what pains the partnerships left-liberal-run entities. With Washington in the lead, tremor-free decline will be enjoyed and the dream will prevail that such a condition can be endlessly extended. Even a coalition that applies its skills to give gradual surrender a dignified wrapping will not avoid challenges. However, it will defang its consequences by excluding the option of resistance so as to avoid the risks and sacrifices that action implies.

This method of crisis management will silence some of the objections of decadent allies that wish to moderate what they see as the Wild West diplomacy of their activist protector. Americas shrinking role will even be greeted as statesmanship.

Some of the approval will come from those who have not noticed that the era of the traditional great powers (France, Germany, Britain, Japan, Austria) has ended a century ago. This crowd ignores that, although American somnolence might increase their influence, there will be a price. Ultimately, in the era of superpowers, the security and survival of Europe and its parts depends on the resented natural protectors might. That potency is more than size and armament.

Power is customarily measured by quantifiable factors, such as the size of the territory, population, resources. Additionally, recalling Stalins ill-conceived question regarding the Vaticans might, the number of divisions might be added. Such material criteria are easy to add up.

However, power has a further component. It has to do with the mindset of those that dispose over it. This will be contingent on the system and the prevailing definition of the national interest. There are legal as well as psychological barriers that limit, enhance or exclude the pursuit of certain goals. A political culture that is inclined to attribute conflicts to its own mistakes, one that confuses compromise and capitulation, will score lower than a community that is persuaded of the rightness of its cause.

America is a hesitant country. It looks for faults within herself and enjoys self-flagellation. Her political culture explains why she has not made use of her nuclear monopoly after World War II. Never has a state had as much global power as possessed then by the U.S. And hardly has power been used with more inhibition than between 1945-1949. The explanation lies in the restrains that Americas system imposes on her modus operandi.

One American weakness is that she craves to be loved abroad. Machiavelli would have a revealing reaction to the advantages of being liked, respected, or feared. The wish to be liked by her haters leads to actions that appear to express the weakness of her convictions or naivete. Some more and measured America First - a natural goal of good governance - would bring more and better results. The more so since in the countries she has helped most is she liked least. This is not as illogical or unfair as it sounds. Help suggests dependency. A state cannot afford not to appear to be sovereign. In 1849 an Austrian premier had his state saved from a revolution of the Hungarians by a Russian intervention. Minister-President Prince Felix of Schwarzenberg commented: The world will be surprised by our ingratitude. De Gaulle applied the same logic after 1945.

Some myths that are especially attractive to Liberals need to be dispelled.

(1) In the countries the U.S. has helped most, she is not liked. It is so precisely in response to this aid. Being liked is a nice bonus but respect is more fundamental.

(2) America has national interests and these should be clearly and predictably formulated and asserted.

(3) The aggression of hostile extremist regimes must be resolutely opposed. The argument that resistance undermines the liberals on the other side is toothless. Wanting to oppose aggression that is limited to the means the aggressor approves is nonsense. So is to believe that counter-measures are to be avoided as they might be insulting. To think that holding back will encourage moderation, is foolish. All this achieves is not restraint but only a damaging excuse to justify inaction.

(4) Become cognizant that if a system vows to destroy you it should be believed. Admit that some foes cannot be converted into friends by cuddling them.

(5) What appears to be a demonstration of good will and restraint in a democracy is read as indecisive weakness by dictators. Therefore, appeasement does not appease but it incites contemptuous aggression.

(6) Do not let American support appear to be unconditional. An ally that wishes the kind of protective action he is unwilling to take in his own behalf is not an ally but a security risk. Applying this as well as the foregoing points does not result in international isolation, because:

(7) There are numerous countries out there that are willing to pull their weight to help themselves. These can make a partnership into an instrument of protective mutual self-help.

(8) If this is true, then the system of alliances needs to be reviewed, renewed, and partially re-based.

Such a revision of the system that is often a one-sided security risk to the U.S.A., is unlikely in the coming presidential term. Thereafter, something already suggested by the departing presidents praxis, will need to be undertaken. Even America cannot afford to cling to the current state of affairs.

Image credit: Franz Schrotzberg, via Wikipedia / public domain
The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory for seven counties in northern New Jersey ahead of a coastal storm that is expected to deliver a mix of light snow, sleet and rain to the region on Sunday.

The advisory goes into effect 9 a.m. Sunday and lasts through 1 a.m. Monday in Hunterdon, Morris, Somerset, Sussex and Warren counties, where the weather service says driving conditions could become dangerous due to slick roads.

A winter weather advisory has also been issued in Passaic County and western Bergen County, effective from 9 a.m. Sunday through midnight.

Enjoy the nice weather today as another coastal low will impact the region tomorrow with snow across the higher elevations and a soaking rain across the I-95 Corridor eastward. #PAwx #NJwx #MDwx #DEwx pic.twitter.com/SPNGOnxok0  NWS Mount Holly (@NWS_MountHolly) January 2, 2021

Heres what forecasters from the National Weather Service are expecting in different regions of the state:

Sussex County: Mixed precipitation, with total snow accumulations of 1 to 3 inches and a light glaze of ice. Forecasters say the Sussex area could get sleet before 10 a.m. Sunday, then snow and sleet is likely between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m., followed by snow after 11 a.m.

Hunterdon, Morris, Somerset and Warren counties: Precipitation may start as a mixture of freezing rain and sleet Sunday morning before changing to mostly rain Sunday afternoon. A brief transition to snow is possible Sunday night before the system exits the region, the advisory says. Forecasters say these areas of the state could end up with up to 1 inch of snow, along with a light glaze of ice.

Bergen County: One to three inches of snow is expected in western sections of Bergen County, with the highest accumulations in hilly areas and near the Interstate 287 and Route 23 corridors.

Passaic County: Forecasters are calling for 2 to 4 inches of snow in the western region of Passaic County and 1 to 3 inches of snow in eastern Passaic from Sunday afternoon into Sunday night.

Forecasters say a light coating of ice could make driving conditions dangerous in some parts of New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania on Sunday, Jan. 3.National Weather Service

Other areas of northern New Jersey, including Essex, Hudson and Union counties, are expected to get mostly rain, but some sleet and freezing rain could mix in Sunday morning, when temperatures will be near the freezing mark, forecasters said.

In Central New Jersey, theres also a chance of some freezing rain in the morning in Mercer and Middlesex counties, before the precipitation changes to all rain.

All rain is expected in Monmouth, Ocean and South Jersey.

Forecasters are calling for light snow, with a possible coating of ice, in northern New Jersey on Sunday, Jan. 3.National Weather Service

Forecasters are calling for light snow, with a possible coating of ice, in northern New Jersey on Sunday, Jan. 3.National Weather Service

Current weather radar

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In Washington on Saturday, after 11 Republican senators and senators-elect said that when the House and Senate meet in Congress next week, they will vote to reject President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr.'s win, Vice President Mike Pence indicated backing the attempt to upend the election.

The senator's announcement and VP's move to endorse it reflected an expression among Republicans to defy the clear-cut presidential election results. After verifying the accuracy and strictly following post-election audits or hand counts, every state in the country has certified the election results. Also, across the country, Judges and the Supreme Court with a conservative majority, have rejected close to 60 attempts by Republicans and their allies to challenge the results.

However, neither Mr. Pence nor any of the senators said they would vote to nullify election results have made a specific fraud allegation. Instead, they offer suggestions that some unlawful activity might have happened and that many of their supporters believe that there was.

The GOP senators' opposition to certifying Mr. Biden's election triumph will not change the election outcome. Still, it assures that on Wednesday at Capitol Hill. There won't be a regular perfunctory session to ratify the presidential election results instead of a partisan brawl. Republicans intensify debunked and dismissed claims of widespread election chains.

It may bring or set a caustic backdrop for Mr. Biden's inauguration in the coming weeks and replicate polarized politics on Capitol Hill that will be among Mr. Biden's most significant challenges.

While for Republicans, it can pose as a political dilemma which may force them to choose between accepting democratic election results, even if it can anger their followers who dislike the outcome and could punish them at the polls, and joining their colleagues in revealing undaunted loyalty to Mr. Trump, and his presidency.

As President of the Senate, tasked to preside over Wednesday's proceedings and declare Mr. Biden as the new President, the puzzle piece is in Mr. Pence's hands. Still, any wrong move and his future political aspirations will be jeopardized. A lawsuit brought by House Republicans was dismissed on Friday by a federal judge, which pressured Mr. Pence to do otherwise, and instead, one-sidedly overturned the results.

But his chief of staff, Marc Short, on Saturday evening, issued a statement, saying the Vice President "shares the concerns of millions of Americans about voter fraud and irregularities in the last election."

The statement continued, "Welcomes the efforts of members of the House and Senate to use the authority they have under the law to raise objections and bring forward evidence before the Congress and the American people on Jan. 6th."

Also, in a joint statement on Saturday, the 11 Senate Republicans called for a 10-day election returns audit in "disputed states," They did not elaborate on which states. They said they would vote to reject the electors from those states until one was concluded.

Senator Ted Cruz of Texas led group includes Senators Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, Steve Daines of Montana, James Lankford of Oklahoma, John Kennedy of Louisiana, and Mike Braun of Indiana, and Senators-elect Bill Hagerty of Tennessee, Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming, Roger Marshall of Kansas, and Tommy Tuberville of Alabama.

READ MORE: Hong Kong Activists Face Up to Three Years Jail Time in China Following Attempt to Flee to Taiwan via Boat



@ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Pennsylvania, get ready to get your culture on.

Museums across the state are reopening starting on Jan. 4, thanks to the lifting of coronavirus restrictions put into place by Governor Tom Wolf. When they reopen, though, dont expect it to be like 2019 all over again. There will still be some precautions -- limited capacity, the encouragement of social distancing and a requirement to wear masks.

The main exception is Philadelphia, where museums are still waiting to get the go-ahead to reopen from the city, which has more restrictions than the state.

Closing down for three weeks was a challenge, in the words of Jill Manley, senior communications director for the M.S. Hershey Foundation which operates The Hershey Story museum in downtown Hershey.

It has been a struggle, she said, regarding dealing with the pandemic. But we have scaled back expenses dramatically and well come back next year stronger than ever.

READ MORE: Pa. business leaders grateful for lifting of stricter COVID-19 mitigation orders but wonder how long it will last

Museums across the country have been struggling since lockdowns began in March, with the American Alliance of Museums noting that 30 percent of museums have yet to reopen, and those that have have spent an average of $30,000 to meet safety guidelines.

Museums have also had to drastically reduce their staff, with an estimated 30 percent of workers being laid off according to the American Alliance of Museums.

But community support has been strong, especially for the Susquehanna Art Museum. Executive director Alice Anne Schwab said the museum had been lucky to get government grants and receive generous donations to help them navigate this tough time.

People recognize the real challenges museums face, she said. I have to believe people dont want to see museums close.

Reopening brings its own questions, according to Rusty Baker, executive director of PA Museums. The museums may open, but will people feel safe enough to visit?

Ultimately, the public will make decisions about whether they trust museums to have a safe environment for them to return to, Baker said. So its important for museums to comply with cleaning protocols and whatever recommendations there are regarding capacity.

READ MORE: Two Pa. casinos ready to roll; other businesses not planning to reopen despite Gov. Wolfs announcement

Even if visitors dont come out, museums will likely keep up their robust virtual programming.

Depending on peoples appetite for online content in the future, museums have positioned themselves to be prepared to give people a choice to do something for real or on a screen, Baker said.

But for now, museums are just ready to welcome guests back.

Heres when 17 museums are slated to reopen in January 2021:

The Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh. Julia Hatmaker | jhatmaker@pennlive.com

ALLEGHENY COUNTY

The Andy Warhol Museum

Opens Jan. 4

Explore several floors worth of art by the Pittsburgh native, as well as archival materials.

DETAILS: The Andy Warhol Museum at 117 Sandusky St., Pittsburgh. Cost: $20 adults, $10 children and seniors (65+), free for children under 3. Warhol.org; 412-237-8300.

Carnegie Museum of Art

Opens Jan. 4

Youll find work by Van Gogh, Monet and more, as well furniture and decorative arts by Tiffany, Peter Voulkos and Ron Arad.

DETAILS: Carnegie Museum of Art, 4400 Forbes Ave., Pittsburgh. Cost: $19.95 adults, $14.95 seniors (65+), 11.95 for children (3-18) and students with ID, free for children (2 and under). cmoa.org.

Carnegie Museum of Natural History

Opens Jan. 4

Learn all about dinosaurs, minerals and animals at this gem of a natural history museum in Pittsburgh.

DETAILS: Carnegie Museum of Natural History, 4400 Forbes Ave., Pittsburgh. Cost: $19.95 adults, $14.95 seniors, $11.95 children (ages 3-18) and free for children 2 and younger. Carnegiemnh.org; 412-622-3131.

Carnegie Science Center

Opens Jan. 4

Mummies of the World: The Exhibition will be the star of the Carnegie Science Center, which will host the temporary exhibit through Jan. 18.

DETAILS: Carnegie Science Center, 1 Allegheny Ave., Pittsburgh. Cost: $19.95 adults, $14.95 seniors (65+), $11.95 children, free for children under 3. carnegiesciencecenter.org; 412-237-3400.

Fort Pitt Museum

Opens Jan. 9

Fort Pitt has played a valuable role in military history in America, including the French and Indian War and American Revolution. This museum tells its story.

DETAILS: Fort Pitt Museum, 601 Commonwealth Place, Pittsburgh. Cost: $8 adults, $7 seniors (ages 62 and older), $4.50 students and free for children (ages 5 and under). heinzhistorycenter.org/fort-pitt; 412-281-9284.

Heinz History Center

Opens Jan. 9

This history museum takes you through Pittsburghs past and is the home to a large collection of artifacts from Mister Rogers Neighborhood and the Heinz company.

DETAILS: Heinz History Center, 1212 Smallman St., Pittsburgh. Cost: $18 adults, $15 seniors (ages 62 and older), $9 students and free for children (up to age 17). heinzhistorycenter.org; 412-454-6000.

BERKS COUNTY

Boyertown Museum of Historic Vehicles

Opens Jan. 4

Youll find horse-drawn carriages, early automobiles and more at this historical tour of transportation vehicles.

DETAILS: Boyertown Museum of Historic Vehicles, 85 S. Walnut St., Boyertown. Cost: $10 adults, $9 seniors (60+), free for children under 15. Boyertownmuseum.org; 610-367-2090.

Reading Public Museum

Opens Jan. 4

Stop by the Reading Public Museum to see antiques and artifacts from around the world, including an Egyptian mummy, dinosaur bones and Mayan relics.

DETAILS: Reading Public Museum at 500 Museum Road, Reading. Cost: $10 adults, $6 seniors (65+), children (age 4-17) and college students with ID, free for children 3 and younger. readingpublicmuseum.org; 610-371-5850.

Fonthill Castle, in Doylestown, was built between 1908 and 1912, by archaeologist and tilemaker Henry Chapman Mercer, who also designed it. Julia Hatmaker, jhatmaker@pennlive.comHAR

BUCKS COUNTY

Fonthill Castle

Opens Jan. 9

An eclectic castle built by Henry Mercer and filled with 44 different rooms.

DETAILS: Fonthill Castle at East Court St. and Route 313, Doylestown. Cost: $15 adults, $13 seniors (ages 65 and up), $8 youth (6-17), free for children 5 and younger. mercermuseum.org; 215-348-9461.

Mercer Museum

Opens Jan. 4

A collection of objects chronicling everyday life in America before the advent of the industrial age.

DETAILS: Mercer Museum at 84 S. Pine St., Doylestown. Cost: $15 adults, $13 seniors (ages 65 and up), $8 youth (6-17), free for children 5 and younger. mercermuseum.org; 215-345-0210.

BUTLER COUNTY

Maridon Museum

Opens Jan. 6

This western Pennsylvania museum is dedicated to Asian art and German Meissen porcelain.

DETAILS: The Maridon Museum, 322 N. McKean St., Butler. Cost: $4 adults, $3 seniors and students, free for children under 8 years old. maridon.org; 724-282-0123.

The exterior of the new Susquehanna Art Museum. Friday January 9th 2014. Daniel Zampogna, PennliveDaniel Zampogna, Pennlive

DAUPHIN COUNTY

AACA Museum

Opens Jan. 4

Explore the history of automobiles and transportation at this museum, which has a vast collection including minibikes, the Kissmobile Cruiser, and cars dating back to 1904.

DETAILS: 161 Museum Drive, Hershey. Cost: $12.50 adults, $11.50 seniors (ages 61 and up), $9.50 children (ages 4-12), free for children 3 and younger. Aacamuseum.org; 717-566-7100.

Art Association of Harrisburg

Opens Jan. 4

The art museum will reopen with the Observations and Experiences exhibition, which has been extended through Feb. 18. The exhibit showcases the work of Maureen Joyce, Carden Holland, Julie Riker and Peg Belcastro.

DETAILS: Art Association of Harrisburg at 21 N. Front St., Harrisburg. artassocofhbg.com; 717-236-1432.

The Hershey Story

Opens Jan. 4

Learn how Milton Hershey went from a failed entrepreneur to the biggest name in chocolate at this museum.

DETAILS: The Hershey Story, 63 W. Chocolate Ave., Hershey. Cost: $13.50 adults, $12 seniors (62+), $9.50 juniors (ages 3-12). hersheystory.org; 717-534-8939.

Susquehanna Art Museum

Opens Jan. 12

This Harrisburg museum of art is excited to reopen to show off two exhibitions that have been extended. Theres The Modernists: Witnesses to the 20th Century, which showcases the work of artists who witnessed and participated in World War I and World War II. The exhibit has been extended through May 16. The second exhibit is Sun + Light in the Lobby Gallery, which showcases the work of Charles Edward Williams, who documented the 1960s Civil Rights movement and activists from then to today. That exhibit has been extended through April 11.

DETAILS: 1401 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg. Cost: $8 adults, $5 military, students and seniors (62 and older), free for children 12 and under. susquehannaartmuseum.org; 717-233-8668.

DELAWARE COUNTY

Brandywine River Museum of Art

Opens Jan. 4

This art museum will reopen with the Ann Wyeth McCoy dollhouse display exhibit.

DETAILS: Brandywine River Museum of Art at 1 Hoffmans Mill Road, Chadds Ford. Cost: $18 adults, $15 seniors (ages 65 and up), $6 students, free for children 5 and younger. Brandywine.org; 610-388-2700.

The Allentown Art Museum at dusk. Photo by Matt Wargo.

LEHIGH COUNTY

Allentown Art Museum

Opens Jan. 8

The art museum is ready to reopen and excited to host the Rembrandt Revealed exhibit starting on Jan. 23 for members and Jan. 24 for the general public.

DETAILS: Allentown Art Museum, 31 N. 5th St., Allentown. Cost: allentownartmuseum.org; 610-432-4333.
In an effort to empower the differently-abled community, a restaurant in Meerut has opened, wherein all the food, right from the cooking process till it reaches the hands of the customers, is taken care of by them.

Amit Kumar Sharma, one of the founders of the restaurant Pandit Jis Kitchen and Delivery Point, said that the aim of the initiative is to empower the differently-abled community in their area and give them the opportunity to earn a living.

When the pandemic struck, we were unemployed so we decided to open up this restaurant. I felt that we should employ differently-abled people to empower them. Two differently-abled women cook the food and five differently-abled men do the delivery by scooter. We have not faced any difficulties, Sharma told ANI.

Gautam, another founder of the restaurant said that they were refraining from using food delivery apps as they did not want to dilute the mission they had opened the restaurant with.

We are still in the initial stage of the business and are establishing the restaurant. Our main aim of going into this new venture was to provide a platform for the differently-abled so that they can be self-sufficient and empowered. We do not want to tie up with food delivery apps as it could lead us away from our main mission, he told ANI.

The employees also seemed happy with this new venture.

We are tired of people looking at us with pity. This restaurant has helped us become self-sufficient, and we depend only on ourselves. We also want to do something, be someone. I am grateful to have such an opportunity, an employee said.

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.

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Holiday Heroes Blood Drive Exceeds Goal

By West Kentucky Star Staff

PADUCAH - Paducah's Holiday Heroes blood drive was deemed a success after it collected 195 units during the four-day event over the New Years holiday weekend at Concord United Methodist Church.The total exceeded their goal by 35 units.Red Cross donor recruitment manager Anthony Tinin thanked the public for its outstanding support, and reminds anyone who still wishes to donate to call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE to find another blood drive near you.You can also enable the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device to make an appointment.On the Net:
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Anyone hoping for $2,000 coronavirus relief payouts didn't get what they wanted from the 116th Congress, but seaport operators around the country are happy with most of the legislation that's been passed in recent weeks, according to a year-end report by the American Association of Port Authorities.

The trade group said it is "pleased that many port-related programs championed by AAPA and its members are included" in year-end spending bills.

That includes a new Water Resources Development Act that authorizes nearly $10 billion in federal funds for 46 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers flood control, wetlands restoration, coastal protection and other projects. None of the projects is in South Carolina, and the $558 million Charleston Harbor deepening was previously fully funded.

The act also unlocks an additional $2 billion a year in spending from the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund for operation and upkeep of federal navigation channels. The fund gets its money from a tax that's levied on cruise passengers, imports and some domestic cargo.

Funding from the Omnibus appropriations bill President Donald Trump signed include:

$2 billion to be split evenly between BUILD grants that can be used for port infrastructure development and INFRA grants that pay for transportation-related projects;

grants that can be used for port infrastructure development and grants that pay for transportation-related projects; $230 million for the Port Infrastructure Development Program that helps pay for gate improvements, road and rail improvements within and connecting to ports, berth improvements and cargo operations improvements.

that helps pay for gate improvements, road and rail improvements within and connecting to ports, berth improvements and cargo operations improvements. $375 million for the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements Program to expand rail capacity; and

to expand rail capacity; and $104 million to hire more Customs and Border Protection officers and agriculture experts.

Barbara Melvin, chief operations officer for the S.C. State Ports Authority, said the agency plans to review the latest spending bills to see if there are opportunities for the Port of Charleston.

The SPA received a $25 million BUILD grant in 2018 to help pay for an expansion of its Inland Port Greer and a $21.7 million BUILD grant in September to install infrastructure at the Ridgeville Commerce Park, where retail giant Walmart is building a massive distribution center to handle imported merchandise.

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"There was an expansion of port infrastructure grants (in the Omnibus legislation) and we've had some recent successes there and we'll continue those efforts," Melvin said. "It's good of us to pursue every avenue for funding that we can to try to improve, not just the port infrastructure itself but the related inland infrastructure necessary to keep all of these goods flowing very smoothly."

XC90 debut delay

It was expected to be one of the biggest Charleston-area business stories of 2021, but the addition of the XC90 SUV at Volvo Cars' manufacturing campus in Ridgeville is being delayed.

Company spokeswoman Stephanie Mangini said the start of XC90 production will be in early 2023. Meanwhile, planning and construction to support the new vehicle will kick off during the first quarter of 2021.

Volvo continues to produce S60 sedans for the U.S. and some foreign markets at the $1.1 billion factory off U.S. Interstate 26.

The XC90 delay is being blamed on the volatile relationship between Trump and China, one of Volvo's top markets. The automaker had planned to export S60s to Asia through the Port of Charleston, but retaliatory tariffs placed on U.S.-made autos forced Volvo to build the sedans at an existing plants in China.

S60 sales have also lagged, Volvo CEO Hakan Samuelsson told Bloomberg in September, and the coronavirus pandemic shut down the Ridgeville factory for several weeks last year.

Despite the setbacks, a surge in U.S. sales of SUVs like the XC90 has Volvo on track to equal or better last year's sales total if only by a slim margin. Through November, the carmaker sold 95,885 vehicles in the U.S., compared to 95,874 through the same period a year ago.
Incredibly, The New York Times reported that 1,300 books have been written about Donald Trump and more are coming.

No one has totaled not only the books written about Pope Francis but also those by him, but it must rival or surpass Trumps total. For sure, they are more edifying than those about Trump, and the latest by Francis offer a prescription for a better future, especially Let Us Dream.

Subtitled The Path to a Better Future, it helps us navigate through the COVID pandemic, especially as it has made conditions worse for the poor. The foundational principle for reading the signs of the times is the Ignatian principle of discernment.

"Let Us Dream: The Path to a Better Future''

Discernment means to think through our decisions and actions, not just by rational calculation but by listening for His Spirit, recognizing in prayer Gods motives, invitations and will, wrote Francis, the first Jesuit to become pope. (St. Ignatius Loyola founded the Society of Jesus, commonly known as Jesuits.)

One process Francis follows is to embrace what he calls contradictory truths  and eventually come to see the greater truth that lies beyond us.

Francis challenges the institutional church to reconnect with the real lives of people and not use dogma and teachings as a hammer. These polarizations not only in church but also society call for a new kind of politics rooted in service of society and the common good.

He quotes Gustav Mahler to write that tradition is not the repository of ashes but the preservation of fire. While Francis does not reject church tradition, he believes it has driven a wedge between the church and Catholics who might find themselves outside official church teaching. He advocates for a way to view tradition that can mold a new way of thinking and doing.

Francis describes three periods in his life as his personal COVIDs: an illness more than 40 years ago and living in Germany and later at Cordoba in Argentina. The first refers to when part of his lung was removed in 1957 and two nurses, one a nun, drew on their experience to save his life. Second, after he was provincial of the Argentinian Jesuits, when he was in his late 30s, he voluntarily moved to Germany for one year and pined for South America. The third was when he was banished by his Jesuit superiors for his authoritarian provincial regime and sent to Cordoba.

The COVID of Cordoba was a real purification,' he wrote. It gave me greater tolerance, understanding, the ability to forgive, and a fresh empathy for the powerless.

It also enabled him to tap into the popular movements of Catholics, which he later described as a turning point in his life and one that prefigured his papacys priorities.

"Letters of Tribulation"

His second new book, Letters of Tribulation, recounts how past Jesuit Superiors General dealt with setbacks leading up to the papal suppression of the Jesuits in 1783 until 1814. He uses those lessons to analyze how the church can recover from the clerical abuse scandals.

For him, Chile became a prototype.

First, Francis refused to believe a bishop he appointed was guilty of failing to remove abusive priests. Then, after sending a delegate to listen to the people and victims, he did a 360 and called all the Chilean bishops to Rome for a four-day summit in 2018, after which all offered their resignations. He eventually accepted several.

This can be called synodality, a process of walking along and discerning what to do through prayer, dialogue and listening.

Recently, the German bishops began a two-year synod and the president of their conference, Limburg Bishop Georg Batzing, called for changes in the church. He called for changing church teaching on homosexuality, church blessings for couples who cannot marry in the Catholic church, and ordaining women deacons and priests.

In his new book, Francis might not agree with the last where he writes about womens leadership skills. He writes that women have been better leaders than men, especially during the pandemic, and that hes been concerned with how better to integrate the presence and sensibility of women into the Vaticans decision-making processes.

But even though he has made some high-level women appointments, he drew the line on ordaining women.

Catholics believe the pope to be the vicar of Christ on earth so he acts the way Jesus would if he were with us. Francis has radicalized the papacy and fits the description that Peter Wehner wrote in The New York Times this past Christmas in his article The forgotten radicalism of Jesus Christ.

Wehner concluded: Jesus understood that what ultimately changes peoples lives are relationships rather than rule books, mercy rather than moral demands.

A perfect way to describe Francis.

The Rev. Alexander Santora is the pastor of Our Lady of Grace and St. Joseph, 400 Willow Ave., Hoboken, NJ 07030. Email: padrealex@yahoo.com; Twitter: @padrehoboken.

Details ...

Letters of Tribulation, by Pope Francis; Orbis Books; $20.

Let Us Dream: The Path to a Better Future, by Pope Francis; Simon & Schuster; $26.
Health workers, including paramedics, doctors, and police personnel will be administered a COVID-19 vaccine on priority in Maharashtra, state Home Minister Anil Deshmukh said on Sunday and added the government will take steps to prevent black marketing of the vaccines.

He said the people aged over 60 years and those above 60 years with the existing comorbidies will be the second priority group for vaccination in the state.

Deshmukh's remarks came on a day when the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) approved Oxford COVID-19 vaccine Covishield, manufactured by the Serum Institute, and indigenously developed Covaxin of Bharat Biotech for restricted emergency use in the country, paving the way for a massive inoculation drive.

"The state government has decided to vaccinate health workers, including doctors, nurses and paramedics on priority along with the police personnel," Deshmukh told reporters.

Later, the people over the age of 60 as well as those above 60 with the existing comorbidities will be vaccinated, he said.

"Police will also ensure that there is no blackmarketing of COVID-19 vaccines," Deshmukh added.
Covid-19 pandemic overshadowed the one-year term of Raj Bala Malik as the Chandigarh mayor, which ends on January 8. It gave her little chance to prove her mettle.

However, her tenure started on a solid note. Unlike 2019, when a rebel candidate fought against the BJP nominee, this time around the party stood united behind her.

Next came, the ending of the decade-old logjam over the Japyee waste processing plant, as the MC finally decided to take it over.

But, March onwards, pandemic woes hit the MC. Lockdown, spending cuts and revenue loss put Maliks working style under the scanner, particularly her ability to arrange additional funds from the UT administration. In the coming months, her relationship with the party soured. She came under severe criticism for poor condition of the city roads, water tariff hike and sanitation workers strike.

At personal front, Malik tested positive for Covid-19 and had to be hospitalised.

Weakened within party, targeted by public, oppn

After the pandemic, all MC General House meets went virtual. In October, BJP councillors, led by the partys state chief Arun Sood, demanded a physical meet. Malik had just been discharged from the PGIMER, and going against the party, she again called a virtual meeting. In response, all BJP councillors, except one, boycotted it.

There was simmering tension between Malik and Sood. At a time when BJP leaders were publicly criticising MC officials, including the commissioner, Malik was considered to be giving more heed to their advice over her own party decisions, said a party insider, requesting anonymity.

Right on cue, Congress and resident welfare associations also started gunning for the mayor, holding her responsible for the hike of nearly 200% in water tariff. At the same time, MC officials were advising her in favour of the hike, sounding alarm over 100 crore losses. In the end, Malik went with her party and a rollback was announced.

Meanwhile, despite having dedicated funds for road repair and maintenance, the works couldnt take off. First, the pandemic lockdown was attributed as the reason. Then, the monsoon was blamed, and thereafter, onset of winters became the culprit. Leader of opposition Devinder Singh Babla even labelled her as the, biggest failure among all citys mayors.

Things, finally, started looking up

In the last phase of Maliks term, the MC finally started the long-pending door-to-door collection of segregated waste, though teething problems persist.

The upgrade of five sewage treatment plants has also started, and material recovery stations started to come up. Several of the MCs integrated online services were launched, said Malik, defending her term.

Her fellow BJP councillor Maheshinder Singh Sidhu said: Despite the pandemic, many development works and pending infrastructure projects were started. Even though, at times, there were differences between MC officials and the party, Malik ensured that these differences were ironed out.

BOX

Report card

As Raj Bala Maliks one-year stint as the Chandigarh mayor nears end, HT looks at various highs and lows during her tenure

HIGHS

MC took over the waste processing plant and started its upgrade

Door-to-door collection of segregated waste kicked off

Several of the MCs integrated online services were launched

LOWS

Couldnt effectively manage differences between party and MC officials

Tenure plagued by water tariff hike row and sanitation workers strike

The condition of various roads in the city remained poor
The third stage of clinical trials has not been completed therefore the drug's use in Ukraine is impossible.

Deputy Health Minister Viktor Liashko has responded to an earlier statement by Vladimir Putin's main political operative in Ukraine, Viktor Medvedchuk, who claimed that the Russian COVID-19 vaccine candidate, Sputnik-V, had been filed for registration in Ukraine.

"Ukraine will only use vaccines that have successfully passed the third phase of clinical trials. Therefore, all rumors and political statements about the state registration of the Russian vaccine candidate in Ukraine do not correspond to reality," he stressed.

The global market is already offering vaccines approved for use through the emergency use authorization. For such type of authorization, interim clinical trial reports have been used

Read alsoCOVID-19 vaccines bought by government will be free for all Ukrainians"Based on this, Ukraine has decided on the possibility of authorizing vaccines registered in countries with a strict regulatory policy," he said.

According to the open-source data, the third phase of clinical trials of the Sputnik V vaccine is set to complete in December 2021.

Vaccines for Ukraine: Background

In March, the first batch with 8 million doses of a vaccine is expected to be shipped to Ukraine under the COVAX Facility. These doses are enough to vaccinate 4 million people, because one person needs two shots of the vaccine. Doctors, senior citizens, and seriously ill patients will get vaccinated first.

On December 24, Health Minister Maksym Stepanov said that his ministry was working out a plan to increase the vaccine quota as part of the COVAX global initiative from 8 million to 16 million doses.

On December 22, Ukraine's Health Ministry approved a plan for vaccination of the population against COVID-19. The goal of this plan is to vaccinate at least 50% of the population of Ukraine (20 million people) in 2021-2022.

On December 30, the Ukrainian Health Ministry signed a contract for the supply of China's Sinovac Biotech COVID-19 vaccine to Ukraine. The purchase provides for 1,913,316 doses at UAH 504 (US$18) per dose. China plans to obtain permission to use the vaccine inside the country and abroad in January next year, and the vaccine will also be submitted for retraining to the World Health Organization (WHO) in February 2021.

The contract for supplies to the territory of Ukraine has been signed with Lekhim JSC, which, according to official confirmations from Sinovac Biotech, is the only authorized representative of the vaccine manufacturer in Ukraine.

Under the terms of the contract, the first batch of 700,000 doses will be delivered to Ukraine within 30 days after official registration in China, or by one of the competent authorities of the United States, Great Britain, the Swiss Confederation, Japan, Australia, Canada, Israel, India, Mexico, Brazil, or under a centralized procedure by the competent authority of the European Union.

On December 31, Ukrainian Health Minister Maksym Stepanov and representatives of the British-Swedish pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca have discussed the deadlines and logistics of COVID-19 vaccine supplies to Ukraine.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said the Russian vaccine against COVID-19 is part of hybrid warfare against Ukraine.

Reporting by UNIAN
West Bengal Elections 2021: Adhikari mocks TMCs posters

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Kolkata, Jan 03: Mocking ruling TMC for its posters and banners in recent years carrying pictures of its supremo proclaiming projects and programmes, BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari Saturday said he looks forward to a Bengal where only pictures of icons will feature on them.

Adhikari, who did not name any person, was alluding to posters and banners having pictures of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee proclaiming the state's various development projects or ongoing state-organised festivals put up in the city and other parts of state in which she is described as the "Pride of Bengal".

He told a meeting in Purbo Medinipur district, "We will usher in a Bengal where banners before schools, colleges and other places will only have pictures of icons like Swami Vivekananda, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and Ranindranath Tagore and others describing them as Prides of Bengal".

Iterating he did not want to float a regional party when his relation soured with TMC, Mr Adhikari said there had been numerous instances of outfits like Bangla Congress having been floated in the past but none of these had lasted for long.

"I don't want to float a family driven party," said Mr Adhikari, who has been critical of Ms Banerjee's nephew and TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee.

He also mocked TMC putting up posters about the success in 100 days'' work at gram panchayats around the meeting venue. "After some time there will not be anyone to put up flag poles for TMC", he said in an obvious reference to the state polls in April-May.

Adhikari said, "TMC will cease to exist after May. There won't be any candidate whom the TMC can field in next panchayat polls", the BJP leader said.

Reacting to allegations about a deal between him and BJP top brass for his joining the saffron party, Mr Adhikari said, "The deal was to give good governance to Bengal, to hold regular SSC exams and ensure fair and regular recruitment, to see to it that the state government employees are not financially discriminated, to see the unemployed youth get job opportunities, to see that industries come up instead of only shops selling fritters."

He said the land policy of the TMC was the reason why no industries come up in West Bengal.

Alleging that there was surveillance and threat to political opponents of the state government, Mr Adhikari said it will cease when the model code of conduct comes into existence before the poll.

He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi believed in inclusive development and not in the development of a community. The TMC in contrast wanted to show that it is only concerned about development of one group of people.

Adhikari also criticised the TMC government for allegedly changing names of central projects and passing it off as state-sponsored projects.

Commenting on Mr Adhikari's statement, TMC Secretary General and minister Partha Chatterjee said they have no depth, nor substance.

"It is only meant for creating gimmicks. It will not cut much ice with the people of the state who hold Mamata Banerjee in high esteem," he added.

Around 1,000 TMC workers joined BJP at the meeting led by former Trinamool Zilla Parishad member Somnath Bhuniya.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Sunday, January 3, 2021, 9:06 [IST]
A 24-year-old man was found Saturday in a crashed vehicle with multiple gunshot wounds in Camden, authorities said.

Michael Giancola crashed his vehicle around 6 a.m. into a pole near the 1800 block of S. 6th Street, the Camden County Prosecutors Office said in a statement. The Collingswood resident was suffering from multiple gunshot wounds and was taken to an area hospital, where he was pronounced dead, the prosecutors office said.

No arrests have been made. Police are continuing to investigate the events that led up to the shooting, authorities said.

No additional information about the incident was immediately available.

Anyone with information that could help police is asked to call CCPO Det. Jose Rosado at 609-422-6291 or Camden County Police Det. Edward Gonzalez at 856-757-7042. Tips can also be emailed to ccpotips@ccprosecutor.org.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Joe Atmonavage may be reached at jatmonavage@njadvancemedia.com.

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By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 01/03/2021



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[ Spoiler Warning: This report contains spoilers about Brandon and Julia's relationship and if the couple has broken up or are still together and living in America].

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Did Brandon and Julia eventually call it quits on their relationship or is the couple still together now?

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Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade.

couple Brandon Gibbs and Julia Trubkina are trying to make their relationship work under the strict rules of Brandon's parents on Season 8 of , so what do spoilers reveal about Brandon and Julia's relationship and if they are still together and happy?Brandon, a 27-year-old pest-control technician who helps to run his parents' farm from Dinwiddie, VA, and Julia, a 26-year-old from Krasnodar City, Russia, are currently starring on the TLC's new season of .Brandon had never been in a serious relationship before meeting Julia.Brandon called himself "a late bloomer" and noted women were never really interested in him. Since Brandon's parents, Ron and Betty, were worried about his future in a romantic sense, they signed him up on a dating app for farmers."I had an adorable picture with you and mini-goat," Betty joked on the show.But Brandon said he never needed to use the dating app because he met Julia, a go-go dancer in clubs who also competes in beauty pageants and bodybuilding competitions.Brandon said he fell in love with Julia at first sight when they initially videchatted because she was "the most beautiful" girl he ever saw and he couldn't stop thinking about her."My first message to her was, 'You look like my future wife,' and that was six hours after meeting her on video chat," Brandon revealed. "From that point, we were on the phone every possible second we could be. After a few weeks, I flew over there to ask her to be my girlfriend."The couple then applied for a Tourist Visa so Julia could visit him in the United States but she was denied the visa because she had told the consulate that Brandon was her boyfriend and they replied by saying she needed a K-1 visa instead.Since Brandon couldn't stand the thought of living without Julia, after only five months and one visit in person, he invited her to join him in Iceland -- and that's where he proposed marriage to her.Brandon said Julia understood how important family is to him and so they both subsequently planned a trip to France so their families could meet. After applying for a K-1 visa, six months later, Julia was approved."At first, my parents weren't sure about Julia. They weren't sure if she wanted a Green Card or money," Brandon said.Ron and Betty thought Julia was a very nice girl, but they were still skeptical of her intentions. But Brandon had explained to Julia that he's not rich, and he said she "seemed okay about it."Brandon told Julia over videochat they needed to live with his parents to save some money because he had burned through their savings after paying for the both of them to go to Iceland as well as France. Brandon also paid for the K-1 visa, so he said he spent almost $10,000 in seven months.Julia was also out of work at the time, so he knew he needed to support her.Julia worried about living with Brandon's parents for too long, but he promised they'd leave at some point and not stay forever. Julia seemingly didn't like the idea of having Brandon's mother around all the time."My mother can be overbearing, which is why I kind of think they will butt heads and clash," Brandon explained in a confessional.Betty was apparently concerned about Julia's career as a dancer, saying she hoped she was never a prostitute, stripper or call-girl. Betty hoped Julia could embrace the farm and help out with chores that needed to be done.Given Julia is more of a city girl, however, Brandon acknowledged moving to a farm would be quite an adjustment for her."This is probably the first time in a relationship I've been this vulnerable," Brandon shared. "I don't know how sure I am that we're meant to be together, but I know how sure I am that I want to be with her."Brandon, however, had yet to tell Julia they were going to sleep in separate bedrooms while staying in his parents' house. Brandon also had a feeling he and Julia would stay with his parents for the whole 90 days due to his financial position.Brandon also had to deal with his parents nagging him about Julia getting on some type of birth control. Betty was afraid her son might get a surprise pregnancy he wasn't ready for.On the ride to picking Julia up at the airport, Betty called a gynecologist in attempt to book an appointment for Julia, but Brandon acknowledged this would be Julia's choice and Julia's choice alone.Brandon admitted he realized in France that Julia had the tendency to have mood swings, and he called her "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde." He had to go through a lot of hoops to be with Julia, and so he just wanted everything to go perfectly.Once at the airport, Julia ran into Brandon's arms and she called Brandon "perfect." She appeared ecstatic to be reunited with her long-distant love."I'm going to take a Green Card and stay here! Just joking," Julia told the cameras.Brandon joked his mother was "a c-ck block" that night at the hotel in Washington, D.C., and Julia asked Brandon to talk to his parents in attempt to change their minds about sleeping in separate rooms.Julia joked the pair should just get married right away so they could live together.Betty also asked Julia "to take the proper steps to make sure there are no children yet."Julia said she didn't want to welcome children for another two or three years but she never had an accident in regards to children to before -- and she had a serious ex-boyfriend.But Betty insisted things happen and so Julia needed to meet with her doctor to figure out her options. Julia was offended, upset and angry, and Brandon said he was silently furious that his mother was throwing all of his on Julia so quickly into their reunion.Julia said she was ready to "explode" and that conversation was just too much for her. Julia said Brandon needed to be a man and stand up to his parents, both about sleeping in different rooms and the birth-control.Brandon insisted sleeping wasn't quality time, but Julia pointed out the situation was "not good." Brandon, however, didn't see anything wrong with Betty being involved since Betty had just paid for Julia's flight to the United States."If I try fixing the situation, we have fighting with his parents 100 percent. Him lie [to] me... We don't marry if [he starts lying] to me more, more and more," Julia told the cameras.Julia went to bed angry and Brandon apparently didn't get lucky.But during Julia's first day in America, she had a nice time taking in "all the sights" -- a day Brandon's mother had completely planned out.Julia wished she and Brandon had more "romantic" time together, and Brandon wished he had been more honest and upfront with Julia about their living situation ahead of time."I know, but I think we have problems with each other," Julia told Brandon. "So if we leave, we have problems with money and we have fighting. If we not leave, we'll have a problem with your mother and we'll have fighting."Julia was also shocked to hear Brandon had spent all of his money and had none left for their future together.Julia said she didn't want to repeat her mistakes given she didn't get along with her ex's parents when they all lived together in Russia."I can't control my mother. I can't control how they will interact. They both have really strong personalities, and I just feel like they're going to clash," Brandon lamented in a confessional.Julia wanted to be No. 1 in Brandon's life as well as his top priority, and Julia demanded that Brandon fix the situation or else.Brandon and Julia then packed up their belongings and headed to the farm in VirginiaIn Russia, Julia lived in an apartment in the city, and when she pulled up to Brandon's home, she said all she could see was "forest."Julia learned how to feed the horses and the chickens, and Brandon said Julia had "an awesome reaction" to the farm. Brandon said Julia's positive attitude made him feel "80 percent sure" they'd make it as a couple.Julia said she likes animals a lot and enjoys petting them, but at the same time, she noted she wasn't ready to take care of them.Julia, for instance, panicked a little bit once she climbed into the pig pen to feed the pigs. Julia was a little bothered by Brandon's mother essentially barking orders at her to do things, because Julia told the cameras she didn't envision her job being at the farm."I don't know what I love more. I love Brandon but I love a nice life. I need to make [a] choice. I give it one month. If after one month, if I don't love this place, I say him, 'We need to go.' And we live in city. If we live in city, fine," Julia explained.When Julia finally saw her room, she told Brandon's mother that it was "cute" -- but she admitted to the cameras she didn't want to stay there. Julia said she didn't feel comfortable and struggled to understand the English language.Julia told Brandon's parents that she was scared to sleep alone and their rules made her feel like a child. Brandon's parents said they weren't going to change their minds about Brandon and Julia's living arrangement.Brandon's parents wished Brandon would take a stance with Julia and defend them out of respect.Julia recently conducted a Q&A with her followers on Instagram Stories and dropped many hints that suggest she is still with Brandon and living in the United States."Everything is pretty nice," Julia said of her current life. "It's pretty in my life. I've never had, like, an easy life," Julia said. "I all the time chose a hard life."Julia said her English "is much better than before," probably because she's around English-speaking people all the time."I try to learn everything but it's so hard for me," Julia added.When asked whether she likes living in Virginia, Julia responded, "I guess you'll watch the episode to see how I'm enjoying it."When an Instagram user called Julia and Brandon "the cutest couple," Julia replied, "Thank you so much."Julia also revealed she currently has a great relationship with Brandon's parents, although there is tension between them on the currently-airing season of .A fan asked how Julia essentially puts up with her "parents-in-law," and Julia responded, "I love my parents a lot because my parents want what is best for me. If I could choose other parents I would never choose other parents because my parents are the best and I love them a lot."Julia also said she hopes she can "start working" soon and put her degree in design to good use in either apartments or homes.As far as her favorite experience in the United States goes, Julia revealed, "I like people in America because everyone smiles and everyone tries to help. You never ask for help but people try. This is so cool."When asked whether she likes Russia or America better, Julia said there are some things she likes better in Russia and other things she likes better in the United States.She noted the countries are just "different." For example, Julia said she cannot drive yet in America while she has her license back in Russia.Julia shared excitement, however, when someone mentioned all the states she can travel to in the United States. Julia said she'd love to visit New York especially.Julia told her followers it was "hard to leave [her] house and family" in Russia, but she added, "My parents understand this."But Julia played coy when asked direct questions about whether she married Brandon and is still in the United States and living with Brandon's parents.Julia admitted she doesn't want to "get in trouble" by breaking her NDA contract with TLC.When one fan wrote that it seems like she married Brandon, Julia replied, "I don't know!"And she explained to fans, "I can't say where I stay right now or what I do right now."But Julia did admit her favorite thing about Brandon is that "he is so cute." Julia beamed when talking about Brandon, so it appears unlikely that they've broken up.Julia also appeared to spend Christmas in America, as she posted a photo of herself posing next to a giant Christmas tree decorated in gold ornaments inside of a store."I know how important Christmas is in America! it is a sweet and family holiday when all dreams come true," Julia captioned the photo."in Russia the New Year is more important on December 31st. I wish everyone that wishes come true, love and be loved! #90dayfiance #90dayfiance8 #Brandonandjulia."Want more spoilers or couples updates? Click here to visit our homepage!
Her firstborn child is due in the new year.

And Emily Ratajkowski bared her bulging baby bump on Instagram while plugging her swimwear line Inamorata.

The 29-year-old supermodel was promoting her brand's Luciana bikini, with a top that sells for $95 and a bottom for $83.

Looking fab: Emily Ratajkowski bared her bulging baby bump on Instagram while plugging her swimwear line Inamorata

She accessorized the bikini with an attractive straw hat while posing on a fashionable striped deck chair on a balcony.

Emily rang in the New Year with an Instagram post that showed her lounging on the sofa in self-isolation in Los Angeles.

However she lived up to her reputation as a fashionista, slipping into a glamorous lime green bias-cut maternity dress for the occasion.

Her latest post comes approximately a month after Emily announced on her Instagram page that she was '6 months' along.

Hunk: Emily is currently expecting her firstborn child by her heartthrob husband Sebastian Bear-McClard whom she has been married to since 2018

Emily is currently expecting her firstborn child by her heartthrob husband Sebastian Bear-McClard whom she has been married to since 2018.

She has posed naked during her pregnancy multiple times including when she and Sebastian enjoyed a 'babymoon' to the celebrity hot spot Utah resort Amangiri.

The dynamic duo enjoyed an ultra-luxe honeymoon at Amangiri in 2018 after their simple courthouse wedding in New York where Emily wore a $200 Zara suit.

Night in: Emily rang in the New Year with an Instagram post that showed her lounging on the sofa in self-isolation in Los Angeles

While basking in the delights of Amangiri on her 'babymoon' she posed for Instagram completely in the nude - just as she had during her honeymoon.

Accommodations can cost over $8000 a night at the resort which also played host to the 37th birthday trips of both Scott Disick and Kourtney Kardashian.

Emily's upcoming releases including a book of essays called My Body which she wrote partly in lockdown and will bow in 2022.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-02 23:18:11|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- China's railways recorded a spike in railway passenger trips on Jan. 1, the first day of the three-day New Year holiday, the national railway operator said.

A total of 9.89 million railway passenger trips were recorded on the first day of 2021, according to the China State Railway Group Co., Ltd.

The figure was 481,000 more than that on Jan. 1, 2020, an increase of 5.1 percent, it added.

Authorities have taken precautions against COVID-19, including taking the temperatures of passengers both inside and outside of stations, arranging separate seats for passengers with fever symptoms, as well as properly ventilating and disinfecting the environment.

The railway operator estimated that there would be 7.2 million railway passenger trips on Jan. 2, and it will put 386 additional trains into operation to meet the demand. Enditem
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DUBAI: Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif urged U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday not to be "trapped" by an alleged Israeli plan to provoke a war through attacks on U.S. forces in Iraq.

He issued the warning on the anniversary of the U.S. killing of top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani by a drone strike in Iraq. There was no immediate comment by Israel.

Washington blames Iran-backed militia for regular rocket attacks on U.S. facilities in Iraq, including near the U.S. embassy. No known Iran-backed groups have claimed responsibility.

"New intelligence from Iraq indicate(s) that Israeli agent-provocateurs are plotting attacks against Americans  putting an outgoing Trump in a bind with a fake casus belli (act justifying war)," Zarif said in a tweet.

"Be careful of a trap, @realDonaldTrump. Any fireworks will backfire badly," Zarif wrote.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office and the Israeli Foreign Ministry declined to comment on Zarif's remarks.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Zarif's message.

Esmail Ghaani, who succeeded Soleimani as head the elite Quds force, said on Friday Iran was still ready to respond.

The U.S. military flew two nuclear-capable B-52 bombers to the Middle East in a message of deterrence to Iran on Wednesday, but the bombers have since left the region.

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.

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Regional

Villagers thwart Bdeshi criminals from abducting Indian villager

Correspondent Shillong, Jan 3 | Publish Date: 1/3/2021 12:12:11 PM IST

Tribal Khasi villagers on Saturday fought back to prevent another attempt by Bangladeshi criminals to abduct an Indian villager from Meghalayas West Jaintia Hills district to Bangladesh, officials said on Sunday.

The Border Security Force (BSF) has raised strong objections with its Bangladesh counterpart over such illegal activity.

The incident occurred on Saturday at Amjalong village bordering Bangladesh in West Jaintia Hills.

According to villagers, a Bangladeshi identified as Iqbal along with four of his accomplices intruded into India.

Iqbal , resident of Sylhet district, Bangladesh intruded into India to steal betel nuts from the orchard of a villager, Vijay Rongpih. However, Rongpih noticed the intruders and tried to drive them out.

The Bangladeshi criminals resisted and a skirmish broke out following which the Bangladeshis tried to drag Rongpih to the Bangladesh side, but he somehow managed to escape and raised an alarm, the villagers said.

Recently, an Indian national from Garo Hills was abducted by Bangladeshis into their territory and his bullet ridden body was found the next morning.

BSF officials said the villagers at Amjalong exercised restraint and didnt open fire on the Bangladeshi criminals. Villagers at the border areas usually have licensed firearms to protect their livestock and orchard from Bangladeshis.

The Amjalong area remains unfenced. Several areas in Meghalayas West Jaintia Hills and East Khasi Hills remain unfenced because of opposition from NGOs. These NGOs want the fence to come up from zero line instead of 150 yards. Bangladesh opposes fencing on the zero line citing a defense protocol.

In fact most of the fences along India and Bangladesh are erected 150 yards away from the zero line under the bilateral defense protocol. Under the protocol, no defense establishment can come within 150 yards from the zero line. Bangladesh argues the fence is a defense infrastructure.

Due to the non existence of the fence in this area, BSF troops have remained vulnerable and they too have come under attack from Bangladeshi criminals. Recently a BSF troop was assaulted by a Bangladeshi national in the same area with a machete.

We (BSF) have warned and advised BGB to educate their people living in border area to refrain from such activities but in spite of the best efforts of BSF and BGB, Bangladesh intruders keep on violating the sanctity of International boundary and become the target of local residents of India living in border area, a BSF official said.
1. Yes. The public must have assurances that ethical standards are met by everyone.

2. Yes. As long as an independent board hears the grievances, its a worthwhile idea.

3. No. The concept is too broad. It should be limited to the citys elected officials.

4. No. There are plenty of stipulations in place already. An ordinance is a waste of time.

5. Unsure. Its hard to say without seeing how it would be structured and applied.

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Tehran, Jan 3 : Several Iranian political and military officials issued warnings over possible hostile movements against Tehran as the country marked the first death anniversary of Qasem Soleimani, the former commander of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC).

"New intelligence from Iraq indicate that Israeli agent-provocateurs are plotting attacks against Americans-putting an outgoing Trump in a bind with a fake casus belli," Xinhua news agency quoted Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif as saying on social media.

Iran's chief diplomat called on the US President Donald Trump to "be careful of a trap".

Major General Hossein Salami, commander in chief of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), also issued a warning against hostile action taken against Iran.

"We have shown it in practice, and we announce that we will respond to any action taken by the enemy against us with a reciprocal, decisive and solid blow," Salami said.

Soleimani, 63, and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, deputy head of Iraq's Hashd al-Shaabi, were killed on January 3, 2020, in a US airstrike that targeted their convoy near the Baghdad International Airport.

As the head of the elite Quds Force, Soleimani had for years wielded his country's influence across the wider Middle East, strengthening Shia militias from Lebanon to Iraq and coming to the aid of Tehran's allies, including Syrian President Bashar Al Assad.

He had been on the ground in Syria and Iraq supervising militias backed by Tehran.

The Quds Force holds sway over a large number of militias across the region ranging from Lebanon to Syria and Iraq.
Borje Ekholm, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Swedish telecom giant Ericsson, has been lobbying the Swedish government to repeal a ban that prohibits Huawei and ZTE from participating in the country's 5G construction, according to local newspaper Dagens Nyheter.



In a series of text messages to Swedish Foreign Trade Minister Anna Hallberg, the CEO has urged a review of the ban by the Swedish Post and Telecommunication Administration, which requires operators to withdraw the Chinese companies from local 5G infrastructure by January 2025.

In the messages unveiled by the newspaper, Ekholm said Ericsson would leave Sweden if the authorities continue to hold the ban on Huawei and ZTE.

Jacob Wallenberg, deputy chair of Ericsson's board of directors, also said "stopping Huawei is definitely not good" in an interview with the newspaper in late December last year.

However, Hallberg told Dagens Nyheter that she would not interfere in the decisions related to the ban, adding that she did not meet with Ekholm.
There were moments, early in the pandemic, when Joseph Musillami wasnt sure how the family business would make it.

Purely Meat Co., a commercial butcher in Chicago that supplies mostly high-end restaurants, saw sales plummet 75% when Illinois banned indoor dining in March. It halted plans to expand into a 35,000-square-foot facility purchased late last year and more than double its current footprint, and let go of many of its 60 employees.

It started out beyond scary when you think youre going to lose your house, said Musillami, whose wife, Maribel Moreno-Musillami, founded the company nine years ago.

Surviving 2020 felt like a street fight, Musillami said. But for all the struggles, he thinks the meat company will come out on top.

His wife created a website to sell Purely Meats products directly to consumers, and soon it became a major part of the business. The companys drivers deliver cases of vacuum-sealed, freezer-ready prime cuts to peoples suburban doorsteps rather than the citys swank downtown restaurants. Going into 2021, it plans to help restaurants sell branded products to consumers, as well.

These are two new facets of our business that we would never have dreamed of doing, Musillami said.

In various pockets of the food industry, a bruising year is giving way to optimism that the lessons learned will make for a stronger 2021.

Farmers and other food producers that pivoted their business models to find new revenue streams are making some of those changes permanent. Grocery stores are adapting to consumers embrace of online food shopping. And restaurants that survive the wreckage of their industry are expected to come roaring back, sharper and leaner than ever, into the waiting arms of a public desperate to go out.

Purely Meat plans to maintain its new consumer business even as it prepares for a midsummer restaurant rebound, Musillami said. The company also introduced seasoned meats, improved worker training, and figured out how to run the business more efficiently. It has recaptured 70% of its usual sales and has 40 employees working.

I think we are going to be better, Musillami said.

Opportunities at the farm

Small farms see new opportunities, too.

While the local foods movement has been growing for a decade, the pandemic gave it a shot in the arm as people sought to support community and became more aware of quality as they cooked at home. Empty grocery store shelves also revealed the potential for supply-chain disruptions and prompted shoppers to explore buying directly from local farms, which were reeling from the disruption of restaurant and other food service clients and needed new revenue streams.

Some farms, especially those near cities, dove into e-commerce to sell directly to consumers, and customers were patient as they worked out the kinks, said Raghela Scavuzzo, associate director of food systems development at the Illinois Farm Bureau.

Milk delivery made a comeback. Community Supported Agriculture programs, which deliver boxes of produce, found new customers. Farmers collaborated to deliver their products together to reduce costs and created bundled boxes to sell at farmers markets.

They built this idea that they can promote each other and boost sales, Scavuzzo said. I think youre going to see more of that going forward.

Meanwhile, the pandemic exposed vulnerabilities in the meat industry that revived interest in local meat processing.

A bottleneck formed when large slaughterhouses faced outbreaks of COVID-19 among their workers and temporarily closed or slowed down, leaving farmers with nowhere to send their market-ready livestock.

Meat processing capacity in the U.S. is highly centralized, and the disruption created such a backlog that farmers still cant get appointments to slaughter their animals until late 2021 or into 2022.

Farmers, in response, have called for expanding capacity at local processors or establishing new ones, which could reinvigorate local rural economies, said Tasha Bunting, associate director of commodity and livestock programs at the Illinois Farm Bureau.

Theres a lot of conversations in a lot of different parts of the state where groups are trying to develop something that could be a success, Bunting said. A year from now there will be a few more [processors] that are close to where the producers are.

Food shopping from home

Grocery chains, which benefited greatly this year as people rediscovered their kitchens, recently released 2021 food trend projections that reflect the pandemics influence on what people want to eat.

Kroger predicts a rise in foods that purport to support immune health, boost energy levels, or mitigate stress  think sparkling probiotic kefir water or almond butter containing such superfoods as chia seeds and goji berries  as well as easy-to-prepare comfort foods and plant-based options.

Whole Foods expects people to spend more time on breakfast, perhaps whipping up sous vide egg bites midweek, plus interest in different cooking oils and such reimagined basics as hearts-of-palm pasta.

Yet the pandemics greatest impact on grocery stores may not be what they sell, but how they sell it. Consumers who previously might not have trusted others to pick their avocados gave online grocery shopping a shot and many of them are expected to become permanent converts.

In a September poll of 60,000 consumers, 43% said they had purchased groceries online in the last six months, up from 24% who said the same two years earlier, and nearly half said they plan to continue to do so.

Online shopping is expected to account for 21% of grocery sales by 2025, or $250 billion, a 60% increase over pre-pandemic estimates, according to the poll from Mercatus, a grocery e-commerce platform, and Incisiv, a consumer insights firm.

Forrester, a research and consulting firm, said it expects retailers and brands to invest heavily in microfulfillment centers and dark stores dedicated to fulfilling online orders.

While grocery delivery was popular as people avoided leaving their homes, the bigger opportunity is in curbside pickup, which costs less, experts say. Many stores are designating parking spots for pickup and installing pickup lockers.

Phil Lempert, a grocery store consultant known as the Supermarket Guru, predicts that, long-term, stores will be half as big as they are now, and people will have to make a reservation to come in to prevent crowding.

 FAQ: Your coronavirus questions, answered.

Shoppers will select fresh meats, bakery and produce items while a robot in a backroom fulfillment center picks the shelf-stable items they ordered online ahead of time.

I think it will be a much better experience, Lempert said.
Since schools came back in September, there have been two breaks for holidays. Both came at critical junctures in the transmission of Covid-19. There is a sense that the timing of these breaks has, by sheer coincidence, protected schools as the virus ripped through communities.

The transmission of Covid-19 has been lower in schools than in their communities, so they are considered safe environments. However, as the schools broke up for mid-term at Halloween, public health teams were overwhelmed by rising case numbers and principals felt they were not getting the support needed to keep schools open.

On average there were 1,124 new cases being reported every day that week, amid fears these would eventually spread into classrooms. New restrictions were enforced, with extra public health resources made available to schools. By the end of the first school week after the Halloween break, average daily case numbers dropped by more than 55pc compared to the week before mid-term.

On December 17 everything changed again. A school in Killorglin, Co Kerry, was then at the centre of a significant local outbreak, sounding alarm among contact tracing teams.

Case numbers and concern grew across the country and the end of the Christmas school holidays was pushed from this Wednesday to January 11 to give them a chance to reopen as safely as possible.

Public health supports available to schools are also to be beefed-up further. A Government source said the virus forced their hand: "The case numbers are off the charts. We have broken our own daily record for case numbers four times in a week. The hope is people's behaviour will change now. It has to."

Principals and teachers fear an increase in school-related outbreaks is inevitable without change. In the week to New Year's Day, the average number of new cases reported daily was 1,349. A new and more transmissible Covid-19 variant, which scientists believe spreads more easily among children, means experts consider this will rise.

Teachers' Union of Ireland general secretary Michael Gillespie said the next seven days are crucial for schools.

"When we came back in September the numbers were much lower. We have grave concerns about the significant rise in numbers of positive cases because that is high community spread," he said.

"Since September, second- level schools have not been amplifying that [community spread] but we still nevertheless reflect the cases in the community so that would mean there would have to be an increase in cases in schools.

"The extra three days off almost amounts to a mini-circuit break. It buys public health time and allows them to check back and see what the new variant is doing.

"A big concern of ours, besides the new variant, is the pressures on testing and tracing. It is very important that is able to cope and help schools keep transmission as low as possible. If the system becomes overwhelmed again, like before Halloween, we don't want to open up on January 11 and immediately see the system cannot cope.

"Principals don't have the time to do contact tracing. They are barely keeping their heads above water with teaching and managing a school."

Beyond next week there are other concerns for teachers and students, especially those preparing for exams.

Officials and the Government insist there will be a Leaving Cert this year. Measures have been taken to give students more choice in exam papers to compensate for lost teaching time, but there are still issues to be addressed around the staging of mock exams and crucial oral and practical assessments.

Principals told the Sunday Independent there is a reluctance in some schools to release language teachers for oral exams as they want to protect the integrity of school 'bubbles' and prevent any potential Covid-19 spread.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Education said an advisory group made up of key education stakeholders will meet later this month to "consider all of the various issues arising in relation to the holding of the 2021 examinations, including issues in relation to public health".

President of the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals, Michael Cregan, who is principal of Laurel Hill Secondary School FCJ in Limerick, said he is aware of colleagues planning to introduce a break after two hours during next month's mock exams to comply with public health guidelines limiting the amount of time students can spend in a room.

Such a move is unprecedented, as some exams run for more than three hours.

"There is only about six weeks until the mid-term break in February and then we go into the pre-Leaving Cert and Junior Cert exams," he said.

"It is going to be a challenge and with the current guidelines we will probably have to give breaks during those exams to ventilate the rooms and keep the environments safe."

There were calls in Northern Ireland last week for schools to return on a phased basis, prioritising senior students, to limit any potential spread. Such a move has been ruled out south of the Border. There is also a huge reluctance to return to online or blended learning.

All stakeholders insist schools have been safe until now, but nobody can be certain they will remain safe.

Mr Cregan said this week will be crucial in determining when and how classes reopen.

"The numbers are frightening at present and if we don't get a handle on it, I think we will have to look and see what is the way forward," he said.

"No one wants to go back to online teaching again. Face-to-face means there is better interaction between students and teachers, but also in terms of mental health. Children can see their friends.

"The isolation of being at home is something nobody wants to go back to. We will have to follow the public health advice, but if numbers continue to rise, I think we are going to have to review it.

"Do we want the schools closed? We certainly don't."

The Department of Education is adamant schools will reopen on January 11.

"It is the belief of both public health and the department that schools remain safe places of learning for all members of school communities," a spokeswoman said.

Visit our Covid-19 vaccine dashboard for updates on the roll out of the vaccination program and the rate of Coronavirus cases Ireland

Sunday Independent
Central GST authorities have detected a of over Rs 830 crore by an illegal pan-masala manufacturing unit here and arrested a person for his involvement, according to an official statement.

The firm was evading the payment of Goods and Services Tax (GST) by manufacturing and clandestinely supplying gutkha/pan masala/tobacco products without any registration and payment of duty, it said.

On the basis of the search at the premises of the manufacturer, it was found that illegal manufacturing of gutkha/pan masala/tobacco product was going on, evidenced by a godown, machines, raw materials and manufactured products at the premises, the office of Commissioner central tax (Delhi West) said in a statement Saturday.

Around 65 labourers were found working at the illegal factory, it said.

The searches resulted in the seizure of finished gutkha and raw materials such as chuna, sada kattha, tobacco leaves etc, valued at Rs. 4.14 cr approximately, the statement said.

On the basis of evidence gathered, stocks seized and confessional statements recorded the total duty evasion is estimated to be approx Rs 831.72 crores. Further investigation is in progress, it said.

The finished product of gutkha was being supplied by the unit to various states, the statement said.

One person has been arrested in the matter on the basis of his involvement in the manufacture and supply of goods without issue of any invoice with the intention to evade tax, as well as in transporting, removing, depositing, keeping, concealing, supplying, or purchasing any goods, it said.

The accused was arrested and produced before the local court here on Saturday that has sent him to 14 days judicial custody, the statement said.

A senior official said the illegal unit was operating from Budh Vihar area here.

As many as 14 gutkha manufacturing machines were found working at the time of search in the building situated at main road and in the main market of Budh Vihar area, he said.

Delhi Zone has been making sustained efforts to check evasion of GST, leading to detection of Rs 4,327 crores in the present financial year and 15 persons have been arrested in these matters, 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.)
Though the passage of time is relentless it is, in one context at least, becoming more flexible, more open-ended. Unicef estimates that Irish babies born in 2021 can, all going well, live to be 105 years of age  they have a very real prospect of reaching 2126.

Data shows the only child due to be born in Andorra this weekend will have the longest average life expectancy, an incredible 119 years.
Three people were arrested after hundreds of anti-lockdown protesters including dozens of children marched through Nottingham in a Covid-19 'Freedom Rally'.

Crowds demonstrated through the city's Old Market Square, along its Embankment and gathered outside the BBC building this afternoon - just days after the city was plunged into Tier 4 lockdown measures.

Organisers could be heard chanting anti-lockdown and anti-vaccination messages as they blocked roads and demonstrated outside buildings, with little social distancing as they stood next to children.

Some demonstrators held up signs that read: '4,091 Covid deaths this week. Let's party.'

Nottinghamshire Police told MailOnline three people were arrested and 12 fixed penalty notices were handed out amid the 'illegal gathering in the city centre'.

They added that Nottingham and Nottinghamshire are currently in Tier 4, meaning people can only meet one other person outdoors and households are not allowed to mix indoors.

'The gathering was a planned protest which under current restrictions is also not allowed in order to stop the virus from spreading,' the spokesperson added.

Police were at the scene of a march through Nottingham city centre this afternoon, as demonstrators declared the Covid-19 pandemic as a 'hoax'

Demonstrators claimed the Covid vaccine was in fact 'hydrogen with a bio sensor' as they stood outside the BBC headquarters

The demonstration in Nottingham this afternoon came to an end after it started raining, according to local police

According to the Nottingham Post, one of the organisers was heard shouting: 'Hydrogen is going in with a bio sensor with that needle. We need people not to take that needle.

'Number one, save people from that needle. Wake those people up.'

Nottinghamshire Police have been monitoring the march, but no arrests are thought to have been made.

The protest came just days after Nottinghamshire was plunged into Tier 4 measures on New Year's Eve - but demonstrators are said to have dispersed after it started raining.

Addressing the officers, organisers claimed that the Covid-19 pandemic - which has killed more than 75,000 in the UK - is a 'hoax'.

Assistant Chief Constable Steve Cooper from Nottinghamshire Police said: 'We had an increased police presence this afternoon as we looked to maintain security and offer reassurance, as well as engaging with those present at the protest including organisers.

'The police were on hand to make sure the wider public were kept safe and secure and preserve any evidence of any breaches before dispersing the crowd.

'As a consequence we have made three arrests and issued 12 fixed penalty notices so far, with the likelihood this will rise.

'We will continue to gather evidence for anyone who breaches coronavirus restrictions.

'The vast majority of residents in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire are continuing to adhere to the Coronavirus legislation and I thank them for that.

None of the demonstrators are thought to have been arrested during today's protest

Nottinghamshire Police monitored the crowd's behaviour as it marched through the city today

Today's protest branded Covid-19 a hoax, while official figures declared there had been a further 54,990 confirmed cases in the UK

'The new strain of the virus is everywhere including here in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire and we need people to understand they have a responsibility to stop it spreading.

'Large gatherings should not be happening. We ask anyone thinking of attending or organising one not to do so.

'We have been clear from the outset that our approach during the Coronavirus outbreak has been to engage with members of the public, explain the current regulations and encourage people to follow the instructions. We have only used enforcement when it has been absolutely necessary to do so.

'I would like to thank our officers for the professionalism they have shown throughout today in engaging with organisers of the protest.

'The fact that our officers are having to attend gatherings such as these where the disease can spread and have a massive impact on our communities is unacceptable.

'Our priority is to ensure the safety of you  the public, to keep disruption to a minimum as we look to facilitate protests and to deal positively with any criminal activity.

'As always, if you have any concerns about any activity you see or believe a crime has been committed, please speak to an available officer or call Nottinghamshire Police using the 101 non-emergency number.'

As hundreds gathered in Nottingham to protest lockdown measures, growing pressure on the NHS is expected to see patients from London and the South East moved to the Midlands to cope with demand

Protesters of all ages gathered in Nottingham this afternoon to protest Covid-19 measures - but dispersed as the rain rolled in

Official figures show there had been a further 54,990 lab-confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UK, up 80 per cent from last week's case figure of 30,501, while the number of deaths had increased by 43 per cent from last Sunday to 454

It comes as official figures released today show there had been a further 54,990 lab-confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UK, up 80 per cent from last week's case figure of 30,501, while the number of deaths had increased by 43 per cent.

Separate figures published by the UK's statistics agencies for deaths where Covid-19 has been mentioned on the death certificate show there have now been 91,000 deaths involving Covid-19 in the UK.

The figures do not represent results from the whole UK due to data on deaths not being reported by Scotland on Sunday.

NHS hospitals in the West Country are now bracing for an overspill of critically-ill patients from London under emergency plans, with trusts in the capital and the south-east preparing to transfer patients to the south-west.

Patients in the east of England will be moved to the Midlands while the massive Nightingale field hospital at the London Excel Centre is also expected to reopen within a fortnight amid warnings the health service could collapse in the event that 'very, very tired' staff are unable to cope with a deluge of cases.

Today's protest came amid calls from Labour leader Keir Starmer to announce a third national lockdown to curb climbing Covid-19 cases

Parents took children to today's protest in Nottingham, as organisers urged people not to take the potentially-lifesaving Covid-19 vaccine

Yesterday Britain confirmed it had suffered 4091 Covid-19 deaths in a week, demonstrators held up placards with the figure, adding: 'Let's party'

Speaking after protests in Nottingham, Keir Starmer called for draconian countermeasures to come into force within 24 hours, condemning the PM for 'hinting' at action while dragging his heels

People as young as 30 are said to be suffering from coronavirus in intensive care units across the country, it was said today

Nottinghamshire Police followed hundreds of protesters through the city centre earlier today

The crowd blocked the outside of the BBC building in Nottingham today to tell people Covid-19 is a 'hoax'

Two thirds of England's population is now in Tier 4, with the remainder living in Tier 3 lockdowns. Only the Isles of Scilly, off the coast of Cornwall, is in the looser Tier 2

Dr Alison Pittard, the dean of the Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine, today claimed that people as young as 30 are suffering from coronavirus in ICU wards and claimed that 'younger people will die from Covid'.

The surge in cases and deaths could lead to a third national lockdown as Sir Keir Starmer today demanded a new blanket squeeze to control the virus while Boris Johnson admitted tougher measures are 'probable'.

The Labour leader has dramatically called for draconian countermeasures to come into force within 24 hours, condemning the PM for 'hinting' at action while dragging his heels.
Paula with daughter Natalie and Ronan's mum and dad John and Joan at Ronan's Way near Cushendun.

Four years after the sudden loss of her husband Ronan at the age of 38, Paula McAuley gets comfort from walking their nine-year-old daughter Natalie through the land he loved so well.

That same land, set in the rugged beauty of the Glens of Antrim, was something the young farmer and geologist wanted everyone to enjoy.

Before his sudden death on April 3, 2016, which stunned this close-knit rural community, Ronan had started to clear a public path on his family land.

Now in a fitting tribute to him, his parents John and Maura together with a small army of his friends, have gone on to finish the path which is now known as Ronan's Way.



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The poignant story will be featured in the Chronicles of the Glens, a new four-part documentary series starting on BBC One Northern Ireland tomorrow night.

In it Paula (40) shares her pride at the legacy her young husband left behind and explains what a beautiful tribute the pathway is and how much Ronan loved the Glen and wanted to share it with everyone.

Paula's world was shattered when on a normal Sunday in April her husband went to his father's farm to help out with lambing, never to return.

His loss from sudden adult death syndrome stunned the small Cushendun community where he was well known and loved.

Ronan and Paula, who met in school and had been dating from the age of 16, were due to celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary in June of that year.

Still struggling to come to terms with her loss she describes the very special man that her husband was. "Ronan was just amazing. He was a really calm, down to earth, matter of fact person.



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"He would have been very quiet in the background but if anyone needed him he would have been there for them.

"He was really loveable and had a heart of gold and great sparkly eyes which Natalie has inherited.

"He was a devoted dad. As a baby Natalie wasn't a sleeper and it would have been Ronan who got up with her in the middle of the night pacing the floor.

"She was a real daddy's girl and he would have taken her out for a spin in his rally cars. Like her dad she loves the outdoors and is a real mini-me.

"She looks like him, talks like him and has his mannerisms and I always feel that through her he left a wee bit of himself with me.

"I'm just glad she was very young and doesn't really understand yet what happened.

"She talks about her daddy all the time, which I encourage as it makes us feel he is still with us. "

As well as working part time as a sheep farmer on the family farm, Ronan was a geologist who had just set up what was fast becoming a very successful site investigations company a year before his death.

He loved the Glens where he grew up and was passionate about the outdoors and sharing it with people.



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He had started to work on creating walks for the public through his father's land in the spectacular Glendun before his tragic death.

Paula says: "Glendun is one of the forgotten Glens of Antrim and Ronan was passionate about opening it up for other people to enjoy.

"Most nights he had the maps out at the kitchen table trying to work out the best routes.

"When he died, finishing the path gave his dad John something to focus on and helped him to process his loss. He put his heart and soul into it as did so many of Ronan's friends who came to help and who we are so grateful to.

"Ronan had a close circle of friends and we were very lucky to have them there to support us and they are still supporting us."



Expand Close Paula with daughter Natalie and Ronan's mum and dad John and Joan at Ronan's Way near Cushendun. Stephen Hamilton / Facebook

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Whatsapp Paula with daughter Natalie and Ronan's mum and dad John and Joan at Ronan's Way near Cushendun.

Ronan's Way in Glendun features a number of walks for different abilities from serious hikers to people out for a Sunday family stroll.

For Paula and Natalie it will forever be a special place to walk and feel close to the wonderful husband and father they lost.

Paula adds: "Ronan would have been encouraging me to go out and walk and I would have gone, 'Do I have to?' and now we love to go up there. It is really peaceful and quiet and we both feel really close to him up there."

The walk will feature tomorrow night in the Chronicles of the Glens, a new four-part documentary series on BBC One.

Narrated by Northern Irish actor Colin Morgan, the story of the Glens is told through the lives of the people who have made them their home and who work hard to preserve and improve the area for the future. Filmed over a year, each episode concentrates on the unfolding of one season and follows the changes in the natural beauty of the landscape, from the upland moors to the picturesque villages that hug the rugged coastline.

In the first episode filmed in autumn, the landscape is beginning to turn, with oranges, reds and browns taking over from the rich green of the summer.

Viewers are introduced to some of the Glens' most dedicated residents who are each busy with their seasonal tasks.

In Glendun, as well as Paula we also see Ronan's dad John who gives a tour of the beautiful but steep-sided glen he lives on and shares his personal mission of finishing his son's dream of building a public footpath on his land.

Chronicles of the Glens is a Waddell Media production for BBC Northern Ireland. The series starts tomorrow, January 4, at 7.30pm, and is available on BBC iPlayer.

You can find out more about Ronan's Way and its walks at https://walkni.com/walks/ronans-way-green-loop/

Sunday Life
Most African air forces have a few elderly Cold War era warplanes, usually jets that have been inoperable for years. Many of these were acquired in the 1960s and 70s and not maintained very well. One of these nations, Nigeria, recently offered, via aircraft broker Inter Avia Group, twenty MiG-21 jet fighters. They are advertised as having little air time. One of these MiG-21 with only 34 flight hours while the others range from 199 to 547 flight hours. The MiGs are offered with 15 spare engines and other spare parts. Some of these jets were purchased in 1975, when Nigeria received 30 of them. In 1984 another 15 were purchased. The aircraft were used for reconnaissance and ground attack. usually against civilians, several times but were never in combat. All were withdrawn from service in the early 1990s and now only twenty of the original 35 are left to sell. These aircraft have been stored in the open for nearly 30 years, with only some tarps covering the engine inlets and cockpits. None are flyable and these is not much demand for operational second-hand MiG-21s and only scrap dealers are interested in buying MiG-21s that have not flown for decades. Inter Avia is a broker and only makes money if someone purchases an aircraft they have listed as available. No asking price was given and Inter Avia advised prospective buyers to contact them about prices. Any offers are apt to be quite low and not much more than scrap value. There is some market for spare engines but the ones Nigeria offers have been in storage for over three decades and in need of refurbishment to make operational. Theres an interesting story behind this offer, but details have not yet been made public. Nigeria has been unsuccessful in the past when surplus aircraft were put up for sale. That was because the aircraft were in bad shape and Nigeria refused to take what the aircraft were worth and demanded more than anyone would pay.

Currently the Nigerian Air Force does not have many combat aircraft. These include eight recently acquired Chinese J-7 jet fighters. These are Chinese built MiG-21s. Although a 1950s design, the J-7 is much updated and adequate to deal with neighboring air forces. There are also about a dozen French/German Alpha Jets. These 7.5-ton twin-jet planes entered service in the 1970s as a trainer/ground attack aircraft. They are armed with a 23mm autocannon and carry about two tons of bombs, rockets and missiles. Nigeria bought 24 in the 1980s and used them heavily for two decades until most were inoperable. In the last five years 14 of their Alphas have been refurbished to make them flyable. The problem is, the elderly Alphas have been hard at work as the only counterterrorism aircraft available. The J-7 and Alphas are the only combat aircraft Nigeria has, aside from about a dozen armed helicopters.

To provide some useful combat aircraft Nigeria has ordered twelve A-29 Super Tucanos. This is a single-engine turboprop trainer/attack aircraft that is used by eighteen nations. The armed version carries two internal 12.7mm (.50 caliber) machine-guns and can carry up to 1.5 tons of bombs and rockets. It can stay in the air for up to 6.5 hours. Max altitude is 11,300 meters (35,000 feet) and cruising speed is 400 kilometers an hour. Naturally, this aircraft can move in lower and slower than any jet can and is much more effective than a jet when it comes to ground attack. Standard equipment includes a GPS navigation system, armor for the pilot, a pressurized cockpit, and an ejection seat. Not bad for an aircraft with a max takeoff weight of 5.4 tons. It is rugged, easy to maintain and cheap. You pay $15-20 million for each Super Tucano, depending on how much training, spare parts, and support equipment you get with them.

These "trainer/light attack aircraft" can also operate from crude airports or even a stretch of highway. Aircraft like this can carry systems to defeat portable surface to air missiles. One of the options is a FLIR (infrared radar that produces a photo-realistic video image in any weather) and a fire control system for bombing. Several nations are using the Super Tucanos for counter-insurgency work. The aircraft is also used for border patrol by the United States. African military leaders have long wanted some basic, easy and cheap to operate aircraft for training and reconnaissance. That is what the Super Tucano does, plus carry out ground attack if so equipped.

The Super Tucano can double as trainers. It's easier to train pilots using Super Tucano, cheaper to buy them, and much cheaper to operate them. It costs less than a tenth as much per flying hour to operate a Super Tucano compared to an F-16. This is why the U.S. Air Force uses Super Tucano (as the A-29) as a trainer for training pilots of allies that have or are receiving the Super Tucano.

Meanwhile active-duty MiG-21s are slowly fading away worldwide. In 2013 China ended production of its J7 after nearly fifty years of manufacturing what evolved into an advanced version of the original Russian design. China began licensed production of the Russian MiG-21 in 1964, but it took another decade for that to evolve into the J7 and for mass production to really get started. Over 2,400 were produced. The earlier ones were inferior to the MiG-21 because Russia refused to transfer technology for the latest models of this 1950s design. By the 1980s the Chinese had matched the Russian MiG-21. This didnt bother the Russians because in 1985 Russia ceased MiG-21 production, after building more than 11,000. From then on, if you wanted a new MiG-21 you had only one source, the Chinese J7. For three decades China kept improving the J7 capabilities, mainly through tweaks to the airframe and better electronics. Most J7s were used by China but about twenty percent were exported to fourteen countries. About a dozen of these nations, including Nigeria, still operate their J7s.

In 2011 China officially withdrew its J7s from first line service. This came as no surprise. In the four years before that China more than doubled its number of modern combat aircraft (J-10, J-11, Su-27, Su-30, and J8F) from 500 to over 1,200. In 2007 China relied mainly on some 2,000 locally built copies of Russian MiG-19s (J6) and MiG-21s (J7). There are still several hundred bombers that are mostly Russian knockoffs. China is buying and building a lot of the Russian Su-27s and Su-30s, the latter an upgrade of the former. But new, home grown designs, like the J20 are also showing up.

Another reason for withdrawing the J7 to secondary regions, where modern jets are unlikely to be encountered, is the inability to use J7s for a lot of training. That's important because China has revised its combat pilot training program. The new system puts more emphasis on trainee pilots demonstrating combat flying skills before they can graduate. Cold War era Russian aircraft designs, like the MiG-21, were not designed for the heavy use required for Western style pilot training. J7 pilots cannot easily be trained to the same standard as those flying more modern aircraft.

China has long been the largest user of the MiG-21/J7. The J7 was, in many ways, the most advanced version of the MiG-21, as the Chinese kept improving their J7 design. Over 13,000 Mig-21s and J7s have been produced during the sixty years it was manufactured, making this the most widely manufactured jet fighter of the last century. During World War II there were several propeller-driven fighters that were produced in greater numbers. The MiG-21 looked fearsome but it was a bust in combat, getting shot down more often than not. Russia still had 186 Mig-21s in service when the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991. These MiG-21s were officially retired a few years later. India, the last major user of the MiG-21, is in the process of retiring them as well.
The head of India's premier medical research authority cited prospective effectiveness against the mutated UK strain of coronavirus as the reason behind granting emergency use authorisation to Bharat Biotech's Covaxin. India currently has 29 confirmed cases of the new COVID-19 strain that emerged first in the United Kingdom.

Talking to India Today, Dr Balram Bhargava, Director General of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), said that the scientists deliberating emergency use authorisation to various vaccines felt that Covaxin can work better in protecting against the mutated COVID-19 strain by virtue of being a whole virus vaccine.

"Emergency use authorisation is slightly different for both of them. For Bharat Biotech, the emergency use authorisation is a proactive step because we feel and the scientific community that was deliberating... potential benefit of this whole virus vaccine may be more compared to any other vaccine," Dr Bhargava said.

ALSO READ: Covaxin can be back-up if Covishield's efficacy is doubted: AIIMS Director

He also emphasised that the scientists at ICMR have been successfully able to culture the UK strain and the efficacy of Covaxin against it will be further tested in days to come.

On Sunday, the Drug Controller General of India approved Covishield and Covaxin coronavirus vaccines for emergency use. The approval came a day after the Subject Expert Committee (SEC) of Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) finished its two-day long deliberations to recommended vaccines for emergency use.

Covishield has been jointly developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca. Serum Institute of India is manufacturing and will distribute the jab in the country. The vaccine has shown efficacy rate of 70 per cent after two full doses. However, one of the regimens with a half dose and a full dose showed 90 per cent efficacy against the virus. Serum Institute has stockpiled 50 million doses of Covishield, most of which is expected to come to India.

ALSO READ: India's nod to indigenous vaccine condemned over lack of data released on efficacy

On the other hand, Covaxin has been developed by Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech, in collaboration with Indian Council of Medical Research and National Institute of Virology. It is the first indigenous coronavirus vaccine developed in India. Phase 3 clinical trials of the vaccine are still underway and there is still no clarity on vaccine efficacy. Notably, shortly after approving it for emergency use, DCGI has given licensing permission to Bharat Biotech to manufacture Covaxin.

Calling it a great day for Indian population, Dr Bhargava elaborated that only government will be able to procure the vaccines during the emergency use phase. He added that both vaccines will be periodically reviewed during the emergency use phase.

"Emergency use authorisation means only government can procure and distribute the two vaccines. Vaccines can be sold in private sector only after full licensure is granted. Data will be reviewed every week by regulatory authorities," he said.

ALSO READ: 'Congratulations India!', PM Modi lauds approval of Serum Institute, Bharat Biotech's COVID-19 vaccines
An investment of 50 million in a Kilkenny-based company is set to bring jobs, further expansion of services and a huge boost to the pride of local people in the business they are building here.



Immedis is part of the Clune Technology Group and based at the Danville Business Park. The company provides tailored payroll technology and services to companies all over the world.

Just before Christmas Immedis announced a funding injection of 50 million from institutional investors, valuing the company at 500 million.



Chief Commercial Officer of Immedis, Kilkennyman Mark Graham, said the company began by assisting companies with their overseas payrolls, like ESB International. As staff in companies move around the world, the Taxback Group helped them manage the tax complexities of moving staff.

Time after time the companies asked about payroll services for those staff and local hires. It was difficult for companies managing Irish payrolls and understanding the law and rules around the world.

Mark sat down with Terry Clune and they saw an opportunity for a branch of the company to deal exclusively with payroll and develop new technology in that area, using the existing infrastructure of the Taxback Group.



We hired incredibly talented people all around the world, Mark said. It got to the stage that they wanted to bring the company to the next level, and that needed investment.

In 2019 Immedis received a 25million investment from Scottish Equity Partners. By May 2019 Immedis had 125 employees in Kilkenny, Dublin, New Jersey and Bulgaria. That investment allowed them to invest strongly in technology and team building. By April 2020 Immedis had grown to 270 employees and the Kilkenny headquarters was selling to every corner of the earth.

There is a huge appetite for what we do, Mark said. Immedis won business from companies like Uber and McAfee.



A decision was made to take a second round of investment, and after a virtual journey of presentations and time with investors Immedis found a good match in Lead Edge Capital, who have made this 50 million investment in the company.

This puts us in a position where we can continue to grow, Mark said of the investment, which will include building the team at the Kilkenny headquarters. The intention is to hire more people.

Mark said he is proud to be part of growing an international company based in Kilkenny. He described it as a privileged position being able to commute to work in three minutes and get home to his children every evening.

Sometimes we underestimate how lucky we are in Kilkenny, he said.

With companies like Taxback and State Street located in the city other businesses inherently grow up around them.

People say the motorway is the quickest way out of Kilkenny, but its also the quickest way to the city, Mark said. Some of Immediss staff travel from Dublin, Kildare and Waterford. They are also seeing home to roost employees, people who have worked outside Ireland coming home for the better quality of life. Its growing the talent pool in the city. But the move to working from home, especially in the pandemic, means Immedis has access to people around the world and geography doesnt have to dictate where or who people work for anymore. You can be in your home office in Kilkenny and speak to the largest investment companies in the world. This will have a major benefit for the region.



Kilkenny is an incredible place to live. We are proud to pick up customers at Dublin airport and bring them back to Kilkenny, he said, praising the citys great hotels and restaurants.

The Clune Technology Group is the new name of Taxback Group, a renaming as the company now provides a lot more than just taxback services.
The students of Rajkiya Kanya Mahavidyalaya in Gurugram on Saturday held a protest outside their college demanding cancellation of their second-semester examination.

The protesters said that the college administration has sent them a message saying that they have been promoted to the third semester but later they were asked to give an examination of the second semester.

We protested to demand that exam of the second semester should be cancelled. We could not study as classes were suspended amid lockdown due to coronavirus pandemic. The college administration in a notice had said that we have been promoted. Three days ago, another notice came stating that our examination will be held and dates will be announced on January 20, Anjali, one of the protesting student told ANI.

Now, we have been told that there will be meeting on January 4 in the college. We will hold a big protest if exams will not be cancelled. If we can study for 10 days and clear all exams, then whats the point of a three-year course. Make it for one month, take the examinations of all three semesters within 30 days and give us the degree, she added.

Another protester Preeti said, We demand that college administration should support students and cancel the exams.

The traffic on old railway road, Mahavir Chowk, Agrasen Chowk and Bus Stand Road were affected due to the demonstration of students.

Rajkiya Kanya Mahavidyalaya is affiliated to Gurugram University, a state government university Established Under Haryana Act 17 Of 2017 and started functioning from academic year 2018-19.
The father of a child who died during the Sandy Hook school shooting has been given a full facial disguise before being interviewed on television, to protect him from being identified by crazed conspiracy theorists.

Lenny Pozner's son Noah, six, was the youngest victim of the December 14, 2012 massacre of 20 children and six staff.

Since very early on in the aftermath, Pozner was singled out by conspiracy theorists claiming that the murders never happened, and that it was all part of a Barack Obama-led plot to rid the country of guns.

'I was being attacked for the memory of my son. My son's very short life was being attacked, and I just wasn't going to stand for that,' said Pozner, appearing heavily disguised on 60 Minutes, in a segment discussing a campaign to have social media companies held responsible for the content they allow online.

Lenny Pozner appeared in disguise on 60 Minutes, to avoid conspiracy theorists finding him

A team of theatre make up specialists worked to alter Pozner's features for the interview

Pozner was given a wig, prosthetics and fake skin in a bid to disguise him from attackers

He has fought back against the trolls, winning settlements against those spreading the lies and campaigning for Facebook to remove the conspiracy theory posts.

In June 2017 Lucy Richards, 57, was sentenced to five months in a Florida jail for having sent messages to Pozner, including one that read: 'Death is coming to you real soon and nothing you can do about it.'

In June 2019 Pozner won a defamation case against editors of a book that claimed no one died at the Newtown, Connecticut, school.

A summary judgment found that James H. Fetzer and Mike Palecek defamed Pozner with statements that his son's death certificate was a fake.

In October 2019 a Wisconsin jury determined the amount that Fetzer must pay Pozner for making defamatory statements, with the foreperson writing in '$450,000' on the form.

In December 2019 the host of the InfoWars show, Alex Jones, was ordered by a Texas court to pay $100,000 in damages to another father. Pozner's case against Jones is still pending.

Pozner's son Noah was six when he was murdered at Sandy Hook school in December 2012

Lucy Richards (pictured) was sentenced to five months in prison for sending him death threats

Pozner's aggressive countering of the lies has made him a particular target for conspiracy theorists - he has received multiple death threats, including one voicemail that saw a woman sentenced to prison, and has moved house seven times for safety.

'Conversations denying the tragedy. Accusing the government of staging it,' he said, when asked on 60 Minutes what form the conspiracy theories took.

'That Noah did not die; that I'm not Noah's father. It all revolves around the notion that these are staged shootings, scripted events, that I'm an actor, that I'm paid, to fake the death of a child.'

Pozner founded the HONR Network to help those who faced similar situations.

Noah was one of 20 children and six staffers murdered in the Connecticut school in 2012

Mourners embrace following funeral services for six year-old Noah in December 2012

Tributes to Noah and the other children are seen at a memorial for the victims in 2012

He has helped Maatje Benassi, who in March was labeled Patient Zero because she had been in Wuhan, China, in October 2019.

She had represented the U.S. military in an armed forces version of the Olympics; was a cyclist and an Army reservist who served in Iraq.

In March an article about her in her local newspaper caught the attention of a deep state conspiracist named George Webb and he filmed a video accusing her of being part of a plot to spread COVID, posted by a conspiracy theorist on YouTube that had already drawn hundreds of thousands of views.

She began getting death threats.

'We're going to put a bullet in her skull. Let's load up the trucks. Let's go get them. Let's hang them,' she recounted, adding that her address had also been posted online.

Both are now campaigning to try and make social media networks more accountable for their content.
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Actress Kriti Sanon, who recently recovered from Covid-19, has resumed work as she flew to Jaisalmer with the team of Bachchan Pandey to commence the film's shoot. Actor Akshay Kumar, who will lead the film, is expected to join soon.

Producer Sajid Nadiadwala, took to his official Instagram account to share a picture of the team inside the flight to Jaisalmer. "New Year! New Beginnings! The GANG is all set to roll #NGEFamily is excited to kick start #SajidNadiadwala's #BachchanPandey. Shoot begins on 6th Jan in Jaisalmer! @farhadsamji, the caption read.

Pratiek Babbar and Arshad Warsi were also seen in the pictures. The duo will play pivotal roles in the film.

Kriti took to Instagram stories to share glimpses of Jaisalmer. Kriti re-shared Nadiadwala's post, gave a glimpse of their hotel and a video of women performing a traditional dance form from Rajasthan. She captioned the video, Back to this Paradise.

According to reports, Akshay Kumar will join the team later. The actor, who recently wrapped his film Bell Bottom id Scotland, is currently working on Aanand L Rai's Atrangi Re with Sara Ali Khan and Dhanush.

Bachchan Pandey will be directed by Farhad Samji. It is a story of a gangster, who wants to be an actor. Kriti Sanon will play a journalist with aspiration to become a director.

Meanwhile, Kriti tested positive for coronavirus as she returned from Chandigarh where she had been shooting with actor Rajkummar Rao for Abhishek Jain's upcoming comedy Second Innings. The film also stars Paresh Rawal and Dimple Kapadia, and is scheduled to release next year.

Kriti will also be seen in Mimi, the Hindi remake of the Marathi film Mala Aai Vyyachay. Luka Chuppi director Laxman Utekar will direct the film, and Kriti will essay the role of a young surrogate mother.
On Monday, the Old Bailey Court in London will decide whether Julian Assange should be extradited to the United States or not.

The Peace and Solidarity Platform announced a protest calling for the release of Julian Assange on Saturday at 3pm in front of the British Embassy.

In response, the Luxembourg Journalists' Association (ALJP) has shown solidarity and expressed its opposition to the extradition to the USA.

Furthermore, the protesters wish to point out that Assange's health condition has deteriorated considerably during his imprisonment.
UDA repeals 29 development plans, raising concerns View(s):

At least 29 development plans have been repealed by the Urban Development Authority (UDA) issuing a controversial gazette notification recently under the signature of subject minister and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, a group of professionals alleged.

The cancellation of these plans devised during the previous regime have been announced by the UDA with the aim of legitimising new development plans with zonal factor under the proposed planning and development regulations, a move that has been vehemently objected to by relevant professionals and experts.

The proposed regulations have been strongly objected in written submissions sent by the Surveyor General / Chairman Land Survey Council, Professionals National Front (PNF), Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka, Institute of Drafting Technologists Sri Lanka and several other relevant experts and professionals.

This Gazette Notification No. 2206/11 dated 15.12.2020 has been signed by the Prime Minister on 25.11.2020 amidst strong and serious legitimate objections, a leading PNF member and public interest activist told the Business Times.

It seems that the UDA officials have misled the Prime Minister and other officials in order to obtain the premiers signature, he alleged. It is further vital to consider the legal position of said repealed Development Plans as they are no more valid from 15.12.2020 and any approval granted from 15.12.2020, until the revised plans are published, may be technically defective, he added.

As stated by the Director General UDA these regulations were made public only in May 2019. Then it was rejected by almost all the sectors and not proceeded with, he disclosed.

As a matter of fact the UDA never discussed the regulations from last May 2019 to November 2020; and is now in the process of unlawfully publishing the same in the gazette by citing factually incorrect information, he alleged.

While after publishing the gazette on 15.12.2020 without any notification to the interested parties who have already submitted objections, Deputy Director General (Planning), UDA invited interested parties for discussions by the letter dated 18.12.2020, where the discussions was held on 23.12.2020.

At the discussions on 23.12.2020 UDA did not pronounce the gazette notifications already published; most probably with an agenda to publish the Proposed Regulations with the Development Plans with Zonal Factor, a representative who attended the meeting revealed.

Not a single party approved the said proposed regulations at the discussions, he said adding that it was revealed that in the morning of the same day of 23.12.2020 more than 90 local authority persons were invited and had long discussions on the proposed regulations.

He noted that local authorities also had been misled and misinformed at the proceedings by the UDA as most of the local authority chairmen may not know that their existing development plans have been repealed.

The Land Survey Council, Survey Department and the Surveyors Institute had met UDA officials on 22.12.2020, where most of the legal irregularities of the proposed UDA regulations in terms of land have been exposed.
Champaign, IL (61820)

Today

Showers this evening, becoming a steady rain overnight. Low around 65F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%..

Tonight

Showers this evening, becoming a steady rain overnight. Low around 65F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%.
Patrick Semansky-Pool/Getty ImagesBY: ADAM KELSEY, ABC NEWS

(WASHINGTON )  Dr. Anthony Fauci said Sunday that he did not anticipate the COVID-19 pandemic death toll in the United States would reach current levels, lamenting that indoor activity and holiday travel has facilitated virus transmission and calling for Americans to take the necessary public safety precautions to slow the ongoing surge.

"To have 300,000 cases in a given day, and between two and 3,000 deaths a day is just terrible," the nation's top infectious disease expert told ABC's "This Week" Co-anchor Martha Raddatz Sunday. "There's no running away from the numbers, Martha. It's something that we absolutely got to grasp and get our arms around and turn that inflection down by very intensive adherence to the public health measures, uniformly, throughout the country, with no exception."

Fauci's comments came minutes after President Donald Trump misleadingly claimed in a tweet that the numbers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of infected persons and deaths in the country are "exaggerated," despite coronavirus cases continuing to increase nationwide. Even as recent data fluctuates due to inconsistent reporting over the holidays, the U.S. this weekend topped 20 million COVID-19 cases and 350,000 deaths since the onset of the pandemic 10 months ago.

"The deaths are real deaths," Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said, when asked by Raddatz for his response to the president's tweet. "All you need to do is go out into the trenches. Go to the hospitals and see what the health care workers are dealing with. They are under very stressful situations in many areas of the country. The hospital beds are stretched, people are running out of beds, running out of trained personnel who are exhausted."

"That's real," he continued. "That's not fake. That's real."

On "This Week," Fauci also responded to growing concerns over the speed of vaccinations in the U.S.

"Many states (are) using just a small percentage of the vaccines they have received," Raddatz said. "What's the biggest cause of this delay?"

"I think it's just trying to get a massive vaccine program started and getting off on-the-right-foot," Fauci responded, acknowledging that there have been "a couple of glitches," which he called "understandable," given the scale of the effort. But the doctor contended that recent numbers offered a "glimmer of hope."

"In the last 72 hours, they've gotten 1.5 million doses into people's arms, which is an average of about 500,000 a day, which is much better than the beginning when it was much, much less than that," Fauci said. "So we are not where we want to be, there is no doubt about that, but I think we can get there if we really accelerate, get some momentum going and see what happens as we get into the first couple of weeks of January."

As of Sunday morning, over 14 million vaccine doses have been distributed across the U.S., but only 4.2 million people have received shots, according to the CDC, prompting criticism of the government's rollout plan from both Democrats and Republicans.

"As I long feared and warned, the effort to distribute and administer the vaccine is not progressing as it should," President-elect Joe Biden said Tuesday, claiming that at the current pace, "it's going to take years -- not months -- to vaccinate the American people.

"Unlike the development of the vaccines, the vaccination process itself is falling behind," Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, said in a statement Friday. "That comprehensive vaccination plans have not been developed at the federal level and sent to the states as models is as incomprehensible as it is inexcusable."

Trump noted the gap between the delivery and immunization numbers in a separate tweet Sunday morning, appearing to characterize the disparity as the effect of a successful distribution plan.

"The vaccines are being delivered to the states by the Federal Government far faster than they can be administered!" Trump wrote.

Even if the U.S. vaccination program accelerates, health experts are concerned that continued skepticism about the inoculation could prolong the pandemic. Last week, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine reported that 60% of eligible nursing home workers were declining the vaccine; Fauci has said that upwards of 70% of the population will likely need to be immunized to achieve herd immunity.

On "This Week," Raddatz referenced that distrust of the vaccine as she pressed Fauci about his prediction that the pandemic's waning days and a sense of "normality" could arrive by the fall.

"It is totally going to depend on the uptake of vaccines," he said. "If from April, May, June, July and August, we do the kind of (increased) vaccine implementation that I'm talking about -- at least (1) million people a day and maybe more -- by the time we end the summer and get to the fall, we will have achieved that level of herd immunity that I think will get us back to some form of normality."

While looking ahead, Fauci recalled the success of a vaccination effort over 70 years ago in his home city of New York that provides a blueprint for what he believes is possible in 2021 across the U.S. In 1947, 5 million New Yorkers were immunized for smallpox in two weeks, he said.

"The goal of vaccinating 100 million people in the first 100 days is a realistic goal," Fauci noted earlier in Sunday's interview. "We can do 1 million people per day. You know weve done massive vaccination programs, Martha, in our history. Theres no reason why we cant do it right now."

Copyright  2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
Scientists have slammed the new guidance which allows for the interchange of vaccines, if the second dose of the vaccine originally received is not available, saying officials have abandoned science and are just trying to 'guess their way out of a mess'

Amid a sputtering vaccine rollout and fears of a new and potentially more transmissible variant of the coronavirus , Britain has quietly updated its vaccination playbook to allow for a mix-and-match vaccine regimen. If a second dose of the vaccine a patient originally received isnt available, or if the manufacturer of the first shot isnt known, another vaccine may be substituted, health officials said.

The new guidance contradicts guidelines in the United States, where the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has noted that the authorised COVID-19 vaccines are not interchangeable, and that the safety and efficacy of a mixed-product series have not been evaluated. Both doses of the series should be completed with the same product.

Some scientists say Britain is gambling with its new guidance. There are no data on this idea whatsoever, said John Moore, a vaccine expert at Cornell University. Officials in Britain seem to have abandoned science completely now and are just trying to guess their way out of a mess.

Health officials in Britain are caught in a deadly race with the virus, which is surging again, and are struggling to get as many people vaccinated as possible. Hospitals continue to strain under a crush of coronavirus patients, and tens of thousands of new infections are reported each day. Schools in London and other regions hit hard by the virus will remain closed for at least the next two weeks, government officials said Friday.

The country has issued an emergency green light to two vaccines, developed by Pfizer and AstraZeneca. According to Britains new guidance, every effort should be made to complete a dosing regimen with the same shot first used. But when the same vaccine is not available, or if the first product received is unknown, it is reasonable to offer one dose of the locally available product the second time around.

This option is preferred if the individual is likely to be at immediate high risk or is considered unlikely to attend again, the recommendation said. Because both vaccines target the spike protein of the coronavirus , it is likely the second dose will help to boost the response to the first dose.

Following requests for comment, officials at Public Health England drew attention to the similarities between the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines and said that clinical trials testing mixed regimens were to start sometime this year.

It is far from certain that the vaccines are interchangeable, several researchers said.

None of this is being data-driven right now, said Dr Phyllis Tien, an infectious disease physician at the University of California, San Francisco. Were kind of in this Wild West.

Steven Danehy, a spokesman for Pfizer, pointed to the companys late-stage clinical trial findings, which relied on a two-dose schedule of its vaccine that was 95 percent effective at preventing COVID-19 .

While decisions on alternative dosing regimens reside with health authorities, Pfizer believes it is critical health authorities conduct surveillance efforts on any alternative schedules implemented and to ensure each recipient is afforded the maximum possible protection, which means immunization with two doses of the vaccine, Danehy said.

Both Pfizers and AstraZenecas vaccines introduce into the body a protein called spike that, while not infectious itself, can teach immune cells to recognise and fight off the actual coronavirus .

But the vaccines impart their immunological lessons through different methods and do not contain equivalent ingredients. While Pfizers vaccine relies on a molecule called messenger RNA, or mRNA, packaged into greasy bubbles, AstraZenecas shots are designed around a virus shell that delivers DNA, a cousin of mRNA.

Both vaccines are intended to be doled out in two-shot regimens, delivered three or four weeks apart. While the first shots of each vaccine are thought to be somewhat effective at preventing COVID-19 , its the second dose  intended as a sort of molecular review session for the immune system  that clinches the protective process.

While its possible that swapping out one vaccine for another may still school the body to recognise the coronavirus , it is a scientific gamble. With different ingredients in each vaccine, its possible people will not benefit as much from a second shot. Mixing and matching could also make it more difficult to collect clear data on vaccine safety.

Without evidence to back it, the hybrid vaccination approach seems premature, said Saad Omer, a vaccine expert at Yale University. Still, its not without precedent: health authorities like the CDC have previously said that if its impossible to give doses of a vaccine from the same manufacturer, providers should administer the vaccine that they have available to complete an injection schedule.

In a controversial move, the British government this week also decided to front-load its vaccine rollout, delivering as many first doses to people as possible  a move that could delay second shots up to 12 weeks.

The speedy deployment might afford more people partial protection against the virus in the short term. But some experts, including Moore, worry that this, too, might be unwise, and could imperil vulnerable populations.

A vaccination gap that stretches on too long may hamstring the second shots ability to boost the protective powers of the first  or raise the odds that people will forget, or decide against, returning for another injection.

The whiplash changes in guidance in Britain, many made without public meetings or strong data, may erode trust in vaccination campaigns and public health measures in general, Tien said.

Were making an assumption that the public is just going to listen and come in and get the vaccine, she said. Im worried thats not going to happen.

Katherine J Wu c.2021 The New York Times Company
MUMBAI: The Congress has reiterated its objection to renaming Aurangabad even as its ally Shiv Sena said the name change would happen soon but the issue would not rock the coalition government in Maharashtra.

Maharashtra minister and state Congress chief Balasaheb Thorat had said two days ago that he would strongly oppose renaming the Aurangabad city in central Maharashtra as Sambhajinagar. Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Thorat said the party revers Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj as well as his son and successor Chhatrapati Sambhaji, but the issue of renaming should not be used for 'spreading hatred'.

It was the Shiv Sena, which had first made the demand to rename Aurangabad as Sambhajinagar over two decades ago.

A proposal to that effect had been passed in the general body meeting of the Aurangabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) in June 1995, which was challenged by a Congress corporator in the high court and later in the Supreme Court.

An editorial on Saturday in the Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana' said the Congress has opposed the proposal to rename Aurangabad which has "made the (opposition) BJP happy".

"But the Congress's opposition to the proposal is not new and therefore, linking it to the Maha Vikas Aghadi government is foolishness."

"Thorat announced that if any proposal for renaming Aurangabad comes up before the MVA government, his party would oppose it. It is his claim. After his statement, BJP leaders started demanding that the Sena should make its stand clear on the issue. But the Sena has not changed its stance on it."

"Balasaheb Thackeray had renamed Aurangabad as Sambhajinagar 30 years ago, which was accepted by the people. And it will soon be changed officially as well," it said.

It also asked why the BJP did not rename the city when it was in power in Maharashtra.

"It is an insult to the memory of Chhatrapati ShivajiMaharaj that a city in Maharashtra should bear Aurangazeb's name, who brutally killed ChhatrapatiSambhaji Maharaj," it said.

"But what Thorat is saying is right. The Maharashtra government is duty-bound to implement the Common Minimum Program of giving justice to the downtrodden and farmers," the Sena mouthpiece said.

Congress's opposition to the renaming proposal will not affect the Sena-NCP-Congress alliance, it said.

Speaking to reporters, Sena leader Sanjay Raut said that Bal Thackeray had given the city the name Sambhajinagar. "Only paper work is left now. When all the MVA allies sit together and talk, the issue would get resolved."

Later in the evening, Thorat said the issue of renaming a city shouldn't be used for spreading hatred and divisions in society. "Our focus is development works," he added.

Aurangabad, once the headquarters of the Dakkhan (Deccan) province in Mughal empire, derives its name from emperor Aurangzeb.

Another state Congress leader and state minister Ashok Chavan said renaming a city was not the coalition government's priority and it was not part of the common minimum programme.

According to historian Dr Dulari Qureshi, the city was known by various names in different periods, such as `Raj Tadag', `Khadki' and `Fatehnagar', before it acquired its present name.
NAIROBI (Reuters) - Kenya is extending its nightly curfew to March 12 as part of measures aimed at taming the spread of COVID-19, President Uhuru Kenyatta's office said on Sunday.

In early November, Kenyatta extended the nightly curfew that was in place, and it had been due to expire on Sunday. It runs between 10 p.m and 4 a.m.

A ban on political and roadside gatherings that could turn into super spreader events was also extended for another 60 days, as was a prohibition on overnight events and vigils, Kenyatta's office said in a statement.

When the first coronavirus cases were confirmed in Kenya in March 2020, the government closed schools, imposed a curfew, banned public gatherings and at one point restricted movement in and out of the most-affected regions.

Some of the measures were eventually relaxed, and schools are expected to reopen on Monday. However, extracurricular school activities such as sports are banned for 90 days, as well as non-essential visits by parents and guardians, the president's office said.

Like other countries around the world, Kenya's tourism, education and other key sectors have been pummelled by the pandemic. Its second-quarter economic output declined for the first time since the global financial crisis of 2008.

Kenya has recorded a total of 96,802 cases and 1,685 deaths, Ministry of Health data showed on Sunday.

(Reporting by George Obulutsa; Editing by Frances Kerry)
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Israel is leading the race with a rate of 11.55 vaccination doses per 100 people, according to statistics from the 'Our World in Data' website affiliated with Oxford University.

London, Jan 2 (IANS) As vaccination drive to end the pandemic slowly heats up, Israel is leading the world in Covid-19 vaccine doses per capita as the country has given vaccinations to more than one million people, more than 10 per cent of the country's nine million population.

Israel began vaccinations on December 19 as the country secured supplies of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine after negotiations early on during the pandemic, according to a BBC report on Saturday.

More than one million people in the country have now received the first of the two doses of the vaccine.

Israel is followed by Bahrain at 3.49, the UK at 1.47 and the US at 0.84, the data showed.

The data revealed that 9.95 million people globally have received Covid-19 vaccine doses.

While China has administered Covid-19 vaccine doses to 4.5 million people, the US has given doses to 2.79 million people, less than one per cent of the country's population.

The UK has also given vaccine doses to more than one million people, according to 'Our World in Data' which is a collaboration between researchers at the Oxford University and the non-profit organisation 'Global Change Data Lab'.

Globally, more than 1.8 million people have lost their lives due to the pandemic.

--IANS

gb/khz/rt
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On Christmas Eve in the midlands, an extended family gathered together for the first of several festive meals over that three-day celebration.

There were 14 in the group, several adults and a number of children. One family had travelled from a different county, but that was allowed by the public health guidelines. Back home after the festivities, one of the children at that Christmas meal claimed to have minor symptoms. The child's parent rang an acquaintance who works in the local public health department for advice. Was the child worrying unnecessarily and "overstating" their symptoms? This extended family had been very careful.

The child tested positive for Covid-19. And according to Dr Una Fallon, director of public health in the Health Service Executive (HSE) midlands region, all the other members of that 14-strong group who gathered around that Christmas dinner table are likely to test positive too.

"Many people are not clear on what the symptoms are or play 'ostrich' with the reality that is in front of them," she said.

All over Ireland, careful families marked the end of a tough year by gathering for what were intended to be responsible Christmas celebrations - with the approval of the Government, which lifted restrictions to allow it.

The ripples from those Christmas get-togethers have been gathering pace and force ever since. Covid-19 is now "rampant", with predictions of 3,000 cases a day by the end of the month. Yesterday 73 people sick with Covid-19 were admitted to hospitals across Ireland - a record number - bringing the total in hospital with the disease to 581. Fifty six are in intensive care. The situation is deteriorating. Paul Reid, the head of the HSE, tweeted that the country has "yet to see the worst impact" of this third wave. Professor Philip Nolan, chair of the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) modelling group, said yesterday hospitalisations are now doubling every seven to 10 days.

The worry is less for younger people who took advantage of the easing of restrictions to get together for festive drinks in the run-up to Christmas. It is for the parents and grandparents who sat down with their loved ones for Christmas Day lunch, just like that family of 14 in the midlands.

"What we are seeing now is what we were seeing the week before Christmas. But what we are worried about is the week between Christmas and New Year, which would have seen an awful lot more contacts between family members and older family members," said Dr Colman O'Loughlin, clinical director and an intensive care specialist at the Mater hospital in Dublin. With the time lag between contracting the virus and becoming seriously ill, those cases are expected to start presenting to hospitals over the next two weeks. "We are expecting the numbers to go up an awful lot," said Dr O'Loughlin.

He was speaking this weekend from his office in the Mater on what should have been a day off, but instead he is trying to balance rising Covid-19 admissions, numbers of patients in ICU and the numbers of staff required to keep services going.

According to Dr O'Loughlin, if admissions continue at this rate, the hospitals will have to start shutting down other services. "We are talking about major restrictions on hospital activities if we see those numbers driving up and up: you're talking about cancelling all outpatients, cancelling most elective surgeries or else referring them into quieter hospitals and private hospitals," he said.

"That is what we were talking about this morning - that is definitely on the cards, but there is a day-by-day assessment of the situation."

The future of hospital services hinges on its ICU capacity; they are the hospital's "weakest link", according to Dr O'Loughlin, and are most vulnerable to influxes of Covid-19 patients.

About 10pc of patients admitted to hospital with Covid-19 will need to go to intensive care, he said. The problems arise not just in terms of there being enough ICU beds available - there are 30 in the Mater, for all patients, not just Covid-19 - but in having the high staff numbers required to provide the round-the-clock care for patients in those beds.

"If we see Covid-19 numbers coming up, we're projecting that we are going to have to use wards outside of our ICU unit to support these patients. Then we're looking at having to take ward staff off their normal duties to come in and help us. Therefore, other services will have to close," he said. "We have the ventilators. It's when we have to take staff away from other areas of the hospital to care for Covid-19 patients - that is the worry."

The third ingredient in this perfect storm of surging Covid-19 numbers and hospital admissions is the number of staff off sick or self-isolating due to Covid-19.

According to figures obtained by the Sunday Independent, the HSE estimates that around 2,000 health care workers in hospitals were off work last week because of the virus. For example, at St James's Hospital, Dublin, 181 staff were off due to Covid-19; 107 staff were off at University Hospital Limerick; 40 in James Connolly Memorial Hospital, Dublin; 131 in Beaumont Hospital, Dublin and56 in Temple Street Children's Hospital in Dublin.

More than 400 beds across acute hospitals in Ireland are currently vacant and not in use because of the numbers of staff lost to Covid-19, according to an informed source.

Worryingly, around 1,000 of those hospital staff have tested positive for the virus and most are believed to have acquired it in a hospital setting or by being in close contact with someone who picked it up in hospital. "Overall you are probably looking at well over 2,000 healthcare workers in hospitals who are off because of Covid-19 at the moment," said the source.

Dr O'Loughlin and the team at the Mater are right now engaged in a fine balancing act of weighing up bed numbers for the incoming waves of Covid-19 patients with the levels of staff they need to operate them.

"We have nine intensive care nurses and six operating theatre nurses who are self-isolating at home and will be swabbed shortly. We've had to close beds and try to reopen them with extra staff - if we can find them at this time of year," he said. "We're bringing people in who are not rostered, and they're working on overtime. But that is burning the candle at both ends, so that has implications as well.

"We are finding that our ICU staff are being asked to isolate more and more and we are looking at bringing in the surge-trained staff - and if we do, we are going to have to ask the hospital to consider curtailing some elective activities. Maybe not all, but some of those," he said.

For this third surge, there is no expensive national deal with private hospitals to manage patients from public hospitals overrun with Covid-19. Most hospitals are negotiating their own arrangements with private hospitals in their areas. "As things stand, we are preparing to go into next week managing most of our normal activities but are very cognisant of the fact that that could change very quickly and we may have to curtail services much faster than we would have liked, but we are not planning that yet."

The third surge will inevitably bring a higher death toll than we've seen for a while, according to Dr O'Loughlin. Could this wave be the worst? "It could - 3,000 a day - we hadn't seen that before. But last time we were not testing as many people. But yes, it could be worse."
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) speaks to the press after a meeting with Republican Senators in the Hart Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill, May 19, 2020 in Washington. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Senate Majority Leader McConnells House Vandalized After Relief Measure Fails

The home of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnells (R-Ky.) in Louisville, Kentucky, was found vandalized on Jan. 2.

Spray paint on the front door read, Weres [sic] my money, while Mitch Kills the Poor was scrawled over a window.

The messages likely refer to the Senates failure to approve an increase in the amount of money being sent to individuals to help cope with the coronavirus pandemic, from $600 to $2,000.

Ive spent my career fighting for the First Amendment and defending peaceful protest. I appreciate every Kentuckian who has engaged in the democratic process whether they agree with me or not, Sen. McConnell said in a statement in response to the vandalism. This is different. Vandalism and the politics of fear have no place in our society.

He added: My wife and I have never been intimidated by this toxic playbook. We just hope our neighbors in Louisville arent too inconvenienced by this radical tantrum.

The Republican Party of Kentucky wrote on Twitter: Vandalism is reprehensible and theres no place in our politics for acts like this. Kentuckians deserve better and the Democrats should join us in condemning this act of vandalism.

The governor of Kentucky called the vandalism reprehensible.

The vandalism to @senatemajldr McConnells home is unacceptable. While the First Amendment protects our freedom of speech, vandalism is reprehensible and never acceptable for any reason. ^AB  Governor Andy Beshear (@GovAndyBeshear) January 2, 2021

McConnell commented on his recent blocking of the increase to the direct payments: Socialism for rich peoplethats what Speaker [Nancy] Pelosi and Senator Sanders have sketched out. A terrible way to help those who need it. Experts across the political spectrum agree.

Our colleagues who purport to be the champions of vulnerable Americans now say that what struggling people really need is for Congress to stop focusing on targeted relief for them specifically and to instead send thousands of dollars to people who dont need the help, McConnell said on Dec. 31.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosis San Francisco house was also vandalized on Jan. 1. Written on the garage door were the messages 2k, cancel rent! We want everything, and UBI!, an apparent reference to universal basic income. An A inside of a circle, a symbol commonly attributed to the anarchist movement, was also written there.


Kareena Kapoor Khan gets her guests chatting and opening up to her and even revealing some great secrets on her chat show. Recently her radio chat show had Anil Kapoor and Anurag Kashyap as guests and the candid chat turned into a hilarious turn of events.







Kareena Kapoor Khan was asking about the pay disparity and the wide pay gap between heroes and heroines, reacting to this Anil Kapoor said, Yaar, yeh toh hero se zyada paise maang rahi hai. Maine bola, De do (She is demanding more money than the hero. I said, Give it to her). Now, this was said in reference to Veere Di Wedding. Anil Kapoor was the producer of the film and this was Bebos first film post-pregnancy in 2017 and sort of her comeback. The actor further said, They all called me up also, I said, Done. They were calling me when the negotiations were on. I said, Bebo jo maangegi, de do (Give Kareena what she wants). Kareena Kapoor Khan was left baffled by this comment and started laughing.

Well, the decision surely proved fruitful, as Veere Di Wedding turned out to be a blockbuster at the box-office. Anil Kapoor even said in the interview that he himself has acted in movies where the heroines have been paid more than him and he was happy to be a part of the movies.

Kareena Kapoor Khan is expecting her second child and is excited about being a mother for the second time. She will be next seen in Aamir Khan starrer Laal Singh Chadha and will release this year on Christmas.
Was the plane carrying UN secretary-general Dag Hammarskjold shot down? Sixty years later, the family of his Irish bodyguard are still seeking answers.

To this day mystery surrounds the plane crash in which Hammarskjold died on a mission to bring peace to the Congo. But suspicion remains that the airliner carrying him, his Irish bodyguard Frank Ivers and 14 others was shot down by a Fouga jet belonging to the breakaway province of Katanga. One of those jets had bombed and strafed Irish-UN troops at Jadotville only four days before.

I remember those events well for, strange as it may seem, a colleague and myself were asked for help in removing this aerial threat to the Irish troops.

For this reason I knew immediately who Frank Ivers was when he featured in a programme on RTE last week called The Photographer of Francis Street. The photographer was John Walsh, a remarkable Dubliner who recorded through the lens of his camera the people of the Liberties going back to the 1940s. Faced with boxes and boxes of negatives, his granddaughter Suzanne Behan has set up a Facebook page to help identify the people in the photographs.

One of those people was Frank Ivers, a garda in Kevin Street station. During her research Suzanne discovered that when Ivers was married, her grandfather took the wedding photographs. A couple of weeks later came the plane crash and he photographed the funeral. But how did a garda from Kevin Street come to be travelling with the UN secretary-general?

During a visit to Ivers's relatives in Tubbercurry, Co Sligo, Suzanne learned that Frank left the force to become a security guard with the United Nations and, following an appointment in Jerusalem, was transferred to the Congo where he became Hammarskjold's personal bodyguard. His sisters said they never got any answers to what had happened to his plane, Nellie adding: "I don't think it will ever be known until we are all gone."

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So what do we know of that tragic event? In 1960 Belgium had withdrawn from the Congo, but mayhem followed and it sent troops back in to protect its nationals.

The UN was asked for help and a peacekeeping force, including two battalions of Irish troops, was deployed to restore order.

To make a bad situation worse, Katanga, with the connivance of elements who wished to get their hands on the mineral-rich province, seceded. As the UN sought to reunite the country, clashes with Katanga forces followed.

Katanga also had two, maybe three, Fouga Magister jets which flew sorties in support of its ground forces. On September 14, 1961, four days before Frank Ivers was to die in the plane crash, one of those planes strafed members of the 35th Irish Battalion's A Company at Jadotville. It swooped in over the Irish trenches on a reconnaissance flight and soldiers could see the pilot "merrily waving" at them.

But when it returned it was a different story, writes Declan Power in his book Siege at Jadotville. It dropped two bombs and strafed the positions twice with canon fire. Four hours later it came back and did the same, but chanced only one strafing run in the teeth of A Company's fire.

As Power says, the UN had no air-power available to counter the threat from the Fougas at that time. Which perhaps might explain the telephone call I got from someone in the Army back home in Dublin.

I was a newspaper reporter specialising in defence matters and the caller wanted to know if we might have any way of sourcing the specifications of the Fougas.

I consulted our air correspondent, John Howard, and he went off to delve through his collection of glossy aviation magazines. "I kept thumbing through them," he says, "and eventually found one that had all the specifications of the Fouga. As far as I can remember it was Flight magazine."

We immediately passed the specifications on to our caller in the hope that the information might help those who were trying to think of a way of dealing with the problem. Whether it did help, we had no way of knowing. In any event, as Power writes, by late September, Indian bombers and Swedish and Ethiopian fighter planes arrived in the Congo to give the UN air primacy.

It might seem strange to those reading this today, that someone in the Army should make such a request to a newspaper. However, it should be borne in mind that at that time the Army was just emerging from years of inactivity and under-resourcing to grapple with the unexpected task of international peacekeeping. It did help the UN succeed in reuniting the Congo, but at considerable cost. By the time the operation came to an end, 26 Irish soldiers had lost their lives. Soldiers from other countries died too. The most notable casualty, of course, was the UN secretary-general, Dag Hammarskjold, and Frank Ivers's relatives are not the only ones still looking for answers to what happened on that fateful flight.

Hammarskjold was en route from the Congo to Ndola in Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia), where he was to meet the Katanga leader Moise Tshombe in the hope of negotiating a ceasefire. However his plane, a Douglas DC-6 airliner, crashed near Ndola killing all on board. The date was September 18, four days after the Fouga jet fighter bombed and strafed the Irish troops at Jadotville and among the many claims advanced for the crash of the airliner was that one of the Fougas shot it down.

Another suggested that mercenaries had fired a warning shot and downed it by accident.

Then there were the conspiracy theories involving various countries and the mineral-rich mines in Katanga. One inquiry concluded that pilot error was to blame. Another could not determine the cause.

Recently, however, two reports have again raised the possibility that the plane was shot down. In 2019 the Guardian reported that the pilot of one of the Fougas had told a friend he had shot down the plane, but didn't know who was in it. And later that year, The New York Times reported that a prominent jurist investigating the crash for the United Nations had concluded that the aircraft might have been attacked.

As far as the Irish public was concerned, the Fouga that harassed the Irish troops in the Congo in 1961 was probably no more than a name. However, Fougas were to become a familiar sight here at home as several were purchased for the Air Corps in 1975. Four of them, with their distinctive V-shaped tails, formed the Air Corps aerobatic team. Called the Silver Swallows, they entertained crowds at air shows for many years.

In some accounts of the Congo operation, says Declan Power, the Fougas were described as 'aged'. But considering that the Air Corps were still using them operationally into the 1990s, "the ones in the Congo were in pretty good shape".

During his career as a journalist, Tom McCaughren held the posts of defence correspondent of the 'Irish Times' and security correspondent of RTE
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San Francisco Rep. Nancy Pelosi was re-elected speaker of the House on Sunday, but will face new challenges in what could be her final term as speaker.

Pelosi, 80, will preside over the narrowest majority in two decades, with Democrats holding a 222-211 advantage over Republicans, with two seats yet to be filled, and centrists and progressives pulling her party in different directions.

She has a lot fewer votes to work with and the Democratic Party has a lot of factions, said Matthew Green, author of Choosing the Leader: Leadership Elections in the U.S. House of Representatives. It is harder to pass legislation when only a handful of Democrats could derail it.

The narrowness of Pelosis victory Sunday could be a harbinger of the challenges she will face over the next two years. Pelosi defeated House GOP leader Kevin McCarthy of Bakersfield, 216 to 209. Two moderate Democrats voted for someone besides Pelosi, and three others voted present.

However, all the members of the progressive group of legislators known as the squad backed Pelosi, even after its most prominent member, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, complained that national Democrats leading the partys congressional campaign strategy were out of tune with progressive voters.

After winning election to her fourth nonconsecutive term as speaker, Pelosi told the House, Our most urgent priority will continue to be defeating the coronavirus. And defeat it we will. Two weeks ago, we passed an emergency relief package to crush the virus and put money in the pockets of workers and families, which is now the law.

The pandemic has pulled back the curtain on even worsened disparities in our economy and our society. We must pursue justice: economic justice, justice in health, racial justice, environmental and climate justice, Pelosi said.

Beyond all of the politics in this vote, we have to remember this is still historic, said Kelly Dittmar, director of research at Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University. She remains the first  and only  woman to serve as speaker.

But this term could also be Pelosis last as speaker. Two years ago, as part of a deal she cut with Democrats who threatened to oppose her for the top job, she promised not to serve as speaker beyond this term. She said in November, I will abide by those limits.

Here are some of the challenges Pelosi will face:

Less margin for error: Democrats will hold the smallest majority since Republicans held a seven-vote edge in 2001. Pelosi will face pressure from both her left  including Ocasio-Cortez and an emboldened Progressive Caucus  and from moderates who feel Democrats are teetering too far left for many Americans.

She has less margin for error, said Molly Reynolds, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. Obviously, she has long been very good at counting the votes in her caucus. Her mantra is always, first, you count the votes, then you take the votes.

Maintaining a united caucus in this new universe will require all of Pelosis self-described skills as a master legislator.

Ocasio-Cortez was one of the last Democrats to cast a ballot for Pelosi on Sunday. Asked afterward whether she had exacted any concessions  such as a vote on a Medicare for All health care plan  in exchange for her support, Ocasio-Cortez said she and other progressives have been in conversations and negotiations with the speaker.

Green said that while Pelosi has always had to deal with factions in the Democratic Party, these are more assertive than theyve been in the past.

Trumpism lingers: President Trump will be out of office come Jan. 20, but Trumpism will outlast him.

Trumps influence is alive in the House, where as many as 140 Republicans will join a dozen GOP senators Wednesday in challenging several states Electoral College votes for President-elect Joe Biden. Judges and courts have rejected nearly 60 legal challenges to the election results over the past two months.

Even if the GOP protest fails, as expected, Pelosi will have an energized GOP to contend with. McCarthy noted in his floor speech Sunday that unlike Democrats, who lost a dozen seats in the election, no Republican incumbent was defeated.

It was a wake-up call. The question I ask of this majority: Were you listening? McCarthy said.

Stay tuned in the Senate: Tuesdays special elections in Georgia will determine whether the Senate will be controlled by Republicans or Democrats. The results will also shape Pelosis strategy.

If Republicans maintain control of the Senate, the result will likely be at least two more years of gridlock and White House executive orders. But if Democrats win the Senate, Reynolds said, Pelosi will have a little less of an ability to take a messaging vote that would be popular with the Democratic base, without having to worry about it actually becoming law.

More will be expected of Democrats because they will have the presidency, Reynolds said.

Pelosi has made that adjustment before. In 2007, she was elected speaker when George W. Bush was president. But Green said she shifted into focusing on governing in 2009, when Barack Obama took office. That led to the passage of the Affordable Care Act and other Democratic priorities.

The Trump factor: One of the few downsides for Pelosi in Trumps leaving office is that opposition to Trump was often a unifying force for House Democrats, Reynolds said.

But having Biden as president will also take some pressure off of her to play this role of being the wall between Republican policy proposals and Republican policy outcomes, Dittmar said.

A lame duck? Few analysts expect Pelosi to lose any power, even though she has acknowledged that this could be her last term as speaker. And there is always a chance she could change her mind, analysts said.

Her commitment to not run again is phrased in an unusual way, Green said, but I see no reason to suspect why she would run again.

And that might mean that she will retire from Congress after her term ends in 2022, Green said. The last speaker to remain in the House after being speaker was Joe Cannon in 1911.

Joe Garofoli is The San Francisco Chronicles senior political reporter. Email:jgarofoli@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @joegarofoli
Some backpackers in Australia feel they have been unfairly targeted by politicians and the media over breaches of coronavirus restrictions amid a "small wave of xenophobia" directed at young foreign travellers.

The Sun-Herald spoke to five backpackers in Sydney who all said they were grateful to be in Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic as they watched the situation in Europe deteriorate.

Backpackers Yaroslav Havrysh, Lena Zaim and Natasha Hastings, pictured at Bondi Beach, remain enthusiastic about their travel experiences in Australia despite the COVID-19 crisis. Credit:Steven Saphore

Federal Immigration Minister Alex Hawke last week threatened to deport backpackers who attended a Christmas Day beach party in Bronte.

NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard called the party "absolutely appalling" and Liberal MP Jason Falinski said: "Their visas should be cancelled and they should be deported immediately."
He is set to appear at the Old Bailey on Monday to see if he will be extradited

Assange's lawyers have said he faces up to 175 years in jail if he is convicted

He has been held in Belmarsh prison since leaving the Ecuadorian embassy

Julian Assange will find out tomorrow if he will be extradited from the UK to the US - as Wikileaks urge prosecutors to drop the charges against him.

Assange, 49, who co-founded the website in 2006, faces an 18-count indictment, alleging a plot to hack computers and a conspiracy to obtain and disclose national defence information.

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The case follows WikiLeaks's publication of hundreds of thousands of leaked documents in 2010 and 2011 relating to the Afghanistan and Iraq wars, as well as diplomatic cables.

Prosecutors say Assange helped US defence analyst Chelsea Manning breach the Espionage Act, was complicit in hacking by others, and published classified information that put the lives of US informants in danger.

Assange denies plotting with Manning to crack an encrypted password on US Department of Defence computers and says there is no evidence anyone's safety was put at risk.

WikiLeaks has called for the United States to drop charges against Julian Assange ahead of a judge's decision tomorrow on whether he will be extradited from the UK

He is set to appear at the Old Bailey on Monday, where District Judge Vanessa Baraitser will deliver her judgment on whether he should be extradited to face the charges in the US.

Assange's lawyers have said he faces up to 175 years in jail if convicted, although the US government said the sentence was more likely to be between four and six years.

Kristinn Hrafnsson, WikiLeaks editor-in-chief, said: 'The mere fact that this case has made it to court let alone gone on this long is an historic, large-scale attack on freedom of speech.

'The US Government should listen to the groundswell of support coming from the mainstream media editorials, NGOs around the world such as Amnesty and Reporters Without Borders and the United Nations who are all calling for these charges to be dropped.

'This is a fight that affects each and every person's right to know and is being fought collectively.'

Assange's fiancee, Stella Moris, with whom he has two young sons, is expected to attend court on Monday along with his legal team.

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She has been among supporters urging Donald Trump to pardon Assange before the end of his presidency.

Assange faces 18 charges in the US relating to the 2010 release by WikiLeaks of 500,000 secret files detailing aspects of military campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq (Above, a court sketch of Assange at the Old Bailey during a hearing in his extradition battle)

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Writing in the Mail on Sunday, she said it will 'not only be an unthinkable travesty' if Assange loses the extradition case, but 'the ruling would also be politically and legally disastrous for the UK'.

'In the US, I believe Julian would face a certain and monstrously unjust conviction,' she added.

Key dates in Julian Assange's legal battle since 2012 May 2012: The Supreme Court in the UK rules Assange should be extradited to Sweden to face questioning over the allegations June 2012: He enters the Ecuadorean embassy in London August 2012: Ecuador grants him asylum, saying there are fears his human rights might be violated if he was to be extradited August 2015: Swedish prosecutors drop their investigation into two allegations December 2017: He is granted Ecuadorean citizenship April 2019: Ecuador withdraws his asylum status and he is arrested at the embassy May 2019: He is sentenced to 50 weeks in jail for breaching his bail conditions. Sweden reopens a sexual assault investigation and the US files 17 new charges against him November 2019: Swedish prosecutors discontinue an investigation into an allegation of rape against him

Assange has been held in high security Belmarsh prison since he was carried out of the Ecuadorian embassy in London by police before being arrested for breaching his bail conditions in April 2019.

He had entered the building in 2012 after exhausting all legal avenues to avoid extradition to Sweden to face sex offence allegations, which he has always denied and were eventually dropped.

Assange's legal team claimed the prosecution under Mr Trump's administration was politically motivated after an investigation launched during Barack Obama's presidency failed to bring charges.

During his 2016 election campaign against Hillary Clinton, Mr Trump said 'I love WikiLeaks' after the website published Russia-hacked Democratic National Committee (DNC) emails.

Assange's extradition hearing was told he was offered a pardon in August 2017, allegedly on behalf of the US president, in exchange for identifying the source of the emails.

The court also heard a security contractor was allegedly recruited by 'American friends' to bug Assange's meetings at the Ecuadorian embassy.

By December 2017, the US contacts were said to be 'desperate', and even discussed a potential kidnap or poison plot to end the stalemate.

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The Old Bailey heard evidence Assange has been diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome and psychiatrists for the defence said he suffers from severe depression and is a high suicide risk.

James Lewis QC, representing the US government, has said the hearing is 'not a trial' and argued the defence submissions do not amount to a bar to Assange's extradition.

The judge's decision is likely to be appealed by the losing side.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-12-09 20:49:44|Editor: huaxia

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ACCRA, Dec. 9 (Xinhua) -- At least five people were killed in violent eruptions during and after Ghana's Monday's general election, police said here Wednesday.

Sheilla Kessie Abayie-Buckman, the spokesperson for Ghana Police, said in a statement that there were 61 recorded cases of electoral and post-electoral violence across the country.

"Six of the incidents involved gunshots, resulting in the death of five persons," the statement said.

The statement added that "the National Election Security Task Force deems the recorded incidents as avoidable and therefore condemns their occurrence and promises to investigate each one of them."

The West African country is still waiting for the declaration of the outcome of the polls. Enditem
Delhi on Sunday recorded 424 cases of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), lowest in over seven months, according to news agency PTI which quoted health authorities. The national capital has been recording less than 500 new Covid-19 cases for two days in a row now. While 708 people have recovered, as many as 14 deaths have been reported due to the disease in the last 24 hours, according to health authorities.

Click here for complete coverage of Covid-19

On Saturday, Delhi recorded 494 new coronavirus cases. The capital has been recording a steady decline Covid-19 cases since the last week of December.

In an order on Thursday, Delhis health minister Satyender Jain asked the number of beds dedicated for Covid treatment in the hospitals to be reduced in view of the plummeting cases of the disease.

Orders have been issued to Delhi hospitals, to de-escalate the number of covid dedicated beds with immediate effect.



This has been done in light of the decreasing cases of covid-19 in Delhi. pic.twitter.com/oao6EG3zsh  Satyendar Jain (@SatyendarJain) December 31, 2020

The coronavirus positivity rate in Delhi has also dipped below one per cent to 0.62 per cent. The total number of coronavirus cases in Delhi currently stands at 6,26,872 with total recoveries amounting to 6,11,243, while active cases remain 5,044.

India started off the new year with the drug controller of the country granting emergency use approval to Oxford Covid-19 vaccine Covishield, manufactured by the Serum Institute, and homegrown Covaxin of Bharat Biotech. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal had also expressed the pleasure on the restricted emergency use approval granted to the vaccines by the Drugs Controller General of India ( DGCI).

Applauding the scientists and doctors for their hard work, Kejriwal said, The approval of DCGI for the emergency use of two vaccines made in India will give a positive direction to Indias fight against Corona. Salute to the scientists and doctors whose hard work day and night has brought us here today.
President Donald Trump isn't done with criticizing the results of this year's presidential race but he's already seen as a frontrunner for the 2024 election as other contenders from the GOP remain.

This was reported as the Republican Nation Committee's annual winter meeting approaches, where Trump will be of attendance.

The RNC will be held on Amelia Island, Florida, from Wednesday to Friday.

The main agenda for the meeting is the reelection of Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel and picking officials for the party, but it will also be a good time for contenders against Trump for the 2024 election.

Contenders can start building bonds with the committee, activists, fundraisers and other figures in the RNC meeting, said a report from Fox News.

Trump Drops Hints on 2024 Presidential Run

Topping the list of 2024 hopefuls is the president, who will also be speaking to the crowd on Thursday.

Newsmax noted that he'd hinted on a possible 2024 run in case plans to overturn the election for this year fail.

Read also: Trump Reflects on 'Historic Victories' as Biden Looks Ahead in Contrasting New Year Messages

"It's been an amazing four years. We are trying to do another four years. Otherwise, I'll see you in four years," he said at a White House holiday party.

There were also reports that Trump also said something along the same lines behind closed doors with his advisers.

The Hill did note that Trump would be 78 by the time of the next election, and could be facing some struggles financial struggles.

There was also speculation that his eldest daughter Ivanka Trump was going to enter politics.

Nothing is for sure yet but reports said he might announce his bid before or after President-elect Joe Biden gets inaugurated.

There will also be other people aspiring to be president on the RNC gathering's guest list.

Contenders With Presidential Ambitions Also Expected in RNC Gathering

One of the most prominent contenders against Trump in 2024 would be Vice President Mike Pence, who had been harboring presidential ambitions.

The Hill said in its report that while Pence serve alongside Trump well over the past four years, the president grew irritated at him for providing insufficient support to his attempts to overturn the election for this year.

The president even retweeted a claim that Pence would refuse to accept electoral votes from crucial states, complicating his outlook for 2024.

Read also: McConnell's Kentucky Home Vandalized After Blocking Stimulus Checks Boost

However, he could be big-name candidate because of his current position as vice president.

Others on the list of presidential aspirants were former United Nations ambassador Nikki Haley, Sens. Tom Cotton, Ted Cruz, Josh Hawley, Tim Scott, Marco Rubio, Rick Scott, and Govs. Ron DeSantis and Kristi Noem.

Longtime national party committee member Henry Barbour told Fox News that the gathering would be an "important place for potential '24 candidates to come and talk about their vision for the country."

But given the many options and the first Congressional override under his presidency, it is worth noting that Trump continues to be influential among GOP lawmakers and voters.

He made it clear that he wants to be very involved in the inner workings of the Republican Party after the January inauguration.
Punjab cabinet minister and MLA of Ludhiana (west) constituency, Bharat Bhushan Ashu, has assured that pending dues of all 438 park management committees falling under the municipal corporation will be cleared within a week.

Ashu was chairing a meeting with all PMCs of the city at Guru Nanak Bhawan here on Sunday.

He said that there are 870 parks under the Ludhiana civic body, of which 565 are managed by 438 PMCs. He said that it is for the first time that representatives of all PMCs have been brought together under a common platform to share their views, problems and suggestions.

He appreciated their role in increasing the green cover in the city. He said that the social fabric of our society has been strengthened with the formation of PMCs as people from all age groups contribute in managing their respective parks and take pride in doing that.

Ashu added that soon, they will start holding a regular competition in which they will give prizes for the best maintained parks. He also urged councillors to ensure that the remaining 305 parks under MC are also maintained by the PMCs. He said that peoples participation is a must for the overall development of any society.

Ashu assured that all valid suggestions will be implemented within two months and any other feedback can be submitted in writing with the MC commissioner.

While replying to queries related to non clearance of pending dues, Ashu issued strict instructions to the MC officials to ensure that all bills are processed within two weeks and failure to do so will attract strict action.

He also assured that all PMCs will get Rs 2.50 per square metre, and in case of smaller parks, MC is working to fixing a particular amount so that it does not put financial burden on the PMCs.

The cabinet minister also said that phase 2 of the Sidhwan Canal Waterfront project (from Jawaddi Bridge till Dugri Bridge) will be started in the next 15 days and be completed in six months. He assured that outdoor gyms will be installed in almost all parks within a month.

He also stated that his main aim is to increase green cover in the city and his team is looking for vacant spaces in the city where green belts can be developed. He said that several green belts have been developed at those sites that were either garbage dumps or had vegetation.

MLA (east) Sanjay Talwar, Ludhiana Improvement Trust chairman Raman Balasubramaniam, senior deputy mayor Sham Sunder Malhotra, MC commissioner Pardeep Kumar Sabharwal and MC joint commissioner Kulpreet Singh among others were present on the occasion.

Green man of Ludhiana honoured:

JS Bilga, who retired as executive engineer of MCs horticulture wing, was also honoured on the occasion. He is know as the green man of Ludhiana as was instrumental in a massive tree plantation drive in the city in late 90s.

He gave a presentation on how fallen leaves can be converted into compost for use in parks.
If there is one thing that most of us indulged in during the lockdown, it was self-care. Taking care of our skin, hair, working out and trying everything that made us happy and a better version of ourselves, we did it. Shahid Kapoors wife Mira Rajput has also been sharing a lot of content on her social media that talks about holistic living and ways of improving our lifestyle .

From Yoga to clean eating, nutrition and sustainability, there are a lot of things that Mira talked about with her followers during the lockdown and she is still doing it. Her latest post is all about skincare. It is not just your regular skincare video with market bought products, but it is a Do It Yourself (DIY) clip that consists of all the products already available in your kitchen.

The clip that is captioned, DIY Skincare. Here are my favourite packs and potions that you can prepare yourself #GetTheGlow (sic), shows the mother-of-two dressed in a stunning rose-pink full-sleeved top. She teamed the turtle neck top with a pair of black lowers. For the video, Mira accessorised her outfit with a pair of drop earrings and left her side-parted hair down.

In the Instagram post, Mira also told her followers that she started making face packs with kitchen ingredients and taking care of her skin when she was 14. At the beginning of the video, she also gave a disclaimer that these face packs may not be as effective for the rest of the people but they work wonders for her. She also asked her followers to do a patch test on their skin before applying the masks as there might be a possibility of skin reactions.

Lets check out the DIY recipes she spoke about:

1. Honey And Haldi Pack

Honey is natural humectant aka it preserves the moisture of the skin and haldi is anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial. According to Mira, this pack is great for zits and can be applied when your skin is not looking fresh. Mix a pinch of haldi with some honey and let it remain on your skin for 20 minutes.

2. Raw Milk

Raw milk is Mira and her mothers go-to remedy for anything skin related. Be it a sunburn, uneven tan or dry skin, they use raw milk for it. In the morning take three tablespoons of raw milk and with the help of cotton, dab it on your face. Once it dries, repeat the process till you apply all the milk on your face. Mira also adds a little bit of rosewater to avoid the smell of the milk.

3. DIY Facial

Mira cuts a lemon and applies it on her face. Once she is done with it, she shifts to a homemade face mask which includes besan and dahi as the basic components. You can add whatever other ingredients you have in your home including orange peel, sandalwood, etc. Mix the ingredients and apply it on your skin, once it is semi-dried, she removes the mask. After that, Mira applies tomato juice on her face. After 10 minutes, she removes the juice and finally applies aloe vera which tones and tightens the skin.

4. DIY Oil For Hair

Mira adds 7-8 hibiscus leaves, curry leaves and methi seeds to coconut oil and boils it. Once it is cooled, she bottles it and applies whenever needed.

5. Hair Mask

For this, she boils half a cup of flax seeds in a pan of water and heats it till the water reduces and comes to a gel-like consistency. She passes it through a strainer and voila, your hair mask is ready. You can also use it as hair gel.

6. Mask For Zits

To get rid of zits, Mira steeps basil in water, once it is cooled, she dabs cotton in it and applies it on her zit. The zit temporarily settles and the redness also goes down for some time.

Which one of these have you tried before?

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Health officials today warned that people as young as 30 'will die from Covid' as NHS hospitals in the West Country brace for an overspill of critically-ill patients from London under emergency plans.

Trusts in London and the south-east at the centre of the UK's epidemic are preparing to transfer patients to hospitals in the south-west while patients in the east of England will be moved to the Midlands.

The massive Nightingale hospital at the London Excel Centre, which was created in record-time early in the pandemic only to be swiftly mothballed, is also expected to reopen within a fortnight, the Times reports.

National pairing arrangements have been put in place amid warnings from doctors that hospitals in the South have come under 'immense pressure' due to a surge in cases of 'mutant' Covid, with hospitals across the UK being told prepare to face the same Covid pressures as the NHS in the capital.

Chris Hopson, chief executive of NHS Providers, said just a small number of patients from London would be transferred to the south-west and Midlands when space in neighbouring hospitals was exhausted.

He said: 'Hospitals are doing a great job creating extra surge capacity in London and the south-east to treat the critically ill. If it gets more difficult, we will find other ways to treat people within the region but we know there are some patients that can be moved to where the pressure is slightly less, for example the south-west and Midlands.'

Dr Alison Pittard, the dean of the Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine, today hinted the NHS could collapse because 'very, very tired staff' may not have the energy to handle the deluge in 'mutant' virus cases.

Speaking on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show, she also claimed that she had heard of cases of people as young as 30 suffering from coronavirus in ICU wards and claimed that 'younger people will die from Covid'.

It comes as experts call for school closures on grounds that the virus is spreading more rapidly among younger children. SAGE adviser Sir Mark Walport today claimed children aged between 12 and 16 are seven times more likely to 'infect' a household and suggested that Tier 5 restrictions would be necessary in curbing cases.

Boris Johnson refused to rule out a third national lockdown today, telling the BBC he is 'reconciled' to imposing further draconian restrictions on public life in a desperate bid to stamp out 'mutant' Covid.

In the latest twist and turn of the pandemic:

Boris Johnson told parents to send children to schools in Tier 4 areas tomorrow, but hinted he would close schools if cases rise in those areas;

Ofsted boss Amanda Spielman said children's learning cannot be 'furloughed';

Headteachers called for this summer's GCSE and A-level exams to be scrapped;

Experts leading the UK vaccination programme defended the decision to extend the gap between the two doses, insisting it is 'the way we save lives';

Health bosses last night insisted urgent cancer operations in London will not be scrapped to ease the strain on hospitals inundated with Covid patients;

Labour's shadow culture secretary Jo Stevens is being treated in hospital for coronavirus, her aides announced last night;

Another 57,725 had positive test results and recorded 445 deaths yesterday;

A London children's hospital consultant blasted 'irresponsible' nurse who gave a BBC interview claiming her hospital has a 'whole ward of children' with Covid;

Young non-voting women are most likely to turn down a Covid vaccine if it were available tomorrow, the Find Out Now poll has found;

The PM faces losing most of the 'Red Wall' seats that delivered his historic election victory a year ago and his own seat, according to a massive poll.

Ambulances lined up outside the Medway Maritime Hospital in Gillingham, Kent, one of the areas where hospitals have become stretched due to the faster spreading new strain of Covid-19

Health officials today warned that people as young as 30 'will die from Covid' as NHS hospitals in the West Country brace for an overspill of critically-ill patients from London (Above, a patient at the Royal London Hospital yesterday)

Dr Alison Pittard, the dean of the Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine, warned that the NHS is concerned about staff who are 'very, very tired' from the pandemic. Boris Johnson today prepared the ground for tighter restrictions as he told Marr he is 'reconciled' to imposing further curbs on freedom as the number of coronavirus cases rises

Two thirds of England's population is now in Tier 4, with the remainder living in Tier 3 lockdowns. Only the Isles of Scilly, off the coast of Cornwall, is in the looser Tier 2

Britain records more than 50,000 coronavirus cases for the FIFTH day in a row - but deaths dip to 445 - as doctors warn crisis will get much worse and situation in packed London hospitals is 'MILD compared to what's coming next week' Britain has recorded more than 50,000 Covid-19 cases for the fifth day in a row but hospital deaths from the virus have dipped to fewer than 500. Another 57,725 had positive test results in the last 24 hours, meaning 2,599,789 have had the disease in the UK since the pandemic began. The country also saw an additional 445 deaths, taking the total official count to 74,570 - but 90,000 people in total have died with Covid-19 written on their death certificate. And experts are warning jam-packed hospitals that the current number of coronavirus cases is 'mild' compared to what is coming next week - as the new more-contagious Covid strain continues to wreak havoc on the UK. President of the Royal College of Physicians Professor Andrew Goddard also noted healthcare workers in Britain are 'really worried' about the battle against the virus over the next few months. Today's grim figures come as the first batches of the newly-approved coronavirus vaccine from Oxford University and AstraZeneca arrive at UK hospitals ahead of the jab's rollout tomorrow. Some 530,000 doses of the jab will be available from Monday - with vulnerable people taking priority - as Health Secretary Matt Hancock says the inoculation drive is 'accelerating'. One of the first hospitals to take delivery of a batch on Saturday morning was the Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath, West Sussex, which is part of Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust. But Sir John Bell, a Regius professor of medicine at Oxford University and member of SAGE (Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies), said insufficient investment in the capacity to make vaccines has left Britain unprepared. He also said the country lacks medical supply firms to build essential components to make the jab, forcing Oxford scientists to import parts from abroad. Advertisement

Although ICU capacity has been increased, three intensive care units were full every day last week: the Walton Centre in north-west England, and Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells and Portsmouth University hospitals in the south-east.

Fourteen intensive care units were at least 95 per cent full throughout Christmas week, five of them in London, according to the Times.

Doctors who spoke on condition of anonymity told the newspaper how consultants were choosing who to admit to intensive care by assessing which patient 'has the best chance of surviving'.

One GP working in a west London hospital claimed: 'We could be like Lombardy [northern Italy] by next week. There is a high likelihood we're going to see a disaster.'

Dr Megan Smith, a consultant anaesthetist at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, said medics faced 'horrifying' decisions with patients 'in competition' for ventilators.

She told ITN: 'It's not a position any of us ever want to be in, and we're used to making difficult decisions as doctors, but deciding the outcome of, effectively a competition for a ventilator, is just not what anyone signed up for.

'In terms of the emotional trauma for those individuals, it's horrifying. We shouldn't be having to do it, but we are.'

Asked about the hospitals crisis in London and the surrounding areas, Dr Pittard said the trusts are 'under immense pressure'.

'It's really difficult for staff because obviously we want to make sure everyone is cared for, but also need to look after the staff as well,' she said. 'So it's really difficult for everyone working in NHS hospitals at the moment, particularly in my area of intensive care.'

She also admitted that the NHS would have to postpone 'some of the more non-urgent stuff', adding: 'obviously that is one of the ways the NHS managed in the first wave, was to reduce the normal activity so that we could focus on Covid patients.

'One of the things that we have done now during the second wave is to continue normal activity alongside other Covid-related activity. And we want to continue that at all costs... but of course some of the more non-urgent stuff will need to be postponed'.

Dr Pittard also revealed that NHS hospitals are seeing greater numbers of younger people being admitted for treatment than during the first wave of the epidemic last spring.

'The age group is a lot lower than it was during the first wave, and I think that's probably because more people are getting Covid and it is affecting younger people, perhaps younger people are realising how serious it is and they need to seek input as well,' she told the Andrew Marr Show.

'It does affect younger people, so just because you're not in the older age bracket doesn't mean you're immune.'

She went on: 'One of the downsides is that because we have been through it all before staff are very, very tired and that is the thing that concerns me.

'We can't just create staff overnight. We can get more drugs. We can get more beds and equipment but we can't just get more staff, so that is the real concern this time around.'

Having dealt with the first wave of the virus, staff are now better prepared in terms of how they manage patients when they come into hospital and how their treatment in intensive care, she said.

'It is almost like we know what is coming our way so we know how to deal with it.'

It comes as hospitals across the UK are told to prepare to face the same Covid pressures as the NHS in London and south-east England.

Professor Andrew Goddard, president of the Royal College of Physicians, said the virus's highly infectious new variant was spreading nationwide.

He said the current case numbers at more than 50,000 per day for the past five days, were 'mild' compared with where he expected them to be next week and warned that doctors are 'really worried' about the coming months.

'There's no doubt that Christmas is going to have a big impact, the new variant is also going to have a big impact, we know that is more infectious, more transmissible, so I think the large numbers that we're seeing in the South East, in London, in South Wales, is now going to be reflected over the next month, two months even, over the rest of the country,' he told BBC Breakfast yesterday.

Prof Goddard added: 'All hospitals that haven't had the big pressures that they've had in the South East, and London and South Wales, should expect that it's going to come their way.

'This new variant is definitely more infectious and is spreading across the whole of the country. It seems very likely that we are going to see more and more cases, wherever people work in the UK, and we need to be prepared for that.'

The UK recorded a record 57,725 Covid-19 cases yesterday, the most since the pandemic began and the fifth day daily infections surpassed 50,000.

The country also saw an additional 445 deaths, taking the total official count to 74,570 - but 90,000 people in total have died with Covid-19 written on their death certificate.

London is now the epicentre of the UK's outbreak and its hospitals are being stretched with the flood of patients. The weekly rate of cases is double the national average at 858 per 100,000 people. Now the capital's weekly rate of cases is 858 per 100,000 people  double the UK average.

One doctor at a busy London hospital laid bare the pressure frontline medics are up against. Dr Katie Sanderson told the Sunday Mirror: 'Things are incredibly difficult now. Hospitals are doing everything they can  with all hands on deck, even flying patients out to other parts.'

She added that 'nurses are stretched ever thinner' and that staff are 'scared' because of 'woefully inadequate' PPE.

London Ambulance staff stretcher a patient from the ambulance into The Royal London Hospital in east London, on Saturday

London is now the epicentre of the outbreak and its hospitals are being stretched with the flood of patients. The weekly rate of cases is double the national average at 858 per 100,000

Cases in Liverpool have almost trebled in the past two weeks to 350 per 100,000, despite the city successfully leading on the national pilot for community testing which led to it being the first city to be taken out of Tier 3 and into Tier 2, according to official figures

Medics transport a patient on a stretcher from an ambulance to the Royal London Hospital on Friday

Government scientists today hinted a third national lockdown including mass school closures may be required to suppress Covid as he insisted 'keeping people apart' stops the virus from spreading.

Professor Sir Mark Walport claimed the 'mutant' Covid was transmitting rapidly among children, with those aged between 12 and 16 seven times more likely to 'infect' a household.

Speaking on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show as Liverpool's leaders called for a blanket shutdown, he said it would be 'very, very difficult' to keep the disease under control 'without tighter social distancing measures'.

'Children's lives can't just be put on hold': Ofsted chief Amanda Spielman warns pupils' education cannot be 'furloughed' as left-wing councils and teaching unions demand schools are closed for WEEKS amid mutant Covid crisis The head of England's schools watchdog today warned that education cannot be 'furloughed' as Left-wing councils joined the revolt against Government plans to keep schools open. Ofsted chief inspector Amanda Spielman said school closures should be kept to the 'absolute minimum', revealing that the first lockdown disrupted children's learning and wider development. Writing in the Sunday Telegraph, she said Ofsted had found some younger children had 'forgotten how to hold a pencil or use a knife and fork, and had regressed in basic language numbers'. In older children, Ms Spielman said the schools watchdog had noted 'increases in eating disorders and self-harm, and anti-social behaviour at some schools' during the coronavirus crisis. Most primaries in England are expected to open their doors tomorrow, while secondary schools will reopen on a staggered basis later this month with plans to test every student weekly. But yesterday the UK's largest teaching union advised members it was not safe to return to the classroom and demanded a move to online teaching. Headteachers are now urging the Government to scrap this summer's GCSE and A-level exams amid outrage over Education Secretary Gavin Williamson's plans to keep schools open. Ms Spielman rubbished calls for remote education, arguing that it would maximise the disparities in the circumstances of the home lives of children. She added that schools 'have become society's collective eyes and ears, keeping a caring watch over those who need it most' as she warned 'risks of abuse, neglect or exploitation increase' when schools stay closed. The Ofsted boss wrote: 'There is a real consensus that schools should be the last places to close and the first to re-open, and having argued for this since last spring, I welcome it. Because it is increasingly clear that children's lives can't just be put on hold while we wait for vaccination programmes to take effect, and for waves of infection to subside. 'We cannot furlough young people's learning or their wider development. The longer the pandemic continues, the more true this is.' Advertisement

Sir Mark also suggested the UK has struggled to keep cases down because it is a 'western liberal democracy', hinting that draconian countermeasures adopted in unfree countries like Vietnam had suppressed the virus.

Asked if Tier 4 restrictions were enough, the former Chief Scientific Adviser today said: 'It's the Tier 4 restrictions, it's obeying them.

'It is thinking about breaking essentially every possible route of transmission we possibly can. Those are the things that are absolutely necessary and it is pretty clear we're going to need more.'

Talking about 'mutant' Covid, he said: 'We now have a much more transmissible variant and I'm afraid this is the natural evolution of viruses.

'The ones that can transmit most effectively have an advantage over other variants and so it is clear this variant is transmitting more readily. It's transmitting more readily in younger age groups as well.

'It's good to note it doesn't appear to cause worse disease or that it is going to be more resistant to the effects of the vaccine, but it is going to be very, very difficult to keep it under control without tighter social distancing measures.'

Sir Mark continued: 'The thing that actually stops the virus, and we know that it can do, is keeping people apart. The virus can only get from one person to another through proximity, and so it really is about doing everything we possibly can to keep ourselves as safe as possible.'

He also claimed that locking down earlier would have reduced cases and deaths, telling the Andrew Marr Show: 'It's absolutely clear we can see other countries, Vietnam for example, which has managed to keep its cases down.

'But we can see that western liberal democracies much harder. The UK is not alone in this, but that doesn't necessarily make it any better.'

He also urged people who have had a coronavirus vaccine not to 'go out and party' as he admitted 'there are lots of things we don't know about the vaccines'.

Sir Mark's interview comes as the PM signalled that anti-Covid measures were likely to get tougher.

Asked whether he could guarantee schools will open on January 18, Mr Johnson told Marr: 'Well, obviously, we're going to continue to assess the impact of the Tier 4 measures, the Tier 3 measures.'

On whether GCSE and A-Level exams should be cancelled, the PM said: 'We've got to be realistic, we've got to be realistic about the pace of which this new variant has spread... we've got to be realistic about the impact that it's having on our NHS... and we've got to be humble in the face of this virus.'

Mr Johnson indicated tougher restrictions may be introduced, saying: 'It may be that we need to do things in the next few weeks that will be tougher in many parts of the country. I'm fully, fully reconciled to that.'

He added: 'There are obviously a range of tougher measures that that we would have to consider... I'm not going to speculate now about what they would be, but I'm sure that all our viewers and our listeners will understand what the sort of things... clearly school closures, which we had to do in March is one of those things.'

Mr Johnson said: 'What we are doing now is using the tiering system, which is a very tough system... and, alas, probably about to get tougher to keep things under control. But, we will review it.'

He added: 'And we have the prospect of vaccines coming down the track in their tens of millions. And that, I think, is something that should keep people going in what I predicted, back on your show in in October, will be a very bumpy period right now. It is bumpy and it's going to be bumpy.'

Meanwhile, Liverpool's council leaders today called for a third national lockdown to contain the new 'mutant' strain of Covid and prevent a 'catastrophe'.

The city's acting mayor, Wendy Simon, and the Labour-run city council's cabinet say the speed of the rise in coronavirus cases have reached 'alarming levels' and urgent action is now required to save lives and the NHS.

The new 'mutant' strain of Covid is thought to have a higher rate of transmission and is most prevalent in London and the South East, where health bosses say hospitals have become stretched.

Headteachers call for GCSE and A-Level exams to be scrapped this summer amid school closure chaos Head teachers are calling on the Government to scrap this summer's GCSE and A-level exams amid outrage over Gavin Williamson's plans to keep schools open. Most primaries in England are expected to re-open their doors tomorrow, while secondary schools will reopen on a staggered basis later this month with plans to test every student weekly. Yesterday, however, the UK's largest teaching union advised members it was not safe to return to the classroom - with several left-wing councils demanding their primary schools move to online teaching only. And in another blow to the Education Secretary 's plans, UK head teachers are now calling for this year's exams to be scrapped to prioritise 'wider public health, pupil and staff safety'. They also claim it would be unfair to force students to sit exams when those whose schools were open earlier would have more contact time than those with later start dates. The WorthLess? campaign group - a collection of 2,000 head teachers in 80 local authorities - said: 'Wider public health, pupil and staff safety should be prioritised ahead of examinations. 'Public safety should not be risked or driven by an inflexible pursuit of GCSE and A-levels.' Head teacher of Tanbridge House School in Horsham - and one of the WorthLess? leaders - told The Times : 'There is great scepticism that exams can now go ahead fairly.' Advertisement

It is believed the strain is spreading from south to north, leading to increasing pressure on the NHS.

Cases in Liverpool have almost trebled in the past two weeks to 350 per 100,000, despite the city leading on the pilot for community testing which led to it being the first city to be moved from Tier 3 down to Tier 2.

The call for a new lockdown was made in a statement from Cllr Wendy Simon and Cabinet Member for Public Health Cllr Paul Brant.

The current mayor of the city, Joe Anderson, is on police bail on suspicion of conspiracy to commit bribery and witness intimidation.

The statement said: 'It is clear that the country is now at a crossroads with Covid-19. The stark reality is that today this virulent new strain of the virus is very much on the rise and we need to act now to prevent a crisis that will unleash even more pain and anguish.'

A spokeswoman for the Department of Health said the Government would 'not hesitate to take actions necessary to protect local communities'.

England is edging closer towards a blanket shutdown after government efforts to reopen schools were thrown into disarray by Left-wing councils and teaching unions.

Gavin Williamson confirmed on Friday that all London primary schools will remain shut to most pupils next week - rather than just those in certain boroughs as set out earlier in the week - but teaching unions say all schools should close for the next two weeks.

Last night, the Department for Education said remote learning was 'a last resort' and classrooms should reopen 'wherever possible' with appropriate safety measures to help mitigate the risk of transmission.

'As we've said, we will move to remote education as a last resort, with involvement of public health officials, in areas where infection and pressures on the NHS are highest,' the spokesperson said.

Hundreds of new vaccination sites are due to be up and running this week as the NHS ramps up its immunisation programme with the newly approved Oxford University and AstraZeneca jab.

Some 530,000 doses of the vaccine will be available for rollout across the UK from Monday and more than a million patients have already had their first dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine which was the first to be approved by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.

But Ofsted chief inspector Amanda Spielman said children's education cannot be 'furloughed' for months while vaccinations are rolled out and time absent from the classroom should be kept to an 'absolute minimum', the Sunday Telegraph reported.

Children's Commissioner Anne Longfield told the newspaper that schools should be the last to close and first to open, when safe to do so, adding: 'I hope, for children and parents' sake, that is measured in days not weeks and I would be particularly keen for primaries to stay open if at all possible.'

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the vaccine roll-out was 'our great hope', adding: 'I want the Government to throw everything it can at this, harnessing the extraordinary talents of our NHS so we can be vaccinating at least two million Brits a week by the end of the month.'

But, writing in the Sunday Mirror, he criticised 'a chaotic last minute U-turn on schools', adding: 'Confusion reigns among parents, teachers and pupils over who will be back in school tomorrow and who won't.'

General secretary of the National Education Union (NEU), Mary Bousted, said schools should stay closed for two weeks to 'break the chain' of transmission and prevent the NHS becoming overwhelmed.'

The union, which represents the majority of teachers, has advised its members it is not safe to return to classrooms on Monday.

NAHT general secretary Paul Whiteman said the union had started preliminary steps in legal proceedings against the Department for Education, asking it to share its scientific data about safety and transmission rates.

Unions have also called for the reopening of schools in Wales next week to be delayed with Laura Doel, director of school leaders' union NAHT Cymru, saying 'the latest data shows that in large parts of Wales, control of infection has been lost'.

From January 4, all London primary schools will be required to provide remote learning for two weeks to all children except vulnerable children and those of key workers, who will be allowed to attend.

Mr Williamson said the January 1 decision to expand closures to the nine remaining London boroughs and the City of London was a 'last resort'.

Under the Government's initial plan, secondary schools and colleges were set to be closed to most pupils for the first two weeks of January, while primary schools within 50 local authorities in the south of England, including 23 London boroughs, were also told to keep their doors shut until January 18.

Green Party-led Brighton and Hove City Council has advised primary schools in the Tier 4 area not to return in person, except for vulnerable children and those of key workers, until January 18 despite the Government's plan for most schools to open in person.

Linda Bauld, a professor in public health at the University of Edinburgh, said transmission among primary school pupils was 'still very limited' while secondary school pupils, particularly older teenagers, can pass on the virus in the same way as adults.

But health professionals have warned of growing pressure on services with Prof Goddard telling the BBC current case figures are 'fairly mild' compared to what is expected in a week's time.

Mutated super-infectious coronavirus strain was spreading quickly among children DURING November lockdown and only closing schools can keep it contained, new Imperial report warns

Pictured: A graph in the Imperial College London report showing the prevalence of the new strain of coronavirus (shown in orange) in different age groups

The mutated super-infectious coronavirus strain was spreading quickly among children during the November lockdown and only closing schools can keep it contained, a new report from Imperial College London has warned.

The study confirmed that the new mutant variant of SARS-CoV-2 - known as B117 or 'Variant of Concern' (VOC) - is indeed more infectious than previous variants, just as scientists feared, and that the November lockdown did little to suppress it.

The variant was most prevalent among the 10-19 age group, the data shows, with more coronavirus cases in the age group being found to be the new strain than of the original.

In order the tackle the spread of the VOC in Britain, 'Social distancing measures will need to be more stringent than they would have otherwise,' the report said.

'A particular concern is whether it will be possible to maintain control over transmission while allowing schools to reopen in January 2021.'

Analysis of the data by Imperial College London researchers found that the new strain may be nearly 50 percent more transmissible, based on samples taken from nearly 86,000 Britons.

In the study posted online, which is yet to be peer-reviewed, Imperial College researchers determined that the 'R' number for the new B117 variant is between 0.4 and 0.7 points higher than other variants.

The study compared samples of the mutated virus taken from nearly 2,000 people in the UK to another 84,000 taken from people with other variants

The 'R' number of a virus describes the average number of additional cases that each infection leads to.

In the UK, the latest R number stands between 1.1 and 1.3, government figures show. This means that, on average, every 10 people infected will infect between 11 and 13 other people.

Graphs from the new study show how, over eight weeks, the new variant became increasingly common (dots higher on each chart) in the UK and became more transmissible (dots further the right on each chart show rising R numbers, or transmission rates

In a series of graphs, the report outlined case trends in a subset of NHS England Sustainability and Transformation Plan (STP) areas - (a geographic subdivision of NHS Regions).

It is clear in the graphs that while the November lockdown worked to bring down the rates of the original strain of coronavirus, it did little to suppress the spread of the mutated strain in England.

This is demonstrated by the graphs with three lines showing case numbers.

The thick line shows the total number of cases in the respective region found among the people included in the study. The green line shows the original strain of Covid-19 (S+), while the yellow line shows the new variant (VOC).

The thick line at the top of the graph showing the total number of cases in each area changes colour between green and yellow based on the number of tests showing instances of the VOC among those included in the study.

Pictured: Screen-grabs from the Imperial College report showing case trends involving the new strain of coronavirus, where the % S- rate indicates a case of the new variant. During the lockdown, Kent and Medway showed increasing numbers of the new Covid-19 strain. Mid and South Essex saw a similar rise in cases in the weeks before and after the lockdown ended. Both regions saw cases of the VOC overtake case numbers of the original strain

The dates of the second lockdown in November are indicated by the vertical red lines, between which the spread of Covid-19 and the VOC are demonstrated.

Areas in the South East of England - including London - show a rapid rise of the mutated strain of Covid-19, while the original strain kept at relatively low levels during the lockdown - showing the prevalence of the new strain in those areas.

These include Kent and Medway, Mid and South Essex; South West London Health and Care Partnership; and Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West.

In areas outside of the regions most effected by the VOC , total cases are shown to have dropped during the lockdown.

These include Birmingham and Solihull; Devon; Herefordshire and Worcestershire; Cheshire and Merseyside; and Humber, Coast and Vale.

Cases of the VOC in South West London Health and Care Partnership also rose in the final weeks of lockdown, and have continued to do so since. The number of cases of the new strain over took those of the original. Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West also saw rising case numbers in the last week of lockdown, with numbers of the new strain rising

In both Bingmingam and Solihull and in Devon, case number of the first Covid-19 strain dropped during the lockdown, while cases of the VOC remained low into the last weeks of 2020

In Herefordshire and Worcestershire, and Cheshire and Merseyside, total cases dropped during lockdown without the spike in new cases of the VOC

Humber, Coast and Vale also saw cases of the original strain of Covid-19 drop during lockdown and avoided the rise in new cases of the VOC. Right: A graph showing ratio age share among S- cases / age share among S+ cases

The new variant was first detected in the UK in September, the study states, but at the beginning of December, it exploded and has driven a surge in infections among Britons.

The spread of the new novel SARS-CoV-2 variant, or Variant of Concern 202012/01 (VOC), in England comes despite a tiered system being in place as part of efforts to bring the spread of the virus under control.

What is the 'mutant COVID strain' and why are experts concerned? Coronaviruses mutate regularly, acquiring about one new mutation in their genome every two weeks. Most mutations do not significantly change the way the virus acts. This super strain, named B.1.1.7, was first identified in the UK in November. It has since been found in France, Spain, Italy, Iceland, Japan, Singapore, Australia and now the United States. The new COVID-19 variant has a mutation in the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the spike protein at position 501, where amino acid asparagine (N) has been replaced with tyrosine (Y). It is more infectious than previous strains and potentially more harmful to children. It is not, however, believed to be any more lethal. Public Health England researchers compared 1,769 people infected with the new variant, with 1,769 who had one of the earlier strains of the virus. Forty-two people in the group were admitted to hospital, of whom 16 had the new variant and 26 the wild type. Twelve of the variant cases and 10 of the 'older' virus cases died within four weeks of testing. Neither the hospitalization nor the mortality differences were statistically significant. Advertisement

The majority of England is under 'Tier 4', the strictest tier, yet is still seeing record numbers of daily Covid-19 infections despite the measures.

Imperial College London researchers sequenced the genomes of 1,904 people infected with the new variant and compared how quickly the virus spread to a broader sample of other specimens taken from more than 48,000 people in England.

As they expected, they found that the new virus did indeed have a 'selective advantage over circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants in England,' they wrote in the print posted online on Thursday.

The variant was also disproportionately common among people in their 20s, and those living in South East and East England and London.

The findings of the new study mean each person who catches this mutated virus will pass it on to up to 0.7 more people on average.

So far, there isn't evidence to suggest the new variant causes any more serious illness or is more fatal.

Encouragingly, virologists and public health experts believe that vaccines made by companies like AstraZeneca, Pfizer and Moderna will still be effective against the new variant of coronavirus.

But the new variant heats up the race between the spread of the virus and vaccination campaigns in the UK, the US - where the new variant has now been found in Colorado, California and Florida - and at least 31 other countries where the more infectious form of coronavirus has been detected.

With more than 186,000 people newly infected in a single day on average in the US, the 48 percent higher transmissibility rate of 1.85 could drive new infections per day beyond 275,000.

It could spell disaster for hospitals in hotspots like California where some health care systems and regions are already out of ICU beds, in states of 'internal disaster' and rationing care.

There are similar fears in the UK over the National Health Service (NHS) and its capacity to cope with the number of coronavirus patients that are expected as the new variant of the disease continues to spread.

Sharing data from a separate study done by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), Deepti Gurdasani - a senior lecturer at Queen Mary University of London in Epidemiology and statistical genetics - warned that 'B117 is either dominant, or very close to dominant in most regions' in England.

Over the course of six weeks, the researchers saw how the new coronavirus variant's transmission rate (R) became higher (orange) than those of other variants, especially in South East England, East England and London

By comparison, on average in the US, each infected person currently leads to 1.15 more infections, according to daily calculations from RT.live.

By this measure of transmissibility the R number in the US ranges from about 0.86 in Alaska to 1.23 in Maine, which has emerged as a hotspot this week.

Only 3.17 million Americans had been vaccinated as of Friday, according to a Bloomberg News tally.

The CDC's tally puts the number even lower. The agency's site says its vaccination tracker will be updated every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, but at the time of publication, the tool showed Wednesday's numbers, with 2.79 million people vaccinated.

Bloomberg's higher estimate means Operation Warp Speed has vaccinated just 16 percent of the 20 million Americans it promised to inoculate by the end of the year.

At this pace, it would take nearly a decade to vaccinate all adult members of America's population of 331 million people.

And many Americans remain on the fence about getting a vaccine even when one is available. Some 60 percent of nursing home workers in Ohio said they would refuse a shot.

Sluggish, dysfunctional vaccine distribution and Americans' distrust of of the shots could jointly offer the B117 variant just the opening it needs to spread like wildfire through the country infecting millions beyond the 20 million people who have already had the infection in the US, and killing thousands.
Edinburgh Zoo's giant pandas may have to return to China next year at the end of their 10-year contract with the Chinese government due to financial pressures amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, which runs both Edinburgh Zoo and the Highland Wildlife Park, faced enormous financial pressure when it was forced to close for three months during the summer.

Costing about 1 million a year to lease the mating pair - female Tian Tian and male Yang Guang - chief executive of the Society David Field says the charity will have to 'seriously consider every potential saving' including their giant panda contract.

Two mating pandas currently living at Edinburgh Zoo may be sent back to China next year as the zoo faces financial pressure. Pictured: Tian Tian, the female panda in her enclosure

The coronavirus pandemic has taken its toll on The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, which runs both Edinburgh Zoo and the Highland Wildlife Park. Pictured: Male panda Yang Guang

The company lost around 2million this year after it was forced to close for three months during the summer. Pictured: The entrance to Edinburgh Zoo

Mr Field said: 'The closure of Edinburgh Zoo and Highland Wildlife Park for three months due to Covid-19 has had a huge financial impact on our charity because most of our income comes from our visitors.

'Although our parks are open again, we lost around 2 million last year and it seems certain that restrictions, social distancing and limits on our visitor numbers will continue for some time, which will also reduce our income.

'We have done all we can to protect our charity by taking a government loan, furloughing staff where possible, making redundancies where necessary and launching a fundraising appeal.

'The support we have received from our members and animal lovers has helped to keep our doors open and we are incredibly grateful.'

The zoo was not eligible for the Government's zoo fund, which was aimed at smaller zoos.

Mr Field added: 'We have to seriously consider every potential saving and this includes assessing our giant panda contract and the cost of their daily care.

It costs the zoo 1million to lease the pandas and chief executive of the Society David Field says the charity will have to 'seriously consider every potential saving'. Pictured: Tian Tian

The zoo was not eligible for the Government's zoo fund, which was aimed at smaller zoos. Pictured: Tian Tian

'At this stage, it is too soon to say what the outcome will be. We will be discussing next steps with our colleagues in China over the coming months.'

The zoo is part of a number of conservation projects, including one to reintroduce Scottish wildcats.

However, Mr Field said projects like that may also have to be scrapped due to Brexit and being unable to apply for grants from the European Union.

Mr Field said: 'We received a 3.2 million grant from the EU LIFE programme to support our Saving Wildcats partnership project, which aims to restore wildcats in Scotland by breeding and releasing them into the wild.

'Wildcats are on the brink of extinction in Britain and this is the last hope for the species' survival.

'As we are no longer part of the European Union, our charity is no longer eligible to apply for funding from programmes like EU LIFE, which have proven critical for our wildlife conservation work and wider efforts to protect animals from extinction.

The chief executive said it is too early to say whether they will end the panda contract but he confirmed it has been discussed in assessment of funds. Pictured: Tian Tian

The zoo is part of a number of conservation projects, including one to reintroduce Scottish wildcat. Pictured: Tian Tian

'We have a leading conservation genetics laboratory at Edinburgh Zoo which supports conservation projects around the world, and suddenly access to both funding and other researchers for this cutting-edge science has disappeared.

'While the full impact is yet to be seen, we are also facing increased challenges around moving animals between zoos, many of which are part of important European endangered species breeding programmes.'

The programme is currently about 900,000 short, meaning it may have to be cancelled.

Mr Field said: 'We still need to reduce costs to secure our future. It may be that some of our incredibly important conservation projects, including the vital lifeline for Scotland's wildcats, may have to be deferred, postponed or even stopped.

'Yang Guang and Tian Tian have made a tremendous impression on our visitors over the last nine years, helping millions of people connect to nature and inspiring them to take an interest in wildlife conservation.
ROME  She was an immigrant who became known as a successful business owner in a remote valley in northern Italy. But most Italians had probably never heard of Agitu Ideo Gudeta until last week, when the Ethiopian-born cheesemaker was found bludgeoned to death in her home.

Her killing made her front-page news in Italian newspapers, however, with the death mourned and condemned across the country.

The police quickly tracked down the killer: a 32-year-old Ghanaian who had helped Ms. Gudeta care for a rare breed of goat. He admitted having fought with Ms. Gudeta on Tuesday over money, and to killing her with a hammer, investigators and his lawyer said.

She was killed just three days short of her 43rd birthday.

As friends grieved at candlelit processions and accolades rolled in, a portrait emerged of a remarkable woman who  like countless other migrants  overcame considerable odds to find happiness in Europe. Newspapers and other media praised her as a model of integration in Italy.
When an inquiry into the State's handling of the Covid-19 pandemic takes place, it is likely that the Government's decisions in recent weeks will come into sharp focus.

When restrictions were eased in December, ministers hoped case numbers would remain stable over Christmas. "Israel went into lockdown No.2 before us. [They] got their numbers down and have stayed there for a month so hopefully we'll get a decent stretch of Level 3," one minister told me on November 28.

But this didn't happen and the Coalition is now braced for thousands more infections and scores - if not hundreds - more deaths within weeks.

The grim New Year message from public health experts was that the virus is "rampant" and "out of control". It was underscored by a warning yesterday that daily cases could peak at 6,000.

"I'm genuinely extremely worried about it," says one senior minister. "The trajectory could not be more grave." Another warns that the next few months "will be depressing".

How did this happen? Was it a mistake to allow hospitality to reopen so that people could socialise before Christmas? The chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan hasn't said so explicitly, but noted: "We know that a substantial amount of activity took place in the days and weeks following that easing of restrictions."

On November 26, Nphet advised against reopening hospitality if household visits were to be allowed over Christmas. A day later the Government decided to reopen hospitality but delay household visits.

Subsequent briefings from ministers and senior Government figures have claimed their approach on household visits - which were a key driver of transmission during the autumn second wave - was more conservative than Nphet's advice.

One Government briefing states: "Nphet recommended we allow household visits from up to four other households. The Government instead took the view it was better to allow groups of up to six people meet in restaurants and gastropubs, in strictly controlled environments.

"Clusters of infections had been more common in household settings than hospitality settings, due to the larger number of households."

A Cabinet source observed: "Had we gone with Nphet advice and not opened up hospitality but allowed households to mix, would we be in any better a situation?"

But Nphet's advice on November 26 was, in fact, that household visits should be limited to one other household with a maximum of six visitors from December 2, and a maximum of six visitors from three other households allowed for the two-week period over Christmas.

Not quite "allowing household visits from up to four other households" ,as some Coalition figures have claimed.

The Government ultimately banned household visits until December 18 when they allowed up to three households in total to mix, with no limit on numbers.

Sky-rocketing case numbers forced a sharp U-turn on December 22. In announcing further restrictions last week, the Taoiseach was clear that the more infectious so-called UK variant of the virus was responsible.

This contrasts with comments by Dr Cillian De Gascun, director of the National Virus Reference Laboratory (NVRL), who said his lab had identified 16 cases of the UK variant out of 169 samples. At a proportion of less than 10pc, he said it was "not responsible for the recent significant and concerning increase" in case numbers.

But Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said yesterday: "I've spoken to some specialists in infectious diseases and would be hesitant to draw any conclusions based on a sample of that size. We need to do whole genome [DNA] sequencing on more samples."

The Taoiseach's spokesperson also noted the recent rise in cases is "spreading across all age groups, and this has been a defining characteristic of the new variant's rapid spread in the UK".

Privately, the Government is also citing research by Imperial College London showing the UK variant likely originated last September in south-east England and may have been present in the US since October. If that is the case it is likely to have found its way to Ireland long before it was confirmed by the NVRL on December 24, it argues.

One Cabinet source observed that Nphet has "nearly been trying to tee up some kind of conflict" over what lies behind the surge in case numbers.

Other senior Government figures suggested Nphet has played down the new strain because, as one put it, "they hadn't warned about it or even looked for it".

Notwithstanding these underlying tensions, the Government now has no choice but to follow Nphet advice.

But all of those centrally involved in the pandemic response are conscious they may well be called to account at some future inquiry. What they said and when they said it will be important in determining if more could have been done to prevent people dying.

For now, the focus is on trying to mitigate the worst impact of the third wave. More stringent measures are being ruled out for now to allow the current 'stay at home' guidance to take effect.

There are few policy options left other than to revert to a March-style lockdown that would see schools and creches closed, construction shut down and the list of essential retail services - that includes dry cleaners, hardware stores, bike and pet shops - culled.

None of the above can be ruled out, Government sources acknowledge, but it remains the intention to reopen schools on January 11. Labour has called for a Nphet risk assessment on reopening schools, while Sinn Fein says these should shut if Nphet says they should.

Housing Minister Darragh O'Brien said he is strongly opposed to construction sites shutting down.

"We've 200,000 people working in that sector. Provision of homes is an essential service, I don't see it as an option at all."

The vaccination programme offers a route out of the crisis, but the HSE's initial roll-out has been, senior Government figures acknowledge, slow. This weekend more than 30,000 doses are sitting in fridges in the HSE's National Cold Chain Service in Citywest, Dublin. Some arrived more than a week ago.

Defending the pace of roll-out, Mr Donnelly said at least 4,000 have already been distributed. "Next week a further 20,000 will be used in nursing homes and hospitals. This is a two-dose vaccine and, like the vast majority of European countries, we are holding the second dose until we are confident the weekly supply will be regular and constant," he said.

While saying he would be guided by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee on whether to delay second doses in order to accelerate vaccine roll-out to more people, Mr Donnelly added: "Dr Anthony Fauci has said the US would not follow Britain's lead in front-loading first vaccine injections."

Party leaders are due to meet HSE chief Paul Reid, Dr Holohan and vaccine task force chair Brian MacCraith this week. "It needs to be got hold of," says one Coalition figure of the vaccine programme.

Mr Donnelly said daily vaccination numbers will be published from this month. "I have asked my officials to ensure they are published on the Covid data hub. This will ensure complete transparency and will bring some positive news to people," he said.
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KOLKATA: Bengal Forest minister Rajib Banerjees car met with an accident in West Bengal's Kolkata city on Sunday (January 3). According to reports, the minister escaped unhurt, however, the vehicle suffered serious damage in the incident.

The accident took place after a goods vehicle carrying stone chips side dashed Banerjee's car at Kasba-Rajdanga Main Road on Sunday.

The development comes a day after MP and minister Babul Supriyo's convoy met with an accident at Dhulagarh area of Howrah district on Saturday afternoon. As per reports, Babul was on his way to attend Suvendu Akhikari's rally in Tamluk when another car in the wrong lane hit the last car of the convoy.
A man is accused of killing his mother in a shooting Sunday at a Midtown nightclub that left three off-duty Harris County Sheriff's Office deputies wounded, according to court records.

The suspected shooter, identified as Joseph Anthony Gonzalez, 25, was later apprehended at a Sugar Land hospital, where he tried to receive medical treatment for a gunshot wound, Houston police Executive Assistant Chief Troy Finner said. Court records show the woman killed in the shooting was his mother but he has not been charged yet with her death. She was not identified.

The deputies  who were uniformed  are expected to survive. They were conscious and "in good spirits" Sunday afternoon while recovering at the Texas Medical Center, the sheriff's office said.

He faces three counts of aggravated assault against a public servant. He also was charged with being a felon in possession of a weapon.

The deputies had been working security at the Set club at 2900 Travis Street and tried breaking up the fight around 2:20 a.m. in the parking lot  about 20 minutes after the bar closed for the night, Finner said. Patrol officers dispatched to a shots fired call at the club and found four people shot  including the deputies.

By daybreak, large pools of blood and discarded plates of tacos remained in the club parking lot  as well as a lone deputy keeping watching over the crime scene.

The three deputies were identified as two men and a woman whose ages range from their 30s to 40s . One deputy required surgery while another was released Sunday night, officials said.

"All of them are fairly seasoned deputies," Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said.

The shooting capped a rough, nearly-24 hours for the sheriffs office. Off-duty sheriffs Sgt. Bruce Watson was killed Saturday afternoon in a motorcycle crash while on his way home from serving as a funeral escort in the Pearland area. The sheriff, during the news briefing, marked the day as tragic.

Feeling both grief and gratitude today, the sheriff said in a later tweet. Reminded that there is still mourning left to do, and a new calendar year doesnt change that.

HPD's Special Investigations Unit will lead the shooting investigation, while the sheriff's office and the Harris County District Attorney's Office will conduct reviews.

Mayor Sylvester Turner blasted the club in a tweet for portraying itself as a restaurant during the pandemic. He said that while the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission has allowed Set to continue operating as a dining locale, the county government would disagree about the club being a restaurant.

This is a straight up nightclub and should not have been open, Turner said.

Police were dispatched to the same club last May after four men were shot in the parking lot. All are believed to have survived. In that shooting, the fight started in the club and continued outside.

Julian Gill contributed to this report.

nicole.hensley@chron.com
Six months ago, I decided to have a termination at four weeks. It hit me hard when I found out I was pregnant and I went into shock.

Im 43 with two beautiful kids, I thought surely my fertility is low now? Surely, Im heading for menopause, not pregnancy!

I researched and contacted a gynaecologist that specialises in high risk pregnancies and I panicked that because of my age something would be wrong with the baby.

I immediately thought the baby would have a disability and I wouldn't be able to cope. My husband is fantastic but didn't really know what to do either. It was up to me and my body.

I spoke to one female friend but all she could do was listen. I had to make the decision. I ploughed ahead and it went ahead without any trauma.

I was relieved after it all but now an avalanche of anxiety and sadness and regret has taken over my mind and body. My husband finds that hard to understand as 'what is done is done'. I'm sick to my stomach and want to go back to that time and at least take more time to think it over.

I feel angry that the subject of women in their forties having terminations is not spoken about; I was told by the doctor that this is the age group in front of him looking for terminations.

I know I should go for counselling but that is difficult at the moment. Louise, I dont even know what Im asking you but maybe the response to this will help the next woman.

- Anonymous

During the referendum to repeal the Eighth Amendment, the issue of regret was one that was seized upon by anti-choice campaigners. They often platformed women who deeply regretted terminating their pregnancies, using this as proof that Irelands constitutional ban on abortion was actually protecting women rather than harming them. For a long time, those were the only stories we were ever allowed to hear.

It was very new, then, to hear from women whod had abortions and didnt regret them, who felt that termination was the right thing to do and that if they had to do it again, they would. But the truth is that every choice we make comes with the possibility of regret.

Not every woman is the same - some who have abortions never give it a second thought, others may wonder occasionally what their lives look like in an alternative universe where they went ahead with the pregnancy but know, still, that they are satisfied with the choice they made, and then there are those who, like you, wish theyd had more time before they had to make their decision.

None of this means that the right to choose should ever be taken away from us but its important we acknowledge that sometimes, that choice isnt always an easy one.

You raise a number of interesting points in your letter, not least of all regarding the age profile of women seeking terminations.

Many assume its young women and girls who are dealing with crisis pregnancies but half of all pregnancies, regardless of age or circumstances, are unplanned, and the Guttmacher Institutes research shows that 61% of American women who terminated pregnancies had at least one other child.

Perhaps the reason why we hear so little about these women is because its easier for anti-choice campaigners to paint those who have abortions as sexually promiscuous and immature. As you said in your longer letter, youre educated about contraception; youve been in charge of your reproductive choices since your early twenties.

A crisis pregnancy isnt a moral failing  people can be responsible and take the necessary precautions and still find themselves in the situation you did.

No method of contraception is one hundred per cent effective and judging women for an unwanted pregnancy is not only unacceptable, its a waste of time.

What we really need to do is ensure that all women have the support they need. That support could take form in empathy and understanding if a woman terminates her pregnancy but it also means more financial assistance for mothers of children with disabilities who feel unable to cope, a very real fear that many face.

Im so sorry that youre experiencing what you described as an avalanche of anxiety and sadness and regret. I want you to remember that its only been six months since your termination, its still very early days in your recovery. Your husband might feel like this is done, but you are entitled to every one of your feelings. Its okay to feel sad. Its even okay to feel regret. But in your slightly longer letter, you mentioned feeling guilty and thats where I must stop you.

Guilt suggests that you have done something wrong or bad and you didnt. You made a decision for you, your life, your body, and your family. You did the very best you could under difficult circumstances and thats all any of us can expect of ourselves.

I dont know if this will be of comfort to you but the Turnaway Study recently published in the Social Science & Medicine journal found that 99% of women said they felt relieved about their abortions five years afterwards, even the 29% who had mixed or negative feelings in the weeks following the termination. Things may look very different this time next year but right now, this has been a loss for you and you are still grieving. You need time to heal.

I always seem to end my column by telling the letter writer to seek professional help and today is no exception. I know the pandemic has made it difficult to attend counselling in person but most therapists are offering sessions via phone or Zoom. I would urge you to reach out and make an appointment today.

Be well, my friend. You deserve that.
Danleeman Isah, the chief Imam of Kawaran Rafi in Igabi local government area of Kaduna state, has been killed by gunmen. The cleric w...

Danleeman Isah, the chief Imam of Kawaran Rafi in Igabi local government area of Kaduna state, has been killed by gunmen.





The cleric was shot dead when the gunmen invaded the village.

Samuel Aruwan, the state commissioner for internal security and home affairs, in a statement on Saturday, said the murder of the cleric is linked to his stance against bandits in the state.

Security agencies have informed the Kaduna state government that armed bandits invaded Kawaran Rafi village village in Igabi local government area, and killed one Danleeman Isah, the chief immam of the village, he said.

The bandits moved straight to Isahs residence, and in what appears to be a pre-meditated murder, shot him dead and left the location without taking any items or hostages.

The murder of the cleric has been linked to his vocal stance against the killing and kidnapping of citizenry by bandit.

It is of a similar ilk to the killing of Ardo Musa Layi of Kajuru local government, who was kidnapped and killed by armed bandits in October 2020 for his advocacy against killing, kidnapping and cattle rustling.





Also similar was the shooting of Ardo Ahmadu Suleiman by bandits at Kasuwan Magani, Kajuru local government, leaving him with bullet wounds.

Aruwan said security agencies have also reported the murder of Yohanna Abu, Sarkin Yaki of Godogodo, by a gang of kidnappers.

According to him, the gunmen attacked Nisama village in Jemaa local government area on Friday night, and abducted Abu along with Charles Audu, another resident.

A struggle ensued between the duo and the kidnappers, and while Mr Audu was able to escape, the kidnappers shot Mr Abu dead, he said.

The commissioner said five persons have been arrested in connection with the killings and security agencies are investigating the incidents.

He added that Nasir el-Rufai, governor of the state, expressed sadness at both incidents, and prayed for the repose of the souls of the slain cleric and the community leader.
An Army NCO in San Antonio found in a vehicle on I-10 had been shot multiple times and died early New Years Day at a local hospital, military authorities said Saturday.

The Army said Saturday night that Staff Sergeant Jessica Mitchell, who was assigned to U.S. Army Medical Center of Excellence at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, was on holiday leave when she was pronounced dead at University Hospital at 3 a.m. Friday.

We are devastated by the tragic loss of Drill Sergeant Jessica Mitchell. Our sincere condolences go out to her family and friends, said Maj. Gen. Dennis LeMaster, who commands the center of excellence. We are focused on supporting Drill Sergeant Mitchells family as well as her soldiers during this extremely difficult time.

The incident is the latest tragedy in a little more than a week involving the military in San Antonio. Joint Base San Antonio last Monday revealed the discovery of a partial skeleton on Fort Sam. The remains were found the previous weekend on a part of the post near Salado Creek, which cuts through Fort Sam.

On ExpressNews.com: Skeletal remains found at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio

In the New Years Day death, a statement issued by the Army and Joint Base San Antonio did not say how Mitchell had been shot or give other details about the incident.

But San Antonio police said they were dispatched to the eastbound side of Interstate 10 at West Avenue after 2 a.m. Friday to investigate a stranded vehicle in the fast lane that had created a hazard, said Lt. Jesse Salame, a spokesman.

He said officers arrived and found a white Dodge Challenger with multiple gunshots to the driver's side door and window. They then opened the vehicle door and checked for a pulse on the victim, who appeared to have been struck multiple times.

No pulse was found.

The woman was transported by EMS to University Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

The highway was shut down so the scene could be processed by crime scene investigators and investigated by homicide detectives, but Salame, the police lieutenant, said it was too early to know a motive.

It also wasnt immediately clear whether Mitchell was the citys first homicide victim of the year.

A 68E Dental Specialist, Mitchell had been assigned to the center of excellence since August 2019 and before that had been with a JBSA dental clinic since 2017.

The skeletal remains found on Fort Sams grounds raised numerous questions, including about security. The post, like two other joint bases in the area  Randolph and Lackland  is gated and closed to the public.

The Air Force Office of Special Investigations, which began an investigation last Monday, didnt say if personal effects, clothing or other items were found with the skeleton.

The Air Force is in charge of the joint bases security and police organizations.

Violence on and off military installations has become a major issue at the Pentagon since the disappearance and death of Army Spc. Vanessa Guillen, 20, a soldier from Houston who served at Fort Hood.

She vanished in April, triggering a search of the greater Killeen area and raising alarm over other GIs who had disappeared from the post. Guillens body was found more than two months after she went missing and the fellow soldier believed to have killed her shot himself and died after her she was found.

On ExpressNews.com: Volunteer searchers check Central Texas fields, looking for signs of missing GI

Guillens mother accused the Army of not moving quickly enough to find her daughter, and top Army leaders have since conceded they failed the young soldier and her family.

To provide information about Mitchells death or the remains found at Fort Sam, call the San Antonio police departments homicide division at (210) 207-7635.

sigc@express-news.net
Gibraltar Goes into Social Lockdown

In a press conference held today at No.6 Convent Place, Chief Minister Fabian Picardo issued 'stay at home' orders for Gibraltar and announced a legal social lockdown.

"My dear fellow Gibraltarians.

Thank you all for joining to watch this important live press conference from No6 Convent Place.

I am sorry to have to interrupt your Christmas and New Year holidays once again, not even 48 hours after my last press conference from No6.

And let me start by hoping that we all have a healthy, happy and prosperous 2021.

The reality, however, is that the numbers of new infections with COVID-19 in our community are remarkably high and concerning.

We are seeing rates of growth in new infections which are quite exponential and which are having a serious effect on the numbers of people hospitalised and the numbers of frontline workers in self-isolation.

The measures we took before Christmas and just after Christmas also, will not have percolated into these numbers yet.

We believe that those measures will have a positive effect on the rates of new infections.

But we can also see that the rate of community infection and community transmission is so high that we will not be able to turn down the rate of infection without more drastic measures.

With Christmas behind us, a curfew in place and all non-essential retail closed already, we need to further upscale the level of restrictions which are in place in order to have the best chance to control the virus as soon as possible.

We must also factor in when we want to take these measures. No doubt, this is the slowest time of the year for most businesses. It is a time when we are mostly spending time at home.

That in itself gives us no right to interfere with your constitutional rights of freedom of movement. Your civil rights are not just important to us  they are SACRED.

But we do have public health reasons to act.

And those are now becoming obvious.

The rate of infection will today show 92 more active cases.

Yesterday we added 172 active cases.

Todays numbers include 16 new positives in Mount Alvernia.

The total number of people with the infection today is 973 active cases. That is just shy of a thousand active cases.

The total number of confirmed cases since we started testing is up to 2,304 cases.

Exactly one month ago, on the 2nd of December, we were reporting 5 new cases of the infection.

Today we had 92 and yesterday 172.

On 2nd of December we had 1,035 total cases of COVID in our Community since we started testing.

We have more than doubled that rate in one month, up by almost 1,300 cases.

More than double.

The rate of growth has now got to be arrested.

The R rate today is calculated at 1.51.

The virus is therefore propagating more quickly than we can control it.

The numbers of people admitted to the Critical Care Unit at St. Bernards Hospital is up to 5 today.

We therefore had to open our second Critical Care Unit.

Day surgeries will therefore have to be cancelled.

This second CCU will have to be staffed, although there is huge pressure on GHA staff as a result of positive infections amongst them and a lot of people also in self-isolation.

Additionally, the number of persons in the COVID ward is up to 20. The pressure is building on the GHA.

And that is also happening in a lot of other frontline agencies. We cannot allow this pressure to build to breaking point.

It has not helped, of course, that whilst we have taken measures to have an effect here, we have seen some residents of Gibraltar, decide to go to Spain.

Those who have gone to their second homes, I fully understand.

But those who are going to Spain to do there what they cannot do here because of restrictions designed to avoid the spread of the infection and then are coming back into Gibraltar, are not assisting us.

We are therefore left with very little choice now, if we are to turn the tide and curb the rise of new infections.

We are left with very little choice if we are going to be able to continue to offer frontline services.

We are left with very little choice if we do not want to see an even sharper rise in self-isolations, hospitalisations and deaths.

As a result, we will impose a legal lockdown as a circuit breaker. The lockdown will initially be for a period of 14 days.

I have nonetheless asked the Cabinet to agree that the lockdown should nonetheless be reviewed every 7 days.

I do not believe that we should maintain a lockdown which deprives you of important civil liberties for one moment longer than is necessary.

I have sought the advice of the Attorney General who confirms that the public health exception provided for in the chapter on fundamental rights in the 2006 Constitution is engaged.

He has also confirmed that the measures proposed are proportional in light of the potential consequences to our ability to continue to provide frontline services and to protect public health and human life.

A full civil contingency is now in play.

I am declaring a Major Incident Posture for the whole of Gibraltar.

I have considered the matter with the Leader of the Opposition, who agrees that these measures are necessary.

The additional measure we are taking is to impose a 24-hour curfew in effect.

For the next 14 days, you will not be permitted to leave your homes after 10pm tonight UNLESS it is for the reasons you became familiar with in the spring of 2020.

That is to say, you will only be able to leave your home to work, to exercise, to shop for the essentials in Gibraltar in the shops that remain open and to take out children.

Of course you will be able to leave home for medical reasons also, whether emergencies or appointments in Gibraltar or outside of Gibraltar.

There will be special arrangements for children and persons with special needs.

There will be special arrangements for families where children live with one parent and another has residence or visitation rights.

There will be permission to take essentials to elderly or otherwise vulnerable relatives.

There will be special arrangements for exercising dogs and the need to visit vets for example.

There will be permission to do essentials, but not frivolities.

BUT LETS BE CLEAR: THIS IS A STAY AT HOME ORDER.

It is not something we are doing lightly.

As in every instance, we are taking these measures with a very, very heavy heart.

This runs contrary to our civil libertarian instincts as a Government.

But we have no choice.

And I believe each of you has no choice, if you want to support your nation, other than to abide strictly by these new regulations.

And remember that elsewhere these stay at home orders have not provided for the right to exercise as they do in Gibraltar.

Our strict lockdown is lighter than in most other nations.

So please do not try to find a way THROUGH the rules, try to ensure your strict compliance WITH these rules.

Work from home if you can.

Act as if you had been required to self-isolate and come out only if it is essential that you should. These are difficult things to require of you, but require them we must.

Of course, these measures are cumulative.

They are in addition to existing measures.

BUT we are not closing work places.

Please continue to work in a manner that is safe.

The COVID-19 officer in your workplace can seek advice from Public Health Gibraltar in order to ensure a safe system of work.

I have already been in contact with Christian Hernandez, the President of the Chamber of Commerce in order to discuss how we will have to assist some businesses through this.

I will convene a virtual meeting of CELAC early next week to start calibrating assistance for affected businesses.

We will be there for businesses.

For our entrepreneurs.

For our wealth creators.

Just as we were in 2020, we will be in 2021.

The behaviour of the virus with such massive infectivity suggests that we are seeing the new, more infectious variant at play here. But we cannot confirm that genetically.

The social behaviour we have seen in the last three weeks will have assisted that new strain or even the original strain to propagate as it has.

So we must act and we must act now.

I felt it was important that you should have as much notice as possible of these measures, and for that reason I alerted you to the lockdown in social media posts yesterday.

I also felt you needed to hear directly from me when we are dealing with an issue as fundamental as the restrictions on your liberty.

Finally, HOPE.

The arrival of the vaccine is confirmed for the 9th January.

We are working with Public Health England and the Department of Health in the United Kingdom to agree that we can go with a one-dose strategy.

That means that instead of being able to vaccinate only about 2,500 people in our first tranche, we will be able to vaccinate about 5,000 people.

In the context of our population, this is a huge potential step forward.

Our size often puts our figures out of kilter.

We are testing more than anywhere else in the world almost on a per capita basis.

That means our figures are higher per capita for detected infections than anywhere else in the world.

But if weighted against testing per capita, our figures can be seen in a different light. Now, also, our vaccination rates will be higher.

With a one-dose strategy we will be able to cover all or almost all of our vulnerable and elderly with the first 5,000 doses to arrive in Gibraltar on 9th January.

One sixth of our population can be covered in very quick time.

I have asked Public Health Gibraltar and the GHA to provide me with a vaccination strategy immediately to reflect the new potential one dose approach.

Professor Whitty, the United Kingdoms Chief Medical Advisor has already alluded to this new approach.

We will be ready to deploy in this way if we can agree that we should. BUT FOR TODAY, we must concentrate not on HOPE but on EFFORT. COLLECTIVE EFFORT.

We must face this virus off together.

Like we did in the spring.

Like we did with all challenges that we face.

Like we have done for generations.

Christmas is over.

A new year is here.

Our first and foremost resolution for 2021 must be to see the back of this damned virus and get back to freedom as soon as possible.

Your Government however, cannot do it alone.

The GHA cannot deliver this alone.

Your support is essential.

And so, alongside the law requiring you to stay at home, I call on each and every one of you to resolve to act in the spirit of this order and to support us in this final push to get beyond this virus.

That is how we will finally turn the page."
India's drugs regulator on Saturday recommended for emergency use a locally developed coronavirus vaccine called COVAXIN, which is expected to be a backup to the AstraZeneca/Oxford shot. COVAXIN has been developed by Bharat Biotech, a company based in Hyderabad, with backing from the state-run Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

Not much is known about the safety and efficacy of COVAXIN. The company says it has submitted all data to the drugs regulator. The head of India's drugs regulator is expected to share details about it at a news conference on Sunday, when its formal approval is likely to be announced. Here are some major developments related to COVAXIN:

June 30, 2020: The Drugs Controller General of India (DGCI) approves COVAXIN for human trials, making it the country's first domestic vaccine candidate.

July 3: An official at ICMR, India's top clinical research agency, says in a leaked letter it envisages launching a coronavirus vaccine by August 15, India's independence day, leading to questions from some health experts about the short timeline. The same day, Bharat Biotech shares its target of producing up to 300 million doses of the vaccine if its trials succeed.

July 4: ICMR says its decision to fast-track development of a potential coronavirus vaccine is in line with international standards.

October 23: Bharat Biotech says it is in discussions with more than 10 countries that have shown an interest in its vaccine candidate. It says Phase 1 and 2 trials have found the vaccine to be safe.

November 1: Bharat Biotech says it is planning to launch the vaccine in the second quarter of 2021.

November 16: Bharat Biotech says it is starting phase III trials.

November 20: Bharat Biotech offers Brazil the vaccine and a possible technology-transfer partnership.

December 7: Bharat Biotech seeks emergency use approval for COVAXIN.

December 22: US-based drug developer Ocugen Inc says it has partnered with Bharat Biotech to co-develop the vaccine candidate for the US market.

January 2: Experts at India's drug regulator approve the vaccine "for restricted use in emergency situation in public interest as an abundant precaution, in clinical trial mode, especially in the context of infection by mutant strains".

January 3: Vaccines of Serum Institue of India and Bharat Biotech have been granted permission for restricted use in an emergency situation by the Drugs Controller General of India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi appreciated the scientific community's efforts in the creation of the vaccine against the deadly coronavirus.

A decisive turning point to strengthen a spirited fight! DCGI granting approval to vaccines of @SerumInstIndia and @BharatBiotech accelerates the road to a healthier and COVID-free nation. Congratulations India. Congratulations to our hardworking scientists and innovators. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 3, 2021

Bharat Biotech says it has recruited 23,000 volunteers out of its target of 26,000 for an ongoing Phase-3 trial of COVAXIN in India that began in mid-November. It is the largest Phase III efficacy trial conducted for any vaccine in India.
Travellers could face jail or fines of up to 2,000 if they return to illegal sites within a year of being evicted under new legislation.

The Government says the Police Powers and Protection Bill will help get rid of illegal encampments that 'cause misery'.

The proposed law, due to come before Parliament within the next few weeks, will give local authorities the power to move illegally camped travellers to legal sites in neighbouring authorities.

At present, councils can only move people on to sites within their own areas, and travellers are only fined if they return within three months.

Travellers could face jail or fines of up to 2,000 if they return to illegal sites within a year of being evicted under new legislation. The Government says the Police Powers and Protection Bill will help get rid of illegal encampments that 'cause misery'. (File photo of caravans at Hove Lawns, Hove)

The proposed law, due to come before Parliament within the next few weeks, will give local authorities the power to move illegally camped travellers to legal sites in neighbouring authorities. At present, councils can only move people on to sites within their own areas, and travellers are only fined if they return within three months. (Above, caravans in Richmond, west London, last May)

Since trespass is not a criminal offence, travellers who set up illegal sites do not face imprisonment.

The proposed change would see trespassing on private land to set up a site made a criminal offence, with people who break the law facing up to three months in prison.

The new law also sets the threshold where police could take action at two caravans, down from the current six.

A Government source told the Daily Telegraph: 'The vast majority of travellers are law-abiding citizens, but illegal sites often give an unfair, negative image of their community, and cause distress and misery to those who live nearby.

'There is a widespread perception that the law does not apply to travellers, and that is deeply troubling.'

Abbie Kirby, of the Friends, Families and Travellers charity, accused the Home Office of 'ignoring police views'.

Last summer The Mail on Sunday revealed how villagers at Grange Moor, West Yorkshire, had appealed to their local council to dig a trench to stop travellers regularly returning to an unauthorised site (pictured)

She claimed that 75 per cent of police responses in a consultation process said current powers were sufficient, that 84 per cent did not support making unauthorised encampments a criminal matter, and 65 per cent said a lack of site provision was the real issue.

Last summer The Mail on Sunday revealed how villagers at Grange Moor, West Yorkshire, had appealed to their local council to dig a trench to stop travellers regularly returning to an unauthorised site.

It is estimated there are 23,000 traveller caravans in England, with 14 per cent on unauthorised sites.
World Aids Day is marked on 1st December every year to raise awareness about the disease. The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/Aids (UNAids) is the UN entity tasked with fighting HIV infections, discrimination and Aids-related deaths.

Winnie Byanyima, UNAids executive director (left)

Winnie Byanyima (centre), UNAids executive director

Zipporah Musau spoke with the executive director of UNAids, Winnie Byanyima, about the organisations priorities and its response to Covid-19 in Africa: Here are the excerpts:There is evidence that the Aids-related death toll could double in Sub-Saharan Africa from 2020 to 2021 if HIV services are severely disrupted  this would mean an additional 500,000 Aids-related deaths. But not only that, new infections among children through mother-to-child transmission could increase by even more than 100% in some countries in Africa. We could see the progress made in fighting Aids reversed by 10 years. And that's dangerous. So, it's so important to put the message out there that we should keep up the two struggles on HIV and Covid-19. Do not drop one for the other.Some of the lockdown measures in many countries impinged on the rights of people living with HIV, like the ability to go collect their medicines. So, we pushed for governments to give people living with HIV supplies for three to six months, as opposed to every few weeks. We also saw human rights violations of gay people and sex workers being arrested - accused of spreading coronavirus  and transgender people being denied food and services because they don't have an identity card. We are pushing for their rights by working with governments and collaborating with civil society.The fact that we are the continent that is the most affected by HIV and Aids and yet most of the ARVs are manufactured elsewhere is a loss to us. Even the prevention commodities are imported. These products should be produced in Africa, creating jobs and raising taxes to put back in our health systems.It is important that we build our manufacturing capacity in Africa. There may be some in South Africa, a few in Nigeria and maybe in Egypt, but we need to pool together, produce our own medicines and share the African market. That is something we feel strongly about at UNAids.We are working with the African Union and have some collaborations with China to promote local manufacturing. This is high on our agenda.UNAids was created to fight HIV/ Aids globally. We have about 24.5 million people on antiretroviral (ARV) treatment, and there is another 15 million people who are HIV-positive but have not been tested yet.Our report shows that there were 1.7 million new HIV infections globally in 2018 alone and another 770,000 people died of Aids in the same year. While we are seeing the rate of infections is coming down, these numbers are still high.Our priority for the next 10 years is to work extremely hard on prevention, especially among vulnerable groups. For women and girls, we have to address the structural causes of their vulnerability which include culture, traditions and poverty, among others. The fact that sexual violence is so pervasive, we have to tackle that. We will be working closely with our other partners UN Women, UNFPA, Unicef, Unesco, UNDP and others to fight the causes of the vulnerable in Africa.On the other hand, we have to work on human rights because as long as gay men and sex workers remain criminalised, they are driven underground and hence don't come forward for prevention or treatment. It's important to remove those criminal laws so that these people can come forward for testing, prevention, and treatment.The most vulnerable in Africa are mostly women and girls. In other parts of the world, it is gay men, sex workers, prisoners, migrants, and people who inject drugs. Prevention isn't happening fast enough. Up to 1.7 million new infections and 770,000 deaths in one year are too many. We can still reduce the overall new infections and deaths significantly.We need more tools of science, for example, we need more PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis where people at risk or those that have been exposed to HIV take daily medicine to prevent the infection). Recently, there have been more innovations in PrEPs which could be used more among gay men and sex workers. However, if in some places these people are called illegal, they are not able to go get these services.We also need to deal with some of the constraints, including the lack of comprehensive age-appropriate sex education in schools to empower girls with knowledge to understand their bodies and take control of them.Absolutely! Sexual violence is a key driver of HIV infection, especially among adolescent girls and young women. Sadly, in Africa, 5,400 young women are infected with HIV every week! The rate of infection of girls is four times more than that of boys of the same age. Women and girls are so much more vulnerable to infection and it's all driven by tolerance of sexual violence, the culture of accepting harmful masculinity; lack of comprehensive sexual education in schools. This environment that makes a girl unsafe has been worsened by Covid-19.So, again, we're calling on governments to provide services. Communities must be on the look-out. Community leaders must speak out. Where there is a threat, we need to have shelters. We need to increase sexual reproductive health services which have been reducing as governments juggle their resources. We are saying gender-based violence responders, counsellors, sexual and reproductive health workers should be considered essential workers within the Covid-19 response, and their services maintained.UNAids was created to fight Aids globally, but a lot of our work is in Africa. Currently, we are looking at two colliding pandemics [HIV and Covid-19], and we are responding by giving advice to governments on their responses.In at least 11 countries, UNAids is leading the UN system on the task force on Covid-19. We advise governments that the Covid-19 response must be multi-sectoral because a pandemic isn't just a health issue. It is an issue of communities, peoples behaviours and social norms, legal systems and human rights because it attacks those who are most vulnerable. It feeds on existing inequalities.That's the lens we brought in to fight Aids. If you look at our national Aids commissions, they bring all the parts of government to fight Aids, not just health.We also advise governments to put communities at the centre of fighting pandemics because you have to start and win at the bottom. It is people in their own communities who shape and lead and fight for their lives, ordering them from above doesn't work. Empowering them to lead is what works.Third, human rights, stigma and discrimination must be fought. We insist on respect for human rights. These lockdowns must respect people's rights even while restricting movement.And then, of course, we bring in our infrastructure, the HIV labs that are now being used to test for Covid-19. Some of our best HIV scientists are now working on teams fighting Covid-19 in various countries.The work with the African Union is also critically important. We are working with the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) whose director, Dr John Nkengasong, has invited UNAids to be part of a partnership to accelerate Covid-19 testing.Lastly, from what we learned from HIV, we are part of a movement to fight for treatment. Remember when antiretroviral drugs were discovered, people in Europe and America were getting them but in Africa, millions were still dying because prices were high. We had to fight for years to bring the prices down. So again, we are part of a civil society campaign pushing for rules to be established before a vaccine is found that a patent will be a global public good, distributed fairly to all regions and availed free of charge for rich and poor.My first advice is to people living with HIV, and those vulnerable to Covid-19, those with underlying conditions such as respiratory diseases, diabetes  be careful. Take the advice on staying at home, obey the rules of lockdowns, wash your hands to keep yourself safe because you are vulnerable.For people living with HIV, we dont yet have all the science to tell us how vulnerable they are to Covid-19. But what I would advise is that if you have not tested and you suspect you might have HIV, this is the time to get tested because your immunity might be so low that you might get easily infected with the coronavirus.To other people, it is in our own interest to stay at home as much as possible and observe personal hygiene. But it is also time to be a good neighbour  to support others. If you have food and your neighbour doesnt have, share. If somebody is sick, raise the alarm and let them get help. It is time to pool together, to be kind to each other. Be careful, be safe, obey rules, be a good neighbour, help others, and we will be okay.
The emergency use approval in India to the Serum Institute of India (SII) vaccine against Covid-19 developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University, and the restricted use in emergency situation consent to Bharat Biotech International Limiteds locally developed vaccine has triggered a debate among experts -- particularly over the decision to clear the Bharat Biotech vaccine despite the shorter duration of human trials and relatively less data.

Indias nationwide vaccination drive is scheduled to begin in January with the AstraZeneca-Oxford shot. Bharat Biotechs vaccine, according to experts aware of the matter, is a back-up in clinical trial conditions if a spike in cases triggers the need of doses.

AstraZeneca-Oxford got the Drug Control General of India nod based on the safety, immunogenicity and efficacy data generated on 23,745 participants from overseas studies, as well as interim data from Phase 2/3 trials on 1,600 people in India. What boosted its case was that it was granted approval last week by the Medicine and Healthcare products Regulatory Authority in the UK.

Bharat Biotechs vaccine was approved for restricted use in emergency situation in public interest as an abundant precaution, in clinical mode, especially in the context of infection by mutant strains based on safety and immunogenicity data from tests done mice, rats, rabbits, Syrian hamsters; and so-called challenge studies on Rhesus macaques and hamsters, and Phase I and Phase II clinical trials on around 800 participants, according to the drug regulator.

Read more| Congratulations India: PM Modi tweets after nod to Covid-19 vaccines

Early-stage trials found the vaccine to be safe and able to invoke a robust immune response, but Phase 2 data is under peer review and has not been published. Phase 3 trials were announced on November 16, and around 22,500 of 25,800 volunteers have enrolled of which around half have received two doses.

The terminology is very different for the two vaccines, so it does acknowledge that the stages of research for the two vaccines is different. The government will begin vaccinating with the Serum vaccine in the first few weeks, and keep the Bharat Biotech vaccine as a backup till the data becomes robust by the end of this month or the beginning of next month, said Dr Randeep Guleria, director of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi.

Emergency use authorisation is standard, which Serum has got. The emergency situation nod for Bharat Biotech means that if there is a surge in the number of cases or if there are issues with vaccine efficacy as far as the first one is concerned, then the vaccine may be used in a clinical trial situation, which will be closely monitored because the data is not sufficient. It is a backup plan for a possible surge in cases, like in the UK, where they have changed the vaccinations schedule from four weeks to 12 weeks because they want to vaccinate as many as people possible. If we are in a similar situation, we will not be able to do it with one vaccine. This (the approval) is just to tell them, okay, go ahead, your current data is good, he added.

Some other experts, however, argued that even in emergency situations, approval must be granted only after safety and efficacy is irrefutably established.

Read more| Disgraceful: Health minister Vardhan slams Akhilesh Yadav, Tharoor over Covid-19 vaccine doubts

Its absolutely shocking that the regulator has approved the Bharat Biotech vaccine, which has limited data for safety and immunogenicity and no data for efficacy. The Phase 3 trials are still completing enrolment and it is too early for data to meet the criterion for an interim analysis. The only human data available on safety and immunogenicity is on 755 participants in Phase 1 and 2 trials. This amounts to rolling out an untested and unproven vaccine, said Malini Aisola, co-convenor of All India Drug Action Network (AIDAN), which is a network of non-profit organisation working to increase access to and rational use of medicines.

The vaccines use two different and established delivery platforms. While SII has a recombinant chimpanzee adenovirus vector vaccine (Covishield), Bharat Biotech has developed a whole virion inactivated coronavirus vaccine (Covaxin).

Covaxin is a whole-viron inactivated vaccine with more potential to target all parts of the virus rather than specific parts. This makes it a more effective tool against the new virus strain found in the UK... even Pfizer recently said that it needs about four to six weeks to make tweaks to their vaccine to adjust to the new mutations in the virus, said Dr Balram Bhargava, director general, Indian Council of Medical Research, in an interview to HT. ICMR has also partnered in developing the vaccine.

Read more| Covishield vs Covaxin against Covid-19: All you need to know

But other experts were not so sure.

Im not aware of any data that demonstrates that Covaxin has any efficacy against any strain of the new coronavirus, let alone special efficacy against the (UK) variant strain, said Dr Gagandeep Kang, clinician scientist, and professor of gastrointestinal sciences at the Christian Medical College, Vellore.

Both vaccines will be administered under government supervision and will not be available to the general public till the data is complete and all trial results are out.

Restricted emergency use authorisation means only the government will procure the vaccines and decide who will get it under supervision. Under restricted emergency use, these vaccines will not be available commercially, they will not be available to the public on demand. As far as we know as of yesterday, there are no safety issues. The government will give free vaccination to people where protection delayed can be protection denied, said Dr T Jacob John, senior virologist anda former professor at Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu.
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Colorado Springs artist Pat Musick lives in the home her famous artist father, Archie Musick, created and built in the late '40s and '50s. It's built into a natural amphitheater in the sandstone rock of Garden of the Gods.
Three off-duty police officers working security at a Houston night club were injured in a shooting that left a woman in her 40s dead in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Officials said the deputies were working an extra job and were in full uniform when they responded to a fight in a parking lot outside Set Nightclub shortly after it had closed at around 2.20am.

As they attempted to break up the fight the suspected shooter opened fire into the crowd killing the 'innocent bystander', cops say.

Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said the deputies, who have not been identified, went to hospitals for treatment and were expected to survive  including one deputy who was taken in for surgery.

Officials said the deputies were working an extra job and were in full uniform

The officers had tried to stop a fight in a parking lot outside Set Nightclub at 2.20am Sunday. As they attempted to break up the fight the suspected shooter opened fire

One male officer was shot in the foot, another in the hands and legs; a female officer was shot in the abdomen. Two are in their 30s; the third in their 40s and are 'fairly seasoned deputies'.

The city's Executive Assistant Police Chief Troy Finner told reporters that the woman who died was a civilian who was taken to a hospital where she was pronounced dead.

She has not been named but was described as a Hispanic woman in her 40s by Click2Houston.

One male officer was shot in the foot, another in the hands and legs; a female officer was shot in the abdomen. Two are in their 40s; the third in their 40s and are 'fairly seasoned deputies'. The city's Executive Assistant Police Chief Troy Finner told reporters that the woman who died was a civilian who was taken to a hospital where she was pronounced dead.

The suspected shooter, described as a Hispanic male in his mid to late twenties, sought treatment for a gunshot wound at a hospital in Sugarland, Finner said. He has not been named and was taken into custody.

Sugarland is about 20 miles southwest of Houston.

Finner said: 'There was a fight that broke out. The deputies were attempting to break up the fight. We have one suspect that began to fire upon the deputies.'

'I don't know what led him to shoot into a crowd with police officers and other citizens,' Finner added. 'The investigation is still at the preliminary point.'

Gonzalez said he had spoken with two of the officers who were 'in fairly good spirits'. All three cops are expected to survive.

The shooting comes less than a day after Harris County Sgt. Bruce Watson was killed in a crash while driving his patrol motorcycle.

Watson, a 20-year veteran of the sheriff's office, was on his way home after leading a funeral procession Saturday when he was involved in a collision in Pearland, news outlets reported. He later died at a hospital. Watson's wife is a Houston police officer.

Sunday morning's shooting was a 'very scary moment at the heels of what we went through just last night,' Gonzalez said at the news conference.

'It's been a tragic night all around,' the sheriff said.
The heartbroken families of two men stabbed to be death in the Alva Beach killings refuse to give up on their quest for murder charges to be laid.

Corey Christensen, 37, and Tom Davy, 27, were fatally stabbed by Dean Webber, then 19, at his home in the tiny village south of Townsville in North Queensland on the night of the 2018 NRL Grand Final.

Police ruled Mr Webber was acting in self-defence and declined to press charges after he claimed the men broke into his home, where Davy's girlfriend Candice Locke ran to hide.

Mr Webber didn't take the stand to be cross-examined in person at a coronial inquest in October as the stabbings left him with severe post traumatic stress disorder.

The inquest was put on hold for Mr Webber to answer questions in writing.

The Davy and Christensen families were visibly upset at the inquest following the ruling, which they have since challenged in the Supreme Court.

The families of two men stabbed to be death at Alva Beach in 2018 have called for Dean Webber (pictured) to be charged

Mr Davy's parents Heather and Neil have called for the coroner to refer the case to the Director of Public Prosecutions for double murder charges to be considered.

'It's still an open investigation. The police can still charge Webber. That is what we would ultimately want,' Ms Davy told The Australian.

'If that's not going to happen, we definitely want it referred to the DPP, and from their investigation go to a criminal court.'

Davy's uncle Euan McLauchlan added the family would 'love anybody with a law degree to look at it and give an opinion'.

Mr Davy's family recently said they were aware the aircraft engineer was dating Ms Locke at the time but had never met her.

The parents of Tom Davy (pictured) want the coroner to refer the case to the Director of Public Prosecutions for murder charges to be considered

Corey Christensen, 37, (pictured with wife Jaye) was also killed in the late night stabbing

Deputy State Coroner Jane Bentley told the inquest she will refer the matter to the DPP only if she found a reasonable suspicion an offence had been committed.

'I certainly won't be putting it in findings, and it's a matter that I'll be considering at the end of the inquest,' she said, according to transcript excerpts.

Mr Webber was alone in his home at Alva Beach when Ms Locke appeared and asked to take refuge at the property on September 30, 2018, the inquest heard.

A group of men including her boyfriend Mr Davy and Mr Christensen allegedly came banging on Mr Webber's front door at about 12.30am.

Three men ripped through the screen door and allegedly grabbed the young diesel fitter by the throat and threw him to the ground.

The two men were stabbed in the ensuing melee and prompted an ongoing inquest into the circumstances surrounding their deaths.

Tom Davy's girlfriend Candice Locke (pictured) was inside Dean Webber's home at the time

Mr Christensen's widow Jaye is still searching for the truth about what happened that night.

'What was put into the media, the stories that were unraveling and what we were being told just totally went against what we knew about Corey, who Corey was,' Ms Christensen told A Current Affair in October.

'As far as we knew the full story hadn't come about, like nobody knew what had happened but yet somehow decisions had been made and we had to deal with that.'

'For me, for my family for Corey's family. We just want the truth. We want the clarity around is it what they originally said, because we don't really think it matches Corey's personality, it doesn't match his behaviour.'

A coroner inquest into the Alva Beach deaths recently heard Dean Webber (pictured) suffers from PTSD as a result of the stabbing
Traffic police in Ho Chi Minh City on Saturday managed to bar a man from committing suicide over what he claimed to be his ex-wifes remarriage.

Officers were checking drivers breath alcohol content at a checkpoint at the intersection of Tan Thuan 2 Bridge and Nguyen Van Linh Boulevard in District 7 at 11:00 pm on Saturday when a seemingly drunk man approached them on a motorbike, wearing no crash helmet and asking why didnt you arrest me?

A test showed that his breath alcohol content far exceeded the limit.

The man identified himself as L., coming from the Mekong Delta province of An Giang.

He said he is working in Dong Nai Province, which borders Ho Chi Minh City to the east.

L. was not carrying any personal papers with him so the traffic police officers decided to keep his motorbike.

I want to leave the vehicle to you, L. said.

Im so sad as my ex-wife has remarried.

I have drunk alcohol for three days but Ive never felt drunk.

Ill absolutely go kill myself tonight.

The two have just divorced and their child is living with his ex-wife in Ho Chi Minh City, the man said.

Hearing of her remarriage, L. rode his motorbike from Dong Nai to the city to look for his child but in vain.

The ex-wife had moved to another rented house and cut off all contact with him.

The traffic police officers repeatedly asked him for his familys phone numbers to contact them but L. turned them down, insisting on death, needless to hold me back.

The officers contacted local police who quickly showed up and convinced L. to come to their office for a rest, putting a stop to his determination to take his own life.

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Tesla Inc. fell just shy of its goal of delivering at least half a million vehicles after the Covid-19 outbreak temporarily closed the companys lone U.S. car plant.

The Silicon Valley electric-car maker Saturday said it delivered a record 499,550 vehicles globally last year, up from roughly 367,500 the previous year. Analysts surveyed by FactSet on average expected 493,000 Tesla deliveries in 2020. Tesla said it produced 509,737 vehicles last year.

The companys resilience during the pandemic that has reduced road travel and damped auto sales globally has fueled investor exuberance for the electric-car maker. Its stock soared more than 700% last year.

Chief Executive Elon Musk, via Twitter, hailed the figures as a major milestone," adding that during the early days of Tesla he wasnt certain the company would make ita sentiment he has previously expressed.

Tesla in the coming months faces a difficult task as it looks to introduce additional vehicle models and open new factories in Germany and Texas as part of Mr. Musks growth ambitions.

Teslas deliveries last year were buoyed by demand in China. Tesla began delivering cars from its new Shanghai plant in late 2019. Those sales helped to offset production slowdowns in the U.S., where Tesla had to close its Fremont, Calif., plant for several weeks starting in March as local authorities imposed restrictions on businesses to slow the spread of the virus.

Tesla ended the year with 180,570 deliveries in the final quarter, a record topping the 139,593 vehicles that went to customers in the previous three-month period.

Deliveries were dominated by the Model 3 car and Model Y sport-utility vehicle that started going to customers in the midst of the pandemic. Tesla said it delivered a combined 442,511 Model 3s and Model Ys last year and a combined 57,039 Model S luxury sedans and Model X SUVs. The company said its delivery figures were conservative and could be revised.

The surge in deliveries has stoked Wall Street expectations for Tesla to post a record profit for the period and its first full year in the black when it reports 2020 fourth-quarter earnings in a few weeks. It would continue Teslas run of five quarters in a row of profit that led to the companys inclusion in the S&P 500 index last month.

Teslas performance through the pandemic differed from that of most of its rivals. Auto sales in much of the world languished last year as Covid-19 and measures to stem the spread of the virus kept people home, slowed production and put many out of work. Researcher LMC Automotive forecasts that 2020 demand for vehicles will come in around 14% below 2019 levels.

As sales recover globally, some see a window of opportunity for electric-vehicle makers to gain market share. Hybrid and electric vehicles, consulting firm Deloitte estimates, will make up around 12.1% of new vehicle sales world-wide in 2025, compared with roughly 3.6% in 2020.

Tesla, which last year became the worlds most valuable auto maker, has lofty growth ambitions. The company said it plans to produce 20 million cars annually by 2030.

Volkswagen AG, the worlds bestselling auto maker in 2019, sold around 11 million cars that year.

Tesla hasnt formally released a target for 2021 vehicle deliveries, but Mr. Musk said during the companys third-quarter earnings call that it likely would be in the vicinity of 840,000 to one million cars. The company Saturday said it was now also producing Model Y SUVs in China with deliveries expected to begin shortly."

To underpin its plans, the company is working to expand its car-making footprint to four facilities from two. Tesla aims this year to open a factory near Berlin, its first in Europe, and add a second U.S. plant that it is building outside Austin, Texas. Mr. Musk also has said that the company plans to begin selling vehicles in India this year.

Tesla has historically struggled with the introduction of new vehicles and production expansion. Among the challenges the company faces this year are expected to be the introduction of new vehicle-production lines for its electric pickup truck and semitrailer truck. Mr. Musk has already signaled some of the new vehicle technologies Tesla is introducing to the Model 3 car it will build in Germany could spell delays.

(This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text.)

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In the middle of the rollout of vaccines and fears of a new and possibly more contagious coronavirus variant, Britain has discreetly updated its vaccination playbook to allow for what it calls the "mix-and-match vaccine regimen."

If a second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine a patient initially got is not available, or if the maker of the first shot is not known, the health officials said, another vaccine may be replaced.

This new regulation contradicts the guidelines of the United States, where the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has noted that the COVID-19 vaccines authorized are "not interchangeable," and that both the safety and efficacy of a series of mixed products have not been assessed. More so, both doses of the said series need to be completed using the same product.

Some scientists claim Britain is gambling with this new guidance. According to vaccine expert John Moore at Cornell University, "There are no data on this idea whatsoever."

The New York Times reported, Moore also said, officials in Britain appear to have "abandoned science fully now, and are only trying to guess their way out of a mess."

Two Vaccines Authorized

To date, the country has provided an emergency authorization for two vaccines, which companies Pfizer and AstraZeneca developed.

Based on the new guidance of Britain, every effort needs to be made in order to complete the dosing regimen with a similar shot initially administered.

However, when the same vaccine is unavailable, or if the first product administered is not known, it is reasonable to provide one dose of the product that's locally available for the second time.

This option, as per the recommendation, is preferred if the patient is "likely to be at immediate high risk" or is regarded as "unlikely to attend again."

Since both vaccines aim the coronavirus's spike protein, it is possibly the second dose will help enhance the response to the initial dose.

Following requests for remark, Public Health England officials drew attention to the similarities of vaccines between AstraZeneca and Pfizer. Specifically, they said that clinical tests trying mixed regimes were to begin sometime this year.

Far From Sure

Some researchers claim that it is far from sure that the said vaccines can be interchanged. An infectious disease physician at the University of California, San Francisco, Dr. Phyllis Tien, said, "None of this is being data-driven" at the moment.

Meanwhile, Pfizer spokesman Steven Danehy cited the company's late-stage clinical test results, which depended on a two-dose timetable of its vaccine with 95-percent efficacy when it comes to the prevention of COVID-19.

Dr. Danehy added, while decisions on substitute dosing regimens belong to health authorities, Pfizer believes it is essential that health authorities make surveillance initiatives on any substitute schedules applied and to guarantee each recipient is "afforded the maximum probable protection," which means being immunized with two doses of the vaccine.

Both vaccines of Pfizer and AstraZeneca introduce a protein also known as spike into the body that, while not contagious itself, can teach immune cells to identify and combat the actual coronavirus.

ALSO READ: UK May Be the First Country to Authorize COVID-19 Vaccine

Check out more news and information on COVID-19 and Vaccines on Science Times.
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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.  Albuquerque Fire Rescue extinguished two overnight fires at vacant buildings in the city.

Officials said Saturday that nobody was hurt, and no cause was given in either incident.

A department news release said the first fire started around 10:20 p.m. Friday at a vacant warehouse in the 1800 block of Eighth NW, just south of Interstate 40.

Firefighters found smoke and flames coming from the windows and roof and put out the fire. Nobody was found inside.

Then, the department said, fire crews responded around 2 a.m. Saturday to a house fire in the 400 block of 19th NW, near Lomas.

AFR said firefighters discovered a home engulfed in heavy smoke and flames and had the blaze under control within 10 minutes.

The house, which was vacant, had minor damage and crews monitored the scene for flare-ups for a few hours.

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Rajamahendravaram: As many as six police teams have been formed led by the Central Zone DSP J.V. Santhosh to nab persons who damaged the Lord Subrahmanyeswara Swamy idol at Lord Vigneswara Temple in Sriramnagar. The CIs of Korukonda, Rajanagaram and Prakash Nagar are leading the teams under the supervision of the DSP. According to sources, CC footage pictures were not clear about those using the route. It is said that the police are observing the calls from nearby the cell tower. The Three Town CI Durga Prasad said all efforts are being made to trace the accused.

Meanwhile, several political parties and Hindu organizations took up agitations in protest against the incident. Bharatiya Janata Party district leaders and activists staged dharna in front of the Sub-Collectors office here demanding the resignation of the Endowment Minister Vellampalli Srinivas as after he assumed charge attacks on temples had increased.

BJP state Vice-President Relangi Sridevi said that after YSRC came to power, there has no protection for temples. She said that the government had failed to nab the accused in the chariot incident at Antarvedi and those responsible for the Ramatheertham incident. The partys Rajamahendravaram parliamentary district president Parimi Radhakrishna said that the BJP would launch a massive agitation and continue till the government puts an end to such acts.

Meanwhile, TD leaders lashed out at the YSRC government for attacks on temples. Rajamahendravaram Rural MLA Gorantla Buchaiah Chowdary, along with the partys district president K.S. Jawahar, former MLAs Adireddy Appa Rao, Nallamilli Ramakrishna Reddy, Pendurthi Venkatesh and others visited the Lord Vigneswara Swamy temple to see the damage.

Buchaiah Chowdary said that after YSRC came to power, there were 126 attacks on temples and the government could not arrest even one accused Jawahar said that there was no protection for gods in Jagans rule.

Meanwhile, MP Margani Bharat alleged that unable to digest the Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddys growing image and goodwill, the Telugu Desam and other anti-social elements were encouraging such attacks to defame the government. He said that when Jagan Mohan Reddy was implementing various welfare schemes to improve the condition of the poor, anti-social elements were creating disturbances to divert the attention of the people from the development activities. He visited the Lord Subrahmaneyswara Swamy temple.
Investigations editor

Larry Parnass, investigations editor, joined The Eagle in 2016 from the Daily Hampshire Gazette, where he was editor in chief. His freelance work has appeared in the Washington Post, Boston Globe, Hartford Courant and CommonWealth Magazine.
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Well, if you thought we were leaving weird news behind in the new year, think again.

Reports this weekend are coming out that a sign of extraterrestrial life could have made its way to our solar system in 2017. And if you think its coming from a wackadoo conspiracy theorist, think again...again.
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Martin Keown hailed Kieran Tierney as a future Arsenal captain after his influential displays in the Premier League.

The Gunners legend also revealed team-mates have to tell the left-back to 'calm down' in training because he tackles too hard.

The Scottish international, 23, has been a rare positive in a difficult season for the north London outfit, and was one of the best performers as they made it three successive wins in the Premier League with a comprehensive 4-0 defeat of West Brom.

Kieran Tierney has been hailed as a future Arsenal captain by club legend Martin Keown

The Scot has been a bright spark of Arsenal's season and opened scoring in 4-0 West Brom win

Arsenal have been criticised for having a lack of leaders in their team, but Keown believes the former Celtic man may possess the qualities needed to wear the armband.

'Right from the beginning I could see there was a determination about him', Keown said on BT Sport.

'He's just the right type that you need... his personality, character. He's a driving force and he's a throwback.

Former Gunners defender Keown believes the Scot has all the qualities of a club skipper

'In training, they have to tell him to calm down because he's tackling ferociously. I really like that attitude that he brings.

'He has got everything in his game, it's about building around him. Perhaps an Arsenal captain in the making.'

Tierney moved to the Emirates in the summer of 2019 for a reported fee of 25million and impressed but saw his first season plagued by injuries.

Keown also revealed team-mates have to tell the left-back to 'calm down' during training

The maruading left-back is now an integral part of the team and opened the scoring at the Hawthorns with a stunning run and goal with his weaker foot.

When asked if he is captain material, fellow pundit Gareth Barry said: 'Yes I do. He's affecting the areas defensively and going forward but what I really liked is when they were really struggling, he was one of the players that didn't go missing.

'There were only one or two players that could hold their heads high and he was one of them.'
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Evil rapist Joseph Cummins exited prison on New Year's Eve a free man after doing just 13 years inside for the rape of a 75-year-old grandmother.

We confronted the vile predator as he walked out the gates of the Midlands Prison.

Expand Close Joseph Cummins made threats to victims family as he was being led away from court / Facebook

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Whatsapp Joseph Cummins made threats to victims family as he was being led away from court

Asked whether he would like to express remorse to the family of his pensioner victim, who died four years ago, Nenagh native Cummins angrily declined.

"Why the f**k would I say sorry to you about it?" he responded. "I didn't do nothing to you. I've nothing to say to you about it."

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Twisted Cummins (33) then turned his back on our reporter before making his way on foot to a bus stop and then on to Tipperary.

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A grand-daughter of Cummins' victim told the Sunday World she wasn't surprised at the rapist's apparent lack of remorse.

"My grandmother survived what he did to her that night when he broke into her house.

"She was a strong woman who somehow managed to go on with things. She passed away four years ago. I don't think she wanted to be here on earth the day he got released.

"Cummins - he was known as Babs - was 18 when he attacked my grandmother.

"He had a lot of previous convictions for robbery and he was on temporary release from prison when he broke into her home.

"I'm not surprised he didn't take the opportunity to say sorry today.

"An animal wouldn't have done what he did when he broke in there.

"It just shows what a strong resilient person my grandmother was to have survived it.

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Whatsapp Rapist Joseph Cummins leaving Midlands Prison

"But people should know he is back out now because he is a hugely dangerous man."

Details of the savage ordeal Cummins inflicted on his 75-year-old victim, when they emerged during his trial in January of 2007, marked him out as one of Ireland's most-depraved sex offenders.

Then aged 20 and with an address at St Joseph's Park, Nenagh, Cummins was found guilty by a jury at the Central Criminal Court of raping and anally raping the pensioner in May 2005.

He was also convicted of burglary of her home.

In her victim impact statement, the pensioner spoke of the horrific ordeal Cummins subjected her to and the degradation she felt in the aftermath of his crimes.

"It was a vicious attack which has completely changed my life. I never felt afraid in my own house and I never thought anything like this would ever happen to me.

Terrified

"Something like this should never happen to me or to anybody else. I was in poor health at the time. This incident seriously affected me in many ways. During this attack I was terrified for my safety.

"Nothing like this has ever happened to me before. I never even had a reason to call the gardai."

The woman recounted how she had been brought to Waterford hospital after the attack and examined there by a doctor.

"This was all very embarrassing and humiliating for me. I was in a total state of shock and fear. I have been going for counselling on a regular basis since this happened. My family also have to go for counselling. All our lives have been turned upside down."

The victim said that after the attack she never returned to her old house, even to visit it, and moved home.

"Shortly after the attack we brought the armchair that I was raped in to [one of] my daughter's house.

"My daughters made up a life-size dummy and put it in the armchair. They then set fire to the armchair. I kept wishing that it was the man that did this to me was in the chair going up in flames.

"I can't sleep at night and I am having terrible nightmares that he is going to come back again.

"The night this attack happened to me  I had a box of sleeping tablets in my hand which I picked up from somewhere.

"I sat there thinking to myself would I be better off taking them and for my family to find me dead rather than me having to tell them what had happened to me and for them having to go through all this.

Traumatic

"I never told my family exactly what had happened to me on the night of the attack and they only heard the full details on the day I gave my evidence in court. That was very hard for both me and my family.

"All I want to do now is to put all this behind me, if I can, and put my life back together and live out the rest of my life as best I can."

Sentencing judge Mr Justice Paul Carney was told by the victim's daughter and granddaughter that when he was being led out of court in Limerick after his conviction, Cummins turned to them saying: "This is not over yet."

They said he then thumped the jury box as he passed it while prison officers used an envelope to shield his eyes to stop him from staring at the victim and her family.

Mr Justice Carney said the threat by Cummins to his victim's family led him to consider imposing a life sentence and he noted that the Court of Criminal Appeal had recently shown a greater inclination to uphold a discretionary life sentence.

He said that he would not impose a life sentence in view of Cummins's age as that could mean he could find himself serving 55 years or more.

He was reluctant to expose Cummins to the risk of having to serve 55 years but by coupling his sentence with post-release supervision, it would keep him under control for 25 years.

Mr Justice Carney imposed two concurrent terms of 15 years each for rape and anal rape, and five years for burglary.

He declared Cummins a sex offender and ordered that he undergo 10 years of post-release supervision.





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United Nations (UN) on January 3 announced the establishment of an Advisory Committee of the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum (LPDF). In June, warring parties of internationally accepted Government of National Accord (GNA) and militias led by Gen Khalifa Haftar came to the agreement ending decades of gruelling war. In December, the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) announced that the country would undergo National elections on December 24, 2021.

Mission to discuss outstanding issues

"The committee's mandate will be strictly time-bound and its main mission shall be to discuss outstanding issues related to the selection of a unified executive and to put forward concrete and practical recommendations upon which the plenary shall decide," the mission said in a statement.

Expansion in Membership

The mission also stated that in line with the LPDF's core principle of inclusivity, the mission had expanded the membership of the Advisory Committee to 18 members in a bid to ensure broad geographical and political diversity as well as the participation of women, youth, and cultural components. LPDF stands for Libyan Political Dialogue Forum and in November brought together 75 participants Libyan women and men representing the full social and political spectrum of the Libyan society.

Acting Special Representative of the Secretary-General Stephanie Williams announces the establishment of the LPDF's Advisory Committee



For additional details  https://t.co/yj70ZMEztU pic.twitter.com/SUBTHwB49n  UNSMIL (@UNSMILibya) January 2, 2021

Read: Libya's Hifter Warned Against Attacking Turkish Forces

Read: Turkish Defence Minister And Delegation Arrives In Libya

Last month, UN welcomed the prisoners' swap between the two warring factions in Libya. The exchange took place under the supervision of the Joint Military Commission, a 10-member body that constitutes five representatives from each side. The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) also thanked the tribal sheikhs and elders, who supported the prisoners' exchange. The UNSMIL also took the opportunity to urge both sides to fully implement the ceasefire agreement signed in October, including the exchange of all prisoners.

(with inputs from ANI)

Read: UN Welcomes Prisoners Exchange In Libya Under Supervision Of Joint Military Commission

Read: Libyan Commander Hifter Warns Turkey To Stop Interfering In Libya
Nathan Barnden, 27, saved 13 lives during the Black Summer bushfires in 2020

Though he still mourns the loss of his uncle Robert and cousin Patrick Salway

Mr Barnden said he was haunted by constant thoughts he could have done more

He is one of 3,300 RFS members who have sought professional help to cope

A hero firefighter who saved 13 people during the Black Summer bushfires is still struggling to come to terms with losing his uncle and cousin.

Nathan Barnden, 27, was among the thousands of volunteer firefighters who battled the devastating blazes that burned across the country between October 2019 and March 2020.

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More than 24 million hectares of land was burned, 3,000 homes destroyed and 33 lives lost - including six Australian firefighters and three US water bomber crew.

Mr Barnden, who is a Rural Fire Service Jellat Brigade senior deputy captain, battled the bushfires raging along the NSW south coast on New Year's Eve 2019.

Nathan Barnden, 27 (pictured), was among the thousands of firefighters who battled the devastating blazes that burned across the country between October 2019 and March 2020

Despite his act of bravery Mr Barnden says he is haunted by the people he was unable to save - namely his uncle Robert Salway and cousin Patrick

Mr Barnden, who is a Rural Fire Service Jellat Brigade senior deputy captain, battled the bushfires raging along the New South Wales south-coast on New Year's Eve 2019 (pictured, photo uploaded by the Salway family, capturing the Black Summer bushfires along the New South Wales south-coast)

He saved 13 people and even pulled a grandmother, her daughter, and three grandchildren from their burning Quamma home, the Daily Telegraph reported.

Despite his act of bravery, Mr Barnden said he was haunted by the people he was unable to save - his uncle Robert Salway and cousin Patrick.

'Imagine you've devoted your whole life to saving people and you couldn't save your own family,' he said.

'In the early stages I struggled with it it didn't matter that I saved 13 people.

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Robert, 63, and Patrick, 29, perished while trying to save the family farm in Wandella, about 20km away from where Mr Barnden was at the time.

Only the day before, Patrick was helping a friend protect his property at Bemboka, about 70km south of Wandella.

Firefighters were closing down the roads leading into the fire zone, though Patrick was able to make it home along the Princes Highway 40 minutes before it was shut down.

More than 24 million hectares of land was burned, 3,000 homes destroyed and 33 lives lost - including six Australian firefighters and three US water bomber crew

Family visit the grave site of Robert and Patrick Salway one year on from the devastating fires

Mr Barnden says he couldn't help but think how things might have been different had the highway been closed sooner

Photo shows the outcome of the Black Summer bushfire at the Wandella property on the New South Wales south-coast

Mr Barnden says he couldn't help but think how things might have been different had the highway been closed sooner.

'It is a significant element of survivor's guilt where I felt I shouldn't have been firefighting and I should have been out with my family on their property, helping them,' he said.

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Thoughts of losing his family and the fires continued to plague Mr Barnden for months before he recognised the signs of post-traumatic stress disorder.

He has seen psychologists and counsellors to learn to cope with the pain, and he is not alone.

An estimated 3,300 Rural Fire Service members have sought professional help over the past year.

The RFS is looking for psychologists to fill at least 17 new jobs.

The sky turned an ember red along the New South Wales south-coast during the Black Summer bushfires

All that remained of the Wandella property, on the New South Wales south-coast

Robert, 63 (pictured), and Patrick, 29, perished after trying to save the family farm at Wandella, about 20 kilometres away from where Mr Barnden was at the time

Only the day before, Patrick had been helping a friend protect his property at Bemboka, about 70 kilometres south of Wandella

Mr Barnden said he received a heartening text message from the family he had helped to save from the Quamma home.

'She said: "We still get to have this day as a family and I have six grandchildren and you saved five of them",' Mr Barnden recalled.

'Over time I'm grateful for the lives saved. I get to see them have a life and it makes it all worth it.'

It has been exactly one year since Patrick and Robert Salway perished from the fires, prompting an outpouring of tributes on social media.

'Life hasnt been the same and wont ever be the same again but what remains is our strong family and community to get us through!' one family member wrote on Facebook.

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'Today is tough but as my beautiful grandma told me yesterday, Always remember the good and these men were nothing but good and Im sure everyone has a good memory and good story to tell about these two.'
Those weeks turned into months, and included a bout with the novel coronavirus (worst novel ever) in April. The pandemic has stolen so much from so many people, most importantly all the lives that have been ended due to the virus. But there also have been elements of this ongoing catastrophe that for many of us have been, well, kind of cozy. My home and yard are comfortable places to be, and theres been some extra time for engaging with good books.
In the American West, a ration of reverence is usually given to the grizzled Anglo rancher who rises at a public hearing and announces that his people have been on the land for five generations.

So what are we to make of Rep. Deb Haaland, a citizen of the Laguna Pueblo, who says that her people have been in the Rio Grande Valley of New Mexico for 35 generations  dating to the 13th century?

Native history is American history, she told me. Regardless of where you are in this country now, youre on ancestral Indian land, and that land has a history.

As Joe Bidens choice for interior secretary, Haaland is poised to make a rare positive mark in the history of how a nation of immigrants treated the countrys original inhabitants. She would be the first Native American Cabinet secretary  a distinction that has prompted celebration throughout Indian Country.

I havent been the one making policy, she said. But Ive been the one on the receiving end of it.

There will be plenty of sniping, second-guessing and disappointment among the tribes by people who expect much of Haaland having a seat at the big table. But for now, we should let this moment breathe.

I spoke to her on the anniversary of a day of infamy. On December 29, 1890, the U.S. Army slaughtered men, women and children at Wounded Knee in South Dakota. Government policy was to strip Indians of their language, culture and religion, with children sent off to boarding schools where they were taught that the old ways were wrong. At the end of the 19th century, the popular view was that Indigenous people would soon disappear.

And yet here is Haaland, one of more than 5 million Native Americans, ready to knock down some of the last barriers of time and terrain in this country.

Her personal story alone makes Haaland an anomaly in the parlors of power. Soon after graduating from college, she became a single mother. She was sometimes dependent on food stamps, and she once ran a small business selling homemade salsa to make a living and support her child. As a freshman representative in 2019, she was still paying off her student loans.

When she ran for office, her slogan was Congress has never heard a voice like mine. Now the person with that voice could soon be overseeing one-fifth of the land in the United States.

As interior secretary, her portfolio would include national parks, wildlife refuges, the U.S. Geological Survey and the vast acreage of the Bureau of Land Management. Interior, for good reason, is known as the Department of Everything Else.

As such, she would also be overseeing millions of acres taken from Indians in treaties broken over the past several centuries, and would be the top government liaison with 574 federally recognized tribes  the nations within a nation.

This is quite the compass  from a deep slot in the earth near the Grand Canyon, wherein dwell the Havasupai, to the rainforest of the Olympic Peninsula, home of the Makah Nation, to urban neighborhoods that house Indians struggling with health care access.

I wish we could right some wrongs, she said of the centuries-old saga of sorrow. But going into the new year, she seems content to try to right the many wrongs that Donald Trumps administration has inflicted on the land.

Trumps first interior secretary, Ryan Zinke, literally rode into office on a horse named Tonto and then promptly launched a campaign to make it easier to drill on public land. The current secretary, David Bernhardt, was an oil and gas lobbyist whose public service on behalf of his former clients was warmly received by his old friends.

Biden has pledged to end all new oil and gas drilling on these rangelands, forests and plains  an enormous change that will be fought fiercely by those who profit from land owned by all Americans. He has also promised to restore Bears Ears National Monument, a marvel of sandstone, mountains and Native sacred sites in the Southwest that was gutted by Trump, who reduced the size of the protected area by 85%.

Haaland is eager for the opportunity to do something lasting. Ill be fierce for all of us, for our planet and all of our protected land, she said in December.

But its the weight of Native history that makes the choice of Haaland so extraordinary, as she acknowledged. This moment is profound when we consider the fact that a former secretary of the interior once proclaimed it his goal to, quote, civilize or exterminate us. She was referring to Alexander H.H. Stuart, the secretary of the interior in the early 1850s in the Fillmore administration.

Exterminate was no exaggeration. The census of 1900 counted more than 237,000 Native Americans, a population collapse of nearly 90%, in the estimate of many ethnohistorians, from the time of first European contact.

Some of the atrocities are well known. But less well known is how the government made it a crime for Natives to practice their religion. It was a violation of the First Amendment to lock people up for enacting the rituals of faith  unless they worshipped Native gods through certain dances and ceremonies deemed criminal by the government.

A consistent plea from Indian Country today is a request that fellow Americans consider Native people as much more than living relics locked in a tragic past. Haaland aims to ensure that. Ill never forget where I came from, she said. But, she added,  I love this opportunity. Even if she cant reverse history, she is poised to make some.

TIMOTHY EGAN is a columnist for The New York Times
Even as the next round of deliberations between the agitating farmers' unions and the Centre is slated for January 4, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Sunday said that the central government is "insensitive" while alleging that the Centre is passing time with a thought that farmers will be tired and protest will die down.

While addressing a gathering at a protest meeting held by the Congress party in Jaipur, Gehlot said, "Around 39 days have passed since the farmers have been protesting at the borders of Delhi in winter. One can think about what must be the farmers going through. The government is being very insensitive. They think that the farmers will be tired and the protest will die down. The government is doing time pass."

"The question is to determine the fate of the farmers of the country. The government thinks only farmers of Haryana and Punjab are sitting in protest. Farmers from the country's 6.5 lakh villages stand in solidarity with the protesting farmers," he said.

Gehlot contended that the Rajasthan cabinet brought the state farb bills to reduce the impact of the farm laws of the parliament.

"We are together with the farmers. The situation is very serious as more than 86 per cent farmers in the country have less than 5 acres of land. On average, they have only two acres land. The Rajasthan government brought farm bills for the state to lessen the impact of the central farm laws," he said.

Interestingly, the Congress in its 2019 election manifesto as well as on multiple other occasions in the past promised the same policies in the agriculture sector which the three agrarian laws bring forth.

In a bid to praise the citizens of the country, he referred to Indira Gandhi's return to power with a majority, after three years of defeat in 1977.

"India's people are very intelligent, whether they be less educated or more. Even Indira ji (former prime minister Indira Gandhi), who delivered independence to Bangladesh, had lost in 1977. But in three years, she returned to power with a majority. In a democracy, people have always had their say," he said.

Speaking of the contribution of Congress in Indian history, he slammed the BJP by saying, "Former prime minister Indira Gandhi lost her life but did not let Khalistan to be formed. Another former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi also lost his life due to terrorism. Former Punjab chief minister Beant Singh annihilated terrorism in Punjab. He also lost his life due to terrorism. Today BJP raises questions that what did Congress do? They should realise that Congress was the reason behind the country's unity."

READ | On Eve Of Talks With Farmers, Tomar Meets Rajnath To Discuss Govt Strategy To End Deadlock

READ | Hundreds Of Farmers And Students From Maha Leave For Delhi

Seventh round of talks between Centre and protesting farmers

The protests on the Delhi borders continue unabated with the seventh round of deliberations to be held on Monday. A consensus was achieved between the two sides on two of the four agendas set by the farmers' unions in the sixth round of deliberations that was held on Wednesday. The seventh round of deliberations is likely to discuss the demand put forward by the farmers' unions i.e. complete withdrawal of farm laws and legalisation of MSP.

Amid the continued agitation against the farm laws, several farmers organizations have come out in larger numbers to express their support to the farm laws. Recently, farmers in Meerut organised an outreach program to highlight the benefits of the three farm laws. Moreover, farmers have also held tractor rally in Gautam Budh Nagar. In December, a crowd of 20,000 farmers from Meerut came out in support of the three agrarian laws. Farmers organisations had even met Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar to express their support to the farm laws with certain amendments in place.

(With ANI inputs)

READ | Sonia Gandhi Calls Modi Govt 'arrogant', Demands 'unconditional' Repeal Of 3 Farm Laws

READ | AAP 'helps' Protesting Farmers To Send Defamation Notices To BJP Netas For Smear-campaign
Iraq on January 2 struck a multibillion-dollar oil-supply deal with a Chinese firm after Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi approved the rare contract in the Iraqi parliament. Chinas ZhenHua Oil Company finalized a deal with Iraqs State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO) for the monthly purchase of 4 million oil barrels worth $2 billion in a 5-year annual contract. The Iraq-China crude supply deal will bolster Iraqs economy which is in shambles due to the coronavirus pandemic. Iraq is the latest with the prepayment settlement among the Chinese state-owned trading companies that struck similar deals with Angola, Venezuela, and Ecuador, previously to rescue the cash strapped economies.

Head of Iraqs oil marketing company SOMO that overseas petroleum exports, Alaa al-Yasiri, told state news agency INA that the deal made following the recent OPEC agreements will make revenues worth $4.2 billion for the Republic of Iraq. He added that the firm had received several bids from oil trading corporations, including the ZhenHua Oil Co., a subsidiary of Chinas largest state-owned defense contractor that Bloomberg reported bagged the contract just last month.

SOMO signed a deal with Chinas ZhenHua to supply 130,000 barrels per day of crude oil with an upfront annual payment. INA reported manager Alaa al-Yasiri as providing the supply dates flexibility to China in a specially drafted mechanism at zero interest with a premium over the price, which was approved by the Iraqi cabinet. He further cited, that the Chinese firm got the deal post a cut-throat competition with the European oil companies.

Read: Closing Prices For Crude Oil, Gold And Other Goods

Read: US Bans Second Malaysian Palm Oil Giant Over Forced Labour

Demand for OPEC crude in 2021 is revised down by 0.2 mb/d from the previous month to stand at 27.2 mb/d, around 5.0 mb/d higher than in 2020. #OPEC #MOMR pic.twitter.com/hUww4UxRVu  OPEC (@OPECSecretariat) December 18, 2020

Iraq's GDP to shrink by 9.5 percent

OPECs second-largest producer, Iraq, priced the crude oil at $49 per barrel, with expectations that oil prices will improve in months ahead despite the pandemic. Chinas ZhenHua Oil Co., the winning bidder bagged the contract despite interest from the major traders in the market. The cash-for-oil deal is the first for the Iraqi federal government that will boost Iraqs budget income as Iraq's economy has been suffering from the twin shocks of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the World Bank report. The new Fall 2020 edition of the Iraq Economic Monitor titled Protecting Vulnerable Iraqis in the Time of a Pandemic: The Case for Urgent Stimulus and Economic Reforms found that nearly 5.5 million more Iraqis could fall into poverty due to the potential reduction of the public wage bill, shrinking Iraq's GDP by 9.5 per cent.

Read: Iraq Team Working To 'neutralize' Mine Found On Oil Tanker

Read: Security Firms Say Suspicious Object On Oil Tanker Off Iraq

(Image Credit: Pixabay/Representative image)
Israel has administered more COVID-19 vaccinations than any other nation, with over 1 million people receiving jabs  a rate of 12.59 doses per 100 people, new data from an Oxford University-run tracking site shows.

Why it matters: As countries like the U.S. fall behind on immunization goals, Israel has given coronavirus doses to over 10% of its population of 9.2 million since it began administering Pfizer/BioNTech's vaccine on Dec. 19.

Photo: Our World in Data

The big picture: Israel is on its third national lockdown, with over 3,300 deaths from COVID-19 and 435,000 cases. But Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said the country "could emerge from the pandemic as early as February" as it delivers doses to some 150,000 people per day, the BBC notes.

Israel has also struck deals with Moderna and other coronavirus vaccine producers. Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip aren't covered by the rollout, which the Palestinian Authority hasn't officially requested, The Guardian reports.

Israeli officials have indicated they may give Palestinians surplus vaccines, and the COVAX initiative plans to distribute doses to the territories.

For the record: The U.S. has administered 4.23 million doses, a rate of 1.28 per 100 people as of Saturday, per the figures from the Oxford-run Our World in Data, which measures single doses of the vaccine that usually requires two jabs.
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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 3)  The monochromatic trend will likely be leaving to make way for a livelier approach to colors this 2021, similar to looks in vogue a decade ago, said fashion designer Yves Camingue.

In an interview on CNN Philippines on Sunday, Camingue said he expects that the world of fashion will be embracing more hues again this year.

"We're gonna have a deja vu of 2011," he said, referring to the color blocking trend from 10 years ago. "This year, we're going to have smashed colors, combined colors. Wear green with pink, yellow with purple."

The designer said this style could be in again as a response, to some extent, to the coronavirus pandemic  "a way to divert attention from the gloominess" the crisis has brought.

COVID-19 has triggered a number of changes in the fashion landscape, with more designers rising to the challenge to create looks that go beyond aesthetics. Camingue noted that the need to address virus threats has prompted a more "holistic" view on clothing, as more designers come up with refreshing takes on protective outerwear.

"Well, I can see that all of us in the industry are trying to flex our fashionable muscles," he said. "I'm happy that almost everyone is doing their own take on the PPE (personal protective equipment), on the parkas, on the windbreakers, on the jumpsuits."

Due to issues in PPE supply at the start of the lockdown, a number of fashion designers have stepped in to develop open-source PPE suit patterns for non-medical grade suits. Months into the pandemic, these have been made commercially available to both meet consumer demands and keep businesses afloat.

Camingue said more people in the industry have also been utilizing waterproof and weatherproof fabric that offer a degree of protection, as well as highlight comfort and safety.

"Most of us are being now technical rather than before na we're more conscious on the luxury, the glam. I'm glad na most of us are now seeing what it means to be fashionable rather than just looking good on the outside," he said.
A year ago yesterday, John Clarke was left devastated after discovering the lifeless body of his wife, Marian Finucane, at their Co. Kildare home.

The RTE giant of broadcasting had died in her sleep from pneumonia at the age of 69.

In life, Marian had tenaciously guarded her private life and that of her family. But now, in a remarkable TV documentary to be broadcast tomorrow, her heartbroken husband John opens the door into the private world they shared for 40 years.

It begins with a recording of Marian's beloved John giving the eulogy at her funeral, saying: "I want to talk about Marian, my Marian, a woman who I've loved for 40 years, a woman who for me always made the colours brighter, the world a bit easier to live in."

Expand Expand Previous Next Close Marian and John at a friend's wedding Marian and John and in 1986 / Facebook

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Looking back today, John recalls their first meeting 40 years ago: "The first time I met Marian at around half-past five on a sunny summer's evening I was going up the stairs to see my friend, Arthur Gibney. This tall blondie woman with a pair of red trousers was coming down and we said hello.

"She said, 'Are you waiting for the quare fella?' I said, 'I am, would you like a drink?' She said, 'Yeah', and we disappeared to the pub (Toner's) across the road in Baggot Street...and that was the start."

At this point, 29-year-old Marian had been married for five years to a fellow architect. John was also married with three young children.

Traumatic

In an interview with Mike Murphy, Marian spoke of her marriage break-up. "He was a really, really nice guy," she says of her first husband, who is not named. "We really got on brilliantly, but we just weren't a good marriage."

This was a traumatic time in their lives, as John explains: "When we met we were both married. I had a wife and children, and getting separated from the people you marry is a very emotional, difficult thing for all parties, and I think both she and I felt a tremendous amount of guilt over it."

John and Marian were besotted: "There was this sort of mad chemistry that pulled us together and we shared so many underlying things in common. Somebody said we were like two 15-year-olds that were obsessed with each other and never grew up," he says.

When they met, Marian was an architect and John a businessman. Marian went on to find her passion for broadcasting, starting as an announcer in RTE TV on a fortnightly contract.

Then they bought a farm in Westmeath, "which we could ill afford," John says. And he became a farmer.

Together, they had two children, Sinead and Jack. John says Marian "worked very hard to involve my first children in the family".

For many years while living in Westmeath they regularly entertained friends at their rural farmhouse. They included Nuala O'Faolain and her then partner Nell McCafferty, who came down every weekend. The two couples often went on foreign holidays together.

"It was great then, we ran an open house," John says. "It was the good life."

Marian, he reveals, "was very shy" and often took the formidable Nell McCafferty as her guest to parties if John declined to go.

Despite her professional reputation as a tough interviewer, John says that his late wife was laid-back in private. "From my perspective, she was the easiest-going woman in the world," he says.

They were a perfect match. "I can never remember a moment in all the years when I said, 'I'm bored,'" John points out.

Marian's broadcasting career soared. "She loved the idea of being part of the national conversation," he says.

But then their happy lives changed forever when their eight-year-old daughter, Sinead, died from leukaemia in 1990. John had donated his bone marrow to Sinead, but it didn't work. He tells how his daughter died at home in his arms.

Dying

Up to then, he says: "Myself and Marian had led a charmed, wonderful, happy, carefree and irresponsible life.

"The only real sadness I knew with Marian was the death of Sinead. The drop of her name made her cry her eyes out."

Although distraught, Marian worked through Sinead's illness presenting RTE's Liveline. "Marian went to work every day with the full knowledge that the child was dying, but it was her way of coping with it," John reveals.

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"She believed that she had to stay sane for Sinead. Marian's view was that if she was there [at home] all day long she couldn't hack this facade and she'd just sit and cry, and that wouldn't be good for Sinead."

After the funeral, she was never able to visit her daughter's grave. "Marian never recovered from Sinead's death, never," John adds. "And one of the things she didn't do is, she didn't visit the grave. I don't think she could."

However, as Marian had requested, she is now buried with Sinead.

Marian's first grandchild was born five weeks after her death, when Jack's wife, Jenny, gave birth to a baby girl.

They named her Sinead.

'I had a great life with Marian'

Marian Finucane and her husband John had just returned from what would be their final exotic holiday when he found her dead in bed last January 2.

They had been to India, which he describes as one of the adventures of a lifetime.

Recalling the day she died at their home in Punchestown, John reveals that he had gone into town, leaving Marian sleeping.

I came back some hours later and she was still sleeping, he says. I went in and looked at her, and she was dead. I just couldnt believe it.

He says that Marian, who was a smoker and had a heart condition, had been in ill health for her final couple of years.

She died of pneumonia, which they didnt know she had.

Theres a huge part of my life gone, and a huge part of that is talk and conversation, he says. We were never-ending gabbing away to each other.

"Now I sit in. I dont like the radio any more, I dont like the television any more. Just at the moment I cant read, the concentration is gone.

John reveals that he tried to shake himself out of his grief shortly after Marian died by hosting a party to celebrate her life with their friends.

That didnt happen because of the bloody virus, he says. Once its lifted we will throw a party because we had a wonderful life[there were] pitfalls, disasters many and big, but by and large a wonderful life.

He recalls that a month before her death, Marian turned to him and said: Youll never know how much I love you.

John clings to the memory. It doesnt get much better than that, he adds.

MARIAN will be broadcast on RTE One TV tomorrow at 9.35pm.

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Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-04 02:50:24|Editor: huaxia

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ADEN, Yemen, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- An explosion caused by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) targeted a location of Saudi Arabia's troops in Yemen's southern province of Abyan on Sunday evening, a government official told Xinhua.

The local government source said on condition of anonymity that "the IED's explosion struck a high school building used by Saudi soldiers as a temporary location in the country's coastal town of Shuqrah."

The explosion caused no casualties among the Saudi troops but partially damaged the exterior wall of Shuqrah's high school building, the source said.

The Saudi military unit based in Shuqrah was monitoring the ceasefire and supervising the mutual withdrawal of Yemeni troops from the flashpoint areas in Abyan, the source added.

Following the explosion, a number of Saudi military trucks left their location in Shuqrah and headed to the southern port city of Aden, according to the official.

In December, military officials of the Saudi Arabia-led coalition arrived in war-ravaged Yemen and began redeployment of forces affiliated with the Southern Transitional Council (STC) and Yemen's government in the country's southern provinces.

Saudi Arabia sought to implement a long-delayed power-sharing deal signed between the STC and Yemen's government last year as well as putting an end for internal military conflict between its nominal allies.

In 2019, Saudi Arabia persuaded the STC and the Yemeni government to hold reconciliation talks, which succeeded in reaching a deal to form a new technocratic cabinet of no more than 24 ministers.

The impoverished Arab country has been locked in a civil war since late 2014, when the Houthis overran much of the country and seized all northern regions including Sanaa. Enditem
Today the Magi gaze in deep wonder at what they see: heaven on earth, earth in heaven, man in God, God in man, one whom the whole universe cannot contain now enclosed in a tiny body. As they look, they believe and do not question, as their symbolic gifts bear witness: incense for God, gold for a king, myrrh for one who is to die.

 St. Peter Chrysologus

Today marks an important feast day, although its actually more than two different days where there is a connection. In Western Christianity, at least in many places, today celebrates the Feast of the Epiphany, which remembers the visit of the Magi, or the Wise Men, or the Kings, who visited the Child Jesus, Mary and Joseph in Bethlehem after following the Star of Bethlehem from the East. Traditionally, the day is marked on Jan. 6.

The second chapter of the Gospel according to St. Matthew tells the story:

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.

When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.

So they said to him, In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.

Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.

When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.

A couple of things about this story. First there is nothing in the Gospel that states how many wise men there were. The number 3 gets in there because there were three gifts: gold to honor Jesus as king, frankincense to recognize Jesus divinity and priesthood and myrrh for Jesus death. Some early writings show many names and do not include Gaspar (Caspar), Balthasar and Melchior, but those names have stuck for whatever reasons. On Epiphany, many people use blessed chalk and write the following above their front door: 20+C+B+M+21. The CMB letters can also stand for Christus mansionem benedicat (May/Let Christ Bless This House).

The second point is about where the Magi visited the Holy Family. Were all used to the manger scenes under the Christmas tree and elsewhere showing the Magi at the crib with the shepherds and various animals. The Gospel states And when they (Magi) had come into the house, which is a pretty good statement that the Holy Family had moved out of the stable by then. We have to be practical to realize that as soon as a room in an inn or somewhere else opened up, they moved into it. By the time the Magi got there, it could have been six months, a year or more later. The Magi in the creche is a nice shortcut to tell the story in one complete scene, but not accurate. I know there are churches and homes where the Magi are not added until Epiphany.

Now, Wednesday is also the Feast of Theophany of Our Lord, which is a major feast in Eastern Christianity that celebrates the Baptism of Jesus Christ in the River Jordan by St. John the Baptist. The importance of this event, described in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, involves the first manifestation of the Holy Trinity to mankind. Theophany comes from the Greek word, theophania, which means appearance of God or manifestation of God.

In addition to the Baptism of Jesus, Theophany traditionally included the Nativity, the wedding feast at Cana, the visit by the Magi and the presentation of Jesus in the Temple as a child, all of which indicate in some way the manifestation of God on Earth.

The late Very Rev. Archpriest John M. Fields, when he was pastor at St. Michael Ukrainian Catholic Church in Frackville, mentioned, during the Divine Liturgy, the importance of Theophany in the early church and the The Great Blessing of the Water of Theophany or Jordan Water near the conclusion of the liturgy.

As we have the ceremony of the water blessing, listen to the words carefully, Fields said. This is one of the ancient feasts of the church. This is probably considered the third greatest feast in the church after Pascha, which celebrates the Resurrection, and Pentecost, the descent of the Holy Spirit. It (the feast) was celebrated even before Christmas.

Fields had posted on Facebook this explanation of Theophany from the God With Us icon series, and something that he would do in the church bulletins:

The Feast of Theophany is a celebration of an historic event, the Baptism of Christ. In addition, we celebrate all the different manifestations of God (Theophanies) to men in the Person of Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh. We celebrate in this feast His mysterious union with humanity in the church  a union of faith and love, engendering men to a new spiritual life in baptism. The event of the Baptism of Christ in the Jordan River (Mk. 1:9-11) serves to reveal this union in a clear and special manner.

In accordance with the Gospel this is the first revelation of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit  the Holy Trinity. The icon brings this revelation to us. At the top of the icon, the opening of heaven is symbolized by the segment of a circle. This circle signifies Gods presence and witness at the event. Emanating from the circle are rays of light surrounding the Holy Spirit, depicted in the figure of a dove descending upon our Savior who is being baptized in the Jordan by John. In this graphic manner, the father and the Holy Spirit give testimony to the appearance of the Son of God in the flesh among mankind.

In this icon, we are immediately drawn to the Person of Christ. He stands in the waters of the Jordan. The iconographic imagery expresses that not just a part, but the entire body of Christ is immersed in the Jordan in token of His burial; for in Colossians we read: In baptism you were not only buried with Him but also raised to life with Him because you believed in the power of God who raised Him from the dead. (2:12) The icons illustration of the total immersion of Christ as well as His right hand blessing the waters signifies the sanctification and purification of the waters by Christ. No longer is water an image of death, but an image of birth into a new life which we share with Christ Who took upon Himself the sins of the world. In Christ, we celebrate that all of creation is renewed.

A further illustration of our coming to share this new life in Christ is the symbol of Christ undergoing baptism clothed in the nakedness of Adam, the Father of all mankind. Through Christs sanctification of the waters, He enables us to be raised up with Him and to put on the robes of incorruptibility. The role of John the Baptist is depicted by the placing of his right hand on the head of Christ  a gesture which has always been an integral part of the sacramental ritual of baptism. With his left hand, John makes a gesture of prayer, symbolizing the trembling awe which overwhelmed him at the sight of the divine manifestation.

Present in the icon are angels with their hands covered. Their heads are bowed as an indication of their role of service to God and their reverence for Him whom they serve.

The Icon of Theophany brings us visually and symbolically to the presence of the manifestation of God, the revelation of the Trinity and the deep, spiritually rich significance of baptism. In its presence, we know that God does reveal Himself to us and that through our baptism, established by the Baptism of Christ, we are made new in Christ.



For by gold the power of a king is signified, by frankincense the honor of God, by myrrh the burial of the body; and accordingly they offer Him gold as King, frankincense as God, myrrh as Man.

 St. John Chrysostom

(Staff writer Usalis can

be reached at jusalis@republicanherald.com)
Here's how material shortages are hitting home construction

"It's not just that prices are going up; it's how quickly they're going up and nothing's coming down," said CEO of the PA Builders Association.
Two million people will have received Covid jab by end of January in Israel

'We are breaking all the records,' Netanyahu said on Friday

Israel launched an aggressive push to administer the vaccine from Dec. 19

Israel has said that two million people will have received a two-dose Covid-19 vaccination by the end of January, a pace Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu boasts is the world's fastest.

Starting on December 19, when Netanyahu got his first jab, Israel launched an aggressive push to administer the vaccine made by US-German pharma alliance Pfizer-BioNTech.

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Health Ministry Director General Hezi Levy said that because of the enthusiastic takeup, Israel would be easing the speed of vaccination to eke out stocks.

The vaccine must be given in two separate jabs, administered three weeks apart.

A medical worker prepares Pfizer-BioNTech's coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine at an elderly home as vaccination process continue in Ramat Aviv Neighborhood in Tel Aviv on December 31

'We are slowing the pace of vaccinations of the first dose, so that we can keep reserved stock for a second dose for all those who got a first shot,' Levy told public broadcaster KAN.

But he added that around a fifth of Israel's people, starting with health workers and those over 60, would have had both shots by the end of this month.

'By the end of January, we shall have innoculated two million residents, most of them elderly,' he said.

As of Friday, one million people had received their first injection.

'We are breaking all the records,' Netanyahu said Friday, during a visit to the Israeli Arab city of Umm Al-Fahm, where the millionth jab was reported administered.

Israelis receive the coronavirus vaccine at a drive in Covid-19 vaccination centre on December 31 in Haifa

Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu became the first Israeli to get the vaccine on December 19, rolling up his sleeves at a medical centre in Ramat Gan

'We are ahead of the entire world,' the premier said.

The Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics said in a year-end statement that Israel's population stood at 9.29 million.

The figure includes annexed east Jerusalem, where Israeli sovereignty is not recognised by most of the international community.

The health ministry said on Sunday that 435,866 people in Israel had so far tested positive for the virus since the first confirmed case was reported in February. Almost 3,400 people have died, it said.

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Israel is leading the global vaccine race after handing out vaccines to more than seven per cent of its population in nine days, with Bahrain second in the per-capita league table

The ministry said on Friday that it had confirmed 18 local cases of a new strain of coronavirus first detected in Britain.

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Israel has been leading the global vaccination race with more than seven per cent of its population already given the jab in the space of nine days.

The rapid rollout in a country that prides itself on self-reliance comes after Israel's health minister ordered a 24/7 vaccination drive, hundreds of military medics were drafted in to help with the effort and the country ordered shots from all three of Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca in advance.

Israel is expected to launch a so-called 'green passport' scheme in January which means people immunised against Covid-19 will avoid having to quarantine if they travel from abroad or come into contact with a virus patient.
The US governments top infectious-disease doctor said the rollout of Covid-19 vaccines is picking up speed and could be fully on track within a week or so.

Its just trying to get a massive vaccine program started and getting off on the right foot. The important thing is to see whats happening in the next week, to week and a half, Anthony Fauci said on ABCs This Week.

On CNNs State of the Union, Surgeon General Jerome Adams said the initial vaccination program had been superimposed upon a surge of coronavirus cases, which has stressed health care resources in many areas, and on the holiday season.

Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said that in the past 72 hours, about 1.5 million vaccine doses have been administered, or about 500,000 per day, a substantial pickup in pace.

We are not where we want to be, no doubt about that, but I think we can get there if we really accelerate, he said on ABC.

Operation Warp Speed, the federal effort to develop and distribute a vaccine against the coronavirus, has so far failed to meet projections for how quickly people will be inoculated. Two vaccines have been approved for use in the US.

Health Agencies Strained

Officials have blamed the inoculation delays on a delicate vaccine with complex storage requirements, uncertainty over the supply of doses and strain on local health agencies already facing historic challenges.

On NBC Fauci noted the multiple stages involved, from allocation to staging and distribution, and finally getting shots into peoples arms.

While the goal to have 20 million people vaccinated by the end of 2020 wasnt achieved, that many doses should at least be shipped by the end of the first week in January, Fauci said.

About 4.28 million doses had been administrated by Jan. 2, according to the Bloomberg News vaccine tracker.

The number of US cases has exceeded 20 million, with more than 1 million in New York state alone. U.S. deaths attributed to the coronavirus passed 350,000 on Saturday.

President Donald Trump on Sunday called cases and deaths in the U.S. far exaggerated in a tweet criticizing the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The numbers are real, Fauci said. Those are real numbers, real people, and real deaths. On CNN, Adams said he had no reason to doubt those numbers.

New York state on Saturday passed 1 million Covid-19 cases, after a somber year in which more than 30,000 of its residents died from the virus.

More than a third of the states total cases were reported in December as cold weather nudged people indoors, holidays increased social gatherings and residents tired of restrictions.

We need to double down on the things we talk about all the time, notably wearing masks, social distancing and avoiding congregate settings, especially indoors, Fauci said on NBC.

The current jump in cases was predictable given travel and socializing over the holidays, he said.

Asked about the newer, more infectious Covid-19 strain thats reached the US and elsewhere in the world from the UK, Fauci repeated his advice from the start of the pandemic: The best way to counter this is to do the public health measures that prevent spread.
A day after Colorado Gov. Jared Polis announced restrictions for places like restaurants and gyms will be eased in much of the state starting 
The market started off the year 2021 as well as January series on a positive note with the Nifty50 closing above 14,000 mark for the first time on January 1 supported by select buying in auto, FMCG, IT and healthcare stocks.

The BSE Sensex was up 117.65 points at 47,868.98, while the Nifty50 gained 36.70 points at 14,018.50 and formed small bullish candle which resembles Doji kind of pattern on the daily charts. The index rose 2 percent for the week and witnessed bullish candle formation on the weekly scale.

Technically, the index has formed breakout continuation formation and the texture of the chart suggests uptrend likely to continue in the near term. We can expect further upside activity towards the 14,300 or 14,400 levels," Shrikant Chouhan, Executive Vice President, Equity Technical Research at Kotak Securities told Moneycontrol.

On the downside, he said the Nifty would find big support between 13,800 and 13,700.

The broader markets outpaced equity benchmarks as the Nifty Midcap 100 and Smallcap 100 indices gained 1.2 percent each.

We have collated 15 data points to help you spot profitable trades:

Note: The open interest (OI) and volume data of stocks given in this story are the aggregates of three- month data and not of the current month only.

Key support and resistance levels on the Nifty

According to pivot charts, the key support levels for the Nifty are placed at 13,989.93, followed by 13,961.37. If the index moves up, the key resistance levels to watch out for are 14,048.43 and 14,078.37.

Nifty Bank

The Nifty Bank declined 38.15 points to close at 31,225.85 on January 1. The important pivot level, which will act as crucial support for the index, is placed at 31,147.9, followed by 31,070. On the upside, key resistance levels are placed at 31,344 and 31,462.2.

Call option data

Maximum Call open interest of 21.02 lakh contracts was seen at 14,000 strike, which will act as a crucial resistance level in the January series.

This is followed by 14,500 strike, which holds 12.13 lakh contracts, and 13,900 strike, which has accumulated 10.02 lakh contracts.

Call writing was seen at 14,000 strike, which added 2.4 lakh contracts, followed by 14,200 strike which added 1.8 lakh contracts and 14,500 strike which added 1.5 lakh contracts.

Call unwinding was seen at 13,800 strike, which shed 74,025 contracts, followed by 13,500 strike which shed 27,750 contracts.

Put option data

Maximum Put open interest of 20.43 lakh contracts was seen at 13,500 strike, which will act as crucial support level in the January series.

This is followed by 14,000 strike, which holds 15.59 lakh contracts, and 13,600 strike, which has accumulated 11.94 lakh contracts.

Put writing was seen at 14,000 strike, which added 3.68 lakh contracts, followed by 13,600 strike, which added 2.93 lakh contracts and 13,500 strike which added 2.67 lakh contracts.

There was hardly any Put unwinding seen on the first day of January series.

Stocks with a high delivery percentage

A high delivery percentage suggests that investors are showing interest in these stocks.

89 stocks saw long build-up

Based on the open interest future percentage, here are the top 10 stocks in which a long build-up was seen.

4 stocks saw long unwinding

Based on the open interest future percentage, here are the 4 stocks in which long unwinding was seen.

18 stocks saw short build-up

An increase in open interest, along with a decrease in price, mostly indicates a build-up of short positions. Based on the open interest future percentage, here are the top 10 stocks in which a short build-up was seen.

27 stocks witnessed short-covering

A decrease in open interest, along with an increase in price, mostly indicates a short-covering. Based on the open interest future percentage, here are the top 10 stocks in which short-covering was seen.

Bulk deals

(For more bulk deals, click here)

Analysts/Board Meetings

Sanmit Infra: Board meeting is scheduled on January 6 to consider the allotment of shares pursuant to preferential issue, notice of EGM and any other item.

Shalby: Board meeting is scheduled on January 8 to consider December quarter results.

Stocks in the news

Eicher Motors: Total sales increased by 37% to 68,995 units of Royal Enfield in December 2020 against 50,416 units in December 2019.

Coal India: Provisional production in December rose by 0.5% YoY to 58.3 million tonnes.

GTPL Hathway: Company sold its entire 51% stake in GTPL Shiv Network for Rs 20 lakh share transfer agreement.

Adani Green Energy: Company received letter of award for 600 MW wind-solar hybrid power project.

Tata Motors: Sales in the domestic & international market for Q3 FY21 increased to 158,215 vehicles, compared to 129,381 units during Q3 FY20. But sales in December 2020 declined 4% to 32,869 vehicles YoY.

NMDC: Provisional production increased to 3.86 MT in December 2020, from 3.13 MT in December 2019, while sales rose to 3.62 MT from 3.04 MT in same periods.

Fund flow

FII and DII data

Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) net bought shares worth Rs 506.21 crore, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs) net purchased shares worth Rs 69.4 crore in the Indian equity market on January 1, as per provisional data available on the NSE.

Stocks under F&O ban on NSE

Not a single stock is under the F&O ban for January 4. Securities in the ban period under the F&O segment include companies in which the security has crossed 95 percent of the market-wide position limit.
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City, volunteers to line Highway 81 with flowers

The City of Watertown Parks and Recreation Department and volunteers will be planting flowers along Highway 81 starting at 8 a.m. Wednesday, May 26.
The announced intention of Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., to object to certification of Joe Bidens electoral college victory is a particularly bad omen for the GOPs future. Unlike, say, Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky.  who has an ideological commitment to public chaos and the humiliation of the U.S. government  Hawley has often tried to offer a constructive vision of conservative populism. As a former clerk to Chief Justice John Roberts Jr., Hawley surely possesses a serious understanding of the constitutional order. He is, on personal acquaintance, a talented, knowledgeable, ambitious young man.

The problem with political decadence is not what it does to those who are already disordered. The primary problem is what it does to talented, knowledgeable, ambitious young leaders who can be warped toward a destructive influence.

Ambition is a human trait assumed by the nations founders and incorporated into their design of our system, which pits ambition against ambition to check and balance power. By implication it is a neutral characteristic  a source of mischief or a spur to greatness. Ambition can lead men and women to say things they dont believe, to the detriment of their character.

The worse problem comes when it leads politicians outside the boundaries of democracy, which is where Hawley now finds himself. In the cause of his own advancement, the senator from Missouri is willing to endorse the disenfranchisement of millions of Americans  particularly voters of color  and justify the attempted theft of an election. He is willing to credit malicious lies that will poison our democracy for generations. The fulfillment of Hawleys intention  the ultimate overturning of the election  would be the collapse of U.S. self-government. The attempt should be a source of shame.

The ultimate responsibility lies with Hawley himself. But his temptation also represents the more general triumph of a dangerous type of politics  the politics of delegitimization. We have seen hints of this over the years. Jerry Falwell Sr. hawked videotapes on television accusing President Bill Clinton of murder. Some on the far left charged President George W. Bush with complicity in the 9/11 attacks. Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., objected to the certification of the 2004 presidential election based on conspiratorial lies about vote counting in Ohio. (Boxers effort came after John Kerrys gracious concession, which distinguishes it from Hawleys move.)

Yet the greatest practitioner and innovator of political cancel culture has been Donald J. Trump. This may be his largest influence on the practice of U.S. politics. He rose to prominence in the GOP by spreading racist lies about President Barack Obamas birthplace. Now he is making the acceptance of conspiratorial myths about Joe Bidens legitimacy into a test of GOP fidelity. And Trump has made room in his party for even more extreme versions of his method, involving the accusations that Democratic leaders are pedophiles: Stop the steal and QAnon are on the same spectrum of vile lunacy.

This is the type of politics that Hawley is enabling  a form of politics that abolishes politics. A contest of policy visions can result in compromise. The attempt to delegitimize your opponent requires their political annihilation. And a fight to the political death is always conducted in the shadow of possible violence.

Trump has brought these trends into a dangerous new phase. As president he is attempting to deconstruct American institutions from the top down. He intuitively grasps  like many authoritarians before him  that the biggest lies motivate the most abject servility. His message is carried like lightning on social media and is amplified by right-wing media personalities and grifters (but I repeat myself) who find profit and influence in the humiliation of their country. It is truly the technological golden age for casual sedition.

What can be done? We can refuse to inhabit the lie. We can praise and support Republican politicians such as Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., and governors Larry Hogan (Maryland) and Brian Kemp (Georgia) who are standing in the gap. And we must ensure that the aspirations of people like Hawley  who has made the madness more mainstream  come to nothing. This begins with a simple and sad recognition: The ambitions of this knowledgeable, talented young man are now a threat to the republic.

MICHAEL GERSON is a columnist for The Washington Post
Oscar Wilde described it as his "numbered tomb" - the prison cell where he spent two years after being jailed for gross indecency. And when he was released in 1897, he turned his "pitiless" misery and the execution of a fellow inmate into one of his greatest works, The Ballad of Reading Gaol.

Now Hollywood stars are pleading with the British government to save the disused prison for the nation, after ministers tried to sell it off to developers.

Dame Judi Dench, Sir Kenneth Branagh and Stephen Fry - who portrayed Wilde on screen - are among those who want the Grade-II listed building to be turned into an arts hub where the plays of Wilde, among others, could be performed.

They fear that if the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), its owner, sells it to the highest bidder, the building will be turned into flats, and Wilde's cell, as well as the building where he spent his days in hard labour, will never be open to the public.

Dame Judi said: "It is vitally important that Reading Gaol, a place of such culture, be used in a way that pays tribute to its artistic history, namely, to become a cultural and artistic centre. It would be a great gift, not only to Reading, as a town and growing population centre of the South, but also to the UK and the world as a whole."

Sir Kenneth, who grew up in Reading, said: "In Oscar Wilde's iconic poem he says, 'Each man kills the thing he loves.' Despite the undoubted challenges, don't let this wounded beast of a building be killed when it can be cured."

The prison, built in 1844, was closed in 2014, and its future has been uncertain ever since. Robert Buckland, the Justice Secretary, has stressed the need to get "value for money for the taxpayer", but a sale to a property developer who wanted to convert it into flats fell through in the summer, and the local council is in talks with the MoJ to preserve it for the public. Alok Sharma, the Business Secretary and MP for Reading West, is also in discussions with Mr Buckland.

The council wants to take the site off the government's hands and put the building to a commercial and public use.

Rabble Theatre, a local company, is among prospective users of the building if the council is able to fulfil the plan to turn part of it into a theatre, arts venue and museum, and Dame Judi said she would like to see the group move in.

Toby Davies, artistic director of Rabble, said: "We have an extraordinary opportunity for poetic justice for Wilde by putting on his plays in the prison where this terrible thing happened to him."

Game of Thrones actress Natalie Dormer, who is from Reading, said there was an "opportunity to create a cultural gem" out of the disused building. Fry said making it an arts centre would be a "perfect" legacy for Wilde.

The MoJ said yesterday that it had agreed a period of exclusivity with Reading borough council until March 15 for it to present a business case for the site. A Prison Service spokesman said: "Our aim is to ensure the best outcome for taxpayers and the community while complying with all planning requirements for this historical site."

Wilde was convicted of gross indecency over homosexuality, which remained a crime in the UK until 1967. As a prisoner in Reading, he was addressed only as C.3.3, as he was held in cell 3 on landing 3 of cell block C. He wrote: "Each narrow cell in which we dwell is a foul and dark latrine, and the fetid breath of living death chokes up each grated screen."

On his release in 1897, Wilde fled to France, where he wrote his poem and published it under the name C.3.3. His authorship was only revealed in 1899, the year before he died, still in exile. The poem is about the execution of Charles Thomas Wooldridge, a soldier hanged at the prison for murdering his girlfriend.

Sunday Independent
Kelly Stanphill just wants something to change for her son, who is somewhere in San Francisco, drug-addled, gaunt and helplessly addicted to fentanyl.

So whenever she hears of a Tenderloin drug bust  like the 10 pounds of fentanyl that were seized by federal authorities last month  she cant help but feel a tiny bit of justice and hope that her sons endless supply of drugs will finally dry up.

But then, the reality sets in.

Its not changing anything, she said, sighing. People are still dying, two a day. Its not helping.

More than 630 people died of overdoses in San Francisco from January to the end of November, a new record and a staggering increase from 441 in all of 2019. Amid the wave of death this spring, the San Francisco Police Department increased the number of officers focused on drug dealers in the Tenderloin  particularly those selling fentanyl to people like Stanphills 26-year-old son.

But the added focus on the long-troubled neighborhood did not stop the surge of fatalities in 2020, most of which occurred in and around the Tenderloin. Even as police seized potentially millions of lethal doses of fentanyl  an opioid that can be 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine  more than 70% of the people who died had the drug in their system.

Overdoses killed more than three times as many people in San Francisco last year as COVID-19, and the drug epidemic shows no sign of slowing. Experts are divided over how to control it. The issue has largely pitted police and federal authorities against advocates for users and a progressive new district attorney, who favor treatment more than enforcement.

Many worry that 2021 will be another historically deadly year, as the pandemic disrupts lives and fentanyl permeates the drug supply. City leaders agree San Francisco needs increased help from the federal government and more robust drug treatment services, but they disagree on how authorities should punish street-level dealers who often come from out of town and are easily replaced after theyre arrested.

In the backdrop is a national reckoning over how police interact with vulnerable communities, like homeless, mentally ill and drug-addicted people. And the increased call for services comes as San Francisco faces a multimilliondollar budget deficit caused by the pandemic, which will force difficult decisions this year on what resources get funded, and which get cut.

As the city struggles to get a handle on the fentanyl epidemic, Stanphill has watched her son slip further into addiction.

We cant just stick Band-Aids on people, she said from her home in Roseville (Placer County). ... We just need more help. More accessible help. Affordable help. And decent help.

Its my kid, she added.

Photos by Jessica Christian / The Chronicle

Sometimes, Stanphill wishes that her son was still using just heroin.

Because when he was only on heroin, I could kind of communicate with him, she said. I would hear from him, I would see him, I could actually spend a day with him. ... But the fentanyl has made him like a zombie.

When hes sober, Stanphill said, her son with striking blue-green eyes is charming and kind, with a quick sense of humor. She said his addiction began when he was around 14 with Xanax that he got from other students at school, which he took to calm his anxiety from being bullied. But after he started hanging with the wrong crowd, his drug use quickly escalated to cocaine, ecstasy, methamphetamine and then heroin.

Stanphill said she has tried everything  from special education resources for him in high school, to more than a dozen rehab services, to medication-assisted treatment to even walking around the Tenderloin looking for him. She has reached the point where she just wants him to have consistent access to clean needles and a safer drug supply, until hes ready to try kicking his addiction again.

Fentanyl gives him that small relief of escaping, and its so cheap, she said. It makes him feel nothing.

A person can die from just 2 milligrams of fentanyl, a fraction of the lethal dose for heroin. The potent opioid is a major reason that 2020 was probably the deadliest year for overdoses in recorded history, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. According to the San Francisco medical examiner, 453 of the 636 people who died of overdoses from January to the end of November had fentanyl in their system.

Thats why the San Francisco Police Department is stepping up arrests of those who sell the drug, regardless of how much they are carrying, Chief Bill Scott said. According to the Police Department, officers made 600 arrests for drug sales in the Tenderloin and seized 192.2 ounces of fentanyl in 2020. That compares with 522 drug-related arrests and 43.8 ounces seized in 2019. Notably, the Tenderloin narcotics unit was suspended at the beginning of the pandemic, which led to fewer arrests from March to May.

It doesnt take a whole lot of fentanyl to kill, Scott said. Had we not confiscated over (192.2 ounces) of fentanyl ... one has to think what that would have done in terms of having even more overdoses.

To make a measurable difference on the streets, Scott said, all levels of law enforcement  including District Attorney Chesa Boudin  need to send a clear message that people will be punished if they break the law. While critics have accused Boudin of going easy on those accused of drug crimes, he stressed that he prosecutes nearly 80% of the drug cases that are brought to his office. That compares with the 88% that his predecessor, George Gascon, who was also criticized for being easy on drug dealers, said he prosecuted.

The district attorney says most of whats presented to him are low-level dealers with small amounts of drugs, who are replaced on the streets as soon as theyre arrested.

When it comes to effective use of law enforcement resources ... taking 0.4 grams of suspected fentanyl off the streets in an operation that probably cost taxpayers many thousands of dollars, when we dont have treatment on demand, when we dont have safe consumption sites, is not an effective way to prevent overdoses, Boudin said.

Tracey Helton Mitchell, an overdose prevention advocate who has been sober for 22 years, said the citys treatment services have dwindled, even as the demand has grown.

She said someone like Stanphills son needs a host of services that are hard to come by, or dont exist, in San Francisco: Safe and supportive housing; outreach workers who can keep tabs on him; a 24-hour drop-in center where he can go anytime he needs help; a safe consumption site, where he can use drugs around nurses who can save him if he overdoses.

The state is working on legislation to allow San Francisco to open a safe consumption site, and the city is working on a 24/7 drop-in center. But both of those things will probably take years to implement. Meanwhile, she said, the pandemic has exacerbated the crisis by isolating people from their communities, which they often rely on for help if they overdose.

We are offering people things, but are they the things that they are asking for? Helton said. Are we giving people the tools they need to transition out of that lifestyle? I would argue no.

The police chief and district attorney agree that San Francisco falls short when it comes to resources for people struggling with addiction. But until it bolsters its services, they disagree on what should be done in the interim: Boudin says the police should arrest people with kilos not crumbs, but Scott says thats not going to help when people are dying from sheer milligrams of fentanyl.

Whats happening on our streets ... is people selling crumbs, Scott said. And those crumbs are killing people. Literally.

Jessica Christian / The Chronicle

Stanphill has lost track of how many times her son has overdosed since the first time she found him at 16, wedged between the toilet and bathtub in her Santa Monica home.

He spent nearly two months in the hospital last summer on life support after being hit by a car, and then with a severe infection in his heart. Stanphill thought that she would finally be able to get through to him after that episode  but, instead, he left for the Tenderloin just two days after being discharged.

Now she hears from him only sporadically, and the silence in between is harrowing.

Every time I see the (overdose) numbers on the news, Im like OK, is he dead somewhere? she said. Do I have to call the coroners again? Should I call the hospitals? Do they have any unidentified bodies?

Stanphill is so frustrated by San Franciscos sputtering response to the crisis that sometimes she imagines herself as a midnight vigilante, sneaking into the Tenderloin to take down the drug dealers herself.

She dreams of stealing her son away from the neighborhood, and bringing him somewhere safe, like a cabin in the woods where she can help him heal among the trees and open air.

But she also knows the harsh, relentless reality of his addiction.

He cant just quit. Its easier said than done, she said. I still have hope. I always have hope. But with each passing day it gets slimmer and slimmer.

Trisha Thadani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: tthadani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @TrishaThadani
The dreaded chronic wasting disease (CWD) in whitetail deer is creeping ever closer to Alabama, though thus far it has never been detected inside the state borders.

Wildlife managers, hunters and those who enjoy seeing wildlife are concerned that the deadly disease could decimate the deer herd here as it has in some other states where outbreaks have become intense.

According to Alabamas DCNR, the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP) recently received suspect positive CWD test results for two hunter-harvested bucks from Tippah and Alcorn counties in northeast Mississippi. These are the first CWD-positive detections for those counties. According to a press release from MDWFP, the samples will be sent to the National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa, for final confirmation.

These are the first suspected CWD-positive cases in white-tailed deer within 25 miles of the Alabama state line. The Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (WFF) has tested more than 11,000 deer since 2002.

As part of WFFs CWD Strategic Surveillance and Response Plan, CWD surveillance efforts were increased in Alabama after deer in Mississippi and Tennessee tested positive for the disease in 2018. That increased surveillance effort continues, including the collection of samples from hunter-harvested deer, road kill deer, and sick deer reported to WFF by the public.

Hunters are encouraged to utilize the self-service CWD sampling stations located throughout the state as part of WFFs CWD surveillance effort. For an up-to-date map with directions to the CWD sampling stations and instructions on how to submit a sample, visit www.outdooralabama.com/cwd-sampling.

CWD is a neurodegenerative disease found in most deer species, including moose, elk, mule deer and white-tailed deer. It is infectious and always fatal. It is part of a group of diseases known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies and is similar to mad cow disease in cattle and scrapie in sheep. These diseases cause irreversible damage to brain tissue that leads to salivation, neurological symptoms, emaciation and death of the animal.

Deer infected with CWD can spread the disease to other deer even before symptoms develop. It can take one to two years for infected animals to become symptomatic. When symptoms appear, they can include emaciation, lethargy and abnormal behavior. Other signs include excessive salivation, loss of appetite, progressive weight loss, excessive thirst and urination, and drooping head/ears.

Hunters and the general public are encouraged to be on the lookout for deer that appear sick, lethargic or unusually thin and to report their location to ADCNR.

The state has also made it illegal to import any of the cervid species whole carcasses or bony structures into the state, though deboned meat is permitted. There have been several citations this year for hunters breaking this rule after hunts in other states.

The Alabama deer season continues until Feb. 10 in much of the state. The late season is considered prime time to bag a buck by many expert hunters due to the final rutting period and the frequently cold weather, both of which encourage bucks to move in daylight hours.

More information on CWD can be found at www.outdooralabama.com/CWD-Info.

B.A.S.S. Names Lay Lake Part of 2021 High School Fishing Tour

B.A.S.S. officials unveiled the Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster High School Series 2021 schedule, which will give young anglers an opportunity to compete on the same waters that have hosted sportfishings premier tournaments.

The Bassmaster High School Series will include four regular-season events. The one-day tournaments will be Feb. 27 on Harris Chain of Lakes, May 2 on Lake Cumberland and June 26 on Lay Lake, site of four Bassmaster Classics. A June 12th event will also be held on a northern fishery to be announced soon.

Due to the soaring popularity of the trails, the field size will again be capped at 250 boats for high school. Each high school event will also include a field of up to 50 boats for competitors ranging from second to eighth grade as part of the Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster Junior Series.

Online registration for the High School and Junior Series will open Jan. 12. For more information, visit Bassmaster.com.
Centre has provided more than 21.89 crore vaccine doses to states/UTs

Bharat Biotech expects approval of Covaxin for emergency use from WHO in July- September

Moderna's single-dose COVID-19 vaccine in India likely next year; Pfizer ready with 5 crore doses for 2021

Centre asks states to plan for scaling up Covid-19 vaccination through stocks, supplies till June-end

Zydus Cadila gets DCGI nod for phase III trials of its corona vaccine candidate

India

oi-Deepika S

New Delhi, Jan 03: The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has approved conducting phase III trials of the country''s first DNA vaccine candidate against COVID-19 being developed by Zydus Cadila, the Department of Biotechnology said on Sunday.

The vaccine candidate has been supported by the National Biopharma Mission (NBM) under the aegis of Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), a PSU under the DBT.

"The nation''s first indigenously developed DNA vaccine candidate against COVID-19, ZyCoV-D, by M/s Zydus Cadila, has been approved by Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI), for conduct of the Phase III clinical trials," the DBT said.

Who will get Covid vaccine first, how to register: FAQs about immunisation answered

Zydus Cadila completed Phase-I/II clinical trials of this DNA vaccine candidate in more than 1,000 participants and "interim data indicated that the vaccine is safe and immunogenic when three doses were administered intradermally", the DBT said.

"Based on the recommendations of the Subject Expert Committee, which reviewed the interim data, the DCGI has accorded permission for conducting Phase-III clinical trial in 26,000 Indian participants," the DBT added.

DBT secretary and BIRAC chairperson Renu Swarup hoped that the candidate vaccine continues to show positive outcomes.

"The Department of Biotechnology, has partnered with Zydus Cadila to address the need for accelerated development of an indigenous vaccine for COVID-19. The partnership exemplifies that such research endeavours demonstrate the government''s focus on creating an ecosystem that nurtures and encourages new product innovation with societal relevance," she said.

She noted that the establishment of the country''s first DNA vaccine platform is an important milestone for an ''Aatmanirbhar Bharat'' and a big leap forward for scientific research.

The DCGI on Sunday approved Oxford COVID-19 vaccine Covishield, manufactured by the Serum Institute, and indigenously developed Covaxin of Bharat Biotech for restricted emergency use in the country, paving the way for a massive inoculation drive.

Dr Reddy''s Laboratories is conducting phases 2 and 3 clinical trials of Russian vaccine Sputnik V, while Biological E is conducting phase 1 trials of its indigenously developed vaccine candidate.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Sunday, January 3, 2021, 19:02 [IST]
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) speaks at her weekly news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, on Dec. 30, 2020. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)

Pelosi Reelected as House Speaker in Tight Vote

The U.S. House of Representatives voted 216209 to reelect Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif) as the speaker on Jan. 3 to lead the chambers narrowest majority in two decades.

Five Democrats defected. Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.), and Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-N.J.) voted present. Two Democrats voted for candidates other than Pelosi. Rep. Conor Lamb (D-Pa.) voted for Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), while Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine) voted for Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.)

In a time marked by historically low trust in government, new voices are necessary to moving forward and achieving real progress, Spanberger said in a statement. Last Congress, I kept my promise to vote for new leadership upon my swearing-inand in this Congress, I remain consistent in my commitment to ushering in new leadership. Accordingly, I did not vote for Speaker Pelosi.

Rep. Cori Bush (D-Mo.) initially didnt respond when called to vote. Bush, a Black Lives Matter activist who was sworn into Congress earlier the same morning, is a member of the expanding progressive squad. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), the de facto leader of the squad, also was absent from the floor when it came to her turn to vote. Both later voted for Pelosi.

After telling their constituents they wouldnt support Pelosi for Speaker last Congress, 5 House Democrats just went back on their promise and handed Pelosi the gavel for two more years of her failed and radical leadership, the House Republicans said in a statement apparently aimed at the progressive squad.

Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), who served as the House Minority Leader during the last session, ran against Pelosi. He will again lead the House Republicans as the minority leader. All of the Republicans voted for McCarthy.

Pelosi has led the House Democrats since 2003 and was widely expected to retain her post despite a quiet effort to oust her. Democrats held a 222211 edge over Republicans ahead of the vote, and the anti-Pelosi effort counted on absences which could give the GOP the edge. No Democrat stepped forward to challenge Pelosi ahead of the vote.

The Democrats saw a dozen incumbents lose during the 2020 general election and didnt defeat a single Republican representative.

One House race in New York is still being decided, and theres a vacancy in Louisiana after GOP Rep.-elect Luke Letlow, 41, died after a heart attack following an operation related to contracting COVID-19.

Pelosi, 80, recently suggested anew that these would be her final two years as speaker, referencing a statement she made two years ago in which she said she would step aside after this period.

The speakers election came three days before the joint session on Jan. 6, during which Congress would vet the Electoral College votes for the presidential election. Dozens of House Republicans have committed to lodging objections to the Democratic electors from states in which President Donald Trump has disputed the outcome.

During the last session, Congress enacted and Trump signed a $900 billion CCP virus pandemic relief package. Trump pushed to increase individual payments as part of that package to $2,000, while calling for the removal of spending he deemed wasteful, including $10 million for gender programs in Pakistan.

Democrats took up Trumps call to boost the individual payments. Republicans blocked the effort.

Republican congressional strategist Brian Darling, former senior counsel to Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), told The Epoch Times that Pelosis win represents a temporary truce in the House Democratic caucus between Democratic socialists such as Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and more moderate liberals.

Democrats have some temporary unity going into the new Congress, Darling said, but not many think the peace between the left flank of the party led by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) will hold for more than a few months.

Policy will divide the caucus, and it will not be long before the AOC squad is upset that they cant get the socialist Green New Deal and legislation to federally defund the police implemented, said Darling, who heads Liberty Government Affairs in the nations capital.

Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) President David Williams predicted that Democratic unity will continue in the Democratic socialists favor, noting that this is a clear signal that the progressives want their agenda such as a Green New Deal and Medicare for All front and center during the 117th Congress, which would be disastrous for taxpayers and the country.

The TPA chief added that despite all the bickering and complaining about Pelosis leadership, the Democrats fell in line and ignored the election, which saw a strong gain by Republicans in the House of Representatives.

Heritage Action for America Executive Director Jessica Anderson told The Epoch Times that Pelosi resumes the speakership with the thinnest Democratic majority in decades because  her embrace of radical policies hurt the left in November, as they lost numerous key moderate districts and failed to oust a single sitting Republican. Impeachment, the border wall, and the anti-police crusade were very unpopular, especially in the swing districts.

Thats why moderate Democrats Jared Golden and Conor Lamb voted against her.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Egypts President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi has ordered comprehensive and organised development of the quarry system across the country, presidency spokesman Bassam Radi said.

El-Sisi made the comments in a meeting on Sunday with Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly and other officials including Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Tarek El-Mulla and the presidents advisor for national and strategic projects Sherif Ismail.

The president issued directives to develop the quarry system in a way that contributes to establishing clear principles for the relations between investors and the state, with the aim of achieving good management of the states natural resources, Radi said.

The president also ordered developing the process of managing the movement of trucks transferring raw materials related to quarries, to ensure their adherence to the safety standards, in order to help prevent pollution and road accidents.

The meeting discussed the executive status of the Egyptian Company for Mining, Management and Exploitation of Quarries and Salines, which belongs to the Armed Forces National Service Products Organisation.

The development plan of the quarry system aims at governing the system in a way that makes better use of the states resources, especially through establishing branches of the company nationwide and a unified digital geographical platform for all quarries in the country.

During the meeting, El-Sisi also reviewed the workflow of the national project to convert cars to run with natural gas. In this regard, he reviewed efforts to establish natural gas supply stations and convert cars to run with both natural gas and gasoline.

El-Sisi ordered increasing the number of the natural gas supply stations nationwide.

Minister of Local Development Mahmoud Shaarawy, Major General Magdy Anwar, the chairman of the Watanya Company for Roads and Chairman of the Egyptian Company for Mining, Management and Exploitation of Quarries and Salines Major General El-Sayed El-Bous also attended the meeting.

El-Sisi ordered developing the state's efforts to achieve optimal economic utilisation of Egypt's oil and gas resources and guarantee the provision of local energy needs.

He also reviewed states efforts to reduce the gap between production and consumption by developing a system to store and distribute petroleum products.

Short link:


Maryam, a school janitor in the northern Tajik city of Khujand, says she often skips meals so her three children can eat.



"I cook once a day in the evening. We eat half of it for dinner and leave the rest for the children's lunch the following day," she says. The 38-year-old mother says she doesn't eat lunch herself.



"Instead, I make myself busy with work, and it helps me not to think if I'm hungry," Maryam told RFE/RL. "Also, I make hot tea and put lots of sugar in it. It helps, too. If I ate lunch, we wouldn't have enough food for the kids."



Maryam and her family found themselves living on the brink of poverty when her husband, a freight train worker, lost his job in May.



As the impoverished Central Asian nation struggles with the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic, a significant number of the country's 9.5 million people are forced to eat less, with many skipping meals entirely and some even going hungry, a new survey by the World Bank shows.

According to the Listening To Tajikistan survey, more than 30 percent of the respondents said they have reduced their food consumption in comparison to pre-pandemic times. More than 5 percent said they had to go hungry because they couldn't afford food.



One-third of the respondents to the report -- which surveyed some 1,400 households across Tajikistan -- said they often skip meals due to a shortage of food.



More than 45 percent said food security along with the health of their loved ones has become their main worry since the pandemic began.



The survey has been conducted monthly in each region of Tajikistan since 2015. Its latest findings were released on December 23 in the report: Tajikistan: Economic Slowdown Amid The Pandemic.



"Hunger was a main feature of the current year. During the survey, the respondents said that they don't have enough money to buy the amount of food they need, and therefore they're forced to go hungry," Alisher Rajabov, an economist at the World Bank office in Dushanbe, said during a discussion of the research.

According to the World Bank, at the peak of the COVID-19 crisis in May, the "reports of reduced food consumption spiked to 41 percent of the population" in Tajikistan.

Tajikistan officially reported its first coronavirus infection on April 30.



But the remittance-dependent country began to feel the devastating impact of the pandemic much earlier when Russia and Kazakhstan -- the hosts of many hundreds of thousands of Tajik migrant workers -- closed their borders in March.



About 25 percent of the families in Tajikistan depend on remittances sent from abroad. A job shortage is one of the key challenges that the landlocked, mountainous country has faced since gaining independence in 1991.



Low wages and food price hikes have added to many Tajiks' plight during the pandemic. The majority of ordinary people -- teachers, blue-collar workers, farmers, and low-level public-sector workers -- say they are spending a larger portion of their income on food this year.



Najmiddin Rahimov works in Dushanbe's Mehrgon Bazaar, where he carries customers' groceries in his cart for a small fee.



Before the pandemic, Rahimov used to make up to 100 somonis (about $9) a day from his job. He says his current daily income is about 30 to 40 somonis ($2.6 to $3.5) as the demand has fallen for his service.

"People buy less food now. They don't need a cart for their shopping anymore. They buy just two bags of groceries nowadays and carry the bags themselves," Rahimov told RFE/RL's Tajik Service.



"Currently, all of my income goes to buy food. We don't buy new clothes anymore," Rahimov said.



The inability to afford enough food has forced some people to extreme measures.



In some villages, people are reporting the theft of food and coal -- an occurrence the villagers say they had only heard of during the civil war of the 1990s.



The World Food Program said in September 2020 that 47 percent of the people in Tajikistan live on less than $1.33 a day and an estimated 30 percent of the population are malnourished.



Future Could Be Bright



The World Bank experts predict the economic situation in Tajikistan could improve and the economy is likely to start bouncing back next year.



But that depends on several factors, such as the population's access to COVID-19 vaccines and the resumption of remittances from workers abroad and an uptick in foreign trade.



World Bank experts have projected Tajikistan's economic growth at 3.5 percent next year, assuming these conditions are met.



"Growth bounce-back in neighboring countries, especially China and Russia, will help support trade activities, remittances inflows, and foreign investment," the World Bank report predicts.

The report forecasts remittances strengthening once travel restrictions are eased and access to labor markets in host countries is restored.



Domestically, the World Bank highlighted the need to carry out "much-needed structural reforms" and to revive the private sector.

Tajikistan is also plagued by corruption, economic mismanagement, and growing income inequality.



Back in Khujand, when asked about her hopes for the future, Maryam said that any improvement for her family depends on her husband being able to find work.



"But for now, I wish the government would provide money to schools for free meals for children from poor families once a day until things improve," she says.

RFE/RL's Tajik Service contributed to this report.
Three more farmers, who were part of the protests at the Delhi borders against the Centre's new farm laws, have died, police said on Sunday.

One of the farmers died of cardiac arrest, another was suffering from fever while the cause of the death of the third farmer could only be ascertained after post-mortem, they added.

The deceased were identified as Shamsher Singh (around 45 years of age), a resident of Lidhra village in Punjab''s Sangrur district, Jashandeep Singh (18), a resident of Chauke village in Punjab's Bathinda district, and Jagbir Singh (60), a resident of Jind in Haryana, the police said.

Shamsher was part of the protests at the Singhu border while Jagbir was participating in the agitation at the Tikri border.

Shamsher had complained of chest pain on Sunday morning, a police official said, adding that the cause of his death could only be established after post-mortem.

Jagbir passed away at the Tikri border, an official of the Bahadurgarh police station said.

He died of a heart attack, the police official said, adding that the body was handed over to his family after post-mortem.

Jashandeep died on Saturday evening, the police said, adding that he had gone to support the agitating farmers at the Tikri border.

Jashandeep was suffering from fever and was taken to the PGIMS, Rohtak, where he breathed his last.

Farmers from different parts of the country, including Haryana and Punjab, have been camping at various border points of Delhi for more than a month now to demand a repeal of the three recent farm laws of the Centre.

Meanwhile, senior Congress leader and former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda urged the Centre to accept the farmers'' demand.

Talking to the media in Sonipat, he said the situation has become "worrisome" while pointing out that some of the protesting farmers have died in the last 24 hours.

Hooda urged the government to scrap the farm laws without further delay.
Gurugram, Jan 3 : Three days after a group of farmers protesting against the new farm laws broke through barricades at the Harayana-Rajasthan border and entered Rewari district in Haryana, a group of agitating farmers probably from Sri Ganganagar in Rajasthan made another attempt to move towards the national Capital on Sunday evening.

This led to a clash with police near Sanghwadi village in Rewari, around 17 km away from Gurugram.

The Haryana Police attempted to stop them using water cannons and tear gas even as their leaders urged them not go towards the national capital.

According to police, "around 50 tractors" had tried break through the barricades around 6.30 p.m. but were stopped.

"We did not resort to any lathicharge to stop them from breaking through, but we had to use water cannons and tear gas shells to stop them," the police said.

However, it is expected that the farmer's may enter Gurugram in next few days.

In view of such attempts the Gurugram Police have beefed up their security across the Gurugram-Rewari border and a huge police force have been deployed to stop farmer's entering Gurugram.

"A number of police personnel including additional force along with Rapid Action Force with anti-riot equipments have been deployed at the Gurugram-Rewari border to stop farmers entering Gurugram. As of now no farmers groups have entered in Gurugram," said Astha Modi, DCP (headquarters).

However, in Rewari the police have managed to stop the farmers near Sanghwadi village in Rewari.

Farmers from Rajasthan and Haryana have been protesting against the three farm bills on the Delhi-Jaipur since December 13. The numbers have been increased from barely 200 to around 2,000 now after Gujarat, Maharashtra and South Haryana farmers joined them.
The homes of the two highest-ranking members of the US Congress House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell have been vandalised, police said, amid a political battle over a stimulus package to coronavirus-hit Americans. Fake blood and a severed pig's head were reportedly left outside top Democrat Pelosi's California house, which was also daubed with graffiti.

The words "where's my money" and some expletives were scrawled on Republican McConnell's house in Kentucky. The two separate incidents come as Senate Democrats pushed, without success, for a Senate vote on USD 2,000 stimulus cheques on Friday.

The effort was blocked by Senate Republicans including McConnell, who have largely argued that increasing stimulus cheques would not be the kind of "targeted relief" necessary to respond to the economic distress caused by the pandemic. The top Republican has been critical of the push to increase the cheques, multiple times saying the amount is "simply not the right approach" and repeating an argument that much of it is "socialism for rich people." After McConnell's Louisville home was marked with graffiti early Saturday morning, he denounced the incident as a "radical tantrum." "Vandalism and the politics of fear have no place in our society. My wife and I have never been intimidated by this toxic playbook. We just hope our neighbours in Louisville aren't too inconvenienced by this radical tantrum," McConnell said in a statement.

"Were's my money" was scrawled on McConnell's front door in what looks like white spray paint, US media reports said. On early Friday morning, a home in San Francisco belonging to Pelosi was vandalised, according to the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD).

"Unidentified suspect(s) had painted graffiti on the garage door and left a pig's head on the sidewalk," the police department said in a statement obtained by CNN. The SFPD Special Investigations Division is investigating, the report said.

On Tuesday the US House of Representatives voted to increase the aid sent to individuals under the scheme from USD 600 to USD 2,000. The Democratic-led chamber passed the bill with the help of more than 40 Republicans. But the Republican-led Senate has not approved the bigger cheques, despite calls to do so from US President Donald Trump.

The second stimulus package that Congress did pass included USD 600 direct payments, half the amount provided in the first round of checks, which went out in the spring. The US is the worst-hit country by the pandemic. America has reported over 20,430,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases and more than 350,000 deaths.

.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-03 12:21:49|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- A book documenting poverty relief efforts in impoverished Chinese villages visited by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, has been published by the People's Publishing House.

Since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, Xi has made inspection trips to the country's 14 contiguous areas of extreme poverty, visiting 24 impoverished villages, to help advance the fight against poverty in these areas.

Consisting of 17 research reports and QR codes directing readers to three episodes of special television features, the book depicts the remarkable achievements and valuable experience of poverty alleviation in these villages under Xi's guidance.

The book is expected to inspire officials and the general public to study and grasp Xi's important thoughts on poverty alleviation, and to forge ahead in the new era. Enditem
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Inne ogoszenia, ktore mogy byc w kregu Twoich zainteresowan:
Jamie Foxx worked his way up in Hollywood with mentors like Keenan Ivory Wayans on In Living Color. Foxx became a movie star, an Oscar winner and recording artist throughout his career. Now he wants to give back to the next generation. His voice role in Pixars Soul reminded Foxx of the advice he once gave the likes of Michael B. Jordan and the late Chadwick Boseman.

Jamie Foxx | NBC

Foxx spoke at a Zoom press conference for Soul. Since he plays the mentor to an unborn soul, 22 (Tina Fey), Foxx recalled his own mentorship. Soul is now streaming on Disney+.

Soul star Jamie Foxx remembered his mentors

Foxx already wanted to make music when he was on In Living Color, and he did drop his first album in 1994. Even back then, Foxx relied on his mentors to help him break out of the box executives wanted to keep him in.

L-R: 22 and Joe in Soul | Disney/Pixar

RELATED: Soul: How Pixar Made Their Own Rules for the Afterlife

I remember being on In Living Color, Foxx said. And I remember being-being told by an executive, Foxx, stick to the jokes, man. You aint gonna be able to do all this singing because I was always singing in my dressing room. And I remember Tommy Davidson getting my back. No, he should do everything.

Now, actors like Michael B. Jordan and Chadwick Boseman look up to him

Jordan and Boseman were coming up around the same time on Friday Night Lights and in 42 respectively. By that point in the 2010s, Foxx was a heavy hitter in the industry and he wanted to give back to their generation.

Chadwick Boseman | Film Frame/Marvel Studios

RELATED: Black Panther Fans Once Interrupted Chadwick Boseman on the Set of His Next Movie

What I tell them is do not fatigue, Foxx said. Do not lay your art to the side. When I talked to Michael B. Jordan or I talked to Chadwick, I talked to everybody from Chris Brown to everybody that comes in my house. I just say, Hey, man, the opportunity is so wide open now You have to take advantage of it.

Foxx elaborated on what he meant. He was seeing the potential in the new formats that emerged since the beginning of his own career.

Michael B. Jordan as Killmonger in Black Panther | Marvel

RELATED: Michael B. Jordan Just Fired the Police from Any Event He Attends

I think about all of the different platforms, Foxx said. They didnt have no platforms when we was coming up. I remember getting to LA and just, I was on Sunset Boulevard like, okay. Thee was no FaceTimebook, Snapcrack, nothing. Now, you have it all. So, sometimes the artist, sort of, leans back and relies on just the social platform as opposed to pushing their art.

Jamie Foxx has faith in the next generation

Foxx remembers the other artists who emerged with him in the 90s. Hes hopeful this generation can make at least as much of an impact.

Where is the young kid, under 30, that were looking at that was Larenz Tate? Foxx said. Where is the young girl, under 30, the Halle [Berry]. Where are all of these? So, I will continuously tell the young artist, Man, this is the best time because somebody is gonna see you if you stay at it.
TMC Birbhum president Anubrata Mondal to be under strict EC surveillance from 5 pm till Fri 7 am: Official

Ma, Mati, Manush cheated by TMC

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

Kolkata, Jan 03: Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on Saturday said that the "Ma, Mati and Manush" (mother, motherland and people) of West Bengal have been "cheated" during the Trinamool Congress rule in the state.

The BJP leader, during a door-to-door campaign in Habra assembly seat in North 24 Parganas district, accused the Mamata Banerjee government of working for the benefit of its "own people".

"The BJP wants to make West Bengal Rabindranath Tagore's "Sonar Bangla" (Golden Bengal) from the ruined state it has been turned into due to the successive governments in the past including that of the TMC," the Union Jal Shakti minister said.

The people of West Bengal gave the Congress a chance for three decades and 34 years to the communists. Mamata Didi also ruled the state for the last 10 years, having cheated the people in the name of development, he said.

West Bengal polls 2021: After TMC and BJP, CPM launches its election campaign

Claiming that the people of the state are now taking to the streets against the Mamata Banerjee government, he said, "Didi has worked only for the benefit of her own people, ignoring the masses who elected her to power for two terms."

The Union minister asserted that the rule of law will be established in West Bengal after the BJP's victory in the assembly elections due in April-May this year.

"The politics of revenge has been taking place in West Bengal for four decades. The BJP will establish true democracy," he said.

Over 200 TMC workers joined the BJP in Mr Shekhawat's presence.

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Story first published: Sunday, January 3, 2021, 9:29 [IST]
A highlight of the Winter Carnival is an open stage with the World Natural Heritage Site of Ha Long Bay in the background where more than 100 cruise ships parading back and forth.(Photo: VNA)

One of the events highlights was an open stage with the World Natural Heritage Site of Ha Long Bay in the background where more than 100 cruise ships parading back and forth. In addition, the audiences were also thrilled by performances of helicopters, seaplanes and paragliders in the sky overhead.

The carnival parade featured six performance sections, expressing the theme of Ha Long  the aspiration of flying dragons, during which performers in winter festival costumes showed off their Ha Long samba dance moves.

Visitors were also wowed by a wide range of performances which showcase the typical cultural and tourism attractions of the northeastern province, along with sampling delicious cuisine and discovering interesting tourism products at the carnival.

Organised by the Tuan Chau Group, the carnival aimed to offer visitors a new experience in Ha Long and help diversify tourism products in the province during the off-peak season.

Total visitors to Quang Ninh, a tourism magnet in Vietnam, this year are estimated at 8.8 million, down 37 percent from 2019. Of these, some 536,000 were foreigners, a year-on-year decline of 90.7 percent.

The province is looking to attract about 10 million visitors in 2021, according to the provincial Tourism Department./.
At Pelosi's home in San Francisco, someone spray-painted graffiti and left a pigs head and fake blood on New Years Day, while profanity directed at McConnell was painted under his mailbox

Louisville: Vandals lashed out at the leaders of the US House and Senate over the holiday weekend, blighting their homes with graffiti and in one case a pig's head as Congress failed to approve an increase in the amount of money being sent to individuals to help cope with the coronavirus pandemic.

Spray paint on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's door in Kentucky on Saturday read, WERES MY MONEY. MITCH KILLS THE POOR" was scrawled over a window. Profanity directed at the Republican senator was painted under the mailbox.

At House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's home in San Francisco, someone spray-painted graffiti and left a pigs head and fake blood on New Years Day, police said. The vandalism was reported around 2 am Friday, a police statement said, and a special investigations unit is trying to determine who did it.

KGO-TV reported that graffiti found on the garage door of the Democratic leaders home included the phrases $2K, Cancel rent! and We want everything, apparently referencing Democratic lawmakers failed efforts to increase the coronavirus relief checks from $600 to $2000.

The news station says security cameras surround the three-story brick home in the tony Pacific Heights neighborhood.

McConnell released a statement on Saturday condemning the vandalism at his home in Louisville.

Ive spent my career fighting for the First Amendment and defending peaceful protest," he stated. I appreciate every Kentuckian who has engaged in the democratic process whether they agree with me or not. This is different. Vandalism and the politics of fear have no place in our society.

McConnell said he and his wife are not intimidated by the vandalism. We just hope our neighbors in Louisville arent too inconvenienced by this radical tantrum.

Louisville police are investigating the incident at McConnell's home, which occurred around 5 am Saturday. There currently are no suspects, police spokesperson Dwight Mitchell said in an email.

On New Year's Day, Senate Republicans refused to allow debate over a bill to increase the amount of COVID-19 relief. The increase, supported by President Donald Trump, passed the Democratic-led House but was blocked by McConnell.

The government has begun sending out smaller payments to millions of Americans. The $600 payment is going to individuals with incomes up to $75,000. Congress approved the payment in late December.
Father-of-three Ger Withers was fatally attacked and trampled by the animal

He had been feeding it at the Duhallow hunt kennels in Liscarroll, north Cork

The alarm was raised after Mr Withers failed to return home from the farm

A married huntsman has been killed by a stag after the animal attacked him while he was feeding it at kennels in Ireland.

Father-of-three Ger Withers was attacked and trampled by the animal while feeding it at the Duhallow hunt kennels in Liscarroll, north Cork on December 29.

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He had left his home in Rossinarney, Liscarroll, to attend to the animals on the small farm, where the stag was kept in a separate paddock from the hound kennels.

The alarm was raised after Mr Withers failed to return home from the farm and his wife Maria contacted a friend who went to check on him.

Father-of-three Ger Withers was fatally attacked and trampled by the animal while feeding it at the Duhallow hunt kennels in Liscarroll, north Cork on December 29

His friend found Mr Withers unresponsive on the ground and emergency services were called.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The huntsman's body was taken to Cork University Hospital Morgue where a post-mortem examination was carried out.

Police say they are treating the incident as a tragic accident.

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His friend Catherine Power paid tribute to him as a 'wonderful, warm, man, a great huntsman.'

'We are all just devastated, he was such a fantastic man, very well known and admired in the hunting community, he's left a young wife and his children behind him, it is such a shock for everyone who knew him and the family,' she said.

Mr Withers was a seasoned huntsman who had hunted with Duhallow Foxhounds for 14 seasons.

His friend Dickie Power said: 'Born and bred near Liscarroll, he knew every blade of grass in the barony of Duhallow, who owned it, and more importantly how warm a welcome the hunt could expect.'

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He leaves behind his wife Maria, twin daughters aged seven and a son aged three.
Sports lie at the margins of our culture, different from how it is elsewhere in the world, and from how it used to be. This is one of the reasons why criminality among youth proceeds unchecked. There is no youth labour market, and the school system ruthlessly triages youth.
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Only 1 per cent of Argentinian citizens, who received the Russia-developed Sputnik V vaccine against the coronavirus, has shown a mild adverse reaction to the shot, the TN broadcaster reported on Saturday, citing the countrys Health Ministry.

According to the media outlet, 317 patients reported fever and headaches of the total 32,013.

Argentina started its mass vaccination campaign with the Russian Sputnik V vaccine on Tuesday. Earlier in December, it received the first batch of 300,000 doses of the jab.

Health workers are the first to get shots of the vaccine.

The Sputnik V was the first Covid-19 vaccine registered in Russia and the world. Russias Sputnik V is 92 percent effective, based on data from the first 16,000 trial participants who have received both shots of the two-dose vaccine.
Melkon Davtyan was a reserve officer who died in the war in Nagorno-Karabakh. Now the only thing his father wants is to see the commanders who left his son and his friends-in-combat alone with the enemy punished.

He left twice, and the treacherous commanders left him alone twice. One time a commander in Hadrut escaped, and the next time a commander left him and the soldiers alone in Shushi and escaped after telling them that Armenians were in the rear, but nobody was there, and the Turks entered from the rear and shot my son. The boys fell because of betrayal and unorganized commanders, Gagik Davtyan, the father, told Armenian News-NEWS.am.

Gagik said he had seen his son off and believed that his son could have saved lives by being on the battlefield.

Melkon fought in the hottest spots for 20 days, after which he was granted leave and returned home. After a little while, he went to the border again, and this time he fought near Shushi.

I told him to not pay attention to what the commanders do and carry out his operations. I sent him again and didnt hide him because this is our duty to the nation, Gagik said.

Melkon died on November 7.

He was singing during the last battle and died. He fought until the end and set an example for other soldiers, the father said.

Melkons body was removed from the battlefield fourteen days after his death and was buried next to his friend-in-combat at Yerablur Military Pantheon.
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OSWEGO, N.Y.  Thousands of disputed votes in New Yorks 22nd Congressional District election will come under intense scrutiny this week as attorneys for both candidates fight for every vote in a race now divided by 29 of 311,695 cast.

Attorneys for incumbent Anthony Brindisi (D-Utica) and challenger Claudia Tenney, a Republican from New Hartford, have detailed in written briefs the arguments they intend to make in court. State Supreme Court Judge Scott DelConte will rule on which ballots will count.

Lawyers for Brindisi, who trails Tenney by 29 votes, are trying to get ballots that have been rejected to be included in the count by arguing that technicalities and alleged errors by government employees should not be enough to toss votes. Tenneys attorneys are arguing that the judge should adhere strictly to what they say is established law.

Dustin Czarny, Democratic election commissioner for Onondaga County, hadnt read the briefs Saturday but said some of Brindisis arguments will be a tough lift based on a reporters description of them. Other arguments, he said, are fresh territory for the courts, so its not clear what will happen. Onondaga County is not part of the 22nd Congressional District.

There are about 2,500 absentee and affidavit ballots that are contested from eight counties that comprise the district.

In a race this close, attorneys wont take any vote for granted. Their cases to the judge address issues affecting hundreds of ballots but they also argue at length about individual voters and votes.

The election is the last undecided congressional race in the country, and it is still being litigated almost two months after Election Day. The uncertainty will continue despite the new Congress convening today without a representative being sworn in for the Upstate New York district.

Substantial compliance

Brindisis attorneys are leaning on a 2020 state election reform law to make the case that tossed ballots should count. The reform tries to prevent voters ballots from being thrown out because of minor technical violations as long as they substantially comply with the law.

The phrase substantial compliance appears five times in Brindisis 55-page brief, while substantially appears 20 times. As long as elections workers or the court can use other evidence to determine that the vote was valid, they argue, it should count.

Brindisis attorneys argue it should apply to voters who voted in the wrong polling place, didnt sign their affidavit ballots, took too long to fix their ballots after making an error and were listed as purged in a voter database, among other reasons.

Failure to count these votes would result in unlawful disenfranchisement of hundreds of New York voters, they write.

Tenneys attorneys, however, say that stretches the law beyond its original intent and that Brindisis attorneys are asking the judge to create new laws instead of just applying them. The idea of substantial compliance applies only to certain affidavit ballots, they say, and not to the other categories that Brindisis attorneys think it does.

They use the phrase settled three times and clearly seven times in their 30-page motion to describe how they see the law as established and indisputable.

Wrong church, wrong pew

Some voters in the 22nd District voted in the wrong polling site and wrong voting district. Brindisis attorneys say those votes should count. The voters were allowed to vote by affidavit or provisional ballots. Those are paper ballots given to voters at polling sites when their names or signatures are missing from poll books.

The 2019 election law made it possible to still count ballots cast in the wrong voting district as long as the person voted at the correct polling site. A common scenario is they show up to a polling place that is hosting more than one voting district covering several lower-level races. They could end up in the wrong line, which Brindisis attorneys said amounts to voting in the right church but wrong pew.

Additionally, Brindisis attorneys are arguing that voters who voted in the wrong polling site should not lose their votes, saying that poll workers should have informed them that their votes were cast in error.

They say they can offer evidence that poll workers didnt tell voters to go to the right polling place. Also, the poll workers offered those voters affidavit ballots and told them they would count, even though they wouldnt, the attorneys said.

To Brindisis attorneys, the failure of those poll workers to inform voters they were in the wrong place should not be enough to disenfranchise them.

However, Tenneys attorneys say voters have the responsibility to find their own polling place, and it is too heavy a burden on poll workers to ensure every voter is in the right spot. They again say the issue is settled in law and say the judge would have to create a new law if he determines those votes should count.

Here, the voter error of going to the wrong polling site is just that, an error, Tenneys attorneys argue. The error by the voter cannot and should not be attributed to some imaginary ministerial error by the polling inspector.

Czarny, the Onondaga County election commissioner, thinks Brindisi will have a hard time convincing the judge.

I think thats going to be a tougher lift. By the way, I think that should be the law. Thats a reform that I have personally advocated for, he said. ... But that has been litigated many times and I have not seen it be successful. ... It is pretty clear in New York election law that you have to be in the right polling place.

Affidavit ballots that werent licked well enough

Brindisis attorneys hope that some Oneida County affidavit ballots that were improperly sealed will still count, saying some voters fears of transmitting the coronavirus played a role.

Affidavit ballot envelopes must be sealed to count, which means poll workers and voters had to lick the adhesive to get the ballot to shut.

Brindisis attorneys have statements from two Oneida County observers who say that voters and poll workers were worried about removing their masks inside the polling place to lick the ballots.

I observed that a significant majority of voters who completed affidavit ballots did not seal their affidavit ballot envelopes due to concerns about COVID-19 exposure, observer Eric Yoss wrote in an affidavit about what he saw at Mohawk Valley Community Colleges polling site.

The observers also say they saw poll workers tell voters it would be OK to submit an unsealed affidavit ballot, though that is incorrect.

Poll workers eventually got creative, using wet paper towels to wet the adhesive or, if that didnt work, sealing the envelopes with I Voted stickers.

Tenneys attorneys, however, objected to the ballots that werent completely sealed or that had the I Voted stickers, and the judge will have to decide if they will still count.

Czarny said, given the extraordinary circumstances of the pandemic, he thinks the judge will deem those ballots valid.

Thats a good use for I Voted stickers, he said, laughing. ...I think those would be an unreasonable objections given the circumstances.

Purged voters

Brindisis attorneys are hoping that voters who were purged from state voter rolls will have their votes counted.

Some voters were removed from the voter rolls because they were believed to have moved from the address where they registered to vote. Before they were purged, they were sent a notice that they were going to be removed and two election cycles had passed without them voting.

But Brindisis attorneys cited the 2019 elections reform that allow voters to successfully cast ballots without updating their address if poll workers can determine in a state database that they reside in the district where they want to vote.

Tenneys attorneys counter that purged voters are not registered voters, so their votes should not count. They say its up to a voter to ensure that they are able to vote and that neither Brindisi nor the court has the authority to reinstate them.

Czarny said the Brindisi campaign will likely not succeed on that argument. The law requires those voters to be purged and deemed inactive, he said.

Thats going to be hard to overcome. That is standard New York State election law, he said. We would remove them, too.

That said, voters who were purged incorrectly might be able to get their votes reinstated, Czarny said, if Brindisis team got affidavits from them and are allowed to present the ballots to the judge.

Voters that missed the cure deadline

Newly enacted state law lets voters who made an error on their absentee ballot fill out a form that allows their vote to count, as long as they return the form within about seven days.

Some voters missed that deadline for so-called ballot cures, but Brindisis attorneys want them to count anyway. Theyre citing the fact that the race has not yet been certified nearly two months after Election Day.

Brindisis team said they have taken notarized statements from some of these voters in an effort to get their ballots to count. They hope to present those statements to the judge and ask him to count the votes.

Tenneys attorneys, however, say a deadline is a deadline, and the voters missed their chance.

Czarny said he thinks theres a possibility Brindisi will win his argument. The new law has not been debated in court, Czarny said, and a judge could note recent delays at the U.S. Postal Service as reason why the votes should count. Also, in previous cases where absentee votes became an issue in court, voters were allowed to testify under oath as a way to ensure their votes counted, even if it was days or weeks after Election Day.

Thats going to be interesting. The cure law has not been litigated, he said.

Ballots that werent signed

Brindisis attorneys are saying that affidavit ballots that the voter failed to sign should still count, so long as county elections boards can determine that the voter is eligible.

The attorneys offer to present testimony from some voters that their failure to sign was inadvertent and that they still wish for their votes to count. They cite the substantial compliance idea here, too.

Tenneys team, however, say failing to sign a ballot is much more than an oversight. In fact, the signature is an affirmation and an oath that the voter is who they say they are, and it provides poll workers with a signature to match against in databases to prevent fraud.

The signature is the cornerstone of and indispensable to an individuals vote, Tenneys attorneys wrote.

Czarny agreed.

Thats going to be hard, he said. The whole point of the affidavit ballot is that you are attesting that you are who you are. Without it, theres no signature verification.

Fights for individual ballots: Fraud, blood and a blank

In addition to the issues that affect groups of ballots, the attorneys spent considerable time in their briefs fighting for single ballots to be counted or tossed.

Three examples show how the attorneys are not taking any vote for granted in a race with a lead of .009%.

One ballot from Herkimer County has a stain on it that could either be blood or chocolate. Tenneys attorneys are asking that it not count on the basis that the stain distinguishes the ballot, which prevents the voter from being anonymous.

However, Brindisis attorneys devoted a footnote to the single ballot, pointing out that blood on a ballot would only be identifying if it was taken for a DNA test that matched someone who was already in the database. They also say discounting ballots for extraneous biological markings like blood would invalidate every vote, given that voters could be identified by the fingerprints they leave on a ballot.

In another case, a voter submitted an absentee ballot envelope with two ballots inside. One of the ballots was blank and the other was filled out, and Brindisis attorneys think the marked ballot should count.

Tenneys campaign argued that both ballots should not be counted, given that the voter could have submitted a blank ballot as a protest against the lack of options in the 2020 race.

It would not be surprising nor would it be unreasonable for a voter to cast a blank ballot as a way to make a statement on choices the voter had for elective office in the 2020 General Election, her attorneys wrote.

Brindisi attorneys said Tenneys legal team has alleged fraud for several affidavit ballots, though Brindisis attorneys argue there is a simpler explanation.

Brindisi lawyers said Tenneys campaign has argued that one Broome County ballot was fraudulent because the voters last name, address and signature did not match. However, her drivers license number matched, and Brindisis attorneys say the voter actually just got married, changed her last name and moved.

In two other ballots, voters signed with just their first names, which Tenneys team said amounted to fraud, Brindisis attorneys said.

Brindisis attorneys argued that these were just simple errors and that alleging fraud is far too heavy an accusation. They urged DelConte to count the ballots.

In a previous ruling, DelConte, the judge, asserted that there was no evidence of fraud in the election.

Reporter Patrick Lohmann can be reached at PLohmann@Syracuse.com or (315)766-6670.

MORE ON THE NY-22 ELECTION

Tenney keeps lead in undecided NY22nd as ballots go to judge

All eyes turned to court battle over NY 22nd election. Then it took a week off. Why?

Tenneys friends question integrity of House election, raise money for recount

Brindisi has good day, but victory in House race against Tenney remains anybodys guess

New challenges raised to 67 ballots in undecided Brindisi-Tenney House race

Judge: 9 ways election officials failed in 22nd Congressional District

Brindisi-Tenney House race exposes New Yorks election dysfunction
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-03 23:22:39|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- The following are the updates on the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

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MUSCAT -- The Omani health ministry on Sunday announced 537 new COVID-19 infections, raising the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 129,404, the official Oman News Agency (ONA) reported.

Meanwhile, 376 people recovered during the past three days, taking the overall recoveries to 122,266, while two reportedly died, pushing the death toll to 1,501, according to a ministry statement quoted by ONA.

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DOHA -- The Qatari health ministry on Sunday announced 197 new COVID-19 infections, raising the total number of confirmed cases in the Gulf state to 144,437, the official Qatar News Agency (QNA) reported.

Meanwhile, 128 more recovered from the virus, bringing the overall recoveries to 141,808, while the fatalities remained 245 for the sixth day running, according to a ministry statement quoted by QNA.

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YANGON -- Myanmar reported 729 more COVID-19 cases on Sunday, bringing the tally in the country to 126,345, according to a release from the Ministry of Health and Sports.

A total of 17 more COVID-19 deaths were reported on Sunday, bringing the death toll to 2,728 in total, the release said.

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SINGAPORE -- Singapore's Ministry of Health (MOH) reported 35 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday, bringing the total confirmed cases in the country to 58,697.

All Of the new cases are imported cases.

On Sunday, 11 more cases of COVID-19 infection have been discharged from hospitals or community isolation facilities. In all, 58,487 have fully recovered from the infection and have been discharged from hospitals or community care facilities, the ministry said.

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NAIROBI -- Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta on Sunday extended the night curfew for three months as part of measures to help contain the spread of COVID-19.

Kenyatta in an executive order said the nationwide curfew is extended up to March 12, and it will continue to be enforced between 10:00 p.m. and 04:00 a.m. daily.

- - - -

DALIAN -- Preliminary investigation has traced the source of the latest local transmissions of COVID-19 in the northeastern Chinese port city of Dalian to imported cold-chain food, a local health official said Sunday.

Zhao Lian, deputy director of the Dalian municipal health commission, told a press briefing that most of the recent cases reported in the city were related to five dockworkers who got infected by unloading bulk goods from a Russian ship tainted by the novel coronavirus.

- - - -

HANOI -- Vietnam reported 12 new cases of COVID-19 infection on Sunday, bringing its total confirmed cases to 1,494 with 35 deaths from the disease so far, according to its Ministry of Health.

The new cases include three South African and nine Vietnamese citizens who recently entered the country from abroad and were quarantined upon arrival, said the ministry. Enditem
To oust Prime Minister Imran Khan from power, the Chief of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) Maulana Fazlur Rehman has intensified the protest against the PTI government as decides to lead a political rally in Bahawalpur on Sunday.

Citing sources, The News International reported that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Vice President Maryam Nawaz and former prime minister and Pakistan Peoples Party leader Yousuf Raza Gilani will also attend the rally.

The rally will pass through Bandra Bridge, Model Town C Chowk, Fateh Chowk, Model Town B, and reach Toll Plaza Sutlej Bridge and it is expected that all three -- Fazlur Rehman, Maryam Nawaz and Yousuf Raza Gilani -- will address the rally at Chowk Seraiki.

However, a spokesman for the district police said the administration had not yet given permission for the rally, as reported by The News International. The police spokesman added that cases have been registered against local PDM officials and workers for violating coronavirus safety protocols.

PML-N leader Baligh-ur-Rehman has said that the government is panicking in the face of the Opposition movement. He said crude tactics are being used to stop the rally.

PDM is the voice of the people, the rally will be held tomorrow at all costs, he vowed.

Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman said on Friday that the oppositions movement would no longer be directed only at the Prime Minister Imran Khan-led government but also his backers.

The opposition alliance chief said that rifts within the PDM are a campaign run by the media and added that the PDM is more determined to rid the country of Imran Khan and his illegitimate government.

PDM has demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Imran Khan till January 31 and in case of denial for this demand, the front has announced a rally against the government.
A car bomb near a vegetable market in northeastern Syria killed five people including children on Saturday in the Turkish-held border town of Ras al-Ain, a war monitor said, Free Malaysia Today reported.

At least three of the victims killed were civilians, but the identity of the other two was not immediately clear, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

Four others were wounded, it said.

The Turkish defence ministry said two children had been killed and two civilians wounded.
Armed police stormed a flat near The Shard and arrested a man following a tense eight-hour stand-off as residents were evacuated from their homes on Saturday.

Officers were called to the flat on Great Dover Street, Southwark, south London, at 2.12pm following reports of 'disturbance' at the property.

The man was arrested on suspicion of affray and making threats to commit criminal damage. He remains in custody and no injuries were reported.

London Fire Brigade attended (pictured) and officers were called to the flat on Great Dover Street, Southwark, south London, at 2.12pm following reports of 'disturbance' at the property

A large section of Great Dover Street and Tabard Street were cordoned off after the man refused to leave the flat which forced more armed officers to be deployed

Sections of Great Dover Street and Tabard Street were cordoned off after the man refused to leave the flat which forced more armed officers to be deployed.

Several residents were also evacuated from their homes as a precaution as armed officers eventually entered the property at around 10.20pm.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: 'A man has been arrested after a disturbance at a residential address in Southwark.

Several residents were also evacuated from their homes as a precaution as armed officers eventually entered the property at around 10.20pm

'Police were called at 2.12pm on Saturday to a property in Great Dover Street.

'Officers, including armed response officers, attended the scene and spoke with a man who refused to leave the property.

'At around 10.20pm armed officers entered the property and safely detained a man. He has been arrested on suspicion of affray and making threats to commit criminal damage. No injuries were reported.'

He added: 'A number of nearby buildings were evacuated as a precaution.'
Here's how material shortages are hitting home construction

"It's not just that prices are going up; it's how quickly they're going up and nothing's coming down," said CEO of the PA Builders Association.
Egypt has affirmed the need to reach an agreement on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) before the second filling of the massive dams reservoir, the foreign ministry said on Sunday.

Egypts Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry took part in a virtual meeting on Sunday with the Sudanese and Ethiopian foreign and water resources ministers.

The meeting was led by South Africa, the current chair of the African Union.

The ministry said in a statement that the three parties should reach an agreement that achieves the mutual interests of the three countries and, at the same time, secures Egypts water rights and interests.

The three parties agreed on holding a round of negotiations that will last for one week.

Following the meeting, the Ethiopian Foreign Ministry affirmed the countrys commitment to conclude the GERD negotiations with good faith to reach an agreement but said it would not accept a deal that will in any way restrict its right to use the Niles waters.

In a press release, the Ethiopian ministry said the three countries have agreed on most of the issues regarding the first filling and annual operation of the GERD.

It added that the main difference among the three nations lies in the co-relations between the GERDs guidelines and rules and the future water development projects in the Abbay Basin.

Any agreement over the dam, which is being negotiated in the absence of a comprehensive water treaty and the prevalence of an unjust status-quo, shall be considerate of these fundamental factors, the ministry said.

It noted that both Ethiopia and Sudan have viewed a draft document presented by the experts assigned by the Chairperson of the African Union as positive, but Egypt categorically rejected it.

The Egyptian Foreign Ministry did not mention a rejection to this document in its statement after the meeting.

The new round of talks will discuss the controversial points regarding the operation of the Ethiopian dam, the ministry said.

Observers participating in the GERD talks and experts appointed by the African Union Commission will attend the meeting.

By the end of the week, a six-party meeting of the foreign ministers and water resources ministers of the three countries will be held, headed by South Africa, to review the outcome of the negotiations, the ministry said.

Egypt and Sudan have been in talks with Ethiopia for a decade to reach a legally binding agreement on the filling and operating of the near-complete $4.8 billion mega dam.

South Africa has been mediating negotiations recently between Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia to resolve the dispute.

The GERD, built 15 kilometres from the Ethiopian border with Sudan, has been a source of contention between the three countries since its construction began in 2011.

The first filling of the controversial dam took place last summer, despite Ethiopia not having reached a binding agreement with its downstream neighbours.

Cairo fears the massive hydropower project will significantly cut its crucial water supplies from the Nile River, while Sudan fears it could endanger the safety of its own dams.

Ethiopia says the 6,000-megawatt dam is key to its development and hopes to become Africas biggest electricity exporter.

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NEW DELHI: Wanted Islamic televangelist Dr Zakir Naik in his latest video has supported the demolition of an old Hindu temple in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa stating temples should not be allowed to be constructed in an Islamic country.

According to reports, Zakir quipped, "When Muhaamad returned to kaaba, he broke almost 360 idols that were in Kaaba. In Islamic country, a statue or idol should not be made or if there is something, it should be broken. A statue should not be anywhere in an Islamic country and if it is somewhere it should be broken."

On December 30, a mob led by members of Pakistan's radical Islamist party demolished a temple and set it ablaze in the deeply conservative northwestern town of Karak in Khyber Pukhtunkhwa, Pakistan.

The incident took place in the town of Karak and drew widespread condemnation from human rights activists and Pakistan's Minister for Human Rights, Shireen Mazari. Mazari on Wednesday took to Twitter to condemn the burning of the temple and urged law enforcement officials to ensure the arrest of those involved.

"Strongly condemn the burning of a Hindu temple by a mob in Karak Khyber Pukhtunkhwa. KP govt must ensure culprits brought to justice. MOHR also moving on this. We as a govt have a responsibility to ensure safety & security of all our citizens & their places of worship," Mazari tweeted.

He further informed that the district administration has registered an FIR and detained several people. District police chief Irfan Ullah too said police detained several people over their involvement in the attack on the temple. Witnesses said the mob, led by activists and local leaders of the radical Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam party, attacked the temple after local Hindus received permission from authorities to renovate it.
A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind.
Texas Rep. Louie Gohmert expressed his disappointment over the Court's rejection of his lawsuit against Vice President Mike Pence, indicating that the federal judge's response has more serious implications.

Gohmert, along with GOP Chairwoman Kelli Ward and other GOP officials, recently filed a lawsuit against Pence seeking to give him power to reject the results of the Electoral College vote, particularly from the key battleground states.

The lawsuit, while having placed Pence as the sole Defendant, asks the Court to render as invalid the Electoral Count Act of 1887 for limiting the office of the Vice President's power, specifically his "exclusive authority and sole discretion under the Twelfth Amendment to determine which slates of electors for a State, or neither, may be counted."

The 1887 law says the Vice President, as president of the Senate, will "open all the certificates" or the papers that contain the results from the Electoral College's votes from each state. He will then present them before both houses of Congress to certify the results of the elections on the day appointed, which is, in this case, Jan. 6, 2021.

Should the lawsuit be successful and the Court approve its request, Pence will be able to reject the Electoral votes from the battleground states where massive voter fraud occurred. He can then choose to accept the votes cast by an "alternative" slate of electors from each state instead.

Pence, through lawyers, requested the Court to dismiss the lawsuit for various reasons - one of them being that while the lawsuit seeks to grant him the aforementioned powers, he has been listed as its sole Defendant. "The Vice President is not the proper Defendant to this lawsuit," Pence's brief said.

The Vice President's brief also presented various explanations as to why the Court should dismiss Gohmert's lawsuit, including the latter's inability to establish as to whether an "actual controversy" of legal interests between the Plaintiffs and Defendants exist at all.

Judge Jeremy Kernodle, one of President Donald Trump's appointees, dismissed the lawsuit due to "lack of standing."

Per Kernodle's order of dismissal, before the Court could accept the case, the Plaintiffs have to prove that they have standing.

"One crucial component of jurisdiction is that the Plaintiffs have standing," it said, adding that "the Plaintiffs to show a personal injury that is fairly traceable to the Defendant's allegedly unlawful conduct and is likely to be redressed by the requested relief."

Rep. Gohmert, speaking with Newsmax, indicated that the Court's reason for dismissing the lawsuit has some serious effects.

The Texas Representative, who has decades of experience in the Court system as a litigant, as a judge and as a fellow chief justice, explained that if he -a member of Congress- has "no standing," then others won't have it as well.

"If a member of Congress who s going to object to electors that will fraudulently sit there and the state has had two sets - and I don't have standing to go to court and say 'the Electors Act, it has got an unconstitutional provision.' If I don't have standing to do that, nobody does," he said.

He then explained that so far, the Trump campaign was only able to present its evidence of voter fraud a few times since the Nov. 3 elections. Courts wouldn't let them, Gohmert said. Every time the President's legal team was able to present evidence, however, people were shocked to find that indeed, there is massive evidence proving that voter fraud happened, and it's undeniable.

The Court's rejection of his recent lawsuit against the Vice President, then, seems to be another cowardly move, just like how the Supreme Court also rejected the State of Texas's lawsuit against six other states.

"Bottom line is, the court is saying, 'we're not gonna touch this. You have no remedy.' Basically, in fact, the ruling would be that you gotta go to the streets and be as violent as Antifa and BLM," Gohmert said.
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Although Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike and her counterparts of three neighboring prefectures have requested an emergency declaration by the state over the coronavirus epidemic, the central government remains skeptical about whether a declaration would effectively curb the spread of the contagion.

The government is eager to prioritize the planned revision to the special measures law for tackling the pandemic in order to enhance the effectiveness of infection prevention measures, according to informed sources. The law revision, which the government hopes to enact by the end of the month, is likely to be aimed at introducing penalties on businesses that fail to follow authorities requests to shorten operating hours.

The governments decision to declare a state of emergency, if any, will come after the effectiveness of related measures is ensured under the revised law, an official close to Suga said.

Following a meeting with the four governors Saturday, economic revitalization minister Yasutoshi Nishimura, who is leading the governments coronavirus response, said the government will consider the request for an emergency declaration. But at the same time, the minister indicated the governments position that it would carefully judge whether to make the declaration after hearing the opinions of experts at a meeting of a government subcommittee on the coronavirus response that will be held shortly.

The governors made the request for an emergency declaration as the COVID-19 outbreak in the Tokyo metropolitan area is showing no sign of abating. The declaration, based on the special measures law, would give prefectural authorities the power to take stronger measures, including issuing business suspension requests.

Since the beginning of a third wave of infections in the country, the government has been cautious about declaring a state of emergency, as the step would stop social and economic activities and have an impact on economic recovery.

In an example of the governments cautious stance, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga stressed during a Dec. 25 news conference that people can change their behavior without an emergency declaration.
Armed pirates and their hostages are seen aboard the French yacht Tanit off the coast of Somalia during 2009

A decade ago they were the buccaneering capitals of the 21st century, haunts of modern-day Blackbeards armed with Kalashnikovs rather than cutlasses.

But today Somalia's once-lawless pirate towns are aiming for a more honest future - as freight ports.

Three of the most notorious pirate havens - Hobyo, Eyl and Garacad - are all now earmarked for port construction projects, which will let them cater to the shipping trade they once preyed upon.

It is hoped the ports will finally bring prosperity to the so-called "pirate coast", which lies on one of the most remote and impoverished parts of Somalia.

"With this project, Somalia will firmly establish itself a key hub on the global maritime network," said Abdisabir Shurie, the minister of ports and fisheries for Somalia's Galmudug state, which is behind the Hobyo project.

"The investment will create thousands of jobs for the Somali people and opportunities for businesses."

During the peak of the Somali piracy crisis from 2008-2012, towns like Hobyo, Eyl and Garacad earned hundreds of millions of dollars in ransom from hijacked ships that were kept anchored offshore.

From 2012 onwards, however, the income from piracy all but dried up as ships in the Indian Ocean began carrying armed guards, making them much harder to hijack.

Local politicians and business leaders now hope to rebuild the ports as part of plans to improve Somalia's infrastructure, which has suffered from decades of civil war.

In November, Galmudug state signed an agreement with a consortium of British, Somali and Turkish firms for the port project in Hobyo, which will include a deep-water dock and a business zone. It could provide a much-needed freight link to towns in the Somali interior, and to neighbouring landlocked Ethiopia.

In the northern Somali state of Puntland, officials signed a deal last year with the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, a global contractor, to build a new port and fishing facility.

Meanwhile, a Turkish construction firm has a $41m (34m) project to build a new port and road links into Garacad, 110km south of Eyl.

All three projects could bring much-needed employment for local youths, some of whom grew up at a time when piracy appeared to be one of the few ways of earning a decent living.

"This is great news for our area," said Said Osman, a liaison officer with the Galmudug Maritime Police, a security force set up to combat piracy.

"Today the piracy is much reduced, but there is always the potential for it to return, as a lot of the youth have no work."

The success of such schemes is not guaranteed. Somalia's local politicians often have a tense relationship with the central government in Mogadishu, and major infrastructure projects can fall victim to political infighting.

While security nationwide has improved in the last decade, the Islamic militant group al-Shabaab is still active in rural areas, including parts of the coast south of Hobyo.

In 2019, a Maltese construction manager employed on a UAE-run scheme to develop a port in the Puntland city of Bossaso was killed in a targeted assassination claimed by al-Shabaab. The group opposes the presence of Westerners in Somalia.

Somalia's pirate gangs were originally formed by groups of disgruntled fishermen, who were upset at foreign trawlers poaching the country's rich and unpoliced fish stocks.

The gangs began robbing passing fishing vessels but soon realised the moneymaking potential in hijacking and hostage-taking. By the late 2000s, the trade was attracting hardened militiamen, who would go thousands of kilometres out to sea for prey.

While most of the pirate kingpins have now retired, some have simply diversified into other lines of business, both legal and otherwise. One is Mohamed Osman Mohamed "Gafanje", named in UN Security Council reports as a Hobyo-based pirate kingpin.

He retired from piracy to become a legitimate businessman, but security sources have said he moonlights as a weapons dealer and general logistician to al-Shabab.

"Gafanje is still around, and thinks the port at Hobyo will give him good business," said one source.

Telegraph Media Group Limited [2021]
Texas jails are perilous places: the site of more than 100 inmate deaths and 10,000 assaults in 2019. That same year, inmates tried to end their lives more than 1,000 times. And at least 750 times, guards injured inmates.

Most of those incidents  and everything else that happens in county jails  are hidden from public view. A lone state agency, the Texas Commission on Jail Standards, is responsible for monitoring the states 239 county jails and ensuring they meet minimum safety standards designed to protect inmates and staff.

But a state government watchdog found that the agency is failing to provide needed oversight of local jails and that it has not proactively updated standards to keep pace with dynamic jail environments.

The findings were part of a critical 73-page report from the Sunset Advisory Commission, which took issue with many of the core functions of the jail commissions operations. The sunset commission, which reviews the performance of state agencies every 12 years, found numerous other problems with the jail commissions performance and effectiveness.

The sunset commission found that many of the jail commissions key standards were so vague as to be meaningless. One, for example, requires jails to develop procedures for communicating information about inmates who are potentially suicidal but does not include any details about what information jailers should communicate. The report also found that the commissions enforcement process doesnt mitigate risk in county jails and that it fails to make wayward jails fix their operations.

RELATED: Blistering government report blasts poor training, oversight of Texas law enforcement

Sunset staff found that over two fiscal years, after the agency warned jails they were not compliant with required standards, about a fifth of jails that received such warnings remained afoul of state rules for six months or longer.

At a hearing in early December, jail commission staff faced few questions from legislators, though John Cyrier, chair of the sunset commission, said they have a lot of work to do to prepare for the upcoming legislative session.

When he spoke before the sunset commission  comprising five representatives, five senators and two public members  Brandon Wood, executive director of the jail commission, agreed with the majority of the sunset staffs findings but said he did not favor one suggestion to use risk assessments to determine inspection schedules, which could lead to less frequent inspections of some institutions. Currently, jail inspectors visit each facility at least once a year.

Wood said because jails are such unique environments, in-person visits are important to make sure jail operators are running operations that keep inmates and jailers safe.

It causes a level of discomfort that is hard to put into words that we wouldnt be putting eyes on each jail at least once a year, he said.

In a written response to the sunset staffs findings, Wood agreed to adopt many of the recommendations, including conducting more internal analyses, creating a schedule to review standards, proposing a model incorporating escalating sanctions against noncompliant jails and developing a risk assessment process to determine which jails will be subject to a full re-inspection after being found noncompliant.

While critics have argued the jail commission does not punish noncompliant jails aggressively enough, Wood defended his agencys light-touch approach by saying the commission has attempted to remain respectful of local government while providing the flexibility they need in order to meet minimum jail standards.

He also asked for guidance from legislators in cases in handling inmate deaths at hospitals, cases that police agencies have argued didnt count as deaths in custody.

UNSOLVED: Houston's rate of unsolved murders is soaring. Experts blame changes at HPD.

The sunset report also found inconsistent treatment across jails and underdeveloped processes for conducting inspections, investigating complaints and cracking down on violations. It recommended requiring the agency to update how it performs its duties, including inspections and data collection.

The findings come amid a nationwide debate about how police and sheriffs treat civilians, particularly while they are in custody. The jail commission received little notice for decades  until the 2015 case of Sandra Bland, who died in the Waller County Jail three days after a contentious traffic stop with a now-retired state trooper.

The jail commission has an annual budget of about $1.4 million and 22 full-time employees. Sunset staff noted that just three inspectors were responsible for visiting the states 239 jails, giving them a far higher caseload than inspectors from other agencies with similar responsibilities, such as the Texas Juvenile Justice Department, which in 2019 employed 12 staff to conduct 92 comprehensive inspections.

In Texas, the jail commission does not have the authority to monitor many detention facilities, including municipal jails, the short-term lockups where a police department may hold people for a few hours before transporting them to a county or state jail, where people convicted of low-level crimes are incarcerated for sentences between 180 days and two years. The jail commission also does not oversee prisons or juvenile detention facilities.

The jails overseen by the commission have a collective capacity of about 95,000 beds. As of Sept. 1, jails were at about 70 percent capacity, according to the sunset commissions report.

MISSION CREEP: Border Patrol gave big firepower to small Texas towns for George Floyd protests

Sunset staff also found the jail commission lacks clear procedures when handling inmate complaints and doesnt provide adequate information about the complaints process, leading to inefficiency and unfairness. The sunset commission faulted the jail commission for lacking reliable complaints data  making it impossible to analyze how to address jail noncompliance.

The sunset staff report is one of two related to criminal justice issues. Along with the review of the jail commission, the advisory commission also reviewed the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement, which it said is unable to provide any meaningful oversight of the states peace officers.

Texas Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, said the report underscored the need to provide more resources and additional guidance to the agency.

Four people reviewing 240 jails (per year) is cursory at best, he said. Not to mention getting bogged down with the bad actors.

Scott Henson, executive director of the justice reform nonprofit Just Liberty, said the jail commissions issues are less severe than TCOLEs but nevertheless face significant challenges.

They dont have the sort of staff to do a deeper dive when an agency has problems  they do inspection, and thats kind of all they have resources for  but they cant necessarily go further, he said. Their failures arent quite as overwhelming. Theyre at least able to do the once-a-year inspections, but then thats it.  They can identify problems but dont have (adequate) staff to help oversee solutions.

'You seem nervous to me': Why most police vehicle searches in Texas turn up nothing

Henson and other criminal justice experts and advocates said the report highlighted one of the agencys biggest shortcomings: vague standards.

Vague standards have real-life consequences, said Texas Jail Project co-founder Diana Claitor, pointing to medical standards that permitted jails to use virtually any medical professional, including those with extremely limited training or expertise, as a facilitys chief medical official.

Claitor pointed to cases in which pregnant women were shackled after giving birth, or other instances when jailers did not recognize women were in labor, leading to dangerous births.

The report also provided an opportunity for the jail commission to provide more detailed guidance to jails based on individual size, said Michele Deitch, an attorney and criminal justice consultant who teaches at the University of Texas at Austins LBJ School of Public Affairs.

These standards set a bare minimum, Deitch said. But that doesnt mean facilities that present different needs or risks shouldnt abide more tailored sets of standards.

This is an agency that does in fact have some teeth, Deitch said. Theres a great deal of potential that has gone unfulfilled, and with these recommendations, they could be so much more effective for the people in custody in these facilities as well as protecting county officials from liability.

st.john.smith@chron.com

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Jean Kenny, Eliza-Jane Pearman Howard, Sarah Keenan and Aoibhinn Kelly of Ardagh Guides and Katelyn Penrose and Sarah Coppinger of North Longford Guides each received a Trail Blazer gold pin and a National Guide Award certificate.

Under normal circumstances, the girls would have headed to Croke Park with their proud parents and Leaders to receive their awards from the Irish Girl Guides (IGG) President at a national ceremony. However, due to the current Covid restrictions, this years ceremonies have been taking place in online regional ceremonies.

IGG President Maureen Murphy congratulated the girls, saying: You have been on a journey with lots of challenges and new experiences, you have gained new skills and friendships, and I am sure had fun too. When you think back to 2020, I hope, as well as remembering the pandemic, you will also remember that 2020 was the year you achieved your Trail Blazer Award under exceptional circumstances when you showed commitment, persevered and achieved.

It takes commitment and self-determination to complete the award, she continued. I have no doubt you will shine going forward and, as Trail Blazers, will make a positive contribution to your local communities.

IGG Honorary Ambassador Shirley McCay, Irelands most capped female Irish athlete, also congratulated the Guides: 2020 has been an incredibly challenging year for everyone in so many ways, which makes the achievement of earning the National Guide Award all the more significant. Its so important that young girls, like those in Irish Girl Guides, continue to aim high, dream big and inspire those around them.

IGG West and Central Midlands Regional Commissioner Caroline Flanagan said: This award is made in recognition of the successful completion of a series of challenges, including teamwork activities, outdoor survival skills, community service, global awareness and working with younger members of Irish Girl Guides to help them develop confidence, independence and essential life-skills. We are immensely proud of the Guides in our Region who have achieved their National Guide Award.

Irish Girl Guides welcomes new members from age 5+ and volunteer leaders from age 18+. Previous experience of Guiding is not necessary. To find out more, see www.irishgirlguides.ie, email info@irishgirlguides.ie or tel: 01 6683898.
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A government propaganda unit has been secretly working to dismantle a British neo-Nazi network linked to murders and extremist plots around the world, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.

Undercover agents from the security services Research, Information and Communications Unit (RICU) have been ordered to infiltrate the far-Right Order of Nine Angles (ONA) movement.

Intelligence chiefs are increasingly concerned about the threat from far-Right terrorism.

Jonathan Hall QC, the UKs Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation, warned last week that the terrorist threat was increasingly coming from such ideologies that were spreading among young men through the internet.

Undercover agents have been ordered to infiltrate a British neo-Nazi network, Order of Nine Angles, linked to murders and extremist plots around the world. Pictured: Paraphernalia associated with the extremist group Order of the Nine Angles

New MI5 chief Ken McCallum recently said that 30 per cent of major late-stage terror plots that had been thwarted by the security services since 2017 were linked to far-Right extremism, while Scotland Yard Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu said ten of the 12 under-18s arrested for terrorism in 2019 were inspired by far-Right ideology.

Whitehall sources said the RICU operation was set up to build a case for banning ONA, which is considered by some to be the most extreme far-Right network in the world.

Established in Britain in the 1960s, a leaked report from the US National Counterterrorism Center last month said ONA was suspected of exacerbating conflicts among racially or ethnically motivated violent extremists.

New MI5 chief Ken McCallum (pictured) recently said that 30 per cent of major late-stage terror plots that had been thwarted by the security services since 2017 were linked to far-Right extremism

Two years ago, a 16-year-old boy became the youngest person in the UK to be convicted of plotting a terror attack that prosecutors said was partly inspired by ONA.

Nick Lowles, chief executive of the anti-extremism group Hope Not Hate, said: In the online world you earn your spurs by being more extreme.

There is nothing more extreme than ONA material.

What theyve done is successfully utilise social media and growth of extremist online forums to propagate ideas of terrorism, Nazism and sexual violence.

A source said RICU agents were infiltrating secret chatrooms, adding: The Dark Web is no longer as dark as some terrorists and paedophiles believe.

Far-Right terrorism is a real threat, and this is an effort to dismantle it at its roots.

A spokesman for the Home Office, which oversees RICU, said: The Government is taking a range of actions against groups that promote extreme Right-wing views.

A 37-year-old Briton and two Germans with suspected far-Right links have been arrested in Spain following the seizure of explosives, 160 guns and, reportedly, portraits of Hitler.
I have always been a voracious reader. I love reading non-fiction and although I started contemplating picking back my old habit of reading fiction works especially after reading Obama's memoir and learning about how novels have shaped his personality as a leader, I still find the idea challenging.









As a doctoral researcher I do spend a tremendous amount of time reading into my academic field (identity studies and critical discourse analysis) but that is not the kind of reading I want to share with you today. Instead I want to invite you into the reading world I built outside my academic niche. Those are books I read or listen to during my free time (usually when I am running or travelling). I love to immerse myself into all sorts of non-fiction books from self-help books to memoirs. In 2020 I read or listened to more than 40 books and below are the eight titles I enjoyed the most. As of right now, I am half way through Susan Cain's wonderful book " Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking ".









Please note all the links in this post are Amazon affiliate links allowing me to earn a small fee from your purchase.





1- The Choice: Escaping the Past and Embracing the Possible, by Edith Eger

"Edith Eger was 16 years old when the Nazis came to her hometown in Hungary and took her Jewish family to an internment center and then to Auschwitz. Her parents were sent to the gas chamber by Joseph Mengele soon after they arrived at the camp. Hours later Mengele demanded that Edie dance a waltz to "The Blue Danube" and rewarded her with a loaf of bread that she shared with her fellow prisoners. These women later helped save Edie's life. Edie and her sister survived Auschwitz, were transferred to the Mauthausen and Gunskirchen camps in Austria, and managed to live until the American troops liberated the camps in 1945 and found Edie in a pile of dying bodies."





"In this truly inspirational memoir, Anita Moorjani relates how, after fighting cancer for almost four years, her body began shutting downoverwhelmed by the malignant cells spreading throughout her system. As her organs failed, she entered into an extraordinary near-death experience where she realized her inherent worth . . . and the actual cause of her disease. Upon regaining consciousness, Anita found that her condition had improved so rapidly that she was released from the hospital within weekswithout a trace of cancer in her body!"





3- Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits and Break Bad Ones, by James Clear

"No matter your goals, Atomic Habits offers a proven framework for improving--every day. James Clear, one of the world's leading experts on habit formation, reveals practical strategies that will teach you exactly how to form good habits, break bad ones, and master the tiny behaviors that lead to remarkable results."





4- White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism, by Robin DiAngelo

"Referring to the defensive moves that white people make when challenged racially, white fragility is characterized by emotions such as anger, fear, and guilt, and by behaviors including argumentation and silence. These behaviors, in turn, function to reinstate white racial equilibrium and prevent any meaningful cross-racial dialogue. In this in-depth exploration, DiAngelo examines how white fragility develops, how it protects racial inequality, and what we can do to engage more constructively."





"In this iconic bestseller, popular business blogger and bestselling author Seth Godin proves that winners are really just the best quitters. Godin shows that winners quit fast, quit often, and quit without guiltuntil they commit to beating the right Dip"





6- A Promised Land, by Barack Obama

"In the stirring, highly anticipated first volume of his presidential memoirs, Barack Obama tells the story of his improbable odyssey from young man searching for his identity to leader of the free world, describing in strikingly personal detail both his political education and the landmark moments of the first term of his historic presidencya time of dramatic transformation and turmoil"





7- Work Rules! (Insights from Inside Google That Will Transform How You Live and Lead), by Laszlo Bock

"Drawing on the latest research in behavioral economics and a profound grasp of human psychology, Work Rules! also provides teaching examples from a range of industries-including lauded companies that happen to be hideous places to work and little-known companies that achieve spectacular results by valuing and listening to their employees. Bock takes us inside one of history's most explosively successful businesses to reveal why Google is consistently rated one of the best places to work in the world, distilling 15 years of intensive worker R&D into principles that are easy to put into action, whether you're a team of one or a team of thousands."





8- Present Over Perfect: Leaving Behind Frantic for a Simpler, More Soulful Way of Living, by Shauna Niequist

"In these pages, New York Times bestselling author Shauna Niequist invites you to consider the landscape of your own life, and what it might look like to leave behind the pressure to be perfect and begin the life-changing practice of simply being present, in the middle of the mess and the ordinariness of life."
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Lisa Kay, 56, who lives in London, launched high-heel brand Sole Bliss in 2017

Mother-of-two reveals inspiration came when she started growing a bunion

Duchess of Cornwall and Helen Mirren wear the comfortable high-heel brand

In 2017 Lisa Kay, 56, launched Sole Bliss, the comfortable high-heel brand worn by the Duchess of Cornwall and Helen Mirren. She lives in London with her husband Roger. They have two sons, Oliver, 30 and Zak, 26.

Way back in the 1980s, I left my accountancy job in the City to launch a fashion label with my husband Roger. We started out making handcrafted belts in a factory in East London, which were snapped up by Selfridges, John Lewis and Topshop.

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My lightbulb moment with shoe design came when I started growing a bunion  a painful bump on the base of my big toe. I looked into how many other women were suffering with them and couldnt believe the numbers.

Lisa Kay, 56, (pictured) who lives in London, launched high-heel brand Sole Bliss in 2017

So I decided to launch a pioneering footwear collection for ladies who cant wear heels. The comfortable higher shoes were aimed at the ten million women in the UK who have painful feet.

This year, however, the market for elegant shoes changed. Prior to the pandemic, we were mostly selling heels. But during lockdown we realised there was a growing desire for flat shoes, as everyone was walking long distances.

People assume trainers are always comfortable, but ill-fitting shoes can cause irreparable damage to your feet, posture and even circulation.

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Thats why we created our Miracle Trainers range of ultra-comfy flats in chic colours. Our first collection, which launched in August, sold out in less than 48 hours. Now we have eight styles.

We work with a team of British podiatrists and Italian artisans. Our luxe trainers are made differently from normal trainers. They are much deeper and have no stitching over pressure points. Im annoyingly critical, but thats because I know that even a stitch in the wrong place will rub.

Miracle-worker: Bronze Hero trainer, 179, solebliss.com

The trainers have a chunky shock-resistant platform sole, an anatomically contoured footbed and a hidden stretch panel. A seamless leather lining prevents rubbing, and the side zip means you only need to lace them up once.

All our shoes are handmade in Italy, where the entire female workforce understands where Im coming from.

My son Oliver is getting married in August, and we look forward to getting out the heels again for occasions like that.

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But if 2020 has taught us anything, its that comfortable fashion has become a bigger priority for far more of us.
Park wardens in Snowdonia are reportedly being abused by visitors who are travelling to the Welsh beauty spot from Tier 4 areas despite pleas to stay away.

Non-essential travel in Wales is banned and any exercise has to start as soon as a person leaves their house.

And breaking Covid lockdown rules can end with a 60, which increases to 120 for a second offence.

North Wales Police said its officers have been turning people, some who have come from as far as Milton Keynes in London, away who are trying to walk up the mountain.

Park wardens in Snowdonia are reportedly being abused by visitors who are travelling to the Welsh beauty spot from Tier 4 areas despite pleas to stay away. Pictured: Officers in Snowdonia

North Wales Police blasted New Year's Day walkers (the force's tweet, pictured) who flocked to snow-covered Snowdonia National Park to scale Wales' biggest mountain

All of Wales is under Alert Level 4, the harshest set of lockdown restrictions imposed by the country's devolved Government and equivalent to England's Tier 4. Pictured: Cars parked in Snowdonia as visitors flocked to the beauty spot

Non-essential travel in Wales is banned and any exercise has to start as soon as a person leaves their house. Pictured: Cars parked by Snowdon

The car park for Snowdonia National Park has remained open as its closure could lead to illegal parking exclusion of those with mobility issues.

The Snowdonia National Park Authority told the BBC: 'Closing car parks can lead to unauthorised parking on roads, so we are keeping them open at the moment.

'The mountains are open for people to be able to exercise from their front doors. Keeping car parks open allows people with mobility issues to exercise as well.

'We are working closely with police and Gwynedd council and we are reviewing it constantly.'

She added that the car park at Pen y Pass has been overseen by wardens during the festive period.

The top tier limits travel into Wales to essential only - such as for work - meaning travelling from England for a walk in against the law. Pictured: A police car stationed in Snowdonia

Snowdonia National Park's Twitter page issued a similar warning on December 28, writing: 'Although the snow does look pretty on the mountains the current Welsh Government guidelines say people should only travel if it's essential'

However, she revealed that 'they are getting some abuse, which is a shame'.

She said its busiest car park, at Pen y Pass near Snowdon, had been overseen by wardens over the Christmas and New Year period, but in a more educational role than in previous years.

'Places like Pen y Pass are usually manned anyway but their role has changed slightly. They are getting some abuse, which is a shame,' she continued.

'We are adopting a similar approach to police: engaging with people, asking what their plans are then educating them.

'The majority of the time people are going 'I misunderstood that', or people are saying 'I'm doing what I want anyway'.'

An intensive care doctor has hit out at crowds of people visiting the Brecon Beacons despite Wales' nationwide lockdown. Pictured: Cars parked below Pen y Fan, the highest mountain in southern Britain

It comes just two days after police slammed 'selfish' Tier 4 tourists who flouted lockdown to climb Snowdon.

Officers blasted Bank Holiday walkers who journeyed up to 270 miles to snow-covered Snowdonia National Park to scale Wales' biggest mountain.

Hikers traveled from as far away as Kent, Southampton and Solihull, the force revealed on Twitter.

Images of parked cars lining the streets of the picturesque Welsh beauty spot came as countless ramblers flocked to London's Richmond Park for a brisk winter stroll.

Long queues of cars snaked through the popular walking spot and nearby carparks appeared jam-packed as eager revellers took to the outdoors on the first day of 2021.

Wales has been in a nationwide Level 4 lockdown since 20 December, with restrictions also tightened for Christmas Day

All of Wales is under Alert Level 4, the harshest set of lockdown restrictions imposed by the country's devolved Government and equivalent to England's Tier 4.

The top tier limits travel into Wales to essential only - such as for work - meaning travelling from England for a walk is against the law.

The Welsh Government also encourages exercise to 'be done locally'.

Furthermore, all three areas listed by North Wales Police are under England's Tier 4 lockdown which also imposes travel restrictions.

People under England's highest-tier lockdown can only leave their Tier 4 area for essential reasons - such as for work or medical care.

Exercise outdoors is permitted under the rules, but this must be done alone, within a household or with one other person - if social distancing is maintained.

Southampton is around 240 miles from Snowdonia and Solihull, in the West Midlands, is 120 miles away.

Dr Hepburn, a consultant in the Royal Gwent Hospital in Newport, said he could understand why people want to visit beauty spots but he warned it was in most cases against the rules

North Wales Police wrote on Twitter: 'Patrols continue across North Wales and we are working closely with our colleagues.

'Several reported for Covid-19 breaches already today - with some travelling here from as far as Southampton, Kent and Sollihull.

'Please do not travel for exercise.'

Snowdonia National Park's Twitter page added: 'Remember: Exercise should start and finish from home. Keep Wales safe.'

The account issued a similar warning on December 28, writing: 'Although the snow does look pretty on the mountains the current Welsh Government guidelines say people should only travel if it's essential.

'No journeys of any significant distance should be taken, for example, just in order to exercise in the countryside or at beauty spots.'

Earlier this week, hikers from different households in England travelled more than 75 miles in a minibus together to climb a Welsh mountain.

Police said the walkers were from mixed households and had travelled from Cheltenham to South Wales for a hike.

Under Level 4 restrictions, nearly all people are banned from mixing with other households both indoors and outdoors and travel into the country for non-essential purposes is banned.

On the Welsh Government's website, a Q&A section asks: 'I do not live in Wales, can I travel to Wales for a holiday or to visit family and friends?'

The answer states: 'Travel is limited to essential travel only when alert level 4 restrictions are in place, for example travelling for work purposes or to return home.'

The hikers' minibus was one of more than 300 vehicles parked at the foot of Pen-Y-Fan mountain in the Brecon Beacons, which had received a dusting of snow.

Intensive care medic Dr David Hepburn said he was 'very disappointed' to see the mass of cars parked.

Pen-Y-Fan is the highest peak in south Wales and popular with visitors wanting to reach the 2,907ft summit.

Police said they issued fixed penalty notices for 'blatant' breaches of lockdown rules and many other visitors had turned away.

And while Dr Hepburn, a consultant in the Royal Gwent Hospital in Newport, said he could understand why people want to visit beauty spots, he warned it was in most cases against the rules.

He added that it was still unclear what impact Christmas had had on case numbers.

'All the hospitals across the health board are now very, very full,' he told the BBC.

'In terms of the intensive care unit actually where we're managing to sort of hold our footprint, and we haven't exploded, you know we haven't burst our banks as yet.

'But we've still got quite a lot of time to go before this pandemic is under control, so really anything could happen over the next month or so.'

He added: 'We don't want to lose any more friends, loved ones, neighbours. I don't want to watch anyone else die from this cruel disease, and I've done that more than I can count.'

Dr Hepburn was himself 'wiped out' by coronavirus in March, leaving him bedridden and asleep for up to 18 hours a day.

Wales has been in a nationwide Level 4 lockdown since 20 December, with restrictions also tightened for Christmas Day.

The rules state that people must not visit other households, or meet other people they do not live with.

Travelling is only allowed for essential purposes, such as for work and for caring responsibilities. International travel is also not allowed.

People are still allowed out of their homes to exercise, for unlimited times and periods each day, and exercise should start and finish at your home.

Inspector Andrew Williams said: 'We are carrying out high-visibility patrols at Pen y Fan and engaging with people to remind them of their responsibilities to adhere to Welsh Government lockdown restrictions.

'There are a couple of hundred vehicles in the area.

'Officers have spoken to one man who had driven from Hertfordshire to walk up the mountain, while a minibus of people from mixed households had travelled from Cheltenham.

'Fixed penalty notices have and will be issued to those blatant breaches where engagement fails, but the vast majority of people are listening to advice and when they are turning up and seeing RPU vehicles at the site, they are turning around and going home - which is the objective of our high visibility patrols.'

Aled Davies, the Conservative deputy leader of Powys County Council, said he was 'not angry... just disappointed' to see people driving out to the rural areas of south Wales.

Mr Davies said: 'I can understand why people want to get out into the fresh air' but that 'the rules are very, very clear around this'.
Two things that seem futuristic: Bitcoin and energy efficiency. Two things that are diametrically opposed: Bitcoin and energy efficiency. Mining Bitcoin might not sound like a resource-intensive process, but in fact it requires almost unbelievably vast amounts of energy. In order to track the shocking energy footprint of Bitcoin mining, the University of Cambridges Centre for Alternative Finance created an online tool that measures this consumption to its best ability and compares it to the energy consumption of other entities to put the shocking quantities into perspective.



Thanks to the climbing price of Bitcoin, this week the cryptocurrencys energy consumption topped that of Pakistan--a nation of more than 200 million people.

This spike in Bitcoin mining is thanks to an explosion in Bitcoin prices. The cryptocurrencys value has jumped 276% this year alone, trading around $27,000 on Tuesday with a total market value near $500 billion. As MarketWatch points out, this could make Bitcoin not only more energy intensive, but less energy efficient, as the price spike has made it more profitable to use less-efficient equipment.

Its not just Bitcoins energy footprint and market value that are gargantuan--its carbon footprint is worryingly large as well. Last year, however, Bitcoin defenders rallied around a new study by cryptocurrency investment products and research firm CoinShares that found nearly 75% of Bitcoins were mined using clean energy. Unfortunately, that report has now come under great scrutiny by other researchers, who have found that estimate to be greatly exaggerated. After all, two thirds of all Bitcoin mining in the world takes place in China, where more than half of the nations power is coal-fired.

Related: Russia Looks To Become Leader In Hydrogen Tech



In recent months however, this dependence on coal has become a major issue for Bitcoin mining operations in China. As China has experienced an energy shortage in recent months, in large part thanks to Beijings decision to blacklist Australian coal imports, domestic Bitcoin mining has come under siege. While China is still far and away the worlds largest trader of Bitcoin, energy shortages and the increased production of other countries are quickly closing that cap.

As of now, two thirds of bitcoin production happens in China, followed by the United States which represents just 7% of all bitcoin production. The U.S. is closely followed by Russia and Kazakhstan. But that ranking could soon change as Russia makes a power play to ramp up its mining operations in a venture led by Gazpromneft, the petro-based subsidiary of Russias state-owned natural gas giant Gazprom, the 10th biggest oil producer in the world.

Gazpromneft recently began a cryptocurrency mining operation based in one of its Siberian oil drilling sites, unlocking the power of Russias oil and gas resources for the needs of bitcoin mining, Yahoo! Finance reported this week. In slightly better news for Bitcoins carbon footprint, Russias new mining operation will be powered by natural gas from the oil field, located in the Khanty-Mansiysk region of northwestern Siberia, which has its own power plant to convert the gas into electricity for Bitcoin production. And there is another silver (and green) lining to this model: The CO2 that gets freed during the oil drilling is normally a liability for oil companies as they have to burn it into the atmosphere, which results in fines. However, there are ways to utilize it instead of wasting it, and electricity generation is one of them, Yahoo! Finance reports.

The location of the new Russian Bitcoin farm also means that the costs of the operation will be relatively low. Instead of paying a premium to use energy from the grid, locating the cryptocurrency mining on-site at an oil field means that a steady supply of natural gas is virtually free. All this is to say that China and the U.S. had better get ready for some stiff competition.

By Haley Zaremba for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
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CARLSBAD  For Ronel Sizer, the front line of the COVID-19 health crisis is thousands of feet above ground.

Hes a paramedic with Air Methods who has flown patients out of rural Carlsbad in southeast New Mexico to major hospitals in Lubbock or other nearby cities almost every day since the pandemic hit the state in March.

With only a small medical center in town, patients experiencing the worst of COVID-19 must be transported from the small city to a major hospital often across state lines to receive treatment in an intensive care unit.

That often means flight in either Air Methods helicopter which can hold patients weighing up to 200 to 250 pounds, or on a small airplane which can accommodate up to 400 pounds.

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The helicopter can take patients to the closer hospitals such as in Lubbock or El Paso, but the plane has traveled as far as Denver, Phoenix, Houston and San Antonio.

Before the pandemic, the crew averaged about 40 flights per month. With COVID-19, that number grew to more than 60 flights a month, at least two per day.

Air travel high above the surface where oxygen is thinner presents a challenge for patients already struggling to breathe.

Sizer said the pandemic made oxygen supplies aboard the aircraft even more important, with patients frequently hooked up to ventilators while en route to an ICU to provide adequate air to the body and avoid hypoxia which occurs when the body has too little oxygen to property function.

With COVID-19, we pay a lot of attention to our oxygen and ventilation, he said. Those patients need high oxygen levels. The last thing you want is for them to get hypoxic. Its challenging.

Air Methods Carlsbad base is a rarity in the southeast in that it boasts both a helicopter for short travel and a plane for longer trips.

Artesias and Hobbs bases have just a helicopter, while Roswell has both.

Area manager Julie Lewis said patients are being sent longer distances as hospitals are overwhelmed by the health crisis.

She said Air Methods is flying more patients out of El Paso to other hospitals than into the city near the U.S.-Mexico border in Texas as medical resources dwindled there.

Since March when the pandemic began its first major spread in New Mexico, Lewis said Air Methods transported 384 COVID-19 patients throughout the state with bases in most major areas from Las Cruces to Taos.

The COVID patients are going farther and farther away, she said. Weve been taking patients a long distance. Theyre not so much running out of space. Theyre running out of staff.

Liquid oxygen allows for the longer flights, providing oxygen for up to 10 hours.

Flight nurse Kim Parker said the aircraft were well-outfitted to handle the health crisis, while the crew usually works 24-hour shifts for medical staff and 12 hours at a time for pilots.

We treat them the same way we treat any patient that has to go on a ventilator, she said. We just need more pressure for the oxygen. We have the equipment we need.

The advantage of using the helicopter allows patients to be landed at a helipad usually on the roof of hospitals.

Transports via plane must disembark at a nearby airport and are then driven to a hospital by ambulance.

In high winds and storms, the helicopter can be grounded and use of the plane becomes necessary.

Helicopter pilot Marnie Hill said the constantly changing weather in the desert region of southern New Mexico can present a challenge, but her team is dedicated to saving lives during the health crisis.

Before coming to Air Methods, Hill flew helicopter tours in the Grand Canyon, but she said her focus was unchanged while in the pilots chair.

People are suffering. Its our job to get them the best care possible, she said. Sometimes the weather gets in the way, but we do the best we can for them. Its our job. We put ourselves at risk. Its as controlled a risk as we can make it.

These are human beings, so we need to make sure they get home to their loved ones, and that I bring my crew back to their families as well.

Pat Allis who pilots the plane said since the pandemic hit, hes seen small towns like Carlsbad suffering more with each month of the crisis.

You pick little towns like this and you become part of the community, he said. You feel for this place. You see the weakest in the community taken out.

About 80% of Air Methods staff members were infected with COVID-19 at some point during the pandemic, meaning paramedics and pilots from other states had to be brought in to cover until the local crew members tested negative.

Combined with the stress of a potential infection, Allis said the workload has increased dramatically.

Sleep and a good meal are rare while the crew is working.

Its busy. Youre guaranteed to fly every day, he said. Eating and sleeping is a challenge. We get in early and we stay late.

But thats just part of the job for Ronel Sizer, who said a 35 year career as a paramedic meant learning to function with little rest or sustenance as with the rest of the crew who mostly boast decades in the profession before of taking to the skies.

My body is used to not having much sleep, he said. You can train your body to just get up and go. Its all about knowing what you limit is. The stakes are very high, the standards are very high, and were used to it.
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SANTA FE  State authorities are increasing oversight of tobacco and e-cigarette businesses to prevent child access with the start of the new year by requiring licenses for the sale, distribution or manufacture of all tobacco products under a law signed in the spring of 2020.

Those changes are on top of New Mexico increasing the minimum age limit to 21 for the purchase of all tobacco products including vaping products that went into effect July 1.

Repeated infractions can lead to fines of up to $10,000 and license revocation.

Also as of Jan. 1, a new consumer protection law takes effect related to the student debt crisis. The law requires a long list of financial disclosures by private nonprofit and for-profit universities about the full costs of tuition, room and board and average earnings by graduates 10 years after earning a degree.

The legislation, co-sponsored by Democratic state Rep. Christine Chandler of Los Alamos and Democratic Sen. Liz Stefanics of Santa Fe, also require disclosures about the financial obligations for students who cancel their studies before graduation.

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A 2019 study by the New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty and partner organizations found that New Mexico had the second highest student loan default rate in the U.S. with more than 1 in 5 student loan borrowers listed as severely delinquent on debts.
As the new year begins, let me offer this sad news to my fellow members of the mainstream media:

As of Jan. 20, you wont have Donald Trump to kick around anymore.

I allude, of course, to the remark Richard Nixon made to the press in 1962 after losing a run for governor of California.

You wont have Nixon to kick around anymore because, gentlemen, this is my last press conference, he told the press corps in his concession speech.

I doubt The Donald will make any such proclamation. But once Trump is no longer the president he will be old news.

As for the new news, it will be about how President Biden handles his own partys resistance to his policy positions, which so far have been solidly within the mainstream of inside-the-Beltway Democratic thought.

Consider the call by U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, among others, to abolish the Immigration and Customs Enforcement bureau and tear down the wall on the Mexican border.

So far, Biden has said he would stop construction on new sections of border wall. But he hasnt said what hed do about enforcement of immigration law.

Imagine that tens of thousands of potential migrants, encouraged by the Ocasio-Cortez wing of the party, arrive at the border.

What would President Biden do? I cant wait to see.

I cant wait to see how he handles foreign policy either. On the Antiwar.com site, you can find a post foreshadowing that fight written by Medea Benjamin of Code Pink and Marcy Winograd of the Progressive Democrats of America.

Those two are joining with other peace activists in opposing Bidens nomination of Avril Haines as Director of National Intelligence. They write that when Haines served as deputy CIA director on the Obama administration she was the affable assassin who, according to Newsweek, would be summoned in the middle of the night to decide if a citizen of any country, including our own, should be incinerated in a U.S. drone strike in a distant land. Haines also helped cover up torture, they allege.

Winograd was a Bernie Sanders delegate to the 2020 Democratic convention and her foreign-policy views reflected those of the Sanders wing of the party, which was strong enough to scare the mainstream Dems into uniting behind Biden despite his many flaws. (Heres a good piece on why Biden should reject the interventionism of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton that made such a mess of Libya and Syria.)

The new president will have his work cut out for him on domestic policy as well. The Democrats blasted the Republicans under Trump for eliminating the individual mandate to purchase health insurance, often said to be the linchpin of Obamacare.

But do the Democrats really want to reimpose a penalty that forces everyone to buy insurance, even if you cant afford it, and you pay a penalty if you dont?

Barack Obama changed his mind after he said that in an ad during the 2008 campaign against Hillary Clinton. But he got it right the first time.

Then theres the tax plan the Republicans enacted under Trump. It greatly limited the deductions for state and local taxes on the theory that residents of high-tax suburbs would take out their wrath on Democrats.

Instead they took out their wrath on Trump, who lost the election in those suburbs. But I doubt the Democrats would restore what amounts to a tax cut for the wealthier part of the population.

And then theres the rest of Bidens agenda.

Trump let Biden get through the campaign without having to elaborate on how his plans in areas like climate change and energy policy would affect average Americans. Instead, the Donald kept the spotlight on The Donald.

On the Hugh Hewitt show recently, Chris Christie spoke of trying to prepare Trump for that disastrous first debate. Christie recalled telling Trump to let Biden talk.

If you let him talk, he will hurt himself, Christie recalled telling Trump. And he gave me a thumbs-up, and he walked out of the Oval Office. And he interrupted him 71 times in 90 minutes.

The Donald was the author of his own demise. Unlike Nixon, he is woefully unprepared for a comeback.

Nixon was the consummate Washington insider, working the party apparatus to secure another run for president.

Trump is the consummate outsider. His attempt to go out with a bang is landing with a thud.

Thats the effort to get through Congress a $2,000 giveaway to 94 percent of potential voters.

Ten years ago, the tea parties organized around the need to bring down the deficit. Trumps proposal  which was originally pushed by Congressional Democrats - would add $350 billion to the national debt.

Its time for The Donald to get out of the way and let Biden make the headlines.

Gentlemen, this is my last tweet, has a nice ring to it.

ADD - WALL STREET JOURNAL SAYS TRUMP ABANDONED CONSERVATISM

The Wall Street Journal ran an editorial last week arguing that by backing that $2,000 payment Trump abandoned any pretense of being a conservative:

By all accounts Mr. Trump is angry about his election defeat, and he is lashing out at anyone who wont indulge his hopeless campaign to overturn it. This includes Senate Republicans, who need to win in Georgia to retain their majority and block Mr. Bidens ability to indulge the Democratic left.

Mr. Trumps narcissism isnt news. But if Republicans lose the two Georgia seats and their majority, Republicans across the country should know to thank Mr. Trump for their 2021 tax increase.

Its hard to disagree with that sentiment. These government giveaways are the sort of thing we heard a lot about in the Democratic presidential primaries. It looks like Trump just wrote himself out of the 2024 Republican primaries.
An Australian woman has been arrested and charged in Tanzania shortly after criticising the Tanzanian President's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic in a satirical social media post.

Zara Kay, an Australian citizen who was born in Tanzania, was told to attend a police station in the city of Dar es Salaam on December 28 before being detained for 32 hours.

Australian citizen Zara Kay runs the women's rights group Faithless Hijabi

Authorities confiscated the Monash University-educated activist's Australian passport before bailing her on December 29.

In a tweet posted on her account on January 1, Ms Kay said: "I'm out on bail, thank you all for the support. I'm still quite traumatised from everything. Please don't stop fighting for me. They can try shaking me, but they won't break me".
China has rolled out arrangements to keep colleges and universities on alert against COVID-19 during the upcoming winter holiday.



Institutions of higher education nationwide should adjust their winter vacations in accordance with local epidemic situations and arrange for students to leave schools in batches in an orderly manner, according to a circular issued by the Ministry of Education.

It required colleges and universities to organize internships and job-seeking activities on the premise of ensuring the safety of all participants.

Schools should guide teachers and students to strengthen self-protection on their way home as well as tighten epidemic control on campuses during the vacation, said the circular.

It also called for a staggered opening of the spring semester to avoid the Spring Festival travel rush and prevent unnecessary gatherings.
Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on Saturday said that the 'Ma, Mati and Manush' (mother, motherland and people) of West Bengal have been "cheated" during the Trinamool Congress rule in the state.

The BJP leader, during a door-to-door campaign in Habra assembly seat in North 24 Parganas district, accused the Mamata Banerjee government of working for the benefit of its "own people".

"The BJP wants to make West Bengal Rabindranath Tagore's 'Sonar Bangla' (Golden Bengal) from the ruined state it has been turned into due to the successive governments in the past including that of the TMC," the Union Jal Shakti minister said.

The people of West Bengal gave the Congress a chance for three decades and 34 years to the communists. Mamata Didi also ruled the state for the last 10 years, having cheated the people in the name of development, he said.

Claiming that the people of the state are now taking to the streets against the Mamata Banerjee government, he said, "Didi has worked only for the benefit of her own people, ignoring the masses who elected her to power for two terms." The Union minister asserted that the rule of law will be established in West Bengal after the BJP's victory in the assembly elections due in April-May this year. "The politics of revenge has been taking place in West Bengal for four decades. The BJP will establish true democracy," he said.

Over 200 TMC workers joined the BJP in Shekhawat's presence.

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Air India has opened booking for flights from ndia to UK . will resume from January 6. The flight services to Britain will resume from 6 January. "Booking for Air India flights between India & UK is open now," Air India said in a tweet. These flights are in addition to the regular flights. The booking is open through Air India website, booking offices, Call Centre and Authorised Travel Agents.

 

Mumbai-London Heathrow

Delhi-London Heathrow

 

London Heathrow-Mumbai

London Heathrow-Delhi

 

Mumbai-London Heathrow

London Heathrow-Mumbai

#FlyAI : Booking for Air India flights between India & UK is open now.

 

Mumbai-London Heathrow

Delhi-London Heathrow

 

London Heathrow-Mumbai

London Heathrow-Delhi

 

Mumbai-London Heathrow

London Heathrow-Mumbai (1/2)  Air India (@airindiain) January 2, 2021

On Saturday, Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said flights from India to UK will resume from January 6, while services from UK country to India would resume from January 8 onwards.

"Resumption of flights between India & UK: India to UK from 6 Jan 2021. UK to India from 8 Jan 2021. 30 flights will operate every week. 15 each by Indian & UK carriers," Puri had said on Twitter.

"This schedule is valid till 23 Jan 2021. Further frequency will be determined after review," he added.

Earlier, Puri had announced on Friday that only 30 flights per week will operate between India and the UK when services resume from January 8 and that this arrangement will continue till January 23.

India had suspended all passenger flights connecting the two countries from December 23 to January 7 as a new variant of coronavirus emerged in the UK.

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Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

Each time Sebastian Velazquez returns to Santa Fe, hes able to knock a few murals out.

The California-based muralist, known simply as VELA, is back home over the holidays, visiting family  and, yes, working on a mural.

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The mural is at 1934 Cerrillos Road, where Beck & Bulow, a local meat company, will open its butcher shop later this year.

The mural, currently in progress, is projected to be completed by mid-January.

Velazquez says the intention of the mural reflects the mission of Beck & Bulow, which is to provide wild and ethically sourced meat that is good for the Earth, good for the animals and great for you.

Velazquez says Beck & Bulow reached out to him for the mural.

Whats special about this project is its in the neighborhood that I grew up in, he says. Its a wall that Ive always wanted to get my hands on. The building used to be Rosas Salon; Ive always wanted to rock a mural on it. I was so shocked that they are making it their new storefront.

Velazquez has been working on the mural every day.

He teamed up with the owners on the design.

Its something very different, he says. Its public art and its very traditional. Theres movement in the piece and theres so much color in the contemporary work. I wanted to tie it all in.

Velazquez decided to start on the north side of the building first.

Im kind of freezing in the shadow on the side, he says with a laugh. The north side is very cool and has cooler colors. The south wall is going to be the one that gets the most sun. It will have vibrant yellow, gold and orange.

The mural at Beck & Bulow will add to the number of Velazquezs previous work around Santa Fe.

He has painted thousands of murals across the country and a few in overseas locations. His local murals can be seen at Harley-Davidson, Natural Grocers, Sage Inn, Coyote Cafe, the Santa Fe School of Cooking, and more.

Though hes now based in Huntington Beach, California, Velazquez never turns down an opportunity to come back to Santa Fe.

New Mexico really is the Land of Enchantment. Its just a very special state, he says. Being in a big city, its hard to find nature. Were so spoiled in New Mexico and we dont partake in what it offers. Within minutes, you are transported to a new world. Its special to come back.
Driver not hurt after hitting deer

MAHANOY CITY  A Richmond, Virginia, truck driver escaped injury when the 2013 Freightliner he was driving struck an animal in the northbound lanes of Interstate 81, near mile marker 129.4 in Mahanoy Township, around 9:15 a.m. Monday.

State police at Frackville said Rodgers Young, 67, was driving north in the right lane and was unable to avoid hitting a deer that entered the highway.

After hitting the animal, police said, the mans truck came to a stop on the right shoulder of the highway.

Man cited after 2-vehicle collision

POTTSVILLE  Three people suffered minor injuries when two vehicles collided at Gordon Nagle Trail and Red Horse Road in North Manheim Township around 7 p.m. Dec. 22.

State police at Schuylkill Haven said Collin Warunek, 18, of Pottsville, was driving a 2007 BMW X6 north on Gordon Nagle Trail, Route 901, when he collided with a vehicle driven by Hunter Coleman, 21, of Mahanoy City, who was in front of him and slowed to make a left turn onto Red Horse Road.

Both drivers and a passenger in the Coleman vehicle  Brionna Jones, 22, of Barnesville  suffered minor injuries and were taken to a local hospital, police said.

As a result of the crash, police said, Warunek was cited for following too closely.

Man cited after sliding off road

ADAMSDALE  A New Ringgold man escaped injury when the 2012 Jeep Liberty he was driving crashed on South Greenview Road, just north of West Adamsdale Road in North Manheim Township, around 10:50 p.m. Dec. 18.

State police at Schuylkill Haven said Jeremy Schaeffer, 22, was driving south when his vehicle began to slide on slush.

The vehicle went off the road and over an embankment where it struck a tree, police said.

As a result of the crash, police said, Schaeffer was cited for not driving on roadways laned for traffic.

Woman hurt after falling asleep drivingPINE GROVE  A Pine Grove woman suffered minor injuries when the 2010 Honda Pilot she was driving crashed on Route 895, Rock Road, just east of Covered Bridge Road in Washington Township, around 9:15 a.m. Tuesday.

State police at Schuylkill Haven said Kimberley Umbenhauer, 38, was driving west when she fell asleep, causing her vehicle to cross the eastbound lane, go off the road and hit a mailbox and then a house before coming to a stop.

Police said Umbenhauer was trapped inside her vehicle and removed by emergency personnel. She then refused being transported to a hospital for treatment.

As a result of the crash, police said, the woman was cited for not driving on roadways laned for traffic.
Emily Mieure covers criminal justice and emergency news. She also leads the News&Guides investigative efforts. She has reported for WDRB TV in Louisville, Ky., WFIE TV in Evansville, Ind., and WEIU TV in Charleston, Ill.
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.
A Labour frontbencher today issued a grovelling apology after falsely suggesting vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi jumped the queue for jabs.

Shadow health minister Rosena Allin-Khan said it had been 'inappropriate and wrong' to raise 'unsubstantiated' claims about her political opponent on Twitter.

The apology came in the early hours of the morning after she tweeted at 11.31pm last night saying she had heard 'rumours' that Mr Zahawi and his family had been vaccinated in Wandsworth.

'Nadhim, can you please tell us if it is true?' she wrote. ' I really hope it is not unless you meet the necessary criteria.'

However, by 1.08am the Labour MP, an A&E doctor, completely retracted the claims.

'I have deleted my earlier tweets which were inappropriate and wrong. I regret sharing unsubstantiated claims about the Minister and I apologise to him and his family,' she wrote.

Shadow health minister Rosena Allin-Khan said it had been 'inappropriate and wrong' to raise 'unsubstantiated' claims about Nadhim Zahawi on Twitter

Labour MP, an A&E doctor, completely retracted the claims at 1.08am this morning

Labour sources indicated that Dr Allin-Khan had been told to delete the message (pictured) and apologise. She is not expected to face any further disciplinary action

Labour sources indicated that Dr Allin-Khan had been told to delete the message and apologise. She is not expected to face any further disciplinary action.

Mr Zahawi, who is overseeing the vaccine rollout, has previously revealed that he is taking part in the trials of the Novovax version - and was pictured having a jab in November.

The episode came as the government scrambles to ramp up its vaccination drive, with mutant coronavirus threatening to bring the country to a standstill again.

A strict priority list has been set out for distributing the jabs to make best use of supplies, with the most vulnerable and health workers getting the protection first.

As the first supplies of the Oxford vaccine arrived in the UK yesterday, Deputy Chief Medical Officer Jonathan Van-Tam  who has become the trusted face of Downing Street press conferences during the crisis  predicted that 'tens of millions of doses' will be available by the end of March.

A senior Government source last night said that the 15million jabs needed to protect those most at risk could be delivered by mid-March.

Vaccinating that vulnerable group is seen as crucial in releasing Britain from the crippling effects of lockdown.

Writing exclusively in The Mail on Sunday, Prof Van-Tam rejects criticism that changing the period between the two doses of the Oxford and Pfizer vaccines is confusing and potentially dangerous.
26/11 attack: Despite a bare it all confession, why Headley is still a mystery

No Lashkar in Afghanistan, no Al-Qaeda in India: The result was Mumbai 26/11

Lakhvis arrest only a showcase action to dodge the watchdog

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Jan 03: Mumbai attack mastermind and Lashkar-e-Tayiba operations commander Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi was on Saturday arrested in Pakistan on terror financing charges, an official said. The move by Pakistan comes ahead fo the meetings of the Financial Action Task Force in January.

Pakistan has been under immense monitoring by the global watchdog. A top official tells OneIndia that this appears to be a routine exercise.

In Pakistan, such persons are arrested ahead of possible international action. We do not read much into this and there appears to be no seriousness by Pakistan to curb the terror menace. These are just showcase actions, the official said.

Lakhvi, who was on bail since 2015 in the Mumbai attack case, was arrested by the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD).

However, the CTD did not mention his place of arrest.

Lashkars operational commandeer, 26/11 mastermind Lakhvi arrested in Pakistan

"Following an intelligence-based operation conducted by the CTD Punjab, proscribed organisation LeT leader Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi was arrested on charges of terrorism financing," it said.

Pakistan has failed to act on the six important action items stipulated by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), New Delhi had said in October.

India further accused Islamabad of aiding and abetting cross border terrorism, smuggling of arms and narcotic substances. Delhi also said that Pakistan has been using drones and quadcopter to facilitate smuggling.

It is understood that Pakistan has addressed only 21 action items so far out of total 27 point FATF Action Plan. Six important action items are yet to be addressed. As is well known, Pakistan continues to provide safe havens to terrorist entities and individuals and has also not yet taken any action against several terrorist entities and individuals including those proscribed by the UNSC such as Masood Azhar, Dawood Ibrahim, Zakir-ur-Rahman Lakhvi etc, Anurag Srivastava, spokesperson, Ministry of External Affairs said.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Sunday, January 3, 2021, 9:19 [IST]
It took some posturing and legal wrangling, but the company that has overseen one of downtown Charlestons poshest and priciest shopping destinations for years came under new ownership just in time for the holiday gift-return rush.

Taubman Centers Inc. was sold for about $3.4 billion to the much larger mall operator Simon Property Group effective Tuesday, about six months after the COVID-19 pandemic nearly torpedoed the tie-up.

The sale included the management of the roughly 55,500 square feet of high-end retail space at Belmond Charleston Place, a large hotel and shopping complex that's been associated with the Taubman name for nearly four decades. Among the blue-chip tenants are Louis Vuitton and Gucci.

David Simon, CEO of Simon Property Group, said in a statement that Taubman's 26 shopping centers in the U.S. and Asia add "some of the world's premier retail assets to our portfolio."

The companies first disclosed plans to combine in a $3.6 billion transaction in February, just weeks before the global health crisis sent the mall-based retail industry into a tailspin.

Simon later sought to back out of the agreement, prompting Michigan-based Taubman Centers to head to court. The legal kerfuffle was settled as the two sides came to terms in November, the day before the trial was to start.

Under the revised deal, Taubman Centers agreed to sell Simon its publicly listed shares for $43, a 18 percent discount from the original offer.

The Taubman family, who controlled much of the holding company's stock, isn't cutting all ties. Its members retained 20 percent of the real estate partnership that was created to own or manage the retail assets that Simon took control of last week with its 80 percent stake.

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The Taubman clan hail from the Detroit suburbs, but the family name has been long linked to Belmond Charleston Place some 850 miles to the south of tony Bloomfield Hills.

The property, which takes up a full block at King, Market, Meeting and Hassell streets, is largely credited with sparking the latest revival of the peninsula's retail and tourist district, which had fallen on tough times by the late 1970s.

It's questionable whether the development would have be completed if it hadn't been for Taubman Centers founder Al Taubman. He agreed to help bankroll the stalled and nearly broke "Omni" project in 1983, after the original financiers dropped out.

Taubman's influence as a major retail landlord would help lure national chains to the city and put King Street back on the map as a shopping destination, former Mayor Joe Riley has said on numerous occasions.

Taubman, who died in 2015, sold what was then called Charleston Place about 16 years ago to Sea Containers Ltd. for an estimated $80 million, roughly his original investment, though he retained an ownership position afterward. The global luxury goods giant LVMH Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy has owned the hotel and retail complex since early 2019.

Last month, a spokeswoman said Taubman Centers anticipated few changes once the Simon deal was finalized. It expected "to operate much as we do today related to the ownership, management and leasing of our properties and how we serve our tenants, shoppers and communities," she said in a written statement.

Indianapolis-based Simon is no slouch when it comes to retailing and real estate. It once owned the long-demolished Charles Towne Square in North Charleston, and its current holdings of more than 200 U.S. shopping centers include Haywood Mall in Greenville. Simon also was part of a group that recently bought the J.C. Penney department store chain at a bankruptcy court sale.

The company said the new 80-20 Taubman partnership will give the joint venture the firepower "to establish innovative retail environments for consumers and to create new job prospects for the communities in which it operates."

Wall Street's immediate reaction to the deal was slightly skeptical. Simon's stock dipped after the company announced the deal was done, which isn't a surprise given the cloudy outlook for the brick-and-mortar shopping mall business.
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The pandemic that has ravaged most of the economy, including regular education, has turned out to be a huge blessing for edutech platform Upgrad, as its customer base has more than doubled to 1 million since the lockdown.

Between its incorporation in 2015 and March 2020, around 5 lakh professionals took the learning and upskilling programmes on Upgrad's platform.

However, the number of students have been increasing since April, with Upgrad crossing 1 million students mark by December, its co-founder and managing director Mayank Kumar told PTI.

The company's revenue run rate has been doubling quarter-on-quarter, and is on course to close the current year with over Rs 1,200 crore revenue, Kumar said.

The company's revenue stood at Rs 230 crore in FY20.

The company has set a revenue target of Rs 300 crore for January-March quarter, so that it can close the year with Rs 1,200 crore revenue, Kumar said.

When asked about profitability, he said January-March quarter should be profitable, but not the fiscal year as the company is still in investment phase.

"So far, we founders (Ronnie Screwvala, Ravijot Chugh, Phalgun Kompalli and Mayank Kumar) have invested over Rs 170 crore, most of which has come from Screwvala," Kumar said.

The city-based online higher education platform provides rigorous upskilling/reskilling programmes in collaboration with world-class faculty and industry. It offers certificates in association with leading universities.

On the benefits of upskilling, Kumar said students who pass out from Upgrad have been getting 46 percent to 55 percent pay hikes, and blue-chip companies have been hiring them. Some have even landed up new jobs with double the salaries.

Kumar said since April, over 450 companies have hired around 1,200 Upgrad graduates with an average increment of 46-55 percent. Hiring has jumped two times since Diwali.

The lockdown has seen demand for upskilling rising manifold for three areas -- data with focus on machine learning and artificial intelligence, management with marketing, public relations and journalism, and technology with focus on cloud and Internet of things, among others.

He said almost 50 percent transition is happening is data sciences, followed by digital marketing, for which Upgrad has partnered with leading institute MICA and constitutes around 20 percent of the hiring curve.

Some of the leading varsities Upgrad has tied up with include IIT Madras and IIIT Bengaluru, he said.

Since the lockdown, the edutech major has onboarded over 100 colleges and universities onto the platform.

Asked if the company is looking for external capital, Kumar said as the revenue run rate is good, Upgrad doesn't need need capital now.

Though the company has been getting interest from investors, it hasn't closed any conversation yet on funding, he added.
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MONROE COUNTY, MI  A 37-year-old Gaylord man faces charges after police say he made threats on social media toward a southeast Michigan police department.

The Monroe County Sheriffs Office issued a statement Sunday, Jan. 3 noting Sheriff Troy Goodnough has reported an incident of terroristic threats aimed at the law enforcement agency.

On Saturday, January 02, 2021 the Sheriffs Office was notified of a social media post which threatened violence toward the Monroe County Sheriffs Office, per the sheriffs office statement. The suspect threatened to blow up the building if the Sheriffs Office did not send someone to arrest him by January 13, 2021.

The suspect, whose name is being withheld until he is arraigned, also threatened to kill anyone that attempted to arrest him for any reason and that his statement should be taken as a terrorist threat.

Police were able to identify the suspect through an investigation. It was discovered he has tied to the Monroe County area and was upset due to a pending Friend of the Court hearing.

The Otsego County Sheriffs Office was contacted and notified of the threats. Deputies responded to the suspects Gaylord residence and placed him under arrest.

He is being held at the Otsego County Jail, pending formal arraignment.

The investigation into the threats is ongoing. Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact the Monroe County Sheriffs Office Detective Bureau at 734-240-7530.

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A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit that would've overturned the U.S. election results come Jan. 6 - the day when Congress finally declares the country's next President.

On Monday, Texas Rep. Louie Gohmert, along with Arizona GOP Chairwoman Kelli Ward and other GOP officials, filed a lawsuit against U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, seeking to give him power to nullify the Electoral College's votes and choose votes coming from a different slate of electors.

The lawsuit sought to invalidate a federal law that governs the role the office of the Vice President plays in accepting the votes of the Electoral College. This law -the Electoral Count Act of 1887- details procedures for the counting of electoral votes, The Blaze noted.

This law says the Vice President, as president of the Senate, will "open all the certificates," i.e. the papers that contain the results from the Electoral College's votes from each state, and present them before both houses of Congress to certify the results of the elections. This is expected to happen on Jan. 6, Wednesday.

Rep. Gohmert's lawsuit claims that the 1887 law, which contains the above-mentioned provision specifically to prevent a Vice President from refusing to present the Electoral College votes to Congress for some reason, limits the Vice President's "exclusive authority and sole discretion under the Twelfth Amendment to determine which slates of electors for a State, or neither, may be counted."

The lawsuit, in effect, seeks to give Pence the power to reject the Electoral College votes, particularly from key battleground states, especially since there's proof that massive voter fraud occurred in these states. Should the lawsuit succeed, Pence will have the power to reject these votes and, and accept the votes cast by an "alternative" slate of electors instead.

Pence's defense

VP Mike Pence, through his lawyers, filed a brief in opposition to Rep. Gohmert's lawsuit and explained a few things about it.

First, they called the lawsuit, which was filed "against the Vice President," a "walking contradiction," pointing our how it sought to give Pence power to reject the Electoral College's results, yet naming him the sole Defendant in the lawsuit.

"The Vice President is not the proper Defendant to this lawsuit," the brief said.

Second, the brief also pointed out several legal issues, such as the lawsuit's failure to meet certain standards, one of which is as to "whether an actual controversy [of legal interests]" between the Plaintiffs and the Defendant exists.

Third, the brief also pointed out that if ever the lawsuit does succeed, the result should be to remove "any constraint" the 1887 law placed on the VP.

It's worth noting, however, that also according to the brief, the Vice President "respectfully defers to the Senate and the House of Representatives, as those bodies see fit, to present" a "number of arguments in response to Plaintiffs' motion."

Dismissed

Judge Jeremy Kernodle, one of President Donald Trump's appointees, dismissed Rep. Gohmert's lawsuit because it "lacks standing."

The order of dismissal notes that the court has to ensure whether it has jurisdiction to take on the case. "One crucial component of jurisdiction is that the Plaintiffs have standing," it said, adding that "the Plaintiffs to show a personal injury that is fairly traceable to the Defendant's allegedly unlawful conduct and is likely to be redressed by the requested relief."

It then said Rep. Gohmert "alleges at most an institutional injury to the House of Representatives," deemed as "insufficient" to be used as standing. The other Plaintiffs, on the other hand, "allege an injury that is not fairly traceable to the Defendant."

For these reasons, and some others, Kernodle has decided to dismiss the motion.

This is the latest of many actions aimed at overturning the fraudulent election results in favor of U.S. President Donald Trump.
Cornwall recorded the highest number of drowning deaths of any UK region over the past five years, the latest figures reveal.

Data shows 80 people drowned in the county during this period, the equivalent of more than one every month, followed by 55 in Devon and 54 in Kent.

The figures from The National Water Safety Forum show men are far more likely to die in the water than women, making up 82 per cent of total fatalities, with young men aged 21 to 25 the most affected age group.

Almost half of all those who drowned had not intended to enter the water, according to the data.

The study gathered figures on deaths caused by accidental drowning in all environments between 2014 and 2019 for each region in the UK.

It comes as the RNLI and Maritime and Coastguard Agency launch a winter coastal safety campaign, reminding people to steer clear of stormy seas and cliff edges.

Cornwall has recorded the highest number of drowning fatalities over the past five years followed by Devon and Kent, according to the National Water Safety Forum

As part of a report, the association gathered figures on deaths caused by accidental drowning in all environments between 2014 and 2019 for each region in the UK

Inverclyde in Scotland was the region which recorded the lowest number of accidental drowning fatalities at two in the last five years.

Caerphilly, in South Wales, registered just three deaths while Neath Port Talbot documented five.

Meanwhile, London recorded the fourth highest number of accidental water-related deaths at 47, followed closely by Scotland's Highland at 45.

The statistics, released as part of the Water Incident Database (WAID) report, also found 46.8 per cent of those who died had not intended to enter the water.

There were a total of 1,678 fatalities across the whole of the UK over the five-year period, with males making up 82 per cent of accidental drowning victims.

Those aged 21 to 25 were in the age group with the most deaths at 148 in total, followed by 46-to-50-year-olds and 16-to-20-year-olds.

Walking or running was the activity cited as being linked to the highest number of deaths, then swimming and waterside activity or 'in water play'.

Overall, 31,607 incidents have been recorded around the UK's coasts between January and November this year, according to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

Huge waves caused by Storm Ellen strike the National Trust-owned harbour on August 21 this year at Mullion Cove in Cornwall. Figures show that 80 accidental drowning fatalities were recorded in the county between 2014 and 2019

AN RNLI rescue boat overlooks Exmouth beach in Devon in May this year. There were a total of 1,678 accidental drowning fatalities across the whole of the UK over the five-year period

Surfers enjoy the waves at Fistral beach in Newquay, Cornwall, in May this year. Overall, 31,607 incidents have been recorded around the UK's coasts between January and November 2020

It follows a father and a daughter drowning in November when they were swept out to sea at Mullion Cove in Cornwall after being knocked off a harbour wall by huge waves.

A teenage girl and man also died in the same region over the Bank Holiday weekend in May, after police and emergency services were called to separate incidents at Porthilly Rock in Wadebridge and Treyarnon Bay in Padstow.

Lee Heard from the Royal Life Saving Society, told MailOnline: 'All year round our beautiful waters attract visitors, but they can be hazardous if not enjoyed safely.

'Areas like Cornwall, Devon and Kent have a particularly high rate of drowning incidences, usually due to a high rate of tourism and a mix of coastal and inland waters.

'RLSS UK urges as many people as possible to access advice and resources to learn how to stay safe. The majority of drowning incidents can be prevented. By learning to recognise to the potential dangers, and becoming confident in how to respond to an emergency, you could save a life.'

He added: This time of the year the concern for these coastal areas is the increasingly popular tradition of festive dips, with brave bathers plummeting into cold water.

An undated handout photo of Swanage volunteer lifeboat crew members in one of the first training exercises the station held following the easing of lockdown restrictions earlier in 2020

Rhyl lifeguards George Davies and Matty Jones pictured putting up a windbreak while wearing face masks, as the RNLI released a series of photos showing crew and lifeguards during the Covid-19 pandemic to mark Emergency Services Day

'The cancellation of many well organised and lifeguarded events combined with a rise in 2020 open water swimming participation, raises the concern that individuals may still chose to dip this festive period.

We simply urge swimmers to stay safe, be prepared and consider their actions on our already stressed emergency services, including RNLIs volunteer lifeboat crews.

In its winter safety tips, the RNLI advises beachgoers to be prepared by checking tide information, the weather forecast and wave height, alongside always taking a buddy to go swimming when possible and staying within your depth.

The charity also says to 'acclimatise slowly' and 'never jump straight in' due to the risk of cold water shock, be seen by wearing a brightly coloured swim cap and floating with your arms and legs extended if you do get into trouble.

Claire Hughes, Director of HM Coastguard, added: 'We are prepared and ready, as always, to deal with all emergency situations.

'But please take note of our safety advice and dont take risks, be responsible for your actions and follow the Governments Covid-19 guidance.'
Ever since the deadly parasite responsible for malaria was discovered in the late 19th century, science and global health experts have been waging a vigorous Sisyphean battle against the disease it causes. Humans have brought an arsenal of toolsnets, rapid tests, medicationto bear against the mosquito-borne parasite, which cannily mutates to become resistant to drug treatments. Were holding our own: Global malaria deaths declined to 409,000 in 2019, compared to 585,000 in 2010, and a number of countries have eliminated it altogether or are on the verge of doing so.

However, more than 90 percent of the deaths occur in Africa, and there is a threat that could set progress back again. Researchers in Rwanda identified a strain of the malaria parasite P. falciparum with mutations on a gene known as K13 that enable resistance to artemisinin, the foundation of artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs), the most commonly used malaria treatments. While ACTs still work, a weakened treatment regimen could lead to more deaths on the continent, an increased spread of resistance itself, and loss of confidence in malaria treatment.

We must act now to increase surveillance and monitoring for signs of new K13 mutations, even as we battle the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to basic tactics like increasing peoples access to insecticide-treated mosquito nets, heres what can help make a difference:

Ensure that providers and patients use drugs effectively. When providers dont prescribe treatments correctly or their patients dont take the complete course as prescribed, it contributes to the emergence of drug-resistant malaria parasites. Governments and global health programs need to reinforce effective, safe prescribing and appropriate use of ACTs. For example, largely through USAID-funded initiatives, Management Sciences for Health supports malaria case management in Benin, Madagascar, Malawi, and Nigeria. The program trains, mentors and evaluates health care providers on the use of national malaria treatment guidelines.

Take action today to maximize the longevity of ACTs. The battle to delay artemisinin drug resistance must be fought on two fronts. The first is to support the use of quality-assured medicines at the correct dosage and to continually monitor their therapeutic efficacy against any emerging signs of resistance. The second is to support national malaria programs to adopt and deploy more than one artemisinin-based treatment, such as second-line or even multiple first-line therapies along with the addition of single low-dose primaquine to help block the transmission of resistant parasites, in line with WHO guidance. Strategies such as adding a third drug to an ACTforming a triple ACT, or TACTare also being investigated. Finally, we need to acknowledge that the sun may be setting on today's drugs. It may be a long sunset, but we need to be ready for tomorrow.

Develop the next generation of treatments. Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV), a not-for-profit research and development organization, and its research and pharma partners have developed the largest portfolio of antimalarials in history. The most advanced new antimalarial medicine targeting parasites showing resistance to current drugs is in development with Swiss health care company Novartis. It's currently in clinical trials and is aimed at treating children as young as six months, as malaria kills more children under five than any other age group. National malaria control programs must be ready to incorporate this potential new medicine in their budgets and treatment guidelines when it becomes available.

Expand lab testing capacity. Improved surveillance to track the spread of resistant plasmodia is critical to maintaining progress, including using molecular and genomic techniques. However, many sub-Saharan African countries do not yet have the equipment, personnel, funding or infrastructure to efficiently handle sequencing for malaria. Here, too, investors and collaborators must strengthen and build additional capacity. The National Institutes of Health and the Wellcome Trust have established the Human Heredity and Health in Africa (H3Africa) initiative to build capacity on the continent, as is the U.S. Presidents Malaria Initiativesupported Antimalarial Resistance Monitoring in Africa Network, which also supports collaborative efforts across the continent. The Africa CDC and the African Academy of Sciences have provided funding. Yet much more is needed for sufficient lab capacity.

Develop a cross-border action plan with neighboring countries. Now that resistant parasites have been documented in Rwanda, they may be carried by travelers across borders or may already be in other African countries. National malaria control programs and WHOs regional and country offices need to reinforce intercountry collaboration, sharing information as well as educating health care providers and communities about the implications of the mutation. Pharmaceutical regulatory agencies should continue to monitor and enforce quality standards to prevent and tackle substandard and falsified medicines, which greatly contribute to drug resistance. The West African Health Organization; Southern African Development Community; and East, Central and Southern African Health Community should work together to align efforts.

Southeast Asia has already seen this mutation as of 2013 and is holding it at bay with careful use of drugs that work where they are most needed. We can outsmart this. We must bring our collective human ingenuity and determination to ensure that the continent bearing the worlds greatest burden of malaria stays one step ahead of the emerging threat of this dangerous mutant parasite.
Paris, TX (75460)

Today

Partly to mostly cloudy with scattered showers and thunderstorms overnight. Low 67F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Partly to mostly cloudy with scattered showers and thunderstorms overnight. Low 67F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
Veteran reporter John Pilger has issued a stark warning ahead of a landmark court hearing, saying that if WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is extradited to the US no journalist who challenges power will be safe.

The 81-year-old filmmaker and author of numerous books of investigative journalism, spoke before a hearing at Londons Central Criminal Court, more commonly known as the Old Bailey, that will decide whether his fellow Australian will be sent to America to face 18 espionage and computer hacking charges. The charges carry a potential sentence of up to 175 years in jail.

Pilger is among a number of high-profile figures in the media who have said the attempt by the US to punish Assange for exposing the dark side of the so-called war on terror represents a threat to anyone interested in defending free speech or protecting journalists who take on powerful targets.

In a series of written answers to questions put by The Independent, Pilger, whose documentaries include Year Zero: The Silent Death of Cambodia and Death of a Nation: The Timor Conspiracy, said he preferred to talk about free journalism rather than freedom of the press.

This means journalism that's informed, honest and not part of any vested interest or groupthink, he said.

If Julian Assange is extradited to the US, the very idea of a journalism that's free is lost. No journalist who dares to challenge rapacious power and reveal the truth will be safe.

Pilger has been among those supporters of the 49-year-old Assange who visited him inside the Ecuadorean Embassy in London, where he sought asylum in 2012 after skipping bail, as a court sought to send him to Sweden to speak to investigators probing two sexual assault allegations.

Assange denied the claims and the probe was later dropped. His lawyers told Swedish authorities he was prepared to cooperate, but feared he may be sent from there to the US.

 John Pilger says Assange extradition 'shambolic'

In April 2019, after Ecuador withdrew its protection of Assange and he was arrested by London police and later charged by the US, Pilger warned of the potential danger to the health of the Wikileaks founder as he was incarcerated in Belmarsh Prison, having been sentenced to 50 weeks in jail for breaking the terms of his 2012 bail.

He tweeted: Do not forget Julian #Assange. Or you will lose him. I saw him in Belmarsh prison and his health has deteriorated.

He added: Treated worse than a murderer, he is isolated, medicated and denied the tools to fight the bogus charges of a US extradition. I now fear for him. Do not forget him.

Asked why the US was so desperate to extradite Assange, Pilger said he was a threat to Washington because he and his organisation had lifted America's facade.

It revealed America's routine war crimes, the lies of its policymakers and an Orwellian surveillance, he said.

What's more, the WikiLeaks revelations were 100 per cent authentic. The public service this represents is unprecedented; it is investigative journalism at its finest.

Among the events WikiLeaks helped to expose was an attack in Baghdad in 2007 by two US AH-64 Apache helicopters that targeted buildings and then bore down on a group of people. More than a dozen were killed, including two Reuters journalists. It transpired none of them was armed.

Oh, yeah, look at those dead bastards, one US airman could be heard to say on the video footage.

Wikileaks published the video and a transcript in the spring of 2010. A month later, Chelsea Manning, a US army intelligence analyst who had sent hundreds of thousands of secret files to the whistleblower website, was arrested.

Chelsea Manning was detained for 7 years (Chelsea Manning was detained for 7 years )

She was sentenced to 35 years by a military court, serving seven years of detention before her sentence was commuted by the outgoing Barack Obama.

Assanges extradition case is being heard by Judge Vanessa Baraitser. Lawyers for Assange have told her if he is sent to the US and convicted, he faces up to 175 years in a high security prison, locked up for 23 hours a day.

To those who respect due process and natural justice, the Assange case should have been thrown out of court on the first day of the hearing, says Pilger.

I sat through much of what was a shameful spectacle; and if Assange is extradited to an American hellhole, the terms 'British justice' and 'British sovereignty' will be shredded of meaning.

There has been speculation that Donald Trump, who benefited when WikiLeaks published emails belonging to the Democratic Party on the eve of its 2016 convention and revealed an attempt to undermine the campaign of Bernie Sanders and advance that of Hillary Clinton, may offer Assange a pardon.

Among those who asked for him to do so was Stella Moris, Assanges partner and mother of two of his children. She made one such appeal on Fox News.

Ms Moris is expected to attend court on Monday along with his legal team.

Writing in the Mail on Sunday, she said it will "not only be an unthinkable travesty" if Assange loses the extradition case, but "the ruling would also be politically and legally disastrous for the UK".

"In the US, I believe Julian would face a certain and monstrously unjust conviction," she added.

Previously, the court heard from Assanges lawyer, Jennifer Robinson, who said she was present when former Republican congressman Dana Rohrabacher and Trump associate Charles Johnson visited the WikiLeaks founder at the embassy and offered a pardon from the president.

The move was dependent on Assange issuing a statement denying Russia had provided the leaked Democratic Party emails.

The proposal put forward by congressman Rohrabacher was that Mr Assange identify the source for the 2016 election publications in return for some kind of pardon, assurance or agreement which would both benefit President Trump politically and prevent US indictment and extradition, she told the court in September.

Ms Rohrabacher admitted meeting Assange but denied passing on an offer from Mr Trump. The White House has also denied offering such a pardon.

Asked about the prospect of a possible pardon, Pilger said: Who knows what Trump and his cronies think.

He added: That we should be looking to a lawless American president to pardon a journalist for publishing truths says much about these grim times. The question serious journalists should be asking themselves is  who is next?
Local Police officers had to intervene to disperse massive crowds that gathered at an event at Marbella's La Canada shopping centre on Saturday that was also being broadcast live on television.

The event starred Kiko Rivera, Omar Montes and Luis Rollan as the Three Kings soon breached pandemic social distancing and maximum capacity guidelines as the public flocked to it.

Organised by the company Platea Galia, the event had to be cancelled shortly after starting, due to the crowd that gathered in the central square of the shopping centre.

At the same time there was a live broadcast with Telecincos 'Viva la vida' programme.

Despite being an event that had been announced as "without an audience" and that was going to be broadcast through the shopping centre's social networks, the popularity of the participants meant that the influx of people could not be controlled.

The shopping centre's statement. / SUR

Later the shopping centre issued a statement apologising for what happened and explaining that they had to resort to calling the police to restore order.
Lying closed for the past nine months in view of the Covid-19 pandemic, Panjab Universitys Dr Harvansh Singh Judge Institute of Dental Sciences and Hospital in Sector 25 may be reopened soon.

The Union ministry of health and family welfare had recently asked the state governments and UT administrations across the country to take steps to reopen dental colleges by January 4 following a suggestion by the Dental Council of India (DCI).

Therefore, a meeting to reopen PUs dental college was held on Saturday with vice-chancellor Raj Kumar. But, no decision was taken and another meeting is likely soon.

The emergency cases are already being attended to and classes are being conducted online. The varsity will take a decision on reopening the dental college and its facilities soon, said PUs official spokesperson Renuka Salwan.

Guidelines issued by DCI

According to the protocols issued by DCI, college authorities may reopen their campuses in a phased manner, ensuring safety, health and well-being of students, faculty and staff.

They should also be equipped to handle any eventuality arising due to Covid-19.

The guidelines mandate physical distancing of six feet and use of face masks. Faculty, students, paramedical staff and other supporting staff have to be trained on methods to control the transmission of coronavirus.

For clinical matters, DCI has prohibited attendants entry in the clinical area, except those with paediatric, geriatric and physically challenged patients, with all safety measures. Moreover, all dental procedures as prescribed in DCI Curriculum (BDS Course Regulations 2007) should be carried out in the clinics by students and faculty members with appropriate protection.
"This meeting will discuss Sudan's proposal aimed at reactivating the negotiations via giving a greater role for the AU experts to reach a binding legal agreement on the GERD according to Sudan's previous request and then look into the draft of understanding prepared by the AU experts to reach a satisfactory deal for the three parties," Xinhua news agency quoted Sudanese state media as saying in a report on Saturday.

Khartoum, Jan 3 (IANS) Sudan, Egypt and Ethiopia will hold a new round of talks on Sunday over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on the Nile river under the patronage of African Union (AU).

Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Irrigation of Sudan, Egypt and Ethiopia are expected to participate in the talks.

Sudan, Egypt and Ethiopia have been negotiating under the AU over technical and legal issues related to the filling and operation of the GERD.

Ethiopia, which started building the GERD in 2011, expects to produce more than 6,000 megawatts of electricity from the project.

But Egypt and Sudan, downstream Nile Basin countries that rely on the river for its fresh water, are concerned that the dam might affect their water resources.

--IANS

ksk/
The first baby born in Ireland in 2021 was little Brody McWilliam Brown, whose mum had recently tested positive for Covid-19.

"He's great. He's doing so well," his mum Jennifer McWilliams told the Irish Examiner from the National Maternity Hospital.

It's a bit crazy. You want to leave all that [Covid-19] in 2020 but the first baby born was to a mum who had it."

Ms McWilliams, aged 19, was due to give birth on January 13, but went into hospital on December 31 with chest pains and was induced later that day after she was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia. She gave birth at four seconds past midnight.

Brody surprised us by coming early, it is a fantastic start to the new year," she said.

"We cannot believe that he is the first baby born in Ireland in 2021!

"He certainly knows how to make an entrance!"

Master of the National Maternity Hospital Professor Shane Higgins said it was "ironic" that the first baby born in 2021 was to a Covid-positive mother.

On December 22, Jennifer had tested positive for Covid-19 despite having no symptoms at the time.

Brody McWilliams Brown, who weighed 7lbs 10oz, was born at four seconds past midnight.

"I went into hospital with contracting pains as his head was engaging and the hospital ran blood tests and a Covid-19 test just to rule it out. They didn't think I had it but I tested positive."

Ms McWilliams lost her sense of taste shortly after the positive result but her main concern was for her baby.

That was the most alarming part. Could I have passed it to him? But my doctor said that most babies born to mothers with Covid have not contracted it and some have been born with the antibodies.

"Hopefully he's one of them.

"My 10 days isolation is supposed to be up today but when I go home I'll still isolate just to be sure. I don't want to go out if I'm infectious.

"I would like to thank all the staff at The National Maternity Hospital who have just been brilliant and have taken the best care of both Brody and I despite me having Covid-19," she said.

We are absolutely delighted to welcome the first baby born in Ireland at The NMH at 4 seconds past midnight! Welcome to the world baby, Brody & huge congrats to Mum Jennifer. What a fantastic start to The New Year #NewYearBaby #welcometotheworld #TeamNMH pic.twitter.com/9T2mkfPRDS  The National Maternity Hospital (@_TheNMH) January 1, 2021

At Cork University Maternity Hospital, another baby boy was born at one minute past midnight.

Parents Karen Clarke Foley and Michael Foley, from Macroom, were overjoyed to welcome their fourth boy to the family.

Micheal said that they have not chosen a name for the new baby yet.

Having one of the first babies of the year born during a pandemic has been a surreal experience but the family are over the moon, Michael said.

Its been such a hard year for so many people, everybody has endured in different ways. But weve been blessed that from the late spring we knew that, all going well, we had a baby coming.

He gave us hope and brought us through the year. He gave more to us during lockdown than he will ever know.

No matter whats happening around you, life always goes on. Theres a future and that future brings hope.
John 'Chick' Donohue, now 79, travelled from the US to the Vietnam War

He wanted to deliver beers to friends serving on the frontline

Tells how he witnessed the deadly Tet Offensive while trying to leave Vietnam

Shares his story in The Greatest Beer Run Ever: A Crazy Adventure In a Crazy War

A retired US Marine has shared the extraordinary story of how he travelled from New York to Vietnam during the Vietnam War to deliver beers to friends serving in the US Army.

John 'Chick' Donohue, now 79, set off by boat on his 8,000-mile, four-month journey in November 1967. At the time he was 26 years old and had already served four years in the US Marine Corps.

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Writing in his book, The Greatest Beer Run Ever: A Crazy Adventure In a Crazy War, Donohue explains he had wanted to bring cheer to US soldiers serving in Vietnam, particularly in light of the growing strength of the anti-war movement.

Donohue tells how his journey led him to be caught in the middle of one of the Vietnam War's fiercest campaigns, the Tet Offensive, and how he was held at gunpoint by US troops suspicious of his presence in Vietnam.

The book is set to be adapted into a movie, starring Dylan O'Brien of Teen Wolf fame.

John 'Chick' Donohue, 79, recounted how he travelled 8,000 miles from New York City to Qui Nhon by boat just to deliver beer to his friends who were serving in the Vietnam War (pictured in 1967 on his trip to Vietnam)

Donohue, pictured with another soldier during his trip to Vietnam between 1967 and 1968

Retired Marine Donohue, pictured now, said the experience he had in Vietnam change how he viewed the conflict, and made him more sympathetic of anti-war protesters

Setting off for Vietnam by boat, Donohue was armed with only beer, socks and a razor, as well as documents identifying him as a US Marine.

He made the decision not to tell his mother about his destination.

'I didn't dare mention Vietnam. I had made last-minute dockside calls to her before, but this was different: for the first time, I was scared,' he writes.

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'When I had been to Vietnam before as a mariner, I hadn't ventured much out of port and into the interior. This time, I would, and I didn't know what I would find.'

The journey was made all the more difficult because Donohue had only a vague idea of where the 12 friends he wanted to find were based.

Donohue, pictured, recounted his adventure in his memoirs The Greatest Beer Run Ever

He encountered high-ranking Army officers who were suspicious of him and believed he was a CIA agent sent to infiltrate local Vietnamese communities and turn them against the communists. Meanwhile troops were confused as to why he would volunteer to travel to such a notoriously dangerous war zone.

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However Donohue did not escape the action completely. He recounts being caught in the middle of an overnight ambush attempt by the Viet Cong while he was with his friend Rick - one of the recipients of the beers.

'The NVA [North Vietnam Army] started firing machine guns. Our guys returned fire. I kept really low in that hootch and I was getting ready to tun across that field. The firefight went on and on,' he writes.

After the night went quiet again, Donohue shared his thoughts: 'I have to admit, I was shaken.

'Everybody was up and on alert for the rest of the night, no doubt, praying for daybreak. Finally, dawn came and Rick and his squad headed out with rifles drawn on the jungle.

'After a few minutes, they returned and picked me up. I don't know what they saw out there, but we ambled back inside the base perimeter in silence.'

Donohue (right) with his friend Ricky Duggan (left) and other soldiers after he delivered beer to them in Quang Tri Province in 1968

Two US soldiers stationed in Vietnam during the war, which lasted from 1955 to 1975 and saw an estimated 365,000 South Vietnamese civilians die

Later, moments before he was due to leave Vietnam, Donohue became caught up in the Tet Offensive.

The offensive took place in the early hours of Vietnamese New Years Day on January 30 1968. It started with a series of surprise attacks by the North Vietnamese guerilla, who tried to overtake several US outposts in South Vietnam, including the US embassy.

What happened during the 1968 Tet Offensive? The Tet Offensive is the name given to a series of Vietnamese attacks against the US starting from January 30 to September 1968 during the Vietnam War. It was seen as a major escalation of the Vietnam War and one of the largest campaigns of the conflict. The offensive was directed by the Viet Cong and the North Vietnamese People's Army of Vietnam against the South Vietnamese Army of the Republic of Vietnam, the US forces and their allies. In a string of surprise attacks, the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese forces tried to overrun several outposts in South Vietnam, including the newly fortified US Embassy. North Vietnamese leader Ho Chi Minh had hoped the attacks would lead to a popular arising in South Vietnam but it didn't happen. The US and South Vietnamese forces were stunned by the attacks, but quickly recovered and struck back. It is estimated that 14,000 civilians were killed, and 24,000 wounded during the offensive.

The Offensive, named Tet after the Vietnam word for New Year's, lasted from January 30 to September

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Donohue, who still considered a civilian was in Saigon at the time where he hoped to visit the Embassy, he had a front row seat to the attacks.

In the aftermaths of the first series of attacks, he reflected on what the Viet Cong had been trying to achieve.

'I looked at the bodies lying on the ground and wondered how could they have thought for a second that they would succeed in overtaking and holding the US embassy. And, of course, they didn't. They had to know they were going to be killed,' he writes.

'There was no way they could stay there; the next day, the whole place would be exactly as it was before. But they would be dead. It was dumb dedication, I thought.

'But if, to them, success was getting in there and sounding a wakeup call back in the States, well, they had succeeded.

'The American public was shocked that our new, fortified embassy and all of Saigon - the capital of South Vietnam - had been overrun by the North Vietnamese and the Vietcong during the Tet offensive.'

Donohue was conspicuous in the middle of the action and at one point found himself being held at gunpoint by US Marines at an Air Force base.

'Truthfully, I wasn't sure he wouldn't shoot me,' he writes. 'After all, he was a marine. His orders were to stop any civilians trying to enter the airfield. and he was taking those orders literally.

'He ordered the other marine, a private,to follow me with his M16 pointed at me all the way to the tent, as if I were a prisoner.'

In the spring of 1968, Donohue returned to New York. The journey had changed the way he saw the war - and the anti-war movement.

Donohue's friend Ricky Duggan, left, and one of his fellow soldiers during the Vietnam War. Both men could not believe Donohue had traveled all this way to deliver them beer

Donohue during his time serving in the army, before he made the trip to Vietnam in 1967

'Gradually, I began to see that the protesters, however disrespectfully, were at least trying to stop this madness,' he wrote.

'They weren't acknowledging that so many young men were doing that they truly believed was their duty, to their country, their family, their neighborhood.

'They weren't acknowledging that the soldiers were patriots, that they were heroes. We, in turn, didn't see at the time that the protesters loved our country, too.

'What they didn't like was our leadership. They were trying to stop more boys from being killed for somebody else's legacy. After what I'd witnessed on my journey, I could definitely agree with that. '

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The Greatest Beer Run Ever: A Crazy Adventure in a Crazy War by John Donohue published by Monoray, is out for purchase.
A Madison County woman is recovering at Huntsville Hospital after she was found in a field off Ready Section Road two days after she was reported missing.

Shelby Clark and her dog stumpy had been missing since New Year's Eve and were reportedly seen in several areas, leaving search crews with a large area to sweep. After more than 24 hours of searching from volunteers and numerous agencies from Alabama and Tennessee, Clark was rescued Saturday morning by a member of the Bobo Volunteer Fire Department.

Madison County Sheriff Kevin Turner said aside from some slight hypothermia, Clark appeared to be in good shape, adding that stumpy helped lead rescuers to her.

"When the volunteer firefighters found her, the dog kept alerting to the firefighters and running back to Ms. Clark, Turner said. So, you know that saying that the dog is the persons best friend, you know it worked out great in this case and I don't think the dog ever left her side."

Representative Andy Whitt was part of the search party and said the community witnessed a New Years miracle in the efforts to find Clark.

"When you see a volunteer fireman or when you see a deputy on the street, thank them, Whitt said. Take the time to say thank you because they really make a difference in our communities and they made a difference in ours this morning."

Clark's family said Saturday night that she will be monitored in the hospital for a few days before she is released.
Mitt Romney has slammed 12 of his fellow Republican senators following news they plan to object to certifying Joe Biden's win when Electoral College results are tallied in Congress next week.

In a statement released on Saturday night, Romney described the move as an 'egregious ploy that 'dangerously threatens our Democratic Republic.'

The dozen rogue Republican senators who say they'll oppose the vote certification include Ted Cruz of Texas and Josh Hawley of Missouri.

Both men have been touted as future leaders of the GOP, and may be eyeing a run for the White House in 2024.

In his statement, Romney said he believed the senators' 'ambition had eclipsed principle'.

He also claimed that the decision not to certify the Electoral College results 'has the predictable potential to lead to disruption, and worse.'

Romney is not the only Republican senator to oppose the rogue group.

Pennsylvania Sen. Pat Toomey and Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski - who are both moderates - have similarly sent out messages voicing their disapproval.

'I acknowledge that this past election, like all elections, had irregularities. But the evidence is overwhelming that Joe Biden won this election,' Toomey posted on Twitter.

Murkowski said in a statement: ' I will vote to affirm the 2020 presidential election. The courts and state legislatures have all honored their duty to hear legal allegations and have found nothing to warrant overturning the results.'

Mitt Romney has slammed 12 of his fellow Republican senators following news they plan to object to certifying Joe Biden's win when Electoral College results are tallied in Congress next week

In a statement released on Saturday night, Romney described the move as an 'egregious ploy that 'dangerously threatens our Democratic Republic'

Pennsylvania Sen. Pat Toomey similarly sent out messages voicing his disapproval over plans by 12 Republican senators to vote against certifying the election results

Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska became the third Senator to publicly denounce her Republican colleagues

The outrage from Romney, Toomey and Murkowski came just hours after Ted Cruz and 10 other GOP senators announced they were demanding the appointment of an emergency commission to conduct a 10-day audit of the election returns in 'disputed states'.

Until such a commission is appointed, they declared that they intend to vote on January 6 to reject the electors from those states - a largely symbolic move that has little chance of preventing Biden from taking office.

The 11 senators will effectively be joined by Sen. Hawley, who earlier this week became the first sitting member of the Senate to announce he would challenge the election result.

Cruz was joined in the statement by Senators Ron Johnson, James Lankford, Steve Daines, John Kennedy, Marsha Blackburn, Mike Braun, along with Cynthia Lummis, Tommy Tuberville, Bill Hagerty, and Roger Marshall, all of whom will be sworn in as senators on Sunday in the new Congress.

In a statement, Cruz and the other senators said they intend to vote to reject electors from swing states that have been at the center of President Donald Trump's unproven assertions of election fraud and will call for the establishment of a commission to investigate claims of fraud on an emergency basis.

'We intend to vote on January 6 to reject the electors from disputed states as not `regularly given and `lawfully certified (the statutory requisite), unless and until that emergency 10-day audit is completed,' they wrote in the statement.

'We do not take this action lightly,' they said.

It comes in defiance of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, who has pleaded with his caucus not to attempt to block certification of the Electoral College results.

In conference calls with colleagues, McConnell has reportedly argued that any attempt to block certification of Biden would be futile, and only divide the party.

The dozen rogue Republican senators who say they'll oppose the vote certification include Ted Cruz of Texas, pictured on Saturday

Senator Hawley of Missouri (above) was the first to defy McConnell by announcing he would join House Republicans in objecting to the state tallies on January 6

Senators (left to right) Ron Johnson, James Lankford, Steve Daines signed on with Cruz

Senators John Kennedy, Marsha Blackburn, Mike Braun also joined Cruz's faction

Also joining Cruz were incoming Senators (left to right) Cynthia Lummis, Tommy Tuberville, Bill Hagerty, and Roger Marshall, all of whom will be sworn in as senators on Sunday

A number of Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives also plan on contesting the vote tally.

The days ahead are expected to do little to change the outcome. Biden is set to be inaugurated January 20 after winning the Electoral College vote 306-232.

Senator Hawley of Missouri was the first to defy McConnell by announcing he would join House Republicans in objecting to the state tallies during Wednesday's joint session of Congress.

The moves drew swift condemnation from Democrats, including former Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill, who tweeted 'There are actually 12 Senators 'pointing a loaded gun' at the heart of democracy. They should always be known as the #dirtydozen.'

The Dirty Dozen was a 1967 war film about about ragtag group of hardened criminals who were recruited to form an elite Allied commando unit sent on a virtual suicide mission against high-ranking Nazi officers.

On the other side of the Republican party's split, Senator Ben Sasse of Nebraska warned such challenges are a 'dangerous ploy' threatening the nations civic norms.

The issue is forcing Republicans to make choices that will set the contours of the post-Trump era and an evolving GOP. Caught in the middle is Vice President Mike Pence, who faces growing pressure and a lawsuit from Trumps allies over his ceremonial role in presiding over the session Wednesday.

'I will not be participating in a project to overturn the election,' Sasse wrote in a lengthy social media post. Sasse, a potential 2024 presidential contender, said he was 'urging my colleagues also to reject this dangerous ploy.'
A Dover Township firefighter was rescued after falling through a floor while battling a house fire on New Years Day.

Crews were dispatched around 7:40 a.m. for a report of a fully engulfed home in the 6100 block of Mountain Road, according to the Dover Township Fire Department.

A mayday was called by our Engine Captain for a firefighter that fell through the floor, the department wrote in a news release on Facebook. The mayday was quickly cleared, after the firefighter was assisted out of the hole and was assisted outside.

No firefighters were injured, the release states.

A fire marshal is investigating the cause of the fire, which the news release said resulted in a devastating loss.

Dover Township Fire Chief Brian Widmayer declined to comment.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI  Virtual learning has been a nightmare for Lily Cheng-Schulting, whose teenage son William has severe autism.

William, 16, struggled with the disruption of his daily school schedule after a Nov. 18 month-long state mandate paused in-person learning at high schools and colleges, including special education programs, to slow the spread of COVID-19.

His friendly demeanor has given way to aggressive meltdowns over the course of remote instruction, and learning on a computer has been impossible, his mom said.

Every day is just a huge struggle at home, said Cheng-Schulting, who stays at home to help her son with remote learning. In terms of his behavior and how hes adjusted to the structure at home, its been quite a nightmare.

The coronavirus pandemic has disrupted education for every student in Michigan this year as K-12 schools have transitioned in and out of remote learning since March in response to the pandemic.

While educators have recognized that all students struggle with remote learning, there has been one group of students for whom they say online learning has proven to be virtually impossible  students with special needs.

At school, special needs students rely on personal, hands-on attention from trained specialists. The tools that other children are using for remote learning such as Zoom often arent accessible.

Virtual learning is non-existent for students like my son, Cheng-Schulting said. Its not like any other highly developed neuro-typical students, where you can put them in a desk and they can work. I cant even get (William) into a desk.

Students with cognitive and physical impairments often cannot sit in front of a computer and attend classes online, where they miss out on many important services of in-person instruction like physical and speech therapy.

School districts are federally mandated to provide the nations seven million students with disabilities an education designed to meet their individual needs under the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

While students with special needs are entitled to an Individualized Education Program (IEP), Cheng-Schulting said she barely has time to check the daily assignments emailed to her by Williams teacher every day, let alone teach her son.

William, who is nonverbal, struggles with weekly meltdowns caused by the switch to remote learning, his mom said.

Cheng-Schulting, founder and president of Disability A-TEAM of West Michigan, said her son lost the daily structure of riding the bus to the Lincoln Developmental Center in Grand Rapids, where he attends school, having peers in his classes and eating lunch at school.

Special education leaders in West Michigan have worked tirelessly to adapt to the pandemic and work with families to continue their students education, said Paul Dymowski, director of the Kent Intermediate School District center-based special education programs.

The center or centralized services are for those students across Kent ISDs 20 school districts that have cognitive and physical impairments and autism spectrum disorders that exceed the capacity of their districts.

Its almost impossible for us to truly have students make meaningful progress without that in-person, hands-on learning that we do best, but we are getting creative and looking at alternatives to that, Dymowski said.

Those alternatives have included offering families virtual meetings with teachers and allowing some students to come into the school buildings for one-on-one therapy sessions.

But when it comes to online classes, learning just isnt the same over a computer, Dymowski said.

A lot of our kids, because of the nature and severity of their disability, are not able to engage virtually, he said. Some of our students cant log on to the computer independently, because of their cognitive and their motor skills, they need someone there sits sitting there with them.

Thats why the majority of Kent County families picked in-person learning over the online-only option when school resumed in August, Dymowski said.

Of the more than 1,000 students enrolled in Kent ISDs Special Education Center Programs, more than 70% of families opted for in-person learning this fall, Dymowski said. Only one COVID-19 case was found within the program this fall, in a staff member.

While all K-12 teachers have had to quickly adapt to remote learning during the pandemic, special education teachers were already well equipped for that challenge, school leaders say.

Special needs educators have been able to navigate education amid the pandemic because they are used to adapting to very unique circumstances, said Karlie Parker, associate superintendent of special education for the Muskegon Area Intermediate School District.

It is not unusual for us to have to create different lessons for every student within our classroom, have different supplies available, have to communicate in different modes using different technologies, Parker said.

So, although our preference is heavily to be face-to-face with our students, I do think that they had some inherent skills to adapt to the individualized nature of remote instruction during this time.

Muskegon resident Kim Gables, whose twins receive special education services through North Muskegon Public Schools, said her sons teachers have gone above and beyond this year to support their students.

The district has been devoted to her sons throughout the pandemic, keeping up with IEP meetings and busing the boys to school from out of the district when they were doing hybrid learning up until November.

They have really bent over backwards for my voice, she said. Anything Ive asked for; theyve really done it and they really went to bat for my boys.

But despite the districts ongoing support, virtual learning has still been tough for the two boys, Max and Miles, who have cerebral palsy with some physical impairments that make it difficult to do remote learning by themselves, Gables said.

Its very chaotic, to say the least, she said. My husband works full time, so its me at home with them both, checking in with separate teachers, and having to have them in separate rooms so theyre not echoing both teachers and themselves.

Not having that face-to-face interaction with a teacher is really extremely hard and getting them to focus, sitting at a computer and sitting still and looking at a screen is pretty much impossible.

Remote learning has been an eye-opener for Grandville mom Kiri Salazar, who opted to keep her son Alexei in virtual learning since March to avoid COVID-19. The 16-year-old has severe autism and is nonverbal, she said.

Although Alexei used to love school  he enjoyed interacting with other students and swimming in the schools pool  he has adjusted well to life at home, his mom said.

And as the two have spent more time together, Salazar said shes become more attuned to her sons abilities, adjusting his school assignments to better the learning level of Alexei, who has severe autism and is nonverbal.

Ive been more present, Ive been able to observe, and Im not trying to force my kid to do something he may not be able to do anymore, she said.

Im adjusting his work to be more visual, Im trying to learn a way to communicate with him that is less likely to cause problems, because thats helpful to him and its helpful to me and this is why I dont think hes having quite as many explosions.

To help you navigate this complicated fall, were pleased to offer you a simpler way to get all of your education news: Our new Michigan Schools: Education in the COVID Era newsletter delivered right to your inbox. To receive this newsletter, simply click here to sign up.

More on MLive:

COVID-19 vaccine is not a golden ticket to normalcy in Michigan schools - yet

Michigans next school semester might look more like 2020 than a new year

Five things to know about the high school fall sports restart in Michigan
COLUMBIA  Despite a year of delays and an ongoing pandemic, reforming South Carolinas magistrate system remains top of mind for a group of lawmakers after The Post and Courier exposed how a flawed system of oversight provided fertile ground for incompetence and corruption on the bench.

Sen. Tom Davis, a Beaufort Republican, said he will urge his colleagues in the upper chamber this legislative session to revisit his calls to bolster the legal qualifications for magistrates and add a layer of scrutiny to their appointments.

Another new proposal would do away with loopholes that have allowed magistrates to shield ethical offenses or preside for years despite expired terms.

Those pieces of proposed legislation, part of more than a half-dozen pre-filed bills targeting magistrate reforms, received ringing endorsements in interviews with key members of the S.C. Senate Judiciary Committee, which would review any proposal before a floor vote.

Thats good stuff, said Sen. Chip Campsen, a Charleston Republican and senior committee member. Id be for making that a priority.

A key state House leader, Rep. Murrell Smith, has also indicated that he and his colleagues would welcome reforms that would bolster the legal acumen of the states magistrates. Smith, a Republican, is a Sumter attorney and the Houses top budget writer.

For his part, Campsen said he has been eyeing changes to the states magistrate appointment processes for years.

Even though the state constitution places appointments in the governors hands, in practice the executive office acts as nothing more than a rubber stamp. State senators hold broad authority to hand pick candidates of their choosing, and selections are almost never questioned before they are confirmed in voice votes in the upper chamber.

The process amounts to virtually zero scrutiny for the roughly 300 magistrates around the state who handled hundreds of thousands of criminal and civil cases a year, a joint investigation by The Post and Courier and ProPublica last year found.

Davis pointed to that reporting as a direct catalyst for his and the other latest proposals for reform.

Individuals are contacting representatives and senators  that makes its way into prefiled bills, Davis said. Its an indication of the publics raised awareness.

The newspaper investigation found that a flaw in the application process removed a requirement for magistrates to disclose if they have been disciplined for misconduct by the states judicial watchdog. A dozen sitting judges with prior ethics offenses skated through their last reappointment, no questions asked, the investigation found.

A bill from Sen. Tom Young, an Aiken Republican, aims to close that loophole. His proposal would mandate that a majority of the Senate approve reappointment for any magistrate with a prior offense. Young, also a Judiciary Committee member, told The Post and Courier that more detailed disclosures are essential to selecting qualified jurists.

His bill would also eliminate the practice among senators who have kept magistrates on the bench for years despite expired terms. That has allowed the judges to escape the reappointment process and avoid any questions whatsoever about their service.

The Post and Courier and ProPublica found that roughly a quarter of South Carolinas magistrates preside in this holdover status.

Magistrates are the busiest judges in the state. They sit in judgment on cases involving petty thefts, drunken driving, domestic violence, assaults and disorderly conduct. They also issue arrest warrants, set bail, preside over trials and conduct preliminary hearings to assess if there is sufficient probable cause to support felony charges such as murder, rape and robbery.

Yet the newspaper investigation found that roughly three-quarters of the states magistrates are not lawyers and could not represent someone in a court of law  yet they preside over them.

Davis has stressed that the state must bolster its legal qualifications for all magistrates. His proposal would increase their mandatory legal training from its current minimum of 57-and-a-half hours.

By comparison, South Carolina is stricter on its barbers: their training school mandates 1,500 hours.
On Saturday, January 2, on the first anniversary of the killing of Commander Qasem Soleimani, various Iranian political and military officials issued warnings over hostile actions that can be taken against Iran. This comes after the US and Iran has beefed up military activity in the Middle-East ahead of the first death anniversary of slain Iranian General Qassem Soleimani.

American military officials with knowledge of the latest intelligence from the region told CNN that Iran has increased its maritime presence in the Gulf in the last two days and is also moving short-range ballistic missiles into neighbouring Iraq. The US has repeatedly blamed rocket attacks on its embassy in Iraq's highly fortified Green Zone on Iranian proxies.

US - Iran battle

"New intelligence from Iraq indicate that Israeli agent-provocateurs are plotting attacks against Americansputting an outgoing Trump in a bind with a fake casus belli. Be careful of a trap, @realDonaldTrump. Any fireworks will backfire badly, particularly against your same BFFs, wrote Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on his official Twitter handle.

In another tweet, he wrote how President Trump is wasting money by sending armadas to their region. He further mentioned that intelligence from Iraq has indicated a plot to fabricate pretext of war. He further wrote, Iran doesn't seek war but will OPENLY & DIRECTLY defend its people, security & vital interests.

Read: Iran Alleges Trump Trying To Fabricate Reason To Start War, Says Tehran Will Not Surrender

New intelligence from Iraq indicate that Israeli agent-provocateurs are plotting attacks against Americansputting an outgoing Trump in a bind with a fake casus belli.



Be careful of a trap, @realDonaldTrump. Any fireworks will backfire badly, particularly against your same BFFs.  Javad Zarif (@JZarif) January 2, 2021

Instead of fighting Covid in US, @realDonaldTrump & cohorts waste billions to fly B52s & send armadas to OUR region



Intelligence from Iraq indicate plot to FABRICATE pretext for war.



Iran doesn't seek war but will OPENLY & DIRECTLY defend its people, security & vital interests.  Javad Zarif (@JZarif) December 31, 2020

Read: Iran's Plans For Uranium Enrichment Near Weapons-grade Levels, UN Nuclear Agency Confirms

The latest report of increased military activity by Iran in the region has raised concern among the security experts, who believe that it could escalate tensions between the two long-time foes. The relations between Iran and the US soured after the Trump administration withdrew from the nuclear deal in 2018. The tensions fired-up further after the US killed Qassem Solaimani in a drone strike last year in January, which resulted in Tehran attacking two American bases in Iraq a few days later.

Read: Donald Trump Accuses Iran Of US Embassy Attack, Threatens Strong Retaliation

Also Read: Iran Summons Turkish Envoy Over Prez Erdogan's Poem Which Allegedly Flared separatism

(Image Credits: Twitter/@JZarif)
A firefighter who heard the "wailing and crying" of family and neighbours outside a 2011 house fire in Logan that killed 11 people inside  including eight children  has lost a compensation case against Queensland Fire and Emergency Services worth almost $290,000.

Peter Giles, 66, claimed in the Brisbane District Court that QFES was negligent in its duty of care to him after he developed PTSD and was forced to retire on medical grounds six years before he was due to retire because of his age.

The scene of the 2011 Slacks Creek blaze, in which 11 people of Samoan origin, including eight children, lost their lives. Credit:Robert Shakespeare

Judge David Reid delivered his decision last month and ruled in favour of QFES, ordering Mr Giles to pay its legal costs dating back to March 5, 2015.

On August 24, 2011, 11 people of Samoan origin, including eight children, lost their lives in a house fire at 60 Wagensveldt Street in Slacks Creek, about 20 kilometres south-east of Brisbane's CBD.
EIR LEAD EDITORIAL FOR SUNDAY, JANUARY 3, 2021

Citizens Commission on Truth in ElectionsDefeat the Vote Frauds

Jan. 2, 2020 (EIRNS)The LaRouche Organization and the Schiller Institute today hosted a powerful virtual Town Hall meeting with representatives of the state legislatures and activists from four of the states in which the presidential election is contested, and others, presenting evidence of the massive vote fraud and irregularities in the election, and discussing the profound impact of this fight for the future of the nation and the world. The forum was part of a mobilization of concerned citizens to create a Citizens Commission for Truth in Elections, which will hold a founding conference on Jan. 17. As expressed by the moderator Dennis Speed of the Schiller Institute in opening the Town Hall meeting, the stealing of the Nov. 3 election is not only a threat to Donald Trumps reelection, nor even simply to the U.S. Constitution, but a threat to civilization, to determinein the words of Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War regarding the American System experimenttesting whether that nation, or any nation so conceived, and so dedicated, can long endure.

Speaker after speaker reported on the massive evidence, in plain sight, of the irregularities and outright fraud in Pennsylvania, Georgia, Michigan and Wisconsin, insisting that if this fraudulent election is allowed to stand, then the faith in the electoral process in the United States will be destroyed. They addressed the role of the corrupt media, which repeats the mantra of unsubstantiated claims of vote fraud ad nauseam, and the corrupt courts, which have dismissed every case, not on the merits, but on procedure, without hearing the evidence. It was emphasized that the clear language of the Constitution grants the state legislatorsnot the courts nor other officialsthe sole responsibility for electoral rules in each state, but that this fact has been repeatedly broken in several states. The focus now is on Jan. 6, when the electoral votes are to be presented to a Joint Session of Congress. Already several members of the House of Representatives and the Senate intend to challenge the electors from the contested states.

Most important is the case of Pennsylvania. State Rep. Russ Diamond informed the meeting that the newly elected members of the Commonwealth Legislature will be sworn in on Jan. 5, the day before the meeting of the U.S. Congress, and 59 members of the state House and six members of the state Senate intend to protest the certification of the Biden electors. Republicans are in control of both Pennsylvania houses. Rep. Diamond reviewed the study done by himself and Rep. Frank Ryan, which found that there were 170,000 more ballots counted than there were voters who voted for President (the vote differential between Trump and Biden was about 80,000 votes).

Leah Hoopes, a Trump elector from Pennsylvania and president of the Pennsylvania Voter Alliance, said that the late Lyndon LaRouche and Donald Trump would have been great allies, pointing to the historic fight between the British colonial system keeping the world backwards, and the American System of fostering peace and development. She emphasized that the world is watching, and that she never imagined that she would be in the forefront of such an historic fight, but that this is what it means to be an American citizen, fighting for the sovereignty of each person. Im taking a chip off the block of Donald Trump, and even of Lyndon LaRoucheI will only address the truth. Im not shutting up.

Martha Rollins, who has worked with Code Pink around the world, described how British and U.S. intelligence circles had carried out regime change operations in Syria, Honduras and elsewhere: Through the media they demonize the President, using vote fraud, fomenting dissent, then violence, then putting their person in power. The people who ran these operations around the world are the same people running the campaign against Trump.

Several speakers praised the Schiller Institute and The LaRouche Organization, as well as the website Gateway Pundit, for giving voice to those fighting for the truth and integrity in elections, Joe Hoft, from the Gateway Pundit, also addressed the meeting, pointing out that the website now has over 4 million subscribers. He called on President Donald Trump to release all documents related to the Russiagate hoax and other aspects of the coup attempts against Trump. He also declared that Julian Assanges case is scheduled to be decided by the British court January 4, and called on the President to pardon him.

Moderator Dennis Speed and the Schiller Institutes Harley Schlanger provided historical context to the crisis facing mankind today, also urging President Trump to turn over the chessboard by pardoning Assange and Edward Snowden, and exonerating Lyndon LaRouche. Schlanger added that a Special Prosecutor regarding the vote fraud is urgent, as the only hope for getting to the truth. Senatorial candidate in New York Diane Sare reminded the audience that Ramsey Clark, who represented Lyndon LaRouche on appeal in the illegal prosecution by the same corrupt networks who ran Russiagate against Trump, said in the 1990s that if the illegal prosecution of LaRouche were allowed to stand, that no one would be safe.

Today, President Trumps best approach to stop the coup is to exonerate LaRouche, forcing the truth to light about the British Empires historical effort to destroy the American System, to drag their former colony back into their Imperial division of the world, their Malthusian policies, their colonial warfare, and even their nuclear confrontation with Russia and China. This is why the British hate Trump, as they hated LaRouche. These next few weeks will determine whether the Americans will prove to be little, as Schiller said of the French in the face of the Jacobin mobs, or if they will rise and declare their human love of truth, and restore the American Republic.
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Situated about 130 km from Jaipur, Ranthambore National Park is located in the Sawai Madhopur district of southeastern Rajasthan which is rich in heritage and wildlife. From offering the sight of the Royal Bengal Tiger in action to a view of Princess Padmavatis sati site, the place is a tourist attraction and has grabbed the attention of photographers, especially those interested in wildlife.

Recently, Bollywood stars Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh, Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor visited the place on New Year and even ejoyed a jungle safari. If you are planning an exotic trip next weekend with your family members or close knitted friends, Ranthambore National Park is your paradise as it was once the hunting grounds of Jaipurs Maharajas.

It is located at the junction of the Aravali and Vindhya hill ranges and covers an area of 400 sq kms approximately. Here are 5 serene attractions of Ranthambore that you should check out on your next trip to one of North Indias largest national parks:

1. Ranthambore Fort

Believed to have been constructed by the Chauhans in the 10th century, Ranthambore Fort stands atop a hill of 700 ft as it was built for safety measures. Nestled deep inside the Ranthambore National Park, the fort boasts of seven towering gates - Ganesh Pol, Andheri Pol, Navlakha Pol, Hathi Pol, Satpol, Suraj Pol and Delhi Pol. Mahadeo Chhatri, Toran Dwar, and Sametonki Haveli apart from domes, stone pathways, thick walls, water tanks and temples.

RANTHAMBORE Fort, a colossal citadel founded in 944 by the Chauhan Rajputs.

The land occupied by the national park was once used by the Rajput rulers of Jaipur as private hunting grounds #India pic.twitter.com/YZnF6252Xm  ArchitectIndia (@Archite_India) September 11, 2020

Though the entry is free for all visitors, the best time to visit the Ranthambore Fort is between April to October. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site under Hill Forts of Rajasthan, the Ranthambore Fort offers a picturesque view of the sunset along with serene panoramic views of the National Park.

2. Padam Talao

One of the largest lakes in the city, Padam Talao too is located deep inside the Ranthambore National Park where Princess Padmavati would bathe and later commited sati. Visitors are not allowed to go near it since it hosts several animals like the rare Chinkara Deer and even crocodiles.

Raj Bagh ruins near Padam Talao in #Ranthambore pic.twitter.com/83djrAKgsW  Ranthambore Park (@ranthamborepark) September 5, 2015

However, one can catch a glimpse of it from the Ranthambore Fort or during a jeep safari. The lake is punctuated by beautifully ornate Jogi Mahal.

3. Raj Bagh Ruins

This is another place which you can only enjoy from a distance during your wildlife jeep safari as the ruins are surrounded by dense jungle which often serves as the hideout for Royal Bengal Tigers. Situated between Padam Talo and Raj Bagh Talo, the Raj Bagh Ruins add an air of mystery and history to the exotic backdrop of the Ranthambore National Park with their worn out arches, palace outhouses, domes and steps.

Raj Bagh Ruins:

These ruins are located between the Padam Talao (lake) and the Raj Bagh Talao in Ranthambore.

Know more about this place: https://t.co/5D54SDwg5I#ranthamborepark pic.twitter.com/WRxbUE6Vsr  Ranthambore Park (@ranthamborepark) May 2, 2019

4. Bakula

This densely forested region is one of the places where you can spot the Royal Bengal Tiger apart from other wild animals and even tigresses with their cubs near water bodies during the summer season. Carry a pair of binoculars during your Jeep Safari to spot several wild animals near a number of small pools, water holes and a thick coverage of trees.

5. Kachida Valley

Unlike the above four attractions, this tourist destination is located on the outskirts of Ranthambore National Park. The bee hives, the large ant hills, sloths and a large population of panthers make the Kachida Valley a must visit for all photography enthusiasts.

Apart from wild animals, Ranthambore National Park is also home to around 320 species of birds includes Bulbul, Mynas, Falcons, Graylag Goose, Woodpeckers, Indian Gray Hornbills, Common Kingfishers, Herons, Flamingos, Pelicans and Storks among others.

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Depending on the attack ad, the Rev. Raphael Warnock is an anti-white opponent of cops and the military , an obstructer of child-abuse investigations or a phony denounced by his ex-wife .

Warnocks response on TV has been consistent: he likes policy  and puppies.

Ever since the start of the U.S. Senate runoff campaigns, the Democratic newcomer has relied on light-hearted ads where he walks dogs and jokingly brushes off the attempts of his Republican opponent, Sen. Kelly Loeffler, to demonize him. In person, Warnock avoids talking about the attacks or dismisses them as misleading.

Like most campaign ads, the ads from Loeffler and her allies contain varying degrees of truth. But Warnock has been attacked more than any other candidate in paid TV commercials in the Georgia runoffs. Some Democrats say hes not punching back hard enough. But as a Black man running against a white woman in the Deep South, fighting back is complicated.

Warnocks response, or relative lack thereof, isnt a mere reflection of his temperament. Its a deliberate calculation by his campaign, which believes that a Black candidate, particularly a Black man, cant afford to be seen as angry, aggressive or defensive when running against a white candidate  particularly a white woman.

The strategy, embraced by Black candidates in other races throughout the nation, is born of the fact that no Black Democrat has ever been elected to the U.S. Senate from the South. Only six African-Americans have ever been elected to the chamber and just two Black people have been elected governors in the nations history

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Even if the candidates dont explicitly bring up race, on the campaign trail, the specter of race still hovers. Black candidates need to constantly calibrate for it, said Jared Turner, who advised Mike Espy, a Black Democrat, in his unsuccessful senate bid this year against Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, a white Republican woman.

Its very hard for a Black man to be aggressive or even just respond in kind to a white female because if you do, theyre gonna call you ghetto, Turner said. Theyre going to call you combative, an angry Black man or angry Black woman  that youre unprofessional. They call us beasts. They call us dangerous. The dog-whistle politics of being too Black.

Story continues

Turner said the added dynamic of a Black man running against a white woman in the Deep South adds an extra layer of cultural complexity with echoes of Birth of a Nation, the first movie screened inside the White House in 1915, which depicted Black men in the Deep South absconding with white women.

Publicly, Warnock and his campaign have downplayed talking about race or the extra burden it could place on the candidate. But privately, advisers acknowledge its an ever-present reality that theyve war-gamed.

We have no reason to give [Republicans] more fodder for their attack ads, said one Warnock aide, adding that white suburban Georgians are those most likely to be turned off by Warnock if he hit back too hard. Theyre crucial for a Democrat win in the state, where a majority of the electorate is white.

You have to know your audience, the adviser said.

We had to be aggressive

Warnocks campaign knew that race was bound to be a defining feature of the Senate runoffs. Warnock is the only Black candidate in the two simultaneous campaigns; and hes the senior pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, the spiritual home of Martin Luther King Jr.

Some of Warnocks sermons address race in raw terms that can be uncomfortable for white voters  especially those who have never attended a Black church. And those sermons have been a treasure trove of opposition research and attack ads for Loeffler and her Republican allies.

Since the race to the runoffs began, after candidates in both U.S. Senate races failed to earn more than 50 percent of the vote on Nov. 3, Warnock has been attacked more than any other candidate in paid TV commercials in the other runoff race, according to data from the firm AdImpact.

Their data shows nearly 62,000 negative spots for Warnock compared to about 38,000 that bash Loeffler.

The anti-Warnock onslaught, and his reticence to fight back, concerns Democrats like Atlanta-based Rev. Darryl Winston, who penned an open letter, signed by more than 100 faith leaders, demanding that Loeffler stop attacking Warnock. Winston said Warnock wasnt pushing back hard enough.

Thats why we stepped up, Winston said. We had to be aggressive.

But just before Christmas, after a former Klansman took a selfie with Loeffler at a campaign event, Warnocks campaign slammed Loeffler in a campaign ad. Loeffler has denied knowing the man, but in his ad, Warnock said the Republican said the same thing back in September, when she appeared with the same man in another photo.

Loefflers campaign responded with her own spot accusing Warnock of anti-white hate speech in his sermons and supporting massive taxpayer payments for racial reparations. Warnock, however, said he supports studying reparations.

On Thursday, tensions escalated. A Fox News reporter asked Democrat Jon Ossoff, whos running against Loefflers fellow Republican Sen. David Perdue, if the hits on Warnock hurt his own campaign.

Kelly Loeffler has been campaigning with a Klansman, Ossoff said.

That wasnt the last word in what has been an increasingly contentious campaign. Loeffler responded by describing both Democratic candidates as socialists, a charge the two deny, and repeating a litany of attacks on Warnocks associations, some of which he disputes.

Ossoffs decision to escalate the discussion about race wasnt just a case of defending a friend in the trenches, however. It was an example of how Black candidates often have to rely on white allies to aggressively attack white opponents over race.

He said what Raphael couldnt. We [Black candidates] have to be nimble. But you cant respond head-on, said Espy, the former Senate candidate from Mississippi. His campaign, he said, used white suburban women to criticize his opponent, Sen. Hyde-Smith, for once donning Confederate garb.

Espy said in an interview he understood why some Democrats want Warnock to be more forceful  and why some were disappointed he wasnt aggressive during a November debate when Loeffler repeatedly tore into him. But he said Warnock smartly recognized the realities of race and the campaign trail.

Warnock has already excited the Black vote for him, but he needed to make sure not to incite the white vote against him, Espy said. He needed to keep it on a higher plane.

Sen. Kelly Loeffler gestures as she speaks during a campaign rally.

Pollster Matt Towery, a former Republican Georgia legislator and long-ago aide to Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich, said early vote numbers bear out Espys claims about Black voters. African Americans are already turning out in big numbers, while Republicans are worried about relatively low turnout from white rural voters. About 30 percent of the states voters are Black, 52 percent are white and the balance are of Hispanic, Asian and Pacific Island or unknown racial origin.

Towery called Loefflers recent hard-hitting ad against Warnock a gamble... This is a stumper for me. I havent seen anything like this where theyre basically saying the man doesnt like whites. Theyve thrown down the gauntlet ... to turn out their base of white voters.

Other Republicans echoed this concern, arguing that with Georgias rapidly changing demographics, Republicans are taking a risk with the way they approach race.

I do think we as Republicans have to be more careful about words like radical and the imagery were using around them to make sure were not using racial overtones or undertones said Heath Garrett, a Republican strategist and former campaign manager to Sen. Johnny Isakson.

Loeffler and her defenders say theyre not engaged in racial attacks but instead are highlighting the disconnect between Warnock the candidate, who downplays race, and Warnock the preacher, who focuses on it. To establish that narrative, the National Republican Senatorial Committee released an ad Wednesday that used police body camera footage of Warnocks ex-wife talking to police during a domestic dispute with the pastor. In it, she describes Warnock as a great actor. (No one was arrested.)

In an interview with POLITICO on Thursday, Loeffler said her ads aren't criticisms. These are facts.

Georgians need to know who [Warnock] is, she continued. He's running ads with puppies in them because he wants to distract from his own words.

Then on Saturday, Loeffler in a campaign speech tried to link Warnock to spousal and child abuse and said it was not a coincidence that Harvey Weinsteins lawyer had contributed to him  a statement that Warnock backers said was an example in trafficking in dangerous and inaccurate stereotypes.

But when asked about Loefflers attack ads on CNN, Warnock said, Im not concerned about Kelly Loeffler. She can call me whatever she wants. I'm not going to be dragged down into the mud.

The great pretender

Warnock does talk about race on the campaign trail, from discussing racial disparities in the pandemic to police brutality toward people of color. His ads have aimed to counter the narrative that hes dangerous. The campaign cut several television spots with dogs, who belong to Warnocks supporters, both to challenge the stereotype of Black men and to endear him to a broader swath of voters.

Vernon Jones, a conservative Black Democrat and former state representative from DeKalb County who supports Loeffler and Perdue, called Warnock the great pretender. He pretends hes going right. But hes really going left.

Jones dismissed complaints that Loeffler is engaging in racial politics. Anti-Black bias exists, he said, but it comes from liberals of all races denigrating African American conservatives.

After a summer of protests and heightened attention to the issues of race after a Minnesota cop killed George Floyd, Black candidates say they have to walk an extra-taut tightrope.

Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-Ill.), the youngest Black woman in Congress, won reelection by just over 5,000 votes in her majority-white district. Her campaign focused heavily on healthcare, something she cited in her first run as a neutral issue that would not alienate the voters she needed.

South Carolina's Jamie Harrison struck a similar tone in his campaign, taking moderate stances on issues of policing that appealed to a broader swath of voters, while underlining the historical significance of his candidacy as a Black man running for Senate. He still lost against Sen. Lindsey Graham by 11 percentage points.

Even Barack Obama grappled with the issue of race on the campaign trail, especially in 2008, when an adviser said the campaign tried to avoid talking about it because he didnt want to scare off white moderates and swing voters. Obama ended up making a historic speech about race after incendiary comments from his pastor, Jeremiah Wright, became a campaign issue.

Twelve years later, and Warnock is also facing questions about his past associations with Wright. But while no one expects Warnock to give an Obama-style speech about race, Democrats say it's time for him to discuss it.

In this Black Lives Matter movement and post George Floyd, you need to talk about race, said consultant Rosy Gonzalez, who led the independent expenditure group for Harrison in South Carolina, advised Underwood in Illinois and worked for Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick and 2018 Florida gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum.

"Its the elephant in the room, Gonzalez said.

Still, she said, Black candidates have to disagree without being disagreeable.

James Arkin contributed to this report.


Welcome to my genealogy blog. Genea-Musings features genealogy research tips and techniques, genealogy news items and commentary, genealogy humor, San Diego genealogy society news, family history research and some family history stories from the keyboard of Randy Seaver (of Chula Vista CA), who thinks that Genealogy Research Is really FUN! Copyright (c) Randall J. Seaver, 2006-2021.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei welcomes a group of artists and filmmakers while exchanging pleasantries and cracking a joke about reports a prominent filmmaker had received residency in Canada.



"I hear you've been Canada-ized," Khamenei says to the director in a documentary shown on state TV. He then pokes fun at another man who he says has been active since before the 1979 Islamic Revolution, good-naturedly calling him a "taghouti" -- someone affiliated with the Pahlavi monarchy, which was ousted in the revolution.



Khamenei is also shown carefully listening to his guests, who are sipping tea and nibbling on cookies. Some participants at the meeting later praise the "warm" and "friendly" atmosphere and claim they were able to speak their minds freely. Another added that meeting Khamenei had given them all hope.



The scenes are part of a propaganda series called Informal that recently aired on state-controlled television and was shown on Iranian news sites.



Informal also includes Khamenei meeting with veterans of the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq War who reminisce about the tragic conflict and the "martyrs" they served with.



One man -- who lost his arms in an explosion -- says he was overwhelmed with emotion when Khamenei embraced him.



The creators of Informal say it shows "informal and intimate" weekly meetings that Khamenei has held in recent years with cultural activists, artists, scientists, and others.

Carefully Choreographed



Informal is, in fact, very carefully choreographed to portray Khamenei -- who has increasingly relied on his feared security apparatus to tighten his grip on power and silence dissenting voices -- in a positive light as an all-caring leader for Iranians who understands the difficult issues in their lives.



In the documentary, the uncompromising authoritarian leader who has ruled Iran for more than three decades says he reads reports from average Iranians "every day."



"Many of the reports [offer] criticism [about various issues] and we follow-up," Khamenei claims.



"It's not as if we imagine that we are living in the paradise of the Islamic republic that was created in our minds, no. We definitely have issues in our work [that we must deal with]," he says, claiming that the "problems" and "deviations" in society do not harm the much-criticized clerical establishment as a whole.

Participants in the meetings with Khamenei are reportedly handpicked from among supporters of the Islamic government and those close to the hard-line faction of the establishment, which Khamenei often sides with.



In the propaganda video published ahead of the country's June 2021 presidential vote, Khamenei also repeats his 2019 call for a young and ideologically committed president to be chosen amid growing media speculation that a "military" official could win the election on the heels of the hard-line takeover of parliament last year.



That victory was largely engineered by the mass disqualification of thousands of hopeful candidates, mainly reformists and moderates.



"God willing, we will move towards putting young people at the top of matters," Khamenei says in response to a young activist who complains that the youth are not being given a chance in politics.

Rising Dissent



The videos seem to clearly be an effort to improve the image of Khamenei, whose legitimacy has been significantly damaged in recent years and also to help create a positive legacy for the 82-year-old, who underwent prostate surgery four years ago amid rumors he was in ill-health.



Due to the deadly coronavirus pandemic that has hit Iran especially hard, the Iranian leader has in past months made very few public appearances while conducting most of his meetings with officials via videoconference.



Criticism of Khamenei is a red line in the Islamic republic, yet in recent years a growing number of Iranians have openly challenged him, including anti-government protesters who have set his image on fire and called for his downfall. Other activists have publicly called for him to resign.

The Informal series was broadcast amid increased public distrust with the clerical establishment, which in November 2019 used lethal force against demonstrators, slaughtering hundreds of people, including children.



The dismal state of the country's economy -- which has been crushed by U.S. sanctions reimposed after U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from a 2015 nuclear deal -- has resulted in increased public discontent.



Following the deadly 2019 crackdown on protests sparked by a sudden, steep rise in the price of gasoline, opposition figure and former Prime Minister Mir Hossein Musavi compared Khamenei to the Shah of Iran who was toppled in 1979.

"The killers of the year 1978 were the representatives of a nonreligious regime and the agents and shooters of November 2019 are the representatives of a religious government," Musavi was quoted as saying by the opposition website Kalame. "Then the commander in chief was the shah and today, here, it is the supreme leader with absolute authority."



Musavi, his wife Zahra Rahnavad, and reformist cleric Mehdi Karrubi have been under house arrest since 2011 for publicly challenging Khamenei and criticizing human rights abuses after protesting what they said was a fraudulent presidential election.



In a scene in the propaganda series, filmmaker Abdolhassan Barzideh -- who appears to be carefully choosing his words -- tells Khamenei that he feels the Iranian leader is closer to a certain segment of society.



"Special figures and groups are around you [while] you're expected to be the leader of all the people," Barzideh said, adding that "I don't feel you are sympathetic to each and every one of us and it is not implied that you love all the people."



It was a rare show of criticism.



"Whether people know it or not, I love each of them and I pray for them," said Khamenei, whose establishment has jailed scores of critics, activists, human rights defenders, and environmentalists and forced hundreds of others into exile. Khamenei then strangely added that he may be praying for some harder than he does for others.



Iran's supreme leader has in recent years reached out during election time to those who don't support the Islamic establishment, imploring them to vote. Iranian authorities want to use elections as a top claim to their legitimacy.



Barzideh told RFE/RL's Radio Farda that he issued the critical comment hoping it would help bring some change.



"If he can't do something [to bring change] then no one can. That's why I decided to speak up [during the meeting]. It remains to be seen whether it will be effective or not," Barzideh said in a telephone interview.

The propaganda documentary was released following the shock execution on December 12 of Ruhollah Zam, the administrator of the popular Amadnews channel that was accused of stirring up violence during protests that started in December 2017.



It also follows the September execution of 27-year-old wrestler Navid Afkari, who was hanged after being convicted of killing a state worker during 2018 protests despite a public and international outcry for officials to halt his execution.

Radio Farda broadcaster Babak Ghafouriazar contributed to this report.
India on Sunday formally authorised the emergency use of two coronavirus vaccines developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University, and by Hyderabad-based pharmaceutical firm Bharat Biotech. "The... vaccines of Serum Institute (AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine) and Bharat Biotech are being approved for restricted use in emergency situations," the Drugs Controller General of India, VG Somani said at a virtual briefing.

The decisions mark the first Covid-19 vaccine approvals for the world's second-most populous country, which after the United States, has recorded the most infections of the coronavirus disease. It is now expected to start a massive immunisation programme within about a week and hopes to inoculate 300 million of its 1.35 billion people free of charge in the first six to eight months of this year.

The AstraZeneca/Oxford shot, already approved in Britain, Argentina and El Salvador, will take the lead and Bharat Biotech's Covaxin will be administered under stricter conditions given no efficacy data has been released for it. Somani said the overall efficacy of the AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine was 70.42%, while Bharat Biotech's COVAXIN was "safe and provides a robust immune response".

The British-developed AstraZeneca/Oxford shot is being made locally by the Serum Institute of India (SII) and will be branded COVISHIELD, while Bharat Biotech has teamed up with the government-run Indian Council of Medical Research.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted that the fast-track approvals were "a decisive turning point to strengthen a spirited fight" that "accelerates the road to a healthier and Covid-free nation". Serum Institutes chief executive Adar Poonawalla tweeted after the approvals that the vaccine would be "ready to roll-out in the coming weeks". The government has already been holding nationwide drills ahead of the mass inoculation drive and 96,000 health workers have been trained to administer the shots.

Somani told reporters after the briefing that the drug regulator would "never approve anything if there is the slightest safety concern". "The vaccines are 100 percent safe," he said, adding that side effects such as "mild fever, pain and allergy are common for every vaccine".

Somani said the Bharat Biotech vaccine had been approved "in public interest as an abundant precaution, in clinical trial mode, to have more options for vaccinations, especially in case of infection by mutant strains".

Both vaccines will be administered in two doses and stored at 2-8 degree Celsius (36 to 48F), he said, without clarifying the intervals between the shots. A Reuters report quoted sources as saying that the doses would have to be given four weeks apart.

The AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine, which was granted its first approval by Britain on Tuesday, is cheaper and easier to use than some rival shots, such as the one from Pfizer Inc -- a major advantage in tackling a pandemic that has claimed more than 1.8 million lives worldwide The British shot, however, has been plagued by uncertainty about its most effective dosage ever since data published in November showed a half dose followed by a full dose had a 90% success rate, while two full shots were 62% effective.

The efficacy of the Indian vaccine could "go up much more" than 60% after two doses are given, Reuters quoted another source as saying. Bharat Biotech earlier said they could produce up to 300 million doses a year. India's regulator has also received an emergency-use application for the Covid-19 vaccine made by Pfizer with Germany's BioNTech -- the first shot to secure regulatory approval in the West.

India has reported more than 10.3 million Covid-19 cases and around 150,000 deaths, though its rate of infection has come down significantly from a mid-September peak.

The SII plans to sell the AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine to the Indian government at about Rs 250 ($3.42) per dose and Rs 1,000 on the private market.

The regulator on Sunday also gave permission to Cadila Healthcare Ltd to conduct Phase-III clinical trials on 26,000 Indian participants for its DNA-platform vaccine candidate, whose interim trial data showed was "safe and immunogenic with three doses when administered intradermally".
Northern Ireland has a gateway of opportunity following Brexit, the First Minister said (Liam McBurney/PA)

Northern Ireland has a gateway of opportunity following Brexit, the First Minister has said.

Arlene Foster pledged to mitigate the worst effects of the protocol requiring checks on some goods coming from Great Britain.

The DUP leader said the country had left the EUs common policies on farming and fishing.

What we have is a gateway of opportunity for the whole of the UK and for Northern Ireland and it is important that in this centenary year that we look forward to that and step through that gateway and take all the opportunities that are available for our people.

She told the BBCs Andrew Marr Show that Northern Ireland was out of the EUs customs union.

Expand Close Arlene Foster pledged to mitigate the worst effects of the protocol requiring checks on goods from Great Britain (David Young/PA) PA / Facebook

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Whatsapp Arlene Foster pledged to mitigate the worst effects of the protocol requiring checks on goods from Great Britain (David Young/PA)

The protocol keeps the country in the EUs single market for goods and means it applies EU customs rules at its ports.

In four years time the Northern Ireland Assembly at Stormont will be able to vote on whether it wants to remain within the regulatory system set up by the Northern Ireland protocol.

Mrs Foster said: I hope by that stage that people will see that it is much better to move out of these regulations and into the global market.

The end of the transition period late on New Years Eve brought into force the different regulatory and customs arrangements to the rest of the UK.

Customs declarations and additional regulatory checks are required on goods moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. Trade in the other directions remains largely unfettered.

Mrs Foster claimed nationalist parties in Northern Ireland had wanted a no-deal Brexit.

Arlene Foster doesnt care much for facts; indeed I dont think shes ever been interested in the 'jot & tittle' of reality Chris Hazzard, Sinn Fein

Sinn Feins South Down MP Chris Hazzard said: For those of you who arent aware by now, Arlene Foster doesnt care much for facts; indeed I dont think shes ever been interested in the jot & tittle of reality, so lets spell it out slowly.

The DUP voted against every Brexit deal put to a vote at Westminster.

SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said his party was totally against Brexit.

He added: The DUP championed it.

Trying to wash her hands of the new Irish Sea border  no-one will fall for it.

This is where the DUP have led unionism.

Expand Close The first affected ferry into Northern Ireland docked in Belfast at 1.45pm (Liam McBurney/PA) PA / Facebook

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Whatsapp The first affected ferry into Northern Ireland docked in Belfast at 1.45pm (Liam McBurney/PA)

The full consequences of the protocol will not be felt until later in the year, as several grace periods have been agreed between the UK and EU to reduce the volume of paperwork and certifications needed in the first few months of operation.

The first affected ferry into Northern Ireland on New Years Day docked in Belfast at 1.45pm having sailed from Cairnryan in Scotland earlier that morning.

There was no evidence of disruption or delay.

Officials are required to conduct physical checks on a selection of roll on/roll off lorries under the terms of the protocol.

The BBC has reported that a small number of lorries have faced delays at the new border control posts because several loads of food products arrived on Friday and Saturday without the correct paperwork.

This is being viewed as a specific timing issue related to the introduction of the new processes.

Weave published two guides to help you understand the new procedures when moving animals, plants, food and feed from Great Britain to Northern Ireland a have you read them? The Compliance Protocol and Guidance for Authorised Traders can be found here https://t.co/LtQZCYJarG pic.twitter.com/B7uFc8J2RP  DAERA (@daera_ni) January 3, 2021

A spokesman for the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs said: As a result of the Northern Ireland Protocol, there are new processes in place for businesses and individuals moving animals, food, feed and plants from Great Britain to Northern Ireland.

DAERA has been, and continues to engage with stakeholders to help them understand not only how to navigate the new systems, but what happens if there is non-compliance.

DAERA is also engaging with the other agencies involved and seeking assurance that the new processes are being applied before hauliers arrive in Northern Ireland, so that delays are minimised.

Northern Irelands chief veterinary officer, Dr Robert Huey has made it clear that while he will apply a pragmatic approach in the first week, the expectation from that point, is that businesses must arrive at points of entry having completed all the necessary paperwork and notifications.

We urge everyone to urgently familiarise themselves with the new procedures, documents and will continue to engage with stakeholders.

Download the Belfast Telegraph App Get quick and easy access to the latest Northern Ireland news, sport, business and opinion with the Belfast Telegraph App.

PA
One of controversial union boss John Setka's closest allies has quit his roles in preparation for taking on the top job in the mega-union representing 150,000 construction, forestry, maritime, mining and energy workers.

Militant Maritime Union of Australia president Christy Cain resigned from that role and as the union's West Australian state secretary at a meeting in December before his planned ascension to national secretary of the CFMMEU.

Christy Cain has been hailed by union allies as "effectively the national secretary-elect of the CFMMEU". Credit:Philip Gostelow

Mr Cain's move solidifies control of one of the nation's largest and most powerful unions  even as its mining and manufacturing divisions appear likely to split off  in a faction with a record of firebrand unionism but poor ties with large sections of the Labor Party.

In an internal report to members, obtained by The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald, the maritime union said Mr Cain chose to step down effective January 25 "to remove any further conflicts of interest that arose with [former national CFMMEU secretary] Michael O'Connor's resignation".
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Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-03 22:25:47|Editor: huaxia

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Wang Zefei, commentator on International affairs

The outbreak and spread of COVID-19 since the beginning of 2020 has severely affected economic and social development of countries around the world, and disrupted international cooperation as well. Looking at comments on China-Africa cooperation at the end of last year, we can find out that most were positive, but there were indeed negative tones about such cooperation. These comments fall into five categories, including the argument that China-Africa trade has gone through a free fall, the prediction that Chinas investment and financing to African countries will continue declining and never rebound, the pessimism about the future of China-Africa cooperation, the exaggeration of the return of Chinese people back home, and the accusation of environmental pollution by Chinese projects in Africa. These arguments and reports seem to be convincing, but in fact are alarmist and lacking in evidence. So what is the truth?

China and Africa have maintained dynamic economic and trade cooperation. China has contributed to Africas economic growth by over 20% for consecutive years. Despite a gloomy picture of the global market, China-Africa trade was approaching US$180 billion in 2020. Although it is lower than US$208.7 billion of 2019, in comparison with other countries, China will remain the biggest trading partner of African countries for the 12th year in a row. China has opened its door wider to African products. Over 400 African businesses from more than 40 African countries have attended the China International Import Expo (CIIE) for the past three edition, where the Zambian blueberries and Tanzanian soybeans have been imported for the first time to China. The Ethiopian coffee, Zambian honey, and Beninese cashew nuts were very popular at the third CIIE. The 3000 packages of coffee from Rwanda that had been difficult to sell due to the pandemic were sold out in a short while on line to Chinese consumers. China has also decided to offer financial support to the Secretariat of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), in order to promote a more balanced and diversified China-Africa cooperation.

China and Africa have continued investment and financing cooperation. Investment and financing cooperation is part and parcel of China-Africa economic and trade cooperation. On the one hand, due to the pandemic, all countries face the downward pressure of their economy while Chinas financing in Africa faces the same difficulty. However, such a decline will not be irreversible. With the easing of the pandemic in the world, Chinas financing in Africa will rebound again. On the other hand, Chinas investment in Africa was steady in 2020, with direct investment reaching US$3 billion, which was not easy at all. In June 2020, the Lekki Deep Sea Port Project in Nigeria was launched, having received over US$1 billion investment from Chinese business through public-private partnership (PPP). The project will significantly boost the transportation capacity and competitiveness of West Africa, and create a large number of jobs for the local people. Chinese businesses have also invested US$680 million in the form of build-operate-transfer (BOT) in the JKIA-Westlands Expressway project in Kenya. Currently, the project is well under way in spite of the pandemic, and is expected to be completed beforehand in 2021. All these projects are undertaken through the new models of China-Africa investment and financing cooperation, striving for a new and high-quality China-Africa cooperation. China has also signed debt suspension agreements with 15 African countries within the framework of G20, and has decided to forgive interest-free government loans that are due to mature by the end of 2020 for 15 African countries, ranking the first among G20 members in terms of deferral amount.

China and Africa have kept the momentum of practical cooperation. The Extraordinary China-Africa Summit on Solidarity Against COVID-19 was held in June 2020, making China the only major country that convened a summit with countries across Africa in 2020. China has provided rounds of high-demand supplies to all African countries and the African Union to help them combat COVID-19, and African countries have also been firm in their support to Chinas efforts on fighting against the pandemic. We have demonstrated China-Africa solidarity in times of difficulty. The Belt and Road initiative is very popular in Africa, with 44 African countries and the AU Commission having signed the Belt and Road cooperation documents with China, making up about a third of all countries and organizations that have entered into such agreements with China globally. The Chinese government and the AU Commission have recently signed the cooperation plan on jointly promoting the construction of the Belt and Road initiative. The 14th Senior Officials Meeting of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) was successfully held recently. China and African countries have implemented over 70% of the outcomes of the FOCAC Beijing Summit, with priority shifted to the areas of public health, economic recovery and peoples livelihood. China-Africa cooperation on digital economy has seen fast growth, with South Africas mobile operator and Chinas Huawei jointly issuing the first 5G commercial network in Africa. TikTok has become the fastest growing social application in South Africa, Kenya and Nigeria. In the first half of 2020, the newly contracted projects undertaken by the Chinese businesses in Africa totaled US$29.1 billion in value, a year-on-year increase of 33%. The freight volume of MombasaNairobi Railway and Addis AbabaDjibouti Railway, which were constructed by Chinese businesses, was also on the rise despite the difficulties. China is the only major economy that achieved positive growth in 2020, and is accelerating the building of a new development paradigm with domestic and international economic circulations reinforcing each other. The pie of China-Africa practical cooperation will surely grow bigger.

China-Africa people-to-people exchanges have overcome hardships and remain steady. Given the severity of the pandemic, countries around the world have tightened their border control, thus making people-to-people exchanges more difficult. Nonetheless, over 1100 Chinese cooperation projects have maintained operation in Africa, and a large number of Chinese technicians and workers held on to their positions in Africa. Bearing in mind Africas development and wellbeing of its people, China has sent thousands of employees of Chinese businesses back to Africa by commercial and temporary chartered flights. They are the most beautiful bridge connecting the hearts of the Chinese and African people. China has also sent medical expert teams of 184 people to 15 African countries. Nearly 1000 medical staff from 40 plus resident Chinese medical teams have chosen to stay in Africa to help African people go through the difficult time. In the second half of 2020, events like China-Africa Youth Gathering, China-Africa Think tank Forum and China-Africa Private Sector Cooperation Forum have been successively held, strongly promoting China-Africa friendship. Certain media and think tanks have spread the news that a large number of Chinese are leaving Africa, which is out of ulterior motives. With the Chinese Spring Festival arriving soon, it is common and understandable for the Chinese people to travel back home for reunion with their families, which is just like westerners going home for Christmas. More importantly, many of the Chinese returning to China still have their businesses in Africa. As Africa has become their second hometown, they will surely come back to Africa after the festival.

China and Africa have been committed to sustainable development. China and African countries uphold the principle of sincerity, real results, amity and good faith in their cooperation, and advocate joint, collaborated, green, safe and open development. As President Xi Jinping has said, green is gold. China-Africa cooperation should not be achieved at the cost of Africas environment and long-term interests. High energy consumption and high-pollution industries as well as outdated production capacity will never be transferred to Africa. Western media such as the CNN has solely focused on some individual coal power projects with Chinese participation, but deliberately ignored so many clean energy power stations built by China. What they are up to is self-evident. China has helped to build more than 80 big power facilities for Africa, most of which are hydro, wind or solar power plants, greatly easing African countries power shortage. Its suggested for CNN to take a close look at the Noor Ouarzazate Solar Complex, the worlds biggest solar power station, and the Garissa solar power plant of Kenya, the largest photovoltaic power station in East Africa. Both are built by Chinese enterprises. Green development is also one of the eight major initiatives committed at the FOCAC Beijing Summit. Currently, 39 green projects are in the process of construction or implementation in Africa, and the China-Africa Environmental Cooperation Center has been launched in Beijing, demonstrating Chinas sense of responsibility and sincerity to promote green development in Africa.

Undeterred by the raging pandemic, China-Africa cooperation has made impressive achievements. State Councilor Wang Yi will visit Africa soon, continuing the consecutive tradition of Chinese foreign ministers for the 31st time to choose Africa as the destination of their first overseas visit each year. The new FOCAC conference will also be held in 2021, which will inject new dynamism to China-Africa cooperation. We are convinced that no matter how the international situation and the global climate of pubic opinion may evolve, China-Africa cooperation will continue to take the lead of international cooperation with Africa. Building on the past achievements, China-Africa cooperation will move ahead steadily towards a better future.
Mirzapur: Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Ashutosh Sinha on Saturday claimed that people fear that COVID-19 vaccine can make them impotent. Sinha also backed party chief Akhilesh Yadav after the latter had said that he would not get vaccinated against COVID-19.

"If honourable Akhilesh Yadav has said this, then there will be something serious. We do not believe in the machinery of the government. He has said this based on facts. If he is not vaccinating himself, then I think COVID-19 vaccine might contain something, which can cause harm. Tomorrow, people will say the vaccine was given to kill/decrease the population. You can even become impotent, anything can happen," Sinha, SP Mirzapur MLC said while speaking to ANI.

"And If Akhilesh Yadav is saying this, then I think no one should get vaccinated in the state," he added.

Earlier in the day, Yadav had said that he will not get vaccinated against coronavirus for now as the "BJP government cannot be trusted".

"I will not take the COVID-19 vaccine at this moment. That too given by Bharatiya Janata Party. How can I trust BJP's vaccine, no chance? When our government will be formed, everyone will get a free vaccine. We cannot take the BJP vaccine," said Akhilesh during a press conference in Lucknow.

"The inoculation programme under the BJP-led regime could not be trusted," he added.

Yadav's response comes after Dr Shekhar Mande, Director General of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) said the COVID-19 vaccine is safe and would not have adverse effects and urged people not to hesitate to take it.

Union Health Ministry is carrying out pan-India COVID-19 vaccine dry run.

According to the Union Health Ministry, the objective of the dry run is to "assess operational feasibility in the use of COVID Vaccine Intelligence Network (Co-WIN) application in a field environment, to test the linkages between planning and implementation and to identify the challenges and guide the way forward prior to actual implementation".

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MILAN - While running Nissans North American operations from 2009 to 2011, Carlos Tavares had a reputation for closely watching costs with little tolerance for vehicles or ventures that didnt make money.

FILE - In this Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2020 file photo, CEO of PSA Groupe Carlos Tavares arrives for the presentation of the company's 2019 full year results in Rueil-Malmaison, west of Paris. Fiat Chrysler Shareholders of Fiat Chrysler and France's PSA Group are meeting Monday, Jan. 4, 2021 to vote on a merger that will create the world's fourth-largest automaker. The new company called Stellantis will be run by PSA CEO Carlos Tavares, who is known for cutting vehicles or ventures that don't make money.(AP Photo/Michel Euler, File)

MILAN - While running Nissans North American operations from 2009 to 2011, Carlos Tavares had a reputation for closely watching costs with little tolerance for vehicles or ventures that didnt make money.

Experts say that means Tavares, currently the head of PSA Group, is likely to follow that blueprint when he becomes leader of a merged PSA and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. The low-performing Chrysler brand might get the axe as could slow-selling cars, SUVs or trucks that lack potential.

Already the companies are talking about consolidating vehicle platforms  the underpinnings and powertrains  to save billions in engineering and manufacturing costs. That could mean job losses in Italy, Germany and Michigan as PSA Peugeot technology is integrated into North American and Italian vehicles.

You cant be cost efficient if you keep the entire scale of both companies, said Karl Brauer, executive analyst for the iSeeCars.com auto website. Weve seen this show before, and were going to see it again where they economize these platforms across continents, across multiple markets.

Shareholders of both companies are to meet Monday to vote on the merger to form the worlds fourth-largest automaker, to be called Stellantis. The deal received EU regulatory approval just before Christmas.

Tavares, who for years has wanted to sell PSA vehicles in the U.S., wont take full control of the merged companies until the end of January at the earliest.

He likely will target Europe for consolidation first, because thats where Fiat vehicles overlap extensively with PSAs, said IHS Markit Principal Auto Analyst Stephanie Brinley. Europe has been a money-loser for FCA, and factories in Italy are operating way below capacity  a concern for unions, given Fiats role as the largest private sector employer in the country.

We are at a crossroads, said Michele De Palma of the FIOM CGIL metalworkers union. Either there is a relaunch, or there is a slow agonizing closure of industry, in particular the auto industry, in Italy.

Italys hopes lie with the luxury Maserati and sporty Alfa Romeo brands, but De Palma said investments are needed to bring hybrid and electric technology up to speed. Fiats Italian capacity stands at 1.5 million vehicles, but only a few hundred thousand are being produced each year. Most factories were on rolling short-term layoffs due to lack of demand, even before the pandemic.

The merger is likely to also hit white collar workers, as Tavares is unlikely to keep engineering centres in Paris, Turin and Rodelsheim, Germany, where the Opel brand he acquired in 2017 is located, according to analysts.

FCAs North American operations, led by the popular Jeep brand and Ram pickup, are hugely profitable and likely will be left untouched for a while, Brinley said. Tavares just three years ago stated his desire to sell PSA vehicles in the U.S. within a decade. He said any global automaker has to sell in the U.S. market.

In December the companies announced that Fiat Chrysler CEO Mike Manley would run Stellantis operations in the Americas.

Larger Jeep and Ram trucks and SUVs are unique to the U.S. and generally dont sell well in Europe, so Brinley expects those to be designed by Fiat Chrysler in Auburn Hills, Michigan, north of Detroit. Eventually some cars and some smaller SUVs, though, will move to PSA underpinnings, she said.

PSA has a wider array of fuel-efficient smaller engines, and Fiat Chrysler will need those to meet government fuel mileage and pollution requirements worldwide. The PSA Groups goal is to offer its all models with electrified powertrains by 2025, an area where Fiat Chrysler also has lagged.

Analysts say the Chrysler brand could be in jeopardy in the U.S., where it has only two models, the aging 300 sedan and the Pacifica minivan. U.S. sales of the brand were off 19% through October.

The two companies have yet to announce any decisions on brands. Fiat Chrysler, in a statement from Michigan, said one of Stellantis' greatest strengths is its historic brands, including 10 from FCA, adding that there are no plans to close any plants. But PSA said in a statement from Paris that it hasn't announced any plans for the brands. We will communicate in due on this matter, as the EGA (shareholders' vote) is not the closing date, neither the announcement of a strategic plan, the statement said.

Brauer said U.S. consumers arent likely to see Peugeot vehicles, though. Instead, smaller vehicles will be built on French or German underpinnings with bodies and interiors designed in Michigan.

While the tie-up is billed as a merger, the advantage goes to PSA, which will control 6 of the 11 board seats with Tavares the tie-breaker.

Fiat Chryslers brands range from powerhouse Jeep to the performance Abarth marquee and the historic Italian brand Lancia, which currently produces just one model, the Ypsilon, targeting female drivers. I dont expect cutting brands that still make volumes, even if they are focused on very specific market segments, like Lancia, said Francesco Zirpoli, director for the Center for Automotive and Mobility at Venices Ca Foscari University. But Stellantis will have too many factories in Europe making similar vehicles. These overlaps have to be resolved, he said.

Stellantis also will face a major challenge in Asia, in particular China, where both PSA and FCA are weak.

The big market of the future is Asia. Asia will dominate the car business, said Ferdinand Dudenhoeffer, of the Center for Automotive Research in Germany. Already it is 45% of global sales. They merge, OK. They find synergies, OK. They reduce headcount, OK. But they are missing the most important point in the car business."

____

Krisher reported from Detroit.
I make no suggestion that Indias involvement, or interference, in Sri Lanka was entirely, or even primarily, motivated by neighbourly altruism. There were of course machinations, but they were mostly of the raw bureaucratic kind, thanks to the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), Indias wannabe CIA

by Rajan Philips

It was said of Prime Minister SWRD Bandaranaike that it was a grim irony that he should be called upon, at the moment of his greatest political triumph, to articulate the strong opposition of the Sinhalese to any attempt to establish a federal constitution. Sixty-five years later, it could be said in reverse that it is a grimmer irony for President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to be unfairlyput on the spot by his most ardent supporters and their insistent calls for abolishing the Provincial Council system, in total disregard of the realities of political and geopolitical consequences of such abolishing, not to mention the extraordinary Covid-19 challenges that he has to deal with now. The irony is to be noted because Mr. Rajapaksa was among the first to raise the call for abolishing the PCs as far back as 10 years ago, when even the mere thought of becoming Sri Lankas president may not have crossed his mind as an American citizen.

The PCs are not the only dilemma that President Rajapaksa has to wrestle with. He is grappling with quite a few of them. While almost all other presidential dilemmas are connected to Covid-19, the dilemma over 13A and the Provincial Councils is antecedent to Covid-19, but like everything else in Sri Lanka and elsewhere, is complicated by it. Hence the lingering question, why bother with a new constitution now? And especially for this President, whose credentials are totally those of a practical doer, and not at all the characteristics of a constitutional visionary? The answer might be that it is the constitutional cabal that is running the constitutional show, like every other cabal running every other government show.

Sapatha and Overreach

The immediate cause for the abolishment calls is the apparent decision of the government, or the Prime Minister, to go ahead with the long postponed (by the Wickremesinghe-TNA-JVP threesome) elections to the currently defunct Provincial Councils, which were established under the 13th Amendment. The sources of these calls are also a classic case of multiple political tails trying to wag the countrys presidential executive and his brother prime minister. A government minister, indeed, the Minister for Public Security and the State Minister for Provincial Councils, has, in ancient Mahabharata sapatha kara kiyanawa style, made a solemn pledge to the members of the Civil Defence Force that he would put an end to the system of Provincial Councils. The Experts Committee tasked with preparing a draft for the new Rajapaksa constitution, is also reported to have expressed concern over holding PC elections before their draft is done and a new constitution is in place.

It is not clear if there is unanimity in the committee over this concern, or if some committee members are speaking publicly for the whole committee. There was an earlier news report that the Experts Committee took an internal vote and decided by majority on a matter that is apparently fundamental to preparing the draft constitution. That an expert committee on the constitution would take an internal vote to decide on a fundamental question without referring it to its political masters in the government (with the parliament helplessly sidelined in the whole exercise) is an extraordinary overreach. If this is any indication, even the draft constitution that the committee would likely produce (presumably by a majority vote) may turnout to be extraordinary and tendentious.

Does the matter that the committee had to vote on have anything to do the 13th Amendment? We do not know. But we know that the more powerful members of the committee are not amused by the governments apparent decision to go ahead with PC elections. And that is some gall for a committee appointed by the countrys Head of State to publicly tell the government if or when it should conduct elections to any elected body. For now, there is more than Expert Committee amusement or gall that has been put on display. Real midweek fury against the Provincial Councils has been unleashed by Prof. GH Peiris, who is also a prominent member of the Experts Committee.

Facts and Fabrications

Anyone looking to get refreshed on the materially relevant historical background to the constitutional voids that were unnecessarily created in 1972 and in 1978  and their partial filling by the 13th Amendment (in 1987) and the Provincial Councils it created, could re-read Chapter 36 in KM de Silvas (1981) A History of Sri Lanka. Even its first few pages will do. My opening quote on SWRD Bandaranaike in todays article is from page 513 of de Silvas book, in Chapter 36: The Triumph of Linguistic Nationalism. The quote might suggest that the historian was having his academic tongue in his political cheek, but it reads far superior to anything that a geographer seems to be able to politically offer 40 years later. And this is not because Sri Lanka has too much history and too little geography.

Yet, no one can do worse than CA Chandrapremas attempt to rewrite history, as he did in his hagiographic monograph, Gotas War. We can anticipate versions of it to be undiplomatically broadcast from Geneva from March onward. The one thing about the history of Sri Lankas national question or conflict is that it is a well studied (even over studied, as AJ Wilson used to say) subject, and almost everyone who is of consequence either in Sri Lanka or abroad is well versed, in it and knows to discern between facts and fabrications. More than historical writings, Sri Lankas stubborn facts always give the fabricators, if not the governments, game away. Just as it is impossible to hide a whole pumpkin in a plate of rice. Peremptorily abolishing the Provincial Council system will be one more stubborn fact that will fetch no credit for Sri Lanka.

Sri Lankans who have lived through and politically experienced the tumults and wars after 1977 need no lesson from old history, colonial, or pre-colonial. Some of usBurghers, Muslims, Sinhalese, and Tamils rising above our ethnic strictures, happened to be involved in efforts to respond to these events within the framework of the Movement for Inter-Racial Justice and Equality (MIRJE).1983 is now considered a watershed moment in Sri Lankas modern history, one that is totally negative and even calamitous, and quite different from 1956 which bore both positive and negative fruits. However, 1983 had its annual forerunners. Riots broke out in 1977, after a twenty-year hiatus and within months of the UNPs bigger than landslide election victory. For the first time, plantation Tamils were targeted in communal rioting. In 1978, the UNP used its massive majority in parliament to elevate one of its MPs, Prime Minister JR Jayewardene, as the countrys first executive president. 1979 was the year of the Emergency in Jaffna, when President Jayewardene ordered Brigadier (Bull) Weeratunga (not DIG/IGP Rudra Rajasingham) to eliminate the menace of terrorism in all its forms from the island and more specially from the Jaffna District. Two years later, in 1981, tea plantation districts were targeted again in the south, while off-duty policemen burnt down the Public Library in Jaffna. In 1982, President Jayewardene upended parliamentary democracy in Sri Lanka through the chicanery of a referendum. One year later, what was catastrophic became calamitous, as the Palestinians are known to say.

1983 implicated Sri Lanka not only geopolitically with India, but also internationally with practically every western country where Tamils leaving Sri Lanka found a foothold. The Sixth Amendment that was passed during the dark and difficult days of August 1983, erased the elected TULF off the political map and handed over the keys to Tamil politics to armed militants. Sarath Silva said as much in his 2005 ruling as Chief Justice, in the course of denying President Kumaratungas plea to stay in office a year longer.

The commonplace argument is that 13A and the Provincial Councils were foisted on Sri Lanka by Indias machinations taking advantage of an old, weak, and beleaguered President Jayewardene. While this argument might be politically potent, it is bereft of any analytical insight or credibility, and it flies in the face of events and the alignments of political forces within Sri Lanka before and after 1983. The notion that Indias role in Sri Lanka was triggered by the fury of Indira Gandhi after she was apparently scorned by JR Jayewardene is cheap table talk and should not be a serious political consideration. And in 2020 it is utterly inappropriate to speak of any woman, let alone a woman political leader and Prime Minister, being scorned, leaving aside the not uncommon misattribution to Shakespeare of the line (Heavn has no rage, like love to hatred turnd, Nor hell a fury like a woman scorned) that was satirically written by William Congreve (1670-1729) in his play, The Mourning Bride.

Indian Involvement and Sri Lankas Failure

I make no suggestion that Indias involvement, or interference, in Sri Lanka was entirely, or even primarily, motivated by neighbourly altruism. There were of course machinations, but they were mostly of the raw bureaucratic kind, thanks to the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), Indias wannabe CIA. And whether it was Indian involvement or interference, it did not arise out of nothing and would not have transpired the way it did and to the extent it did, without compelling circumstances in Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan political circumstances after 1977, and more so after 1983, provided both the pretext and the context for India to get involved in Sri Lankas internal affairs. And no one, not even India, could have anticipated that things would get ugly and totally out of control as they did over several years. It is still the sorest point among many Sinhalese that India peremptorily prevented the Sri Lankan military onslaught on the LTTE in June 1987 with its controversial air drop of food supplies in Jaffna. The contention is that were it not for this highhanded intervention, the war would have been over by and large in 1987 itself. This is debatable because the LTTE was then primarily a guerrilla organization and may have survived the onslaught to live and fight another day. It was only years later that the LTTE would build up its so called conventional fighting force and convert itself from being a fighting-fit guerrilla force to a flabby national army, and getting drunk in the process with its own myth of invincibility. And in this saga of ironies, India that initially aided and armed Tamil militant groups on the beaches of Tamil Nadu, would later preside over the disarming of every militant group bar the LTTE, engage its army in an unfinished and unsuccessful fight against the LTTE, and finally  22 years after the infamous parippu drop  end up aiding and assisting the government of Sri Lanka to vanquish the LTTE once and for all. It was not only the Central Government in Delhi that went through these about-turns, but also the state and government leaders in Tamil Nadu who were complicit at every step along the way. And there is no shortage among Sri Lankan Tamils who believe that the Tamils were shortchanged in the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord and the 13th Amendment, and especially by the provisions of the Provincial Councils Act that the two gave rise to.

As for JR Jayewardene, although his detractors among the Sinhalese may never concede this, he must have felt entitled to a little last laugh in getting India to clean up the militant mess which in his mind was mostly of Indias making. To his justifiable credit, however, he conceded in the end that India was the only external agency, and not any western country or international agency, that would help him put his Sri Lankan house in order after national politics has unravelled beyond restoration by any domestic initiative alone. This very point was well articulated in a public statement, at the time of the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord, by more than a score of left and liberal Sinhalese intellectuals, activists, and academics. I do not have the statement at hand, but suffice it to say that the anti-13A lobby is not entitled to claim exclusive monopoly over Sinhalese political thinking, then or now.

As well, the 13th Amendment is not the only controversial initiative, constitutionally or otherwise, that JR Jayewardene implemented and presided over aided by his tyrannical majority in parliament. His entire 1978 constitutional project has been controversial from the time of its inauguration. In fact, the 13th Amendment has had greater support among non-UNP Sinhalese, than the 1978 Constitution ever did. Abolishing the executive presidency has been the winning battle cry in every election from 1994, until 2019. At none of these elections, including, I believe, the 2019 and 2020 elections, did any of the main contenders for power promised to abolish the Provincial Council system.

On the contrary, Chandrika Kumaratunga and her Peoples Alliance movement used Provincial Council elections to launch their campaign against and eventually oust the UNP from power after its seventeen year rule. Mahinda Rajapaksa cleverly and consistently used PC elections to consolidate his electoral fiefdom. Again, as political indicators go, the 2014 PC election in Uva signalled the peoples regime fatigue after 10 years of Rajapaksa rule and 20 years of SLFP-dominated governments. Lacking Chandrika Kumaratungas charisma and Mahinda Rajapaksas cleverness, the beleaguered yahapalanaya folk shuttered up the Provincial Councils and postponed their elections indefinitely. Their dillydallying has created the current dilemma for President Rajapaksa.

There is no dispute that the implementation of the Provincial Councils system has not turned out to be an appealing success. But this is not due to any systemic or structural shortcomings, but entirely due to the failure of political leadership. The blame for the worst leadership failure should fall squarely on the shoulders of Maithripala Sirisena and Ranil Wickremesinghe in general, and particularly on the TNA and CV Wigneswaran for what they have done and what they failed to do with the Northern Provincial Council after its first and only election in 2013.

There is no question that the PC system needs changes and reforms, regardless of when the next elections are held. And unlike any other institution in Sri Lanka, the PC system has a handbook of reform recommendations in the comprehensive symposium complied, in 2010, by the late Ranjith Amarasinghe, Asoka Gunawardena, Jayampathy Wickramaratne, and AM Navaratna-Bandara. There have been plenty of other suggestions, most recently by Austin Fernando and Nirmala Chandrahasan.

In his December 25 article in The Island, Fernando recounts that the current government includes many past champions of the PC system, including former Provincial Chief Ministers and Governors. Will they speak out now, or stay silent as the current abolishment clamour grows? The current voices of abolition have been around from the time the PCs were introduced in 1987-88. But for over 30 years they have not gotten anywhere close to influencing, or dictating to, the policy of any Sri Lankan government on the 13th Amendment and the Provincial Councils. Until now. And that is President Gotabaya Rajapaksas main dilemma.
History, spires and charm await in Normandy

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Normandy may be best known for D-Day, though visitors to this region in France can discover much more than its seminal role in World War II.

In fact, part of its history is intertwined with Americas inherited history as it was the home of William the Conqueror.

The legacy of his 1066 conquest of England remains with us almost 954 years after the Anglo-Saxon king was killed on the battlefield at Hastings. Not only did the Normans influence the English language  numerous everyday words like beef and pork were borrowed from Norman French  but even something as simple as an inherited family surname was brought over with the Normans.

Normandys rich history, incredible medieval churches and charming towns can easily be discovered over the course of a five-night road trip.

Day one

The drive from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport to Giverny takes a little more than an hour.

The big attraction is the house of Claude Monet, including the famous pond and water lilies that served as the subject of so many masterpieces. Dont overlook the Church of St. Radegund. The interior includes a notable polychromed statue of St. Louis of Toulouse (also known as St. Louis of Anjou) from the 14th century.

Spend the night at the Hotel La Musardiere, a charming 11-room hotel and restaurant that focuses on locally sourced ingredients. This also lets you experience Giverny after the day trippers leave for the next stop on the tour bus.

Day two

Following a morning walk through the village drive about 90 minutes to Honfleur.

The port town, once part of English-occupied France during the Hundred Years War, is located at the estuary where the Seine River meets the English Channel and was frequently painted by Impressionist artists.

The guided tours available through Honfleurs tourist information office are valuable when visiting sights like the Church of St. Catherine.

The wooden church, built by shipbuilders in the mid-1400s after Honfleur was liberated from 51 years of English rule, was intended to temporarily replace a destroyed church until a more permanent stone church could be erected. Six centuries later, it remains. Besides being one of Frances oldest wooden churches, it is also notable for its double nave  the central interior mistakenly called a sanctuary by some churchgoers.

The Hotel LAbsinthe, housed in a 16th century harborfront building at the heart of old town, is highly recommended. For dinner, eat at the hotels own restaurant with its 400-selection wine list. Afterwards, embark upon a long, meandering walk.

Days three and four

The 1066 chapter of Normandys history comes into focus at the appropriately named Bayeux Museum in Bayeux.

Here is where you find the world-renowned Bayeux Tapestry, which despite its name is actually an embroidery of woolen thread on linen cloth. At 230 feet long, the object  essentially medieval propaganda  depicts a Norman narrative of the invasion and conquest of England through dozens of embroidered scenes. Perhaps most remarkable is the treasures very survival.

Nearby stands Bayeux Cathedral, where the tapestry was originally housed. It was consecrated in 1077 in the presence of William the Conqueror himself. The architecture, a blend of Romanesque, Gothic and later additions, includes an elaborate west front with five carved portals.

Twenty miles away in Caen is St. Stephens Abbey, a monumental Romanesque former monastery that contains Williams tomb. Sadly, the tomb has been destroyed and rebuilt over centuries of tumult, including during the French Revolution.

Forget about navigating streets in Bayeuxs city center with a rental car. The Novotel, a perfectly fine chain hotel, is within walking distance of the cathedral and museum.

Day five

No visit to Normandy is complete without going to Mont-Saint-Michel.

The breathtakingly beautiful rocky tidal island is situated just off the coast at Normandys border with neighboring region Brittany. Driving from Bayeux takes a little more than one-and-a-half hours.

Mont-Saint-Michel owes its existence to St. Aubert, the eighth century bishop of Avranches, who built the oratory dedicated to St. Michael the Archangel that eventually became an abbey. By the 11th century the number of pilgrims visiting was so great that the abbey was rebuilt into what you basically see today, though additions continued through the 15th century.

This religious foundation continued until revolutionary France and Emperor Napoleon, when Mont-Saint-Michel was converted into a prison. The prison closed just as historic preservation and modern tourism became popular in the late 1800s.

As with Giverny, most visitors come over the causeway linking it to the mainland only for the day. This makes spending the night a must.

Just be prepared to spend money as nothing is inexpensive, though the overnight experience at Hotel Les Terrasses Poulard is well worth the cost. Visitors with more than a backpack will also want to pay for a private horse-drawn carriage across the causeway.

If you go

For now, France remains closed to Americans. However, low airfares and waived airline fees mean you shouldnt hesitate to book a trip for spring or early summer.

Obviously, a rental car is a necessity. Hertz and Avis are the most convenient, though other agencies operate out of Charles de Gaulle. Driving in France is easy once you get used to roundabouts. Just be sure to use a GPS navigation device. Either bring one from home or rent one from a car rental agency.

Consider flying La Compagnie out of Newark airport. The French carrier, which markets itself as a boutique airline, offers a relatively unique all-business-class product to and from Orly, the secondary Paris airport. Daily flights are expected to resume by April.

Spires and Crosses is a weekly travel column. Follow @dennislennox on Twitter and Instagram.
KYODO NEWS - Dec 28, 2020 - 23:55 | All, Japan, Coronavirus

Japan suspended Monday new entries into the country by nonresident foreign nationals arriving from most of the world through the end of January to prevent the spread of new coronavirus variants, as its first case of a variant spreading in South Africa was confirmed following that of a new strain from Britain.

The government will also require Japanese citizens and foreign residents coming from regions where new variants have been detected to submit negative virus test results from within 72 hours of departure and undergo tests upon arrival from Wednesday through the end of January.

The health ministry said Monday that a woman in her 30s, who had travel history to South Africa, tested positive for the new strain first detected in the country.

Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga told reporters Monday that the new restrictions are meant to "protect our citizens' lives and livelihoods, by taking measures in advance" to forestall the spread of the new virus strains.

Businesspeople and students from Taiwan and 10 Asian nations including mainland China and South Korea with which Japan has a special scheme to ease travel restrictions are not affected by the latest measure.

Related coverage:

Japan developing tracking system for travelers from overseas

Starting late last week, Japan banned new entries by nonresident foreign nationals who have recently been to Britain and South Africa, where new variants have been detected.

At a meeting of the government's COVID-19 task force Monday evening, Suga called on the public to continue exercising precautions such as mask wearing and frequent washing of hands, and to spend the New Year holidays "quietly."

"Viruses do not take a break during the year-end and New Year season. I would like to ask for citizens to cooperate so we can return to life as normal as quickly as possible," he said.

According to the government, Suga has canceled a trip to the Ise Jingu shrine in central Japan's Mie Prefecture on Jan. 4, a tradition for prime ministers, to reduce the risk of spreading the coronavirus.

On Monday, the health ministry confirmed that six people have been infected with the coronavirus variant detected in Britain after identifying the first case of the strain last week.

While Japan had been slowly opening up to international travel as it seeks to repair its battered economy and prepare for the rescheduled Olympics next summer, it shifted back toward tightening its borders as the medical system has been significantly strained by a spike in the number of coronavirus cases.

Japan confirmed a record 3,881 coronavirus cases on Saturday. The country logged about 2,400 new cases on Monday and reported over 50 deaths.

In an effort to prevent the pandemic from further straining hospitals' ability to treat COVID-19 patients during the New Year holidays, when there are usually fewer medical personnel on duty, the government also expanded Monday its suspension of its "Go To Travel" tourism promotion campaign across the country through Jan. 11.

The scheme, subsidizing up to half of people's travel expenses, had already been halted for trips to Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, Hiroshima and Sapporo, which have seen a notable increase in infections. It was originally launched in July to help the country's tourism industry hit hard by the pandemic.

The nationwide halt of the campaign is estimated to cause a loss of 318.7 billion yen ($3.08 billion) in potential spending through Jan. 3, with the nation observing a 73 percent drop in the number of travelers from last year due to the pandemic, according to JTB Tourism Research and Consulting Co.

The government will cover 50 percent of the losses sustained by travel agencies and hotel operators.

Local tourism operators have expressed concern about the double impact of the country's tighter border restrictions and halt of the "Go To Travel" campaign.

"We can't expect foreign tourists to come, and with the extended suspension of the 'Go To Travel' promotion we can't be sure about how we will be affected," said Shunichi Kobayashi, 73, who runs a ski resort in Sapporo on the northernmost main island of Hokkaido.

"We aren't sure if there will be as many people as in past peak seasons," he said.

Japan's ancient capital Kyoto, another popular tourist draw, has also been hit, with Kiyotaka Fujiki, an 82-year-old souvenir shop manager, saying he expects sales during the New Year holiday season to be less than 10 percent of those in normal years.
(Reuters) - A Venezuelan member of the Pemon indigenous group accused of aiding a raid on a military post in late 2019 died on Sunday in a jail close to capital Caracas, rights group Penal Forum said in a tweet.

Salvador Franco died just weeks after family members and activists reported he was suffering from health problems. A court in November had ordered his transfer to a medical facility, but authorities did not comply, according to Penal Forum attorney Olnar Ortiz.

"The regime let him die," Ortiz said. Critics of President Nicolas Maduro's government call him a dictator who has systematically jailed opponents and denied them rights to due process.

Venezuela's information ministry did not immediately reply to a request for comment. The government frequently accuses the opposition of seeking to foment a violent coup to seize control of the OPEC nation's vast oil reserves.

Some 12 other indigenous men remain incarcerated under accusations of participating in the December 2019 raid on the outpost in southern Bolivar state. Maduro at the time accused the men of conspiring with Colombia, Peru and Brazil to spark a rebellion in Venezuela, a charge all three countries denied.

(Reporting by Corina Pons; Writing by Luc Cohen; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)
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A violent underworld figure who once survived being stabbed 42 times in jail has been found dead.

Helal Safi was found dead at an apartment on Stapleton Street, Pendle Hill in Sydney on Saturday after a neighbour heard shouting for help around 4am.

The 45-year-old who weighed an impressive 200kg, was found unconscious and unresponsive when paramedics arrived.

Safi couldn't be be revived and a crime scene was established as officers seized several items including drug paraphernalia, Daily Telegraph reported.

He was known as a 'major player' who associated with bikies and criminals and was feared across Sydney's underworld.

Helal Safi, 45, (pictured, right, during his October arrest was found dead at an apartment on Stapleton Street, Pendle Hill in Sydney on Saturday after a neighbour heard shouting for help

The former bikie and Kings Cross bikie once survived being stabbed 42 times while in jail in 2010, which saw him end up in a coma for five months.

Safi was stabbed 42 times while in jail in 2010 and spent five months in a coma

Police said the only reason Safi survived was due to his size, otherwise he would have died.

In October last year, Safi was arrested at a South Wentworthville street following a Firearm Prohibition Orders bust.

Officers seized weapons, bikie paraphernalia, prohibited drugs and cash at the home and arrested a total of eight people.

Safi was charged with eight firearm offences including possessing or using a prohibited weapon without a permit.

Lawyer Elias Tabchouri told Magistrate Bree Chisholm that Safi was suffering severe medical problems after the stabbing a decade ago.

He explained that Safi suffered an enlarged heart, low kidney function and swollen legs and had to take seven different types of medication each day to manage the pain.

Safi was released from prison just a few weeks ago.
London: Julian Assange has arrived at a London court to find out if he is to be extradited to the United States to face charges relating to WikiLeaks publications of a decade ago.

The 49-year-old Australian will hear his fate at London's Old Bailey on Monday evening (AEDT). He has been held at Belmarsh Prison since September 2019.

Assange's fiancee, Stella Moris, arrived at the Old Bailey with Kristinn Hrafnsson, the editor-in-chief of WikiLeaks. The pair arrived around half an hour before the hearing.

Before entering the building, Moris paused and placed a white safety mask on her face. Supporters chanted "Free Julian Assange" as she arrived; she did not make any comment
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Bikini clad revelers are celebrating the New Year in Miami, seemingly unperturbed by the city's rising number of COVID-19 cases.

On Saturday, hundreds of youngsters were seen soaking up the sun on South Beach, as others flocked to a nearby hotel for a raucous pool party.

The ongoing pandemic appeared to be far from the sun seekers' minds as they ignored social distancing protocols and failed to don face masks.

The revelers downed drinks and danced to music as their festivities spilled onto the sidewalk, seeming to alarm some elderly citizens who were making their way through the area at the same time.

Several wore matching 'Born To Rave' t-shirts as they made their way into the pool party event.

On the same day, Miami-Dade County recorded more than 5,000 new cases of COVID-19, as well as 51 new deaths from the virus.

Miami has now clocked a whopping total of 304,000 coronavirus cases since the pandemic began early last year.

In Florida, there were 31,000 new infections reported in the first two days of 2021.

Bikini clad revelers are celebrating the New Year in Miami, seemingly unperturbed by the city's rising number of COVID-19 cases. Maskless party animals are seen making their way along a sidewalk in the city, coming alarmingly close to an elderly citizen pushing along a walker

On Saturday, hundreds of youngsters were seen soaking up the sun on South Beach. They ignored social distancing protocols and failed to don face masks

On South Beach, locals and tourists packed onto the sand with sun loungers and drinks. They appeared to be in a celebratory mood despite the ongoing pandemic

Not a mask in sight! Hundreds flocked to a South Beach hotel for a raucous pool party on Saturday afternoon

Miami-Dade County is the state's epicenter, with more than 5,000 new cases clocked on Saturday, taking the total number above 300,000

Despite the start of a New Year, the pandemic shows no signs of abating, with Florida recording its highest ever daily number of coronavirus cases last Thursday.

In a 24-hour period, more than 17,190 new cases were confirmed, shattering the previous high that was recorded back in July.

As of Saturday, more than 1.35 million Floridians have contracted COVID-19, and 21,890 have died.

Health professionals have urged residents and visitors to exercise caution amid the spiking numbers - advice that appears to be falling on deaf ears.

Jay Wolfson, senior associate dean at the Morsani College of Medicine, told The Tampa Bay Times that the numbers are likely to remain alarmingly high until at least February.

'There's an awful lot of gray, if not dark, news out there. Now is the time to become even more diligent and focused. 'Folks are going to have to be patient,' he stated.

Florida 's Republican Gov Ron DeSantis has not enforced mask mandates and has been reluctant to limit the number of people allowed inside businesses.

That move has been harshly criticized by Democrats from other states, many of whom have imposed harsh lockdown rules.

A recent report from CNN claimed the move has angered mayors and other politicians within Florida itself.

'I gave up talking to the governor a while back,' one mayor, who is a registered Republican, told the news network.

This graph from The COVID Tracking Project shows a steady increase in new cases and hospitalizations over the past three months. The death rate is also spiking back to levels not seen since early fall

Despite the start of a New Year, the pandemic shows no signs of abating, with Florida recording its highest ever daily number of coronavirus cases last Thursday. Youngsters partying in Miami appeared unbothered by the spike

This snap shows there was very little social distancing at a pool party put on by a local South Beach hotel

Revelers kicked back shots as dance music blared at the hotel pool party

One man with a mask on stood out among the dozens of other bare-faced attendees

While some attendees choice to wore face masks, they were often placed down around their chin
He famously fired a slew of Vanderpump Rules stars, including Stassi Schroeder and Kristen Doute, after their racially insensitive pasts were brought to light last year.

But Andy Cohen appeared to voice some regret over the sudden sackings, calling them 'decisions for that moment' in a recent interview with the New York Times.

The executive producer, 52, also suggested that it would have been 'more interesting' for audiences at home to see the stars address their controversies on the show.

Regretful? Andy Cohen appeared to voice some regret over the Vanderpump Rules firings, calling them 'decisions for that moment' in a recent interview with the New York Times; Andy pictured in 2014

'It's more interesting to sit in the moment with people that you have a rooting interest in and watch them find their way than it is just turning out the lights and forgetting it existed,' he explained.

In June of 2020, Bravo announced that two of Vanderpump Rules' original cast members, Schroeder and Doute, would not being returning to the show, as per Variety.

Their firing came after former co-star Faith Stowers exposed the pair for once 'reporting her to the police for a crime she'd had nothing to do with.'

Two of Vanderpump Rules' newer stars, Max Boyens and Brett Caprioni, were also sacked from the series for publishing 'racist' tweets in the past.

Goodbye! He famously fired a slew of Vanderpump Rules stars, including Stassi Schroeder and Kristen Doute, after their racially insensitive pasts were brought to light last year; Kristen (left) and Stassi (right) pictured

'Bravo and Evolution Media confirmed today that Stassi Schroeder, Kristen Doute, Max Boyens and Brett Caprioni will not be returning to Vanderpump Rules,' read the network's official statement.

A more recent firing occurred last month when it was revealed that the series' most controversial character Jax Taylor, as well as his wife Brittany Cartwright, would be bidding farewell to Vanderpump Rules.

During his interview with the New York Times, Andy also took a moment to discuss the controversy regarding the 'homophobic' pastor Jax and Brittany had originally chosen to officiate 2019 wedding.

'It didn't seem so shocking to me that someone's family pastor in Kentucky was homophobic,' he recalled. 'I'm not condoning homophobia. I'm saying it exists.'

Letting it play out: The executive producer, 52, also suggested that it would have been 'more interesting' for audiences at home to see the stars address their controversies on the show; (L-R) Lala Kent, Stassi Schroeder, Tom Sandoval, Kristen Doute, Ariana Madix, Lisa Vanderpump, Tom Schwartz, Katie Maloney-Schwartz, Scheana Shay, Jax Taylor, Brittany Cartwright, James Kennedy pictured

Controversy: During his interview with the New York Times, Andy also took a moment to discuss the controversy regarding the 'homophobic' pastor Jax and Brittany had originally chosen to officiate 2019 wedding; Jax and Brittany pictured in 2018

After the pastor's past disparaging remarks about the LGBTQ community were unearthed, Jax and Brittany used NSYNC alum Lance Bass as their minister.

Cohen explained that Bravo has 'been able to build a big tent' on their network because they do not shy away from showing differing viewpoints/lifestyles/etc. on their reality series'.

This prompted the Watch What Happens Live host to bring up the recent controversy surrounding the Bravo show Southern Charm and the backlash it has received from fans.

Big tent: Cohen explained that Bravo has 'been able to build a big tent' on their network because they do not shy away from showing differing viewpoints/lifestyles/etc. on their reality series'; (L-R) Brittany Cartwright, Jax Taylor, Kristen Doute, Lala Kent, Katie Maloney-Schwartz, Tom Schwartz, Andy Cohen, Lisa Vanderpump, Tom Sandoval, Ariana Madix, Stassi Schroeder, James Kennedy, Scheana Shay pictured

'Why shouldn't it be on? Do we want to cancel the South?' he asked rhetorically.

Vanderpump Rules premiered on Bravo in 2013 and follows the drama-filled workplace that it Lisa Vanderpump's SUR restaurant in West Hollywood.

And with eight seasons under their belt, the remaining cast members of Vanderpump Rules are eager to start filming season nine.

But series star Scheana Shay confirmed that the ninth season of Vanderpump Rules has yet to begin filming due to COVID-19 related restaurant closures in Los Angeles.
Mr. Mark Sobel, a former US representative at IMF, commented that the US Department of the Treasury may be questionably branding Switzerland and Vietnam as currency manipulators while missing out more obvious cases of harmful currency practices.

It is also worth noting that this report has come at a time when Vietnam and the United States are beginning to enjoy a stronger relationship. A majority of international commentators have analysed that this move by the US Department of the Treasury has more political implications than economic concerns.

For example, the most important criteria determined by the US Department of the Treasury is that Vietnam undervalued the dong. This is being seen as a lame and vague explanation for tagging Vietnam as a currency manipulator. It is like comparing Miss America with Miss Vietnam to say who is more beautiful. Vietnam is a small economy equal to only 1% of the size of the US. How can then the monetary policy and exchange rate affect the trade deficit of the US, and how can one percent impact one hundred percent. This is baffling. It is also absurd to hear former Fed chairman Paul Volcker say that he didn't know what the right exchange rate was, and that he knew a wrong one when he saw it!

When the US Department of the Treasury believes it has the right to judge what is right or wrong, there is a problem. At the height of the US-China trade war in 2019, the Trump administration suddenly labeled China as a currency manipulator based on the only ground that the yuan crossed the red line of seven yuan per dollar. A few months later, in January 2020, the Trump administration suddenly removed China from the list of currency manipulators. This happened soon after phase one of agreement talks between the US and China, with China promising to buy more US goods.

Behind the story of Vietnam's currency manipulation is an issue that governments of the two countries must consult with each other, no matter who the next US President is. Currency manipulation is judged twice a year by the US Department of the Treasury, and it must not become an economic shock for our country. Investors and businesses should not let this story affect their investment strategies.

Currency manipulation will certainly be a matter of economic and political diplomacy between the two governments now. There are times when negotiation results are good, and there are times that talks do not go down well or satisfactorily. Currency manipulation tag must never and cannot change Vietnam's strategies for the future, nor should we be under any illusion that under the Biden administration, the United States will approach the problem of currency manipulation more gently than did the Trump administration.

In any case, Vietnam must also become much more transparent about interventions in the foreign exchange and exchange rate market, not because of pressure from the US Department of the Treasury, but because it is the right policy for a country on the path of modernization.

Prof. Dr. Tran Ngoc Tho
A further six people in Northern Ireland have died after testing positive for Covid-19 and 1,662 new cases of the virus have been reported.

It brings the death toll to 1,354 and the total number of confirmed cases since the outbreak to 78,072. Some 11,810 people have tested positive in the past seven days alone.

All six fatalities happened within the current reporting period, from 10am on Saturday to 10am on Sunday.

There are currently 507 Covid patients in hospitals across Northern Ireland, with 36 in intensive care and 22 requiring ventilation. Hospitals are operating at 96% capacity.

A total of 107 care homes are also dealing with outbreaks.

Meanwhile, First Minister Arlene Foster vowed that the Executive "will do all it can" to ensure pupils can return to school on January 11, despite the rising Covid infection figures.

The DUP leader was speaking after Education Minister Peter Weir stated on New Years Eve that the majority of school pupils won't return in the first week of January as planned, with primary school pupils to be taught remotely until January 11.

Remote learning will continue throughout January for years eight to 11.

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Speaking on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show, Mrs Foster said it is the Executive's plan for schools to reopen on January 11, however this could not be guaranteed due to the new strain of Covid-19.

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She also expressed concern about the life chances of young people during the pandemic.

"We will do all that we can to keep pupils in school. We do recognise that with this new mutant version of Covid-19 there are difficulties and it transmits among younger people, and we have to take that into consideration," she said.

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"I certainly don't want to be in a position of keeping our young people at home.

"It is important that we get young people into schools again, but we have to have remote learning for a short period of time and I hope it is a short period of time."

Check out our blog below to see how Sunday's developments unfolded:

Belfast Telegraph
Terming the approval given to two coronavirus vaccines for emergency use as"turning point" in India's fight against COVID-19, Niti Aayog member V K Paul on Sunday said the speed with which scientists and the industry came together to meet this challenge epitomizes the spirit and potential of 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat'. India's drug regulator DCGI on Sunday approved Oxford COVID-19 vaccine Covishield, manufactured by the Serum Institute, and indigenously developed Covaxin of Bharat Biotech for restricted emergency use in the country, paving the way for a massive inoculation drive.

"Today is a turning point in India's fight against Covid-19 as two Made-in-India vaccines get approval for emergency use," the Niti Aayog said in a tweet quoting Paul, who is also the Chairman of National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration. "The speed with which our scientists and industry came together to meet this challenge, epitomizes the spirit and potential of Aatmanirbhar Bharat," it added.

The approval by the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) was given on the basis of recommendations submitted by a COVID-19 subject expert committee (SEC) of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO). "After adequate examination, CDSCO has decided to accept the recommendations of the Expert Committee and accordingly, vaccines of M/s Serum and M/s Bharat Biotech are being approved for restricted use in emergency situation," DCGI Dr V G Somani told a press conference here.

This paves the way for the roll out of at least two vaccines in India in the coming days. The Serum Institute of India, the world's largest vaccine manufacturer, has tied up with AstraZeneca to manufacture Covishield. Covaxin has been indigenously developed by Bharat Biotech in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). Serum Institute of India's CEO Adar Poonawalla tweeted, "Happy new year, everyone! All the risks Serum Institute of India took with stockpiling the vaccine, have finally paid off. COVISHIELD, India's first COVID-19 vaccine is approved, safe, effective and ready to roll-out in the coming weeks. Also, the authority granted Cadila Healthcare the permission to conduct the Phase III clinical trial of its vaccine candidate in India, Somani said .

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Two French soldiers died when their vehicle hit an improvised explosive device in northeastern Mali on Saturday, just days after three others were killed in similar fashion.

Their deaths brought to 50 the number of French soldiers killed in the West African nation since France first intervened in 2013 to help drive back jihadist forces, according to army staff.

President Emmanuel Macron "learnt with great sadness" of the deaths of sergeant Yvonne Huynh and corporal Loic Risser in the Menaka region, his office said.

Huynh, aged 33 and mother of a young child, was the first female soldier killed in since the French operation began in the Sahel region.

Risser was 24. Both were members of a regiment specialising in intelligence work.

"Their vehicle hit an improvised explosive device during an intelligence mission," the French presidency said of Saturday's incident.

Another soldier was wounded in the blast but the injuries were not life-threatening, it added.

- 'Battle against terrorism' -

France's Barkhane force numbers 5,100 troops spread across the arid Sahel and has been fighting jihadist groups alongside soldiers from Mauritania, Chad, Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, who together make up the G5 Sahel group.

But lack of equipment, funds and training, together with problems in deployment and coordination on the ground have left the operation struggling for credibility and still dependent on France, the force's major political backer.

Macron affirmed France's determination to pursue "the battle against terrorism" after the latest attacks which come as Paris considers reducing the size of the forces in West Africa and negotiating with some local groups other than Al-Qaeda and the so-called Islamic State.

The Al-Qaeda-linked Group to Support Islam and Muslims (GSIM) claimed responsibility for Monday's attack that killed three French soldiers in the centre of the poor Sahel state.

Story continues

Those deaths were also due to an army vehicle hitting an explosive device.

The group, the main jihadist alliance in the Sahel, cited a string of reasons for the attack including the continuing French military presence in the region, cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed published by a French newspaper and Macron's defence of them in the name of freedom of expression.

Mali's governing military council overthrew president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita in August 2020 after weeks of protests sparked partly by his failures to roll back the insurgents.

The junta has not ruled out negotiations with armed groups in the face of persistent bloodshed in the region.

Four thousand people died in 2019 from jihadist violence and ethnic conflict stirred by Islamists across Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, according to the UN.

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The police in Adamawa have banned a planned beach party, saying it would encourage nudity and allow for immoral acts. The police also threatened to arrest the sponsors of the party, planned to be held in Yola, the state capital.

Adamawa has an almost even Christian and Muslim population but the ban adds to the wider debate in Nigeria between citizens who believe law enforcement agencies have to check immoral acts in the country and others, mainly young Nigerians, who see such acts as an intrusion to freedom of association by adults.

The ban, announced Sunday, came amid outrage by religious groups in Yola against the Yola Beach Party.

Speaking on the event, the police spokesperson in the state, Suleiman Nguroje, said the command is on the trail of the sponsors of the said Yola Beach Party.

Anyone found involved will be arrested and possibly prosecuted, the command will not condone any show or event that will cause outrage.

The CP had ordered an investigation to unravel the sponsors and venue of the said beach party. The command will not allow any immoral act that could cause outrage in the society.

Parents also have a role to play in this regard, Mr Nguroje said.

The advertisement of Yola Beach Party had indicated that the event was slated for January 3 while the gate fee was pegged at N2000.

Age 18 over, scheduled to start at 2pm and there will be live music, fun, BBQ and drinks, it stated.

The notice was placed on social media platforms, though the venue was not indicated.

For now, it is not yet clear if the party will hold or not as the venue still remains secret.

Elsewhere, the Kaduna State government demolished a building allegedly intended for a sex party in the state.

The organisers of the party were also arrested by the police.
MBABANE  There is light at the end of the COVID-19 tunnel as government has set aside a budget of at least E200 million for securing vaccines.

This was disclosed yesterday by Acting Prime Minister Themba Masuku during a COVID-19 update press conference held at the Cabinet Offices. Masuku said the COVID-19 vaccine would be readily available in the kingdom during the first quarter, which essentially means in April this year, but he said he hoped this would happen sooner.

It was revealed that the Taiwanese Government had supported the country financially by contributing over E7 million (US$500 000).

It was stated that these resources would not only be sufficient to secure adequate vaccines for emaSwati but also supplement the additional budget needed to continue the efforts of combating the scourge.

Masuku further informed the nation that the Ministry of Health had established a COVID-19 Vaccine Preparedness Team, which was currently working around the clock to put in place the necessary logistics that would enable the procurement, delivery and storage of the vaccines once they became readily available countrywide. He said the team was also developing a plan for the rollout of the vaccine to the population while taking into consideration priority groups such as frontline workers and the elderly population.

Furthermore, he said government was fully committed to ensuring that all people residing in the country received the COVID-19 vaccine in order to ensure that all were protected from the scourge. It was disclosed that the kingdom was part of COVAX facility, which was coordinating the availability of vaccines to low and middle income countries that signed up to this facility.

According to www.gavi.org, a reputable vaccine alliance; COVAX is one of three pillars of the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator, which was launched in April by the World Health Organisation (WHO), the European Commission and France in response to this pandemic.

The facility brings together governments, global health organisations, manufacturers, scientists, private sector, civil society and philanthropy, with the aim of providing innovative and equitable access to COVID-19 diagnostics, treatments and vaccines. The acting PM said it was pivotal to emphasise that every liSwati was expected to adhere to the health and safety regulations and relevant directives to save the nation.

Currently, we are deep in the midst of a second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in an exponential increase in numbers of people infected and those presenting with severe disease, he averred. With this, he said the need to increase the number of health workers to be in the frontline and provide services in the COVID-19 response toward controlling the pandemic could not be over emphasised.

Frontline

Furthermore, services to be provided by the frontline workers include educating, screening, swabbing and testing and linkage to care for those found to have been infected with COVID-19, as part of operation Stay Ahead of the Virus. As a result, Masuku avowed that government was in the process of hiring an additional 70 health personnel to increase the number of trained health workers who participated in the COVID-19 response activities and improve the COVID-19 response to reduce the impact of the pandemic to the population.

The new health professionals to be engaged by government include health personnel who have recently graduated from health training institutions in the country such as the Southern Africa Nazarene University (SANU).






Greta Thunberg has joked that her 'evil handlers can no longer control her' in a tongue-in-cheek tweet marking her 18th birthday.

The activist sarcastically hit back at critics who claim parents secretly masterminded her rise to fame by saying she is 'free at last' now she has turned 18.

Miss Thunberg said she would be spending her birthday night in her 'local pub' as Sweden's minimum drinking age is 18.

There, she will be 'exposing all the dark secrets behind the climate and school strike conspiracy' in reference to those who falsely believe global warming is a lie.

Along with her humourous caption, the 18-year-old shared a selfie, giving a thumbs-up to the camera while wearing a shirt reading 'flat Mars society'.

It appears to be a sarcastic reference to the Flat Earth Society whose members tout the bizarre conspiracy theory that the Earth is a disk surrounded by an ice wall.

Greta Thunberg has joked that her 'evil handlers can no longer control her' in a tongue-in-cheek tweet marking her 18th birthday. She shared the caption along with a selfie (pictured)

The activist jokingly hit back at critics (her tweet, pictured) who claim parents secretly masterminded her rise to fame by saying she is 'free at last' now she has turned 18

Her post read: 'Thank you so much for all the well-wishes on my 18th birthday!

'Tonight you will find me down at the local pub exposing all the dark secrets behind the climate and school strike conspiracy and my evil handlers who can no longer control me! I am free at last!'

In an interview ahead of her milestone birthday, Miss Thunberg said she 'doesn't care' about the jet-setting exploits of celebrities who preach about the environment.

The teenage activist became the face of the youth climate movement after launching a solo 'school strike' outside the Swedish parliament aged just 15.

Since then, Miss Thunberg has spoken at the United Nations climate summit, been nominated for a Nobel peace prize and was dubbed Time magazine's 2019 person of the year.

But she said her global superstardom won't last forever so is trying to 'use her position' to get as much done as possible 'in this limited amount of time'.

Speaking in an interview with The Times, the 17-year-old was asked how she feels about celebrities who travel the world in gas-guzzling planes while preaching about climate change.

Miss Thunberg (pictured) has said she 'doesn't care' about the jet-setting exploits of celebrities who preach about the environment in an interview ahead of her 18th birthday

Miss Thunberg has spoken at the United Nations climate summit, been nominated for a Nobel peace prize and was dubbed Time magazine's 2019 person of the year (pictured)

She simply replied: 'I don't care.'

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were criticised for using private jets in 2019 - including four trips in just 11 days in August - despite their eco credentials.

Miss Thunberg said: 'I'm not telling anyone else what to do, but there is a risk when you are vocal about these things and don't practise as you preach, then you will become criticised for that and what you are saying won't be taken seriously.'

The teenager - who has Asperger's syndrome - was critical of Boris Johnson's ten-point 'green industrial revolution'.

The Prime Minister launched a 12billion plan for the environment last year, saying it could create 250,000 jobs and significantly slash the country's carbon emissions.

Among the ambitious proposals are plans to ban new sales of petrol and diesel cars by 2030, install thousands of offshore wind turbines and plant 75,000 acres of trees per year.

But Miss Thunberg (pictured) said her global superstardom won't last forever so she is trying to 'use her position' to get as much done as possible 'in this limited amount of time'

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle (pictured) were criticised for using private jets in 2019 - including four trips in just 11 days in August - despite their eco credentials

Miss Thunberg said that while the proposals were seen as better than the Government doing nothing - she pointed out that scientists have criticised it for not doing enough to tackle climate change.

In the interview, the activist also said that she doesn't mull over criticism levied at her from world leaders.

In 2019, Miss Thunberg shouted 'How dare you?' during the UN General Assembly - claiming that country heads were failing the younger generation.

US President Donald Trump sarcastically said of her UN Speech: 'She seems like a very happy young girl looking forward to a bright and wonderful future. So nice to see.'

Last December, President Trump told Miss Thunberg to 'work on her anger management problem' and 'get a good old-fashioned movie with a friend' after she became the youngest person to be awarded with Time magazine's Person Of The Year accolade.

After she was named Person Of The Year by Time Magazine, President Trump said Thunberg needed to 'chill' and 'work on her anger management problem'

The teenage activist mocked the president and changed her Twitter bio using his words

The 17-year-old mimicked a tweet the President had directed at her last year and told him to 'chill' and 'work on his anger management problem'

In his tweet last year the President wrote: 'So ridiculous. Greta must work on her anger management problem, then go to a good old-fashioned movie with a friend! Chill Greta, chill!'

In November, Miss Thunberg threw the criticism back at him.

Taking to Twitter to reply to the President's calls to 'stop the count', the teenager wrote: 'So ridiculous. Donald must work on his anger management problem, then go to a good old-fashioned movie with a friend! Chill Donald, Chill!'

Last month, the activist said she was celebrating being back in school but accused nations of ignoring climate experts, despite the pandemic showing the importance of following science.

Miss Thunberg took a gap year from 2019 in a bid to force leaders from around the world to take action on climate change.

The schoolgirl was seen at the UN headquarters last year with an enraged expression on her face as President Trump walked in

As her studies get back under way she told novelist Margaret Atwood during her guest editorship of BBC Radio 4's Today programme the coronavirus crisis has 'shone a light' on how 'we cannot make it without science'.

And she accused the world of listening to 'one type' of scientist, and ignoring others warning of climate change.

When asked if the pandemic's impact on people's appreciation of science could have an effect on climate information the teenager said: 'It could definitely have.

'I think this pandemic has shone a light on how ... we are depending on science and that we cannot make it without science.

'But of course, we are only listening to one type of scientist, or some types of scientists, and, for example, we are not listening to climate scientists, we're not listening to scientists who work on biodiversity.

'That of course needs to change.'

Earlier she had shared a picture of herself on a bike with her school rucksack over her shoulder as she celebrated returning to education.

But the environmental campaigner expressed scepticism when questioned about nations' pledges to reduce their carbon emissions, such as China which has committed to reach a net zero target by 2060.

She said: 'That would be very nice if they actually meant something.

'We can't just keep talking about future, hypothetical, vague, distant dates and pledges. We need to do things now. And also net zero ... that is a very big loophole, you can fit a lot in that word net.'

But she praised the election of Joe Biden as US president who has pledged to rejoin the Paris climate accord on the first day of his presidency.

Miss Thunberg added: 'It could be a good start of something new.

'Let's hope that it is like that, and let's push for it to become like that.'
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Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan on Saturday said that free coronavirus vaccines will be provided to 3 crore frontline workers in the first base of the mega vaccination drive in India.

"In first phase of COVID-19 Vaccination, free vaccine shall be provided across the nation to most prioritised beneficiaries that include 1 crore healthcare and 2 crore frontline workers," Vardhan wrote on Twitter.

He also said that details of how further 27 crore priority beneficiaries are to be vaccinated until July are being finalised.

As India began its nationwide Covid-19 vaccine dry run from today before the roll out of a potential vaccine to the citizens, the health minister appealed to people not to pay heed to rumours about COVID-19 vaccine.

After reviewing the dry run of administering the COVID-19 vaccine at Guru Teg Bahadur (GTB) hospital in Delhi, Vardhan spoke to the media.

"I appeal to people not to pay heed to rumours. Ensuring safety and efficacy of vaccine is our priority. Different kinds of rumours were spread during polio immunisation but people took the vaccine and India is now polio-free," he said.

In Delhi, the drive is being conducted at three locations - the Daryaganj primary health centre, the government-run Guru Teg Bahadur hospital, and the private Venkateshwara hospital, he added.

Except for giving an actual vaccine, every procedure is being followed during the drill, Vardhan said.

In Bengaluru COVID-19 vaccination dry run took place at Primary Health Center in Kamakshipalya. More than 1,65,000 healthcare workers have been identified. "This dry run will help us plan vaccination process," said Special Commissioner, Health, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra's Pune district also went for vaccination dry run. The dry run will be conducted by all the States and Union Territories governments from Saturday. Vaccination drill is being conducted in all States/UTs today in 116 districts across 259 sites.

Feedbacks received after the earlier dry run in four states were included in guidelines for vaccination and today's dry run in all states/UTs is being conducted as per new guidelines, said Health Minister.

According to the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW), the objective of the dry run for COVID-19 vaccine introduction is to "assess operational feasibility in the use of COVID Vaccine Intelligence Network (Co-WIN) application in a field environment, to test the linkages between planning and implementation and to identify the challenges and guide the way forward prior to actual implementation".

Meanwhile, the expert panel on Friday recommended granting emergency use authorization to Serum Institute of Indias (SIIs) Covishield, according to Mint report, while the government prepared to roll out the shots as early as next week.

The independent subject expert committee (SEC) gave its recommendations to Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) V.G. Somani for emergency licence for Covishield subject to certain conditions, the persons said, requesting anonymity. A formal clearance from the DCGI is likely to follow soon.

With agency inputs

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Bali's iconic beaches and typically idyllic waters have transformed into rubbish dumps with tonnes of filth piling higher than deck chairs where Australian tourists once sunned themselves on holiday.

The once-popular Kuta Beach is now a deserted coastline that looks more like a tip than an idyllic tourist destination, strewn with washed up bottles, bags, and plastic.

Between 30 and 60 tonnes of trash is being collected from Bali's most popular beaches each day, with the problem at its worst from December to March each year, where seasonal winds and heavy rain wash up the rubbish on the beach.

But locals believe the problem is worse than ever this year, as the island's workers also struggling with the Covid-19 pandemic denying them of the usual flood of tourists.

Shocking photos have emerged of local surfers and beachgoers sunbaking and walking along shorelines strewn with mountains of plastic cups, cans, bottles, discarded footwear and other debris.

The beaches are usually packed with hundreds of international tourists kept away by the coronavirus pandemic.

The monsoon season usually brings in trash but this year authorities say it has become worse with 30 and 60 tonnes of trash being collected from Bali's best known beaches each day. These pictures were taken over the weekend at Kuta Beach showing a once frequented tourist destination now submerged in piles of rubbish

Rubbish continues to plague the usually-idyllic beach, with locals unable to keep up with the quantity of debris (pictured, the beach on Saturday)

More than 30 tonnes of rubbish was removed on Friday from beaches in Kuta, Legian and Seminyak but the next day the amount doubled to 60 tonnes

Local residents sunbaking on a clean and rubbish free Kuta Beach in September before the monsoon season hit and left it looking like a rubbish tip (pictured on September 4)

The trash continues to grow, despite the desperate efforts by local authorities to clear the mess on a daily basis.

Wayan Puja, from Badung's environment and sanitation agency, which covers the Kuta, Seminyak and Jimbaran beaches, says the trash is seemingly never-ending.

'We have been working really hard to clean up the beaches, however the trash keeps coming,' Wayan said.

'Every day we deploy our personnel, trucks and loaders.'

He said more than 30 tonnes of rubbish was removed on Friday from beaches in Kuta, Legian and Seminyak before the amount doubled to 60 tonnes on Saturday.

More than a million Australians flocked to Bali each year before the coronavirus pandemic hit. Pictured is Kuta Beach

Thousands visit Bali's famous Kuta Beach (pictured pristine outside monsoon season) each year

Wayan said while rubbish flooding onto Bali beaches was a regular phenomenon at this time of year, due to weather conditions, it was getting worse.

Dr Gede Hendrawan, the head of the Centre for Remote Sensing and Ocean Scienes at Bali's Udayana University, said the biggest problem was Indonesia's ineffective rubbish handling systems.

'The biggest problem is actually the trash handling hasn't been effective in Indonesia. Bali has just started to reorganise it, also Java has just started,' he said.

Indonesia's ineffective rubbish handling systems has been blamed as Bali's Governor, Wayan Koster, urges a serious clean-up for beaches (pictured, trash on Kuta Beach)

The cleaning up system does not have adequate equipment and resources to quickly remove rubbish from beaches. Currently, they use trucks and loaders (pictured on Kuta Beach on Saturday)

Locals are disappointed at what their beaches have become - the site of a rubbish tip (pictured) littered with plastic

Kuta Beach (pictured) is rubbish-free for nine months of the year, until the monsoon season hits in December (pictured, the clean beach in September)

Bali's beaches are usually packed with international tourists all year round. Pictured are tourists on Kuta Beach in March, a month before Indonesia closed its foreign borders

Bali's Governor, Wayan Koster, urged serious action to clean up the beaches - which are a huge tourist drawcard.

'The Badung administration should have a trash handling system at Kuta Beach that is complete with adequate equipment and human resources so they can work quickly to clean up the trash washed onto the beach,' he said.

'Moreover, in the rainy season when there are tourists visiting, the trash handling systems should be working 24 hours a day. Don't wait for tomorrow.'

Indonesia is among the worst contributors to plastic pollution, with 200,000 tonnes of plastic washing into the ocean, according to a study published by the journal Nature Communications in 2017.

Siblings Rizkika Arshanty and Rizkella Triara, from Jakarta said they were disappointed to visit Kuta Beach and find it inundated with rubbish.

Thousands of Australian tourists would normally be in Bali over the summer holiday period but the coronavirus pandemic has halted overseas travel.

Sadly, Kuta Beach doesn't look this clean and pristine all year round with the shoreline inundated with mountains of washed up rubbish during the monsoon season

Former Australian Bachelorette Anna Heinrich at Finns Beach club in Bali. More than a million Australians travel to Indonesia each year and make up more than a quarter of Bali tourists - but this has dropped to zero during the pandemic

Indonesia has recorded 758,000 coronavirus cases and 22,555 deaths as of Sunday.

Indonesia closed its international borders in April, which crippled the Balinese economy - normally almost entirely dependent on foreign tourism.

Businesses reopened to Bali locals in July after a three month hiatus.

Kuta has transformed from a bustling tourist mecca into a deserted ghost town, forcing accommodation operators to rethink their survival strategy and slash prices.

The problem on Kuta Beach is getting worse each days, despite daily efforts from hardworking crews to clear the debris on a frequent basis

Indonesia is keeping its borders closed to all foreign arrivals until at least January 14 in a bid to halt the spread of the new strains of Covid-19 that have emerged in the UK, South Africa and the US which have spread to other countries, including Australia.

Entry to Indonesia is only open to foreign nationals already holding a valid stay permit who must return a negative coronavirus test before they fly and spend 14 days in hotel quarantine when they arrive in Indonesia.

Bali Governor Wayan Koster remains optimistic about the revival of international tourism on the island, despite rising COVID-19 cases in the country.

'We have agreed to keep on pushing various policies to return the trust of tourists, especially foreign tourists, to visit Bali. [This is] so that the tourism sector can revive,' Koster told reporters last week.

Pre-COVID, more than a million Australians travelled to Indonesia each year and made up more than a quarter of Bali tourists.

Around 1.23 million Australians visited Bali in 2019 - a rise of 5.24 per cent on 2018 figures.

Around 20,000 Australians visited Bali at any one time before the pandemic before the number of foreign tourists arriving in Indonesia plunged 60 per cent in March as the outbreak spread worldwide.

As a result, more than 73,000 people have been furloughed and another 2,500 workers have lost their jobs in Bali due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Foreign tourist arrivals in Indonesia slumped 89.22 percent year-on-year to 164,970 in August 2020.

The Indonesian government predicts $14 billion will be lost from tourism in 2020 and has introduced a $28 billion in fiscal stimulus to fight the downturn.

Kuta Beach is located in the regency of Badung, which normally earns between $19 million and $38 million from January to June.

The regency had only earned $572,000 from January to June this year.
https://www.aish.com/tp/ss/ssw/Shmot-5781-Fighting-Illiteracy-and-Apathy-Dont-Know-and-Dont-Care.html

GOOD MORNING! As I sit here writing this weeks column, the stillness of the rural Pennsylvania countryside is momentarily shattered by an eruption of fireworks and distant revelry ushering in 2021. In all likelihood, a big part of the celebration is spurred by the sentiment of finally turning the page and moving on from a very difficult 2020.

Still, moving on to a new year does not resolve the serious losses that so many continue to suffer from; the loss of loved ones, livelihoods, or in some cases both. Its difficult times such as these when we must turn our attention to helping those who have suffered.

Another lingering effect of 2020 is the discord sown between fellow Americans. Whether caused by strongly differing political ideologies or by racial tensions and class conflict, these fractures of brotherhood left a deep rift in the collective psyche of the American people.

But there is hope! As a matter of fact, this weeks Torah portion teaches us an approach to both helping those who have suffered as well as those who have been driven apart. This weeks Torah reading also contains an important lesson on two distinct concepts that are often mistakenly conflated with one another: sympathy and empathy.

I am reminded of the following story. Two friends were walking down the street one evening when they noticed mutual friends of theirs, a married couple, in front of them. Suddenly they hear the wife berating her husband, Larry, I am sick and tired of you being being drunk all the time! She then stormed off.

Feeling empathy for the wife, one friend turns to the other and remarks, I have no sympathy for a married man who is intoxicated all the time! His companion responds, It is precisely because Larry is intoxicated all the time that he doesnt need your sympathy!

Last week we read the final portion in the book of Genesis, which contains the events surrounding the death of our forefather Jacob. The portion ends with the death of Joseph, thus bringing to an end his reign as the viceroy of Egypt and the special protection it afforded his brethren and their children.

This weeks portion opens with a new king on the throne of Egypt, a Pharaoh who was confronted with a burgeoning Jewish nation that was growing large and formidable. Pharaoh and his advisors perceived them to be developing into a threat and formed a plan to control the Jewish nation by enslaving them.

Shortly thereafter, Pharaohs soothsayers predicted the birth of a male savior of the Jewish nation, one who would free them form their bondage. Pharaoh therefore decreed that all male children born to the Jewish nation be drowned in the Nile.

During this time Moses was born and, because of the existential threat to his life, his mother attempted to hide him in a basket among the reeds of the Nile river. Subsequently, Moses basket was found by Pharaohs daughter who had come down to the river to bathe.

(According to the Talmud, once Moses was placed into the basket in the river Pharaohs decree was annulled because his soothsayers told him that the savior had been placed in the Nile and there was no longer a danger.)

Pharaohs daughter saw that he was circumcised and knew that he was born a Jew. She searched out a Jewish nursemaid for him (who was actually his mother) and she took him back to the palace where he was raised. For a few years, he was left in his mothers care. Thus, he was raised with a dual identity, that of Egyptian and that of being a Jew.

It happened in those days that Moses grew up and went out to his brethren and saw their burdens... (Exodus 2:11)

Rashi, the great medieval Biblical commentator, notes that this verse refers not only to Moses growing into adulthood, but also to Moses growing in stature and responsibility. As Rashi explains, Pharaoh appointed him over his household. Later in the book of Exodus (20:2), Rashi explains that the Jewish slaves were actually owned directly by Pharaoh and were part his household. Thus, Pharaoh took the innovative step of appointing Moses over his fellow Jews.

This was no accident. Many tyrants and despots appoint members of the victim class over the other victims. In fact, in Egypt the taskmasters were Jewish officers appointed over the other slaves to violently enforce quotas (which they resolutely refused to do and ended up suffering greatly for their disobedience). In a similar vein, cruel Jewish Kapos were the method used by the Nazis to control prisoners in the concentration camps.

Theoretically, this is brilliant. It naturally pits members of the oppressed class against one another and breeds mistrust and deception, thereby destroying the unity of the group  exactly what it is supposed to achieve. Pharaoh also added an insidious twist: By appointing Moses over them, Pharaoh was showcasing what a Jew who grew up as an Egyptian could aspire to become if he abandoned his culture.

But Pharaoh underestimated Moses. He fully expected Moses to sympathize with them and, at most, perhaps even advocate for better treatment. Yet Rashi makes a remarkable comment on the words and he saw their burdens (2:11); He focused his eyes and heart to be distressed over them.

Moses didn't merely sympathize and feel pity for them, Moses empathized with them. Sympathy is merely seeing someones pain and feeling bad for them, perhaps even expressing it to them. Empathy, however, is a vicarious experience of feeling what another is going through. I remember my father once explaining to me the day he understood the difference between sympathy and empathy.

In 1963 my father was returning to his rabbinical school in Baltimore following a date with my mother who was studying at Stern College in Manhattan. As my father entered the train station he saw six or seven police officers mercilessly beating a black man. He clearly remembers the terror on the mans face. He felt an outpouring of sympathy and pity for this man. He imagined how he would have felt in that very same situation.

On the train ride back to Baltimore my father turned over in his mind what he had just seen and he realized that he had not properly internalized the experience. The tragedy of the situation was that in 1963 blacks were still considered second class citizens with separate public restrooms, water fountains, hotels in which they werent welcome and restaurants that wouldnt serve them. To fully understand the plight of the black man, he had to see the world from that mans perspective; how he grew up, how he had been marginalized his entire life, etc.

Had my father been attacked by those police officers he could be relatively certain that he would be supported by his father who was a respected businessman in Philadelphia and who would move heaven and earth to see that justice would be served. He had a community to lean on who would support him.

A black person in 1963 had no such support. Society itself held them as second class citizens, wholly unworthy of better treatment. It was only then that my father began to fathom the terror and despair that the man must have felt in that situation. This understanding comes from a deep sense of empathy  seeing the world from anothers perspective to understand what he is going through.

This is what Rashi is telling us. Moses focused his eyes and heart to see what the Jewish slaves saw and what the slaves felt; he perceived their situation through the lens of their background and their perspective. Even though he grew up in Pharaohs home he internalized the true plight of his brethren and his heart went out to them. Ultimately, this ability to empathize and identify with his brethren is what qualified him to be chosen as their savior.

This is the perspective that we must maintain when trying to help someone who has suffered a loss. It is not enough to express sympathy. Sympathys expression basically amounts to poor you. It creates a sense of pity over the plight of the person. This is generally not very helpful. By contrast, empathy is expressed as, I can understand how it feels. It must be really hard. This helps a person to feel heard, understood, and validated.

Once we focus on empathizing we can begin to understand what another person is going through and begin to address the issues he or she faces. We instantly begin to recognize that upcoming family milestones (weddings, birth of grandchildren, etc.) and holidays are going to particularly hard on those who are bereaved because that is the time when they feel their loss the most intensely. Reaching out to them or inviting them over during those times goes a long way towards really helping them.

Likewise, this is true with rifts between individuals or segments of society. In most cases, both sides look at the other as if they are idiots who cannot see the obvious merits of their own position. Without understanding the dynamics of their lifes journey, which brought them to their position, it is difficult to ever find a middle ground.

But once we make a real effort to place ourselves into someone elses world and their life experiences, we can begin to understand where they are coming from. We still may not agree, but we will no longer consider them crazy. Empathy helps us overcome egocentricity because we begin to identify with one another. Not only will the animosity diminish greatly, but we may even begin to find a common space for us to rebuild the trust of a relationship, which will create a bridge to span the gap of our divide. Understanding this concept will certainly go a long way to rectifying the difficult year that so many experienced.

Shemot, Exodus 1:1 - 6:1

The week's portion tells a story often repeated throughout history: The Jews become prominent and numerous. There arises a new king in Egypt who did not know Joseph (meaning he chose not to know Joseph or recognize any debt of gratitude). He proclaims slavery for the Jewish people lest they may increase so much, that if there is war, they will join our enemies and fight against us, driving (us) from the land. (Anti-Semitism can thrive on any excuse; it need not be logical or real - check out our online seminar Why the Jews? here. It's spectacular!)

Moses is born and immediately hidden because of the decree to kill all male Jewish babies. Moses is saved by Pharaoh's daughter, grows up in the royal household, and goes out to see the plight of his fellow Jews. He kills an Egyptian who was beating a Jew, escapes to Midian when the deed becomes known, becomes a shepherd, and then is commanded by God at the Burning Bush to bring My people out of Egypt. Moses returns to Egypt and confronts Pharaoh who refuses to give permission for the Israelites to leave. God says, Now you will begin to see what I will do to Pharaoh!



(or go to http://www.aish.com/sh/c/) Jerusalem 4:16

Miami 5:28 - Cape Town 7:43 - Guatemala 5:30

Hong Kong 5:38 - Honolulu 5:48 - Johannesburg 6:46

Los Angeles 4:42 - London 3:55 - Melbourne 8:27

Mexico 5:56 - Moscow 3:59 - New York 4:28

Singapore 6:54 - Toronto 4:40 Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding.

 Albert Einstein



Sponsored in appreciation of the book Infinity of Torah by Rabbi Yochanan Zweig



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Pop star Jim Corr has been slammed for helping to spread fake news about a beloved grandmother who became the first person in the world to receive the coronavirus jab.

Margaret Keenan (91), who lives in Coventry but is originally from Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh, was the first person in the world to be vaccinated against Covid-19 last month and received her second jab on Tuesday.

Guitarist Jim  who is currently banned from Twitter  suggested there were question marks about Mrs Keenans identity as the internet filled with bizarre rumours she was an actor.

Images of Mrs Keenan receiving the jab were beamed around the world from Coventry University Hospital on December 8 but almost immediately, conspiracy theories began to spread on social media including the idea Mrs Keenan was an actor.

Jim, a member of Irish family pop group The Corrs, has been criticised for contributing to the conspiracy theories on his Twitter account.

Mrs Keenans niece Geraldine McHugh, from Tempo, Co Fermanagh, rubbished claims about her beloved auntie Peggy and said Jim should be more careful about what he posts on his social media.

Expand Close Margaret Keenan, 90, as she became the first person in the United Kingdom to receive the Pfizer/BioNtech covid-19 vaccine at University Hospital, Coventry, at the start of the largest ever immunisation programme in the UK's history. PA / Facebook

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Whatsapp Margaret Keenan, 90, as she became the first person in the United Kingdom to receive the Pfizer/BioNtech covid-19 vaccine at University Hospital, Coventry, at the start of the largest ever immunisation programme in the UK's history.

She told Sunday Life: Shes not an actor, Ive heard that and its a load of b***s**t. Shes an ordinary Irish woman that moved to England and is definitely not involved in acting or anything like that.

I had seen that old s***ty rumour, my daughter said to me that there was rubbish going around about her being an actor but shes definitely not.

Social media hypes up everything and makes things worse than they are, do they think she got paid for it or something stupid like that?

I dont care what Jim Corr shares or what anybody shares, it doesnt bother me that much because I wouldnt listen to it all. Its all bunkum like, just people going on and on. I think before Jim Corr puts anything on his social media he should check whether its true or not.

Mrs McHugh also said Margaret was recovering well after receiving the Pfizer/BioNTech jab which is being rolled out across the UK but was unsure if she was aware of the conspiracy theories swirling around her vaccination.

She added: Im sure for the person themselves if they heard it, its probably not nice for them. I dont know whether Margaret is aware of any of this or not.

I havent spoken to her recently because shes recovering and tired and whatnot so naturally enough I havent heard from her, Im sure shes been bothered enough with phone calls.

Shes recovering well I do believe, my daughter has been in touch with her but Ive not spoken to her myself.

Posting a news story about Mrs Keenans vaccination earlier this month, Jim Corr (56) said: What an absolutely amazing 90yr old woman. By the age of her children, she must have had them while in her 60s.

A fellow Twitter user replied to his post suggesting Mrs Keenan may be a crisis actor who had her own acting profile, and also that no person of that names lives in Coventry, to which Jim replied: Yep saw that. Big question mark about this person.

On Christmas Eve his Twitter account, which had almost 44,000 followers, was removed from the platform over an unrelated matter after he was accused of targeted harassment, a claim he denies.

Jim Corrs social media profiles are awash with anti-vaccination and Covid conspiracy theories which he posts on a daily basis.

He posted on Parler: I got banned off Twitter for what they allege as participating in targeted harassment of an individual which is completely untrue. Ill be taking it further. Meanwhile hello Parler.

Earlier this month the covid-denying musician had a driving ban slashed on appeal to six weeks at Belfast County Court. Corr, of Sharman House, Old Windmill Road in Crawfordsburn, Co Down, pleaded guilty last month at Belfast Magistrates Court to using a mobile phone while driving on the M3 in Belfast on May 16, an offence which brought his penalty points tally to the ban level.

Earlier this month his sister Andrea told Sunday Life her family have different opinions when quizzed about Jims controversial views.

*In an earlier version we incorrectly said Jim Corr was a former member of The Corrs pop group.

Sunday Life
The Commerce Ministry has sought financial support from its finance counterpart to pay compensation to the employees of public sector trading firm MMTC (Metals & Minerals Trading Corporation of India) under its VRS scheme, sources said.

According to sources in the Commerce Ministry, which is the nodal ministry of MMTC, the ministry has sent a proposal regarding this to the Finance Ministry.

The company needs money to pay its employees who are opting for VRS (voluntary retirement scheme), and due to its weak financial conditions, MMTC is unable to pay the due amount, one of the sources said.

The ministry is hopeful that the Finance Ministry would consider the proposal positively, the sources said.

In July last year, MMTC's board had approved the VRS proposal for its employees.
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Kolkata:

BJP and RSS have replaced feudal lords for the Maoist struggle to create a class-less society, insist senior leaders of the Naxalite movement.

Prominent leaders of the struggle argue that even though their rousing slogan Chinas chairman is our chairman is no longer heard, but the ideals and the struggle of the Naxalites are still relevant.



Only the character of the enemy has changed - from feudal lords to BJP-RSS, so insist former Naxalites like Vervara Rao and Santosh Rana as well as present-day leaders like Dipankar Bhattacharya.



The reason for this new enemy is, they argue because the BJP-RSS government was bent on dividing the country and society on religious lines.

Read | Around 15 Naxals reportedly killed in different encounters: CRPF



We had fought against feudal lords and a bourgeois system to create a class-less society. We did not achieve success, but our objectives are more relevant in the present context when a BJP-RSS government is trying to divide the country and society into religious lines, former Naxal leader Vervara Rao told PTI.



They were the real enemies of class struggle and they should be fought unitedly, Rao said.



Santosh Rana, also a former Naxalite, said that when Modi-RSS was trying to take India backwards through its policies of Gorakhsa and Gharwapsi, the ideals and teachings of the Naxalbari Movement were never more relevant than now.



They are very important in todays perspective to create a unity among masses, Rana said.



The Naxalbari uprising began on May 25, 1967 at the village of Naxalbari in north Bengals Darjeeling district after 11 villagers, mostly share-croppers, including eight women and two children, were killed by the police.

Read | Raman Singh's Mission Sukma to counter left-wing extremism: Use of air power, targeting Naxal leaders, continuous development



Led by Charu Mazumdar, Kanu Sanyal, Khokhan Majumdar and Jangal Santhal, all former CPI-M leaders who broke away from the party to set up CPI(ML), the movement spread like wildfire with their slogan Land belongs to him who tills it catching fancy of the farmers.



The campuses of hallowed institutions like Calcutta University and Presidency College became the hotbeds of Marxist-Leninist revolutionaries who advocated an armed struggle against the Indian state.



The romanticism of armed revolution led many bright and young minds from noted educational institutions to join the movement.



The uprising, which was described by Peking Radio as front paw of Indian revolution and the Peoples Daily of China as spring thunder over India, was eventually suppressed by the United Front and the Congress government through ruthless police action, leading to the disintegration of the CPI(ML) into many splinter groups.



Although the movement failed in its objective, many subsequent pro-poor policies adopted by the state and central governments like the Operation Barga (distribution of land among landless peasants), the Panchayat system and the Public Distribution System were a direct result of it.



No one can deny that Naxalbari movement changed Indias socio-political system. But today the very idea of a class-less society is under threat under the Modi government, CPI(ML) Liberation general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya said.



From the class struggle of 1960s, the focus has shifted to the RSS-BJP combine. If we have to fight against the communal divide, we have to widen the class struggle, Abhijit Majumdar, Central Committee member of the CPI(ML) Liberation and son of Charu Majumdar, said.



Ironically, it is the Naxalbari village and other areas in north Bengal where the saffron brigade is fast gaining ground, a fact acknowledged by Bhattacharya.



The BJP is creating a mass base in Naxalbari which is a reflection of entire society where they are gaining ground through divisive politics and communal polarisation, he pointed out.

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When school resumes on Monday, all lessons will be taught remotely.

It's back to school on Monday, 4 January, but it will be a little different than usual. Before Christmas, the government decided to extend school closures for one week. Nurseries and day-care centres will also remain closed until 10 January.

All classes will be taught remotely, and all papers will be postponed to the week after. Parents will be able to take holiday for family reasons to take care of their children.

A helpline (8002-9393) providing psychological support to teenagers has been put in place, operating from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. until 10 January. Should you have any questions concerning the general measures put in place by the education ministry, please call 8002 9090.

Learning material for primary school children will be sent out several times per day on the website Schouldoheem.

School children will be able to go back into school on 11 January. The Ministry of Education has announced that children between the ages of 4 and 19 will be asked to get tested.

Furthermore, carbon dioxide sensors will be installed in primary and secondary schools as well as in skills centres in mid-January in order to determine how to air classrooms in the most efficient way.
New Delhi: The Department of Art, Culture & Language of the Delhi government, under the leadership of Deputy CM Manish Sisodia, on Sunday (January 3, 2021) set up and notified Tamil academy to promote Tamil language and culture. The Delhi government has appointed Ex-MCD councillor and current member of Delhi Tamil Sangam N Raja as the Vice-Chairman of the academy. The newly set-up academy will soon be allocated an office space with all the necessary infrastructure.

"Delhi is a culturally rich city where people from all parts of the country live and work. It is this diversity that forms Delhi's vibrant and cosmopolitan culture. Delhi has a large population of people from Tamil Nadu and we want to present a platform to the people of Delhi to get the taste of the art and culture of Tamil Nadu. I am glad that many notable people like the newly elected Vice-Chairman Shri N. Raja came forward and joined hands with us to establish this academy," said Deputy CM Manish Sisodia who also holds the charge of the Art, Culture and Language Department.

On the occasion, N Raja said, I am glad to see that the Delhi Government under Deputy CM Sisodia has established the Tamil language academy. I am honoured to be a part of this academy. The Tamil language and culture have a long tradition in the history of Indian culture as well as in Delhi. With the formation of this academy, we will kickstart a new journey of preserving the language in Delhi and promote it too.

Awards, festivals and language courses to be introduced under the new academy

The Department of Art, Culture and Language of the Delhi govt has decided that the new academy will introduce various awards to promote and reward the good works of people in Tamil language and culture. The government will also provide language courses through this academy. The Delhi government will also celebrate and organise cultural festivals for the people of Tamil Nadu.

Tamil culture

The culture of the Tamil people is rooted in several forms of expression such as dance, music, literature, folk arts. Being the birthplace for one of the oldest civilisations, the Tamil identity and its culture is strongly centred around its language which is fondly referred to as the Tamilannai (The Tamil Mother).

The Tamil language is recognised as a classical language by the Indian government and a lot of Tamil literature is centuries old. Works of Kambar and Thiruvalluvar have gained an international reputation.

The most prominent visual art forms of the region are the Chola bronze sculptures and the Tanjore painting, both of which are considered to be one of Indias greatest contributions to world art.

Most Tamil dance forms have origins in the older temple dances, which were performed by Devdasis and courtesans. One of such dance forms is Bharatanatyam, which is a modern form of the ancient dance of Catir Kacceri. Some other important dances from the culture are Oliyattam, Puliyattam, Karakattam, and Koothu.

Bio of N Raja

N Raja has a longstanding involvement in preserving and promoting the Tamil language and culture. He has been actively promoting the language through the Delhi Tamil Sangam, of which he is a current member.

The Delhi Tamil Sangam frequently organises music, literary and dance events to promote the culture of Tamil Nadu, and has provided the stage to several budding Bharatnatyam dancers as well as its exponents, which is the classical dance form of the state.

In addition to this, Raja is also a member of the Malai Mandir Trust and has held the position of MCD councillor of ward no 64 twice, from 2007 to 2018. He also holds the position of General Secretary of the Adarsh Navyuvak Ramlila Committee (Regd.)


Russias Health Minister Mikhail Murashko, on Saturday, said that more than 800,000 people in Russia have been vaccinated against the novel coronavirus, reported Turkish News Agency Anadolu Agency. He further said that the mass vaccination campaign continues in the country. Russia started with vaccinating people over the age of 60, and as of now, more than 1.5 million vaccines have been delivered to various parts of the country.

Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin had said that Sputnik V has at least 95 percent efficacy, adding that Russia has given the world good, safe, and efficient vaccine products. The Russian President thanked the Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) for producing the vaccine against the novel coronavirus. The Russian leader cited the health experts, saying that the shot hits 96-97 percent efficacy in one dose as it is administered into the patients body. According to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, Putin will receive the Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine soon.

Read: COVID-19: Belarus Becomes First Country After Russia To Begin Inoculation Using Sputnik V

Putin to get vaccinated soon

Putin had given a green light to the Sputnik V vaccine back in August, making it the first vaccine in the world to get government approval. While approving the vaccine, Putin had claimed that even his daughter received a trial shot of the vaccine, which experts said was probably to build confidence regarding the safety of the drug. Many questions were raised by the international community regarding the safety of Sputnik V due to the lack of trial data provided by Russia.

Russia announced to conduct a mass trial in October in order to ward off all the concerns surrounding the vaccine. Then in December, Putin directed his government to start a mass vaccination campaign in Moscow, prioritising high-risk groups. Children, pregnant women, people with pre-existing medical conditions have been left out of the programme due to the non-availability of data to determine how the vaccine will react to them.

Read: Russia To Launch Over 30 Non-military Commercial Projects And Space Missions In 2021

Belarus approves Sputnik

After Russia, Belarus is the first country to approve Sputnik V jabs and registered the vaccine on December 21. In a statement on its official website, Sputnik V wrote that the first doses of the vaccine arrived in Belarus as the erstwhile Soviet republic began its mass inoculation drive against coronavirus. The website also revealed that Russia Sovereign Wealth Fund (RDIF) has signed Belarusian pharmaceutical brand Belpharmprom to establish local production of Sputnik V in Belarus.

Read: Argentina: 1 Per Cent Of Those Vaccinated With Sputnik V Jabs Show Adverse Reactions

Also Read: Minister: Vaccinated Russians To Get E-certificate

(Image Credits: AP)
CPS and city officials have pushed back reopening plans multiple times but have said their phased-in plan, which would have the bulk of kindergarten through eighth graders returning on Feb. 1 for parents who choose that option, is a cautious approach with many health safeguards in place. They also say remote learning has disproportionately hurt Black and Latino students, though the union has countered that communities of color have also been affected the most by the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Courtesy of OnScene.tv

Nine men escaped from a southwest Houston house where they were being held as part of a human smuggling operation, but their captors fled with about 15 remaining victims before authorities arrived Saturday night, Houston police said.

Investigators said the nine men were under watch at a home near Finchwood Lane and Concourse Drive, about 2 miles north of the Sam Houston Tollway and Interstate 69 interchange, when they escaped at about 9:15 p.m. and found assistance at an unnamed nearby business.
Hong Kong: 41 COVID-19 cases reported

(To watch the full press briefing with sign language interpretation, click here.)

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) today said it is investigating 41 additional COVID-19 cases, of which 40 are locally transmitted.

The patients include 22 males and 19 females aged between nine and 82. Among the local cases, 16 have unknown sources of infection.

The centres Communicable Disease Branch Head Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan provided details to the media this afternoon about a second coronavirus outbreak at the Tseung Kwan O - Lam Tin Tunnel construction site.

She said: We think the first case of this latest outbreak is not linked to the previous cluster. The man who tested positive works as a scaffolding supervisor at the construction site and a few workers working with him also tested preliminary positive.

She noted that the second outbreak occurred less than a week after the construction site reopened.

The site was closed until December 27 and then the workers returned on December 28. The latest confirmed patient had onset of symptoms on December 30.

Dr Chuang explained that the current outbreak is probably due to facilities shared among the workers.

They shared some changing facilities in a container at the site. So it's possible that in that environment transmission might occur.

She added that work at the site will be suspended and around 1,500 workers will be tested.

Meanwhile, two more buildings have been added to the compulsory testing list. They are Un Shing House of Un Chau Estate in Sham Shui Po and Fai Lam House of Tsui Lam Estate in Tseung Kwan O.

Those who had been present on these two premises during a specified period must undergo a COVID-19 nucleic acid test.

For information and health advice on COVID-19, visit the Government's dedicated webpage.

This story has been published on: 2021-01-03. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
The Congress partys Rajasthan unit, lead by chief minister Ashok Gehlot, Congress Rajasthan chief Govind Singh Dotasara and former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot, will on Sunday hold demonstrations against the recently passed farm laws at Jaipurs Shaheed Smarak demanding for their repeal.

Thousands of farmers are protesting against the Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act 2020 claiming that these laws allow corporate farming and will be beneficial for the multinational companies in the agricultural sector.

Gehlot had on Thursday lashed out at the Centre for forcing farmers to welcome New Year on the streets amid freezing temperatures. It is sad that our farmer brothers and sisters, who are protesting, would welcome the New Year out on roads and away from homes. A sensitive, responsive govt would never let this happen! Gehlot had tweeted.

The Rajasthan government will also launch a week-long campaign Kisan Bachao-Desh Bachao on Tuesday under which ministers, party workers and public representatives will visit villages in the state demanding the rollback of the three laws.

The farmers and the Centre will sit for the seventh round of discussions on January 4. Leaders of the farm unions have warned to intensify the agitation at Delhis borders if the demands are not met.

The farm leaders have said that protests will begin from January 6 for two weeks if the laws are not repealed by the government. This is our ultimatum. If all issues are not resolved and our demands not met by Republic Day, then we will start entering Delhi. The government is saying that 50% of the demands have been met. But the government has shown no signs of meeting our biggest demands, farmers rights activist and Swaraj India chief Yogendra Yadav said on Saturday.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-03 07:03:18|Editor: huaxia

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Video: New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio on Jan. 2, 2021 tweets to promote a collection of 42 pictures posted by the Mayor's Office under the title of "2020-NYC The Year In Photos," at least 12 of which are about fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. (Xinhua)

"In 2020, New York City faced some of the most difficult moments in our history. We lost our loved ones, our livelihoods, and our way of life. But during the darkest of times, we also saw tremendous bravery, incredible compassion, and hope. These are the photos of the year," says the Mayor's Office.

New Yorkers gather outside Lenox Health Greenwich Village to thank healthcare workers on April 5, 2020. (Courtesy of Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office)

NEW YORK, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio on Saturday tweeted to promote a collection of 42 pictures posted by the Mayor's Office under the title of "2020-NYC The Year In Photos," at least 12 of which are about fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.

"In 2020, our city faced some of the hardest, darkest, and most challenging moments in our history. But we also saw incredible moments of bravery, compassion, and hope. These are the Photos of the Year," wrote the mayor.

Reporters sit socially distanced as NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio holds a press conference on COVID-19 at City on March 17, 2020. (Courtesy of Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office)

The 12 photos about the pandemic fight include one in which reporters sat socially distanced as the mayor held a press conference on COVID-19 on March 17, one in which New Yorkers gathered outside Lenox Health Greenwich Village to thank healthcare workers on April 5, and another that showed the first COVID-19 vaccinations arrived in New York City on Dec. 14.

"In 2020, New York City faced some of the most difficult moments in our history. We lost our loved ones, our livelihoods, and our way of life. But during the darkest of times, we also saw tremendous bravery, incredible compassion, and hope. These are the photos of the year," the office said in the preface of the web exhibition.

Healthcare workers receive the COVID-19 vaccination at NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst on December 16, 2020. (Courtesy of Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office)

The other photos are about racial equality, charity, festive celebration, religious ceremony, nature conservation, public benefit and celebrities.

To send an encouraging signal, the photo show starts with a picture of de Blasio and his wife Chirlane McCray ringing in the New Year with a kiss in Times Square on Jan. 1, 2020.

NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio and First Lady Chirlane McCray ring in the New Year with a kiss in Times Square on January 1, 2020. (Courtesy of Joanna Graham/Mayoral Photography Office)

As of Friday afternoon, coronavirus deaths added up to 25,186 and confirmed cases to 431,353 in NYC, according to The City, a project that tracks the spread of confirmed COVID-19 infections and fatalities in New York City, based on information provided by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the governor's office, The COVID Tracking Project and the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University. 
A driver accused of killing two women in downtown San Francisco on New Years Eve while intoxicated and in a stolen car was a paroled robber who remained free despite being arrested several times in recent months.

Troy McAlister, 45, was released from a state prison sentence for robbery in April and was not charged with new crimes by the District Attorney's office after being arrested on suspicion of car theft in November and December, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

District Attorney Chesa Boudin said his office did not file new charges in the cases, choosing instead to refer each case to state parole agents, who can seek to imprison those who violate the terms of their release.

He said parole officials have more leverage than his office to keep a person in custody for nonviolent charges.

We referred these cases to parole because we believed there was a greater likelihood of him being held accountable and having the kind of intervention that would protect the public and break this cycle of recidivism, Boudin said.

Boudin later acknowledged to the Chronicle that it was clearly a mistake to think parole supervision would be adequate.

Troy McAlister (above), 45, was released from a state prison sentence for robbery in April

The fatal crash involving McAlister occurred on New Years Eve. Police said he had been driving a gray Honda that was reported stolen in Daly City 48 hours earlier when he struck and killed two pedestrians

Assisted by a witness, police were able to locate McAlister within minutes and detain him

District Attorney Chesa Boudin said his office did not file new charges in the cases, choosing instead to refer each case to state parole agents

The state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, which runs parole, pointed to prosecutors repeated decision not to file charges.

Our top priority is public safety and we will work with our local partners on this unfortunate incident, the department said in a statement Friday.

None of the parolees arrests following his 2020 release have yet to result in filings of criminal charges by the District Attorney. Our parole office followed all procedures after these incidents, including conducting investigations and making appropriate referrals for the individual.

Under California law, people accused of violating parole can be given added restrictions, treatment or punishment by parole officers. They have a right to a hearing in front of a judge and, if their parole is revoked, can spend a maximum of 180 days behind bars.

Boudin said parole officers did not hold McAlister for a single day after his most recent arrest on December 20, however its unclear what happened in McAlister's other arrests in recent months.

Prosecutors deciding whether to file a new charge  rather than enter parole proceedings  may weigh the strength of the new case, as well as whether the defendant will be released by a judge while the case is pending, and the potential punishment from a conviction.

Boudin said his office will make changes to ensure that people on parole receive proper supervision and structure.

The fatal incident occured just after 4pm on New Year's Day after McAlister sped through a red light

After the crash, McAlister reportedly got out of the vehicle and fled on foot to a nearby commercial building

Inside the car, police reportedly found a gun with an extended magazine (above) and drugs

The fatal crash involving McAlister occurred on New Years Eve. Police said he had been driving a gray Honda that was reported stolen in Daly City 48 hours earlier.

The parolee was allegedly speeding down Mission Street toward the Embarcadero at around 4pm when he ran a red light in the South of Market area and struck two women as they were crossing the street.

McAlister was arrested in July 2015 on suspicion of robbing a store in San Francisco at gunpoint

After the crash, McAlister reportedly got out of the vehicle and fled on foot to a nearby commercial building.

Assisted by a witness, police were able to locate McAlister within minutes and detain him.

Inside the stolen vehicle, police said they found a handgun with an extended magazine and suspected drugs.

McAlister was booked on a number of charges, including voluntary manslaughter, DUI, leaving the scene of an accident, burglary, driving while under the influence of alcohol and drugs, driving while addicted to drugs, possessing a gun and a large-capacity ammunition magazine, and violating the terms of parole.

One of the female pedestrians was pronounced dead at the scene, while the second victim died shortly after arriving at San Francisco General Hospital.

The medical examiner identified one of the victims as Elizabeth Platt, 60. The second was identified by her mother as Hanako Abe, 27, who moved to the city last year to work for a real estate company.

The whole family has a heart that is torn by sadness, Abes mother, Hiroko Abe, told KPIX. You couldnt find such a beloved daughter all over the world. She was our pride.

The city's police chief, Bill Scott, called the deaths a senseless tragedy that shouldn't have happened.

We must all be held equally accountable for the decisions we make, because they can have serious implications for the safety of those we serve, he said.

One of the victims was identified by her mother as Hanako Abe (above), 27, who moved to the city last year to work for a real estate company

McAlister was booked on a number of charges, including voluntary manslaughter, DUI, leaving the scene of an accident, burglary, driving while under the influence of alcohol and drugs, driving while addicted to drugs, possessing a gun and a large-capacity ammunition magazine, and violating the terms of parole

According the Chronicle, McAlister was arrested in July 2015 on suspicion of robbing a store in San Francisco at gunpoint. Prior to that incident, he also had three other felony convictions, including one for robbery and another for attempted carjacking.

He had been on parole for nine months at the time of the crash, with his term set to end on November 15, 2022.

Just weeks ago, on November 6, McAlister was reportedly arrested by the San Francisco State University Police Department at a student housing complex on suspicion of auto burglary, possessing burglary tools and violating the terms of his parole.

Then on December 20, he was arrested elsewhere in the city on suspicion of car theft and possessing stolen property, methamphetamine, burglary tools and drug paraphernalia.

He has been arrested a number of other times in San Francisco since being paroled, however information on those arrests was not immediately available.

Boudin told the Chronicle that his office didnt file new charges against McAlister in any of the cases because parole officers have more leverage.

He said parole workers have much deeper knowledge of the individual and the challenges that are leading to that criminal behavior than my office is able to obtain.

[After each case] we evaluated the facts, the strength of the case and the charges, and decided it was more likely that he would be held accountable through parole.

Boudin, however, pledged changes are incoming.

We will make changes to ensure that people on parole receive the supervision and structure needed from parole to prevent this kind of tragedy from recurring, He wrote in a Friday tweet.

This is a terrible tragedy and awful end to a brutal year. It is a system failure that resulted in irreversible harm to two families. My heart goes out to the families of the victims.
A 40-year-old farmer from Punjab's Fatehgarh Sahib died by suicide at Singhu on the Delhi-Haryana border on January 10 after consuming a poisonous substance. The farmers has been identified as Amarinder Singh. He had told his friends that he is taking the extreme step as the government has refused to listen to their demands.

Reports suggests that at least 60 deaths have been reported since the farmers' protests began.

Earlier, a 75-year-old farmer protesting the Centre's contentious farm laws allegedly hanged himself at the Uttar Pradesh-Delhi border in Ghazipur, on Saturday morning.



Sardar Kashmir Singh, a native of Bilaspur in Uttar Pradesh's Rampur district, hanged himself in a mobile toilet using a rope, said a report by news agency PTI.

Deputy Superintendent of Police of Indirapuram, Anshu Jain, told PTI that a suicide note written in Gurumukhi was found on him. Singh wrote in the suicide note that the government must repeal these farm laws as these are against the interests of farmers, according to a leader of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU). The BKU and several other farmer unions have been spearheading the protest against the legislations at various border points of Delhi for over a month now.

BCCL

In the purported suicide note, Singh expressed anguish that though some people from Punjab died during the agitation, no one from Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand has sacrificed his life for the cause. He also requested the Sikh community to help his family marry off his two granddaughters and to address the domestic problems being faced by his married daughter. His body was handed over to his grandchildren who too were part of the protest in Ghazipur, police officer Jain said.

BKU national spokesman, Rakesh Tikait, expressed his profound grief at the death of Kashmir Singh. He demanded that the government provide an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh each to the families of Kashmir Singh and another farmer who died of heart attack at the protest site on Friday. Tikait alleged that the government was testing the patience of farmers. Till now 47 farmers have sacrificed their lives during the protest in the country, he claimed, adding that their sacrifice would not go in vain.

Thousands of farmers have been protesting at various borders of the national capital for more than a month demanding repeal of the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act.

BCCL

The government has presented these laws, enacted in September, as major agriculture reforms aimed at helping farmers and increasing their income, but the protesting unions fear that the new legislations have left them at the mercy of big corporates by weakening the MSP and mandi systems.

Meanwhile, BKU media in-charge Dharmendra Malik, said in a press statement that they will gherao the Uttar Pradesh Assembly from January 10, if dues of sugarcane farmers are not paid immediately.

Arrears of Rs 4,000 crore of sugarcane growers are pending, but the government is not helping them and is favouring sugar mills, Malik claimed.


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President Muhammadu Buhari has condemned the killing of 70 people in Zaroumdareye, a border town between Niger Republic and Mali by militants, describing the incident as another clarion call for united action by African leaders against terrorism.

Reacting to the incident on Sunday in Abuja, President Buhari said, I am profoundly shocked by the large scale death of innocent people at the hands of these callous militants who have no regard for the sanctity of human life.

According to the President, We are facing grave security challenges on account of the evil campaign of indiscriminate violence by terrorists in the Sahel and only united action can help us defeat these vicious enemies of humanity.

He stated that terrorism has now become like a contagion of evil that can spread anytime if united action is not taken.

President Buhari said that instability in one part of Africa had implications for the security of others.

He recalled that the destabilisation of Libya in 2011 is producing domino effects on the security of other African countries including Nigeria, Niger, Chad, Cameroon and others.

The looting of Libyan armouries in the aftermath of Gaddafis fall has put dangerous weapons into the hands of terrorists and other criminals who now pose security challenges to other countries, the president added.

We are united by common fate and therefore we must act in concert to defeat these evil men who target innocent people.

Let me use this opportunity to express my deepest sympathy for the government, the people of Niger and the families of the victims, said President Buhari.

Garba Shehu

Senior Special Assistant to the President
Around the United States, local jails and state prison systems are battered by a wave of Covid-19 and have resorted to completely shutting down, and transferring their inmates somewhere else, an extreme strategy to keep the virus at bay.

State and local officials from California, Missouri, and Pennsylvania say that so many guards have fallen ill with covid-19 and are inept at working that they snappishly closed some correctional facilities to preserve community security and prisoner's safety.

The fallout is easy to predict, experts say. The open jails and prisons will perhaps become more crowded, unhygienic, and disease-ridden, and the transfers are likely to help covid-19 thrive both inside and outside the walls.

Professor for University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Lauren Brinkley-Rubinstein said, "Movement of people is dangerous. We've got really good examples of overcrowding equals more infection and greater risk of an outbreak. We've got lots of evidence that even transferring people from one facility to the next is very dangerous." She has been tracking Covid cases in correctional settings.

According to the database of the New York Times, there have been more than 480,000 confirmed Covid infections across the nation, and among inmates and guards in prisons, jails, and detention centers, there are at least 2,100 deaths.

Nearly 100,000 correctional officers are among those Covid-19 grim statistics who have tested positive and 170 who have perished.

Some states tried to deflect Covid virus outbreaks early in the pandemic by freeing some lawbreakers early and detaining fewer offenders pending trial to reduce populations. Nonetheless, those efforts often met resistance from legislators and the public.

According to data collected by New York-based nonprofit research and policy group, Vera Institute of Justice, as arrests in many zones have augmented more recently; jail populaces have returned to pre-pandemic levels.

Combine that fact with widespread Covid-19 infections among correctional officers, years back of staffing shortages and prison medical facilities strains, as the pandemic progresses have pushed states toward more concentration and crowding, in part through the closing of strained facilities.

For instance, in North Carolina, around late November and early December, prison officials closed the Randolph Correctional Center in Asheboro sideways with three minimum security facilities and have not ruled out more closures.

The state commissioner of prisons, Todd Ishee, said in a recent interview, "It feels like we're holding this together with bubble gum and packaging tape. Really, we're all in the same boat. It's challenging our community. It's challenging prison systems north, south, east, and west."

Despite warnings that prison transfers elsewhere have sown deadly Covid-19 outbreaks, a cell block in Waupun prison at Wisconsin has closed, and 220 inmates were moving to other prisons, including at San Quentin State Prison in California.

READ MORE: Hong Kong Activists Face Up to Three Years Jail Time in China Following Attempt to Flee to Taiwan via Boat



According to an analysis of state data of the New York Times, since the beginning of November, Covid-19 infections and deaths in the prison system have more than doubled. Since the start of the pandemic, more than one-third of Waupun's sentinels have been disease-ridden.

In Howard and Pike Counties of Missouri, their jails shut down. The Howard County Sheriff's Office wrote in a brief Facebook post, "The jail is temporarily closed due to shortness of staff due to illness. All detainees are currently being housed in Cooper County."

@ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
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PUNE: Two people in a car were killed after a head-on collision with a truck in Indapur, near Pune, on Sunday morning.

The deceased driver has been identified as Pandurang Sitaram Tathawade (58), while the deceased co-passenger has been identified Rukmini Pandurang Tathawade (58), both residents of Khadki and natives of Pabal, Shirur.

The two were heading from Indapur towards Bavda, while the truck was heading in the opposite direction.

The car was a Tata Nexon registered in Pune. The truck was also a Tata truck, also registered in Pune.

The unidentified truck was abandoned by the driver who fled the spot after the accident, according to the complaint.

The bodies were taken to government hospital in Indapur for a post-mortem before being handed over to the family members.

A case under Sections 304(a), 279, 337, 338, and 427 of Indian Penal Code along with Sections 184,143,177 of Motor vehicle Act has been registered at the Indapur police station against the truck driver. Assistant police inspector Ajit Jadhav of Indapur police station is investigating the case.
A group of anti-mask protesters temporarily shuttered a Trader Joe's in Fresno.

Although scientific evidence  and guidance from local, state and federal officials  support the importance of mask-wearing to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, "Burn the Mask" protesters blocked the entrance of the grocery store on Saturday afternoon. As a result, the store chose to close early. It was not closed by police, as some on social media erroneously claimed.

Video posted to social media shows one protester reading a prepared list of reasons why Trader Joe's, a private business, must serve him despite his refusal to wear a mask. As he argues close up and maskless with a masked Trader Joe's employee, he's cheered on by a group of supporters, many filming on their phones. The protesters then begin writing down the names of the employees based on their name tags. The man claims they will be "legally prosecuted" for barring them from entering the store, to which an employee says, "Alright" as he closes the door on them.

The man cites the 1964 Civil Rights Act as evidence he is being discriminated against, a common talking point for anti-maskers. Title II of the act reads: "All persons shall be entitled to the full and equal enjoyment of the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, and accommodations of any place of public accommodation, as defined in this section, without discrimination or segregation on the ground of race, color, religion, or national origin."

Requiring a mask during a global health crisis does not violate any part of this act, most legal experts say, as the mask mandate applies to all people universally rather than targeting specific individuals.

Despite frequent claims by anti-maskers that mask-wearing violates their civil liberties, there is little constitutional basis for this. Mask mandates likely do not violate the First Amendment because wearing a mask does not inhibit one's ability to freely express themselves. In addition, private companies are allowed to enforce myriad rules, such as the requirement to wear shoes or shirts, to enter their stores. And courts have ruled as recently as last year that individuals do not have the right to ignore public health requirements.

A suit filed in Florida last year claiming the mask mandate inhibits "personal liberty and constitutional rights" was roundly shot down by a judge.

"No constitutional right is infringed by the Mask Ordinances mandate  and that the requirement to wear such a covering has a clear rational basis based on the protection of public health," the court ruled.

"Constitutional rights and the ideals of limited government do not  allow (citizens) to wholly shirk their social obligation to their fellow Americans or to society as a whole," it added. " After all, we do not have a constitutional right to infect others."

The lead protester can be seen on video saying he intends to file suit with the Department of Justice against the Fresno Trader Joe's, and he asks "witnesses" to help him.

"We're also filing a notice against the other guy, I don't know his last name," he says in reference to an employee who spoke to him earlier.

The Fresno Police Department confirmed to the Fresno Bee that police did respond to reports of a disturbance but no arrests were made.
Islamabad, Jan 3 : Pakistan's Balochistan province has been in the grip of terrorist attacks on security personnel and local residents, putting the authorities on high alert 24/7 and in a latest tragic incident, at least 11 coal miners were kidnapped and killed on Sunday by unidentified armed men.

As per details, the incident took place in Machh, an area under serious security threat in the recent past with targeted attacks on security convoys and checkposts.

Police authorities said that the attackers abducted the miners and took them to the nearby hills where they were fired at and seriously injured.

Deputy Commissioner Bolan Murad Kasj said that the four injured people in the incident were being treated in the hospital.

The labourers were taken to Machh hospital, where at least 10 miners were in critical condition initially. However, the death toll was reported to have reached 11.

Soon after the incident, security forces, police, local administration and Frontier Corps (FC) cordoned off the area, while ambulances were dispatched from Quetta to retrieve the bodies.

The incident has spread fears among the miners of Machh, who are now fearful of being the next target of the terrorists.

Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal condemned the incident and sought a detailed inquiry report from the concerned authorities on priority.

"All means to be exhausted for the arrest of the perpetrators. Those who targeted these innocent coal miners do not deserver any concession.

"Elements behind such terrorist attacks will be taken to task. Their only motive was to disturb Balochistan's peace," he added.

"No stone will be left unturned in the arrest of the accused," provincial Home Minister Mir Zia Langau said, while strongly condemning the attack.

"An unsuccessful attempt is being made to sabotage the peace of the province," he added.
The J&K BJP Saturday condemned the killing of a Hindu goldsmith in Srinagar days after he got his domicile certificate, terming it an assault on the 'One India One Nation' concept and a result of some parties raising the bogey of "demographic change" after the withdrawal the erstwhile state's special status.

J&K BJP Spokesperson Brig (R) Anil Gupta also said apart from gross human rights violation of the minorities in Kashmir, the dastardly act of the terror outfit The Resistance Front (TRF) is a challenge to the idea of India symbolised by Sarva Dharma Sama Bhava, the tenet of secularism in India.

In a press release issued here, Brig (R) Gupta said, "In India, we embrace all religions but it is a matter of concern and shame that the leaders of self-proclaimed secular parties in Kashmir have once again failed to condemn Pakistan and its proxy TRF," he said.

On December 31, militants shot dead the goldsmith named Satpal Singh, believed to be 62, at a busy Srinagar market. Obtaining the domicile certificate granted him the right to own land and property in Jammu and Kashmir.

Brig (R) Gupta Saturday said the larger concern of "demographic change" highlighted by the terror outfit is same as what Kashmiri leaders have been using to "emotionally exploit" the locals by terming all other than the Kashmiri Muslims as "outsiders".

The killing appears to have been motivated by such utterances and needs thorough investigation, he added.

India cannot afford a third division on the basis of religion and succumb to the pressure groups in Kashmir promoting exclusivist-supremacist doctrine of "only my way is the right way" and those who do not subscribe to "my way" do not deserve to live here, Brig (R) Gupta said.

"The killing is a warning to those original inhabitants of the Valley who want to return to their homeland but also to those who may be wanting to settle here post abrogation of 370-35A. It is a direct challenge and warning to the reported efforts of the government to establish a Sainik Colony in Kashmir," he said.

"The terror act is an open threat to Kashmir's total integration with India. If Gupkaris (parties who have formed an alliance for restoration of Art 370) can shout at the top of their voices and blame the army of a fake encounter, though unsubstantiated, why are they scared to name and shame the terror group and its mentors in Pakistan? "Does the demand of restoration of 370 not smack of sub-nationalism that has no relevance in One India concept?" he asked.

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
Some would also surmise that recent frostiness in Pakistan's relations with the Gulf countries, and the former's pathological obsession with India further cementing Pakistan's 'failed state' situation, may have something to do with these new developments.Combined with India's emergence as one of the key players in the geopolitical landscape in the Indian Ocean Region completes the picture, and indicates the direction in which the winds are blowing.Pakistan's Unending FolliesTo provide some context, the prevailing India-Gulf countries' bonhomie is akin to rubbing salt on Pakistani ego, bruised in March 2019 when India was invited as a guest of honour by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and a strong speech by then External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to the grouping at Abu Dhabi.The irony should not escape us that Pakistan, with over seven decades of close ties with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, had moved heaven and earth to stall India's participation.The present government in Pakistan has been in power for over two years under the shaky leadership of Imran Khan Niazi. As ties with GCC countries have always been among the most important foreign policy priorities for Pakistan, during his victory speech in August 2018, Niazi boasted that Pakistan would play the 'role of a healer' in the Middle East - a statement that would be later proved hollow with his electoral slogan of 'Naya Pakistan'.It came as no surprise that his first overseas visit was to Saudi Arabia in the first month of assuming power. Niazi continued his trips to the Gulf States for the next few months and touted the rebooting of relations with 'key partners' in the Gulf among his main accomplishments within the first 100 days in power.The relations were re-set, but in a manner that foregrounded the shifting priorities of the Gulf countries, and Pakistan's relegation to the bottom of those priorities.The Pathological India ObsessionToday, Pakistan's relations with GCC countries are at a historic ebb. Signing of the Abraham Accord is only one of the many reasons attributable to this. Frankly, given Pakistan's dismal capabilities in various domains, it features only perfunctorily in the requirements of the Gulf nations."Its GDP is still smaller than the Indian state of Maharashtra, where both the UAE and Saudi Arabia have plans of investing in hydrocarbons and related infrastructure," said a senior officer. Grasping this paradigm change is the key to understanding this epochal geopolitical shift.The unravelling of Pakistan-GCC relationship began in June 2017 at the time of Saudi-Qatar feud, when Pakistan was point-blank asked to choose between Saudi and Qatar.Pakistan was left in a quandary. Ever since a series of incidents and diplomatic gaffes by Pakistan, some induced by its anti-India obsession and paranoia and others via its military driven unstable foreign policy, have left it in an irremediable, shame-faced situation in the Gulf.Rawalpindi-driven scathing criticism of the OIC, headed by Saudi Arabia, for its alleged inability to call a meeting of Foreign Ministers on the 'Kashmir issue' coupled with the intention of setting up an alternate Islamic grouping with Malaysia, Turkey, Indonesia and Qatar proved to be the turning point in Pakistan-Saudi relationship.While Pakistan was diplomatically embarrassed and thereby refrained from attending the Kuala Lumpur Summit in December 2019, the damage was done.

Pakistan Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa rushed to Saudi Arabia for damage control but was not even granted an audience with crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.



A Case of Faulty Priorities



This year, while the entire world was grappling with the coronavirus, and Indian teams were closely working with Kuwait and the UAE to battle the pandemic, Pakistan was busy spreading malicious anti-India propaganda in the Middle East by using bots and fake Twitter accounts that spewed venom against India's pluralistic credentials.



This was unequivocally and collectively rejected by many GCC countries, including Kuwait, Qatar, and Oman.



The Pakistani bluff was called out when a fake Pakistani Twitter account ostensibly of a member of Omani royal family peddling anti-India campaign was exposed and shamed.



In yet another embarrassing instance, Pakistani workers were banned from entering he UAE in November 2020. The UAE government has cited matters of national security, law and order.



A closer look at the Pakistani expat population in GCC countries, clearly indicates that Pakistani nationals are not preferred in any country.



"As an example, repeated requests from the Pakistani government have failed to increase the expat population in Qatar - where incidentally 88 per cent of the 27 lakh population is expat. Not surprisingly, of these, nearly 7 lakh are Indians but less than 1.5 lakh are Pakistanis," said a senior officer in Delhi.

Czech Republic's national intelligence agency, Security Information Service, in its recent annual report has highlighted increased proliferation concerns from Pakistan, a fact pointed out by a German government report of early 2020.



Pakistan's dubious track record on proliferation of sensitive technology is well known.



That an ex-PM of Pakistan has admitted on record of handing over US Tomahawk missile to the Chinese -- which was reverse engineered in no time -- doesn't instill any confidence in the western partners who export technology to the Gulf states.



It may be noted that a number of serving and retired Pakistani armed forces personnel are employed in militaries of GCC countries who have access to these niche technologies, and despite the best checks and balances, the likelihood of proliferation exists, further casting a doubt on Pakistan's already poor credentials.



With India-Gulf nations relations reaching a mutually enriching equilibrium, and both sides realising realpolitik's strong reliance on economics in modern diplomacy designs, Pakistan is left out in the cold with its 70-year-old obsession with Kashmir on one hand, and an uncertain future hinging on a battered economy resulting from corruption and misplaced priorities driven by the military on the other.



(Sumit Kumar Singh can be reached at sumit.k@ians.in)

--IANS

sk/tsb
Owaisi, whose party put up a good show during Bihar polls, is likely to have discussed a possible seat-sharing deal with Abbas Siddiqui, who is planning to start his own 'minority' outfit

Furfura Sharif: AIMIM supremo Assaduddin Owaisi on Sunday arrived at Furfura Sharif in West Bengal's Hooghly district and held discussions on the state's political scenario and upcoming Assembly polls with prominent Muslim leader Abbas Siddiqui, sources in his party said.

This is Owaisi's first visit to West Bengal following his announcement to contest elections in the state.

"Owaisi wanted to keep the meeting a secret as we were apprehensive that the TMC government would stop him from exiting the airport. From Kolkata airport, he went straight to Hooghly to meet Abbas Siddiqui. He will leave for Hyderabad in the afternoon," AIMIM state secretary Zameerul Hassan said.

Earlier, Owaisi had decided to hold a virtual meeting with Siddiqui, but he changed his mind at the eleventh hour and flew down to Bengal to pay him a visit.

Siddiqui, a pirzada (religious leader) from Furfura Sharif, has been speaking out against the state government over a host of issues, of late.

According to the sources, he is planning to float a minority outfit of his own.

Owaisi, whose party put up a good show during Bihar polls last year  bagging five seats in the region bordering Bengal  might have also held talks with Siddiqui on a possible seat-sharing deal, they said.

The AIMIM chief's visit to Furfura Sharif, however, evoked sharp reactions from the ruling TMC.

"The AIMIM is nothing but a proxy of the BJP. Owaisi is well aware that Muslims here are mostly Bengali-speaking, and won't support him. He is trying to forge ties with Abbas Siddiqui, but that won't yield any result. Muslims in Bengal stand firmly by Mamata Banerjee," senior TMC leader and party MP Sougata Roy asserted.

A deciding factor in nearly 100-110 seats in the state, minorities especially Muslims have acted as a bulwark of the TMC against its rivals till 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

Prominent Muslim leaders in the state, nonetheless, have claimed that equations are likely to change with the entry of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM).

According to a senior leader in the Hyderabad-based party, Owaisi has seen in West Bengal a fertile ground for his expansion plans, as Muslims constitute around 30 percent of the state's population.

Of the 30 percent, however, at least 24 percent are Bengali-speaking Muslims.

Elections to the 294-member West Bengal Assembly are likely to be held in April-May.
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Guest Editorial

Guest Editorial: This moment in history can still be embraced as a best time to be alive
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Tobago recorded its 7th covid19 death since the start of the pandemic, with a record forty-two covid19 cases reported in the last 24 hours. The latest victim, Carmen Yorke of Bon Accord Tobago.
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Matshidiso Khalimatshi was born to work in tourism  with a life-long passion for travel and for South Africa, she was thrilled to study the sector at the University of Johannesburg.

And then she found herself one of many young South Africans unable to find work in their chosen field after graduation. After weeks of sending one email application after another without response, she realised that she was missing a key requirement sought by prospective employers.

I was a brand-new graduate with no idea how the corporate world worked. Many of the positions I applied for asked for two- or even three-years job experience and I had no idea how I would get that, says Matshidiso.

She quickly realised that she would have to change tactics, so she returned to university to volunteer as an intern in the marketing department, and to look out for new opportunities.

That is exactly what she found, although it took her far off the path towards a career in tourism.

Open to new journeys

On the strength of the experience gained in the internship Matshidiso accepted at the University of Johannesburg, she was contacted by Lauren Clark, Head of People at global IT consultancy and Microsoft partner Mint Group .

Motivated by Lauren and others encouragement, Matshidiso applied to and successfully completed the Modern Marketer Internship that is a recent addition to the Microsoft Student2Business Programme, recently renamed to the Microsoft Internship Programme. She worked with students who had graduated with degrees in marketing and describes how much she learnt from her fellow interns.

I was completely overwhelmed at times, but it was inspiring to learn from so many intelligent people who had studied the field and knew what they were talking about, she says. It made me consider, wow, maybe I could be a marketing manager or a brand manager one day if I get through this programme first!

The programme places graduates, usually with IT or Marketing degrees, with Microsoft partner companies to get workplace exposure in IT as well as certification in the latest Microsoft technology. While on the programme, Matshidiso completed two globally recognised Microsoft certificates and received Fourth Industrial Revolution readiness training.

Our in-person training was intense, she says. We learnt how to use and market various Microsoft products to make a positive impact.

The 2020 Harambee Mapping of Digital and ICT Roles and Demand for South Africa Survey estimates that the local ICT sector will demand around 66,000 digital and ICT jobs in the next year, of which around 66% are entry-level roles suitable for youth.

It is not just my certifications that are so valuable, says Matshidiso. Soon after joining Mint, the marketing department was celebrated for helping the company earn several category awards at the 2019 Microsoft Partner Awards. It was incredible to be part of a team that was recognised for their efforts, and it made me feel that Id joined the right company in the right role. When we won four awards at the 2020 Microsoft Partner Awards I was so proud to have been a part of that achievement throughout the year.

She also realised that a qualification alone will not guarantee that one fits immediately into a team. Adapting to a new environment is tough! she says. Becoming comfortable with people you are less familiar with and learning to connect with new people are not skills that I was taught while I was completing my degree.

Matshidiso believes that the qualification young people embark on often pigeonholes their experience and stereotypes their abilities. As a result, not finding a job after graduation can feel devastating.

My advice to graduates is to be open to new journeys and new passions. That is how you discover new opportunities, and when it is already challenging to find work, we need to be as open to getting moving as possible, she says.

And that is how Matshidiso, tourism graduate, is now a proud, permanent member of the Mint marketing team.
Ruling party chief's proposal seen as political gambit



Ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) Chairman Lee Nak-yon has floated the idea of pardoning two imprisoned former presidents  Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye  to promote national unity. But the proposal is raising doubts about his real intention as it is seen as a political gambit.



"I will propose pardons for the two former presidents to President Moon Jae-in at an appropriate time," Lee said Friday in a New Year interview with Yonhap News Agency. He stressed the need for amnesty to promote reconciliation and social cohesion. But his move is certainly aimed at consolidating his political position as a presidential hopeful.



Yet it is difficult to take Lee's proposal at face value. First, there is no national consensus on special pardons for the conservative former heads of state. Even the liberal governing party has never discussed the issue among its members. Besides, many DPK lawmakers are skeptical about the proposal.



Therefore, it is still premature to talk about the matter. Many people, who joined massive candlelit rallies to call for Park's impeachment in late 2016 and early 2017, are against granting her a pardon. The Moon administration and the DPK could only risk deepening the ideological conflict between progressives and conservatives by pardoning her.



On top of that, Lee's cited reason for the suggested pardons is not persuasive. The disgraced former presidents are no longer a stumbling block to national harmony and reconciliation. Ex-President Lee, who ruled the country between 2008 and 2013, is serving a 17-year prison term after being convicted of bribery and embezzlement. His successor Park, who was impeached for corruption in March 2017, is also serving a 20-year term after she was found guilty of bribe-taking, influence-peddling and abuse of power. Her final ruling is set for Jan. 14.



It would have been more appealing if Chairman Lee had brought up the issue for humanitarian purposes. In fact, the two former presidents are elderly  Lee is 79 and Park is 68. In addition, neither of them are in good health. Another factor that should be considered is their status as former heads of state.



In many respects, the timing of the DPK chief's suggestion appears to be inappropriate. It comes about three months before the upcoming April mayoral by-elections in Seoul and Busan. If Moon accepts Lee's proposal, he could pardon the former presidents on Lunar New Year's Day in February, or the March 1 Independence Movement Day. If that is the case, the government and the DPK cannot avoid criticism for trying to use the pardons to boost their declining popular support and win the elections.



That's why conservative minor opposition People's Party leader Ahn Cheol-soo, who has already declared his bid for Seoul mayor, warned that presidential pardons should not be used for political purposes. Progressive minor opposition Justice Party leader Kim Jong-cheol voiced his objection by saying that pardoning the former presidents is not the right way to realize social justice. Only the far-right Our Republican Party welcomed the proposal.



Main opposition People Power Party (PPP) interim leader Kim Chong-in is cautious about the amnesty proposal, saying that Chairman Lee has not consulted him about the issue. Party members still loyal to the former presidents have welcomed the suggestion. But most PPP lawmakers are concerned that the pardons, if granted, would reignite factional infighting in the conservative party, whose predecessors produced the former heads of the state.



Against this backdrop, the DPK and the presidential office should not play the card of pardons to divide the opposition camp before the by-elections. Instead, they must foster national unity by working together with the PPP and other minority parties without railroading bills and making decisions unilaterally. Only then should they attempt to build a national consensus if they really want to free the jailed former presidents.




A day before the seventh round of talks between the protesting farmers and the Centre to resolve the deadlock over farm laws enacted in September last year, a union leader said that it was time that the government lets go of its stubbornness as the farmers have been agitating at Delhi borders for 37 days now.

Today is the 37th day, the government should leave its stubbornness. We wont go back till laws are taken back. Its disappointing that farmers are losing their lives. So many farmers are braving the cold yet the government is not taking it seriously, Onkar Singh demonstrating at the national capitals Singhu border told news agency ANI.

Farmers agitation has been on despite continuous downpour which has led to water-logging. Waterproof tents did not help much, they said. We will demand repealing 3 farm laws in our meeting tomorrow with govt... Its been raining, so were trying to get waterproof tents although theyre not upto govt standard. Were trying to arrange blankets and warm water for women & elderly, Harmeet Singh Kadian, one of the farmers leaders said.

Veerpal Singh, a protesting farmer, said their blankets, clothes and wood are soaked. Our clothes are soaked due to water-logging caused by rains. Besides, we are facing difficulties to cook food as rain water has also soaked firewood. We do have an LPG cylinder but not everyone here has it, he said.

Another leader Manjeet Singh Rai said they will Lohri on January 13 by burning the copies of farm laws. Well celebrate Kisan Diwas on 23rd Jan, on the occasion of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose birth anniversary, he further told ANI.

The farm union leaders will meet government representatives for the seventh time on Monday to discuss their two main demands, legal assurance on Minimum Support Price (MSP) and complete rollback of the three farm laws. During the previous round of talks a consensus was reached on issues related to the environment and Electricity Act.

Thousands of farmers, mostly from Punjab and Haryana, have been camping at three Delhi border points - Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur - for more than a month. The chilling weather in Delhi has failed to deter the farmers from calling off the protest.
India has successfully cultured the new coronavirus strain, which originated in the UK, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) said on Saturday. In a tweet, the ICMR claimed that no country has yet reported successful isolation and culture of the UK-variant of SARS-CoV-2.

Culture is the process by which cells are grown under controlled conditions, generally outside their natural environment. "UK-variant of the virus, with all signature changes, is now successfully isolated and cultured at the National Institute of Virology (NIV) from the clinical specimens collected from UK-returnees," the ICMR said.

The research body said vero cell lines were used by the scientists of ICMR-NIV to culture the UK-variant of the virus. The UK had recently announced that the newly identified strain of the virus found in their population was up to 70 per cent more infectious. A total of 29 people have tested positive for the new UK variant of SARS-CoV-2 in India so far, the Union Health Ministry said on Friday.

The British Government had recently announced that the newly identified strain of the virus found in their population is up to 70 per cent more transmissible, following which India sprung into action.

The country put in place a pro-active and preventive strategy to detect and contain the variant. So far, the new variant has been detected in 29 UK returnees through genome sequencing.

"India successfully cultures the new viral strain on the horizon (UK variant of SARS-COV-2). UK-variant of the virus, with all signature changes, is now successfully isolated and cultured at the National Institute of Virology from the clinical specimens collected from UK-returnees," the apex research council said.

Notably, no country has yet reported successful isolation and culture of the UK-variant of SARS-CoV-2. In India, Vero cell lines were used by the scientists of ICMR-NIV to culture the UK-variant of the virus.

The new UK Variant has already been reported by Denmark, Netherlands, Australia, Italy, Sweden, France, Spain, Switzerland, Germany, Canada, Japan, Lebanon and Singapore.

From November 25 to December 23 midnight, about 33,000 passengers had disembarked at various Indian airports from UK. All these passengers are being tracked and subjected by States and UTs to RT-PCR tests to track down the mutant coronavirus strain.

Meanwhile, four people who recently returned to Gujarat from the UK have tested positive for the new strain of coronavirus, a top state health department official said on Saturday. Results of the 15 samples that had tested positive for coronavirus on arrival in Ahmedabad from the UK are currently pending with the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune, the official added.

Although mutations of the Sars-CoV-2 have been reported in recent months from various parts of the world, the VUI-202012/01 variant traced in the UK has raised cause for concern. Addressing a press conference, PM Johnson said that preliminary data evidenced that it is 70% more transmissible.

The New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (Nervtag), an expert committee of the UK Department of Health and Social Care, in its report concluded that it has moderate confidence that VUI-202012/01 demonstrates a substantial increase in transmissibility compared to other variants. The UK governments chief medical officer Chris Whitty was also quoted as saying by The Guardian, Nervtag now considers that the new strain can spread more quickly. We have alerted the World Health Organization and are continuing to analyse the available data to improve our understanding.

While the high transmissibility rate is alarming, there is no evidence yet of it causing severe illness or mortality rate. Moreover, scientists are still trying to discern why the strain is spreading faster. Stuart Neil, a professor of virology at Kings College London told Guardian that the new variant was associated with 10-15 percent of cases in certain areas until a few weeks ago but jumped to roughly 60% cases in London.

Mutation refers to a change in the genetic sequence of the virus which occurs as a result of its reproduction. The virus spreads by attaching itself to a host cell and injecting its genetic material into the cell. However, when the host tries to fight this reproduction, the virus finds new ways to survive, thereby adapting and evolving.
The last month of the year witnessed mass strikes and stoppages in Spains health care, transport, agriculture and industrial sectors. Further working-class resistance is emerging in January, as unemployment surged to 16 percent of the population, around 3.7 million workers.

These struggles are part of a global upsurge of class struggle which started in 2018, when workers across the planet began to rebel against obscene levels of social inequality after decades of suppression by the trade unions, social democrats and pseudo-left forces. The COVID-19 pandemic has vastly intensified the struggle, as the ruling class seizes on the pandemic to slash wages and benefits and impose murderously unsafe working conditions.

December started with the end of a 57-day strike by the dockworkers in Bilbao port, one of Spains largest ports. The 300 dockworkers denounced the continuous breaches of rest days, lack of staff and conditions of the machinery, and opposed the proposed wage cuts for senior workers and two-tier system.

People walk along a boulevard in Barcelona, Spain, earlier this year. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

The trade unions have enforced the go-back-to-work order to take part in a mediation process. This peace, however, is only temporary. The last mediation meeting is set on January 13. Dockworkers are continuing to fight the consequences of the 2017 betrayal when the trade unions agreed 10 percent wage cuts and huge job losses in the form of early retirement schemes.

In the north-western region of Galicia, a two-month strike by 600 metalworkers at Alcoa continues. Alcoa announced its decision to curtail the smelters 228,000 metric tons of annual capacity and proceed with the collective dismissal of workers at its aluminium plant. While the courts have struck down the measure, Alcoa workers continue to strike, aware that the companys main aim is to close the plant or sell to Liberty House, another metal company which has not committed itself to securing the current jobs and wages.

In Asturias, 1,300 steel workers from Daorje called two-hour work stoppages for a week against repeated breaches by the company. Daorje reacted by implementing a lockout. The unions cynically declared the lockout is illegal because it stopped workers who wanted to work against the union-led strike from doing so.

In the same region, gold miners from OroValle carried out work stoppages during the first 48-hours of the year, at the beginning of each shift. The miners are protesting against a breach of the collective agreement. Further strikes are expected in January.

In the Canary Islands, about a thousand postal workers of the publicly owned Correos postal service went on strike in late December against job cuts and the dismantling of the public service. In the past months, postal workers in other regions like Murcia, Almeria, Gijon, Guadalajara or Madrid have also gone on strike against staff redundancies and excessive workload, provoked by the increase in demand due to the pandemic.

The governments herd immunity policy is provoking mass anger among workers. Overcrowding in the work centres and the lack of preventive measures have led to 9,300 COVID-19 infections or possible infections out of a total of 55,000 staff according to the unions. The PSOE-Podemos government, which manages Correos, refuses to disclose the extent of the infections among staff.

In southern region of Andalusia, 1,400 workers of Public Radio and Television of Andalusia (RTVA) went on strike in late December against the 14 million budget cuts announced by the regional government controlled by the conservative Popular Party (PP). The cuts were a demand from fascist Vox, who has long targeted regional television and radio channels for promoting regional identities instead of Spanish nationalism and chauvinism.

Agriculture is another epicentre of mounting anger. In Valencia, 50,000 workers of the citrus handling and packing warehouses were called on strike between December 14 and 20. The strike was called-off in the last minute, after a new agreement was reached which included minor concessions. The struggle threatens with breaking out again this year.

In the province of Jaen, a centre of olive oil production in Spain, strike action is being discussed against the refusal of employers to sign a collective agreement with a 3 percent raise. This agreement, which should have been signed more than a year ago, affects around 4,500 workers of more than 350 oil mills in the province, and another 4,000 workers indirectly.

In transport, major cities are facing strike action. In Ourense, bus drivers at Urbanos de Ourense have been called on daily stoppages for January against wage cuts of up to 200 euros a month. In Zaragoza, tram workers are going on strike to demand an increase in salary, improved conditions and more training. In Barcelona, workers of the Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona (TMB), the main public transit operator in the city, are going on strike on January 11, coinciding with the return to school. They are protesting against the new hiring system which indefinitely extends the precariousness of temporary workers.

In a sign of what is to come, a thousand people demonstrated in the industrial city of Getafe, south of Madrid, in sympathy with strikes by workers of the agricultural machinery manufacturing firm John Deere Iberica, after it announced the dismissal of 11 workers without justification.

The past months have also witnessed the continuation of protests and strikes in the health care sector which first emerged in Spring against the European Unions (EU) herd immunity policy, which has led to over 70,000 deaths and over 1.8 million infections in Spain alone, putting mass pressure on the resource-starved health care sector.

The rising militancy of the working class is facing the conscious efforts of the union bureaucracy to suppress, isolate and demoralise workers struggles. Rather than attempting to unify these, the major unions, CCOO and UGT, and its numerous split offs and alternative unions, are actively sabotaging a unified struggle in order to support the PSOE-Podemos government in its austerity-drive and transfer of wealth to the super rich.

Over the past year, they have played a key role in the EUs herd immunity policy. The unions have enforced non-essential work and back to school to allow corporations to continue extracting surplus value. Meanwhile, they have joined the 140 billion bailout commission as key advisers to disburse the EU funds to banks and corporations.

Such is their reactionary role as auxiliary forces of the state that Podemos leader and Deputy Prime Minister Pablo Iglesias called on the trade unions to assume their role in challenging anger with calls for impotent protests and strikes.

In a conference organised by its Citizens Council, the highest body of the left populist party, Iglesias said, Some do not like the word conflict, however, political conflict is the engine of democracy. Iglesias called for pressure from social movements, workers and tenants unions, pensioners organizations, platforms in defense of public services  these are absolutely essential to achieve social progress. Iglesias concluded with an appeal to the trade unions: it is essential that the unions and social movements do their work so that we can do ours.

Iglesias is signalling to CCOO and UGT that they have to let off steam, especially after the PSOE-Podemos government announced it is preparing to cut pensions and raise the retirement age to 67 and has announced it will freeze the minimum wage this year.

Iglesias speech recalls the actions of its sister party in Greece, Syriza, when it supported a 24-hour strike against its own austerity policies in 2015. Syriza called for workers to walk out against the neoliberal policies and the blackmail from financial and political centres within and outside Greece. In the next four years, Syriza implemented the most brutal spending cuts and pension and labour reforms in Greeces history.

While Iglesias calls the unions on empty actions, the PSOE-Podemos is attempting to suppress whatever struggles erupt outside the unions control. The Interior Ministry has recently approved new guidelines for the Permanent Centre for Information and Coordination (CEPIC) which establish police monitoring for Alterations of public order and citizen security, which have a certain seriousness or social alarm such as demonstrations/ gatherings, strikes, work stoppages or factory occupations, as well as their evolution in real time, if requested.

Any effective action against the escalating COVID-19 pandemic and austerity requires a political rebellion against the trade unions, the PSOE-Podemos government and the European Union, across Spain and internationally.
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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- If youve lived on Staten Island for more than a week, you know borough residents love their pizza more than anything.

In fact, you cant drive more than five miles without passing a pizza place, as we call them.

And whether youre a native or newcomer to the borough, you know we have a major wild turkey problem. They can be seen crossing Hylan Boulevard is any weather, and have been seen in many parts of the Island -- even at the busiest intersections.

On Sunday morning Advance/SILive.com reporter Kyle Lawson spotted some of the boroughs most notorious residents -- a flock of wild turkey -- chowing down on pizza on Louis Street near Victory Boulevard on Grymes Hill.

Check out the short video above to see the turkey pizza.

MOVING THE TURKEYS

Turkeys have been a nuisance on the East Shore for years. They have caused traffic holdups in the area, blocked Staten Island University Hospital (SIUH) emergency room entrances and scared residents from leaving their homes.

For this reason, the process of removing the turkeys began in 2014, when a deal between the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and SIUH began the removal process.

And-Hof Animal Sanctuary removed nearly 200 turkeys to its sanctuary in the Catskills until funding ran out, which left a number of turkeys behind on Staten Island that continued to reproduce.

Minority Leader Steven Matteo (R-Mid Island) secured $200,000 over the last few years for And-Hof Animal Sanctuary to continue to move the boroughs nuisance turkeys upstate. But the Advance/SILive.com reported in 2019 that the relocation was stalled because DEC was worried the birds could wander off the property.

In December, Matteo wrote to the DEC asking for a resolution as quickly as possible.

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Health officials said the average wait had reduced to an hour by late afternoon. Mount Waverley resident Ben Yamin said he and his family managed to get tested after queuing at a Malvern drive-through centre from before it opened on Sunday morning, but only after ignoring instructions from traffic wardens to leave the area. Ben and Amber Yamin, with their children Alina and Ayaan, are isolating at their home in Mount Waverley. Credit:Paul Jeffers "They said  you're going to be here for six hours," he said. "They were talking to the car ahead of us and they were saying if you dont go we're going to have to call police because you are blocking Waverley Road and its a hazard." Mr Yamin and his family were tested at 11.30am after waiting in line for four hours.

"There's a lot of demand for testing and we just need more sites," he said. "And I don't know why we're not prepared for this. Its been a year, right?" Mr Yamin said that after driving home from their Gold Coast holiday through NSW, he and his family were told by police at the Victorian border they would need to isolate only until they received negative tests. They have since been told they will need to isolate for 14 days regardless. Almost 22,500 tests were recorded in Victoria on Saturday, an increase of more than 150 per cent from Wednesday, when 8731 tests were done. A Health Department spokeswoman said more than 60 testing sites remained open during the Christmas period, including some sites that remained open on Christmas Day. Victorias COVID-19 response commander, Jeroen Weimar, said there were now 190 testing sites and some would open for extended hours to boost capacity, but he also said some may have had to temporarily close on Sunday as they reached capacity.

Weve added around 40 per cent more capacity on Friday compared to what we had planned to do  Well step it up again today but its not something we can turn on at the flick of a switch, he said. "The choice we faced before Christmas was, do you hold people over and not let them go on leave after they have absolutely flogged themselves for nine months? Or do you say no, you have to stand around on the testing stations on the off chance. We took a view that we needed to have the right balance of resources. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video We are asking people to be patient. People are getting through the system, it is just taking longer. The testing surge comes as Victorias state of emergency was extended until January 29, the government citing a remaining serious risk to public health.

On Saturday evening, a call went out to tens of thousands of nurses and midwives for their urgent support to work in testing sites across Victoria, including regional areas. They were told shift lengths would vary between six and 10 hours, and that travel and meal allowances could be available. Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation Victorian branch secretary Lisa Fitzpatrick said while she was aware thousands had already registered their details with the recruiting nursing agency, many nurses were exhausted after a long and challenging year. Many of them hadn't had a break for more than 12 months, given people came back to assist in bushfire areas, then COVID was upon us quickly, she said. GP Mukesh Haikerwal runs a respiratory clinic in Melbourne's west and said that the clinic would have been able to assist in coronavirus testing on the weekend but was not given any government funding to do so. The former AMA president said the state government had previously provided some extra money so the clinic could operate at the weekends during heightened demand to test for new local cases.

Weve got the facility, weve got the people  and thats been forgotten again, he said. Victorian Opposition Leader Michael O'Brien said it was obvious there was potential for an outbreak before Christmas and the government should have staggered test site workers' leave and paid them extra to work through the summer break. Loading We keep hearing from the government that this virus doesnt take a holiday, this virus doesn't respect New Year's. Well thats quite right, so why isnt the government better prepared, why doesnt the government have the resources we need? Chaos at testing sites doesnt keep us keep safe and it wont keep us open  Nobody should have to wait seven hours in a queue to get tested.

Despite the significant delays at testing sites, federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said he had confidence in Victorias public health system to deal with the latest COVID-19 outbreak. I do have confidence in the Victorian government and the response. I think to put it in perspective, Victorian testing numbers have more than tripled in the past week, Mr Hunt said. He said Victorias contact-tracing system had dramatically improved since the hotel quarantine leakages that caused its second wave last year. Our belief is Victoria is far better placed now, he said. With Ashleigh McMillan and Anthony Galloway
Many engineering colleges had collected university fees from students at admission time, but did not remit the same to the universities including the JNTUK. (Representational Image: DC Image)

KAKINADA: As many as 75 engineering colleges affiliated to Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University Kakinada (JNTUK) have been allowed to start admissions for students in engineering courses through AP-Eamcet-2020 counselling the current academic year.

The university had earlier decided to block the admissions to these colleges by saying they must first clear their arrears. Many engineering colleges had collected university fees from students at admission time, but did not remit the same to the universities including the JNTUK. Despite repeated reminders, the colleges turned a deaf ear. Some of the colleges did clear their dues after receiving notices.

This has been happening year after year. JNTUK issued a warning to the engineering colleges this year. The dues from some of the colleges are as high as Rs 2 crore to Rs 10 crore. At the last minute, the state government allowed private engineering colleges to do new admissions this year.

The university applied pressure on our college to clear the arrears last year. Though it has not received fee reimbursement from the government, the college management stopped one months salary of the staff and remitted the amount to the university. Later, the university gave some relaxations in remitting the amounts to the remaining colleges. This year also, we think the university can be firm on recovering arrears from the colleges. We have paid all arrears. Now the government allowed engineering colleges that have not cleared their dues too to go ahead with the admissions, said a correspondent of an affiliated engineering college of JNTUK.

If the government gives such an extension of time earlier, the colleges that cleared the arrears would also make use of this opportunity.

Meanwhile, the director of academic and planning of the JNTUK, Prof. V. Ravindra, said the government has given six months time to clear the arrears with a 12 per cent interest. Such colleges can get the admissions done this year.

However, the engineering colleges that have cleared their dues completely said that either the university or the government cant remit the arrears from the engineering colleges as they have had such deadlines for the past several years.
Monday 05 September, 2016 Reliable information reaching Biafra writers desk has it that the life of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indi...
Dhaka, Jan 4 : Calling on police to give utmost priority to fundamental rights, human rights and the rule of law while discharging their professional duties, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday highly praised police personnel for playing a significant role in controlling militancy and terrorism in the country.

"Police have to play a stronger role in curbing militancy and terrorism along with stopping the abuse of drugs. Many police personnel have sacrificed their lives for the noble cause," she said, addressing virtually the passing-out parade of the 37th BCS batch of Assistant Superintendents of Police at the Bangladesh Police Academy, Rajshahi, from her official Ganabhaban residence here.

She said police must also act against cybercrimes, money laundering, human trafficking, gangster culture and repression of women and children.

"We have to protect our country from the menaces," she said.

"The most important thing is that the trend of crimes is changing with the advent of newer technologies as it is an era of technology. Cybercrimes are increasing drastically, and we have to prevent it," said Sheikh Hasina.

She asked the police personnel to prevent repression of women and children with more efficiency alongside stopping other social crimes. Police personnel must stay alert so that no one could spread rumours to destabilise the country, she said.

The Prime Minister called upon the police personnel to always serve the people with honesty, dedication, moral values and discipline and thus achieve the trust, confidence and love of the people.

Quoting Bangabandhu Shheikh Mujibur Rahman, she said: "Bear in mind that the people will love you instead of fearing. You know, people love police in many countries. You have to learn how to earn honour." She called upon the police personnel to stand beside the people in their bad days to gain their confidence, trust and love, saying: "The number of the police would not matter if you can gain confidence, trust and love of the people, and you can contain any crime with the help of people." Briefly highlighting various measures taken by her government for the overall development of police, Sheikh Hasina said her government has formed the Anti-Terrorism Unit and the Counter-Terrorism and Transnational Crimes (CTTC) Unit to enhance efficiency of the police personnel in containing terrorism and militancy.

Besides, the government has established the Special Security and Protection Battalion, Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI), Tourist Police, Naval Police and Industrial Police to effectively fight all sorts of crimes, she said.

The premier said they have formed armed police battalions for ensuring security at airports while two armed police battalions have also been formed to maintain law and order at camps in Cox's Bazar where around 11 lakh Rohingyas took shelter and one female armed police battalion has also been formed.

She also noted that as the head of the government, she has established a 10-storey hospital for police at Rajarbagh Police Lines after coming to power in 1996 and stressed the need of forming a separate medical unit for the police. Her government has been taking measures to establish educational institutes in the divisional cities for ensuring proper education for the children of the police personnel.

She also mentioned that her government has rented a private hospital for giving proper treatment to policemen infected with Covid-19.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan, and Senior Secretary, Public Security Division Mostofa Kamal Uddin spoke on the occasion while Inspector General of Police Benazir Ahmed conducted the proceedings.

On behalf of the Prime Minister, the Home Minister distributed prizes among apprentice assistant superintendents of police (ASP). Snehasish Kumar Das won the best all round performance award, while ASPs Abul Hossain, Md Fayejul Islam and Md Abul Hossain were awarded for best performances in various fields.
Ohios 134th General Assembly opens Monday. Writing a state budget by July 1, and jockeying over wholl run for what in 2022, will take up much of the two-year session. For the 36th consecutive year, Republicans will rule the Senate. The GOP has run the House for 25 of the last 27 years.

This corners predictions have a way of turning out wrong. Still, fingers crossed, here are some guesses about Ohio politicking:

No mystery, Gov. Mike DeWine (who turns 74 Tuesday), will position himself for reelection. A real conservative will challenge DeWine for the GOP nomination. Possibilities: Republican U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan, 56, of Urbana, or former U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci, 62, of Wadsworth. Renacci unsuccessfully challenged Democratic U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown in 2018.

Democrats 2022 candidate to challenge either DeWine or U.S. Sen. Rob Portman will be U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan, of suburban Warren. Ohio will likely lose one of its 16 congressional seats after the 2020 Census. Unless water runs uphill, Republicans will use redistricting to dismember Ryans 13th District (Youngstown; much of Trumbull County; parts of Portage and Summit counties). Yes, its possible for General Assembly Republicans to legally work around 2018 redistricting reforms that Ohio voters ratified.

Ryan, 47, is a versatile campaigner. He ran for president for 203 days in 2019. In 2016, he challenged Nancy Pelosis reelection as Democrats U.S. House caucus leader. Result: Ryan, 63 votes, Pelosi, 134. Not shabby, and that took guts.

Dont bet on Ohios House expelling federally indicted ex-Speaker Larry Householder, a Republican from Perry Countys Glenford.

In July, Householder and others were charged in connection with alleged wrongdoing in winning passage of House Bill 6, the 2019 law to make Ohios electricity consumers bail out the Perry and Davis-Besse nuclear power plants.

Householders 72nd District reelected him in November with 71% of its votes; he was opposed by four write-ins. Thereve been hints the House might expel Householder this year. But consider a fairness question: Householder is innocent unless proven guilty.

And Householder was among President Donald Trumps first and strongest Ohio supporters: Householder bucked Ohios GOP organization, which strongly backed then-Gov. John Kasich for president. Theres at least a chance (agreed, slight) that Trump could pardon Householder.

Third, itd take 66 House votes to expel Householder. The House has 64 Republicans and 35 Democrats. Republicans wouldnt be unanimous, and some Democrats helped elect Householder speaker. Why would a House that hasnt repealed HB 6 expel a member who, legally speaking, is innocent of alleged wrongdoing in getting HB 6 passed?

Portman, of suburban Cincinnatis Terrace Park (median household income $175,000, versus $56,602 statewide) will almost certainly seek a third Senate term in 2022. Since Ohioans began directly electing U.S. senators (in 1914, Warren G. Harding  figures, doesnt it?) only one Republican, the first Robert A. Taft (1889-1953), has won a third Senate term. And Ohioans know that Rob Portman, 65, is no Bob Taft, though both are Ivy Leaguers: Taft, Yale; Portman, Dartmouth.

Still, the party that doesnt hold the White House enjoys an edge in midterm elections. Thatd be the GOP, giving Portman an advantage, even though (or because?) its never clear whom or what Portmans really for, or, heaven forbid, really against. Plus for Portman: He says nothing so well.

Itll draw less attention, but its just as important: Ohios 2022 battle for control of its Supreme Court. Chief Justice Maureen OConnor will retire. Republican Justices Sharon Kennedy and Patrick DeWine, Gov. DeWines son, may run against each other for the GOP nomination for chief justice.

OConnor doesnt back away from conflicts. But the Supreme Court, 4-3 Republican, has at times let the General Assembly undercut the rights of injured Ohioans and let utilities and insurers do as they please. Ohio Democrats couldnt win the state for Joe Biden. But they might be able to make Ohio a better place for consumers and injured people by electing a Supreme Court that would rein in a pro-lobbyist legislature  and by giving Republicans real competition for Ohio General Assembly seats.

Thomas Suddes, a member of the editorial board, writes from Athens.

To reach Thomas Suddes: tsuddes@cleveland.com, 216-408-9474

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You've heard the expression "negative energy." But what exactly is it?

A psychologist might say that someone is "getting someone else to hold their feelings." And what the heck does that mean?

Here's a totally made-up scenario. Let's say that Person A gets into a fight with a tradesman, person P. They've got differences over services and a bill, and instead of resolving it calmly and unemotionallyyou know, "like adults" (another fanciful expression!), the discussion deteriorates and turns acrimonious. Afterward, Person A is left feeling angry, aggrieved, wronged. He's worked up. Upset. Person P has vacated the premises, but Person A "perseverates" on the situation (keeps going over his arguments in his mind again and again, without anything changing.)

He later goes to the supermarket. In the parking lot, Person L pulls slowly out in front of him because she doesn't see him. He's not inconvenienced; he was only going three miles an hour; he wasn't that close to her; he doesn't have to slam on his brakes. Normally, he would just wait for her to pull around. Person L might even wave in apology when she realizes what she's done.

Instead, Person A "sees red." (Another expression.) His mind seizes on his rightness and her wrongness. Ignoring the fact that his car will be blocking a lane in the parking lot that other people need to use, he slams it in park, leaps out, stalks righteously over to Person L's car as she's waiting to pull out into the roadway, taps on her window, and, when she lowers it, proceeds to rant harshly at her for "cutting him off."

Person L, frightened, puts up her window, stares straight ahead, and nearly pulls in front of a truck which blasts its air horn at her. Person A retreatsthank God!and she successfully negotiates her way out into traffic, finally. A quarter of a mile down the road, she bursts into tears.

That's "getting someone else to hold your feelings." (If you've never read James Joyce's very short story "Counterparts," you should. A brutal and scarifying elaboration of the seemingly harmless little expression "kicking the cat.")

Person A had no real reason to confront and verbally assault Person L. But he's dumped his toxic feelings on her, the residue of his dispute with Person P, and he's certainly been a conduit for spreading negative energy in the world. She had been feeling sunny and friendly, and had just enjoyed a chat with the nice young checkout girl. She didn't have to have her morning ruined.

Just because one person is feeling shitty is actually no excuse for them to make another person feel that way.

Afterwards he doesn't even really feel better, except that maybe now he's perseverating on Person L's supposed transgression and his own feelings of righteousness about the situationI had the right of way!people like her shouldn't be allowed to drive!instead of his dispute with Person P.

Emperors...not

The older I get, the more aware I am of "negative energy" and its various forms and manifestations. The other day, on my vacation, I was reading a forum (about pool, not photography), and came across a thread about a subject I wanted to know more about. One of the participants was a "deep expert" who also happens to be, in my judgement (judge not, and ye shall not be judged), an egotistical horse's ass. In the thread he was getting into it with some other personage who also couldn't be wrong. They proceeded to rub each other raw; and about four pages into the six-screen thread I was starting to feel agitated myself just from reading it. (...And if you've never heard Todd Rundgren's faux-operatic little lampoon "The Emperor of the Highway," give it a listen. Read the lyrics too. Makes me chuckle to this day.)

There was really no reason why the two of them couldn't simply have been polite. They could have disagreed just as much, and just as effectively. I had kept reading the dang thread because there were a few nuggets of good information in it.

About twenty minutes later, standing at the stove, stirring, I became aware that I was feeling stressed and tense. I've been in the habit lately of "interrogating my feelings"another fancy phrase; I just try to become aware of what I'm feeling and then see if I can figure out why. Curiously, it's not always an easy riddle. This time, though, I quickly realized it was because of that nasty exchange I had read earlier in that forum.

Back at the computer later, I checked. That thread turned out to have been from March 2015.

So for almost six years that misbegotten little pustule of ugliness had lain buried like a time capsule waiting patiently for people like me to come along and trip over it. At which point it releases its vapors of nastiness anew to pollute someone else's air. Maybe the better hyperbolic metaphor would be a forgotten and neglected but still-armed land mine? The antagonists could have been dead, yet there it stays, frozen in amber, preserved, to radiate its bad vibes indiscriminately into the future like a buried curse.

That's negative energy too.

Snark and scorn

I find I have a lot of resolutions this year! And I don't even believe in New Years resolutions.

One is, clean the house. Not for virtue; only because I suspect I will feel happier in a clean, orderly house. Second, I want to get most of the things I don't need out of my life.

That goes way beyond the two Micro 4/3 lenses to which I still cling. I hang on to all sorts of things. For instance, when I lived in Washington D.C., I taught myself Japanese four-hole stab bookbinding. I made two very nice Japanese-bound books back then, one of which is blank. That was, at a minimum, 30 years ago. Could have been more. Yet I still have the box of bookbinding supplies. I've carried it with me faithfully through a number of house moves, just as if it still belonged to my future. ...Which thirty-odd years of neglect have amply demonstrated it does not. I will harden my heart and let go of that boxthis is that year!

Material resolutions are trivial, though. They're probably what give resolutions a bad name. Real resolutions should more properly be set in the spheres of wisdom and personal growth.

Real resolutions are behavioral and spiritual.

One of the reasons I started TOP more than 15 years ago is that I wanted there to be a little oasis where at least gratuitous negative energy was kept mostly at bay. Where casual and needless snark and scorn and casual provocation wither from lack of nourishment. By and large we do pretty darn well, you and I. But there is certainly no shortage of negative energy out there in the world.

So my resolution for this year is to work on improving tolerance. Although this is at root basically a spiritual goal, there are many concrete ways I can work on it. One, for me, will be to be as mindful as I can be of negative energynot only to recognize when others are dumping it on meand work on tolerating them when they dobut to be more aware of the situations in which I am tempted or led to dump it on the heads of others.

...And to clean the house. But let's not get carried away!

Mike

P.S. If you haven't yet, see the Update in the "Random Excellence I Dare Not Show You" post. We heard from the photographer.

Book of interest this week:

The Secret Lives of Color by Kassia St. Clair

(clicking on the links above takes you to Amazon)

(To see all the comments, click on the "Comments" link below.)

Featured Comments from:

Dan Khong: "Talking of resolutions, for the first time in my life, I made three in 2017 that can never be broken, and I am still planning on doing these three this year: 1. Every month, to give some money to deserving people (who I don't know). 2. At least once a month, to invite different people (who I know) out for lunch and have conversations. 3. To journal."

David Lee: "I really enjoyed this. Except for the word 'tolerance,' which I dont like because it gives me the impression that being tolerant is a way of telling myself that I am a much better human being than the rest and because of that I have to understand their limitations and try to, well, tolerate them."

Mike replies: Except that that's the core of the problem. Perhaps without the value judgement (your "much better than").

Aren't we all in actuality little egotists whose Universes center on our own heads and whose interests are more important to us than those of the strangers we rub up against in the world? It's a decidedly human tendency to think everything's "all about us." I do think tolerance is a matter of consciously trying to understand and have patience for other viewpoints. I've been trying to remind myself on a daily basis that a.) I'm no better (but also no worse) than other humans; b.) that other people are dealing with their own challenges and resentments and "understanding with their own understandings," which may cause them to behave in ways that are distasteful or disagreeable or simply mystifying to me, and that I need to let them be themselves; c.) I should resist the urge to try to control others, because I'm not in charge and nobody appointed me to be their policeman; and d.) to remind myself, when other people do things that I don't like, that I also have behaved badly at times in the past so perhaps I shouldn't judge. All of those reminder-thoughts, I would argue, as they become habitual, increase my tolerance and help me take it easy.

Tolerance has a real benefit, too, one that's frequently hidden from our concept of it. We humans naturally tend to internalize things and exaggerate in our minds the significance of our own actions, status, standing, etc. Accepting that it's not "all about us" makes it more clear to us that it's actually all about them! In other words, we can more naturally or habitually "not take things personally." If Person L in the example above were truly tolerant, her reaction might be along the lines of: wow, this fellow has had a bad day. He's lost control of his emotions and he's acting crazy. Poor fellow. He's going way overboard in defending his selfish interests. He really must have a lot of stress in his life, etc., etc.and perhaps then she would not be upset by him at all! So (in the context of the post topic) she'd be immune to his negative energy.

Anyway it's been my observation that the most tolerant people I know are slow to anger and aren't easily upset or nonplussed. Tolerance helps them be steady and calm.
City approves first reading of temporary medical marijuana ordinance

With state officials still putting together the oversight rules for medical marijuana establishments, local governments need temporary ordinances.
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Hyderabad, Jan 3 : Telangana Legislative Council member K. Kavitha on Sunday urged Union Minister for Women and Child Development Smriti Irani to honour social reformer Savitribai Phule, wife of social activist Jyotirao Phule, by establishing a chair in a university.

The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) leader made the request on the occasion of 190th birth anniversary of Phule.

"On the 190th birth anniversary of social reformer Savithribai Phule, I sincerely request her name to be added to the list of eminent women chairs to be established," tweeted Kavitha, who is daughter of Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao.

In January 2020, Smriti Irani had announced that chairs will be set up in universities in the name of 10 eminent women personalities. The list, however, missed out on one of the first reformers and indeed the first women reformer Savitribai Phule that India had.
New Delhi:

Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu on Monday asked the Delhi Police chief to take stern action against those involved in beating to death an e rickshaw driver for stopping two persons from urinating in public.



Sad that an e rickshaw driver was beaten to death for stopping two people from urinating in public in Delhi. He was promoting Swachh Bharat, the Union Urban Development Minister tweeted.



He said he has spoken with Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik and has asked him to take strongest action possible against the culprits.



On Saturday, 32-year-old e-rickshaw driver Ravinder was beaten to death allegedly by a dozen men after he objected to a few of them urinating outside the GTB Nagar metro station.

Read | Delhi: E-rickshaw driver beaten to death for stopping men from urinating outside GTB Metro station

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Sports lie at the margins of our culture, different from how it is elsewhere in the world, and from how it used to be. This is one of the reasons why criminality among youth proceeds unchecked. There is no youth labour market, and the school system ruthlessly triages youth.
For an economy, having natural resources would have to be a very clear comparative advantage. After all, there is always the option of leaving these resources in nature. In practice, however, everything is more complicated. For example, in the 1970s economic analysts noted that in the Netherlands natural gas exports led to an appreciation of the currency that negatively affected the competitiveness of the industry (Dutch disease). In fact, it is easy to find examples of countries where one can doubt that the abundance of natural resources has been a blessing. This could be the case of Venezuela. However, it would be wrong to conclude that it is a curse against which nothing can be done. It is also easy to identify countries where the availability of such resources has been very good for them. Examples: oil for Norway or, in recent times, copper for Chile. The key is good governance. Ensuring this, in the context of an economy that is highly endowed by nature, presents specific challenges - but is not impossible.
Nashville bomber Anthony Warner sent materials about his views to people he knew, federal investigators said Saturday, with recipient of one of the packages telling local media his letters contained ramblings about aliens and lizard people.

FBI Special Agent Jason Pack said authorities are 'aware the suspect sent materials which espoused his viewpoints to several acquaintances throughout the country.'

Warner, 63, blew himself up in his RV on Christmas Day in downtown Nashville in a massive explosion which damaged dozens of buildings and injured several people. Officials have not released a motive.

Pack did not release additional details about what the packages from Warner contained.

Christmas bomber Anthony Quinn Warner's mailed packages to acquaintances on Dec 23

The explosion took place before downtown streets were bustling with activity and was accompanied by a recorded announcement from the RV (pictured) warning anyone nearby that a bomb would soon detonate

Warner, 63, was named by the FBI on Sunday as the perpetrator of the Christmas Day bombing outside an AT&T building, after DNA showed he perished in the attack carried out with an RV

But one of Warner's friends told local media they were full of strange musings.

He told local station WTVF that he received a package from Warner, postmarked December 23, on New Year's Day.

The package contained nine typed pages and two Samsung thumb drives, which Warner urged his friend to watch.

Warner wrote about finding something in the park.

'The knowledge I have gained is immeasurable. I now understand everything, and I mean everything from who/what we really are, to what the known universe really is,' he said.

He discussed conspiracy theories, writing: 'The moon landing and 9-11 have so many anomalies they are hard to count.'

A vehicle destroyed in a Christmas Day explosion remains on the street on December 29

Warner told a neighbor days earlier that 'Nashville and the world is never going to forget me'

Warner said that 'September 2011 was supposed to be the end game for the planet,' because that is when he believed that aliens and UFO's began launching attacks on earth.

He further wrote about reptilians and lizard people that he believed control the earth and had tweaked human DNA.

'They put a switch into the human brain so they could walk among us and appear human,' Warner wrote.

Warner did write extensively about 'perception,' adding that 'Everything is an illusion' and 'there is no such thing as death.'

He did not mention AT&T, outside whose building he detonated his RV; nor did he give a motive.

His letter was signed by 'Julio,' a name Warner's friends say he often used when sending them e-mails.

A source told NewsChannel 5 Investigates that Warner also had a dog named Julio.

The friend turned the package over to the FBI.

The bombing occurred Christmas morning well before downtown streets were bustling with activity.

Police were responding to a report of shots fired Friday when they encountered the RV blaring a recorded warning that a bomb would detonate in 15 minutes.

Then, inexplicably, the audio switched to a recording of Petula Clarks 1964 hit 'Downtown' shortly before the blast.
AIMIM chief Assaduddin Owaisi met an influential Muslim cleric Abbas Siddiqui here on Sunday to discuss possibility of an alliance for the upcoming West Bengal assembly polls and accused the ruling TMC of failing to stop the BJP's surge in the state. Talking to reporters after a two-hour meeting with Siddiqui at Furfara Sharif in Hooghly district, Owaisi refrained from launching any tirade against the saffron party.

This was Owaisi's first visit to West Bengal following his announcement that his party would contest elections in the state with a strength following its stupendous performance in the assembly polls in neighbouring Bihar. Owaisi, during his whirlwind five-hour-long tour of Bengal, rejected TrinamooL Congress claim that his party was a "B-team of the BJP", and would eat into anti-saffron camp votes.

"We are a political party, we will establish our presence and fight the elections (in West Bengal)," the Hyderabad MP, who heads All India Majli-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), said. Later, while talking to a news channel, he said his party was yet to decide if it would contest the Bengal elections on its own or forge an alliance with another outfit.

However, the AIMIM chief stressed that he has the support of "Peerzada" Siddiqui of Furfura Sharif -- a much-revered shrine in Bengal's Hooghly district. Rubbishing the TMC's claim that the AIMIM helped the BJP-led NDA win the Bihar assembly elections, he said the TMC should first go for a self-introspection.

AIMIM won five seats in the Muslims dominated Seemanchal region in Bihar in the recent elections to the disadvantage of RJD-headed Grand Alliance which along with the Congress was confident of winning Muslims vote. In the end, loss of even a handful of sureshot seats caused the Grand Alliance dearly as it missed the opportunity to form its government in Bihar with a smaller margin.

"The TMC should introspect and find out what worked in BJP's favour during Lok Sabha elections. The party should analyse why its members are leaving," Owaisi said. BJP had won 18 of the 42 Lok Sabha seats in Bengal in 2019 general elections, only four less than the TMC's tally of 22.

Since then the saffron camp is making all efforts to dethrone Mamata Banerjee by winning the state elections only months away from now. Asked about the issues that he would highlight during his election campaigns in Bengal, Owaisi said "underdevelopment and political empowerment of weaker sections" would be his party's two major poll planks.

Earlier, Owaisi had decided to hold a virtual meeting with Siddiqui, but he changed his mind at the eleventh hour and flew down to Bengal to visit him. "Owaisi wanted to keep the meeting a secret as we were apprehensive that the TMC government would stop him from exiting the airport. From Kolkata airport, he went straight to Hooghly to meet Abbas Siddiqui," AIMIM state secretary Zameerul Hassan said.

According to Hassan, Owaisi would more often visit Bengal as part of poll preparations and campaign. Siddiqui, a pirzada (religious leader) from Furfura Sharif, has been speaking out against the state government over a host of issues, of late.

According to the sources, he is planning to float a minority outfit of his own. Owaisi discussed a possible seat-sharing deal with Siddiqui, sources said.

The AIMIM chief's visit to Furfura Sharif, however, evoked sharp reactions from the ruling TMC. "The AIMIM is nothing but a proxy of the BJP. Owaisi is well aware that Muslims here are mostly Bengali-speaking, and won't support him. He is trying to forge ties with Abbas Siddiqui, but that won't yield any result.

"Muslims in Bengal stand firmly with Mamata Banerjee," senior TMC leader and party MP Sougata Roy asserted. Congress MP and leader Pradip Bhattacharya, accused the Owaisi-led party of being a "communal force deputed by BJP" to act as "vote splitter" in the polls.

The BJP, for whom the division of Muslims votes is vital to winning the elections, denied the charge of AIMIM being its B-team. "We don't need a B-team or a C-team to win Bengal. We will win the state assembly polls on our strength by bagging more than 200 seats," BJP leader Rahul Sinha said.

A deciding factor in nearly 100-110 seats in the state, minorities primarily Muslims have acted as a bulwark of the TMC against its rivals till 2019 Lok Sabha polls. The political parties in West Bengal are apprehensive that political equations in the polarised state are set to witness significant changes as the sway of non-BJP parties over minorities appears set for a stiff challenge with the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) entry, prominent Muslim leaders in the state claimed.

According to a senior leader in the Hyderabad-based party, Owaisi has seen in West Bengal a fertile ground for his expansion plans, as Muslims constitute around 30 per cent of the state's population. Of the 30 per cent, however, at least 24 per cent are Bengali-speaking Muslims.

Elections to the 294-member West Bengal Assembly are likely to be held in April-May.
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Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

The state Public Regulation Commissions five elected members wont waddle away like lame ducks, despite voter approval to replace them with three governor-appointed commissioners.

Constitutional Amendment 1, approved by 56% of voters in November, will transform the PRC from its 20-year status as a five-member elected body into a three-member commission appointed by the governor from a list of candidates proposed by a bipartisan nominating committee. But that wont happen until 2023, and current commissioners intend to make the most of their next two years in office, said PRC Chair Stephen Fischmann.

Theres still a lot of work to do, Fischmann told the Journal. I hope to sit down with other commissioners in the first months of the new year to create a work plan with a list of priorities and a disciplined schedule to achieve them. We want to leave things in good condition when the appointed commissioners come on board.

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That includes a hefty list of legislative agenda items the commission will push in the new session that starts Jan. 19, including possible reforms to the states Energy Transition Act, as well as efforts to increase and stabilize the PRCs annual budget to hire more professional staff and lease a new office.

And apart from legislative initiatives, the PRC will preside over some huge utility issues this year. High among them are Public Service Company of New Mexicos request to merge with the Connecticut-based utility operator and renewable energy company Avangrid, as well as PNMs proposal to withdraw from the coal-fired Four Corners Generating Station in 2024, seven years ahead of schedule.

At the same time, the Legislature may also pursue more PRC changes, according to two of the three senators who sponsored the constitutional amendment approved by voters.

Structural changes

Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth, D-Santa Fe, and Republican Sens. Steven Neville of Aztec and William Payne of Albuquerque (now retired) jointly sponsored the constitutional amendment, which garnered broad bipartisan support in the 2019 session. The measure aimed to de-politicize the commission by replacing elected officials with technically qualified, appointed professionals in an effort to end political battles that have engulfed PRC decisions since before Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham took office.

Reform opponents called the amendment a power grab by the governor to control the PRC. But with that battle now resolved through voting booths, Wirth and Neville expect to follow it up with statutory changes in the PRCs mandates so that, in the future, commissioners focus solely on utility-related issues.

The commissions current regulatory authority extends to transportation companies, the state Fire Marshals Office and the Pipeline Safety Bureau. The Fire Marshals Office will become part of the state Homeland Security Department in July, but those other functions also need to be transferred to other departments or agencies, Neville said.

Those other regulatory functions are not called for under the constitutional amendment, and they need to now be adjusted in statute through future legislation, Neville told the Journal. We want the commission to deal only with utilities. Transportation issues could logically be placed under the Department of Transportation, and other functions moved to the Regulation and Licensing Department.

Pursuing those changes will be a lot easier than the constitutional amendment was, Wirth said.

The amendment specified that the only constitutional duty of the PRC is utility rate-making, so it defaults to us now to look at other functions that the PRC has been involved in, Wirth told the Journal. That can all be done now by statute.

Legislators must also organize the new nominating committee that will propose a list of potential commissioners to take over the PRC in 2023.

The Legislature passed enabling legislation in the 2020 session that removed the PRC from the election code and authorized the nominating committees establishment as a seven-member body. It will include four legislators  two from each legislative chamber, with no more than two members from the same party  and one representative from each of the states three research universities.

The committee must be formed by July 2022 and begin meeting by September 2022 to nominate at least five prospective commissioners from at least three counties. The governor must choose three commissioners from that list and then send the choices back to the Senate for final approval.

The process is now in place to choose people with professional qualifications for the PRC, Neville said. Well look at forming the committee in the next few months.

Plenty to do

In the meantime, the current PRC has a lot of issues to resolve to function properly over the next two years and provide a stable agency for incoming commissioners in 2023, Fischmann said.

For one thing, the commission needs new offices, since the General Services Department evicted it in 2020 from its longtime perch at the PERA Building across from the Roundhouse in Santa Fe.

Its currently homeless, with all 126 active employees now working remotely in the pandemic, and no special legislative appropriation to lease a new office suite, which must include adequate space for public hearings on utility cases.

Commissioners will ask for office funding in the coming session and seek a potential budget increase to hire more technically qualified staffers who are professionally trained on utility and regulatory issues, Fischmann said. Thats critical, because the PRC has lost many specialists through attrition, compounded by a hiring freeze under the pandemic thats left it with eight vacant positions.

We have big, complicated cases to deal with and not enough staff with the needed expertise to deal with them, Fischmann said.

That includes the PNM-Avangrid merger, PNMs proposed early withdrawal from the Four Corners coal plant, and coming rate cases for PNM and the states other two public electric utilities.

Legal questions

Apart from the budget, commissioners will seek potential changes in the energy law that could prove controversial. That includes clearer definition of PRC ability to scrutinize investments in fossil fuel plants to determine whether a utility is entitled to full recovery when abandoning a facility under the energy act, which authorizes the use of bonds to pay back utilities that are then paid off by ratepayers.

That was a major sticking point during 2020 hearings on PNMs plan to abandon the coal-fired San Juan Generating Station in 2022. The governor and legislators had to appeal to the New Mexico Supreme Court to force the PRC to apply those clauses in the law during the case, and similar uncertainty could come up in forthcoming hearings on the Four Corners plant.

Another potentially controversial proposal would force all utilities to bid out new power plant construction to third-party suppliers when replacing fossil fuel facilities with non-carbon resources under the energy act, said Joe Maestas, a new commissioner from Espanola who won the PRC District 3 seat in northern New Mexico in the November election. He was sworn in Jan. 1 to replace former Commissioner Valerie Espinoza, who was term-limited.

That issue came up in mid-December, when the PRC rejected El Paso Electric Co.s request for approval to build a 228-megawatt natural gas plant to serve customers in southern New Mexico. EPE expected to build the plant itself with no competitive bid from third parties that could potentially lower costs.

A lot of utilities have specific projects with the prerogative to self-build, and ratepayers are on the hook for it, Maestas told the Journal. We want to support open-source competitive bidding going forward with an amendment to require that utilities only pursue third-party power purchase agreements for replacement power up until 2045, when the energy act mandates 100% carbon-free resources.

Maestas could bring new energy to the current PRC over the next two years. His term will be truncated from four to two years to make way for newly appointed commissioners in 2023, but he expects to embrace all issues during that time.

I want to pursue strategic, yet aggressive plans to achieve carbon-free generation going forward, Maestas said. I dont want to just keep the seat warm for our future replacements.
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Bharatiya Janata Party leader Dushyant Gautam has said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has increased the budget to Rs 6,000 crore from Rs 1,100 crore to encourage Scheduled Caste children to enroll in schools.

During a press conference here at the party headquarter on Saturday, BJP national general secretary Gautam said, The Prime Minister had promised to make dalits qualified enough to be eligible for employment. PM Modi has implemented many schemes to encourage Scheduled Caste children to enroll in schools with an increased budget to Rs 6,000 crore from Rs 1,100 crore.

He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led central government is working for the welfare of the poor and dalits.

Modiji is working towards Babasaheb Dr Bhimrao Ambedkars dream of education for all. Recently, the central cabinet has approved the changes in centrally sponsored Post Matric Scholarship to students belonging to Scheduled Castes (PMS-SC) to benefit more than four crore SC students in the next five years so that they can successfully complete their higher education, he said.

The cabinet has approved a total investment of Rs 59,048 crore, of which the Central Government would spend 60 per cent and the balance would be spent by the state governments, he added.

The Rajya Sabha MP said that the post-Matric Scholarship Scheme for Scheduled Castes allows students to pursue any post-matric course starting from class 11 with the government meeting the cost of education.

The scheme will be run on an online platform with robust cybersecurity measures that would assure transparency, accountability, efficiency, and timely delivery of the assistance without any delays. The states will undertake fool-proof verification of the eligibility, caste status, Aadhar identification and bank account details on the online portal, he stated.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs had on December 23 approved changes in the centrally sponsored PMS-SC to benefit more than four crore SC students in the next five years so that they can successfully complete their higher education. This replaces the existing committed liability system and brings greater involvement of the central government in this scheme.

An official release of the cabinet stated that the Central Assistance which was around Rs 1,100 crore annually during 2017-18 to 2019-20 would be increased more than 5 times to be around Rs 6,000 core annually during 2020-21 to 2025-26.
The Covid-19 death toll has crossed 400 with the deaths of 18 more people yesterday.

The death toll now stands at 408, with 96 of those occurring in the last seven days alone.

The Ministry of Health reported the deaths in its daily update yesterday evening.
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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.  Armando Murillo had a dream to become an accomplished chef. That dream led him on a journey that would take him around the United States working as a corporate chef.

The money was good and Murillo was doing what he loved, but he realized he was missing out on those he loved.

The next thing I noticed is my daughter was 6 years old and then I noticed she was 15, Murillo said. She told me Hey dad youre never home. Youre always gone. You always go for six months, come home for two or three weeks, and then youre gone again. I was missing all her events so I decided to retire and then thats when I opened this store.

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Murillo opened Chef Armando Culinary Apparel in January 2020. The store, located at 6001 San Mateo NE, suite E2, in the Fiesta del Norte Shopping Center, is the first-of-its-kind for Chef Works culinary apparel.

I was able to finally get a hold of the owner of Chef Works, which is a well-known brand that all the professional chefs, all the cooks know, that everybody wants to wear because theyre current, theyre functional, and its everything that everybody wants, Murillo explained. So when I reached out to them it took some negotiation, and I finally convinced them. So, Im so proud to announce that this is the first Chef Works store thats a stand-alone store in the United States and we have it here in Albuquerque.

Murillos more than two decades of culinary experience played a part in convincing Chef Works founder and owner Dale Gross to allow the store to open. Murillos stores main brand is Chef Works, but he has also branched out to offer other culinary apparel brands such as the popular French label Bragard and Shoes For Crews, which is a well-made, well-known shoe brand. He can also order specialty knives, cooking utensils and cookware.

As with many businesses, the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic has taken a financial toll on Murillos store. Murillo is holding on by a thread and has taken a second job at Walmart to help sustain his store and provide for his family.

When I opened the store in January (2020) I was so excited, he said. Im still excited. I havent lost faith, so I always have to learn or do things differently. Go out and reach out to more, and hold on to those dollars a little bit longer and make them stretch a little bit more to keep this place up because I know its successful. Not as a money thing, but successful for our community. I want this for our community to be successful because I know theres no place like this in Albuquerque and I know all the chefs, all the home cooks, all the people out there. They like this and they want this. I just want them to have choices.

Murillo has enjoyed meeting and developing friendships with local chefs, those in the restaurant and hospitality industry as well as people who enjoy cooking at home. His Facebook page is filled with photos of customers who have stopped in for culinary apparel and supplies. His page can be found by searching Chef Armando Culinary Apparel.

I just love people, he said. I just like the smile of them when they pick something out and they put it on. Its just so exciting. It just sends a good feeling. And you know, with all these things were going through, all these things, they start to add up for me.

Murillo understands people can shop online, but emphasizes people will not get the better prices or the experience his store offers. He is able to fulfill large orders and can ship anywhere. He can also have apparel embroidered for a more personal touch. Murillo can be reached directly by calling 575-586-3123 or visit him at the store from 1 to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. More information on his background and store can be found at albuquerqueculinaryapparel.com.

I can do everything a big company does, but Im more personal, Murillo said. You can come see me. We can talk. We can meet instead of doing everything over the phone. I just kind of break the cycle of people ordering online, going directly to Chef Works or whoever they want to, and come to me and I could take care of them and I could give them a better price. They could try it on, touch it and feel it. This is so much more.  It just makes things so much exciting and you can take home exactly what you came for.
London, Jan 2 (PTI) Amidst growing pressure over sufficient supplies of COVID-19 vaccines in the UK, pharmaceutical companies have hit back at government claims that access to enough jabs was a "limiting factor", insisting there was no issue at their end.

While AstraZeneca says it expects 2 million doses of the Oxford University vaccine to be ready each week in just over a fortnight, Pfizer BioNTech said the number of doses it has now sent to the UK is "in the millions".

The Pfizer and Oxford/AstraZeneca jabs are the two vaccines against coronavirus that are approved for rollout in the UK.

"The plan is then to build it up fairly rapidly; by the third week of January we should get to 2 million a week," an AstraZeneca source told 'The Times' newspaper.

"The deliveries to the UK are on track and progressing according to our agreed schedule," a Pfizer spokesperson said.

Meanwhile, there are growing questions on whether Britain could have had more supplies ready to go, similar to how India has created a massive vaccine stockpile in advance, according to 'The Daily Telegraph'.

Pune-based Serum Institute of India has a licensing tie-up for the Oxford vaccine. It has emerged that India has already managed to stockpile 50 million doses of the jabs.

"The rate-limiting factor at the moment, as they say, is supply not distribution," UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson told a Downing Street briefing earlier in the week.

The issues around supply are being raised as the UK is set to begin the rollout of the Oxford vaccine among the elderly and frontline workers from Monday after it received regulatory approval on Wednesday.

The government has ordered 100 million doses of the Oxford vaccine and scientific advisers have calculated that at least 2 million vaccinations a week could be needed, as well as a lockdown that includes school closures, to avoid the pressures on intensive care exceeding the peak of the first wave.

Ministers hope that their target of vaccinating 30 million vulnerable people and health workers by Easter in early April could be met ahead of schedule.

The UK's chief medical officers (CMOs) have defended the COVID-19 vaccination plan, even though a doctors' union has voiced criticism.

The UK will give both parts of the Oxford and Pfizer vaccines 12 weeks apart, having initially planned to leave 21 days between the Pfizer jabs.

The British Medical Association said cancelling patients already booked in for their second doses was "grossly unfair".

But the CMOs said getting more people vaccinated with the first jab "is much more preferable" as the "great majority" of initial protection came from the first jab.

"The second vaccine dose is likely to be very important for duration of protection, and at an appropriate dose interval may further increase vaccine efficacy," the CMOs said.

"In the short term, the additional increase of vaccine efficacy from the second dose is likely to be modest; the great majority of the initial protection from clinical disease is after the first dose of vaccine," they added.

However, some general practitioners (GPs) who had already booked in their patients for their second dose after a 21-day gap are planning to keep to the schedule.

The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine was the first jab approved in the UK, and 944,539 people have had their first dose.

Under updated government guidance, the second booster dose can now be administered any time up to 12 weeks apart for both the Pfizer and Oxford vaccines.

Experts advising the government, including the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), said the focus should be on giving at-risk people the first dose of whichever vaccine they receive.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
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Nigeria on Saturday reported eight additional deaths from COVID-19 as the spike in new cases continues to feed through into fatalities.

The total death tally from COVID-19 in Nigeria rose to 1,302 with the eight new deaths, the countrys infectious disease outfit, NCDC, announced late Saturday.

In the past 15 days, there have been 90 recorded deaths from the coronavirus.

The NCDC in an update on its microsite Saturday said 576 new cases were discovered in 15 states across the country.

The total coronavirus Infections in the country has now increased to 89, 163 with the latest figure.

Since early December 2020, there has been a spike in coronavirus cases in Nigeria.

Health experts believe the lowering of guard on safety and the weak enforcement of protocols especially in the countrys major airports in Abuja and Lagos could be responsible for the development, warning that the situation could get worse if citizens keep violating safety protocols.

Active cases in the country rose sharply from about 3,000 some weeks ago to over 11,000 due to a rise in new infections.

Of the over 89,000 cases so far, 74,789 patients have been discharged from hospitals after treatment.

Specifics

The 576 new cases were reported from 15 states  Lagos (277), FCT (90), Oyo (51), Nasarawa (49), Sokoto (23), Anambra (14), Bauchi (11), Imo (11), Kano (11), Edo (10), Plateau (10), Ogun (9), Osun (5), Jigawa (3), and Rivers (2).

Lagos, again led with 277 new cases followed by the FCT with 90 new infections on Saturday; together having more than half of the daily total.

With the country into the second wave of the pandemic, federal authorities have ordered the reopening of all isolation and treatment centres in the country.

The Nigerian government has also reintroduced new restrictions to check the spread of the virus, including closure of bars and nightclubs and limiting the number of people allowed in a public gathering.

According to the NCDC, the failure of Nigerians to comply with the COVID-19 safety protocols during the festive period could lead to more spread of the disease.

So far, Nigeria has conducted over 950,000 COVID-19 tests.
If there was ever a time to get out of the house and explore this state, this is it. Restrictions on gatherings, dining and travel dont mean you cant hop in the car and take a drive somewhere, anywhere.

New Jersey may be the most hated state, the most mocked and maligned in all the land, but in my mind, no state contains such diversity and wonder in such a compact package. There are at least 50 great reasons to live in New Jersey. We have it all here  hills, valleys, lakes, woods, beaches. And, contrary to the impression you get driving on the Parkway north of the Union tolls, we have oodles of open space.

Which brings me to this list of 21 places you must visit in 2021. I did similar lists in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020, but this one is all-new. You wont find many of these places on tourism websites. Some of them are downright quirky.

Since were listing 21 places, it seemed only fitting to have one for each county. No part of the state can say theyve been ignored!

Trustees of the Harriet Tubman Museum and members of the Macedonia Baptist Church Committee in front of the museum.

Harriet Tubman Museum, Cape May

Born into slavery in Maryland, Harriet Tubman escaped to freedom in the North in 1849 to become the most famous conductor on the Underground Railroad. Between 1850 and 1860, she made 19 trips on the railroad, guiding 300-plus people to freedom. She lived in Cape May in the mid-1800s, working in hotels and clubs to help earn money to fund her missions. Cape May, then, was a fitting choice for the Harriet Tubman Museum, located in the former Howell House. The museum was originally scheduled to open June 19  Juneteenth, the day commemorating the emancipation of enslaved peoples  but the coronavirus pushed the ribbon-cutting ceremony to Sept. 17. The museum is currently closed; check its Facebook page for updates.

Its official - The Highlands Natural Pool will be OPENING tomorrow!!!! 12pm-6pm along with 11am-12noon members only swimming. Posted by Highlands Natural Pool on Saturday, August 8, 2020

Highlands Natural Pool, Ringwood

I never heard of this place until someone mentioned it on Twitter. A natural pool? Sounds cool. Its an Olympic-sized, stream-fed freshwater swimming pool in a wooded setting adjacent to Norvin Green State Forest. No chemicals are used in the water. Annual memberships are available, and day passes can be purchased at the entrance. Its been named the best swimming hole in New Jersey.

Gibbon House, Greenwich

Greenwich

Greenwich, in Cumberland County, is quaint, historic, charming  call it what you want. Its a jewel. Every time I drive through, I feel like Im stepping back in time. Check out the tea-burning monument on Ye Greate Street, commemorating Dec. 22, 1774, when a group of villagers burned a stolen shipment of tea in the town square. Greenwich is a great jumping-off point to the rest of Cumberland County, easily the least-known county to New Jerseyans.

Bar, Spirito's, Elizabeth

Spiritos, Elizabeth

Spiritos is one of New Jerseys great old-school restaurants, the kind of place where you need to bring your own butter if you want it on your bread, and the atmosphere and waitstaff are right out of some 50s movie set. Theres greenish wooden booths up front, twinkly white lights above the bar and a spacious dining room beyond. The ravioli is renowned, but the thin crust pizza is better, with its distinctive, crackly crust. But you better go soon because Spiritos days might be numbered. The restaurant is on the market, but will stay open until the sale is completed. And then, who knows?

Historic Walnford

Confession time: Ive driven past the Historic Walnford sign on Route 539 millions of times  OK, maybe just thousands  but have yet to visit the historic site. This year, Ill correct that. Walnford is part of the Monmouth Country park system and includes a 1774 home, a 19th-century grist mill, farm buildings and some beautiful countryside. The buildings are open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.

Drummers from Grupo de Bombos Os Rouxinois march down Ferry Street in Newark during the Portugal Day Parade.NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

The Ironbound

Youll need more than a day to fully explore and appreciate Newarks Ironbound, with its 200-some restaurants, cafes, markets and specialty food stores. It was destroyed in the 2005 War of the Worlds remake with Tom Cruise, but this is one neighborhood that seems destined to last forever. There are Portuguese, Spanish and Brazilian restaurants and markets for sure, but also Italian, Ecuadorian, Mexican and many others. Its a culinary wonderland, steps from Newark Penn Station. Some of my favorite places: Suissa Bakery, Nastos Ice Cream, Popular Fish Market, Teixeiras Bakery and Krugs Tavern.

Hot Dog Johnny's, Buttzville

Beautiful downtown Buttzville

Buttzville can mean only one thing  Hot Dog Johnnys, the legendary hot dog joint on Rt. 46. You can quibble over the quality of the dogs, but not the bucolic setting, along the Pequest River. John Kovalsky opened Hot Dog Johnnys in 1944  the tiny original stand can be seen on the grounds. His daughter, Patricia Fotopoulos, now runs the business. Johnnys is probably the states best-known hot dog stand, and Buttzville is one of New Jerseys most colorfully named towns. Its named after founder Michael Robert Buttz.

Fort Mott State ParkToday's Sunbeam

Theres a part of New Jersey Delaware owns

Yes, its true. Theres a mile-long stretch of desolate, windswept marsh next to Fort Mott State Park and Finns Point National Cemetery that belongs to Delaware. The odd boundary can be traced to the original deed for Wilmington, which included all land within a several-mile radius. Delaware pays no taxes on the land, which is pretty useless anyway; most of it is dredge spoil. The tract of land is controlled by the Army Corps of Engineers, and is not accessible, unfortunately. Buy you can see it to the left as you walk or drive toward Finns Point cemetery, home to the graves of 2,900 Confederate soldiers, a handful of Union soldiers and 13 German POWs. Both Fort Mott and Finns Point are well worth a visit; Fort Mott sees a spectacular' array of migratory birds in the spring and fall, according to the park naturalist. For more on this curious slice of New Jersey, see my book, New Jersey Curiosities.

Newfoundland train station, Jefferson Township

Take a ride down one of the states great scenic highways

New Jersey is the nations most highway-intensive state  no surprise there  and most of our major roads and highways are a nonstop horror show. Route 80, the Turnpike, the Parkway, Route 3  need I go on? But this small, unglamorous state is packed with sensational stretches of asphalt. Like Route 513, much of which goes through Morris County. The road starts at the N.J./N.Y. state line and winds its way down to Hunterdon County, passing through a colorful cross-section of Jersey  woods, wilds, water, suburbia, small towns, farms and more. Newfoundland, in Jefferson, is home to an old train station along 513 thats featured in the movie The Station Agent. Dont miss the telephone pole farm  a former AT&T testing area  in Chester, and Long Valley, which might be the states most splendidly situated town.

Washington Rock State Park

George Washington may not have slept here, but he sure did enjoy the views. What later became Washington Rock State Park was a valuable lookout point during the American Revolution in June 1777 when the British army, under Gen. William Howe, was moving toward Westfield. The park sits atop Watchung Mountain in Green Brook. There are picnic tables and splendid views.

Amish Market, Route 27, Kingston

Shop at an Amish market

The aroma of an Amish market gets to me every time: fresh-baked bread, just-made doughnuts, meat and cheese and candy... And dont forget the rotisserie chickens, my favorite part of all. The Amish Market at Mullica Hill (Gloucester County) is one of my two or three favorite specialty food stores in the state. Other Amish or Pennsylvania Dutch markets include Dutch Country Farmers Market in Raritan Township (next to Flemington), the Williamstown Farmers Market and the Pennsylvania Dutch Farmers Market in Kingston, shown in the photo.

A 1931 Model A Coupe on display at the Vintage Automobile Museum of New Jersey.

Vintage Automobile Museum of New Jersey

Buick Masters, Mercer Runabouts, Chevy Bel Airs and Mercury Comets  these are some of the historic cars that have appeared at the Vintage Automobile Museum of New Jersey in Point Pleasant. One neat thing: The car display rotates every two months. There are also photos, signs and other auto memorabilia. The museum is currently open noon to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.

Eat at one of N.J.s few remaining 24-hour diners

24-hour diners are a dying breed in New Jersey, the Diner Capital of the World. The coronavirus and dining restrictions have caused most around-the-clock diners to scale back their hours. There were dozens of 24-hour diners pre-pandemic; now there are just three. The State Line Diner in Mahwah is one of them. Were trying to keep it open as long as it makes sense, one of the owners told me late last year. Its pretty borderline right now.

We love seeing how much folks enjoy our strawberries! We love bringing happiness & health to your family. Thank you... Posted by Giamarese Farm on Monday, June 15, 2020

Pick your own fruits and vegetables

You could pick almost any county for pick-your-own farms, but were concentrating on Middlesex here because it doesnt usually come to mind as a farming hotbed. Giamarese Farm in East Brunswick and Von Thun Farms in South Brunswick are among the farms where you can pick apples, peaches, strawberries, blueberries and greens. It makes for a great day in the country and no standing in line at your local supermarket.

Walpack Inn, Walpack

The Walpack Inn, open since 1949, is in a largely undiscovered corner of New Jersey. If you can find the place, youll be rewarded with gorgeous vistas and a carnivores vision of the pearly gates. Theres a wild kingdom of mounted animal heads on the walls, and the menu is meat-centric. The joltingly juicy prime rib will make you question why you ever entertained notions of becoming a vegetarian. The inn is currently closed, but expects to reopen this year, and the drive in the surrounding Sussex County countryside will take your mind off most everything. Make sure to visit nearby Walpack Center, the town that time forgot.

Goshen Pond, Pine Barrens

The Pine Barrens

This is the year you finally do it. Explore, not just drive through or around, the Pine Barrens. The biggest challenge is where to start. There are a mere 1.1 million acres in the Pinelands Natural Preserve. You can hike, canoe, camp, picnic, fish  take your pick. You can explore on your own, or book one of the guided trips offered by Pinelands Adventures (they resume in April). I took a canoe trip with one of its guides for my book, New Jersey State of Mind. It was unforgettable. I really should get out in the woods or on the water more often.

We are resuming service as of Monday, July 20th! Explore the grounds of the Statue of Liberty with the only ferry service that can get you to Liberty Island. www.statuecruises.com Posted by Statue Cruises on Saturday, July 18, 2020

The Statue of Liberty

Sure, youve seen it, but have you actually visited the Statue of Liberty? Didnt think so. Statue Cruises provides the only ferry service to Liberty Island, which despite New York Citys claims, is actually closer to New Jersey. And the federal government owns it, so neither New York nor New Jersey can claim it anyway. The ferries currently depart Liberty State Park six times a day.

First Presbyterian Church, Haddonfield

Haddonfield

Haddonfield doesnt seem to get the publicity of, say, Collingswood, but I love the former. Its tranquil and loaded with history: The Indian King Tavern Museum marks the site where New Jersey became a state and the great seal of the state was adopted. And what other town has a dinosaur downtown? Thats Hadrosaurus foulkii, which was the most complete dinosaur skeleton unearthed anywhere in the world when it was discovered in 1858.

Half sausage, half meatball pizza, De Lorenzo's Tomato Pies, Robbinsville

The Pizza Capital of New Jersey

Ill probably catch grief for this, but no other New Jersey town hosts two legendary pizzerias within walking distance of each other. Were talking about Robbinsville, formerly known as Washington Township and home to De Lorenzos Tomato Pies and Papas Tomato Pies. The latter is the oldest continuously operating pizzeria in the country. Dont ask me to pick one over the other. Try them both, and decide for yourself. You want to walk on the pizza wild side? Try the mustard pie at Papas.

The view from the dock outside Mullica River Crab Co. in Leeds Point.

Leeds Point

If the panorama of water, sky and marsh in downtown Leeds Point is not the most serene spot in New Jersey, it sure comes close. The town, part of Galloway in Atlantic County, could be the capital of what I consider the Other Jersey Shore  the stretch from Mystic Island, New Gretna and Port Republic down to Leeds Point and Oceanville. Three counties  Ocean, Burlington and Atlantic  flash by in a matter of minutes. The highlight at Leeds Point, besides the splendid silence, is the rambling Oyster Creek Inn and its one-of-a-kind Boat Bar.

The south branch of the Raritan River at the Red Mill Museum in Clinton.

Clinton

Clinton is not on this list because I once lived there, but because its the cutest town in New Jerseys most beautiful county (sorry, Sussex, Warren and any other contenders). Downtown, such as it is, is just two blocks of shops and restaurants, and youll want to walk across the bridge over the south branch of the Raritan River. Hungry? Stop at the Ye Olde Sub Base, Designer Dawgs and JJ Scoops. The town finished No. 5 on my list of the states 33 best small towns.

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Peter Genovese may be reached at pgenovese@njadvancemedia.com.
A man has been charged with murder after a fatal stabbing in North Melbourne.

Police were called to the public housing towers on Sutton Street in North Melbourne about 11.40am on Saturday.

A man was found inside an apartment with stab wounds.

Emergency services tried to resuscitate the man and he was rushed to hospital where he died.
Gurugram, Jan 3 : A team of the Regional Transport Authority, Gurugram have arrested two persons who were allegedly issuing fake tax slips of the RTA to drivers, an official said on Sunday.

The fraudsters were overpowered by the RTA team near Ambience Mall and later handed over to the DLF Phase-3 police station on Saturday.

The accused were identified as Lokesh and Jani, both residents of Faridabad district.

Police after registration of the case have started investigation and are looking for the kingpin of the gang.

According to RTA secretary Dharna Yadav, the department had received complaints that some people were issuing fake RTA tax slip to commercial vehicles which caused huge loss to the state exchequer.

He formed a team a week ago to nab the fraudsters and on Saturday, as soon as it was reported that two gang members were issuing fake slips near the Ambience Mall, a team led by sub-inspector Praveen Kumar along with the RTA officials reached the spot and took custody of the duo.

The team also recovered fake slips and laptops from their possession.

During the preliminary probe, it came to fore that the gang members used to arrive in a private vehicle and stood at the Delhi-Gurugram border on National Highway 48.

The duo used to issue slips as the drivers considered them as genuine RTA employees, the RTA official said.
If there is one thing that Americans can agree upon it is that the divisions between us have only grown deeper during the past four years and 
https://www.aish.com/jw/s/Eliezer-Ben-Yehuda-Father-of-Modern-Day-Hebrew.html

In celebration of Hebrew Language Day, meet the father of modern Hebrew.

It is astonishing that the Jewish nation, which has undergone various exiles and has suffered immensely at the hand of its many enemies, not only survives but thrives. Equally astounding is the revival of the Hebrew language  an extraordinary story unparalleled in history.

More than 3,000 years ago, when the people of Israel arrived with Joshua to the Holy Land, Hebrew was established as the national language. Hebrew remained in common usage until around 400 C.E., when, under the weight of dispersion after the destruction of the Second Temple, Hebrew fell out of common usage. Biblical Hebrew survived through the exiles due to its role as the language of liturgy and religious texts. Throughout history there has always been Jews fluent in Hebrew. Meanwhile, written Hebrew continued to evolve; it was the language of poetry and correspondence between scholars.

This Tuesday is Hebrew Language Day, which marks the birth of Eliezer Ben-Yehuda, who was the driving force behind the revival of Hebrew and its transformation into its modern form. Ben-Yehuda was born Eliezer Perelman in Luzhky, Lithuania in 1858. The son of a Chabad Hasid, he was given a traditional religious education at a local yeshiva. He excelled in his studies and was sent to a Talmudic Academy in the hope that he would become a rabbi. However, like many promising young Jews of the time in eastern Europe he became interested in the secular world and entered a Russian gymnasium. He remained obsessed with modern Hebrew literature and eagerly consumed Hebrew periodicals, especially those concerned with Jewish nationalism. Nationalism became his way of embracing Hebrew without religion.

Ben-Yehuda was captivated by the ideas of Zionism. He believed that the revival of Hebrew in the Land of Israel would unite all Jews worldwide. Ben-Yehuda regarded Hebrew and Zionism as one and the same. He wrote, "The Hebrew language can live only if we revive the nation and return it to the fatherland.

Acting on these ideas, he determined that he should go to Palestine. He left Russia in 1878, first going to Paris to study medicine so as to help the Jewish community in Palestine. But due to tuberculosis, he was unable to continue his studies. In 1881 he and his wife, Deborah Jonas, arrived in Jerusalem with his revival plans for the Hebrew language. His main plan of action was three-fold and can be summarized as Hebrew in the Home, "Hebrew in the School, and Words, Words, Words.

He changed his family name to Ben-Yehuda and he and his wife created the first modern Hebrew-speaking household. Their son, Ben Tzion (son of Zion) was born in 1882. Having a child in the house accentuated the need to find appropriate Hebrew words for everyday life. New words were coined by Ben-Yehuda for objects such as doll, ice cream, towel, bicycle, and hundreds more. They had four more children.

Ben-Yehuda introduced Hebrew as the language of instruction and study in schools. He gained the support of educators who were enthusiastic Jewish nationalists. Teaching Hebrew in schools was a very practical solution to the problem of immigrants from different countries who spoke a variety of languages.

He also wanted to attract adults to his ideas. Through his newspaper HaTzvi, he taught adults both via its content and its language. Jews being avid readers, his newspaper did much to spread his ideas and his linguistic coinages in Palestine and abroad.

Not everyone was a fan of Ben-Yehuda. Many saw his work as blasphemous because Hebrew was the holy language of the Torah, and some thought that it should not be used to discuss everyday mundane matters. He and his wife wore religious garb in attempts to attract religious Jews to his nationalist cause, but the religious Jews saw through the guise and went so far as to excommunicate Ben-Yehuda.

Eliezer, his wife Hemda, and David Judelovitch, a former student of Eliezer who became one of the leading educators bringing Hebrew to the schools of the settlements.

Tragedy struck the family in 1891 when his wife died of tuberculosis. In the winter of 1892, a diphtheria epidemic claimed the lives of their three youngest children. Ben-Yehuda married his late wifes sister Hemda.

He became a lexicographer, culminating in his 17-volume A Complete Dictionary of Ancient and Modern Hebrew. It was completed by Hemda and his son after Ben-Yehudas death. He fashioned over 300 new Hebrew words out of the ancient Hebrew structures. Since then, modern Hebrew has a lexicon of more than 75,000 words. These include over 2,400 deliberately designed Hebrew alternatives for foreign words and recent words and recent terms which the ancient language never contained.

What finally brought about the revival of Hebrew were developments in the communities of the First Aliya (1881-1903) and the Second Aliya (1904-1914). The first Hebrew schools were established in these communities. Hebrew became a spoken language of daily affairs and finally became a systematic and national language.

In 1922, the British Mandate of Palestine recognized Hebrew as one of the countrys three official languages (English, Arabic and Hebrew), and its new formal status contributed to its diffusion. One month later, at the age of 64, Ben-Yehuda passed away from tuberculosis.

British historian, Cecil Roth, stated, Before Ben-Yehuda, Jews could speak Hebrew, after him, they did.
US: 1,100 pounds of methamphetamine found in watermelons

Tesla owners will be paid $ 16,000 each due to slow charging

Advisor to Armenia Prosecutor General provides details about incident with Armenian soldier killed in Verin Shorzha

Banksy's painting of punk Lenin sold at auction in Hong Kong for $ 960,000

CSTO Deputy Secretary-General: Escalation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border requires undertaking of urgent measures

Catholicos of All Armenians receives newly appointed Ambassador of Japan

Australia closing its embassy in Kabul for security reasons

Biden to discuss issues related to Belarus and Ukraine with Putin

Armenian acting FM meets with ambassadors of CSTO member states accredited to Armenia

Armenia Ombudsman presents human rights protection in post-war period to CoE Programmes Directorate General

Germany is investigating Google's position in market

France: Sanctions against Belarus will continue

Armenia opposition party MP: Azerbaijan is a terrorist state, negotiations can't be led with such a country

US to reopen its Consulate General in Jerusalem

EU expects to receive over 1 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccine by end of September

Armenian MFA strongly condemns Azerbaijan's blatant armed encroachment on Armenia's sovereign territory

UN still awaits strong evidence that Dubai ruler's daughter is alive

Opposition Bright Armenia Party urges Government to immediately address UN Security Council

Armen Sarkissian receives Russia Ambassador to Armenia

Armenia President, France Ambassador discuss situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border

Overchuk: We hope unblocking of links between Armenia and Azerbaijan is a success

Armenia police officer commits suicide, criminal case launched

Armenia Environmental Protection and Mining Inspection Body has new deputy heads

Zarif, Aliyev discuss railway routes connecting Iran, Azerbaijan and Armenia

EU leaders agree to donate at least 100 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine to poor countries

Armenian serviceman Mher Hovhannisyan fires gunshot at his head, criminal case launched

Soldier who died in Armenia's Verin Shorzha was son of ARF-D member, father of 2

Blinken promises to continue close consultations with Israel on Iran

Armen Sarkissian: Armenia's relevant state institutions need to take the tightest measures

Armenian soldier commits suicide, opposition speaks on tense situation on border, 25.05.21 digest

Yerevan man's body found at Tatul Krpeyan Park

Armenia MOD: Reports about Armenian soldiers being injured in Sisian section of border not confirmed

EU summit calls for rarly implementation of vaccination certificates

Parliament of the Netherlands adopts resolution, EU must demand that Azerbaijan pull out troops from Armenia

Kremlin: Russian and US presidents to meet in Geneva on June 16

Spokesperson of community council of Armenia's Sisian: Men got enlisted and climbed to military posts

Bright Armenia Party: We are not satisfied with CSTO response

EU leaders urge council to review internal border guidelines by mid-June

Armenia MOD: Fixed-term serviceman receives lethal firearm injury in head area

Dollar still stable in Armenia

Armenian Catholic Catholicos-Patriarch passes away

Kathimerini: US seeks to increase military presence in Greece due to doubts about Turkey's reliability

US Congress members call on Biden to suspend all military assistance to Azerbaijan

Armenia acting economy minister receives Montenegro's newly appointed Ambassador

Armenia MOD: Soldier killed during shootings from Azerbaijani side in Verin Shorzha

Russian MP: Azerbaijani leadership interested in Armenia acting PM's victory in snap elections

Armenia MOD reports shooting from Azerbaijani side in Verin Shorzha border section

Armenia opposition MP: Authorities promised to separate business from politics, but they're failing to fulfill promise

There will be post-election processes if authorities try to rig voting, says Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan

CNN: Putin and Biden will meet on June 15-16 in Geneva

Latin America has the highest poverty rate in 20 years

Ex-President Kocharyan on Armenia applying to CSTO: No one will help you if you do nothing to solve your problems

Armenia ruling Civil Contract Party presents list of first 10 candidates ahead of snap parliamentary elections

Armenia acting justice minister discusses broad range of cooperation issues with top CoE official

Armenia former President Kocharyan: This guilt, this criminal article is on these authorities

Man survives after spending 17 days in desert

Azerbaijan continues course towards systematic extermination of Armenian heritage in Shushi

Armenia Syunik Province ex-governor: Azerbaijani soldiers advanced along length of border two days ago

Newly appointed Ambassador of Montenegro presents Letters of Credence to Armenia President

Its about bringing Karabakh issue back to right to self-determination, says Armenia ex-President Kocharyan

Iran FM to arrive in Armenia

Ara Aivazian and Austrian counterpart hold phone talks, focus on Azeri army's infiltration into Armenia's territory

Kocharyan: Elect todays political team if you are ready to live squatting

Jean-Michel Basquiat's painting sold at auction in Hong Kong for $ 30 million

2nd President Kocharyan on Armenia Security Council chief: Do you take that person seriously?

"Key" to settlement of Karabakh conflict cant be in one place, says Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan

Texas may permit carrying of pistols without special permission

Ex-President Kocharyan on Armenia acting PM Pashinyan's high popularity rating: We will wear it down to the root

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Election bloc format must be workable in some logical sense

Attorney: Political persecution against Robert Kocharyan is becoming more noticeable during election campaign

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: We must do everything so that our domestic politics is not dictated by Azerbaijan

Armenian acting defense minister meets Russian peacekeeping mission chief

Congress predicts US nuclear spending to reach $ 634 billion by 2030

Russian MP: The effectiveness of military cooperation with Armenia depends on Yerevan as well

Delimitation now may create some problems in Karabakh negotiation process, says Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan on relations with 3rd President Sargsyan: We go our own way they go their own

Judge adjourns hearing over case of Armenia 2nd President and ex-Deputy PM for 3 weeks

Court hearing over case of Armenia 2nd President and ex-Deputy PM

2nd President Kocharyan: Armenia must show that it will not be subjected to such pressures

Kocharyan: You may find yourself in stupid situations if you come to negotiations without any baggage

Armenia Investigative Committee: Criminal case opened into soldiers death

157 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

EU helps UN World Food Programme provide humanitarian assistance for conflict-affected people in Armenia

Yerevan municipal council convenes regular session

Armenia legislature speaker on situation at Syunik Province: CSTO still has procedures

Blinken arrives on his first official visit to Israel

World oil prices going up

Provincial hall issues statement on Tavush section of Armenia border with Azerbaijan

MFA statement: Azerbaijan continues to use Armenian POWs as political hostages

Newspaper: There are last-minute changes on Armenia ruling party electoral list

Armenia parliament starts regular sessions

Newspaper: Armenia 3rd President Sargsyan intensively engaged in election campaign

EU leaders call for ban on Belarus airlines flights to their countries

Quake hits Georgia, also felt in Armenia

2nd President Kocharyan: Process of obtaining Armenia citizenship shall be simplified, shall take only few months

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Appointments in army were not based on knowledge but on loyalty

Robert Kocharyan: Armenia must not go back to the past and stay there, just like the incumbent authorities did

Armenia 2nd President on recent Karabakh war, consequences and the signed document

Armenia 2nd President: Current authorities don't have remorse, aren't conscious and patriotic

Armenia 2nd President on black PR and management system in the country
Stockholm/New Delhi, Jan 3 : Borje Ekholm, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Swedish telecom giant Ericsson, has been lobbying the government to repeal a ban that prohibits Huawei and ZTE from participating in the country's 5G construction, according to local newspaper Dagens Nyheter.

In a series of text messages to Swedish Foreign Trade Minister Anna Hallberg, the CEO has urged a review of the ban by the Swedish Post and Telecommunication Administration, which requires operators to withdraw the Chinese companies from local 5G infrastructure by January 2025.

In the messages unveiled by the newspaper, Ekholm said Ericsson would leave Sweden if the authorities continue to hold the ban on Huawei and ZTE, reports Xinhua news agency.

Jacob Wallenberg, deputy chair of Ericsson's board of directors, also said "stopping Huawei is definitely not good" in an interview with the newspaper in late December last year.

However, Hallberg told Dagens Nyheter that she would not interfere in the decisions related to the ban, adding that she did not meet with Ekholm.

In November last year, the UK government said that the Chinese telecom giant Huawei will not be able to install its 5G equipments in the country from September 2021.

The UK government has laid out a roadmap for removing all telecoms equipment made by "high risk vendors," including Huawei, from the country's 5G network by 2027.

The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) also designated Chinese telecom companies, Huawei and ZTE, as national security risks to America's communications networks.

As its production and operations face significant challenges due to trade restrictions imposed by the US, Huawei is reportedly pushing for setting up of a dedicated chip plant in China which can help reduce dependence on foreign technology for running its core telecom infrastructure business.

Shanghai IC R&D Centre, a chip research company backed by the Shanghai Municipal government will run the plant, the Financial Times reported recently, citing people familiar with the matter.

The plan is to start with low-end 45nm chips and acquiring expertise for developing 20nm chips in two years so that its 5G telecoms equipment business can continue even in the face of US restrictions, said the report.
During the training session, trainees have to perform duty in battling the COVID-19 pandemic while engaging in training in accordance with strict requirements of the United Nations. (Photo: VNA)



Vietnam has so far deployed two field hospitals with 126 staff members to South Sudan. (Photo: VNA)

W

elcoming in the new year, the education secretary Gavin Williamson declined to break with the tradition of eleventh-hour U-turns that seemingly characterised the governments approach to the coronavirus pandemic in 2020.

With just days remaining until primary schools are due to reopen their doors after the Christmas break and rapidly rising transmissions of Covid-19, the Department for Education opted to override a schools policy announced just three days ago.

Under the initial plan, secondary schools and colleges were set to be closed for two weeks at the start of term while some primary schools in London were still being asked to reopen their doors on 4 January.
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Los Angeles County, already in the throes of a devastating surge in coronavirus cases after Thanksgiving travel and gatherings, is being hit with a spike from Christmas festivities.

The weekly average of new cases per day in the county, the largest in the United States, is at its highest yet, 16,193.

That is about 12 times the weekly average of Nov. 1, which was 1,347.

Even as the deluge of coronavirus cases has overwhelmed hospitals around the state and Los Angeles County in particular, some Angelenos sought to celebrate the new year at clandestine parties. Police dispersed more than a thousand people who had attended a warehouse party, The Los Angeles Times reported.

More than 21,000 people were in the hospital on New Years Day in California, according to a New York Times database, a 26 percent increase from two weeks earlier.
Priti Patel (above) has vowed to defy 'do-gooder' celebrities and activist lawyers by making deportation flights to Jamaica a 'regular drumbeat'

Priti Patel has vowed to defy 'do-gooder' celebrities and activist lawyers by making deportation flights to Jamaica a 'regular drumbeat'.

The Home Secretary was dismayed last month when 23 people, including rapists and a murderer, who were due to be deported to the Caribbean country were instead removed at the 11th hour after legal challenges.

In the end only 13 criminals were returned.

There were similar reprieves for some of those due to be flown out of the UK on a flight in February.

Since April, the Government has chartered more than 30 flights to deport criminals to countries including Albania, France, Germany, Ghana, Lithuania, Nigeria, Poland and Spain.

But a source close to Ms Patel said: 'Each time we do a flight to Jamaica it becomes a big event. We have done two last year and both ended up with statements in Parliament. We run flights to Albania sometimes twice a week.

'This year we will see the number of flights to Jamaica go up. They will become a regular drumbeat.

'It's not fair on either the migrants or the taxpayer to have people stuck in a system where they are about to be deported.'

Celebrities including model Naomi Campbell, the actresses Thandie Newton (left) and Naomie Harris (right) and historian David Olusoga joined more than 60 MPs in writing to Ms Patel calling for the deportation flight to be cancelled

Those who avoided extradition after lawyers intervened included Jermaine Stewart (above), who was sentenced to six years in jail in 2016 for rape

Celebrities including model Naomi Campbell, the actresses Thandie Newton and Naomie Harris and historian David Olusoga joined more than 60 MPs in writing to Ms Patel calling for the deportation flight to be cancelled.

Those who avoided extradition after lawyers intervened included Michael White, a drug dealer who was sentenced to a minimum of 18 years in jail for murder and attempted murder in 2003, and Jermaine Stewart, who was sentenced to six years in jail in 2016 for rape.

Ms Patel accused the MPs of 're-traumatising' victims of rape and other serious crimes by challenging the removals and described those defending the 'broken' immigration appeals system as 'do-gooders' and 'Leftie lawyers'.

A total of 1,128 foreign-born serious offenders were deported last year, including 23 murderers, 189 rapists and 70 child sex offenders.

The Home Office is considering legislation allowing the deportation of foreign criminals sentenced to at least six months in jail.

Under the current 2007 UK Borders Act, their term must be at least 12 months.
BROOKHAVEN, Miss. (AP)  A post office in Mississippi will be named for three law enforcement officers killed on duty.

President Donald Trump signed a law Dec. 21 to name the Brookhaven building for Deputy Donald William Durr, Cpl. Zach Moak and Patrolman James White.

Durr was a Lincoln County deputy who was shot to death in May 2017 while responding to a domestic disturbance.

Seven others were shot to death that night.

A man has been convicted and sentenced to death.

Moak and White worked for the Brookhaven Police Department.

They were shot to death in September 2018 while responding to reports of gunfire. A man awaits trial.
Once known as First Month, Snow Month, Frosty Month, Wolf Month, the Roman god Janus, the guardian of gates and doors, is the name we now give to this time of year. January. Two-faced Janus looked back and looked forward, and artist Christo Coetzee's 'Janus' looks both ways. It invites us to think about past and future, about where we've been and where we're heading. "No one ever regarded the first of January with indifference," says Charles Lamb and this time round, after 2020, 2021 hasn't come quickly enough.

Born in Johannesburg, 1929, Coetzee's father turned from farming to mining, then to building and though his father died when Coetzee was 10, it was his father's talent for drawing construction plans that influenced his son's career. At university Coetzee studied fine art. In 1951, the year he graduated, his first solo show was opened by South African's National Gallery director.

A scholarship to the Slade, marriage to his South African university lecturer, a long honeymoon in Spain, then back to Johannesburg in 1953. But the marriage ended and he returned to London, supported himself as a framer until a wealthy friend and patron offered him a room in his house in return for paintings.

A London solo show, a residency in Italy, three years in Paris, a year in Japan tell of his success, and in 1961 having got stuck in a lift with Elsa Schiaparelli, she commissioned a Coetzee painting to advertise her perfumes.

He moved to Spain and when a South African friend died, Coetzee invited his widow, Ferrie Binge, to visit. They married and from then on, Coetzee and his wife, also an artist, divided their time between Spain and South Africa.

A solo show in Cape Town, in 1975, became known as Coetzee's Protest Phase when, apparently because of a poor review, he returned to the gallery and slashed 23 paintings to shreds.

He said it was an intuitive happening, a Gutai act, a term and practice he discovered in Japan when a group of post-war Japanese artists celebrated 'the embodiment of the physicality of paint'. The Gutai movement included Japanese artists throwing an ink-soaked ball at paper or swinging across a canvas and painting it with their feet.

Coetzee claimed that when he slashed his paintings, he gave the art world new words: Protest-ism, Tear-ism; Fragment-ism; Shatter-ism; Repair-ism and Restore-ism. And he did, in fact, restore the sliced canvases.

In Pretoria at another solo show Coetzee painted over his works with black paint, and at one of his wife's exhibitions, he bought a painting, cut it up, distributed it to the viewers and persuaded them to eat it.

Coetzee's career was marked by constant reinvention. Portraits, still lifes, circular and tubular shapes in abstract work, then a Renaissance and Neo Baroque period - though one Renaissance-lookalike work contains newspaper clippings and details from other artworks and an ingenious perspex covering. In 1999, a year before he died, there was a major retrospective of his work and there is now a Christo Coetzee House Museum and Gallery, and the University of Pretoria Art Collection contains almost 200 paintings and Coetzee's donated 2,600 objects d'art.

This Janus painting belongs to the 1980s. On this thickly-painted, expressionist work, the figure to the left looks bloodied, wounded, stern. The eye is a black space. Though both facial expressions, left and right, are serious and grim, of the two-headed Janus, the one on the right, the one that looks forward, is more determined. It's a brighter look.
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Pakistan captain Babar Azam ruled out of second New Zealand Test

Babar fractured his right thumb during a net session last month and missed the first Test in Mount Maunganui as well as the preceding T20 series

Pakistan captain Babar Azam has been ruled of the second Test against New Zealand due to pain in his thumb.

Babar fractured his right thumb during a net session last month and missed the first Test in Mount Maunganui as well as the preceding T20 series.

It is understood that he took part in training on New Years Day but it was decided that it was not worth the risk to let him play in the upcoming match at Hagley Oval in Christchurch.

Mohammad Rizwan will captain the side in Babars absence.

Pakistans team doctor, Dr Sohail Saleem, said: We have seen improvement in Babar Azam's injury but he is yet to fully recover. He is our captain and the most important batsman in the line-up, so we do not want to take any risk.

The medical team is constantly reviewing his injury and we are hopeful he will be available for the home series against South Africa.
Head teachers are calling on the Government to scrap this summer's GCSE and A-level exams amid outrage over Gavin Williamson's plans to keep schools open.

Most primaries in England are expected to re-open their doors tomorrow, while secondary schools will reopen on a staggered basis later this month with plans to test every student weekly.

Yesterday, however, the UK's largest teaching union advised members it was not safe to return to the classroom - with several left-wing councils demanding their primary schools move to online teaching only.

And in another blow to the Education Secretary's plans, UK head teachers are now calling for this year's exams to be scrapped to prioritise 'wider public health, pupil and staff safety'.

They also claim it would be unfair to force students to sit exams when those whose schools were open earlier would have more contact time than those with later start dates.

Head teachers are calling on the Government to scrap this summer's GCSE and A-level exams amid outrage over Gavin Williamson's plans to keep schools open (file image)

The WorthLess? campaign group - a collection of 2,000 head teachers in 80 local authorities - said: 'Wider public health, pupil and staff safety should be prioritised ahead of examinations.

'Public safety should not be risked or driven by an inflexible pursuit of GCSE and A-levels.'

Head teacher of Tanbridge House School in Horsham - and one of the WorthLess? leaders - Jules White told The Times: 'There is great scepticism that exams can now go ahead fairly.'

Their statements come after Brighton and Hove City Council followed eight authorities in London in demanding primaries teach remotely amid rising Covid cases.

CLASS WAR: The Government is keen to get children back to schools however, left-wing councils have joined revolt against Government plans as UK's largest teaching union advised members it was not safe to return

The National Education Union, which has 450,000 members, said the Government was 'failing to protect children, their families and our communities', adding that their members had a legal right to refuse to work.

The move has put them on a collision course with Education Secretary Gavin Williamson, who said it was imperative that the nation's children were back in class to stop them falling behind.

Writing in The Mail on Sunday, the father-of-two has urged teachers and parents to 'move heaven and earth', adding the young must not 'bear the heaviest cost' of the pandemic.

He said: 'Both of my daughters, one of whom is in an exam year, have had to self-isolate. I know how difficult the last year has been, because I have seen them miss being in the classroom, where they want to be. So I want my children, and all children, to be able to get back to school and stay in class  we will continue to prioritise making this happen where we can.'

The start of the new academic term has been mired in confusion as Covid rates continue to rise, driven by the new variant.

Recent notes from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) revealed scientists have warned that schools may need to be closed to bring down transmission.

But Children's Minister Vicky Ford yesterday told MPs there was no evidence that the new strain caused more serious illness in either adults or children.

Senior Government sources said that Mr Williamson had tried to keep schools open but has been overruled by Health Secretary Matt Hancock and Michael Gove.

The pair have pushed for tighter measures until more people have been vaccinated, but critics accused them of 'natural authoritarianism'.

The National Education Union tweeted earlier today: 'Our Executive is meeting this morning and we will announce new guidance shortly afterwards'

A tweet from the National Education Union today, saying: 'We have thousands of reps from all the country on our briefing right now. We must #MakeSchoolsSafe to #ProtectCommunities'

Children's Minister Vicky Ford yesterday told MPs there was no evidence that the new strain caused more serious illness in either adults or children

Last week, Mr Williamson announced all primaries would return on Monday. Ten London boroughs were told to open their schools but after a revolt by eight Labour-led councils, Mr Williamson was forced into a U-turn. Now all schools in the capital will operate remote learning for the first two weeks.

The rebellion was led initially by Haringey, once dubbed the first 'Corbyn council' because of its large number of Left-wing Momentum councillors. Council leader Joseph Ejiofor said he would back head teachers who wanted to defy the Government and he was later followed by Harrow Council.

Brighton and Hove has now advised all primary schools to teach remotely until January 18.

Chris McGovern, chairman of the Campaign for Real Education, has accused the Left of politicising the issue saying: 'This is about knocking the Tories. Keeping schools open should be non-negotiable.' More than one million four to 11-year-olds will now start the academic term with lessons online.

In advising members to work from home, Dr Mary Bousted, the NEU's joint general secretary, said: 'If Government does not act to follow the science, we must.'

Her views were echoed by the NASUWT union.

Ministers are considering proposals to make teachers a higher priority in the vaccine roll-out as a way to keep physical classrooms open.

Plans for schools reopening differ across the four nations of the UK.In Scotland, most pupils will have online learning for the week of January 11. In Wales, schools are expected to provide face-to-face learning for the majority of their pupils by January 11.

And in Northern Ireland, secondary school years eight to 11 will be taught via remote learning throughout January while primary pupils will return to the classroom on January 11.
Now it's 287.9 per 100,000 population, while the norm is set at 40.

In Ukraine, the coronavirus incidence rate is 287.9 per 100,000 population, which is seven times the norm of 40.

That's according to the country's Ministry of Health.

The worst morbidity situation is observed in Mykolaiv (495.5), Zaporizhia (464.3) regions and the city of Kyiv (423.9). The best situation is observed in Kirovohrad (84.1), Zakarpattia (110.7), and Ivano-Frankivsk (120.8) regions.

Hospital load in terms of COVID-19 patients is on decline.

Read alsoTop health official refutes Putin crony's claim of Russian vaccine registration bidAs of January 2, a total of 33.3% of beds were occupied in the country. The highest load is seen in Mykolaiv region (49%). In Kyiv, 39% of hospital beds are filled.

A total of 65,948 beds have already been deployed across country.

In late December, the incidence rate was 323.7 per 100,000 population, which was eight times over the norm.

COVID-19 in Ukraine: Other reports

Reporting by UNIAN
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Every farmer-labourer part of movement a ''satyagrahi'', they will take back their rights: Rahul Gandhi

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

New Delhi, Jan 03: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday compared the ongoing farmers'' protests against the three new Central agriculture-related laws with the Champaran agitation during the British rule, and said every farmer-labourer part of the current movement is a ''satyagrahi'' and they will take their rights back.

"The country is going to face a Champaran-like tragedy. British were ''company Bahadur'' back then and now Modi-friends are ''company Bahadur''," Gandhi alleged in a tweet in Hindi.

"But, every farmer-labourer of the movement is a ''satyagrahi'' who will take back their rights," the former Congress chief said.

The Champaran Satyagraha of 1917 was led by Mahatma Gandhi and is considered a historic event in India''s independence movement.

It was a farmer''s uprising that took place in Champaran district of Bihar during the British colonial period when the farmers protested having to grow indigo with barely any payment for it.

Hindus can never be anti-India, patriotism is their basic character, says RSS chief citing Gandhi

The Congress has been seeking the repeal of the three new farm laws, alleging that they will ruin farming and the farmers. The Congress is also supporting the farmers'' agitation against the legislations.

After the sixth round of formal negotiations on Wednesday, the government and farm unions reached some common ground to resolve protesting farmers'' concerns over rise in power tariff and penalties for stubble burning, but the two sides remained deadlocked over the main contentious issues of the repeal of three farm laws and a legal guarantee for minimum support price (MSP).

Braving the cold, thousands of farmers, mainly from Punjab and Haryana, are protesting at various borders of the national capital for more than a month against these laws.

The government has presented these laws as major agriculture sector reforms aimed at helping farmers and increasing their income, but the protesting unions fear that the new legislations will leave them at the mercy of big corporates by weakening the MSP and mandi systems.

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Story first published: Sunday, January 3, 2021, 13:12 [IST]
The African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) is expected to offer jobs for more than 1.5 billion people, with a projected trade exchange worth $3.4 trillion, the trade committee of the Egyptian Junior Businessmen Association (EJB) said in a statement released on Sunday.

Head of the committee Mohamed Abdelrahman said that most African states are entirely dependent on imports from outside the continent, a matter which increases the poverty rates and badly affects the continents supply chains, especially amid the COVID-19 crisis.

Yet, Abdelrahman noted that the agreement faces many major challenges, topped by linking African markets with African producers and the product with the consumer, adding that trade exchange among African countries is difficult.

He underlined that problems would emerge by the beginning of the implementation of the agreement, pointing to some countries' concerns about opening their markets for neighbouring countries.

He added that the dependency of African countries on goods from China, Europe, and the United States is another challenge that the agreement faces, which has experienced many problems during the lockdown period.

In July 2020, AfCFTA was due to come into force, but it witnessed a delay due to the COVID-19 crisis and its related lockdown measures.

AfCFTA is the biggest trade deal in the world in terms of the number of participating countries since the establishment of the World Trade Organisation in 1994.

The AfCFTA agreement is merging 54 African countries of 1.3 billion people in one market within an economic bloc with a combined GDP of $3.4 trillion, according to the African Centre for Economic Transformation.

Once in place, AfCFTA is projected to grow by 33 percent, and Africas total trade deficit is expected to be cut in half. Moreover, it could generate a total consumer and business spending of $6.7 trillion by 2030, according to ACET.

The success of the agreement will be a true test of its effectiveness in bringing about the economic and development breakthrough to which we all aspire, Egypts Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli said in December during the 13th extraordinary summit on the AfCFTA  which was held virtually due to the pandemic  on behalf of President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi.

This came along with the statements of Egypts Minister of Trade and Industry Niveen Gamea, who announced in December that the ministry is to establish the Arab Africa Trade Bridges programme, which was launched by the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation and is expected to last till the end of September 2021 with the aims of enhancing the capacity of Egyptian exporters and encourage exporting to new markets in Africa.

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Jennifer Dorsey is chief copy editor and Business section coordinator. She worked in Washington, D.C., and Chicago before moving to the Tetons.
New Delhi, Jan 3 : The Central Licensing Authority on Saturday granted permission to Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech to manufacture 'Covaxin' for sale and distribution, after the indigenous coronavirus vaccine received regulatory approval for emergency use.

"The Central Licensing Authority has granted permission to Bharat Biotech International Ltd to manufacture for sale of the pharmaceutical formulation," a top source told IANS.

Earlier on Sunday, Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) V.G. Somani announced that Bharat Biotech's 'Covaxin' has been approved for "restricted use in emergency situation". The approval has also been given to Serum Institute of India's 'Covishield' vaccine.

The Subject Expert Committee of Central Drugs Standards Control Organisation had recommended restricted use of Covaxin "in emergency situation in public interest as an abundant precaution, in clinical trial mode, specially in the context of infection by mutant strains". Officals say that it will be used as backup in case of spike in cases.

Covaxin has to be administered in two doses and can be stored at 2-8 degree Celsius. This is a major relief for India which has the second highest number of infections in the world after the US.

Bharat Biotech is India's first indigenous vaccine for coronavirus. The inactivated virus vaccine is developed in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the National Institute of Virology (NIV).

"Covaxin has generated excellent safety data with robust immune responses to multiple viral proteins that persist," Krishna Ella, Chairman and Managing Director of the pharmaceutical firm said following the approval.

(Aakanksha Khajuria can be contacted at aakanksha.k@ians.in)
Former Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Sunday warned the BJP to beware of JD(S), as he accused the ruling party of systematically spreading imaginary news about his party joining the NDA.

In a series of tweets the JD(S) legislature party chief also accused the BJP of attempting to erode its partys base by planting such rumours, and said the party does not need BJPs friendship. BJP has realised after the gram panchayat results that all its attempts to finish off the JD(S) have failed. This is the reason why BJP was trying to play the phoney drama of alliance. This is the reason why it is systematically spreading imaginary news about JD(S) joining NDA. This is absolutely false, Kumaraswamy tweeted.

Claiming that he shares a better bonding with Prime Minister Narendra Modi than many state BJP leaders do and has respect for Chief Minister Yediyurappas seniority, he said the intention of JD(S) was not to be an opposition party just for the sake of opposing.

If BJP indulges in a misinformation campaign, that bonding, respect and intent will get hampered. The BJP should beware about JD(S), he added.

Kumaraswamys attack came after he recently spoke about JD(S) having an issue based understanding with BJP, while dismissing talk about his partys possible merger with the saffron party. Many have tried to divide JD(S) after enacting a drama of friendship and it is BJPs turn now, he said.

Who from JD(S) had applied for an alliance with BJP? Who had proposed an alliance, for BJP national general secretary Arun Singh to reject it? He termed as a bundle of lies reports that JD(S) would join NDA and he would be made a union minister.

By spreading such news, BJP was trying to poison the minds of JD(S) workers and supporters, he said. BJP should understand that this is immoral politics, he added.

Recalling that his father H D Deve Gowda, while stepping down as Prime Minister in 1997, had rejected support from BJPs tallest leader Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Kumaraswamy said he was not someone who desired a Ministerial post.

The Deve Gowda led 13 party United Front coalition government tumbled after the Sitaram Kesri-led Congress withdrew support in 1997.

For now, no party needs anyone. We dont need BJPs friendship. We want the development of the state and our workers, he said, adding that the results of gram panchayat elections has buoyed the prospects of JD(S) and organising the party was his only goal.
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Snow along Ebbetts Pass HWY4 View Photo

A strong Pacific storm will continue to bring periods of heavy snow and strong winds across the mountains of the Sierra Nevada through tonight.

A Winter Storm Warning is now in effect for the Sierra Nevada above 5,500 feet, through 4 AM Tuesday.

According to the National Weather Service, the heaviest snow is expected late this morning into early evening. The winds could gust as high as fifty mph.

Total snow accumulation above the 7,000 foot elevation will range from four inches to two feet. Expect light snow accumulation down to the 5,000 foot elevation.

Hazardous and difficult mountain travel conditions are anticipated. Plan on slippery road conditions. Be prepared for significant travel delays. white out conditions and reductions in visibility at times. Slow down and use caution while traveling. If you are traveling in the mountains, carry chains, extra warm clothing and food, water and an extra flashlight in case of an emergency.

Damage to trees and power lines may occur as well.

Another winter storm is possible during the middle of the week, which could also impact mountain travel.

A Winter Storm Warning for snow means there will be snow covered roads and limited visibilities. Travel is not recommended while the Warning is in effect.
The protesting farmers and the government will hold the next round of talks on Monday to try and find a solution to end the stir which has been going on for more than a month. This will be the seventh round of talks between the two sides.

Six rounds of talks have so far failed to end the deadlock, with the farmers sticking to their demand for repeal of the three farm laws passed by Parliament in September last year. While a consensus was reached at the last round of talks on issues related to the environment and Electricity Act, the deadlock continued on the two main demands, legal assurance on Minimum Support Price (MSP) and complete rollback of the three farm laws.

The farmers launched their protest at three Delhi border points - Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur - on November 26, and have since then braved water cannons, cold wave and now rain. The continuous downpour led to water-logging at agitation venues on Sunday and waterproof tents did not help much, according to the protesters.

The situation is very bad at protest sites due to rain which has caused water-logging. There is so much cold after the rains, but the government is not able to see our misery, farmer leader Abhimanyu Kohar, a member of Sankyukt Kisan Morcha, said.

Gurwinder Singh, who is camping at Singhu border, said that the weather will not dampen the spirit of farmers who have been protesting for over a month.

Despite facing several problems, we will not move from here until our demands are met, he said.

Chilla and Ghazipur, two important border points near Delhi, remained closed due to the protests on Sunday. Traffic Alert The Chilla & Ghazipur Borders are closed for traffic coming from Noida & Ghaziabad to Delhi because of farmer protests. Please take alternate route for coming to Delhi via Anand Vihar, DND, Apsara, Bhopra & Loni Borders, the Delhi Traffic Police wrote on Twitter.

We are living on the streets in such harsh weather conditions away from our family. Were hopeful that the government will accept our demands tomorrow, a protesting farmer at the Ghazipur border told news agency ANI.

The Samyukt Kisan Morcha held a press conference on Saturday where its leaders threatened to march to Delhi on January 26 with their tractors, trolleys and other vehicles if their demands are not met.

The opposition parties, including Congress, are supporting the farmers agitation. Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Sunday urged the Narendra Modi government to follow the raj dharma by repealing the farm laws.

There is still time for the Modi government to renounce its arrogance of power and immediately withdraw all three black laws unconditionally and end the agitation of the farmers who are dying in cold and rain. This can be raj dharma and a true tribute to the farmers who passed away, Sonia Gandhi said in a statement.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi compared the ongoing farmers stir with the Champaran agitation during the British rule, and said every farmer-labourer part of the current movement is a satyagrahi and they will take their rights back.

Meanwhile, Union minister of state for agriculture Kailash Choudhary expressed hope that a solution will be found at the discussions tomorrow and the farmers agitation may end. We are talking to farmers who are protesting. We are hopeful that there will be a positive result out of talks which will be held tomorrow. We hope that their issues will be resolved in discussions tomorrow and protest too may end tomorrow, Chaudhary was quoted as saying by ANI.

The government has presented these laws as major agriculture sector reforms aimed at helping farmers and increasing their income, but the protesting unions fear that the new legislations will leave them at the mercy of big corporates by weakening the MSP and mandi systems.

The three contentious farm laws are: The Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020, and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.
When Wayne Baquet Sr. decided last fall to retire, he knew he was closing the book on both a career and a long family narrative in Creole food in New Orleans. But he also left the door open for his last restaurant, Lil Dizzy's Cafe, to return with new owners.

Now the people who walked through that door are not only out to reopen the restaurant but also revive the Baquet family story. Baquet and his wife, Janet, have sold Li'l Dizzy's to their son, Wayne Baquet Jr., and their daughter-in-law, Arkesha Baquet. The couple expect to begin a gradual return to business in late January, starting with takeout and catering.

On Saturday, they met at the Treme restaurant to discuss their plans. Baquet Sr. said he will remain retired as he intended, while the next generation steps up to continue the family business.

It means were able to continue his legacy, to carry it on so that our children will be part of that legacy, too. Thats why it means so much to us, said Arkesha Baquet, reaching out to grasp her father-in-law's hand as tears welled in the eyes of both.

'The floodgates opened'

This is a development none of the Baquets had foreseen as late as November, when Baquet confirmed he would not reopen the restaurant and was seeking a buyer to take over the business. Though raised in their familys restaurants, Janet and Wayne Baquets children pursued different careers. There was no succession plan for them to take over the restaurant business. (Wayne Baquet Jr. is CEO of Imperial Trading, the grocery distributor owned by John Georges, who also owns The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate.).

News of the restaurant's closing brought an outpouring of gratitude for all the memories through the years, but also grief. It was not just the loss of another restaurant in a year that has claimed many but also the end of a family tradition in New Orleans hospitality, one that dates from the 1940s and stands as one of the citys longest-running Black business legacies.

After that story, thats when the floodgates opened, said Wayne Baquet Jr. We heard from so many people. Thats when it really hit us. Thats when we had to ask ourselves, is this really the way we want the familys story to end? We couldn't let it go.

Lil Dizzys has been closed since the pandemic struck in March. Baquet Sr. kept the kitchen going with some contract work for community feeding efforts, but when those jobs were fulfilled he said it was time to move on. At 73, he considered the health risks of the pandemic too great to reopen the restaurant himself. He spoke with potential buyers throughout the summer and fall but never arrived at a deal.

Arkesha Baquet has been helping her father-in-law with sales of his family cookbook and packaged gumbo seasoning. The messages from longtime customers that accompanied some of incoming orders reaffirmed just how much the restaurant and the Baquet familys story meant to people.

It was around this time I had an emotional moment. My husband had his emotional moment, too, she said. We looked at each other and knew what we should do. We met with my in-laws after that and started talking about how we could do it.

Generations of Creole flavor

Wayne Baquet Sr.'s great aunt, Ada Baquet Gross, opened the familys first restaurant in 1947. That was Paul Gross Chicken Coop at Bienville and North Roman streets, a 24-hour operation with fried chicken cooked in cast iron skillets, the rare amenity of air conditioning and, during segregation, something rarer still: a restaurant run by Black people and open to Black customers.

The next generation was led by Wayne Baquets father, Edward Baquet. He left his job at the U.S. Postal Service, sold his home and drew on his pension to buy a neighborhood bar on Law Street, tucked away off Elysian Fields Avenue. This became Eddies, which from its start in 1966 would eventually earn wide renown for its Creole food.

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More iterations of Eddies would follow, including locations in the Krauss Department Store on Canal Street and the Lake Forest Plaza mall in New Orleans East. Through the years, the family would develop Eddie Baquets Restaurant on North Claiborne Avenue, Cafe Baquet on Washington Avenue and Zacharys on Oak Street.

Wayne Baquet Sr. opened Lil Dizzys in 2005. The name is a nickname his grandson, Zachary, earned for his chops on trumpet during his days with the St. Augustine High School band. Zachary, now 29 and living in Houston, is Wayne Jr.s son, which stitches another connection between the restaurant and its new owners.

Like her husband, Arkesha Baquet is a New Orleans native. Shes worked in business administration and as an educator for special needs students. She also managed an earlier incarnation of Lil Dizzys, a spinoff the family that opened in the Whitney Hotel in the Central Business District years ago but that later closed when its lease ended. She has now stepped into a main management role for Lil Dizzys.

The love and respect I have for my in-laws, the passion Ive seen firsthand in my father-in-law, that gives me what I need to know we can do this, she said.

Shes working with a small crew of Lil Dizzys staff now, people who have been part of the restaurant for many years.

The people were working with want Lil Dizzys back as much as we do, and that means a lot, she said.

+21 Tujagues, second-oldest New Orleans restaurant, reopens in new French Quarter home The Tujagues crew had lots of boxes to unpack as the historic restaurant made the move to its new location in the French Quarter.

The restaurant will begin serving signature dishes such as Creole gumbo, fried chicken, red beans and trout Baquet for takeout. Arkesha Baquet said they plan to expand service as New Orleans' coronavirus safety protocols dictate, eventually returning to full service.

This will be a time to recalibrate the menu. Lil Dizzys was best known for the buffet it served at lunch next to its a la carte menu. With buffets prohibited under current safety rules, Baquet Jr. said they plan to reach deeper into the familys restaurant past to bring back more dishes. Hot sausage po-boys will be one specialty, for instance.

Theres a lot of dishes weve done as a family over the years that have been put on the shelf. We can dip back into those, he said.

Lil Dizzys has been a longtime food vendor at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. The new owners plan to resume that role when Jazz Fest returns.

+24 Remembering restaurants New Orleans lost in the pandemic, from big names to local gems I dont think its possible to calculate all that the pandemic has taken from us. But one measure that tells its own part of the tale is stark

+12 In an old New Orleans church, Elysian Bar finds new way to carry on We knew what wed signed up for at the Elysian Bar. After all, I selected church for the seating option on the online reservation form. It b
ERIE, Pa.  Prosecutors in northwestern Pennsylvania are expected to begin a review this week of the state police investigation into a shooting death at a gun range three days before Christmas.

Erie County District Attorney Jack Daneri said last week that police investigators were getting all of their reports and videotaped interviews of witnesses to his office, and a review was anticipated during the first week of January, the Erie Times-News reported.

State police said earlier that a man firing shots at the State Gamelands gun range in Greene Township on Dec. 22 began firing at another man and was then shot to death by a third man.

Investigators said their initial investigation indicated that Robert Eppley, 26, of North East, and a 28-year-old Erie man were taking turns firing a newly purchased pistol. Eppley had just fired five rounds when he turned and started firing at the other man, who was standing about 10 feet from him, police said.

A 67-year-old man in a neighboring stall, seeing what was happening, opened fire, shooting Eppely multiple times, police said. Eppley was pronounced dead at the scene. The 67-year-old man was questioned by troopers and later released. The 28-year-old victim was treated for multiple gunshot wounds at an Erie hospital and released.

State police said last week that investigators had been unable to identify any issues between Eppley and his friend. Police said the pair drove to the range in separate vehicles with their girlfriends and all four were taking turns firing the pistol that one of the men had just purchased.

Prosecutors will decide after their review whether any charges are warranted in the case. The gun range was still listed as closed on the Pennsylvania Game Commissions website late last week.
More women, who give birth at the Bono Regional Hospital in Sunyani, prefer Caesarean Section (CS) to normal deliveries, Mrs Susan Tiwaa, the Midwife in-charge of Maternity at the Regional hospital, has said.



She said the women were of the view that CS was the safest and easiest way to be delivered of their babies.



She said out of the nine babies born on December 31, 2020 at the facility, six of them were done through CS.



The babies comprise five girls and four boys with their body weights ranging between 1.9 and 3.5 kilograms.



However, Mrs Tiwaa told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that the five babies born at the facility on January 1, 2020 were through normal deliveries.



They comprised three girls and two boys.



Mrs Evelyn Ama Kumi-Richardson, the Bono Regional Minister, earlier visited and donated Christmas packages, including cooking oil, spices, rice and non-alcoholic beverages and pastries to patients on admission at the hospital.



She also donated items to patients at the SDA hospital, Dr Akyereko Memorial hospital, Sunyani Municipal hospital 'A&A' hospital and the Sunyani Technical University Clinic.



Mrs Kumi-Richardson explained the packages were to put smiles on the face of the patients, and to also facilitate their healing process.



Mrs Jovial Nyarko-Ababio, the Supervisor, Antenatal Clinic at the Bono Regional Hospital, said the facility recorded three cases of maternal deaths in 2020 compared to 18 cases the previous year.



She cited hypertensive disorders in pregnancy, sepsis, anaemia and eclampsia as some leading causes of maternal deaths and appealed for more monitors and BP apparatus to help prevent maternal deaths.



At the SDA hospital, Mrs Vera Agyeiwaa, the midwife in-charge told the GNA two boys were born at the facility between December 31, 2020 and January 1, 2021.



But, Mrs Christiana Adu-Twumwaa, the Midwife in-charge at the Sunyani Municipal Hospital, said a boy was born at the facility on January 1, 2021.

Source: GNA









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Protests took place in Pakistan's southwestern Baluchistan province on Sunday after reports that gunmen opened fire on a group of minority Shiite Hazara coal miners after abducting them, killing 11. Armed men took the coal miners to nearby mountains, where they opened fire on them, a Pakistani official said.

Six of the miners were reportedly killed on the spot and five who were critically wounded died on the way to a hospital. "We are protesting, we are helpless, our (Shiite Hazara) community is being killed every day," Aadi Askri, President of Tehreek-e-Namaz Fiqa, a Shiite religious group in Pakistan, told the Associated Press.

Moazzam Ali Jatoi, an official with the Levies Force, which serves as police and paramilitary in the area, said the attack took place near the Mach coal field, about 48 kilometers (30 miles) east of the provincial capital Quetta.

No group immediately claimed responsibility but banned Sunni extremist organization Lashker-e-Jhangvi has targeted the minority Hazara community in Baluchistan in the past.

News of the killings spread quickly among the Hazara community and members took to the streets to protest, blocking highways with burning tyres and tree trunks. The violence was largely condemned across the country with Prime Minister Imran Khan saying the perpetrators would be taken to task and the affected families would be taken care of.

Shiite cleric Nasir Abbas said protests over the incident would be organized across the country. Political and religious leaders from different segments of the population also expressed their grief and sorrow over the killings.

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Legacy Church in Albuquerque is aggrieved. Due to persecution by the State of New Mexico and the governors office, our offices are closed to the public, website reads. Entry is by appointment only.

At issue is a gathering on Christmas Eve. Hundreds of congregants assembled without regard for social distancing. Most were not wearing masks. A similar gathering took place at another megachurch, Calvary Chapel. The New Mexico Department of Health has threatened fines, but the churches have so far remained defiant.

Calvary Chapel said that when crowds showed up for the Christmas Eve service, the church chose not to break fellowship with any worshiper by requiring them to leave the gathering of their church family.

Legacy Church was more bold. We have taken the pandemic seriously from the start and have prudent measures in place, Legacy officials said. But when governments exceed their constitutional authority and contradict what we are called on by God to do, we answer first to His authority.

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I find it remarkable how quickly the rhetoric of these megachurches devolves into the religious rights default mode: victimization and religious persecution.

Do these congregations have a case? Perhaps so. The First Amendment guarantees free exercise of religion. Other courts, including the Supreme Court, have refused to say that health directives in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic represent an unreasonable burden on religious organizations. But the First Amendment, properly, should be accorded a great deal of deference.

I wonder, however, if theres another way forward. Unless I miss my guess, these megachurches are tax-exempt organizations, which means that they pay no property taxes  or other taxes, for that matter  on their several properties. That means, in turn, that the public has been subsidizing these organizations for many years; ordinary citizens must make up the difference for local services, everything from parks and sanitation to police and fire protection. (Im not questioning that policy, which I think on the whole is a good one; the founders recognized the value of voluntary associations.)

What if the leaders of these churches took a deep breath and a step back? Rather than excoriate the governor and health officials as agents of darkness, perhaps they could choose to be exemplary citizens and neighbors. An alternate might look something like this:

We disagree with the governor and the state health officials, and we really want to resume church gatherings. But we also understand that the public has subsidized our churches and our ministries now for many decades. In recognition of that fact, we seek to be responsible citizens in the midst of this unprecedented health crisis and will therefore explore other ways to continue our ministry. Rather than pursue litigation or redress, we intend to stand down, even though we believe we have a strong legal argument.

Sadly, these megachurches have elected to defy health authorities and play the victim, all the while claiming a higher allegiance to God. Fair enough. But the leaders of these congregations might also want to consider a passage from the New Testament, Pauls letter to Titus, which reads in part: But avoid stupid controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless.

An acknowledgement of longstanding public subsidies might lead to a more measured and responsible course. In time, and with a communal spirit of cooperation, we can put this pandemic behind us and return to some semblance of normal  including attendance at church gatherings.

Randall Balmer, an Episcopal priest, is a visiting professor in the religious studies program at the University of New Mexico. He is the author of more than a dozen books, including the forthcoming Solemn Reverence: The Separation of Church and State in America.
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Farmers beat utensils during a protest against the central government's recent agricultural reforms as India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation on the monthly radio programme 'Mann Ki Baat', at the Toll Plaza, on the outskirts of Amritsar on Dec. 27, 2020. (Narinder Nanu/AFP via Getty Images)

Indian Farmers Protest Sparks Vigorous Debate, a Sign of Democracy, Experts Say

NEW DELHIAs a protest by Indias farmers against new reforms entered its sixth week, a kind of ecosystem has developed at the encampment site on the outskirts of New Delhi, where thousands of farmers are staying with their tractor-trolleys, pitched tents, and open kitchens. Meanwhile, netizens are aggressively and openly debating about the measures.

Such a situation, when opinions sharply differ but those holding them can coexist, is symptomatic of a functional democracy, experts say.

This is what democracy is: chaos, discussions, debates, and in the end, consensus, not diktat, Aparna Pande, a research fellow and the director of the Initiative on the Future of India and South Asia at the Washington-based Hudson Institute, told The Epoch Times.

Democracies are chaotic and so I dont see this hurting Indias image. However, India has a large diaspora that is active and integrated into the countries they live in. The upside of a big diaspora is they help India and its image, the downside is that countries around the world and governments will be interested in what is happening in India.

The protestors have urged members of Parliament (MPs) in the United Kingdom to ask Prime Minister Boris Johnson not to visit India until their demands are met. Johnson is scheduled to visit New Delhi on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modis invitation to be the chief guest at Indias Jan. 26 Republic Day celebrations.

In response, Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi, a Sikh MP in the British Parliament, asked Johnson to convey to Modi the the heartfelt anxieties of our constituents when the two meet in New Delhi.

Seven lawmakers in the U.S. Congress, among them six Democrats and a Republican, also wrote to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, asking that he address the matter with the Indian administration.

India called remarks by foreign leaders and lawmakers about the farmers protests ill-informed and unwarranted, and said its an internal issue.

A general view of parked tractor trolleys and trucks of protesting farmers is pictured along a blocked highway during a demonstration against the central governments recent agricultural reforms at the Delhi-Haryana state border in Singhu on Dec. 10, 2020. (Prakash Singh/AFP via Getty Images)

Need for Agricultural Reforms

The protesters are objecting to reforms that Modi enacted in late September to deregulate Indias agricultural industry and provide the farmers with more autonomy to sell their goods to independent purchasers, rather than to government-sanctioned buyers.

Experts said the reforms are actually needed and what is happening is a challenge often seen whenever a government in a functional democracy tries to enact mass reforms.

Agricultural reforms are needed, and the basic principle behind the reform is good. The problem as always with reforms is building consensus before you undertake massive reforms. Maybe a pilot project should have been started first, Pande said.

In a state like Bihar, which abolished APMCs [Agricultural Produce Market Committee] years ago but no corporates go there, why would they go to states like Punjab and others, she said, noting the concern of protestors who fear the reforms will lead to the hijack of the market by corporate entities.

APMCs, which were established under the APMC Act of India, operate under the countrys state government. These committees help regulate a Minimum Support Price (MSP) and ensure payments are timely to the farmers through auctions in the APMCs.

Before the current reforms, the farmers could sell their crops only in the markets of the APMCs. However, these markets started to lose their sheen in the 1990s because they couldnt keep pace with a significant increase in the amount of produce, and states like Bihar opted out. Other states such as Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujrat, and Karnataka have already relaxed some regulatory aspects of the APMC laws.

Pande said corporate houses are profit-driven and would mostly be interested in commercial crops such as cotton and jute.

Why would a corporate entity even want to produce foodgrains, there is no money in that, she said, adding that India also needs to ensure that foodgrains are produced, purchased at a certain price, and stored for delivery to the poor.

Professor Madhav Nalapat, a New Delhi-based strategic analyst, told The Epoch Times that he sees a need for more changes that will provide Indian farmers with more professional choices, whether in agriculture or other endeavors.

The problem that Im seeing is that they are planting crops that people dont want to eat anymore, and maybe they can make more money by planting different types of crops, he said.

And they may be happier if some of them either go for different types of crops or for different professions, since regulation locks people into a system for decades and decades and decades, he said.

Conditions change and new opportunities emerge, but often regulation prevents people from shifting as they block the new opportunities. For example, computers were opposed for years by many political parties as was doing airline and rail reservations through the internet. Theres still opposition to e-commerce among those who believe it will harm their interests. Outdated regulations help those who are resistant to change.

Farmers sit inside their tractor-trolley along the blocked highway during a demonstration against the central governments recent agricultural reforms at the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh state border in Ghazipur, on Dec. 18, 2020. (Money Sharma/AFP via Getty Images)

Need for Deregulation

Further decentralization and deregulationa process that the country started in the 1990s to empower elected local self-governments in rural and urban areasare needed, Pande said.

Why is it that the urban areas, as well as the village panchayats [local self-governments], have less money and less control on what they can spend and how they can get taxes than they did in the 1990s? Pande said. She said decentralization genuinely works when the local self-governments and the states have the power to adapt a wider law to their specific contexts.

While genuine decentralization is challenging, its a dire need in the Indian governance system. she said. India is a big country with varied geographical, climatic, and agricultural crop cycles, and resources; reforms are needed but they need to be decentralized to allow states to work out specific solutions, she said.

Nalapat said hes also in favor of genuine deregulation.

I am in favor of decentralization of decision-making. And I trust the citizens in India to be as sensible as citizens anywhere else, he said.

By genuine deregulation, he means a system that is neutral between players and transparent.

Even if deregulation takes place on paper, sometimes vested interests seek to sabotage it in practice. Such forces need to be eliminated and this is a work in progress, he said.

Pande says the larger application of reforms also needs to be understood in the unique Indian context, in which some Indian states produce food crops while the others produce cash crops. Those who produce cash crops are heavily reliant on food-producing states.

Volunteers cook breakfast as farmers continue to demonstrate against the central governments recent agricultural reforms while blocking a highway at the Delhi-Haryana state border in Singhu on Dec. 30, 2020. (Prakash Singh/AFP via Getty Images)

Deadlock Over Negotiations

The Modi government has made various outreach attempts to the protesting farmers, but farmers unions have labeled the outreach as propaganda. They have asked the government to first include scrapping the reform laws in the agenda of the discussions.

A meeting is scheduled between the two sides on Jan. 4, although the protestors have threatened to take firm steps if the government doesnt decide in their favor, by scrapping the three reform laws introduced in September and giving a legal guarantee for a minimum support price.

Pande said to overcome the deadlock in negotiations, a willingness to negotiate by following democratic approaches and practices is needed, adding that healthy negotiations would mean identifying immediate needs and what can be achieved gradually within specific time frames.

She said this gradual application of reforms is also essential because there can be no one answer for all Indian states where climate, irrigation facilities, soil types, and land productivity vary drastically from each other.

Nalapat expressed optimism that the deadlock in negotiations will be eventually settled.

Farmers are a treasure for the country, and it is certain that the deadlock will be resolved, although in India, matters sometimes take a bit longer than in some others, he said.
A deal to bring 150,000 masks to Ireland from China foundered after a fundraising group discovered that the 108,000 bill was payable to Irish festival management company Roqu Media International rather than a Chinese wholesaler.

Roqu, a company paid 14.1 million by the HSE to import ventilators from China, had offered masks to Covid fundraisers Heroes Aid at a cost of 0.72 per unit.

Heroes Aid, a group led by Co Galway public health nurse and former city councillor Mary Leahy, had liaised with Paul OBrien, a Cork native with knowledge of Chinese supply lines and markets, to bring the Type II R surgical masks to Ireland in mid-April.

The group had initially worked with Conor McGregor to distribute 1.5 million in Personal Protective Equipment [PPE] that the MMA fighter had purchased to Irish hospitals in April 2020, at a time of a global PPE shortage.

Some 200,000 was subsequently received by the group via fundraising and direct donations, which led to its contact with Roqu via Mr OBrien.

However, when an invoice was requested from Mr OBrien by Heroes Aid volunteer Doug Leddin, he responded with a document payable to Irish-based Roqu.

Every invoice Id seen up to this point had been coming from the factory in China, Mr Leddin said. Why would we pay an Irish company wed never heard of 100,000 of money donated by the public?

Mr OBrien did not respond to the Irish Examiner's request for comment.

Ms Leahy said that Heroes Aid was never in touch with Roqu, adding that she had vaguely heard of Robert Quirke, the owner and CEO of Roqu, but that he had had some connection with Paul OBrien.

A lengthy conversation between Mr Leddin and Mr OBrien via whatsapp message preceded the delivery of the Roqu invoice, with the former repeatedly requesting certificates of trade and images of the products in question from Mr OBrien in order to allay fears of potential profiteering on the supply side by establishing a cost-per-mask.

Mr OBrien told Mr Leddin that it was not possible to ask for that info and I wouldnt expect someone to give it to me.

I have received no documentation or information on these masks other than an invoice from an Irish media company, Mr Leddin replied.

Mr OBrien subsequently produced a number of certificates regarding the masks, although all of them were in Chinese text.

Roqus price of 108,000 for the Type II R surgical masks equated to a cost per unit of 0.72. However, Mr Leddin and fellow volunteer Joe Naughton refused to sanction the deal as offered.

Two weeks after the deal foundered, Heroes Aid was provided with an alternate price of 0.52 per unit by an Irish supplier in Hong Kong, equating to what would have amounted to a comparative loss of 30,000 on the 150,000 masks on offer from Roqu.

Mr OBrien ceased engagement with Heroes Aid at the end of April, citing fatigue and distress at the suggestion that profiteering may have been involved in the proposed deal.

The Hong Kong deal was subsequently actioned and the masks distributed to Irish hospitals.

It recently emerged that the ventilators Roqu brought to Ireland for the HSE in April were subsequently deemed unusable by the Irish health service.
A Times Union investigation into New York's Family Courts examines the deaths of five young children despite earlier accusations made in Family Court that dangers were posed by one of the parents. Our reporting found warning signs were ignored, breakdowns in abuse investigations and a lack of standards in how accusations are evaluated.

A Times Union investigation examining breakdowns in New Yorks Family Court system found cases in which judges missed or ignored warning signs that preceded the deaths of children. The first part of this series profiles five of those fatal cases: 6-year-old Davonte Paul of Troy in February; 8-year-old Thomas Valva of Long Island in January; 3-year-old Autumn Coleman of Queens in 2019; 2-year-old Jovani Lirurgo of Long Island in 2018, and 6-year-old Gabriella Collins of Syracuse in 2014.

Family Court judges handle dozens of cases a day, and lack time to independently investigate allegations that a parent is abusing a child. Often a forensic evaluator is hired to review accusations and give an opinion to the judge, who typically follows the evaluator's recommendations. Another key official, the attorney for the child, ideally can provide insight about the truth of allegations as cases proceed. These officials have power over contentious Family Court cases, but there are almost no guidelines or standards for them to follow, and critics say they've failed in recent cases of child deaths. Absent rigorous investigation, an argument called "parental alienation" has led to abuse allegations being brushed aside.

Child Protective Services officials did not follow basic state regulations in investigating complaints of abuse or dismissed them as "duplicative" in two recent instances where children ended up dying. County CPS offices around New York are a key part of New Yorks Family Courts, serving a function similar to how a police department interacts with criminal courts. A Times Union review found the two recent investigations fell short in ways that have long been known problems.

New Yorks Chief Judge Janet DiFiore announced in February that, for the first time, her Office of Court Administration would review the circumstances of child deaths occurring within New Yorks Family Court system. Four months later, the child fatality review committee has one member and no progress to show. Family court critics have turned to legislators for help and several have started efforts to reform family court.

Continuing coverage

Tips

The Times Union will continue to investigate the New York Family Court system and the breakdowns that lead to children dying. If you have any tips about Family Courts, please email reporter Chris Bragg at cbragg@timesunion.com.
Julian Assange will find out tomorrow if he will be extradited from the UK to the US - as Wikileaks urge prosecutors to drop the charges against him.

Assange, 49, who co-founded the website in 2006, faces an 18-count indictment, alleging a plot to hack computers and a conspiracy to obtain and disclose national defence information.

The case follows WikiLeaks's publication of hundreds of thousands of leaked documents in 2010 and 2011 relating to the Afghanistan and Iraq wars, as well as diplomatic cables.

Prosecutors say Assange helped US defence analyst Chelsea Manning breach the Espionage Act, was complicit in hacking by others, and published classified information that put the lives of US informants in danger.

Assange denies plotting with Manning to crack an encrypted password on US Department of Defence computers and says there is no evidence anyone's safety was put at risk.

WikiLeaks has called for the United States to drop charges against Julian Assange ahead of a judge's decision tomorrow on whether he will be extradited from the UK

He is set to appear at the Old Bailey on Monday, where District Judge Vanessa Baraitser will deliver her judgment on whether he should be extradited to face the charges in the US.

Assange's lawyers have said he faces up to 175 years in jail if convicted, although the US government said the sentence was more likely to be between four and six years.

Kristinn Hrafnsson, WikiLeaks editor-in-chief, said: 'The mere fact that this case has made it to court let alone gone on this long is an historic, large-scale attack on freedom of speech.

'The US Government should listen to the groundswell of support coming from the mainstream media editorials, NGOs around the world such as Amnesty and Reporters Without Borders and the United Nations who are all calling for these charges to be dropped.

'This is a fight that affects each and every person's right to know and is being fought collectively.'

Assange's fiancee, Stella Moris, with whom he has two young sons, is expected to attend court on Monday along with his legal team.

She has been among supporters urging Donald Trump to pardon Assange before the end of his presidency.

Assange faces 18 charges in the US relating to the 2010 release by WikiLeaks of 500,000 secret files detailing aspects of military campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq (Above, a court sketch of Assange at the Old Bailey during a hearing in his extradition battle)

Writing in the Mail on Sunday, she said it will 'not only be an unthinkable travesty' if Assange loses the extradition case, but 'the ruling would also be politically and legally disastrous for the UK'.

'In the US, I believe Julian would face a certain and monstrously unjust conviction,' she added.

Key dates in Julian Assange's legal battle since 2012 May 2012: The Supreme Court in the UK rules Assange should be extradited to Sweden to face questioning over the allegations June 2012: He enters the Ecuadorean embassy in London August 2012: Ecuador grants him asylum, saying there are fears his human rights might be violated if he was to be extradited August 2015: Swedish prosecutors drop their investigation into two allegations December 2017: He is granted Ecuadorean citizenship April 2019: Ecuador withdraws his asylum status and he is arrested at the embassy May 2019: He is sentenced to 50 weeks in jail for breaching his bail conditions. Sweden reopens a sexual assault investigation and the US files 17 new charges against him November 2019: Swedish prosecutors discontinue an investigation into an allegation of rape against him Advertisement

Assange has been held in high security Belmarsh prison since he was carried out of the Ecuadorian embassy in London by police before being arrested for breaching his bail conditions in April 2019.

He had entered the building in 2012 after exhausting all legal avenues to avoid extradition to Sweden to face sex offence allegations, which he has always denied and were eventually dropped.

Assange's legal team claimed the prosecution under Mr Trump's administration was politically motivated after an investigation launched during Barack Obama's presidency failed to bring charges.

During his 2016 election campaign against Hillary Clinton, Mr Trump said 'I love WikiLeaks' after the website published Russia-hacked Democratic National Committee (DNC) emails.

Assange's extradition hearing was told he was offered a pardon in August 2017, allegedly on behalf of the US president, in exchange for identifying the source of the emails.

The court also heard a security contractor was allegedly recruited by 'American friends' to bug Assange's meetings at the Ecuadorian embassy.

By December 2017, the US contacts were said to be 'desperate', and even discussed a potential kidnap or poison plot to end the stalemate.

The Old Bailey heard evidence Assange has been diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome and psychiatrists for the defence said he suffers from severe depression and is a high suicide risk.

James Lewis QC, representing the US government, has said the hearing is 'not a trial' and argued the defence submissions do not amount to a bar to Assange's extradition.

The judge's decision is likely to be appealed by the losing side.
New Delhi:

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Sunday criticised the butchering of a calf in public allegedly by some Youth Congress members in Kerala to protest against the governments move to ban sale of cows for slaughter.

Terming the incident as thoughtless and barbaric, the Congress leader wrote on Twitter that it was unacceptable to him and his party.

What happened in Kerala yesterday is thoughtless, barbaric and completely unacceptable to me and the Congress Party. I strongly condemn the incident, he tweeted.

What happened in Kerala yesterday is thoughtless,barbaric& completely unacceptable to me &the Congress Party.I strongly condemn the incident  Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) May 28, 2017

An 18-month-old calf was butchered in an open vehicle allegdly by Youth Congress workers who raised slogans against the Centres decision to ban sale of cattle for slaughter. The meat was then distributed free to onlookers.

Kerala Police on Sunday booked some Youth Congress activists after the incident drew flak from various quarters.

Also Read | Alwar lynching: If a person differs from vision of PM Modi and RSS, he has no place in India, says Rahul Gandhi

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Tourism operators, local MPs and the federal opposition are calling for a national border agreement to stop the states go-it-alone approach after the latest outbreaks in Victoria and NSW, urging the federal government not to vacate the field.

The reintroduction of hard state borders has sparked warnings that the nations tourism industry will lose billions of dollars, while many Victorians have been left stranded in NSW.

The NSW-Victoria border has been slammed shut. Credit:Jason Robins

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Friday that states and territories were ultimately responsible for any outbreaks of COVID-19 and "we must respect their jurisdictional authority".

Australian Tourism and Industry Council executive director Simon Westaway said "we dont want the federal government to give up here".
The rise in Covid-19 cases in the Border region is "out of control" and is partly due to those who are choosing to "deliberately ignore" the guidance despite having symptoms, a GP has warned.

Monaghan-based Dr Illona Duffy is seeing a rise in cases post-Christmas - including in babies as young as 18 months old - and fears the figures will increase even further in the coming days. She said some people are not even reporting if they are ill.

"Over Christmas there was a reluctance, people were definitely holding off from getting in touch with us," she said. "I have seen that since Christmas there are some who are still reluctant to ring about symptoms, even a mild cough, and that is not good."

She said many Covid symptoms are like other viral presentations, which is why some patients are delaying contacting a GP, as they have previously managed these illnesses themselves without medical intervention.

"The issue now is to catch Covid cases early and prevent spread," she said.

Dr Duffy also wants health officials to update the clinical symptoms for Covid presentations, saying it has been "clear for weeks now" that severe sinus congestion and sinusitis symptoms are a "presenting symptom" in at least 50pc of the positive Covid referrals she has seen.

Monaghan saw its infection rate rise last week to 454.5 - the second highest in the country a fortnight after it emerged it had the highest rate of deaths (120.5) from Covid-19 per 100,000 of the population of any county.

"We are really seeing the effects of those who decided to meet up on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and St Stephen's Day," Dr Duffy said.

In one day alone last week, the GP had 16 Covid referrals. However, the significance of Monaghan's close proximity to Northern Ireland must be considered. "The North is a concern and a lot of the cases we are getting are spreading from there," she added.

Many of the calls coming through to Swan Lake Surgery are from patients who have had close contacts with people in Northern Ireland over the festivities and are seeking advice. There is the potential, Dr Duffy said, for cases "to slip through the net" due to a lack of cross-Border contact tracing.

"They are saying they were in close contact with people in the North, they want to know if they can come for a test and what they should do about contact tracing. There is that confusion... a lot of them have been close contacts of someone who is positive."

Dr Duffy is seeing children as young as 18 months up to elderly people with the disease, but this is the first time since the early days of the pandemic "where older people are presenting with these symptoms again that's very definitely a newer thing".

Had the country not imposed a strict Level 5 lockdown last week, Covid-19 would have spiralled out of control, said Dr Duffy.

"I think the whole country would have been in trouble if this wasn't managed properly. I don't want to see things close but the reality of it is we need this lockdown. We need to get back into the mindset of what we had at the beginning: stay at home, limit the contacts, to curb the spread of this virus.

"Otherwise the pressure on all our services in the country will be immense."
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A Pelham restaurant open nearly 20 years recently set up a GoFundMe with the hopes that they can raise money to re-open their doors after having their electricity cut off by Alabama Power.

Sarris Cafe, a cafeteria style restaurant known for their meat and two and other Southern dishes, posted about the temporary closure on their Facebook page Friday.

We are doing all in our power to open up our doors again, the restaurant said in their post. We appreciate all of our wonderful customers who many feel like family. We hope to see you all again soon.

Until a large sum of money is paid to have the power restored, the restaurant located at 2651 Pelham Parkway in Pelham will be closed.

We have been paying and was supposed to be set up on a payment plan but that wasnt done and supervisor wasnt budging, the restaurant said in a Facebook post about the temporary closure.

Employees at the Sarris Cafe have set up a GoFundMe page in order to raise money for the power bill. The goal is currently $25,000 and they have already gotten nearly $2,500 in just about 24 hours.

The restaurant is still owned by the original family who started it in 2004, according to the GoFundMe page.

This business means so much to so many people, the fundraisers description reads. Help us keep this well established, Pelham staple, restaurant alive.
Rhoda Lee (Kottler) Gralnick, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, December 30, 2020, leaving behind her husband of 60 years, Herbert, children Michelle, Leslie and Marshall, and granddaughter Hannah.

A graduate of University City High School (after transferring from Soldan) Rhoda obtained her BFA from Washington University in St. Louis where she met her Prince Charming, Herb, also an art student; he was her escort when she was voted Queen of the Beaux Arts Ball, and the two were married in 1960.

Rhoda was an accomplished illustrator and portrait artist who began her career hand-drawing advertisements for Brown Shoe Company, Famous Barr, and Stix, Baer & Fuller. During the early 1970s she illustrated an ad campaign for denim leisure suits (!) for Saks Fifth Avenue in White Plains, NY, which then led to her silkscreen prints and animal planters being mass produced and sold at the store.

She taught art classes from home while raising her three children, obtaining a K-12 teaching certificate which then led to her career as an art teacher. She touched the lives of thousands of students whom she taught at Jackson Park Elementary School, Brittany Woods Middle School, Hanley Junior High, Fairview Elementary School and Jennings Junior High, before retiring in 2000.

In addition to personally contributing to the University City art community and developing programs for the School District of University City, Rhoda was active in the Missouri NEA and served as its President. During her tenure she successfully changed Jennings School District policies to accommodate Jewish holidays and make buildings accessible to those with physical limitations.

Rhoda was known for being warm, caring, loving and loyal but also had a quiet courage that allowed her to remain active and involved while living with Multiple Sclerosis for four decades, successfully overcoming breast cancer, and recovering from a stroke.

She is preceded in death by her parents, David Kottler, who immigrated to the USA from Berdichev, and Sara Ruth (Katz) Kottler, a first generation American, and survived by older sister, Anita Sandra Sandy Hoffman, younger brother Archer Arch Jay Kottler, nieces, nephews and cousins.

The family invites those who wish to share special memories of Rhoda to email stories and photos to [email protected]

Donations in Rhodas merit may be made to the John L Trotter MS Center at Washington University, Jewish Family Services, the Saint Louis Art Museum, or a charity of ones choosing.

The family extends their deepest thanks to all the doctors, nurses, care givers, relatives and friends who cared for and about Rhoda during her lifetime. Please visit bergermemorialchapel.com for more information. BERGER MEMORIAL SERVICE
Here are updates related to January 6 broken down into various categories, presented in the following order: Rally updates, GOP objections to the votes, Peter Navarro statement, Mike Pence statement, the progressive angle, and a Trump request related to Georgia.

Rally updates

Sundance, at The Conservative Treehouse, has been posting daily updates which Ive excerpted and summarized below. For those already in D.C. or en route, please click the link for pertinent information, warnings, and tips on a variety of topics. Additional information can be found here, here, here, here, and here. 30-second video: here.

The January 6th rally in Washington DC is shaping up to be the largest ever assembly in Washington DC history. From what can be ascertained from social media and grassroots communication to CTH, millions are inbound, and the scale is growing exponentially. Its recommended that you arrive before 9 am on the date of the event. The primary venue will be The Elipse, a 52-acre park south of the White House fence and north of Constitution Avenue and the National Mall. In anticipation of a crowd size that could reach into the millions, plan for the metro rail system to be shut down. President Trump will be participating at the massive event.

GOP objections to the vote

The number of Republicans who will object to the vote is growing, although the most recent group of Senators have a request they want met before objecting. Fox News reports:

A group of GOP senators led by Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, will object to the Jan. 6 certification of the presidential election results next week unless there is an emergency 10-day audit of the results by an electoral commission. [snip] Joining Cruz are Sens. Ron Johnson, R-Wis.; James Lankford, R-Okla.; Steve Daines, R-Mont.; John Kennedy, R-La.; Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., and Mike Braun, R-Ind.; as well as Sens.-elect Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo.; Roger Marshall, R-Kansas; Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., and Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala.

A copy of the letter signed by the senators can be found here. Cruz will be on Maria Bartiromos Sunday Morning Futures program at 10 am to discuss all of this.

Heres my take: Id rather see more members of the GOP stand up, rather than fewer. So, Im glad more senators are doing so and hope there will be more.

That said, its ridiculous this is happening now at this late hour. Granted these senators couldnt have taken this specific stand until the votes were certified across all these states, and particularly the states in question. But, and correct me if Im wrong, I hardly heard a peep out of most of them these past two months since Election Day (whatever Election Day even means anymore). For the most part, theyve said nary a word as Trump has been fighting with his small band of lawyers.

Given that, I cant help but view this with a cynical eye and wonder how much is driven by opportunism. Be that as it may, we need all the help we can get.

However (sorry, one more caveat), my eyes rolled a bit when I heard the words commission and audit. Who, pray tell, among the infinitely long list of corrupt government officials would sit on this commission? And who would be in charge of the audit? And how long would it take to complete? Are we to seriously believe that a commission could be formed quickly and get an honest audit completed in ten days?

And what do we need a commission for when a mountain of evidence has already been unearthed? What if (and heres a crazy thought) we just followed the law? How is it, for example among so many examples, that we have video of poll workers feeding ballots into machines multiples times and yet not a single soul has been arrested?

Color me skeptical while also feeling that more trying to fight this fight is better than less, if only to stick it to Mitch McConnell.

But the big picture is that were not a bunch of naive children wholl be appeased by political theater. We want this travesty corrected now (now = 2 months ago).

Peter Navarros perspective on the audit request

Navarro was interviewed by Judge Jeanine Pirro yesterday and stated:

I would not be surprised to see a special counsel on this and Vice President Pence, he has the authority to give that 10-day window to do what needs to get done and I cannot imagine when he looks at the facts, um, he wont, uh, vote the right way on that.

Navarro also said that things could extend beyond the January 20 inauguration date, though a lot of what Ive read suggests that might not be the case. Like all things 2020 and now 2021, theres much confusion and conflicting pieces of information floating out there.

Mike Pence statement on elected officials objecting to the votes

Mike Pences Chief of Staff, Marc Short, released the following statement yesterday:

The Vice President welcomes the efforts of members of the House and Senate to use the authority they have under the law to raise objections and bring forward evidence before the Congress and the American people on January 6th.

I hear that as nothing more than patronizing words meant to calm tens of millions of deplorables in the face of the most horrific, unacceptable, transformative, criminal theft in American history.

Progressives peddling lies

Progressives are busy churning out propaganda to paint those who will be attending the rally as far right agitators and extremists. Karl Racine, D.C. Attorney General, has expressed concern about the Proud Boys who will pick fights, create damage, damage property, and then act in a very threatening way.

The irony cant be lost on any thinking person when these leftists have been threatening and assaulting Trump supporters for four years and then destroyed cities all across the country with impunity. The media denied the truth while the Wannabe Vice President bailed criminals out of jail only for them to wreak further havoc.

I care not a wit what they think or say, though I do care about the power they wield and how that impacts us, and in the short term, how it may effect things on Wednesday.

Georgia

Trump is imploring all patriots to contact public figures in Georgia:

Contact House Speaker David Ralston & Senate Majority Leader Mike Dugan!

They must:

Hear the evidence

Correct false statements

Demand a vote on decertification

Ralston: (404) 656-5020 david.ralston@house.ga.gov

Dugan: (404) 463-2478 mike.dugan@senate.ga.gov

Graphic credit: public domain image via Pixabay
Britain will allow people to be given shots of different Covid-19 vaccines on rare occasions, despite a lack of evidence about the extent of immunity offered by mixing doses.

In a departure from other strategies globally, the government said people could be given a mix-and-match of two Covid-19 shots, for example if the same vaccine dose was out of stock, according to guidelines published on New Year's Eve.

"(If) the same vaccine is not available, or if the first product received is unknown, it is reasonable to offer one dose of the locally available product to complete the schedule," according to the guidelines.

Mary Ramsay, head of immunisations at Public Health England, said this would only happen on extremely rare occasions, and that the government was not recommending the mixing of vaccines, which require at least two doses given several weeks apart.

"Every effort should be made to give them the same vaccine, but where this is not possible it is better to give a second dose of another vaccine than not at all," she said.

Covid-19 has killed more 74,000 people in Britain - the second-highest death toll in Europe, and health officials are racing to deliver doses to help end the pandemic as fears grow that the health service could be overwhelmed.

Earlier this week, the government reactivated emergency hospitals built at the start of the outbreak as wards fill up with Covid-19 patients.

Britain has been at the forefront of approving the new coronavirus vaccines, becoming the first country to give emergency authorisation to the Pfizer/BioNTech and the AstraZeneca/University of Oxford vaccines last month.

Both vaccines are meant to be administered as two shots, given several weeks apart, but they were not designed to be mixed together.

The government's new guidelines said there "is no evidence on the interchangeability of the Covid-19 vaccines although studies are underway".

However, the advice said that while every effort should be made to complete the dosing regimen with the same vaccine, if the patient is at "immediate high risk" or is considered "unlikely to attend again" they can be given different vaccines.

Britain sparked controversy earlier this week by announcing plans to delay giving the coronavirus vaccine booster shot in an attempt to ensure more people could be given the more limited protection conferred by a single dose.

The top U.S. infectious diseases expert, Anthony Fauci, said on Friday he did not agree with the British approach of delaying the second dose up to 12 weeks.

"I would not be in favour of that," he told CNN. "We're going to keep doing what we're doing."
1. Yes. The public must have assurances that ethical standards are met by everyone.

2. Yes. As long as an independent board hears the grievances, its a worthwhile idea.

3. No. The concept is too broad. It should be limited to the citys elected officials.

4. No. There are plenty of stipulations in place already. An ordinance is a waste of time.

5. Unsure. Its hard to say without seeing how it would be structured and applied.

Vote

View Results
CALGARY - Two teens charged with first-degree murder in the death of a Calgary police officer appeared in court Saturday as the investigation into the incident continued.

CALGARY - Two teens charged with first-degree murder in the death of a Calgary police officer appeared in court Saturday as the investigation into the incident continued.

The 17-year-old and 19-year-old Amir Abdulrahman are set to remain in custody until their bail hearing on Monday, police said in a news release.

The teens turned themselves in on Friday afternoon, less than 24 hours after Sgt. Andrew Harnett was killed during a traffic stop.

Police have said that 37-year-old Harnett was struck and dragged by an SUV that he pulled over just before 11 p.m. on New Year's Eve.

As the investigation progresses, police said they were grateful for an outpouring of support from the public.

"There is no doubt we are all feeling this loss, but please know this community support is helping us all navigate this difficult time," Calgary Police Chief Mark Neufeld said. "Knowing you are thinking of Andy, his family and our policing family, when you yourselves are dealing with all of the uncertainty and challenges of the past year, is comforting to say the least."

The police service said that those wishing to express their grief and solidarity can participate in a "blue campaign" by tying blue ribbons on homes and throughout communities, or displaying blue porch lights.

condolences@calgarypolice.ca.

For now, police said, the family is requesting privacy.

Harnett joined the force 12 years ago after serving as a military police officer for 2 1/2 years. He leaves behind a spouse, Neufeld said.

Harnett also helped investigators identify the suspects before he died, the chief said, but gave few details.

"Part of the reason we've been able to progress this investigation as quickly as we have was as a direct result from some exceptional police work done by Andrew prior to his death," Neufeld said.

"He is helping us solve this and bring those responsible to justice."

Neufeld said video footage from a police vehicle's dashcam and Harnett's own body camera has proven useful.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 2, 2021.
NIAMEYAt least 70 civilians were killed in simultaneous attacks on two villages by suspected Islamist extremists in Niger, near the border zone with Mali, security sources said on Saturday.

About 49 villagers were killed and 17 people wounded in the village of Tchombangou, said one of the security sources, who requested anonymity.

A second source, a senior official in Nigers interior ministry who also spoke on condition of anonymity, said that around 30 other villagers had been killed in the village of Zaroumdareye.

Nigers government was not immediately available to comment.

The West African nation has previously suffered attacks by Islamist extremists linked to al Qaeda and ISIS. Attacks near the western border with Mali and Burkina Faso, and the southeastern border with Nigeria, killed hundreds of people last year.

Niger just held its presidential and legislative election on Dec. 27, 2020, with the presidential election now heading to a February runoff after ruling party candidate Mohamed Bazoum failed to reach the 50 percent vote needed to win the first round. He will now face former president Mahamane Ousmane in a vote scheduled for Feb. 21.

The Epoch Times contributed to this report.
An Israeli official on Sunday dismissed as nonsense an allegation by the Iranian foreign minister that Israel was trying to trick the United States into waging war on Iran.

It was Israel that needed to be on alert for possible Iranian strikes on the one-year anniversary on Sunday of the assassination of Tehrans top general, Qassem Soleimani, in a U.S. drone strike in Iraq, Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz said on Kan public radio.

Washington blames Iran-backed militia for regular rocket attacks on U.S. facilities in Iraq, including near the U.S. embassy. No known Iran-backed groups have claimed responsibility.

On Saturday, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Twitter: New intelligence from Iraq indicate that Israeli agent-provocateurs are plotting attacks against Americans  putting an outgoing (President Donald) Trump in a bind with a fake casus belli.

Be careful of a trap, @realDonaldTrump. Any fireworks will backfire badly, particularly against your same BFFs, Zarif wrote, in what appeared to be a veiled threat against Israel.

Steinitz said the remarks showed that Iran, after mounting U.S. sanctions billed as curbing its nuclear programme and involvement in regional conflict-zones, was under pressure - economic pressure, and pressure in terms of national security.

We hear this nonsense by Zarif, that Israel would set off terrorist attacks against the United States - this really is total nonsense, Steinitz told Kan public radio.

But on the other hand it is a warning sign - a warning sign that Iran is taking aim at Israel, is looking for excuses to lash out at Israel, and therefore we need to have our finger on the pulse and be at the highest state of alert.

The U.S. military flew two nuclear-capable B-52 bombers to the Middle East in a message of deterrence to Iran on Wednesday, but the bombers have since left the region.

Interviewed separately on Kan, Israeli Culture Minister Chili Tropper, who like Steinitz sits in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus security cabinet, confirmed media reports that Israel was on heightened alert for the Soleimani anniversary.

Asked what possible Iranian reprisals Israel was anticipating, Tropper said: I cannot comment.

Short link:


The Maldives is the place to be at the moment. The clear blue water, white sand on the beaches combined with picturesque sunsets makes for the perfect holiday destination and that is why Bollywood celebrities have been flying there to ring in the New Year. Kiara Advani is also currently in the tropical heaven.

The Kabir Singh actor has been sharing glimpses from her vacation and taking us along everywhere with her, virtually. Kiara is quite known for her impeccable sartorial sense and every time she goes out for a holiday, we get some iconic holiday looks. Be it Italy or South Africa, she knows how to add a touch of chic to her ensembles.

Her Maldives look book is no different. The latest picture that Kiara shared from her vacation showed the actor wearing a stunning red tropical two-piece bikini. The halter-neck bikini was adorned with a quirky white print. Kiara teamed it with a red sarong which gave it a boho vibe. The 28-year-old flaunted her enviable curves in the attire.

To maintain the boho look, Kiara accessorised her outfit with a grey headscarf and a pair of shades. The oversized white-framed sunnies were by the high-end designer brand, Christian Dior and cost a whopping Rs 36,180.

Kiara Advanis shades are worth Rs 36k (dior.com)

Kiara is having a great time in the Maldives. The actor is busy enjoying good food, water slides and she even shared an Instagram story of herself riding a bicycle. Check out some of those:

Kiara Advani in Maldives (Instagramstory/kiaraaliaadvani)

Kiara Advani in Maldives (Instagramstory/kiaraaliaadvani)

Kiara Advani in Maldives (Instagramstory/kiaraaliaadvani)

The actor had also posted another bikini picture with a coverall and captioned it, Lookin at you 2021 (sic).

Apart from Kiara Advani, Sidharth Malhotra, Ananya Panday, Ishaan Khatter, Disha Patani and Tiger Shroff are also currently vacationing in the Maldives.

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CITY OF SHASTA LAKE, Calif. - A traffic stop by Shasta County Sheriff's deputies early in the morning on Saturday ended with two arrests.

The stop was made in the 3800 block of Wellington Place at 1:50 a.m.

Deputies said they figured out that 45-year-old Justin Trevor Moon, the driver, was operating a vehicle with the wrong numbered license plates.

Deputies said the passenger used a fake name to conceal her identity because she had a felony warrant for her arrest. She was on parole at the time of the arrest. She was eventually identified as 35-year-old Corrine Faler of Redding.

Moon consented to a search according to deputies, who said that there was some methamphetamine in his pants pocket.

A loaded .38 Special revolver was discovered concealed in the vehicle after a search, said deputies. They also said they found rounds of ammunition and narcotics paraphernalia.

Moon was discovered to have had his driver's license suspended. Deputies said he had prior felony convictions for firearms violations. Because of these convictions, he was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.

Both were arrested and taken to the Shasta County Jail. Faler was taken in for her warrant. Moon was booked for various drug possession and firearm felonies and a few misdemeanors, including possession of drug paraphernalia and operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license.
Young people can stay under their parents' health insurance until the age of 31 from this year as more are expected to stay in education and live at home longer.

The federal budget extended the age limit from 25 to 31 to help ailing health funds, but experts predict it will also help more young people facing the risk of unemployment in a tougher COVID-19 economy.

The Australian Medical Association hopes the extension of private health insurance cover to 31-year-olds will help boost revenue for hospitals. Credit:Michele Mossop

Catholic Health Australia policy director James Kemp said the federal governments decision to raise the age that young people can stay on their parents' health insurance policy "could not have come at a better time".

"The last year has been incredibly tough for young Australians. Unemployment rates have rocketed amongst the under 30s and many are facing an uncertain future," he said.
Strictly Come Dancing bosses have reportedly renewed the annual contracts for the show's professionals, ensuring they will have work on the next series.

According to reports, those behind-the-scenes were so happy with how the dancers responded to the difficulties posed by the coronavirus crisis that they wanted to reward them.

Every dancer has reportedly been given contracts for another year, including Graziano Di Prima, Nadiya Bychkova, Nancy Xu, and Neil Jones, who did not have celebrity partners during the 2020 series.

Keep dancing! Strictly Come Dancing bosses have reportedly renewed the annual contracts for the show's professionals, ensuring they will have work on the next series (pictured 2020 winners Bill Bailey and Oti Mabuse)

Speaking to The Sun, a source claimed: 'Bosses rewarded them for their commitment and hard work in ensuring the show was able to go ahead.

'They are well aware that without the willingness of the pro dancers to put their lives on hold, Strictly would not have gone ahead.

'So they have rewarded every one of the dancers with a contract each for the next series.'

New venture: It comes as Giovanni Pernice (pictured with Ranvir Singh) claimed that he'd 'love' to be in next same-sex couple, as he feels it would allow him to get 'very creative'

The source added that details were yet to be set in stone for the professionals, but would be 'hammered out' very shortly.

MailOnline has contacted Strictly Come Dancing representatives for comment.

Meanwhile, Giovanni Pernice has detailed his interest in being part of the next series' same-sex couple, as he claimed it would allow him to get 'very creative'.

Reward: According to reports, show bosses wanted to show their gratitude to every dancer by giving them contracts for another year (pictured: the show's professionals in 2019)

Speaking to The Daily Star, the Italian dancer, 30, said: 'I would love to be in a same-sex couple. As a professional dancer it would be very creative.

'It would be something that would give me the chance to do something different to usual.

'It would be a challenge. It would be very interesting to see what I can do with it.'

Katya Jones was part of the show's first-ever same-sex couple during the 2020 series, as she danced with boxer Nicola Adams until they had to withdraw after she contracted coronavirus.

While speaking of his hopes for the next series, Giovanni (pictured with Ranvir) being in the next series' same-sex couple 'would be a challenge' but a 'very interesting' one

Bill Bailey beat Maisie Smith, HRVY and Jamie Laing to the glitterball, with his professional partner Oti Mabuse, who made history after becoming the first pro to win the accolade twice in a row.

The victory turned Oti into Strictly's first ever back-to-back champion after she first won the show in 2019 with Kelvin Fletcher.

She praised her celebrity partner for being 'a friend, father figure and brother,' after they beat HRVY, Maisie and Jamie in the final.

Oti fought back tears as she said: 'I think you are amazing, remarkable Bill Bailey, you just put your heart into everything.

Making history: Katya Jones was part of the show's first same-sex couple in the 2020 series, as she danced with Nicola Adams until they had to withdraw after she contracted the coronavirus

'You're in your world, but I love your world and I always want to be a part of you, thank you for being a friend, thank you for being a father figure and a brother and for this!' as she gestured to the sparkling trophy.

In the show Bill and Oti delivered a fierce Showdance complete with pyrotechnics, lifts, and plenty of drama, to Queen's The Show Must Go On with even Craig gushing it 'reeked of desperation and he loved it.'

The duo received their first ever 30 for the performance, and the first perfect score of the evening, with Bill fighting back tears as he vowed the dance was a symbol of the nation carrying on during such unprecedented times.

They also performed a energetic Quickstep to Talk To The Animals by Bobby Darin and their Couple's Choice hip-hop routine to Rapper's Delight by The Sugar Hill Gang.
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Margaret Keenan was the first person in the world to get the vaccination outside of a clinical trial (Jacob King/PA)

High street chains Tesco and Boots have offered to help with the rollout of Covid-19 vaccines.

It is believed that Tesco has offered its distribution arm to help with the rollout of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine while Boots is opening three Covid-19 vaccination sites, in Halifax, Huddersfield and Gloucester.

The supermarket giants subsidiary Best Food Logistics, food delivery and supply chain specialists, has offered its support, which could include the use of its refrigerated lorries and warehouses to move the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, which can be stored in a fridge.

Covid-19 restrictions, which have shut down many pubs and restaurants, may have opened up some capacity which could be diverted to the vaccine programme.

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Boots, the high street chemist, said its three vaccination sites, set up with the local clinical commissioning groups, are to open to patients this month and more could be on the way.

A spokesman told the PA news agency: Boots has extensive knowledge and experience of mass vaccination (having completed over a million flu vaccinations last year, for example) and we have developed a model for Covid-19 vaccination that is aligned with our exceptional safety, clinical and operational standards.

We stand ready to do much more and our national network of pharmacy expertise is prepped to support the NHS and the Government to accelerate the rollout of the vaccine.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson told the Andrew Marr Show on BBC One that there will be 530,000 doses of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine at about 540 GP vaccination sites and about 101 hospital sites on Monday, on top of the million or so that have already been vaccinated.

There are a few millions more Pfizer (vaccines) still to be used, he added. We are rolling them out as fast as we can.

The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, which needs cold storage of about minus 70C, was the first jab to be approved in the UK.

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Grandmother Margaret Keenan, 90, who on December 8 became the first person in the world to get the vaccination outside of a clinical trial, has now had her second jab.

Pfizer describes itself as one of the largest sterile injectable manufacturers in the world, which has a lot of infrastructure in place, including good inventory and relationships with suppliers.

Of its supplies and inventory in the UK, a Pfizer spokesman told PA News: The deliveries are on track and progressing according to our agreed schedule.

Pfizer has secured inventory and supply commitments in volumes sufficient to meet our production plans for 2021.

It comes after the UKs chief medical officers warned on Thursday that vaccine shortage was a reality that cannot be wished away.

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Rollout of the Pfizer/BioNTech jab began almost a month ago, but second doses of either vaccine will now take place within 12 weeks rather than 21 days as initially planned.

More than a million people have received their first coronavirus vaccination, but in a joint statement Englands chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty and his counterparts in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, said the public will understand and thank them for the plan to give first jabs as a priority, delaying the follow-up vaccination for others.

Sir John Bell, regius professor of medicine at Oxford, who was involved in development of the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab, has suggested that successive governments had left the nation unable to manufacture the vaccine at the pace needed in a pandemic.

A Government spokesman said: The NHS has a clear vaccine delivery plan and the vaccine is being rolled out as quickly as doses can be supplied and quality checked, with over a million people already vaccinated right across the UK.

We have long recognised the importance of vaccine manufacturing, having announced an innovation centre in 2018 and invested 93 million earlier this year to rapidly accelerate its construction alongside establishing a rapid deployment facility to begin production ahead of the centre opening.

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The UT health authorities will suggest providing staggered timings to the beneficiaries during the actual Covid-19 vaccination drive.

The observation was made during the dry run conducted at Government Multi-Speciality Hospital in Sector 16 and civil hospitals in Sector 22 and Manimajra.

The trial process went smoothly, but we found that the beneficiaries could be provided with time slots with around 1 to 2 hours difference so that they dont have to wait for too long. The whole activity can take upto 5 to 6 hours if all of them come at the same time. Centre will be apprised about this, said a senior UT official, who was part of the activity.

UT authorities said the arrangements were made as per protocols and the dry run was conducted to anticipate issues, bottlenecks, challenges with regards to the vaccination drive.

An official spokesperson said that the health department had ensured that all members of the vaccination teams were sensitised, trained and provided with logistics.

The time slot was 10am to 12pm for 25 beneficiaries at each site. The beneficiaries reached in time, were verified to make an entry on the CoWIN app, mock vaccination was administered, validation of completed vaccination was done on CoWIN, confirmation messages were successfully generated and received by facility in-charge; beneficiaries were made to wait under observation for 30 minutes and finally sent home after giving them a number on which he/she could contact in case of any problems, an official statement said.

Teams from PGIMER and GMCH-32 visited the session site at GMSH-16 for observing the dry run for emulation at their facilities.
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UNITED STATES - The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is sharing photographs they want people to study, to see if they can identify the locations where they were shot.

According to the FBI, if people can identify these locations it could lead to the identification and the rescue of child victims of slavery and sex trafficking. We have put some of the photographs in the gallery associated with this article.

FBI officials said there is no clue or piece of information that is too small, and they hope soliciting the public's help can help capture perpetrators.

Several alleged perpetrators or those suspected of being perpetrators have been identified from photographs by the FBI, and they are shared online. The FBI would like people to look at those photos to see if they recognize anyone. The Endangered Child Alert Program (ECAP) has put those photographs on this webpage.

If you have any information concerning the images shown in this article please call the FBI's toll-free tip-line at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324), contact a Crimes Against Children Investigator at your local FBI office, or the nearest American Embassy or Consulate.

January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. The National Human Trafficking Hotline can be reached at (888) 373-7888. A number is also available for texting to seek help or to reporting human trafficking. The text number is 233733.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for Nevada said they are closing out the year 2020 will more human trafficking cases than in any previous year.

Human trafficking is defined as a crime that involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to lure victims and force them into labor or commercial sexual exploitation. Every year, according to the FBI, millions of women, men, and children are trafficked worldwide.

You can report missing children or child pornography to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) at 1-800-THE-LOST (843-5678).
Croatian church organist found dead after church collapses following deadly 6.4 earthquake

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An organist was found dead, buried in the rubble of a Croatian church following a structural collapse after an earthquake registering 6.4 on the Richter scale struck the eastern European nation.

The 15-meter-high tower which topped Parish St. Nikola  a Catholic church in the town of Zazina, located approximately 30 miles southeast of the capital city of Zagreb  collapsed while Stanko Zec was inside with a few others after the quake shook the region Tuesday.

According to Vecernji, a Croatian daily newspaper, Stanko went inside the church with a few others to retrieve valuable items on the altars like embroidered blankets and to take down the manger. Bozidar Skofac recounted that when Zec went to cover the organ with nylon to protect it from dust the ceiling fell in on them.

"It was a horrible blow, I saw a chandelier hanging from the vault falling, it was collapsing right in that central part. I knew the collapse would spread to the edges so I quickly hid under the coffee table. I crawled under it and there was a terrible noise and dust. The table was covered with bricks and dust, as well as benches. The entire ceiling fell, only the walls remained. I was captured, three colleagues escaped to the sacristy and started calling us," Skofac said.

He added that after the collapse a man ran up and began moving the bricks and freed him from the rubble.

"I led the church choir, and he played. He has three sons and a wife. He was very engaged in the church as a believer, he always helped. He was a good man," he said of the deceased organist.

Skofac and a few others managed to escape the church collapse with only minor injuries. A funeral was held for Zec on Thursday.

The earthquake was reportedly felt across the nation of just over 4 million people and the Balkan regions. Reports say the tremors were felt as far away as Vienna, Austria.

The epicenter of the quake was located 3 miles from the Croatian town of Petrinja, approximately 8 miles from Zazina.

"We are doing everything we can to help the citizens of Petrinja and surrounding areas in this dramatic and tragic situation," Interior Minister Davor Bozinovic tweeted following the quake.



"The destructive earthquake has taken human lives, destroyed homes, and we deeply sympathize with every person and every family that has been harmed."
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New Delhi: India faced questions from industry experts and opposition lawmakers on Sunday after approving a vaccine without publishing efficacy data.

The approval of Bharat Biotech's COVAXINnews, announced by the drugs controller general of India (DCGI), was hailed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his ministers as a success in the country's self-reliance push.

The government also approved the use of a vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University which will be the lead vaccine in India's immunisation programme.

COVAXIN was jointly developed with a government institute and means India joins a small list of countries to have approved their own coronavirus vaccines.
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Hollygrove neighbors streamed over to LaVerne Pinkneys place Saturday, one by one to view how errant New Years Eve fireworks destroyed a pickup truck in the driveway, igniting a fire that badly damaged the house. More importantly, they came to help.

Pinkney, a 57-year-old widow recovering from spinal surgery, cant stay in the house. The power is out. The fire left holes in the side of the structure. Much of the attic is burnt.

But she and her daughter, Whitney, had returned to the family homestead on Gen. Ogden Street to sweep up some of the debris and broken glass that was left on the front-room floor after the truck exploded into the windows next to the driveway.

Before the sweeping was done, the first of the visitors arrived. Some were friends. A few, including New Orleans City Council members Helena Moreno and Joe Giarrusso, were public officials. Many were simply strangers with kind hearts.

You need this more than me, said Lucia Butler, who grew up nearby on Edinburgh Street, as she and her sister, Ira Jackson Kelly, handed a tearful Pinkney the emergency cash theyd been keeping in their purses. The women hugged her goodbye. Im going to come back and check on you, sweetheart, Butler said.

Lois Fisher, 71, also stopped in, jotting notes to see how she might follow up. Im just a neighbor in the neighborhood, trying to help out, Fisher said.

A few minutes later, here came Alex Henderson, 67, a member of the Hollygrove Neighbors Association, and Charlie Mills, 82, a retired plumber who lives a few blocks away. They introduced themselves and offered condolences then surveyed the worst of the damage, the side of the house where the truck turned into a fireball on Thursday at about 8:30 p.m.

Thanks to a neighbor who had seen the fire and pounded on the front door, everyone inside escaped safely, although Pinkneys pregnant daughter-in-law, who was napping, inhaled smoke. Still, Pinkney does not know how she will rebuild, as she had no property insurance.

Neighbors said that they were determined to assist her. A lot of this can be salvaged, Mills said, as he and Henderson examined an intact layer of wood that had survived below a melted layer of white vinyl siding.

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From the sidewalk came another voice, beckoning Mills. Is that Mr. Charlie? Im Brandon, Charles Collins son, said Brandon Collins, 37, walking into the yard for a closer look at a cluster of feeder electric lines that were now charred together.

Mills grinned. The electricians have arrived, he said. He had known Collins uncle, father and cousin electricians all since before Collins was born.

Pinkney leaned on a side rail of her front porch and listened to the visitors in her yard. Tears flowed down her face. My neighbors have come, and Im so grateful, she said.

This is the worst thing that could happen at the beginning of a new year, Giarrusso said of the fire, as he stood on the porch and emailed messages to municipal departments. But the outpouring of support? He said its similar to what he saw after Hurricane Katrina. People are asking, What can we do together to help?

Pinkney nodded, too choked up to speak. As she looked to her right from the porch, she could see her nimble 87-year-old neighbor, Doris Booth, who waved and blew a kiss to her.

Booth first met Pinkney at age 4, when Pinkneys parents, Lawrence and Violet Pinkney, moved into the modest white house. On Thursday as the fire raged, Booth and a line of other neighbors had stood outside with her as they waited on hold for what they said was 10 or 15 minutes for 911 to answer their calls, worried the whole block would burn down.

On Saturday morning, Booth took Pinkneys living room rug to her house and spread it across a fence, where she had scrubbed and hosed away the smoky smell. And her curtains are in my washing machine, said Booth, as she took a seat on her front step to watch the parade of neighbors making their way to Pinkneys place with hugs and offers of help.

This is what we do, Booth said. Here in New Orleans, when trouble comes, we help each other. This is what we do.

Donations to help Pinkney may be made at this GoFundMe account.
England's cricketers arrived in Sri Lanka Sunday to resume a Test tour cancelled in the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic, in what officials hope will be a "massive boost" for match-starved cricket fans.

A British Airways charter flight carrying 40 passengers -- players and support staff -- landed in Mattala, in the south of the Indian Ocean island, where they underwent virus tests.

Joe Root's men had the small airport to themselves as Sri Lanka has closed its airspace to scheduled commercial airlines. Only a handful of repatriation flights and charters are allowed into Sri Lanka since May under strict health controls.

"We are very excited about the Galle Tests," Root told a small group of cameramen allowed into the terminal for their arrival.

The England contingent were driven in busses to a nearby luxury hotel, officials said adding that a second hotel has been reserved to isolate and treat any of the visitors who may test positive for the virus.

However, a spokesman for the England team said Sunday's on-arrival tests returned negative, but players will isolate themselves in rooms before another round of testing on Tuesday.

"We will be tested again on Tuesday morning," the spokesman said. "If all tests return negative on Tuesday, we will be able to train Tuesday afternoon for the first time."

Airport staff in white hazmat suits sprayed the hands and footwear of the visitors and their luggage before they were allowed into the terminal for coronavirus tests.

Managing Director of England Men's Cricket, Ashley Giles, said the team looked forward to playing at the seaside Galle stadium adjoining a colonial-era fort.

"To play in Galle will be very special - it is one of the iconic venues in world cricket," he said in a statement.

"The past 10 months have been uncertain for us all, but having international cricket returning to Sri Lanka will be a massive boost for cricket fans all over the world."

Story continues

-Bat for charity-

The team will not interact with locals, but sign cricket bats which will be auctioned to raise money for two charities supporting victims of sexual violence in Sri Lanka, the British High Commission said.

Sri Lanka Cricket said the team's hotel in the island's southern district of Hambantota will be off limits for locals as part of quarantine regulations.

During the quarantine period, the England squad will split into two teams in order to play a practice match, a SLC official said.

The local board, meanwhile, confirmed that one if its employees had tested positive for the virus on Saturday, but his immediate contacts had not contracted the disease.

"Sri Lanka Cricket will continue to conduct its normal operations with the most essential staff present at the office, whilst the rest will work from home," the board said after the discovery of the infected staffer in Colombo.

The England team's aircraft was permitted to enter Sri Lanka despite a ban on all flights and passengers from the UK following the discovery of a new, infectious coronavirus strain.

The England cricket board confirmed their players and support staff had tested negative for the coronavirus prior to leaving too.

England abandoned their two-match Test tour of Sri Lanka in March on the second day of a practice match as the pandemic spread.

They will now play their two Tests starting on January 14 at the Galle stadium without any spectators.

Sri Lanka had just six reported cases when England pulled out in March, but the team returned to an island which now has over 44,000 infections and 211 deaths.

The World Health Organisation has said that a new strain found in Sweden and Denmark had entered Sri Lanka since mid September. The island began its second wave of infections from early October.

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In recent days, some have argued that the futile efforts by Republican lawmakers to try to overturn the results of the election in Congress during the certification of Electoral College votes put Vice President Mike Pence in a tough position. But it turns out, Pence doesnt actually seem to mind and thinks the challenges are a good idea at least in part because he agrees with concerns over voter fraud even though theres been no credible evidence ever presented that would back the claim.

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Vice President Pence shares the concerns of millions of Americans about voter fraud and irregularities in the last election, Marc Short, the vice presidents chief of staff, said in a statement. The vice president welcomes the efforts of members of the House and Senate to use the authority they have under the law to raise objections and bring forward evidence before the Congress and the American people on January 6th.

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Short released his statement to the media after a group of 11 senators and senators-elect led by Sen. Ted Cruz said they would refuse to certify President-elect Joe Bidens victory unless there is an audit of election result in disputed states. The Senate Republicans said they would vote to reject certification of electors in those states until the audit is carried out. Sen. Josh Hawley has also said he would vote against certification of the results while as many as 140 Republicans in the House of Representatives have said they could vote against certifying Bidens Electoral College victory. Although their actions wont have any real effect and Bidens victory will be certified, Pences supports for the efforts illustrates how Republicans keep pushing their baseless claims of fraud without producing a single bit of evidence that would support their claims. Their continued insistence that there was something wrong with the election comes despite the fact that all states have certified the results and judges across the country, even many appointed by President Donald Trump, have unceremoniously tossed out dozens of efforts to challenge the results.

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Pence expressed support for the efforts to overturn the election on the same evening as a federal appeals court threw out a lawsuit filed by Rep. Louie Gohmert that sought to give the vice president the power to overturn the results of the election. The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed the lawsuit with a one-paragraph opinion Saturday evening that said Gohmert and 11 Arizona Republicans that joined him in the case dont have legal standing to sue. We need say no more, and we affirm the judgment essentially for the reasons stated by the district court, the appeals court panel, made up entirely of Republican appointees, wrote. We express no view on the underlying merits or on what putative party, if any, might have standing. Pence, who was represented by Justice Department attorneys, had called on the court to dismiss Gohmerts lawsuit.
NEW DELHI : Terming the approval given to two coronavirus vaccines for emergency use as "turning point" in India's fight against COVID-19, Niti Aayog member V K Paul on Sunday said the speed with which scientists and the industry came together to meet this challenge epitomizes the spirit and potential of 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat'.

India's drug regulator DCGI on Sunday approved Oxford COVID-19 vaccine Covishield, manufactured by the Serum Institute, and indigenously developed Covaxin of Bharat Biotech for restricted emergency use in the country, paving the way for a massive inoculation drive.

"Today is a turning point in India's fight against Covid-19 as two Made-in-India vaccines get approval for emergency use," the Niti Aayog said in a tweet quoting Paul, who is also the Chairman of National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration.

"The speed with which our scientists and industry came together to meet this challenge, epitomizes the spirit and potential of Aatmanirbhar Bharat," it added.

The approval by the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) was given on the basis of recommendations submitted by a COVID-19 subject expert committee (SEC) of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO).

"After adequate examination, CDSCO has decided to accept the recommendations of the Expert Committee and accordingly, vaccines of M/s Serum and M/s Bharat Biotech are being approved for restricted use in emergency situation," DCGI Dr V G Somani told a press conference here.

This paves the way for the roll out of at least two vaccines in India in the coming days.

The Serum Institute of India, the world's largest vaccine manufacturer, has tied up with AstraZeneca to manufacture Covishield.

Covaxin has been indigenously developed by Bharat Biotech in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

Serum Institute of India's CEO Adar Poonawalla tweeted, "Happy new year, everyone! All the risks Serum Institute of India took with stockpiling the vaccine, have finally paid off. COVISHIELD, India's first COVID-19 vaccine is approved, safe, effective and ready to roll-out in the coming weeks."

Also, the authority granted Cadila Healthcare the permission to conduct the Phase III clinical trial of its vaccine candidate in India, Somani said.

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" " It's not surprising that the super plugged-in among us are starting to worry about what all that connectivity is really costing us. Elke Meitzel/Getty Images

The labels "digital vegan" and "digital vegetarian" are buzz-worthy, meme-ready terms that mean different things to different people. The idea behind the tags, though, is simple enough: to try to give a name to those who want to limit the role of digital media in their lives.

These are the serious unpluggers  the so-called digital detoxifiers  the ones who want to, in the words of Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, take the ever-connected "complexifiers" out of their lives. Those who not only want to rid themselves of Facebook, but Apple and/or Microsoft and/or Google and/or other digital boogeymen, too.

That's a radical and scary idea for millions. No email. No Twitter. No online calendars. No cat videos. No memes, even.

But those who make the leap  even for a short time and maybe not even as radically as the vegetarians/vegans  are compelled to do so for two main reasons: One, unplugging seems good for your health, mental and otherwise. And two, it's a good way to see just how scary staying completely plugged in really is.

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The Privacy Problem

With all the bad press around Facebook in the past few years, it's not surprising that the super plugged-in among us are starting to worry about what all that connectivity is really costing us. Privacy is a huge concern. The internet behemoths know a lot about you if you spend any time online at all  where you bank, where you shop, what you like, what your politics are, who's on your friend list, etc.

That may not seem like a big deal to a grandma in Iowa or a high school student in Florida. But don't fool yourself: We're all in this interconnected world together. People are looking. At everybody.

"For a lot of people, the government really and truly is not after you. And you have bigger fish to fry in your life," says Gennie Gebhart, the associate director of research for the Electronic Frontier Foundation, which touts itself as the leading nonprofit defending digital privacy, free speech and innovation. "One thing I tell people is that you're not worried that the government is coming after you. But they may be coming after journalists and dissidents and community organizers, who we all need.

"So things like adopting an end-to-end encrypted messenger, for example  'I don't need that. I don't care.'  when we use that stuff, you're protecting everybody who also needs that ... If we all use it, who can say whether that end-to-end encrypted message is a highly valuable secret or just me texting my grocery list to my partner? Everything gets much harder for those folks who might be trying to put down those vulnerable people in society."

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Taking Precautions

Privacy concerns are reason enough for many people to take precautions, including the recent call to delete Facebook. Kashmir Hill, a reporter and editor for the Gizmodo Media Group, recently completed a multi-part series entitled "Goodbye Big Five." In it, she tried to cut the "Big Five"  Amazon, Apple, Facebook, Google and Microsoft  completely out of her life, one a week and, then, all at once.

She used a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to keep those companies from tracking her online movements. She ditched her MacBook Airs and her iPhone for a Linux laptop and a tiny Nokia non-smartphone. (She texted using a number keypad!) She had to give up her browser of choice, her regular email, her contact lists and a good chunk of the internet that is hosted on Amazon servers. Ridding herself of the Big Five, she writes, was "the digital equivalent of a juice cleanse." From the introduction to her series:

Maybe you're in the camp of people who worry that these companies have too much access to our purchases, our movements, our social networks  and perhaps even our thoughts. Maybe you're disturbed by the concentration of so much economic power in a handful of companies built on the West Coast's fault lines. Or maybe you want them to have less insight into your life so they have less sway over our society. But how? How do you reduce their power? Is it even possible?

The headline on her last piece in the series sums up her experience: "I Cut the 'Big Five' Tech Giants From My Life. It was Hell".

"It is, for the average person, practically impossible to fully quit," Gebhart says, which Hill made painfully evident in her series. In reality, it probably isn't even advisable. "The more practical lesson is that there are a lot of opportunities to scale back," Gebhart says. "There are a lot of opportunities to think about exactly where you intersect with different companies and scale it back to where it makes sense for you."

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Digital Detox

Another reason many give for avoiding the tech giants, or detoxifying their digital lives  besides the whole privacy issue  is that unplugging can just feel good. It can, many believe, be good for you.

For years, Mary Gomes has included a "digital fast" in her psychology classes at Sonoma State University. She instructs her undergraduates to step away from the screens and put the smart phones down, if not 24/7, at least as much as it makes sense for them in the four days of the fast.

"What I often find is that there's a mix of trepidation, for some, and interest, cautious excitement for others ... sometimes both in the same person," Gomes says. "I really go to a lot of effort to put them at ease ... By the end of the experiment, most people are literally thanking me."

Research has pointed out the damage that too much screen use can do to person-to-person communication. ("[M]obile communication devices such as phones may, by their mere presence, paradoxically hold the potential to facilitate as well as to disrupt human bonding and intimacy," one 2012 study found). Other research has discovered how screen time, especially before bed, can disrupt a body's circadian rhythm and affect sleep.

Gomes listed other pluses of at least temporarily unplugging (being more in the moment, better productivity, a chance to break the habit) in a story for the University of California Berkeley's Greater Good Magazine. She continues to include a media fast in her classes. "I love it. I really do. It feels like there's such a clear purpose for doing this," she says.

People all over are discovering the benefits of getting off the digital grid. There's Screen-Free Week (April 29-May 5 this year). There's the National Day of Unplugging before that (March 1-2). There are others.

Americans, according to Nielsen, spend more than 10.5 hours a day on media. Some of us may check our phones, evidently, some 200 times a day. Is it time for an unplug once in a while, given all the dangers out there?

"I think really the biggest concern I have is how it makes them unaware of all the other options they have. What they could be doing with their attention," Gomes says of her students. "It's more in the missed opportunities."

" " Some places should be off limits when it comes to technology, otherwise you simply miss out on the good stuff. AlenaPaulus/Getty Images

NOW THAT'S INTERESTING Checking email continues to be a digital time suck for many of us, and we'll do it whenever  and wherever  we can. According to an Adobe survey, 28 percent of us have scrolled through our work email while in the bathroom. Of course, 40 percent of us have used that spot to look at our personal email, too. Sadly, almost half of us take a peek at work emails, at least occasionally, while on vacation.
Police found three bags containing live bombs inside the Falaknuma Express at Howrah station early on Wednesday, barely 48 hours before the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha.

A bomb disposal team, comprising officers from the Railway Protection Force and Criminal Investigation Department, used sniffer dogs to detect the bags which had five socket bombs or explosives packed in pipes measuring about 8 inch X 5 inch.

"Once the alarm was raised, security agencies rushed to the spot and cordoned off the area. The bags were taken out and rushed to an abandoned area near platform number one. Apart from the pipes, the bag contained some electric wires as well," said a senior GRP official.

Socket bombs can be of moderate intensity and the degree of explosion or destruction can depend on the quality and quantity of explosives used.

A few passengers inside compartment S2 of the Falaknuma Express, which connects Howrah and Secunderabad, noticed the abandoned bags around 2:30am on Wednesday and alerted the authorities. The train had reached Howrah at around 2am and most of the passengers had already left the station.

Police are yet to determine the nature of the explosives.

"The state is already on high alert before the Eid festival on Friday. So we are taking no risk and have summoned the CID bomb disposal team to check the contents of the pipes," said a senior state police officer.

Senior state police officers have rushed to the spot to help the CID team in the investigation process.
An air-powered, inflatable costume, worn by a staff member on Christmas to spread holiday cheer, may be to blame for a coronavirus outbreak that infected dozens of workers in a hospital in San Jose, Calif., a hospital spokeswoman said.

An employee wore the costume briefly in the emergency department at Kaiser Permanente San Jose Medical Center, the spokeswoman, Irene Chavez, said in a statement. The hospital began an investigation after 44 staff members tested positive for the coronavirus between Dec. 27 and Friday, she said.

One staff member who was working in the emergency room on Christmas Day has died from Covid-19 complications, the hospital said in a statement on Monday. While the exact cause of the outbreak is under investigation, the costume is a likely source, it said.

Inflatable costumes are usually powered by a battery-operated fan that sucks air into the suit, helping it keep its shape. T. rex and sumo wrestler models are among the more popular. Some costumes cover the wearers face while others leave it exposed.
NEW DELHI : In the 50th year of Indian victory over Pakistan in the 1971 war, a Bangladesh Army delegation would be taking part in this year's Republic Day parade on January 26, said Defence officials.

In one of the fastest and shortest campaigns of military history, a new nation was born as a result of the swift campaign undertaken by the Indian Army.

After facing defeat in the 1971 war, the then Army Chief of Pakistan General Amir Abdullah Khan Niazi, along with his 93,000 troops, surrendered to allied forces, which also comprised Indian Army personnel.

The government is likely to scale down the number of visitors at the Republic Day parade 2021 to avoid overcrowding and ensure social distancing amid the COVID-19 outbreak and concerns over the new virus strains.

India will celebrate its 72nd Republic Day on January 26 this year, honouring the historic date when the country completed its transition towards becoming an independent republic after the Constitution came into effect.

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Kendallville, IN (46755)

Today

Cloudy skies with periods of rain late. Low 64F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch..

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Cloudy skies with periods of rain late. Low 64F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch.
Baghdad, Jan 4 : Iraqi militia leaders on Sunday called for the withdrawal of foreign forces from Iraq on the first anniversary of a US drone strike that killed two senior commanders of Shiite militias.

During a rally of thousands of supporters of Hashd Shaabi forces at al-Tahrir Square in downtown Baghdad, Hadi al-Ameri, head of Iran-backed Badr Organization, told the demonstrators "the government must abide by its pledges to remove all foreign forces, especially the US forces, according to a timetable." "The stability of the region depends on the stability of Iraq, and the latter can only be stabilised with the departure of all foreign forces from its lands," al-Ameri said during the rally to mourn the death of the Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani and deputy chief of Iraq's paramilitary Hashd Shaabi forces Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the Xinhua news agency reported.

Falih al-Fayadh, head of the Hashd Shaabi forces, told the rally that the retaliation for the killing of the two Shiite leaders will be through "implementation of the decision of the Iraqi Council of Representatives (parliament) to remove the US forces." Iraq's full sovereignty and withdrawal of the U.S. forces are "a matter that cannot be compromised," said al-Fayadh during the rally of Hashd Shaabi supporters, who chanted "revenge" and "no to America." Many demonstrators raised Iraqi flags, posters of Soleimani and al-Muhandis, and held banners saying "the will of free peoples is stronger than the US aggression." The rally was held under tight security measures, as the security forces deployed throughout the capital in the past few days blocked many main roads in the city, which was expected to witness demonstrations condemning the assassination.

The US drone strike on January 3, 2020 caused an escalation of tensions between Iran and the United States in the region.

The airstrike prompted the Iraqi parliament to pass a resolution requesting the government to end the presence of foreign forces in the country.
Union minister D V Sadananda Gowda collapsed due to low blood sugar in Chitradurga while on his way to the city from Shivamogga on Sunday and has been admitted to a hospital here, official sources said.

Gowda (67) is currently stable and is undergoing further tests and treatment at a private hospital.

The Union minister for chemicals and fertilizers was brought to Aster CMI hospital at 4:45 pm on Sunday.

His condition is stable and will be kept under observation for the next 24 hours, the hospitals spokesperson said in a statement.

He is stable, blood and other parameters are normal.

There is nothing to worry. We will keep him under observation for 24 hours.

The cause of the giddiness was due to low sugar level, Dr Brinda, physician at the hospital, told reporters.

Gowda in a tweet said his health was stable.

Due to low sugar I was a bit tired. Im fine now. All parameters,including Echo, ECG are normal. I thank all those who wished for my good health, he tweeted.

The minister was first admitted to a hospital in Chitradurga and later shifted by an ambulance through zero traffic management, to a private hospital here.

Zero traffic management is a privilege that allows convoys of VVIPs to pass through roads where movement of other vehicles is temporarily halted.

The minister was on his way to Bengaluru from Shivamogga after attending a state BJP meeting.

He collapsed after greeting party workers and leaders in Chitradurga, where he had a stop over for lunch at a hotel this afternoon, sources said.

Gowda, a former chief minister of Karnataka, was immediately rushed to the Basaveshwara Medical College and Hospital in Chitradurga.

After treatment there, he recovered and spoke to BJP leaders and family members over phone.

He was subsequently shifted to the hospital in Bengaluru.

Gowdas son Karthik told reporters low blood sugar led to it. He is fine now.

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Bengaluru, Jan 3 : The Bengaluru Central Crime Branch police arrested two members of a notorious inter-state burglar gang from Uttar Pradesh and recovered four kg of jewellery worth about Rs 2.5 crore, Bengaluru City Police Commissioner told reporters here on Saturday.

With their arrest, the Bengaluru police claimed to have solved 40 burglary cases in the state which includes 35 cases from Bengaluru alone since 2016.

The duo's notoriety is such that even Uttar Pradesh police had announced Rs 10,000 worth reward for anyone who provides information about this gang.

According to the police, the two accused are identified as Faheem Islamuddin aka ATM Faheem, 35 years and Murasaleem Mohammed aks Saleem, 42 years both are residents of Moradabad in Uttar Pradesh.

The Bengaluru police solved this case after carefully studying their modus operandi and fingerprint of Faheem that was gathered by the Annapooraneshwari police in one of the cases in 2017 and it matched with the similar case that was registered with the Hyderabad police.

The police added that Faheem tried to mislead the police by giving false statements that he used to sell stolen gold through one Ashol of Gurugram.

A police officer said the notorious gang was operating in Hyderabad, Panaji, Goa and in prominent cities like Belagavi using the same modus operandi.

The police has registered a case and is investigating further.
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On his way to prison in January 1994, the 44-year Richard Foley said he knew how his obituary would begin: There would be a mention of his service as a state lawmaker and Republican state chairman, followed by the fact he was convicted of taking a bribe.

Dick Foley wasnt known for flinching. He was the blue-collar guy who led the state GOP from 1989 to 1992, when Connecticut was a presidential swing state and the party struggled to decide if its future was in Fairfield County or the post-industrial Naugatuck Valley.

When it became clear in late 1992 that he was in the crosshairs of the FBI, Foley called a press conference to call the feds bumblers and bureaucrats. Were going on offense. Put up or shut up, Foley said. They picked on the wrong mick.

The quote ended up on the wall of a semi-secret office the FBI kept for a time in Waterbury, a corruption target. Two years later, Foley was convicted of four felonies in connection with $25,000 he accepted from two corrupt businessmen, a developer and a banker.

When asked for an interview before he left for prison, Foley said, Yeah, why not?

Foley, 71, was found dead at his condominium in Danbury on Saturday. His friend, Ben F. Proto, said Foleys daughter called with news of his death. No cause was immediately evident.

An Irish memory

He came head-on at pretty much everything, from politics to prison. He had an Irish memory, forever remembering friends and foes. He was a state representative, a salesman and a student of human behavior.

His conviction was overturned on appeal, and Foley managed a second act in political life as a lobbyist and campaign consultant. He attempted a comeback last year, challenging J.R. Romano for state chair of the GOP.

He won and lost plenty of political bets. In 1991, he was convinced that passage of the income tax by a Democratic legislature and an independent governor, Lowell P. Weicker Jr., would be the GOPs ticket to the majority. It wasnt.

I talked with him earlier in the week, said Ben Proto, a Republican insider who joined Foley in the 2018 floor fight at the GOP state convention that led to Steve Obsitnik of Westport obtaining enough delegate support to join the party primary for governor. We were going to have lunch next week. He was a dear friend. He was the kind of guy you wanted to have as a friend.

Proto said that Foley was steeped in Connecticuts political history and was among the very young Republicans who, in the early 1970s, made up Gov. Thomas Meskills kiddie corps.

Chris Healy, a former GOP state chairman, said Foley prized  and exuded  loyalty.

He was the most-loyal, steadfast person you could find, Healy said Saturday. I am grief-stricken because I lost one of my best friends. You either loved him or hated him, and those of us who loved him, we would have done anything for him. He loved to have fun, and he loved to laugh at the absurdity of things. You always ended up laughing during a conversation with Dick Foley, at some point.

Foley was blunt, often coarse. He had no patience for the timid or cautious. To them, he would say, If you want a guarantee, then buy a f refrigerator.

He could be flippant, but his advice to candidates seeking counsel on issues of morality was not: figure out where you stand; dont be cute; your constituents will tolerate a principled difference.

He offered himself as an example. For 10 years, he represented a conservative and largely Catholic district, but he was more pro-choice than pro-life in his voting.

Facing time in prison

His legal troubles came from an association with Richard D. Barbieri Sr. and John A. Corpaci, key figures in a Waterbury corruption scandal. They told the FBI they had built a favor bank with politicians as they established a real estate and banking business.

To curry favor with a bigger banking chain, they said they paid Foley $25,000 to help pass a bill liberalizing state banking laws. The story had some holes: Foley, for one, was in the minority. Second, he voted against the bill and urged its defeat.

Foley never denied accepting ten $2,500 payments, but he insisted they were a consulting fee in return for seeking tenants for a commercial property. He was convicted and sentenced to 40 months in prison.

He went to prison uncertain about winning his appeal.

Over coffee at an Abdows Big Boy on the Silas Deane Highway in Wethersfield, Foley talked for three hours about prison and his expectation he might have to serve three years before qualifying for a good-behavior release.

He smoked a cigar, one that he promised would be among his last. He was loud. An elderly woman in the next booth gave him a long sideward glance, mouth agape.

Foley talked about quitting tobacco, losing weight. If he was going to lose three years going in, perhaps he could gain five more on the back end by clean living.

But he had no illusions about how he would be remembered, even if he won his appeal.

In most situations, death pays the debt. Not in this one, he said. This one you pay after you die. Thats hard. Thats hard. But thats one you gotta accept. Thats the way its going to be.

Foley served four months in prison, then was freed on bond during his appeal.

Nineteen months later, a federal appeals court voted 2-1 in January 1996 to overturn his conviction, concluding he had been improperly charged under statutes that covered the illegal acceptance of federal funds.

Ken Dixon of Hearst Conneticut Media contributed to this report.
Chief of Defence Staff Gen on Sunday took stock of India's security preparedness in several forward bases near the Line of Actual Control in on the second day of his visit to the frontier state amid the nearly eight-month-long Sino-India standoff in eastern Ladakh.

Gen Rawat interacted with personnel of the Army and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) deployed in the forward most air maintained post along Subansiri valley.

"The CDS said that he was satisfied by the high morale and motivation of all ranks who will ensure certain victory if challenged or given the opportunity," an Army official quoted Gen Rawat as saying.

"He complimented soldiers for adopting innovative measures for surveillance through locally developed technology and the defence preparedness to face any challenge," he said.

Sources said Gen Rawat reviewed the overall preparedness of the armed forces in key forward bases and asked them to remain vigilant.

On Saturday, the Chief of Defence Staff carried out an aerial recce of certain areas and visited several air bases in forward areas.

His visit to assess the security scenario in the region came in the midst of the nearly eight-month-long military standoff between Indian and Chinese troops in eastern Ladakh.

The Army and the Indian Air Force have been maintaining a high state of operational readiness along the nearly 3,500-km Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China in view of the eastern Ladakh standoff.

Nearly 50,000 troops of the are deployed in various mountainous locations in eastern Ladakh as multiple rounds of talks between the two sides have not yielded concrete outcome to resolve the face-off that began in early May.

China has also deployed an equal number of troops, according to officials.

The eighth and last round of military talks had taken place on November 6 during which both sides broadly discussed disengagement of troops from specific friction points.

Gen Rawat arrived in Dinjan air force station in Assam's Chabua on Friday afternoon and travelled to on Saturday on a two-day visit.

His visit to coincided with his completion of one year as India's first CDS, a post which was created to bring in convergence in functioning of the Army, the Navy and the Indian Air Force in dealing with security challenges.

A key mandate of the CDS was also to facilitate restructuring of military commands for optimal utilisation of resources by bringing about jointness in operations, including through establishment of theatre commands.

In the last one year, Gen Rawat along with the top brass of the three services carried out ground work to establish an air defence command and a Peninsula command initially. The IAF will helm the air defence command and all-long range missiles as well as air defence assets will come under it.

The CDS has been part of the top military brass framing strategies to enhance India's military prowess in view of the eastern Ladakh standoff.

(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.)
Bitcoin continued its unabated rally on the third day of 2021. The most popular cryptocurrency surged past $34,000 on Sunday, the day of Bitcoin Network's 12-year anniversary. The development came within 24 hours of Bitcoin crossing the $30,000 milestone.

With yet another above $1,000 surge, Bitcoin's value has increased around $5,000 in the within the first three days of 2021, bringing its year-to-date returns to 12 per cent, reported Coindesk.

On Saturday, Bitcoin had crossed the $30,000 mark for the first time. During early trade on Sunday, the digital currency reached an all-time high of $34,544.94. It later gave up some gains to hover around $33,000. At the time of writing this report, Bitcoin was trading at $33,900.50, up 10.59 per cent.

Bitcoin's continuous surge during the past three days comes in the backdrop of a historic year when the digital currency gave more than 300 per cent returns, surpassing even safe-haven investment avenues like gold and silver.

Last year, Bitcoin had fallen 25 per cent in March amid the coronavirus crisis. It managed to bounce back, breaching the $20,000 mark for the first time at the end of November. The cryptocurrency then continued to surge, rising 50 per cent in December alone. By the end of December 31, Bitcoin had risen $10,000.

The main reason behind the rise of Bitcoin may be bulk buying by big US investors. They expect to make quick gains amid some positive developments around the cryptocurrency, including speculations that it could become a mainstream payment method.

A major jump in Bitcoin price - from $5,000 to $25,000 - was seen after online payment major PayPal announced in March that it'll enable its account holders to use Bitcoin. This marks a colossal 400 per cent increase in the past eight months. ZebPay, one of India's largest cryptocurrency exchanges, has predicted that Bitcoin's value could hit over $135,000 by 2030.

As Bitcoin grows in popularity, Indian government is planning to impose 18 per cent GST on its transactions. The Central Economic Intelligence Bureau (CEIB), an arm of Finance Ministry, has put forward a proposal to impose 18 per cent GST, saying it could potentially gain Rs 7,200 crore annually on bitcoin trading. The CEIB came to the conclusion based on a study on levying GST on cryptocurrencies.

ALSO READ: Bitcoin surpasses $30,000 as rally continues in 2021

ALSO READ: Centre may impose 18% GST on bitcoin trading

ALSO READ: Gold price rose 28% in 2020; check out targets for next year
At least one person is dead and one was hurt at a Texas church on Sunday morning, officials said. (Google Maps)

1 Dead, 2 Hurt in Shooting at Texas Church: Officials

A pastor has been killed and two others injured at a shooting at a Texas church on Sunday morning, officials said.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott wrote in a statement: Our hearts are with the victims and the families of those killed or injured in this terrible tragedy. I am grateful for the law enforcement officers who apprehended the suspect, and I ask Texans to join Cecilia and me in praying for those affected by this horrific shooting. The State of Texas is working closely with first responders and local officials to ensure that justice is served and that the Starrville community has the resources it needs during this time.

The Smith County Sheriffs Office told KLTV-TV that there was a shooting at the Starrville Methodist Church in Winona, Texas.

According to local reports, the suspect was found by the pastor in the church bathroom holding a red bank bag belonging to the church. The pastor drew his gun on the suspect and asked them to stop, but the suspect was able to wrestle the gun off the pastor, who was then fatally shot.

The identity of a suspect and the motive were not provided.

Smith County Sheriffs Office spokesman Sgt. Larry Christian told CNN that the suspect was later taken into custody after a two-hour manhunt after stealing a car to flee the crime scene.

The case is to be investigated as capital murder by the Smith County District Attorneys Office, Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith said.

Christian told The Associated Press that there were no services going on when the shooting took place. Deputies were called to the church about a shooting after 9 a.m. local time, he said.

Winona is located east of Dallas and northeast of Tyler, Texas.
FARMING was traditionally seen as a mans world but thankfully that is changing.

ICMSAs recent new appointment, Meabh Dore, Shanagolden, says female role models are essential. She is one herself.

Just turned 25, Meabh is policy officer and executive secretary to both ICMSAs livestock committee and the farm and rural affairs committee.

She graduated with a Bachelor of Agricultural Science from UCD in 2018 having completed a semester in Iowa State University on their world renowned Animal Science Program. She was a Teagasc Walsh Scholar and completed her Masters in Agricultural Extension and Innovation. Her dissertation title was An investigation into pathways for non-replacement dairy calves and attitudes of stakeholders in the Limerick area.

FEMALE ROLE MODELS

Meabh says increased participation from women has already started.

I dont think at university level there is a massive difference in the ratio, not in my degree course anyway. In saying that, for my Masters, I was the only girl in my class, but I know thats not the norm. At Ag College level there seems to be more girls coming in too.

I think female role models are essential. Thankfully, in my work experience I got to work closely with female advisors and got to see the respect they were treated with. Farmers trusted their knowledge and spoke very highly of them. Seeing the respect that they were given shows the changes that are happening. There is still room for improvement, and I do think that, to an extent, women still have to prove themselves before being taken seriously. But every experience a farmer has with a strong capable woman in agriculture improves that perception and changes the mindset, said Meabh.

She hopes that any girl in school considering going into agriculture would have the opportunity to work with strong female role models.

They should be supported by their schools in their decision and not discouraged from the industry

Meabh describes farming as a calling.

You need a passion for the industry and for farming. It doesnt matter what age or gender you are. Anyone with a gra for agriculture should be welcomed. Those are the people we need: helping farmers, helping the animals, improving the industry for the next generation. My father told me that at the UCD Open Day there was one quote that stuck in his head: We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children. I think thats the critical thing to grasp, especially in the age of climate action.

FAMILY

Meabhs calling began as a little girl on the family farm bought by her great-grandfather on her dads side in Ballyiston, Shanagolden. The daughter of Ann and Brendan was never a child to sit still for too long.

My mother tells stories of my numerous escape missions where Id always be found down the farm looking for my dad or grandparents. I spent more time in the tractor with my dad, it was the only time I sat down for more than two minutes!

In fairness, dad never pushed farming on us and only ever asked for help when he needed it. Looking back, I think we all have the same memories; most families bond on holidays or playing board games. We bonded running around the fields after escapee calves or tagging them. While I think I inherited the love for farming, both my brothers (Adrian and Cillian) enjoy helping out and I think we all find a bit of calm and mindfulness working on the farm. Bit of manual labour does great things to clear the mind.

SUCKLERS

The Dores have around 40 suckler cows, mainly Angus crosses with a few pedigree animals.

We started off with dairy crosses and have been breeding our own replacements so every year we get more and more angus. Its 7/8th angus at this stage. As were part time farmers, we have a low input system. Cows calves outside in March with minimal intervention. Years ago, we used calve indoors, but there was awful hassle with calf health. This system works for us and has minimized our use of scour treatments etc. In the last few years all the calves have gotten is a vitamin E boost as the area is deficient and - if needed - they get a parasite dose before housing. I think we have it very close to nature at this point, the cow size works with our bulls. This year was the first year of our home-bred bull being let off with the main herd.

The farm is at a low stocking rate, in a limestone area, so - aside from slurry  theres no fertilizer used. The grass grown matches our demands. The farm is extensive and Id hope that its set up to help boost local wildlife and improve the public perception that farming and nature can coexist. We have a fairy fort on the farm which is a habitat with an abundance of wildlife.

BALLERINA OR FARMING?

Meabh always wanted to work with animals, apart from a short stint at 8 where she was going to be a ballerina.

From the age of 10, I wanted to be a vet. I grabbed every opportunity to get work experience with animals with the local vet or even being a groom in stables. I knew whatever I was going to do, it was going to be surrounded by animals. The decision to go for UCD Ag Science came after a meeting with a career guidance counsellor. The choice seemed to boil down to working with sick animals all the time or working with farmers to help prevent problems in the first place. Looked at that way the decision was a no-brainer.

I did Ag Science for my Leaving Cert and my teacher was always very supportive of my decision to go into agriculture. I think that as a 17-year-old girl, that was important. There seems to be a good bit of discouragement from some schools when it comes to students expressing an interest in farming and I think the support I got was the start of the positive role models that have helped me along the way.

As already mentioned, Meabh has more qualifications than most farmers have pairs of wellingtons.

In the bizarre year it was, and mindful of how difficult it has been, I was thankful for the distraction of my thesis. I didnt have time to go and socialise, so I think it helped focus me to work harder. From finishing my thesis and finishing up with my last commitments of the programme. I only had four days off before I started my new role in ICMSA. It all happened so fast.

DAIRY BEEF INTEGRATION

Her dissertation called An investigation into pathways for non-replacement dairy calves and attitudes of stakeholders in the Limerick area is hugely important and becoming more so.

Meabh thinks the main conclusion is the need for dairy beef integration.

The dairy industry needs outlets for their calves, and with the challenges around live exports - not to mention the implications from Brexit - I think that young calves will need to be reared in Ireland. The dairy farmer needs to understand that the value for him in improving his beef breeding isnt a higher calf price but a route to market. It is fundamental to the dairy sector that the beef sector can take the calves.

I think if calf quality improves and theres a good selection, it would also encourage farmers to convert to dairy beef systems. The animals are being produced and there is an environmental advantage over suckler beef. If we can encourage farmers to see the benefits to dairy beef and facilitate the building of relationships between dairy and beef farmers, I think that would go long way to improve calf markets. Thats one of ICMSAs main focuses for next year and the Department of Agriculture will launch a pilot scheme in line with our lobbying.

I think the big thing is to realise that there is no Silver Bullet solution: its an accumulation of small changes designed to get better farmer margins all on a sustainable basis. We absolutely need to encourage co-operation in a positive way and to build the relationship between the beef and dairy sector and we most definitely cant allow the two sectors to be played off against each other for the benefit of non-farming interests.

IOWA

Meabhs visit to Iowa State University and their world-renowned Animal Science Program was one of the highlights of her degree.

I would recommend anyone with a similar opportunity to go. Ireland is so small, and our agricultural systems are so different to the rest of the world. I also think that in the Irish context I was surrounded by peers with similar views and backgrounds in my course. So moving away and having to make friends with people who are so different helped me realise how important it is to hear contrasting views and learn to see the world from another perspective. Even getting to experience a different approach to higher education. From their grading systems, to the learning and teaching styles used. I think we could take on some of their approaches to improve the system we have.

In terms of agriculture, the first day of class I was standing talking with a group and they were discussing a small farm up the road. After about 10 minutes it came out this small farmer was 300 acres plus. The scale of farms over there and how organised the land is was something I dont think I was prepared for. I had the opportunity to go skydiving and saw the landscape and grids of maize grown. It was nothing like Irelands rolling hills and hedgerows, just flat as far as the eye could see.

ICMSA

Since starting with ICMSA in September, Meabh says every day is different.

Its so different to what Ive done before so theres a learning curve. But everyone, from the staff in the office to the farmers we work with, are all game to help me learn the ropes. I think the confidence they have in me as well as the support is important when youre starting out. It helps set you up to do your best, and to give you the confidence to stand up and speak your mind when you need to. The more I do, the more Im learning about this side of the sector. I hope that as I grow in knowledge I can be of more use to farmers and help them anyway I can. I want to ensure that the future of farming allows for farmers to continue doing what they love and that the environmental compromises we will all have to make are not just at the expense of farmers.

Future of farming is in safe hands with young people like Meabh involved.
New Delhi, Jan 3 : After storming to power in a comprehensive fashion in Delhi and making its presence felt in Punjab, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) now wants to establish its foothold in other states, and to that, the party has devised a strategy to highlight the issues related to schools, health, electricity, water in front of voters.

The AAP has started its preparations afresh in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat and Goa, etc. According to the party, it would be contesting the next Assembly elections in four states -- Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab and Goa.

Raghav Chaddha, vice chairman of Delhi Jal Board, has been given the charge of Punjab while Kalkaji MLA Atishi will take care of the party's political ambition in Gujarat. Both these leaders are currently in their respective states and engaged in the process of meeting the party workers.

Sanjeev Jha, in-charge of Bihar and a lawyer from Burari, Delhi, will start his work in the state from the first week of January.

Jha said, "The AAP will start with the Panchayat elections here. The party is focusing on these elections which are going to be held in Bihar. AAP is going to field more and more workers." Dinesh Mohania, an MLA from Delhi, has been given the charge of Uttarakhand. He would also visit over 10 places in Uttarakhand in January.

The AAP has also appointed in-charges in 65 districts of Uttar Pradesh. This preparation is being done to contest the Panchayat elections.

Delhi Chief Minister and AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal himself has announced preparations to contest the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.

The AAP has also devised a strategy to take the Delhi model of the 'AAP government' from door to door in Uttarakhand.

Talking about the Delhi model, Atishi said: "Gujarat model will not be built by building some good roads. When the children of the poorest families of Gujarat get such education from the government that they will get admission in the best colleges in the country, then the real Gujarat model will be seen
I first heard this term used by Steve Bannon, architect of the surprising 2016 Trump campaign, in a PBS Frontline documentary titled "Americas Great Divide." Speaking way back in the pre-Covid days of early 2020, Bannon asserted the information age makes us less curious and willing to consider worldviews unlike our own. We have access to virtually all of humanitys accumulated knowledge and history on devices in our pockets, but the sheer information overload causes us to dig in rather than open up.

Anyone who wants to change their mind can find a whole universe of alternative viewpoints online, but very few people do (especially beyond a certain age). For Bannon this meant the Trump campaign, and politics generally, was about mobilization rather than persuasion.

Because we can always find media sources which confirm our perspective and biases - and dismiss those which dont - the notion of politics by argument or consensus is almost entirely lost. And no matter what our political or cultural perspective, there is someone creating content tailored to suit us as stratified consumers. Thus liberals, conservatives, and people of every other ideological stripe live in vastly different digital media worlds, even when they live in close physical proximity.

This overwhelming amount of curated and segregated white noise comes at us every day, from 24 hour news to Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. Idiotic platforms like TikTok and Discord vie with video games for the attention of our children.All of it leaves us numb and exhausted. Our attention spans suffer. We slowly lose our aptitude for deep thinking and serious reading. We attempt to replace wisdom and understanding with data and facts.

But because information is so abundant and readily available, it becomes worth less and less. Information is cheap, literally.

For our grandparents, knowledge was analog and came with a price. Gatekeepers, in the form of media, universities, libraries, and bookstores, acted as editors and filters. Walter Cronkite, the most trusted propagandist in America, delivered one version of the news every night. The local newspaper did the same every morning. Even just 30 years ago it was often no easy task, and no small cost, to obtain books and literature not easily found in local or university libraries.

If someone today wants to read Austrian economics, for example, (a particular boogeyman of Bannon), they can do so at virtually no cost other than time. They dont even need to leave home. Their smart phone in their palm holds a lifetime of reading and learning in just this one discipline. No physical books, no college, no tuition, and no librarian required.

So why dont more people do so? The short answer is: most people are beyond persuasion.

This does not mean we should surrender to the forces of economic illiteracy, or give up trying to win hearts and minds for political liberty. On the contrary, we should redouble our efforts to cultivate anyone interested in civil society, real economics, markets, property, and peaceespecially those under 30. But this is not a numbers game. We should focus on those who can be reached, not some mythical majority. Our task is to reach some people narrowly and deeply, not a majority of people superficially. We stand in contrast to the white noise, and opposed to the superficiality and anti-intellectualism of our age. Mobilizing the few is far more important and far more effective than foolishly trying to persuade the many.

HL Mencken was right about believing in liberty, but not believing in it enough to force it upon anyone. Just as we oppose foreign interventionism, we should stop trying to remake those US cities and states which are beyond help. We need to recognize that tens of millions of Americans are likely beyond persuasion in the direction of sensible political or economic views. Millions more are committed socialists who would readily agree to nationalize whole industries and radically redistribute property. By definition these are unreasonable views, so how does one use persuasion where reason is lacking?

Post-persuasion America requires us to think about how to separate and unyoke ourselves politically from DC. Our immediate future lies in hard federalism, which dovetails with the soft secession which is happening already as millions of Americans vote with their feet. Mobilization and separation, not persuasion, is the way forward.
ASX investors showed no sign of a New Year hangover with the big banks and major miners firing the market record its best start to a year in two decades.

The benchmark ASX 200 added 97.1 points, or 1.5 per cent, on Monday to close at 6684.2 and repair the losses suffered on New Years Eve.

The ASX 200 had its best start to a year since 2001. Credit:Jim Rice

You have to go back to January 2, 2001, to find a better start to a year, when the index rose 1.7 per cent.

The markets strong start to 2021 defied gloomy futures trading, as coronavirus clusters in NSW and Victoria continue to boost fears of wider economic lockdowns.

But a promising Monday-morning update from NSW public health experts lifted the mood, adding momentum to an undercurrent of optimism that the eventual rollout of a vaccine will prove both a health and economic salve.

I think we forget that markets are forward-looking, Bell Direct analyst Jessica Amir said on Monday.

People are focussed on what the world will look like after the pandemic, past the doom and gloom, lockdowns, restrictions, and outbreaks, past the end of JobKeeper.

The vaccine rollout pretty much means markets are positive going into the new year.

The markets year-opening advance was fuelled by another record-setting session for Fortescue Metals and a glittering run by the local gold miners.

Twiggy Forests $75 billion miner rose 5.9 per cent to finish at a new peak of $24.80, brushing away fears around a renewed push from China to achieve iron ore self-sufficiency. Gold prices were back above $US1900 an ounce and at near two-month highs, lifting Newcrest, Northern Star, Saracen, and Evolution.

Commonwealth Bank led gains for the major lenders, adding 2 per cent to close at $83.75. NAB rose 1.5 per cent to $22.93, Westpac lifted 1.3 per cent to $19.63, and ANZ climbed 1.5 per cent to $23.04.

The Aussie dollar remained elevated above 77 US cents and near 30-month highs.

JP Morgan Asset Management strategist Kerry Craig agreed that COVID cases and vaccine distribution will remain the key focus for investors for now, with the political forces that influenced markets late in 2020 having almost faded almost with the passing of the US election and Brexit.

But he also expects the next couple of months to be bumpy.

Without the wide distribution of vaccines, the paths of COVID and the economy are locked together, given the impact on social mobility and economic curtailment. This link will be broken as immunity levels rise into the middle of the year, but until then the economic path will be bumpy over the first quarter, Mr Craig said.

Investors should look through the bumpier start to the new economic cycle and focus on the improved earnings outlook and still supportive fiscal and monetary policy stance. Even if monetary and fiscal policy support may not increase as much in 2021 as it did in 2020, the fact that they are still at a very loose setting helps the outlook for risk assets like equities and credit.

The local market accelerated its rise as US futures ticked higher ahead of this weeks crucial Georgia senate race in the US.

Patrik Schowitz, JP Morgan Asset Managements global multi-asset strategist said the election could prove a market event if the Democrats win both of the Georgia senate seats, enabling president-elect Joe Biden to push more of his tax and spending policy.

Its quite possible we could see a negative initial reaction from equity markets over corporate tax and regulation worries. Conversely, it might give bond yields a lift, Mr Schowitz said.

Among Mondays other big-name winners were BHP and Rio Tinto. The mining titans added 1.5 per cent and 1.3 per cent respectively.

Wesfarmers rose 2.2 per cent to finish at a near-record high of $51.51, while supermarkets Woolworths and Coles added 1.8 per cent and 2 per cent respectively.
The eminent architecture historian, Vincent Scully, once lamented the loss of the granite masterpiece known as the original Penn Station by condemning the fetid dungeon that replaced it on 34th St. and 8th Ave.

One used to enter the city like a god, Scully said, referring to the magnificent Beaux-Arts railroad terminal that was razed in 1963. Now, one scuttles in like a rat.

So it is a great triumph for rail passengers that Gov. Andrew Cuomo reached into New Yorks illustrious past with Fridays opening of the Moynihan Train Hall, which gives the dingy depot in Midtown Manhattan a semblance of panache, civility, and progress that has been missing for too long.

They converted the James Farley Post Office on 8th Avenue to create this superb public space, and while it will only serve Long Island Rail Road and Amtrak passengers, it is a signal that New York state is preparing to meet the rising demand for rail into the next century.

This will benefit New Jersey Transit riders only indirectly, by lightening the load at Penn Station. But there is more to come, and no one can deny that this $1.6 billion project is critical to the regional economy, its transportation network, and the quality of life in the nations biggest market.

And with the Gateway Project likely to rise on the long list of infrastructure priorities during the Biden Administration, the Penn Station expansion gives one hope that we havent forgotten how to do great things with transit development.

Thats what appeals to me most, says Amtrak chairman Tony Coscia, who as Port Authority boss committed $143 million to purchase the Farley building more than a decade ago. I always saw a Moynihan station as one component to the larger part of a bigger plan  the one known as Gateway  and a critical upgrade to the transportation amenities that exist in our region.

It will just make it easier on the commuter in general. And when you see it, you will be amazed at how nice it is.

These tunnels are likely to fail within the next 10 years which would be devastating to public safety and our economyessentially shutting down the NE Corridor responsible for 20% of our national GDP. The Trump admin must fund Gateway before it's too late.https://t.co/ndOC16ZZ9I  Sen. Cory Booker (@SenBooker) March 6, 2020

Wait, dont say it: If youre from Jersey, you wont get many chances to see how nice it is. Its the LIRR and Amtrak riders who get to enjoy a huge atrium topped by a 92-foot-high skylight with free Wi-Fi and nursing rooms. NJ Transit customers are left to ask why there are still only two bathrooms (7 stalls for women, 3 urinals for the gents, not that weve counted) in their 7th Avenue concourse.

Its true that the 87,000 NJT riders wont directly share the splendor of Moynihan Hall, but they will benefit in a significant way. Nat Bottigheimer, the New Jersey director for the Regional Plan Association, points out that by diverting Amtrak passengers to Moynihan, theres much more space at the existing Penn Station for NJ Transit passengers.

Most important, however, is that This should build momentum for Gateway, says RPA president Tom Wright.

That should be the takeaway.

What seals the symbiotic relationship between New York and New Jersey is clear: The region cannot grow without renovating our mass transit system, and when you have a train hub serving 650,000 daily riders  three times the number it was built to handle, and more people than the three airports combined  there is no time to waste on the Penn Station expansion that is only getting started under Cuomo.

Penn is the nexus for the entire Northeast Corridor, and it expects to double its traffic in the next 15 years. But this should also serve as a reminder that the Gateway Project is the most crucial element to this network, because it is literally the gateway to this hub. Lets get busy.

Funding for Gateway is more than just a regional concern  it is a national priority...The stonewalling should be unacceptable not only to New Jerseyans, but to all Americans. - @RepSherrill @njdotcom https://t.co/3t1pHaSExd  Regional Plan (@RegionalPlan) February 10, 2020

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NIQUAN Energy is seeking to raise between US$30 million and US$40 million in private short-term financing to meet its operational expenses.

In addition, the loan would contribute toward repairing the plant, the hydrocracker system, which was damaged during an early-morning explosion on April 7.
More than 30 countries have reported cases of the highly transmissible British COVID-19 strain, raising fears of increased global spread of the virus, even as countries begin to unroll vaccination programs in the new year.

New Zealand on Sunday was the latest nation to find the variant onshore - six cases of the mutant strain were detected among 19 new coronavirus cases in hotel quarantine.

Turkey has now barred people arriving from Britain. Credit:AP

Travellers heading to New Zealand from Britain or the United States will, from January 15, need a negative test result for COVID-19 before entering the country.

New Zealand's COVID-19 Response Minister, Chris Hipkins, said work was already underway to extend the requirement to other long haul flights to New Zealand.
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Every week I look forward to reading Albert Kellys column. When I read the recent one headlined, The vaccination questions that will frame 2021, his thoughts raised questions concerning free choice in regards to being vaccinated.

According to Gov. Phil Murphy, the state government is not making COVID-19 vaccinations mandatory. At some point, New Jersey residents will have the opportunity to opt out. But, for now, everyone will be registered with the state as to their vaccination status, partly to track properly the two-dose regimen current vaccines require.

Doesnt registration in this case equate to being given a state ID card, which publicly identifies those who have received the vaccination and those who havent?

Another question revolves around some of the issues Kelly raised concerning employment and health care. Will employers be allowed to base hiring decisions on whether or not a possible employee received the vaccine? Will employers be allowed to treat workers differently, based on whether or not someone received the vaccination?

Will insurance companies be allowed to refuse coverage to those who refuse the vaccine? Will airlines allow only people who have been vaccinated to fly? Will restaurants or gyms require some type of vaccination-verifying ID card in order to eat or work out there?

Also, who determines who is exempt from receiving the vaccination  for health-risk and other reasons other than their own refusal? Will they be required to prove they are exempt in order to participate in some of the activities above?

These questions need to be answered to for people reach an informed decision. Will there really be free choice, or will people be forced to take the vaccination to return to the life they once knew?

Joe Ledvina, Turnersville

Gangster in the White House

Edmund Burke said, The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.

Donald Trump, a gangster in the White House, spits on the rule of law as he pardons his cronies. He spits on our democracy as he challenges our election results with zero evidence of fraud.

Heres a warning to my U.S. House representative, Jeff Van Drew, R-2nd Dist., who has bowed down to the gangster in the White House and pledged his undying support to Trump:

If you (Van Drew) taint your very own reelection by refusing to certify the recent results in New Jersey due to your Trump support, or any other lame excuse you manufacture, you deserve to be removed from your job at once. You certainly will be removed by the voters in two years as a traitor to our democratic republic.

Roy Lehman, Woolwich Township

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VERMILLION COUNTY, Ind. (WTHI) -- Police are investigating a death in Clinton, Indiana.

On January 1, 2021, around 3:15 a.m., law enforcement was dispatched to a residence for a 30-year-old male who was unresponsive.

When officers arrived they found Samual Greene inside his apartment.

Greene was pronounced dead at the scene.

During the investigation, officers discovered that Sabrina Dailey had been with Samual at the time of his death. She failed to call 911 for help.

However, Dailey contacted a friend of Greene who arrived on the scene. They later called 911 and initiated CPR.

Officers later found Dailey at her residence. Dailey stated that she had bought Heroin. She also said her and Greene used it.

Officers then searched Dailey and found a small amount of Heroin.

After officers used a search warrant on Daileys residence, they located several paraphernalia items that were consistent with drug use and distribution.

Dailey was taken into custody for possession of Heroin.

She is currently being held at the Vermillion County Jail on a $10,000.00 bond.
Last Wednesday, the Taoiseach told us that to cope with Covid we had to go into a tunnel of self-restraint but that the prospect of a vaccine promised light at the end.

At first sight, coping with Covid and housing seem to be the chief challenging clouds on the 2021 horizon.

But I believe a small cloud marked "Border poll" has the capacity to cause more havoc than most people in the Republic can currently imagine.

That's because people in this part of the island are continually guilt-tripped by Northern activists, mostly soft supporters of Sinn Fein who foster a spurious sense of victimhood.

Spurious because Northern nationalists are no longer second-class citizens and increasingly they have unionists under the cosh.

Sadly that won't bother most of the modern Irish media, ignorant of the pluralism of Jack Lynch, Garret FitzGerald and Bertie Ahern.

Squeezing the unionist orange until the pips squeak is the congenial recreation of many of our journalists.

But it is a far cry from the pluralism common in the period 1970-1998 when through a fountain of Protestant blood, many of us came to see them as primary victims of the cruel Provisional IRA campaign.

The Good Friday Agreement was partly about letting unionists mourn in peace, partly about giving them space to settle down without nationalist nagging.

Nagging them about what? Nagging them about a united Ireland that - as I shall show - is nothing but a pure hypocrisy on our part.

Sinn Fein of course never meant to leave Northern Protestants alone even if it meant depriving them of their heritage.

But now Northern bourgeois nationalist pressure groups like Ireland's Future are offering a more sophisticated united Ireland agenda.

Although calling for dialogue, they seem deaf to the repeated unionist rejection of their pressure campaign for an early Border poll, which unionists see as a Trojan Horse.

Challenged about this constant pressure, our new hard nationalists say there is nothing wrong with aspiring to a united Ireland.

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But there is everything wrong with aspiring to something that is pure fantasy, and which talking about only causes constant anxiety to even moderate Northern Protestants.

Banging on about a united Ireland just to upset unionists is part of the Sinn Fein agenda. If we go on indulging them, it will end badly for all on our island.

Currently Sinn Fein is campaigning for a Border poll as a prelude to a process of pressure they believe will lead to a united Ireland.

We expect no better of Sinn Fein. But supporters of Ireland's Future also seem to be following a three-part fantasy road map as follows:

First, Scotland will hold a second independence referendum with a majority voting to leave the union.

Second, a compliant Westminster will expedite the transfer of sovereignty from the monarch to the Scottish people in jig time and without fuss.

Finally, this will in turn trigger the end of the union between Northern Ireland and the British crown.

Let's leave that scenario to get up close and personal with Sinn Fein and Ireland's Future's call for a Border poll and discussion of a united Ireland.

This prompts a number of hard questions given that only the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland can call such a Border poll.

In the hard nationalist fantasy scenario, the Secretary of State signs the warrant for a series of such polls, and eventually majorities on both sides of the Border will vote for a proposition that will be a prelude to a united Ireland.

After that, in the fantasy scenario, the matter goes to Westminster, where an equally supine UK parliament will put into law the transfer of the sovereignty of the people of Northern Ireland to the Republic of Ireland.

Such a scenario beggars belief. What circumstances would convince any Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to conclude that one million citizens, for whom they are constitutionally responsible, have decided that they no longer support the Crown?

What circumstances would allow the Border proposition to be put to the Irish people north and south - at the same time?

What mainstream unionist party would put its Protestant and unionist heritage at risk by willingly taking part in such a poll?

Moving on to the bigger issue of a united Ireland: how do its bourgeois supporters north and south envision this actually coming about against the will of most Northern Protestants?

In practical terms, it means that somehow the current Northern state will be absorbed into the Republic of Ireland.

That means one million-plus Northern Protestants, unionists and monarchists disclaiming their monarchy to become republicans!

The fantasy belongs in fairyland. But even if it were not a willing unity but some kind of coerced unity, how would we cope with the security problems posed by a sullen unionist minority?

Will loyalists meekly stand to attention for our national anthem, The Soldier's Song? If they don't, what will we do about it? Sinn Fein in government would be heavy handed.

Should such a coerced united Ireland ever come to pass, it would inevitably lead to the extirpation of a Protestant heritage, either requiring or leading to physical suppression.

Who among us would want to live in a society where hundreds of thousands of Irish Protestants against their will are living in a kind of democratic feudalism?

How on earth could the Republic cope with importing the tribal factions from Northern Ireland - which could easily lead to communal violence?

Sinn Fein certainly are not deterred by the prospect because they have come to power on the back of violence. They prosper from pressure on Protestants.

All that is without counting in the enormous economic burdens of a united Ireland - starting with the Republic having to make up the UK's annual 10bn subvention.

Even if the UK coughed up some of it, the Republic is still in no position to carry any more debt on its Covid-broken back.

Our health spending alone this year exceeds 20bn. We are reaching a point when both income tax and the USC barely cover the health services - which we are correctly told are not fit for purpose. Let's not even start on housing.

Accordingly, the 10bn required for the Northern Ireland subvention, not to mention additional debt service charges, would require our income taxes to be increased by 50pc.

Even if the top 5pc bore a similar proportion of taxes as today, the average Irish worker-earner could expect a rise in their income taxes of at least 3,000 a year.

The Republic should stop indulging the insane campaign for Border polls, stop talking about a united Ireland until Northern Protestants want to talk about it, stop being guilt-tripped by well-got Northern nationalists, and look to its own little platoon.

Let's listen instead to our better angels, invoked by Jack Lynch when he appealed to Orangemen on July 11, 1970, on the eve of the 12th. "There is no real invader here. We are all Irish in our different ways."
Bengaluru: Union Minister D V Sadananda Gowda collapsed due to low blood sugar in Chitradurga while on his way to the city from Shivamogga on Sunday and has been admitted to a hospital here, official sources said.

Gowda (67) is currently stable and is undergoing further tests at the hospital, they said.

The minister was first admitted to a hospital in Chitradurga and later shifted by an ambulance through zero traffic management, to a private hospital here.

Zero traffic management is a privilege that allows convoys of VVIPs to pass through roads where movement of other vehicles is temporarily halted.

The Minister was on his way to Bengaluru from Shivamogga after attending a state BJP meeting.

He collapsed after greeting party workers and leaders in Chitradurga, where he had a stop over for lunch at a hotel this afternoon, sources said.

Gowda, a former Chief Minister of Karnataka, was immediately rushed to the Basaveshwara Medical College and Hospital in Chitradurga.

After treatment there, he recovered and spoke to BJP leaders and family members over phone.

He was subsequently shifted to the hospital in Bengaluru.

Gowda's son Karthik told reporters "....Low blood sugar led to it.. He is fine now."
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-04 05:36:21|Editor: huaxia

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STOCKHOLM, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- Stockholm has reported four new cases of the mutant strains of coronavirus first found in the UK and South Africa, city authorities announced in a press release on Sunday.

The four cases include three infected with the strain first found in the UK and one with the variant first detected in South Africa.

"We followed routine contact tracing procedures as soon as the individuals tested positive for COVID-19 and they have been told to follow the current recommendations and to self-isolate," said infectious disease doctor Maria Rotzen Ostlund in the release.

Stockholm regional authorities have asked individuals who have recently visited either the UK or South Africa to self-quarantine upon arriving in Sweden and take a COVID-19 test as soon as possible plus an additional test five days later.

The mutant strain spreading in the UK has now been found in 11 out of Sweden's 21 regions, state epidemiologist Anders Tegnell told Swedish Television on Sunday.

The latest data from Sweden's Public Health Agency, published Friday, show that Sweden has recorded 437,379 COVID-19 cases over the course of the pandemic, with 8,727 deaths.

As the world is struggling to contain the pandemic, vaccination is underway in some countries with the already-authorized coronavirus vaccines.

Meanwhile, 232 candidate vaccines are still being developed worldwide -- 60 of them in clinical trials -- in countries including Germany, China, Russia, Britain and the United States, according to information released by the World Health Organization on Dec. 29. Enditem
Government said there had been further 54,990 lab-confirmed cases of coronavirus and 454 deaths in the UK

Trusts in London and the south-East are preparing to transfer critically-ill Covid patients to south-west trusts

Patients in the east of England will be moved to hospitals in the Midlands under emergency plans

Health officials have warned that people as young as 30 'will die from Covid' and are 'not immune' to virus

More than 50,000 new coronavirus cases have been recorded for the sixth day in a row and another 454 deaths today as health officials warn that people as young as 30 'will die from Covid'.

Official figures show there had been a further 54,990 lab-confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UK, up 80 per cent from last week's case figure of 30,501, while the number of deaths had increased by 43 per cent.

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Separate figures published by the UK's statistics agencies for deaths where Covid-19 has been mentioned on the death certificate show there have now been 91,000 deaths involving Covid-19 in the UK. The figures do not represent results from the whole UK due to data on deaths not being reported by Scotland on Sunday.

NHS hospitals in the West Country are now bracing for an overspill of critically-ill patients from London under emergency plans, with trusts in the capital and the south-east preparing to transfer patients to the south-west.

Patients in the east of England will be moved to the Midlands while the massive Nightingale field hospital at the London Excel Centre is also expected to reopen within a fortnight amid warnings the health service could collapse in the event that 'very, very tired' staff are unable to cope with a deluge of cases.

Dr Alison Pittard, the dean of the Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine, today claimed that people as young as 30 are suffering from coronavirus in ICU wards and claimed that 'younger people will die from Covid'.

The surge in cases and deaths could lead to a third national lockdown as Sir Keir Starmer today demanded a new blanket squeeze to control the virus while Boris Johnson admitted tougher measures are 'probable'.

The Labour leader has dramatically called for draconian countermeasures to come into force within 24 hours, condemning the PM for 'hinting' at action while dragging his heels.

'The virus is clearly out of control,' Sir Keir told Sky News. 'It is no use the PM hinting that more restrictions are coming. I say bring in those restrictions now.' He added that it was 'inevitable' more schools will have to close: 'The longer you delay the decisions the worse it is.'

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The PM today refused to rule out a third national lockdown, telling the BBC he is 'reconciled' to imposing further massive restrictions on public life in a bid to stamp out the virus.

Mr Johnson's effort to reopen schools was shattered by councils and unions who claim schools are too unsafe for children and staff, while scientists insist 'mutant' Covid spreads more rapidly among younger people.

SAGE adviser Professor Sir Mark Walport today even hinted that the virus could not be controlled unless 'tighter social distancing measures' were brought into force, and predicted Tier 5 curbs.

In another welter of coronavirus developments today:

Boris Johnson told parents to send children to schools in Tier 4 areas tomorrow, but hinted he would close schools if cases rise in those areas;

Ofsted boss Amanda Spielman said children's learning cannot be 'furloughed';

Headteachers called for this summer's GCSE and A-level exams to be scrapped;

Experts leading the UK vaccination programme defended the decision to extend the gap between the two doses, insisting it is 'the way we save lives';

Health bosses last night insisted urgent cancer operations in London will not be scrapped to ease the strain on hospitals inundated with Covid patients;

Labour's shadow culture secretary Jo Stevens is being treated in hospital for coronavirus, her aides announced last night;

Another 57,725 had positive test results and recorded 445 deaths yesterday;

A London children's hospital consultant blasted 'irresponsible' nurse who gave a BBC interview claiming her hospital has a 'whole ward of children' with Covid;

Young non-voting women are most likely to turn down a Covid vaccine if it were available tomorrow, the Find Out Now poll has found;

The PM faces losing most of the 'Red Wall' seats that delivered his historic election victory a year ago and his own seat, according to a massive poll.

Ambulances lined up outside the Medway Maritime Hospital in Gillingham, Kent, one of the areas where hospitals have become stretched due to the faster spreading new strain of Covid-19

Health officials today warned that people as young as 30 'will die from Covid' as NHS hospitals in the West Country brace for an overspill of critically-ill patients from London (Above, a patient at the Royal London Hospital yesterday)

Labour leader Keir Starmer has dramatically called for blanket measures to come into force within 24 hours, condemning the PM for 'hinting' at action while dragging his heels

The surge in cases and deaths could lead to a third national lockdown as Sir Keir Starmer today demanded a new blanket squeeze to control the virus while Boris Johnson admitted tougher measures are 'probable'

Two thirds of England's population is now in Tier 4, with the remainder living in Tier 3 lockdowns. Only the Isles of Scilly, off the coast of Cornwall, is in the looser Tier 2

Britain records more than 50,000 coronavirus cases for the FIFTH day in a row - but deaths dip to 445 - as doctors warn crisis will get much worse and situation in packed London hospitals is 'MILD compared to what's coming next week' Britain has recorded more than 50,000 Covid-19 cases for the fifth day in a row but hospital deaths from the virus have dipped to fewer than 500. Another 57,725 had positive test results in the last 24 hours, meaning 2,599,789 have had the disease in the UK since the pandemic began. The country also saw an additional 445 deaths, taking the total official count to 74,570 - but 90,000 people in total have died with Covid-19 written on their death certificate. And experts are warning jam-packed hospitals that the current number of coronavirus cases is 'mild' compared to what is coming next week - as the new more-contagious Covid strain continues to wreak havoc on the UK. President of the Royal College of Physicians Professor Andrew Goddard also noted healthcare workers in Britain are 'really worried' about the battle against the virus over the next few months. Today's grim figures come as the first batches of the newly-approved coronavirus vaccine from Oxford University and AstraZeneca arrive at UK hospitals ahead of the jab's rollout tomorrow. Some 530,000 doses of the jab will be available from Monday - with vulnerable people taking priority - as Health Secretary Matt Hancock says the inoculation drive is 'accelerating'. One of the first hospitals to take delivery of a batch on Saturday morning was the Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath, West Sussex, which is part of Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust. But Sir John Bell, a Regius professor of medicine at Oxford University and member of SAGE (Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies), said insufficient investment in the capacity to make vaccines has left Britain unprepared. He also said the country lacks medical supply firms to build essential components to make the jab, forcing Oxford scientists to import parts from abroad.

Although ICU capacity has been increased, three intensive care units were full every day last week: the Walton Centre in north-west England, and Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells and Portsmouth University hospitals in the south-east.

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Fourteen intensive care units were at least 95 per cent full throughout Christmas week, five of them in London, according to the Times.

Doctors who spoke on condition of anonymity told the newspaper how consultants were choosing who to admit to intensive care by assessing which patient 'has the best chance of surviving'.

One GP working in a west London hospital claimed: 'We could be like Lombardy [northern Italy] by next week. There is a high likelihood we're going to see a disaster.'

Dr Megan Smith, a consultant anaesthetist at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, said medics faced 'horrifying' decisions with patients 'in competition' for ventilators.

She told ITN: 'It's not a position any of us ever want to be in, and we're used to making difficult decisions as doctors, but deciding the outcome of, effectively a competition for a ventilator, is just not what anyone signed up for.

'In terms of the emotional trauma for those individuals, it's horrifying. We shouldn't be having to do it, but we are.'

Asked about the hospitals crisis in London and the surrounding areas, Dr Pittard said the trusts are 'under immense pressure'.

'It's really difficult for staff because obviously we want to make sure everyone is cared for, but also need to look after the staff as well,' she said. 'So it's really difficult for everyone working in NHS hospitals at the moment, particularly in my area of intensive care.'

She also admitted that the NHS would have to postpone 'some of the more non-urgent stuff', adding: 'obviously that is one of the ways the NHS managed in the first wave, was to reduce the normal activity so that we could focus on Covid patients.

'One of the things that we have done now during the second wave is to continue normal activity alongside other Covid-related activity. And we want to continue that at all costs... but of course some of the more non-urgent stuff will need to be postponed'.

Dr Pittard also revealed that NHS hospitals are seeing greater numbers of younger people being admitted for treatment than during the first wave of the epidemic last spring.

'The age group is a lot lower than it was during the first wave, and I think that's probably because more people are getting Covid and it is affecting younger people, perhaps younger people are realising how serious it is and they need to seek input as well,' she told the Andrew Marr Show.

'It does affect younger people, so just because you're not in the older age bracket doesn't mean you're immune.'

She went on: 'One of the downsides is that because we have been through it all before staff are very, very tired and that is the thing that concerns me.

'We can't just create staff overnight. We can get more drugs. We can get more beds and equipment but we can't just get more staff, so that is the real concern this time around.'

Having dealt with the first wave of the virus, staff are now better prepared in terms of how they manage patients when they come into hospital and how their treatment in intensive care, she said.

'It is almost like we know what is coming our way so we know how to deal with it.'

It comes as hospitals across the UK are told to prepare to face the same Covid pressures as the NHS in London and south-east England.

Professor Andrew Goddard, president of the Royal College of Physicians, said the virus's highly infectious new variant was spreading nationwide.

He said the current case numbers at more than 50,000 per day for the past five days, were 'mild' compared with where he expected them to be next week and warned that doctors are 'really worried' about the coming months.

'There's no doubt that Christmas is going to have a big impact, the new variant is also going to have a big impact, we know that is more infectious, more transmissible, so I think the large numbers that we're seeing in the South East, in London, in South Wales, is now going to be reflected over the next month, two months even, over the rest of the country,' he told BBC Breakfast yesterday.

Prof Goddard added: 'All hospitals that haven't had the big pressures that they've had in the South East, and London and South Wales, should expect that it's going to come their way.

'This new variant is definitely more infectious and is spreading across the whole of the country. It seems very likely that we are going to see more and more cases, wherever people work in the UK, and we need to be prepared for that.'

The UK recorded a record 57,725 Covid-19 cases yesterday, the most since the pandemic began and the fifth day daily infections surpassed 50,000.

The country also saw an additional 445 deaths, taking the total official count to 74,570 - but 90,000 people in total have died with Covid-19 written on their death certificate.

London is now the epicentre of the UK's outbreak and its hospitals are being stretched with the flood of patients. The weekly rate of cases is double the national average at 858 per 100,000 people. Now the capital's weekly rate of cases is 858 per 100,000 people  double the UK average.

One doctor at a busy London hospital laid bare the pressure frontline medics are up against. Dr Katie Sanderson told the Sunday Mirror: 'Things are incredibly difficult now. Hospitals are doing everything they can  with all hands on deck, even flying patients out to other parts.'

She added that 'nurses are stretched ever thinner' and that staff are 'scared' because of 'woefully inadequate' PPE.

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London Ambulance staff stretcher a patient from the ambulance into The Royal London Hospital in east London, on Saturday

London is now the epicentre of the outbreak and its hospitals are being stretched with the flood of patients. The weekly rate of cases is double the national average at 858 per 100,000

Cases in Liverpool have almost trebled in the past two weeks to 350 per 100,000, despite the city successfully leading on the national pilot for community testing which led to it being the first city to be taken out of Tier 3 and into Tier 2, according to official figures

Medics transport a patient on a stretcher from an ambulance to the Royal London Hospital on Friday

In a New Year interview on the BBC's Andrew Marr show, Boris Johnson urged parents to send children back to primary schools - but refused to rule out a full shutdown to control the mutant coronavirus strain

Government scientists today hinted a third national lockdown including mass school closures may be required to suppress Covid as he insisted 'keeping people apart' stops the virus from spreading.

Professor Sir Mark Walport claimed the 'mutant' Covid was transmitting rapidly among children, with those aged between 12 and 16 seven times more likely to 'infect' a household.

Speaking on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show as Liverpool's leaders called for a blanket shutdown, he said it would be 'very, very difficult' to keep the disease under control 'without tighter social distancing measures'.

'Children's lives can't just be put on hold': Ofsted chief Amanda Spielman warns pupils' education cannot be 'furloughed' as left-wing councils and teaching unions demand schools are closed for WEEKS amid mutant Covid crisis The head of England's schools watchdog today warned that education cannot be 'furloughed' as Left-wing councils joined the revolt against Government plans to keep schools open. Ofsted chief inspector Amanda Spielman said school closures should be kept to the 'absolute minimum', revealing that the first lockdown disrupted children's learning and wider development. Writing in the Sunday Telegraph, she said Ofsted had found some younger children had 'forgotten how to hold a pencil or use a knife and fork, and had regressed in basic language numbers'. In older children, Ms Spielman said the schools watchdog had noted 'increases in eating disorders and self-harm, and anti-social behaviour at some schools' during the coronavirus crisis. Most primaries in England are expected to open their doors tomorrow, while secondary schools will reopen on a staggered basis later this month with plans to test every student weekly. But yesterday the UK's largest teaching union advised members it was not safe to return to the classroom and demanded a move to online teaching. Headteachers are now urging the Government to scrap this summer's GCSE and A-level exams amid outrage over Education Secretary Gavin Williamson's plans to keep schools open. Ms Spielman rubbished calls for remote education, arguing that it would maximise the disparities in the circumstances of the home lives of children. She added that schools 'have become society's collective eyes and ears, keeping a caring watch over those who need it most' as she warned 'risks of abuse, neglect or exploitation increase' when schools stay closed. The Ofsted boss wrote: 'There is a real consensus that schools should be the last places to close and the first to re-open, and having argued for this since last spring, I welcome it. Because it is increasingly clear that children's lives can't just be put on hold while we wait for vaccination programmes to take effect, and for waves of infection to subside. 'We cannot furlough young people's learning or their wider development. The longer the pandemic continues, the more true this is.'

Sir Mark also suggested the UK has struggled to keep cases down because it is a 'western liberal democracy', hinting that draconian countermeasures adopted in unfree countries like Vietnam had suppressed the virus.

Asked if Tier 4 restrictions were enough, the former Chief Scientific Adviser today said: 'It's the Tier 4 restrictions, it's obeying them.

'It is thinking about breaking essentially every possible route of transmission we possibly can. Those are the things that are absolutely necessary and it is pretty clear we're going to need more.'

Talking about 'mutant' Covid, he said: 'We now have a much more transmissible variant and I'm afraid this is the natural evolution of viruses.

'The ones that can transmit most effectively have an advantage over other variants and so it is clear this variant is transmitting more readily. It's transmitting more readily in younger age groups as well.

'It's good to note it doesn't appear to cause worse disease or that it is going to be more resistant to the effects of the vaccine, but it is going to be very, very difficult to keep it under control without tighter social distancing measures.'

Sir Mark continued: 'The thing that actually stops the virus, and we know that it can do, is keeping people apart. The virus can only get from one person to another through proximity, and so it really is about doing everything we possibly can to keep ourselves as safe as possible.'

He also claimed that locking down earlier would have reduced cases and deaths, telling the Andrew Marr Show: 'It's absolutely clear we can see other countries, Vietnam for example, which has managed to keep its cases down.

'But we can see that western liberal democracies much harder. The UK is not alone in this, but that doesn't necessarily make it any better.'

He also urged people who have had a coronavirus vaccine not to 'go out and party' as he admitted 'there are lots of things we don't know about the vaccines'.

Sir Mark's interview comes as the PM signalled that anti-Covid measures were likely to get tougher.

Asked whether he could guarantee schools will open on January 18, Mr Johnson told Marr: 'Well, obviously, we're going to continue to assess the impact of the Tier 4 measures, the Tier 3 measures.'

On whether GCSE and A-Level exams should be cancelled, the PM said: 'We've got to be realistic, we've got to be realistic about the pace of which this new variant has spread... we've got to be realistic about the impact that it's having on our NHS... and we've got to be humble in the face of this virus.'

Mr Johnson indicated tougher restrictions may be introduced, saying: 'It may be that we need to do things in the next few weeks that will be tougher in many parts of the country. I'm fully, fully reconciled to that.'

He added: 'There are obviously a range of tougher measures that that we would have to consider... I'm not going to speculate now about what they would be, but I'm sure that all our viewers and our listeners will understand what the sort of things... clearly school closures, which we had to do in March is one of those things.'

Mr Johnson said: 'What we are doing now is using the tiering system, which is a very tough system... and, alas, probably about to get tougher to keep things under control. But, we will review it.'

He added: 'And we have the prospect of vaccines coming down the track in their tens of millions. And that, I think, is something that should keep people going in what I predicted, back on your show in in October, will be a very bumpy period right now. It is bumpy and it's going to be bumpy.'

Meanwhile, Liverpool's council leaders today called for a third national lockdown to contain the new 'mutant' strain of Covid and prevent a 'catastrophe'.

The city's acting mayor, Wendy Simon, and the Labour-run city council's cabinet say the speed of the rise in coronavirus cases have reached 'alarming levels' and urgent action is now required to save lives and the NHS.

The new 'mutant' strain of Covid is thought to have a higher rate of transmission and is most prevalent in London and the South East, where health bosses say hospitals have become stretched.

Headteachers call for GCSE and A-Level exams to be scrapped this summer amid school closure chaos Head teachers are calling on the Government to scrap this summer's GCSE and A-level exams amid outrage over Gavin Williamson's plans to keep schools open. Most primaries in England are expected to re-open their doors tomorrow, while secondary schools will reopen on a staggered basis later this month with plans to test every student weekly. Yesterday, however, the UK's largest teaching union advised members it was not safe to return to the classroom - with several left-wing councils demanding their primary schools move to online teaching only. And in another blow to the Education Secretary 's plans, UK head teachers are now calling for this year's exams to be scrapped to prioritise 'wider public health, pupil and staff safety'. They also claim it would be unfair to force students to sit exams when those whose schools were open earlier would have more contact time than those with later start dates. The WorthLess? campaign group - a collection of 2,000 head teachers in 80 local authorities - said: 'Wider public health, pupil and staff safety should be prioritised ahead of examinations. 'Public safety should not be risked or driven by an inflexible pursuit of GCSE and A-levels.' Head teacher of Tanbridge House School in Horsham - and one of the WorthLess? leaders - told The Times : 'There is great scepticism that exams can now go ahead fairly.'

It is believed the strain is spreading from south to north, leading to increasing pressure on the NHS.

Cases in Liverpool have almost trebled in the past two weeks to 350 per 100,000, despite the city leading on the pilot for community testing which led to it being the first city to be moved from Tier 3 down to Tier 2.

The call for a new lockdown was made in a statement from Cllr Wendy Simon and Cabinet Member for Public Health Cllr Paul Brant.

The current mayor of the city, Joe Anderson, is on police bail on suspicion of conspiracy to commit bribery and witness intimidation.

The statement said: 'It is clear that the country is now at a crossroads with Covid-19. The stark reality is that today this virulent new strain of the virus is very much on the rise and we need to act now to prevent a crisis that will unleash even more pain and anguish.'

A spokeswoman for the Department of Health said the Government would 'not hesitate to take actions necessary to protect local communities'.

England is edging closer towards a blanket shutdown after government efforts to reopen schools were thrown into disarray by Left-wing councils and teaching unions.

Gavin Williamson confirmed on Friday that all London primary schools will remain shut to most pupils next week - rather than just those in certain boroughs as set out earlier in the week - but teaching unions say all schools should close for the next two weeks.

Last night, the Department for Education said remote learning was 'a last resort' and classrooms should reopen 'wherever possible' with appropriate safety measures to help mitigate the risk of transmission.

'As we've said, we will move to remote education as a last resort, with involvement of public health officials, in areas where infection and pressures on the NHS are highest,' the spokesperson said.

Hundreds of new vaccination sites are due to be up and running this week as the NHS ramps up its immunisation programme with the newly approved Oxford University and AstraZeneca jab.

Some 530,000 doses of the vaccine will be available for rollout across the UK from Monday and more than a million patients have already had their first dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine which was the first to be approved by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.

But Ofsted chief inspector Amanda Spielman said children's education cannot be 'furloughed' for months while vaccinations are rolled out and time absent from the classroom should be kept to an 'absolute minimum', the Sunday Telegraph reported.

Children's Commissioner Anne Longfield told the newspaper that schools should be the last to close and first to open, when safe to do so, adding: 'I hope, for children and parents' sake, that is measured in days not weeks and I would be particularly keen for primaries to stay open if at all possible.'

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the vaccine roll-out was 'our great hope', adding: 'I want the Government to throw everything it can at this, harnessing the extraordinary talents of our NHS so we can be vaccinating at least two million Brits a week by the end of the month.'

But, writing in the Sunday Mirror, he criticised 'a chaotic last minute U-turn on schools', adding: 'Confusion reigns among parents, teachers and pupils over who will be back in school tomorrow and who won't.'

General secretary of the National Education Union (NEU), Mary Bousted, said schools should stay closed for two weeks to 'break the chain' of transmission and prevent the NHS becoming overwhelmed.'

The union, which represents the majority of teachers, has advised its members it is not safe to return to classrooms on Monday.

NAHT general secretary Paul Whiteman said the union had started preliminary steps in legal proceedings against the Department for Education, asking it to share its scientific data about safety and transmission rates.

Unions have also called for the reopening of schools in Wales next week to be delayed with Laura Doel, director of school leaders' union NAHT Cymru, saying 'the latest data shows that in large parts of Wales, control of infection has been lost'.

From January 4, all London primary schools will be required to provide remote learning for two weeks to all children except vulnerable children and those of key workers, who will be allowed to attend.

Mr Williamson said the January 1 decision to expand closures to the nine remaining London boroughs and the City of London was a 'last resort'.

Under the Government's initial plan, secondary schools and colleges were set to be closed to most pupils for the first two weeks of January, while primary schools within 50 local authorities in the south of England, including 23 London boroughs, were also told to keep their doors shut until January 18.

Green Party-led Brighton and Hove City Council has advised primary schools in the Tier 4 area not to return in person, except for vulnerable children and those of key workers, until January 18 despite the Government's plan for most schools to open in person.

Linda Bauld, a professor in public health at the University of Edinburgh, said transmission among primary school pupils was 'still very limited' while secondary school pupils, particularly older teenagers, can pass on the virus in the same way as adults.

But health professionals have warned of growing pressure on services with Prof Goddard telling the BBC current case figures are 'fairly mild' compared to what is expected in a week's time.

Mutated super-infectious coronavirus strain was spreading quickly among children DURING November lockdown and only closing schools can keep it contained, new Imperial report warns

Pictured: A graph in the Imperial College London report showing the prevalence of the new strain of coronavirus (shown in orange) in different age groups

The mutated super-infectious coronavirus strain was spreading quickly among children during the November lockdown and only closing schools can keep it contained, a new report from Imperial College London has warned.

The study confirmed that the new mutant variant of SARS-CoV-2 - known as B117 or 'Variant of Concern' (VOC) - is indeed more infectious than previous variants, just as scientists feared, and that the November lockdown did little to suppress it.

The variant was most prevalent among the 10-19 age group, the data shows, with more coronavirus cases in the age group being found to be the new strain than of the original.

In order the tackle the spread of the VOC in Britain, 'Social distancing measures will need to be more stringent than they would have otherwise,' the report said.

'A particular concern is whether it will be possible to maintain control over transmission while allowing schools to reopen in January 2021.'

Analysis of the data by Imperial College London researchers found that the new strain may be nearly 50 percent more transmissible, based on samples taken from nearly 86,000 Britons.

In the study posted online, which is yet to be peer-reviewed, Imperial College researchers determined that the 'R' number for the new B117 variant is between 0.4 and 0.7 points higher than other variants.

The study compared samples of the mutated virus taken from nearly 2,000 people in the UK to another 84,000 taken from people with other variants

The 'R' number of a virus describes the average number of additional cases that each infection leads to.

In the UK, the latest R number stands between 1.1 and 1.3, government figures show. This means that, on average, every 10 people infected will infect between 11 and 13 other people.

Graphs from the new study show how, over eight weeks, the new variant became increasingly common (dots higher on each chart) in the UK and became more transmissible (dots further the right on each chart show rising R numbers, or transmission rates

In a series of graphs, the report outlined case trends in a subset of NHS England Sustainability and Transformation Plan (STP) areas - (a geographic subdivision of NHS Regions).

It is clear in the graphs that while the November lockdown worked to bring down the rates of the original strain of coronavirus, it did little to suppress the spread of the mutated strain in England.

This is demonstrated by the graphs with three lines showing case numbers.

The thick line shows the total number of cases in the respective region found among the people included in the study. The green line shows the original strain of Covid-19 (S+), while the yellow line shows the new variant (VOC).

The thick line at the top of the graph showing the total number of cases in each area changes colour between green and yellow based on the number of tests showing instances of the VOC among those included in the study.

Kent and Medway

Mid and South Essex

The dates of the second lockdown in November are indicated by the vertical red lines, between which the spread of Covid-19 and the VOC are demonstrated.

Areas in the South East of England - including London - show a rapid rise of the mutated strain of Covid-19, while the original strain kept at relatively low levels during the lockdown - showing the prevalence of the new strain in those areas.

These include Kent and Medway, Mid and South Essex; South West London Health and Care Partnership; and Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West.

In areas outside of the regions most effected by the VOC , total cases are shown to have dropped during the lockdown.

These include Birmingham and Solihull; Devon; Herefordshire and Worcestershire; Cheshire and Merseyside; and Humber, Coast and Vale.

South West London Health and Care Partnership

Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West

Birmingham and Solihull

Devon

Herefordshire and Worcestershire

Cheshire and Merseyside

Humber, Coast and Vale

Ratio age share among S- cases / age share among S+ cases

The new variant was first detected in the UK in September, the study states, but at the beginning of December, it exploded and has driven a surge in infections among Britons.

The spread of the new novel SARS-CoV-2 variant, or Variant of Concern 202012/01 (VOC), in England comes despite a tiered system being in place as part of efforts to bring the spread of the virus under control.

What is the 'mutant COVID strain' and why are experts concerned? Coronaviruses mutate regularly, acquiring about one new mutation in their genome every two weeks. Most mutations do not significantly change the way the virus acts. This super strain, named B.1.1.7, was first identified in the UK in November. It has since been found in France, Spain, Italy, Iceland, Japan, Singapore, Australia and now the United States. The new COVID-19 variant has a mutation in the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the spike protein at position 501, where amino acid asparagine (N) has been replaced with tyrosine (Y). It is more infectious than previous strains and potentially more harmful to children. It is not, however, believed to be any more lethal. Public Health England researchers compared 1,769 people infected with the new variant, with 1,769 who had one of the earlier strains of the virus. Forty-two people in the group were admitted to hospital, of whom 16 had the new variant and 26 the wild type. Twelve of the variant cases and 10 of the 'older' virus cases died within four weeks of testing. Neither the hospitalization nor the mortality differences were statistically significant.

The majority of England is under 'Tier 4', the strictest tier, yet is still seeing record numbers of daily Covid-19 infections despite the measures.

Imperial College London researchers sequenced the genomes of 1,904 people infected with the new variant and compared how quickly the virus spread to a broader sample of other specimens taken from more than 48,000 people in England.

As they expected, they found that the new virus did indeed have a 'selective advantage over circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants in England,' they wrote in the print posted online on Thursday.

The variant was also disproportionately common among people in their 20s, and those living in South East and East England and London.

The findings of the new study mean each person who catches this mutated virus will pass it on to up to 0.7 more people on average.

So far, there isn't evidence to suggest the new variant causes any more serious illness or is more fatal.

Encouragingly, virologists and public health experts believe that vaccines made by companies like AstraZeneca, Pfizer and Moderna will still be effective against the new variant of coronavirus.

But the new variant heats up the race between the spread of the virus and vaccination campaigns in the UK, the US - where the new variant has now been found in Colorado, California and Florida - and at least 31 other countries where the more infectious form of coronavirus has been detected.

With more than 186,000 people newly infected in a single day on average in the US, the 48 percent higher transmissibility rate of 1.85 could drive new infections per day beyond 275,000.

It could spell disaster for hospitals in hotspots like California where some health care systems and regions are already out of ICU beds, in states of 'internal disaster' and rationing care.

There are similar fears in the UK over the National Health Service (NHS) and its capacity to cope with the number of coronavirus patients that are expected as the new variant of the disease continues to spread.

Sharing data from a separate study done by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), Deepti Gurdasani - a senior lecturer at Queen Mary University of London in Epidemiology and statistical genetics - warned that 'B117 is either dominant, or very close to dominant in most regions' in England.

Over the course of six weeks, the researchers saw how the new coronavirus variant's transmission rate (R) became higher (orange) than those of other variants, especially in South East England, East England and London

By comparison, on average in the US, each infected person currently leads to 1.15 more infections, according to daily calculations from RT.live.

By this measure of transmissibility the R number in the US ranges from about 0.86 in Alaska to 1.23 in Maine, which has emerged as a hotspot this week.

Only 3.17 million Americans had been vaccinated as of Friday, according to a Bloomberg News tally.

The CDC's tally puts the number even lower. The agency's site says its vaccination tracker will be updated every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, but at the time of publication, the tool showed Wednesday's numbers, with 2.79 million people vaccinated.

Bloomberg's higher estimate means Operation Warp Speed has vaccinated just 16 percent of the 20 million Americans it promised to inoculate by the end of the year.

At this pace, it would take nearly a decade to vaccinate all adult members of America's population of 331 million people.

And many Americans remain on the fence about getting a vaccine even when one is available. Some 60 percent of nursing home workers in Ohio said they would refuse a shot.

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Sluggish, dysfunctional vaccine distribution and Americans' distrust of of the shots could jointly offer the B117 variant just the opening it needs to spread like wildfire through the country infecting millions beyond the 20 million people who have already had the infection in the US, and killing thousands.
Other outlets involved in the propaganda operation include Forbes, the Financial Times, Newsweek, Bloomberg, Reuters, ABC News, the Economist, the Wall Street Journal, AFP, TIME magazine, LA Times, The Hill, BBC, and The Atlantic.

The relationship is revealed in the Department of Justices Foreign Agent Registration Act (FARA) filings, which reveal a relationship spanning over a decade between establishment media outlets and the ChinaUnited States Exchange Foundation (CUSEF).

Neutralize Opposition.

CUSEF is a Chinese Communist Party-funded initiative founded by Tung Chee Hwa. The group also targets American universities with offers to fund policy research, high-level dialogues, and exchange programs.

Tung also serves as Vice-Chairman of the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), identified by the U.S.-China Security and Economic Review Commission as a key component of the Chinese Communist Partys United Work Front.

The effort, according to the U.S. government report, aims to to co-opt and neutralize sources of potential opposition to the policies and authority of its ruling Chinese Communist Party.

The United Front strategy uses a range of methods to influence overseas Chinese communities, foreign governments, and other actors to take actions or adopt positions supportive of Beijings preferred policies, it continues.

This strategy appears to have been deployed in conjunction with outlets such as CNN, New York Times, and the Washington Post.

Targeting Reporters, Journalism Students.

A 2011 FARA filing highlighted by Axios detailed CUSEFs agreement with American lobbying firm BLJ. It outlines how CUSEF set out to effectively disseminate positive messages to the media, key influencers and opinion leaders, and the general public regarding China.
All commonwealth flags at state facilities, public buildings, and grounds are to fly at half-staff immediately in honor of state Rep. Mike Reese, who passed away Saturday, according to Gov. Tom Wolf.

I extend my heartfelt condolences on the passing of Rep. Mike Reese, Wolf said. Our thoughts are with Mikes family, colleagues, and constituents. Mike was a good man and a strong leader, and the people of western Pennsylvania have lost a dedicated advocate.

Reese, 42, was a six-term Republican member of the state House. He died Saturday from an apparent brain aneurysm with his family by his side at Excela Health Westmoreland Hospital in Greensburg. He represented the 59th District from 2009 to 2021.

The commonwealth flag has flown at half-staff since March 11, 2020, in honor of the victims of the COVID-19 pandemic and should continue to fly at half-staff until further notice. And, the United States flag has flown at half-staff since Dec. 31, 2020, in honor of former Gov. Dick Thornburgh, and should remain at half-staff until the date of Thornburghs interment.

All Pennsylvanians are invited to participate in this tribute, according to Wolfs administration.

Read more from PennLive

Champion and leader Pa. Rep. Mike Reese mourned by colleagues

A remarkable public servant and an even better man: Officials honor former Gov. Dick Thornburgh
Pennsylvania State Rep. Mike Reese Dies at Age 42

A Pennsylvania lawmaker passed away Saturday at the age of 42.

State Rep. Mike Reese, a Republican who had recently won a seventh term in office, died in a hospital after an apparent brain aneurysm, the Pennsylvania House Republican Caucus said.

On behalf of the entire House Republican Caucus, I extend our deepest sympathies and condolences to the family of Rep. Mike Reese, Pennsylvania House Majority Leader Kerry Benninghoff, a Republican, said in a statement.

More than a friend to all of us, and one of our caucus leaders, Mike was a devoted husband and father. His wife, three young children and extended family are in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

Reese was being treated at Excela Health Westmoreland Hospital in Greensburg when he died. Greensburg is about 30 miles southeast of Pittsburgh.

A spokesperson for the late representative didnt immediately respond to an inquiry.

State Rep. George Dunbar, a Republican, told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review that Reese was one of his best friends.

He was always a family man whose whole life revolved around his three children. He was probably the most respected member of the House, he said.

Reese had run five miles and planned to take his son hunting when they spoke on New Years Eve, Dunbar said.

Reese announced last month that he tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus.

I recently learned I have tested positive for COVID-19. I have been quarantining for the last week awaiting my test results and with the positive test will remain in quarantine until I have recovered. I am grateful to report my symptoms were mild and are subsiding. Im feeling better as each day passes, he said in a statement on Dec. 7.

People typically recover from COVID-19 with no or few symptoms, in days or weeks.

A number of Pennsylvania lawmakers joined Benninghoff in offering condolences for Reeses passing.

I am devastated to learn of the passing of our House colleague Mike Reese. On behalf of the @PaSenateDems , I want to extend my deepest condolences to his family, friends and colleagues, Senate Minority Leader Jay Costa, a Democrat, said in a statement. My prayers are especially with his young family as they mourn this sudden loss. He was a leader in Western PA and gone far too soon. [delete]
An Israeli official on Sunday dismissed as "nonsense" an allegation by the Iranian foreign minister that Israel was trying to trick the United States into waging war on Iran.

It was Israel that needed to be on alert for possible Iranian strikes on the one-year anniversary on Sunday of the assassination of Tehran's top general, Qassem Soleimani, in a US drone strike in Iraq, Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz said on Kan public radio.

Washington blames Iran-backed militia for regular rocket attacks on US facilities in Iraq, including near the US embassy. No known Iran-backed groups have claimed responsibility.

On Saturday, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Twitter: "New intelligence from Iraq indicate that Israeli agent-provocateurs are plotting attacks against Americans  putting an outgoing (President Donald) Trump in a bind with a fake casus belli."

"Be careful of a trap, @realDonaldTrump. Any fireworks will backfire badly, particularly against your same BFFs," Zarif wrote, in what appeared to be a veiled threat against Israel.

Steinitz said the remarks showed that Iran, after mounting US sanctions billed as curbing its nuclear programme and involvement in regional conflict-zones, was "under pressure - economic pressure, and pressure in terms of national security".

"We hear this nonsense by Zarif, that Israel would set off terrorist attacks against the United States - this really is total nonsense," Steinitz told Kan public radio.

"But on the other hand it is a warning sign - a warning sign that Iran is taking aim at Israel, is looking for excuses to lash out at Israel, and therefore we need to have our finger on the pulse and be at the highest state of alert."

The US military flew two nuclear-capable B-52 bombers to the Middle East in a message of deterrence to Iran on Wednesday, but the bombers have since left the region.

Interviewed separately on Kan, Israeli Culture Minister Chili Tropper, who like Steinitz sits in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's security cabinet, confirmed media reports that Israel was on heightened alert for the Soleimani anniversary.

Asked what possible Iranian reprisals Israel was anticipating, Tropper said: "I cannot comment."
Thunder was scared.

He hadnt left his kennel in weeks and staff and volunteers at the Butler County Humane Society near Pittsburgh didnt know what to do with the pit bull mix.

They were cautious and unsure around him.

One of the shelters board members came across a social media post about Tom Connors, a Weatherly resident and director at the Carbon County Animal Shelter in Nesquehoning, who works with troubled dogs.

Ruth Leicht reached out to Connors, who told her about the success hes had with other dogs, including a pair who wouldnt let anyone near them until he sat and read to them.

Since I was a school librarian for 35 years, I thought, I have to meet this man, she said via email.

Wasting no time, Connors and his wife, Michele, volunteered to make the four-hour trek across the state to the small shelter 37 miles north of Pittsburgh the day after Christmas.

We had no idea what to expect, Leicht said. Within minutes, Tom had Thunder on a leash and romping in the snow. Over the weekend, he worked with our staff and Ray Varga, an amazing volunteer, to interact with Thunder.

By the time Tom left, Thunder was letting us pet him and even giving kisses. It was truly a Christmas miracle.

Experienced with handling scared and abandoned dogs, Connors approached Thunder armed with a kind heart, an abundance of caution and a couple double cheeseburgers from McDonalds, he said.

He was just afraid, Connors said. Sometimes, dogs that are afraid might act aggressive.

He admits the food might have helped, but he had a good feeling and established a connection with Thunder right away, he said. Otherwise, he might have stepped back a bit.

You have to be smart, Connors said. I had a good connection with him. If I had got a different feeling , But he was happy to be out.

Connors said hes so glad that the folks at the Butler shelter reached out him and wanted to give Thunder every opportunity to find another home.

They gave him every chance possible, Connors said. Theyre amazing people.

He worked with staff and volunteers along with Thunder for six hours over two days, before returning to Northeastern Pennsylvania, where supporters of the Carbon animal shelter had been following Thunders story on social media.

Connors posted on his own Facebook page, and Thunders story was also featured on the shelters page. Shelter supporters, who hail from Carbon and surrounding counties, donated just shy of $900 to help with Thunders medical bills.

I couldnt be more proud that they reached out to help, Connors said of the shelters supporters. It makes it a really special Christmas.

Carbons shelter has received numerous donations of dog food, treats, cleaning supplies and toys for the dogs in their care over the holidays.

At Christmastime, its overwhelming, he said, noting that they get an estimated $4,000 in food and supplies and an equal amount in monetary donations. People appreciate what we do. Were a no kill shelter and that makes a difference. They always provide us with what we need.

Connors publicly thanks all of the supporters and posts photos of donations on social media.

With Thunder, the Butler shelter paid for the Connors lodging and travel expenses, but helping a dog in need was priceless and truly a gift to Connors, who recently started treatments for early-stage prostate cancer.

I needed this dog as much as he needed me, he said. I love dogs. Theres no distance I wouldnt travel to help one, if Im able. I left recharged and it took my mind off my issues. Hes a great dog. I love that dog.

Many people expected Connors to come home with Thunder, but instead, he came home with experiences and lessons learned from those at the other shelter and new friends and resources.

I got to meet great people and I learned a lot from them, he said. And they learned from me. Were going to be friends forever.

Sharing each others knowledge and experience will help both shelters as they both move forward, Leicht said.

It was such a win-win experience, she said. We are so grateful to Tom that he was so willing to work shelter-to-shelter with us.

Connors other friend, Thunder, continues to make progress working with staff and volunteers who send daily photos and updates. He even has a vet visit this week, Connors said.

Hes going to be ready to get adopted, Connors said. My heart is so happy. Even with cancer, Im the luckiest guy in the world. Life is good.
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El Cajon, San Diego County, California (3419.3 km NW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / complex motion difficult to describe / very short : Heard five very distinct heavy bop bop bops faintly in a quick procession, which startled me in the living room. Did not feel anything. But heard this within the wall of my where my front door is located, at the front side of my house. Startled me. As soon as the noise within that one entry wall stopped the as is seismograph I leave running 24/7 on loud for quakes all around the world started dinging! Not even a second after! The dogs which are never outside together on a cold night like this we | One user found this interesting.

3419.3 km NW of epicenter [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / complex motion difficult to describe : Was picking up a few things in the living room when I heard this sort of very distinct detonation type of sound like when you would demo a building. Five distinct quick bop bop bop bops Like a faint pounding on a distant door. If it wasn't early in the in the morning here I probably would of never heard this noise. Was not felt definitely heard it. Could be heard within just the wall that our front door to the house was located. It scared me. The only reason I KNOW it was from this earthquake, i | One user found this interesting.
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All of them are Vietnamese citizens who returned home from Germany, Taiwan (China), France and Malaysia. They have been quarantined upon their arrival.

According to the subcommittee for treatment, 12 patients were given the all-clear from coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 on January 2, raising the total number of recoveries to 1,337. The number of deaths related to the disease is still kept at 35.

Among the patients undergoing treatment across the country, nine have tested negative for the virus once, six twice and seven thrice.

As many as 18,372 people who had close contact with COVID-19 patients or entered Vietnam from pandemic-hit regions are currently quarantined nationwide, including 155 in hospitals, 16,589 in state-designated establishments and 1,628 at their residences./.
S21 spec sheets say:

memory card reader: "No"



Some markets might still get a charger in the box though, while others don't.  Roland Quandt (@rquandt) December 31, 2020

As Gizchina points out, Samsung has offered microSD card slots on its flagship Galaxy S series for quite some time. The current S20 series comes with a hybrid setup (SIM+microSD). With users moving to cloud storage (via Google Photos etc.) and built-in storage being relatively higher than phones in older times, OEMs are gradually omitting the memory card slot.

The report adds that Samsung will offer multiple variants of Galaxy S21 series. Some markets may still get the phones with the current hybrid setup and have Type-C cable.

That said, smartphone companies are likely to skip bundling chargers in the retail box of select handsets. Apple kicked off the trend with the iPhone 12. It also removed the earbuds. Xiaomi too followed suit with Mi 11 series. Samsung appears to be the next major brand to join the trend. Interestingly, both Samsung and Xiaomi had mocked Apple for removing charger in the retail box.

Removing power adapters is apparently aimed at tackling the growing problem of e-waste. According to Global E-Waste Monitor 2020, the world produced 53.6 million metric tones of electronic waste in 2019.
Businesses in the Gulf countries need to pursue Keyman Insurance to retain key professionals who make a difference in running businesses efficiently and deliver profits year after year, according to a top industry official. She urges Keyman Insurance need to become a mandatory requirement for securing bank loans.

Keymen or key professionals play a crucial role in running the business and deliver profits every year. Business owners depend on them in order to run the businesses efficiently. It is therefore important to retain them on payroll and Keyman Insurance could help the businessmen mitigate the risks.

Keyman Insurance could play a vital role in ensuring business continuity and profit sustainability in the Gulf region, especially during challenging environment, especially like the current Covid-19 crisis

Keyman or Key Person Insurance is a life insurance policy that a company purchases on a key executive's life. The company is the beneficiary of the plan and pays the insurance policy premiums. This type of life insurance is also known as keyman insurance, key woman insurance or business life insurance.

Be it a small business or a large company, keyman insurance provides quite a few advantages. In case of death of the employee, the company receives the sum assured to cope with the loss and also ensures business continuity without any hiccups.

The policy contributes to the companys tax planning - premium allowed as business expense. Options such as recruiting and training capable employee replacements, handling debt and liquidation of the company, or even successfully selling the company are all within reach when a business is covered by Keyman Insurance.

In an expatriate dominated private sector, where most key professionals are skilled and talented foreigners who keep moving from one company to the other for better prospects. This affects businesses who rely on them, be it the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Information Officer, Chief Marketing Officer or Chief Sales Officer  who all play key role in shaping a companys business and are collectively responsible for the delivery of profits year after year.

Keyman Insurance is an important form of business insurance. It can be described as an insurance policy taken out by a business to compensate that business for financial losses that would arise from the death or extended incapacity of an important member of the business, Leena Parwani, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of LPH Financial Services, says. Keyman Insurance is very affordable and cost effective. The annual premium of a Keyman Insurance policy is much less than 1 percent of the cover amount. Depending on the age, lifestyle and health condition of the insured, it can be higher or lower as well.

If one carries out a cost-benefit analysis, one would see that the benefits of the Keyman Insurance far outweigh its costs.

To put it simply, key person insurance is a standard life insurance or trauma insurance policy that is used for business succession or business protection purposes. The policy's term does not extend beyond the period of the key persons usefulness to the business.

Keyman Insurance provides business owners who rely on good corporate professionals a great peace of mind; immediate financial security for the family of the keyman; incentive for the Keyman to continue with good works and perhaps the best retirement gift for the key professional.

Keyman Insurance is important, particularly for family businesses that are highly dependent upon a few individuals. It helps ensure that the business can absorb the financial strain of an early death and continue sustainably. The low cost and ease of securing a Keyman Insurance policy makes this very important business decision a simple one.

Key person policies are usually owned by the business and the aim is to compensate the business for losses incurred with the loss of a key income generator and facilitate business continuity. Key person insurance does not indemnify the actual losses incurred but compensates with a fixed monetary sum as specified in the insurance policy.

Many businesses have a key person who is responsible for the majority of profits or has a unique and hard to replace skill set such as Intellectual Property that is vital to the organisation. An employer may take out a key person insurance policy on the life or health of any employee whose knowledge, work, or overall contribution is considered uniquely valuable to the company.

In many developed countries, Keyman Insurance is a mandatory requirement for bank borrowing, to ensure that the company sustains business in the absence of the keyman.

The Gulf countries should also make this a mandatory requirement for loan disbursement, to ensure that the company runs smoothly even if the keyman leaves the company, Parwani says. This will give the banks a relief that their money is in safe pair of hands and reduce the risks of lending to a family-owned business.

The employer does this to offset the costs (such as hiring temporary help or recruiting a successor) and losses (such as a decreased ability to transact business until successors are trained) which the employer is likely to suffer in the event of the loss of a key person.

There are four categories of loss for which key person insurance can provide compensation. These include and not necessarily limited to:

*Losses related to the extended period when a key person is unable to work, to provide temporary personnel and, if necessary, to finance the recruitment and training of a replacement;

*Insurance to protect profits. For example, offsetting lost income from lost sales, losses resulting from the delay or cancellation of any business project that the key person was involved in, loss of opportunity to expand, loss of specialised skills or knowledge;

*Insurance to protect shareholders or partnership interests. Typically this is insurance to enable shareholdings or partnership interests to be purchased by existing shareholders or partners. Insurance for anyone involved in guaranteeing business loans or banking facilities. The value of insurance coverage is arranged to equal the value of the guarantee.

Lack of proper business succession could cost an estimated US$1 trillion worth of business assets in the Middle East in the next ten years, according to the Gulf Family Business Council.

If business owners take this seriously, they would try to ensure business continuity and protect the business by securing Keyman Insurance.

In the Middle East, family businesses play a particularly significant role in the regions economy so business continuity, profit sustainability are crucial of national economy. With a GDP contribution of 60%, a workforce contribution of 80%, and $1 trillion estimated to pass from one generation to the next within a decade, the survival, growth and sustainability of family businesses that rely on professionals are key to the regions economic growth.

Parwani, who started her financial services practice in 2013, has been one of the UAEs top financial consultants for the last seven consecutive years, serving large corporations, entrepreneurs and business leaders.

Her company LPH Financial Services offers financial consultancy on personal wealth protection, estate planning, succession planning against potential risks to individuals and companies against various kinds of loss or damage. -- Tradearabia News Service
Laurie Butera & Paul Green

Nov. 1, 2020

Laurie and Paul had only exchanged a few texts since a dating app introduced them, but he was bored, she was having a bad day, and getting to know a virtual stranger over diner food seemed like a fine way to reset the trajectory of that cold, rainy Saturday in January 2014.

He hopped the train near his apartment in Palmyra, and she picked him up at the station in Norristown. Just after 7 p.m., they settled into a booth.

He told me his life story and I listened and asked questions, said Laurie. I thought he was cute, and he was so excited to be telling me about his family. He showed me every photo on his phone. I was thinking things were going well.

I thought so, too, said Paul. What he didnt think about was the time. It was after 11 when they left the diner  too late to make the last train to Palmyra.

Laurie had never driven to Palmyra, and she was not keen to do so in the late-night rain. I guess youre spending the night, she told him.

At her Swedesburg townhouse, Paul made fast friends with cats Toby and Shelby, which Laurie took as another good sign. It was her turn to talk about her family and show Paul photos, and his turn to ask the questions.

It wasnt all talk: They kissed before saying goodnight.

The two woke to dark clouds and the threat of a massive snowstorm. After cereal, they drove to Walmart for sidewalk salt.

Paul was cracking her up. One aisle over, Lauries mother recognized her daughters laugh and went to find her.

Paul saw Lauries smile turn to panic. Whats wrong, baby? he asked, throwing his arm over her shoulder.

Mom, this is Paul, Laurie said nervously. Paul, this is my mom.

Paul removed his arm from Lauries shoulders and hugged her mother hello.

Back at Lauries place, Paul salted the sidewalks, then the two settled in to watch some of each others favorite movies  his old 80s standbys and her horror flicks  while the snow piled up. When Laurie lamented all the sidewalk clearing that awaited her, Paul volunteered to shovel. He cleared the walk every few hours, and stayed over Sunday night, too.

Laurie, then a pharmacy tech at Bryn Mawr Hospital, worked a seven-days-on, seven-days-off schedule, and was off all week. Paul took Monday off from his job at a home improvement store. By the end of their long weekend, they proclaimed themselves boyfriend and girlfriend.

Shes very smart, said Paul. I love her relationship with her parents, and shes sweet, and kind to all people. Plus, she enjoys my company.

He is the first guy who Ive been able to fully trust, said Laurie. He says everything hes feeling or thinking, and he cant keep a secret to save his life, so I never have to wonder if hes telling the truth. He met all of my family very quickly, and they all liked him, which is important to me. Plus, my cats liked him.

And his cats, Momma Mias and Phillie, liked her, too.

The couple has watched all 200+ titles of Lauries horror collection, all of Pauls 100+ VHS tapes, made the most out of subscriptions to Netflix and Amazon Prime, and  pre-COVID-19  saw something on the big screen at least once a month. In June 2017, they headed to Somers Point to see John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band, whose music is featured in one of their favorite movies, Eddie and the Cruisers.

They were unpacking at their hotel when Paul said, I want to be your husband.

What? asked Laurie.

Do you want to be my wife? he asked.

What? she repeated.

And then, Did you ask my parents?

He had not.

It was too late to ask that night, but first thing the next morning, Paul called and Lauries father answered. Mr. Butera, I want to marry your daughter, Paul said. Thats great! said Lauries father. Does she know about it?

Yeah, said Paul. Shes sitting right here.

The couple met Lauries sister, brother-in-law, and three nephews on the Ocean City boardwalk. At first, it was all about the kids, who rode rides and played games as the adults tried to keep up.

Laurie! shouted Paul to get her attention among all the activity. She turned toward his voice, he knelt, and she said yes.

Paul beamed. Laurie cried. After their family members hugged them, strangers stopped to hug them, too.

Due to Lauries work schedule, they only saw each other every other weekend. She had asked Paul to move in multiple times, but the man who stayed at her townhouse on their first date always put it off.

I knew I was going to eventually do it, but moving in is a huge step, and I needed to make the right moves first, said Paul, who is now 38. One of the biggest: finding a job in Pennsylvania.

His last day at his warehouse job in Jersey was a Friday in January 2018. His first day at Almac, a company that runs pharmaceutical clinical trials, was that Monday. The weekend between, he and his cats moved in with Laurie to what is now their home in Eagleville. Paul is now a production coordinator. Laurie, now 37, also works at Almac. She is a project coordinator.

All Paul wanted was to marry Laurie in a way that made her happy and drink white Russians. All Laurie wanted was to marry Paul and for his glasses of coffee liqueur, vodka, and milk to be the only place the color white was prominent.

I wanted a Halloween wedding. I wanted a Beetlejuice wedding. I wanted dark purple and black. I wanted our centerpieces to look like [director] Tim Burtons creepy trees, Laurie said. I was not wearing a white wedding gown.

At Davids Bridal, Laurie found a silvery-gray Vera Wang dress and an employee who understood her vision and suggested sewing in some black tulle. Pauls attire was found at Spirit Halloween. Its a Beetlejuice costume, but without the makeup, so the nod to the movie wasnt too campy, Laurie said.

The couple did not marry on Halloween  Laurie listened to her nephews pleas to let that day be its own glorious thing  but the following day. Inspired by their love of animals, they held the ceremony and reception at the Elmwood Park Zoo. Their photos were taken with Luna the jaguar, Sally the cockatoo, Slash the red panda, and Stella the great horned owl. Their 62 guests also met Stella during the cocktail hour.

Due to COVID-19, special precautions had to be taken. Each guest received a mask and every table bore a big bottle of hand sanitizer with a sign that said, Spread love not germs.

The bridal party walked down the aisle to the grand finale theme from Edward Scissorhands. Paul cried, and whenever Laurie looked at him, she cried, too.

Lauries best friend from college became ordained to lead the ceremony, which included a prayer for loved ones who have passed on.

The couples first dance was a country line dance to Boardwalk Angel from Eddie and the Cruisers. The bride danced with her father to Alabamas version of My Girl. The DJ taught everyone a dance to Soul Man from The Blues Brothers  one of Pauls favorite movies.

The highlight for the couple was finally getting married. For Laurie, the second best part was seeing her unusual wedding vision come to life. Paul was thrilled they found a safe way to be with almost everyone they love despite the pandemic.

It took two and a half years to save for the wedding, so Laurie and Paul hadnt planned to take a honeymoon right away.

Were hoping that for some anniversary we can go somewhere special, said Laurie.

How about Salem on Halloween? suggested Paul.
The positive global cues helped the market gain momentum after consolidation seen in the previous week, and close above psychological 14,000 mark on the Nifty50 for the week ended January 1, 2021. The signing of second stimulus package by the United States, the approval for Brexit deal by the European Union & UK, and the development related to rollout of COVID-19 vaccine lifted sentiment.

The BSE Sensex jumped 895.44 points, or 1.91 percent, to 47,868.98 and the Nifty50 rose 269.25 points, or 1.96 percent, to 14,018.50, while the broader markets outpaced benchmarks with the Nifty Midcap index climbing 3 percent and Smallcap gaining 3.88 percent.

The momentum may remain alive with the focus shifting to December quarter earnings in the coming week, and also the focus could be on the Budget expectations ahead of Union Budget 2021, experts feel.

"With India Inc's result season commencing, quarterly performance would keep markets buzzing and IT pack would be first hitting the markets which are largely expected to register fine show. However, one may note that expectation of decent performance have largely been discounted by the market," Nirali Shah, Senior Research Analyst at Samco Securities told Moneycontrol.

"With the result season advancing, Mr. Market is likely to dance to the tune of budgetary expectation rather than buzzing quarterly performance," she said.

Rusmik Oza, Executive Vice President, Head of Fundamental Research at Kotak Securities feels the robust FII flows in December and strong closing on expiry indicates bullish rollovers for January expiry. "The macro numbers like GST collection and current account surplus are also supportive from an economy perspective. We expect the Nifty50 to go somewhere mid way of the 14,000 to 15,000 range in January," he said.

Here are 10 key factors that will keep traders busy next week:

December Quarter Earnings

Country's largest IT services provider Tata Consultancy Services will kick off the December quarter earnings season in the coming week on January 8. Investors have lot of hope from the quarterly earnings season after better-than-expected September quarter results and significant increase in earnings upgrade.

GM Breweries, Indian Acrylics, Uttam Sugar Mills, Alpha Hi-Tech Fuel, Integrated Capital Services, Radix Industries, Shalby, Tata Consultancy Services, CHD Chemicals, Avenue Supermarts and Bhansali Engineering Polymers will declare their quarterly earnings in later part of the coming week.

TCS is expected to report strong constant currency revenue growth of over 2.5 percent with robust deal wins during December quarter, though margin may see some pressure from wage revision.

Vaccine Developments

The expert panel (Subject Expert Committee-SEC) of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization, on Friday, has cleared the Indian version of Oxford-AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccine Covishield, for emergency use in India. Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII) has a license for manufacturing this Indian version vaccine. Now the ball is in the court of Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) which gives the final approval for any vaccine and drugs. Media reports indicated the DCGI may give final approval in the coming week.

On December 30, the UK had already approved Oxford-AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use in the country, which showed on average 70 percent effective. SII had an agreement with Oxford-AstraZeneca to produce 1 billion doses of the vaccine.

Subject Expert Committee, on Saturday, also recommended in favour of Emergency Use Authorisation (EUA) for the Indian Bharat Biotech COVID-19 vaccine candidate Covaxin, reports CNBC-TV18 quoting sources.

India started the dry run on Saturday for its vaccination programme across all states and Union Territories, ahead of actual vaccination drive likely in coming days. So that the actual vaccination drive, whenever it starts, should work smoothly without any problem.

Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan and National COVID-19 Task Force Chairman Dr Vinod Paul said the vaccination drive would focus on about 30 crore people, including the priority to health workers, essential frontline workers, and those most susceptible to the virus. Close to 8 million frontline workers have already registered under the Co-WIN app to get inoculated.

All these above pointers are expected to continue to support the equity markets in coming weeks.

Coronavirus

India also reported new strain of coronavirus infections but that did not impact the recovery rate which actually improved further to 96.08 percent this week against 95.77 percent last week, which continued to support equities.

In fact, active cases fell further to 2.54 lakh (2.47 percent of total cases) against 2.81 lakh cases reported in previous week. More than 98.8 lakh patients recovered so far against the confirmed 1.03 crore cases. The fatality rate remained strong at 1.45 percent, the lowest among the most impacted countries, while the total death count so far was 1.49 lakh in India.

Globally there were more than 8.41 crore confirmed infections so far, with over 18.3 lakh deaths as per Johns Hopkins University. United States with 2 crore cases and 3.46 lakh deaths and Europe & UK remained most impacted regions by the COVID-19.

Economic Data Points

Markit Manufacturing PMI for December will be released on Monday and Markit Services PMI data for December on Wednesday, while the foreign exchange reserves for the week ended January 1 will be released on Friday.

In November, IHS Markit India Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) fell to a three-month low of 56.3, from 58.9 in October, which indicated that growth still remained strong, while Services PMI also declined to 53.7 in November from 54.1 in October, but remained above 50 mark which indicated growth continued.

FII Flow

India continued to see strong FII inflow in December at Rs 53,499.66 crore, the second highest monthly inflow after November which had witnessed the highest monthly FII investment in equities at Rs 70,844.63, taking the total inflow to over Rs 1.66 lakh crore in 2020, the year gone by.

In fact, the year 2021 started off with a inflow at Rs 506.21 crore on January 1, though at a slower pace. Overall as a result, the FII continued to act as a key role in Indian equities' rally seen so far, and experts expect the same to continue in coming year too but the pace could largely be depended upon global central banks' action and India's performance.

However, domestic institutional investors were net buyers to the tune of Rs 69.40 crore of shares on January 1, but remained net sellers in previous three consecutive months with December net outflow of Rs 37,293.53 crore and November Rs 48,319.17 crore of outflow.

Technical View

The Nifty50 gained 36.70 points on Friday and formed small bullish candle which largely resembles Doji kind of pattern on the daily charts as the closing was near opening levels, while the index rose 2 percent for the week and formed bullish candle on the weekly scale.

Experts expect the momentum to continue in the coming week and the Nifty may add another 100-200 points only if it decisively holds psychological 14,000 mark.

"The overall structure of the Nifty index hints at a further upside towards 14,200-14,300 levels in the coming week. On the downside, the immediate support is placed at 13,800 levels and only a breach below the same would bring bears into action," Nilesh Jain of Anand Rathi told Moneycontrol.

"The broader markets have outperformed and also hinting at a fresh positive momentum on the higher side. Thus, a defensive trader needs to focus on stock-specific action from the midcap and smallcap space," he said.

F&O Cues

On the derivative front, a huge amount of Put writing was seen at 14,000 strike on Friday. The base is continuously shifting higher for last few weeks and the 14,000 mark will now act as immediate support for the coming week.

On the Call side, a fresh addition was seen at 14,200 and 14,300 strikes, while the maximum open interest was placed at 14,000 strike and there was hardly any unwinding, which indicates a tug of war between 14,000 Call and Put writers.

Hence, in the coming week, Nifty can see some short-covering move towards 14,200 and 14,300 levels if it sustains above 14,000, and based on the above options data, Nifty could oscillate in the range of 13,800  14,300 in the coming week, experts feel.

"Both Call and Put option bases are placed at ATM strikes while Call options open interest is placed at 14,000 strike. The Put option base is also at 14,000 suggesting rangebound movement for the markets in the near term. At the same time, Put option concentration is relatively higher than Call options suggesting expectations of limited downsides," said ICICI Direct.

On the rollover front, both stock and index futures have seen better than average rollover into the next series, the brokerage added.

The falling volatility below 20 levels continued to favour bulls.

Corporate Action

Here are key corporate actions taking place in the coming week:

Global Cues

Here are key global data points to watch out for in the first week of new year 2021:

Georgia Elections

The two Georgia runoff elections on January 5 will be key thing to watch out for as that will decide which party (Democratic or Republican) will get control of US Senate.

"If Republicans win at least one Senate seat, they will maintain a slim majority. If Democrats sweep the dual runoffs, the chamber would be split 50-50 and the tiebreaking vote would go to Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, giving President-elect Joe Bidens party full sway over Congress. That raises the possibility of tax-reform proposals that many investors fear would hurt stock prices," Reuters said.
I dont like making predictions, specially gloom and doom-ridden ones during the pandemic, but as we head into the new year, heres one that I think is now inevitable. I reckon that 2021 will be the year when the upmarket gourmet supermarket-food hall will flounder before it dies. The neighbourhood grocer, who has built up a relationship with his local community of shoppers, will survive  flourish, even  because of convenience, reliability and familiarity.

But fewer and fewer people are going to be willing to get into their cars, drive to an upmarket supermarket, find parking, locate a trolley, negotiate a narrow aisle and line up to pay. And the so-called gourmet places will find it harder and harder to maintain margins that will allow them to pay rents, salaries etc., and still turn a profit.

I guess this may have happened anyway but the pandemic has accelerated the death of the gourmet food hall. In the months when we were locked down and, in the period after that, when we were too scared to go to shops, we discovered that we could get everything we needed delivered to our doorsteps.

Anata.in have created a 24X7 delivery service that drops artisanal products to your door

Most gratifying, to me, at least, is that we no longer need to hanker after foreign foods. These days we make nearly everything in India. And unlike the West, where the big shops are full of industrial, packaged products, the food scene in India is bursting with artisanal operations. Their products are made in small batches by people who care about quality.

This was driven home to me when I went on the website of Anata.in. Over the last several months, I have written regularly about artisanal food operations because I have been excited about the quality of the prepared foods and raw vegetables that are now available for delivery. But a little voice inside me has always said: I wish there was an easier way. I wish people didnt have to directly contact every single artisanal producer.

It seems like the people at Anata.in heard me. Because they have created a 24X7 delivery service that drops artisanal products to your door. Not only is their range vast but I felt pangs of familiarity because many of the producers on their roster are people I have written about (Shroomery, Artisan Meats, etc.).

The hot dog buns from Artisanal Bread are soft and delicious

While I tend to focus mainly on quality, Anata focuses on sustainability as well. The card that came with my order said, Anata was started to solve our own needs. Each of us wanted to reduce our carbon footprint but did not know where to start.

When they did start, it was simple enough: We reached out to people who were already doing the work: an environmental designer passionate about experimenting with coffee roasts, a mom creating artisanal ale concentrates from her living room, a zero-waste chocolate entrepreneur who invented his own plastic-free packaging from cacao husk.

The systems are more complex. As soon as you place your order, they collect the products you want from a variety of entrepreneurs, bring them to their central facility, put your order together and dispatch a rider with the boxes to your home. Because it is an idea whose time has come, the producers are willing to give up part of their margins to be on the platform. So, a consumer pays exactly as much as he or she would have paid had they gone to several different websites and ordered the products.

The vegetables from Krishi Cress can be fresh and distinctive

It is, I guess, an online artisanal gourmet store that takes the place of the dying brick-and-mortar food halls of old. If you are new to this online/delivery world and want to know what to look for online, here are some tips.

Cakes and bread: Most commercial Indian bread is depressingly poor and is made by a nasty industrial process that shortens baking time but also leeches out all flavour. Till recently, the only retail alternative was at five-star hotels. But even hotel bread can be nasty and the cakes are often made with synthetic cream and chocolate.

So, its wise to always go niche. There are good bakers in every city. In Mumbai, Pooja Dhingra is the queen of the oven. In Delhi, Sahil Mehta is respected for the quality of his baking.

Unlike the West, where the big shops are full of industrial, packaged products, the food scene in India is bursting with artisanal operations

But even if you dont go to those superstars, look for small operations on the net. I tried the crostini from Farming V2 through Anata and it was of a far superior quality than any five-star hotel. The hot dog buns from Artisanal Bread were soft and delicious.

Ordering cakes can be difficult because there are now too many small operations, some run by people who have just picked recipes off the Internet. But look around: the real talent is in the artisanal bakeries.

Eggs: The only thing worse than bland broiler chicken is a pale, watery, industrial egg. Over 15 years ago, I recommended the then obscure Keggs for the quality of its free-range eggs. But there are now many others in the fray. Anata has some of the newer producers but Im sure there are others.

Vegetables: The vegetables from such delivery options as Krishi Cress, which deal directly with farmers, can be fresh and distinctive. They are not particularly expensive and you can find otherwise hard-to-get veggies. But a note of caution: I still havent found a good source for tasty tomatoes!

Meat and charcuterie like spicy Italian pork sausages from Artisan Meats are better than those from large companies

Meat: There are many large meat companies with large advertising budgets like Licious in the market now, but I stick to smaller producers. Most of the meat and charcuterie in my house still is from Artisan Meats. The only other suppliers I would trust for charcuterie are Meisterwurst and the Oberoi deli. All the famous Indian branded pork products that I have seen in the shops are uniformly disappointing.

Pickles: Who knew? I first asked for recommendation for meat pickles two months ago and got so deluged by the responses that I have come to the conclusion that pickle makers are Indias secret food stars. Never buy retail. Always buy your pickles on the net. They can be fabulous.

Coffee: Always go on the net: especially if you are looking for capsules for coffee-machines. I have relied on Fresh Brew for years now and am constantly astonished by how high their quality is.

My product of the week: Chorizo Hummus by Artisanal Collective.

I dont even particularly like hummus, so I would never have ordered this ! I ordered a box of assorted products from Anata (they choose so its always full of surprises) and a jar of chorizo hummus came with a handwritten label, which gave the date of preparation. (It was delivered the same day.)

So check the web. Explore. There has never been a better time to eat well at home.

*The spelling of Artisanal Collective was corrected online on January 4, 2021

The views expressed by the columnist are personal

From HT Brunch, January 3, 2021

Follow us on twitter.com/HTBrunch

Connect with us on facebook.com/hindustantimesbrunch
The latest news on COVID-19 developments in Canada (all times Eastern):

4:05 p.m.

A spokeswoman for Alberta Premier Jason Kenney says at least two more members of the United Conservative government traveled abroad over the holidays.

Christine Myatt says Jeremy Nixon and Tanya Fir, both representing Calgary-area ridings, took trips to the U.S. in recent weeks.

She says Nixon has been ordered to cut his trip to Hawaii short and return home on the earliest possible flight.

Myatt says Fir issued a facebook poast in which she apologized for taking a trip to visit her sister and noted that she was now back in Alberta.

Kenney issued an order yesterday barring members of his caucus and senior party staff from going abroad during the COVID-19 pandemic.

3:45 p.m.

Saskatchewan is reporting 485 new COVID-19 cases over the past two days, along with three new deaths.The province says that as of today, 3,722 doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine have been administered to health-care workers in Regina and Saskatoon.It says with the arrival of 4,900 doses of the Moderna vaccine, the Far North Central and far North West regions will begin vaccinating priority populations on Monday.The government says 160 people are in hospital with COVID-19, with 33 of those in intensive care.

2:40 p.m.

Manitoba officials are reporting 11 deaths from COVID-19 over the past two days.The province says in its daily pandemic update that 326 new cases of the virus were identified between 9:30 a.m. on Thursday and 9:30 a.m. today.The province did not issue an update on New Year's Day.The province says the five-day test positivity rate is 10.4 per cent.There are 239 patients with active COVID-19 in Manitoba hospitals, 36 of whom are in intensive care.---

2:30 p.m.

Health authorities in New Brunswick are reporting 10 new cases of COVID-19.Officials say the new infections are in the Fredericton region and all patients are self-isolating.Chief medical officer of health Dr. Jennifer Russell says the spike in new cases is concerning, but public health suspects a number of the new cases are connected.Russell says contact tracing is underway to find out.

1:50 p.m.

Alberta's chief medical officer of health says there were an estimated 900 new COVID-19 cases recorded in the province on New Year's Day.Dr. Deena Hinshaw provided the update in a tweet today.She did not give an update on the number of new COVID-19 deaths in the province.Hinshaw says there was an estimated seven per cent test positivity on about 12,700 labratory tests.She says the number of people with COVID-19 in hospitals and intensive care was stable.

1:40 p.m.

Health authorities in Nova Scotia are reporting 13 new cases of COVID-19.They say five of the new cases are at Churchill Academy, a private school in Dartmouth, near Halifax.With two cases previously reported at the school, the latest numbers bring the total known infections there to seven.Nova Scotia now has 27 active cases of COVID-19.

11:00 a.m.

Ontario has set yet another single-day high for COVID-19 cases in the province.

The 3,363 new diagnoses reported today is just slightly above the previous record of 3,328 logged on Thursday.

Ontario also recorded 2,476 new cases from New Year's Day, when it did not release new data.

The province recorded 95 new deaths in the two days since its last report.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 2, 2021.

State police at Wyoming have identified a body found in a wooded area near the Midway Shopping Center as 41-year-old Jennifer E. Herron of Wyoming.

West Wyoming Borough Police previously posted on Facebook that Herron had been missing and asked the public to be on the lookout for her. She was last seen at the Midway Shopping Center.

Police were searching the shopping plaza on Saturday afternoon and state police later stated in a release that Herron was found deceased in a nearby wooded area.

State police said there was no indication of foul play. The cause and manner of death is pending an autopsy by the Luzerne County coroners office at a later date.
The administration successfully completed its first dry run for Covid-19 vaccination wherein the software and the technical part involved in the vaccination process was put to test. The officials involved said that there were no technical glitches observed during the dry run.

The dry run was conducted in three sites at district hospital Aundh, primary health care centre, Maan and at the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation-run Jijamata hospital.

After the dry run conducted the administration has now said that now they are fully prepared to administer vaccines for health care workers under the first phase.

Dr Ashok Nandapurkar, district civil surgeon, Aundh district hospital, said, The dry run was to assess the preparedness of the administration in terms of the technical preparation. It is similar to the election process and includes the observation room. We have to verify the beneficiarys Aadhar number and check if the name is enrolled on the app, then administer the vaccine and also update the daily doses used.

A few doctors, however, said that the vaccination process might get delayed as it takes more time to verify the details and update the COVID Vaccine Intelligence Network (Co-WIN) application.

Co-WIN is an upgraded version of the Electronic Vaccine Intelligence Network (eVIN), an indigenously developed platform in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

One of the health officers from PMC said that the technical part in the vaccination drive is time-consuming and unnecessary. The office requesting anonymity said, It is futile to update the data of each beneficiary and also vaccinating those as per scheduled appointment instead of a first come first serve basis. If someone misses their appointment then they have to reschedule their appointment which is a tedious process. Also, all the details have to be updated regularly on the app after every vaccination which will be technically difficult in case of thousands of beneficiaries.

The state government in its letters to all district administrations wrote that the dry run was conducted to ensure physical verification of all proposed sites for the adequacy of space, logistical arrangements, internet connectivity, electricity, safety among others. Each session site must have separate entry and exit in a three-room set-up (waiting room, vaccination room & observation room) with adequate space outside for awareness generation activities.

A total of 1.10 lakh health care workers in the district are eligible for vaccination in the first phase out of which 89,000 have registered on the Co-WIN application.
A book documenting poverty relief efforts in impoverished Chinese villages visited by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, has been published by the People's Publishing House.

Since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, Xi has made inspection trips to the country's 14 contiguous areas of extreme poverty, visiting 24 impoverished villages, to help advance the fight against poverty in these areas.

Consisting of 17 research reports and QR codes directing readers to three episodes of special television features, the book depicts the remarkable achievements and valuable experience of poverty alleviation in these villages under Xi's guidance.

The book is expected to inspire officials and the general public to study and grasp Xi's important thoughts on poverty alleviation, and to forge ahead in the new era.
An ex-serviceman has climbed the first of 50 mountains in 2021 in memory of his brother who was killed serving in Afghanistan.

John Davies, 31, from St Helens, Merseyside, is taking on the challenge in memory of his brother Chris, who died in action in 2010.

The veteran kickstarted the endeavour on New Years Day when he trudged 25 miles up and down the tricky Yorkshire Three Peaks.

John Davies, 31, (pictured) from St Helens, Merseyside, climbed the first of 50 mountains in 2021 in memory of his brother who was killed serving in Afghanistan

The veteran (pictured left) is taking on the challenge in memory of his brother Chris (pictured right), who died in action in 2010

Over the next 12 months the veteran will conquer dozens of peaks across Britain including Scafell Pike in the Lake District and Snowdon in Wales.

He is undertaking the epic challenge to raise money for the armed force's charity Veterans' Lifeline, which helps support struggling ex-serviceman.

His brother Chris, 22, was on patrol in Helmand Province when he was ambushed by Taliban insurgents and shot at, suffering a fatal bullet wound to his chest.

Both men were serving with the Irish Guards (pictured), and John is undertaking the challenge to raise money for the armed force's charity Veterans' Lifeline

The veteran kickstarted the endeavour on New Years Day when he trudged 25 miles up and down the tricky Yorkshire Three Peaks (pictured)

John was in Helmand at the time of his brother's death and both men were serving with the Irish Guards.

He said traversing the mountains of Whernside at 2,415ft, Ingleborough at 2,372ft and Pen-y-ghent at 2,277ft was 'much harder' than he had imagined.

He added: 'It was really good but definitely much harder than I thought it would be.

'The first 20 miles were fine but then my feet started killing me an I thought, "I would love to give up now", but that was never going to happen.

'I'm doing this for a great charity and also for my brother so there will definitely be no giving up.'

John said: 'Chris will be in my thoughts a lot while I'm climbing. They won't be sad thoughts but how he'd be laughing at me as I struggle along.

'He'd have been the first person to come and do it with me though.'

John served with the Irish Guards for a decade before retiring at the rank of Guardsman in 2018.

Chris Davies, 22, (pictured) was on patrol in Helmand Province when he was ambushed by Taliban insurgents and shot at, suffering a fatal bullet wound to his chest

He did three tours in the Middle East. It was during his second in 2010 when his brother Chris, who was undertaking his first tour, was killed.

John, now a warehouse worker, said the idea to do a mountain challenge came to him last summer after he decided to get back into fitness training.

He added: 'I then decided to do it all in my brother's name as a bit of added motivation. I can't let him down now.'

John expects to climb a mountain almost every weekend in 2021.

John said the idea to do a mountain challenge came to him last summer and expects to climb a mountain almost every weekend in 2021

He's working his way up to doing the National Three Peaks Challenge, in which participants attempt to climb the highest mountains in England, Scotland and Wales within 24 hours.

Charity Veteran's Life was set up by one of John's old superiors in the army.

He said that after his brother was killed he 'kept sane' thanks to the support of the fellow serviceman around him.

He added: 'A lot of veterans don't have this sort of support and struggle with a wide range of problems whilst still serving and even more so once they've left.

'Veteran's Life do amazing work.'
Lorraine Carew is waiting for her next court appearance. She is being chased for a debt of 14,000 and reckons she and her husband Gary, who are both retired, owe another 6,000 by now.

John OBrien has the specific figure for which he is being pursued in court  10,533.57. He says that he is at his wits end.

Also in today's Special Report:

During building boom 'it wasn't light-touch regulation, it was no-touch regulation' - The full cost of repairs to defective apartments in the State could be more than 1bn, an Oireachtas committee was told last month.

One of the biggest problems for me is that we dont know whether that is the final amount, he says.

How much more are they going to come looking for?

Gita, who doesnt want her surname recorded, reckons she and her husband owe around 20,000 by this stage. They have two children and bought their home just before all the problems were exposed three years ago.

We are very upset. We feel it is very unfair. We have tried to involve politicians, but everybody is being hands off. We got completely ignored and left on our own.

Eugene OByrne hasnt been served with any papers yet. Hes about to retire, bought his little apartment a few years back after a painful divorce and now finds himself in a mess that is not of his making.

I was in dread of being brought to court, he says. I dont need that pressure. Ive never been in court in my life.

None of these people ran up debts through flagrant spending, bad investments or living beyond their means. They simply bought a home and trusted that it was a safe and secure abode.

I dont need that pressure." - Eugene O'Byrne, who bought his apartment a few years ago, now finds himself in a mess not of his own making. Picture: Eamon Ward

Instead, their homes in the Bru na Sionna development in Shannon, Co. Clare, turned out to be dangerous and defective. Fire safety and other defects have been discovered that will cost at least 4m to rectify. The developer is long gone and out of business.

The complete mess that he left in his wake has now resulted in deep divisions between homeowners as how best to rectify the problems.

Some who are dissatisfied with the approach are refusing to pay for remedial work because they havent got the money, they want more information or they are objecting on the basis of fairness. These owners call themselves the Just and Equitable Group.

They are now being pursued for the monies required to fix the problems by fellow owners aligned to the Owners Management Company (OMC). These owners are also in the red, but cant see any other way to address the issue other than paying what is required.

Read More The dark side of the boom for homeowners

And there is a third entity, Double S Housing, which swooped in to pick up some of the apartments cheaply and now has its own priorities.

To that extent, Bru Na Sionna represents the very worst kind of fall-out from the excesses and light-touch regulation of the Celtic Tiger years.

The various groups of owners are now at odds over how to fix a problem that was created by both the developer, by how he built the place, and the State, by completely failing to regulate the construction.

We bought in 2016 in order to downsize and enjoy retirement, Ms Carew says.

We ended up walking into a minefield. Now Gary cant sleep. Hes worked all his life. We never owed anybody a penny and were facing into this now.

Bru na Sionna was built by Paddy Burke Builders, a Lisdoonvarna-based firm that was one of the biggest homebuilders in the Mid-West during the 2000s.

It was built between 2005 and 2007 at the height of the building madness. During this period, there was very little monitoring or policing of building by the State regulatory authorities.

The regime was known as self-certification. In reality, standards of construction were largely left up to the industry.

The Bru na Sionna development consists of 12 blocks, including 237 residential units, mainly apartments, and 12 commercial units, one of which is a creche.

Around half of the units were eligible for Section 23 tax relief, an instrument used to attract investors with major tax relief. It has been widely accepted that the Section 23 relief played a role in ramping up construction to the ultimately unsustainable level that collapsed in 2008.

The properties were quickly snapped up, the majority bought by investors, including a number of solicitors based in the Mid-West.

Burkes firm went into receivership in 2010 under the weight of debts. At that stage, Burke still owned 44 apartments in the development.

Bru na Sionna had been financed by a loan from Anglo Irish Bank. Nama took control and appointed a receiver. Since then, Nama has sold the loan to Promontoria, which is a subsidiary of the well-known Cerberus vulture fund.

It soon became obvious that Burke had left the development in a poor state. The OMC felt that the required works should be undertaken by the receiver on behalf of Burke.

The receiver disagreed. He was of the opinion that the owners had to get in line with other creditors. Both parties armed themselves with lawyers and headed off to the courts. That action has been winding its way through the Circuit and High Courts for the last 10 years.

An AGM for the owners took place on February 11, 2011, in the Oakwood Arms Hotel in Shannon. By then, the OMC, called Tullyvaraga, had taken on Quinn Property Management as its managing agent to deal with the day-to-day business of running the development.

The minutes highlighted a number of building and fire safety defects that had already been discovered. These included a number of leaks, lack of emergency lighting and defective fire alarm panels and hydrants. The meeting was told that, in two blocks, there was a major problem with smoke ventilation.

This is a major health and safety issue and these two buildings are not compliant under fire regulations, the minutes read.

Residents Lorraine Carew with Eugene O'Byrne (left) and John O'Brien. None of these people ran up debts through flagrant spending, bad investments or living beyond their means. Picture: Eamon Ward

There was discussion on whether Clare County Council should be informed of the problem. The local authority is the fire authority.

The minutes show one of the owners again contended that Clare County Council should be notified and requested to rectify the serious problems. The managing agent advised that, in his experience, the council would not deal with the problems except to close down the units.

He stated that he had discharged his obligations by informing the directors, the receiver, the committee and the owners. It was within any individual owners power to report the matter to the council if they so wished.

Under the law, there is no obligation to report fire safety defects to the local fire authority.

A feature of the discovery of defects over the last decade has been that many owners dont want the matter revealed. Informing the local fire authority could lead to buildings being evacuated, as noted in the AGM.

Read More Residents facing 400k fire safety bill

Details emerging in the public domain would inevitably affect property prices.

A number of apartments were sold over the following six years without specific reference to the seriousness of the defects as highlighted in the AGM.

Under the Multi Unit Development (MUD) Act there is a legal requirement to tell purchasers whether a considerable increase in the service charge is pending or whether the developer still needs to do work.

But there appears to be little provision for dealing with a situation where the developer has gone bust.

Ms Carew, who bought in 2016, says she and her husband knew nothing of the defects.

We never would have bought if we knew how bad it was, she says. It is also the case that the OMC was unaware at that point of the extent of the fire safety defects.

In 2017, an engineer inspecting an apartment for a prospective purchaser spotted some serious defects. He informed the County Clare fire officer. An investigation by engineers Scott Murphy was commissioned.

It discovered major defects which, it was estimated, would require work costing around 2.5m to bring up to standard. Fire marshals were immediately deployed to ensure that, in the event of a fire, everybody could be evacuated.

Read More 240 homeowners in Co Clare told pay 2.25m for defects

Most of the owners knew nothing about any of this ahead of that years AGM.

Ms Carew recalls seeing men in high-vis vests around the estate.

I didnt know who they were, but they were noticeable, she says.

I thought there must be some security thing.

Towards the end of the year, a circular was issued about the AGM. There was reference that there could be a substantial increase in the service charge.

By then, one of the investors in Bru na Sionna, John Callinan, an Ennis-based solicitor, was the chair of the OMC.

Seven years previously, the corresponding AGM had heard that he was Paddy Burke's solicitor.

The Irish Examiner understands there were around 30 owners present at the meeting on December 18, 2017.

Mr Callinan laid out the bad news. A significant programme of works would need to be completed. Costings, based off worst-case scenario, would come to a figure circa 2.25m it was hoped that this figure would be reduced with positive news once further inspections were completed.

As it turned out, the figure eventually increased to around 4m, but nobody knew that then.

Read More Apartment owners face 4m bill over fire safety defects

Mr Callinan advised that the OMC were now trying to avoid a situation where an evacuation notice could be issued to the owners of the apartments.

He said that he was willing to step aside if there was a doubt in relation to any of the information provided and that he was an owner of a number of units and was subject to this significant and painful levy, but he did understand the necessity.

A few of those present wanted to delay the imposition of a levy on the night as they had just been familiarised with the extent of the problem. A vote to delay was heavily defeated.

The meeting was told that there was a cash-flow problem and action would have to be taken immediately. A vote to incorporate the levy into the service charge was passed by a vote of 61 to four. A number of those votes were proxies held by the chairman and other directors.

The outcome of the meeting was that everybody would have to pay the levy  up to 16,000 per apartment  based on the square footage of the property.

The meeting was told this was how it had to be according to the lease and the law, but there is dispute as to whether that is the case.

That was the night that chasms began to open up between various owners. Investors, for instance, were understandably eager to get the remedial works done. Most of them could afford the levy and they could also claim tax relief on it, which would reduce the cost by up to half.

Owner occupiers had to pay the full whack and, while some had the money and were eager to ensure their homes were made safe, others simply couldnt afford it.

John O'Brien is being pursued in court for over 10,500 and says he is at his wits end. Picture: Eamon Ward

Among the two dozen or so owner occupiers, there are some aligned with the OMC, while the Just and Equitable group, which is refusing to pay, includes some investors. So the chasm is not simply about investor versus owner occupiers.

The court applications to enforce the debts of some of those refusing to pay began last year. Those in favour of paying suggest that there is no choice but to do so.

Nobody wants to be dragging fellow owners into court, one owner told the Irish Examiner.

And as far as I know, anybody who cant pay is not having the debt enforced. Everybody has been left in the lurch here. Most of us just want to deal with it as best as we can.

In 2019, there was a further complication when commercial property company Double S Housing bought the 44 units originally owned by builder Paddy Burke from the receiver. The units are in three of the 12 blocks.

Double S and the OMC are in dispute as to the fairest way to apportion costs for the remedial work.

Read More Paying the price of building free-for-all

We are prepared to pay more than the levy imposed on us because we recognise that our three blocks have more defects than the other blocks, according to Noel Hughes of Double S.

Were happy to pay the levy, happy to resolve the issue, happy to sit down with anybody.

A director of the OMC, Stuart Howard, attempted to broker a sit-down between the two sides but was unsuccessful.

Last month, he resigned from the OMC. When contacted, he declined to comment. A number of serving directors of the OMC were contacted but also declined to comment.

The latest newsletter from the OMC sets out its position.

As an OMC, our purpose is to benefit all the owners. However, we hope that we might find some common ground that would allow Double S to work with us for the benefit of all the owners in all blocks of Bru na Sionna in addition to benefitting their blocks.

The Just and Equitable group was aligned with Double S earlier in the year, but this is no longer the case.

All of those involved agree that the various disputes have held up the remedial work, which has yet to move on to its second phase.

Read More Building oversight simply common sense

A list of questions submitted to the OMC through its managing agent in advance of publication did not receive a reply, despite repeated attempts.

What emerges is a picture of serious disputes between various groups of owners over how to rectify a major problem that was the making of completely separate parties.

The original building works did not adhere to proper and safe standards. Once the company used by the builder went into liquidation, he personally was off the hook.

The State and its agencies failed to fulfil its duty to ensure that homes are built safely and properly.

It is now widely accepted that during the Celtic Tiger years this duty was flagrantly disregarded through a complete lack of enforcement of building regulation.

During building boom 'it wasn't light-touch regulation, it was no-touch regulation'

The full cost of repairs to defective apartments in the State could be more than 1bn, an Oireachtas committee was told last month.

That will not come as a surprise to anybody who has looked at this area.

Since 2011, there has been a drip-feed of examples of apartment complexes that have been found to be defective and dangerous.

As with Bru na Sionna, many of these discoveries occur when an engineer is examining an apartment on behalf of a prospective owner.

Practically all of these defective developments were built between 2000 and 2010 during a building boom which saw practically no regulation.

It wasnt light-touch regulation, one industry source told the Irish Examiner. It was no-touch regulation.

Typically, corners were cut during this boom. Fire safety certificates, for instance, were issued on the basis of design, rather than construction.

Therefore all developments would have had a certificate but that did not mean that the building was built according to the design criteria. In many instances, they were not.

At the same time, the States obligation to police building standards was practically non-existent.

At one point during the boom years, there were more dog inspectors than building inspectors at work.

The Oireachtas Housing committee was told that there are up to 100,000 apartments in this country with serious defects, mostly related to fire-safety issues or water ingress.

In many instances, the developer is no longer in business. However, in some cases the developer went bust but is back at work in a different guise. Any liability for defective developments died with the company that was used to build it.

Barrister in construction law, Deirdre Ni Fhlionn, told the housing committee that people who purchased defective apartments were doing it in a context where builders and developers were, and are still, insulated by the legal system from the risks in what they built".

Kath Cottier, director of housing services with housing association Cluid and chair of the Construction Defects Alliance (CDA), told the committee that while fire defects continue to be found in properties built since 2008, the majority of issues are in Celtic Tiger-era properties.

"From a health-and-safety point of view, this is an appalling vista," Ms Cottier said. "We cant continue with a hear-no-evil, see-no-evil approach to the issue of fire and other defects."

Read More Huge numbers of Celtic Tiger apartments may be affected by fire defects, housing committee hears

"We dont even have to mention Grenfell Tower to see where that road leads to," she said, citing the high-rise tragedy in London in June 2017, which killed 72 people.

"We simply dont know how many are affected by defects," Ms Cottier said, adding that fire engineer Eamon O'Boyle had warned, earlier in 2020, that "fire safety of apartments is one of the many legacy issues faced by Government and it cannot be long-fingered until there is a tragedy".

Mr O'Boyle had provided estimates, Ms Cottier said, that 75% of the Celtic Tiger-era apartments sported fire defects, the majority of which are not visible to a layman, at a potential remediation cost of between 5,000 and 60,000 per unit, "with 15,000 seeming to be the median cost".

The committee also heard the majority of buildings with fire defects have yet to be inspected, as the Government opted, post-Grenfell, to only survey buildings of 18m in height and greater, excluding the majority of apartments.

In January 2018, the committee (from the previous Dail) issued a report, 'Safe As Houses', about the problem.

Among its 26 recommendations were:

The setting-up of a redress scheme for those who had purchased defective apartments;

Better regulation through the direct employment of assigned certifiers by the local authority;

Strengthening of consumer law for purchasers of defective apartments.

Sinn Feins Eoin O Brion, who authored the report, said at its launch that it must not lie on a shelf. It has unanimous cross-party support, he said.

The next step is to engage with the minister for housing and his officials to see how the recommendations can be progressed.

Despite the report and enthusiastic noises from Government parties, there has been little concrete progress in addressing the issue over the last two years.
WASHINGTON - A new Congress convened Sunday with Republicans in open warfare as several GOP senators unleashed salvos against at least a dozen Republican colleagues who are planning to challenge the results of the presidential election this week.

The bitter split among Republicans, virtually unprecedented during the tenure of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., came as the traditionally celebratory moment unfolded instead against the backdrop of a pandemic that is killing thousands of Americans each day.

The conflict played out in public as dissenting senators said they only wanted to "get the facts out" and critics said they were sabotaging democracy. Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., called the challenge "a very, very, bad idea," adding: "I'm concerned about the division in America - that's the biggest issue - but obviously this is not healthy for the Republican Party, either."

It was the starkest illustration of the conflict that could engulf the Republican Party in the post-Trump era as factions prepare to battle over whether the party will continue down the unorthodox, scorched-earth path forged by President Donald Trump or return to a more traditional brand of conservative politics. The back-and-forth came two days before a pair of special elections in Georgia that will determine whether the GOP retains control of the Senate.

Sunday's clash was triggered by the plans of 12 senators to challenge as many as six states' electoral vote tallies at Wednesday's joint session of Congress, a usually routine procedure that this year is shaping up as the final opportunity of Trump loyalists to insist, without evidence, that President-elect Joe Biden's win was somehow illegitimate.

In the House, a similar split developed: Several dozen GOP members have signaled that they will question the results, prompting a top Republican leader to call the idea "an exceptionally dangerous precedent."

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., who was narrowly elected to a fourth term as speaker Sunday, was among those noting that the challenge was almost certain to fail. But she said lawmakers have a responsibility to counter the dissenters' claims.

"Our choice is not to use the forum to debate the presidency of Donald Trump," she wrote in a letter to colleagues. "While there is no doubt as to the outcome of the Biden-Harris presidency, our further success is to convince more of the American people to trust in our democratic system."

While the chances of derailing Biden's victory are virtually nonexistent - doing so would require the Democratic-controlled House, for instance, to reject electoral votes for Biden - the event provides a stage for Republican lawmakers seeking to court Trump loyalists, who may be influential in the GOP for years to come, by proclaiming their fealty to the president.

The conflict began Saturday evening, when a group of 11 Republican senators announced that they would join Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., in challenging the electoral tally of one or more states, making it clear that the revolt would not be a minor affair but would involve more than one-fifth of Senate Republicans.

Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., said in a statement that the effort "directly undermines" Americans' right to choose their leaders, and Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, called it an "egregious ploy." Hawley shot back that Toomey and others were engaging in "shameless personal attacks."

The contention spread through the party on Sunday as lawmakers returned to the Capitol for the swearing-in. Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., among the challengers, argued that the effort was no different from Democratic objections to the 1969 and 2005 counts. In those instances, however, the losing candidate had long since conceded, and the dissent was marginal.

"Our democracy is strong enough to handle conversations about electoral integrity issues," Lankford said.

Should the challenges be rejected Wednesday, Lankford said he would "absolutely" accept Biden as the rightful president. "Our goal is obviously to try to get the facts out, more than to be able to vote against the electors," he added.

Lankford and Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., a former House member who was sworn in Sunday as a senator, said they were signing on to the challenge as a response to concerns from constituents worried about electoral improprieties.

"I think the people of Kansas feel disenfranchised," Marshall said. "They want us to follow through on the many irregularities that they saw in this particular election."

He brushed off the near-unanimous finding of courts and state officials, including Republicans, that the election was fair. "I don't think that the courts have heard all the facts," Marshall said. "And I think that my responsibility is to fulfill my duty to the Constitution, the oath that we just took."

But many Republicans appeared distraught that the move would put party members on record as fighting the clear outcome of a democratic election.

Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., said lawmakers had "a solemn responsibility to accept these electoral college votes that have been certified" by state officials. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., added, that "the overwhelming weight of the evidence is that Joe Biden defeated my candidate, Donald Trump, and I have to live with it."

Late Sunday, Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., issued a statement saying that he shares the "concerns of many Arkansans about irregularities in the presidential election," but that the Founders "entrusted our elections chiefly to the states - not Congress," and that he therefore will not oppose the counting of certified electoral votes.

The rare open conflict was an embarrassing spectacle for McConnell, who has for weeks urged Republicans to refrain from disputing the electoral tally. McConnell fears it will force his members into a politically difficult choice of either defying Trump or rejecting the electorate's verdict.

While that is not expected to create an immediate problem for McConnell's authority - he was reelected GOP leader by acclamation in November - it demonstrates that Trump's departure from the White House will not diminish the intraparty tensions that made the past four years a high-wire act for many Republicans.

McConnell himself declined on Sunday to address the dissension in his ranks. "We'll be dealing with all of that on Wednesday," he said.

Democrats warned that the dissenters' actions could damage the country for years to come.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said Republicans are "hurting themselves and hurting the democracy . . . to try to please somebody who has no fidelity to elections or even the truth."

Democrats have been particularly exasperated by Trump supporters' tactic of groundlessly claiming the election was unfair, then citing the voter doubts fueled by those claims as a reason for further investigation. Dozens of judges, including several appointed by Trump, have summarily rejected allegations that any fraud capable of changing the outcome occurred.

"There's a political invasion of the body-snatchers which is taking place," said Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass. "Donald Trump and his supporters are now actually able to create a situation this coming Wednesday where people who are senators and House members are going to vote for something that is absolutely and totally untrue."

The GOP turmoil also reached into the House, where Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., the third-ranking House Republican, circulated a 21-page memo rebutting the case made by the dissenting senators. She urged members not to go down the path of questioning states' voting tallies.

"Such objections set an exceptionally dangerous precedent, threatening to steal states' explicit constitutional responsibility for choosing the President and bestowing it instead on Congress," Cheney wrote. "This is directly at odds with the Constitution's clear text and our core beliefs as Republicans."

Former House speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., weighed in as well, saying "it is difficult to conceive of a more anti-democratic and anti-conservative act than a federal intervention to overturn the results of state-certified elections."

The turmoil reflected the rocky path that probably lies ahead for what will be the most closely divided Congress in memory. The Senate would be split 50-50 if Democrats prevail in both Georgia races Tuesday, while the Democrats' advantage in the House has dwindled to several seats.

On Sunday, Pelosi became the second lawmaker in the past 34 years to win a fourth term as speaker, claiming 216 votes to the 209 that Republicans cast for their leader, Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif. Five moderate Democrats either voted "present" or supported another Democrat.

Pelosi's vote total fell below the usual 218-vote threshold for a House majority in part because three lawmakers missed the vote because of illness, including two who recently tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

Two House members voted even though they were still technically in quarantine, using a special, newly constructed alcove in the House gallery sealed off by plexiglass. Republicans accused Democrats of bending the quarantine rules to boost Pelosi's vote total, but the change did not alter the outcome: Two Democrats and one Republican - Reps. Jeff Fortenberry, R-Neb., Tim Ryan, D-Ohio, and Frederica Wilson, D-Fla. - used that area to vote.

Scores of Democratic members have used new proxy voting procedures to weigh in from afar during the past seven months, but those procedures were not allowed for Sunday's vote, so lawmakers had to appear in person.

The proceedings began on a somber note, with the announcement of an unexpected vacancy due to the death last week of Rep.-elect Luke Letlow, a 41-year-old Louisiana Republican who had been hospitalized with covid-19, the illness that the novel coronavirus can cause.

Veteran lawmakers, accustomed to the joyous pomp and packed House chamber for their swearing-in, found the restrictions jarring. Only first-time members were allowed to bring a guest, for example.

Rep. Fred Upton, R-Mich., first elected in 1986, called the atmosphere "real different" after leaving the Capitol's coronavirus testing site. "First time I've been without my family," he said. "My wife's always up in the gallery."

The selection of the new speaker - historically made with all members on the floor and lawmakers rising one at a time in alphabetical order to shout their selection - was instead done in shifts, with 72 lawmakers called to the floor at a time.

Shortly before 5:30 p.m., Pelosi took the rostrum to speak before a chamber with fewer than 150 members as the other two-thirds of lawmakers watched on television.

She began by noting that a new Congress's first day usually begins with a bipartisan service at a Capitol Hill church - but not this year.

"Until that is possible, let us pray personally." Pelosi said. "Let there be peace on Earth, and let it begin with us."

- - -

The Washington Post's Anne Gearan contributed to this report.
Champaign, IL (61820)

Today

Showers this evening, becoming a steady rain overnight. Low around 65F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%..

Tonight

Showers this evening, becoming a steady rain overnight. Low around 65F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%.
NEW DELHI : Waterlogged tents, soaked firewood and blankets, and cold conditions -- farmers camping at Delhi borders in protest against new farm laws had a difficult morning on Sunday due to overnight rains.

The continuous downpour led to waterlogging at agitation venues and waterproof tents did not help much, according to protesters.

Farmer leader Abhimanyu Kohar, who is a member of the Sankyukt Kisan Morcha, said farmers have waterproof tents but they cannot protect them from biting cold and waterlogging.

"The situation is very bad at protest sites due to rain which has caused waterlogging. There is so much cold after the rains, but the government is not able to see our misery," he said.

Gurwinder Singh, who is camping at the Singhu Border, said there is waterlogging at some places as civic facilities are not up to the mark but asserted that the weather will not dampen the spirit of farmers who have been protesting for over a month.

"Despite facing several problems, we will not move from here until our demands are met," he said.

According to a MeT Department official, heavy rainfall was reported in areas across Delhi and minimum temperatures have increased due to clouding and easterly winds.

"Safdarjung observatory recorded a minimum temperature of 9.9 degrees Celsius...with 25 mm rain. Palam observatory recorded a minimum temperature of 11.4 degrees Celsius with 18 mm rain. Rain with hail storm is expected until January 6," the official said.

Thousands of farmers, mostly from Punjab and Haryana, have been camping at three Delhi border points --- Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur -- for more than a month, demanding repeal of the three farm laws and a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP) and two other issues.

Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ugrahan) leader Sukhdev Singh, whose outfit is leading the protest at Tikri border, said arrangements made by farmers to brave the cold weather are not helping much because of rains and subsequent waterlogging.Veerpal Singh, a protesting farmer, said their blankets, clothes and wood are soaked.

"Our clothes are soaked due to waterlogging caused by rains. Besides, we are facing difficulties to cook food as rain water has also soaked firewood. We do have an LPG cylinder but not everyone here has it," he said.

Dharmveer Yadav, who is camping at the Ghazipur border protest site, said farmers will not move an inch from their agitation venues.

"We are ready to face any problem, be it heavy rain or storm, but we will not leave this place in any condition until our demands are met," Yadav said.

Rainwater also entered camps at Burari ground and the protesters were seen draining the water out and rearranging their belongings to prevent from soaking in water.

Sukhwinder Singh, joint secretary of Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee Punjab, said, "This is the time when we sow wheat. We work in our fields during night and early hours in Punjab where the temperature is even below the mercury is here. This would not hamper the courage of farmer."

Gurmel Singh from Patiala district of Punjab, said, "We have not been affected by the rains. We have covered our tractor trollies completely."

Avatar Singh from Ambala district of Haryana said, "We had made our arrangements considering the possibility of rains. The grain is completely safe and under the tent. But the rains have only created mud due to which people are facing difficulty in walking. We are cleaning the area and trying to clear waterlogging."

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No matter what Google, Snopes, and anyone else says, to those in the know that really control things, (call them the Illuminati, or whatever you want, the superrich like Soros) COVID-19 really does mean C=SEE, OVID=SHEEP, 19=SURRENDER, he wrote via email. Thats why the corporate media was told to constantly call it COVID-19, NOT the Corona Virus. I refuse to be a dumb sheep.
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GREENWICH  Experts agree on the importance of early childhood education, but the ongoing coronavirus crisis has left many programs struggling to pay the bills while teaching the youngest members of our society, according to a local leader in the industry.

I think these are the magic years. This is where all of those synapses are firing. This is where all of those connections are being made, said Molly Milligan, site manager of the Warburg Center and the Gateway Preschool  two early education programs run by Family Centers, a Greenwich-based human services organization.

But we are struggling, she said of the local preschools, which serve children from 4 months old to 4 years old.

Family Centers leaders are not alone. Many programs for preschoolers across Connecticut have closed their doors during the pandemic, according to Merrill Gay, executive director of the Connecticut Early Childhood Alliance. Closures are due to financial deficits, staff layoffs and safety concerns about reopening, among others.

Under state guidelines on the virus, the teacher to student ratio has increased, even as the programs accept fewer students to follow social distancing measures. The health and safety aspects of the coronavirus are compounding the financial crisis, too, with the need for hand sanitizers and other costly cleaning products.

And that impact is felt the deepest at places such as Family Centers, which rely heavily on government aid to support underserved and low-income families.

Higher costs

Family Centers leaders have cut back on classroom materials and training opportunities while adjusting staffing and slashing hours of operation.

Bob Arnold, CEO of Family Centers said, in all, he projects the nonprofit will lose about $1 million in 2020.

I dont feel good about it, but were not the only ones in this boat, he said.

This is impacting early education across the state and across the country and its really a crisis, he said. And I think the incoming (presidential) administration is recognizing it as a crisis.

President-elect Joe Biden has chosen Miguel Cardona, Connecticuts education commissioner, to serve as U.S. Secretary of Education. One of Cardonas goals is to provide high-quality pre-K for every 3- and 4-year-old in the country.

I think we know that this is a necessity, and its not an industry that can be allowed to fail, Arnold said of preschool education.

Contributed / Contributed Photo

COVID pressures

Many parents are understandably uncomfortable with sending their children to preschool in a congregate care setting during the pandemic, which can widen the education gap for children of different socioeconomic strata, said Milligan, from Family Centers.

Their preschool teachers are offering those parents guidance on teaching their young children from home, but its not the same as a classroom.

Its like, the (admissions) numbers went down, the requirements went up, but the money either stayed the same or went down in many instances  because if your enrollment is low, the money is not the same, said Yenny Toone, director of early education at Family Centers.

So its like, how do you continue to operate with all of those variables coming at you? And thats what programs that are staying open have had to deal with  while still keeping children safe, happy and learning, she said.

Before COVID-19, Family Centers operated on a student-to-teacher ratio of 10-to-1. But now, the ratio is 7:1, with the organizations four early education sites operating at about 75 percent capacity.

We went from having 20 children in a room to now only being able to cap it at 14, the max, for preschool, Toone said.

Family Centers gets 24 percent of its revenue from state and federal funding, which helps to cover the cost of running early education programs. Another 21 percent comes from the tuition paid by the low-income families they serve, Toone said.

Usually, fundraising brings in money, but thats been impacted by the pandemic, too, causing an additional funding deficit.

Contributed / Contributed Photo

Classroom changes

Adding to the stress, parents are no longer allowed into the preschools to interact with teachers and their children.

Milligan said its hard to watch a parent of a child who cries when dropped off for preschool.

The parent going to work, all they can picture is their child screaming as they left. (COVID) is making things more amplified because in the past, they could just peek back into the classroom, and they could look and see that their child is happy (within minutes), she said.

And now theyre not able to do that. ... Its so hard to have to keep them outside, Milligan said of parents.

To alleviate some of the stress, teachers are displaying the childrens projects on the classroom windows  facing the parking lot. When parents return at the end of a day, they can see some of the tangible things their children are proud of creating, Milligan said.

Keeping children in small groups, as socially distant as possible, has been challenging for the youngsters who sometimes just need a hug, she said.

Other measures are taken to keep the children safe, although kids younger than 3 are not required to wear masks. Acrylic dividers separate the preschoolers at mealtimes, and they sleep head-to-toe at nap time, to avoid breathing on one another.

I think they have done an amazing job, Milligan said of the young students.

There are mask mandates for the older kids, she said, but they have been adaptable and flexible.

And theyre so happy to come into the building and interact with someone in front of them  to continue to be learning, to continue to be active and playful  and just being kids again.

tatiana.flowers@thehour.com @TATIANADFLOWERS
WASHINGTON - Nearly a dozen Republican senators and senators-elect led by Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas said Saturday they will reject electors from certain states won by President-elect Joe Biden, citing unsubstantiated allegations of voter fraud and calling for an emergency 10-day audit of the results, an unprecedented attempt to thwart the democratic process.

The senators contend they are not trying to reverse the election results, but rather give voice to those who don't believe it was conducted fairly, despite no investigation nor court finding any evidence of wrongdoing.

Still, President Donald Trump and many of his Republican allies see next week's joint session of Congress to certify Biden's victory as their last stand to contest the election results, even if doing so is largely political theater to undermine and delay Biden's inevitable win.

"To wit, Congress should immediately appoint an Electoral Commission, with full investigatory and fact-finding authority, to conduct an emergency 10-day audit of the election returns in the disputed states," the senators wrote in a joint statement. "Once completed, individual states would evaluate the Commission's findings and could convene a special legislative session to certify a change in their vote, if needed."

Sens. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, James Lankford of Oklahoma, Steve Daines (Montana, John Neely Kennedy of Louisiana, Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee and Mike Braun of Indiana - along with Sens.-elect Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming, Roger Marshall of Kansas, Bill Hagerty of Tennessee and Tommy Tuberville of Alabama - joined Cruz. Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., has already said he will contest the electoral college vote certification.

Vice President Mike Pence, who will preside over the joint session in his role as president of the Senate, supports the GOP lawmakers' efforts, according to a top aide.

"The Vice President welcomes the efforts of members of the House and Senate to use the authority they have under the law to raise objections and bring forward evidence before the Congress and the American people on Jan. 6," said Marc Short, Pence's chief of staff.

By law, if members from both the House and the Senate object to the electoral college slates, both chambers must debate and then vote on the contest. The Republicans' plans to muddy up the proceedings could force Wednesday's ceremony to go all night and into the next morning.

For each successfully contested state, the joint session must recess, allowing the House and Senate to individually debate up to two hours and then vote on the challenges. Because of coronavirus precautions, House votes during the pandemic have taken an hour or more to conduct - meaning disposing of challenges for each state could take three to four hours.

Many House Republicans have already said they will contest the electoral college votes from multiple states. If Republican senators join House members in contesting all six won by Biden where the Trump campaign has questioned the results - Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin - the proceedings could conceivably last 24 hours or more.

Ultimately, though, the GOP challenge will fail because Democrats hold more seats in the House and because a number of Senate Republicans have already recognized Biden's win and are unlikely to support their colleagues' effort.

"Now that we're locked into doing it, we'll give air to the objections and people can have their day in court and we'll hear everybody out and then we'll vote," said Senate Majority Whip John Thune, R-S.D., regarding Hawley's initial plans to contest the results. "In the end, I don't think it changes anything."

Thune has indicated that he will vote to certify Biden's win, drawing a rebuke from Trump, who called for South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, a Republican, to run against him in a primary. She has said she will not challenge him.

Sen. Patrick Toomey, R-Pa., who is not running for reelection when his term is up in 2022, released a scathing condemnation of Cruz's plan.

"I intend to vigorously defend our form of government by opposing this effort to disenfranchise millions of voters in my state and others," Toomey said.

Democrats in both chambers are also preparing to defend the election results during the debate period for each state. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., who will help manage the proceedings as the top Democrat on the Senate Rules and Administration Committee, said she and other Democratic leaders are calling on lawmakers from those six states to be prepared to rebut the challengers and explain their states' election processes.

"We are ready for every contingency," she said in a Friday interview. "This isn't like we just woke up this morning and said, 'Oh, this is coming up!' We've been working on this since Election Day."

"I would very much hope it gets resolved on the 6th," she added, but "it could go on for quite a while."

Klobuchar said she had no doubt that, at the end of the process, Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris would be confirmed as the rightful winners of the election. She praised Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and other Republicans - such as Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., who wrote a long and scathing critique of the efforts to question the election results - for defying Trump's attempts to undermine the democratic process.

"Our democracy will prevail," Klobuchar said. "I just think this is kind of a sad, sad statement that some members are putting their own fear of Donald Trump in front of our democracy."

Though McConnell has rejected calls from members of his party to challenge Biden's win, a Senate Republican aide, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to candidly describe internal GOP dynamics, said that the decision of the 12 senators to do so should not be interpreted as a rebuke of McConnell - who was reelected party leader for the new Congress by acclamation in November and helped each of the senators-elect win their races - but rather a reflection of political reality.

"The 2022 and 2024 considerations definitely factor in," the aide said, referring to senators up for reelection in the next election cycles. "If you think Trumpism is a lasting, dominant force in the party, and he's set this up as a test, you're going to do this."

Sen. Kelly Loeffler, R-Ga., herself in the middle of a hard-fought runoff election next week, campaigned with Cruz on Saturday, but she wouldn't say that she supported his effort.

"Everything's on the table; we're looking at what we can do to make sure that this is a free and fair election and that we fight for the president," she said.

Rick Hasen, a leading election law expert, said GOP senators supporting the challenge are trying to have it both ways.

"They didn't fully endorse the president's claims of a rigged election, so they are trying to please the Trumpian base of the Republican Party while also not fully endorsing the unsupported dangerous claims of a stolen election that have come out of Trump's mouth incessantly," Hasen said.

In their weekend statement, the 11 senators cited a public opinion poll showing that about 40% of Americans believe the election was rigged. They contend that additional vetting is needed to restore trust in U.S. elections. Trump spent months leading up to the election and afterward sowing doubt and confusion about the voting process and outcome.

"But, whether or not our elected officials or journalists believe it, that deep distrust of our democratic processes will not magically disappear," the senators said. "It should concern us all. And it poses an ongoing threat to the legitimacy of any subsequent administrations."

There is no evidence that there was widespread fraud in the election, a finding echoed by Christopher Krebs, the former head of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, and former attorney general William Barr. Krebs was fired and Barr resigned before the end of Trump's term.

The Trump campaign has brought dozens of cases alleging voter fraud in six states, and judges have rejected nearly every claim. The U.S. Supreme Court has also twice refused to take up the cases.

Republican Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah said his colleagues' challenge "continues to spread the false rumor that somehow the election was stolen."

"Look, I lost in 2012. I know what it's like to lose. I have people today who say, 'Hey, you know what, you really won,' but I didn't, I lost fair and square," said Romney, who was the GOP presidential nominee that year. "Of course there were irregularities - there always are - but spreading this kind of rumor about our election system not working is dangerous for democracy here and abroad."

- - -

The Washington Post's Seung Min Kim and David Weigel contributed to this report.
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This week brings the focus back to Washington.

Two U.S. Senate races in Georgia will determine whether Republicans retain or lose control of the chamber.

Above video: Early voting for Jan. 5 election begins in mid-December

Congress will also convene to certify the presidential election results cemented by the Electoral College.

Heres what to know.

Senate races on Tuesday



Voters in Georgia still have unfinished business to resolve two months after the November elections.

Both of the state's Republican senators are on the ballot Tuesday in runoff elections that will decide which party controls the U.S. Senate.

Sen. David Perdue fell short of getting more than 50% of the vote Nov. 3, forcing him into a runoff with Democrat Jon Ossoff. Fellow GOP Sen. Kelly Loeffler and Democrat Raphael Warnock were the top vote getters in a crowded special election that drew 20 candidates overall.

Georgia law requires candidates for Congress and state offices to win by getting more than 50% of the vote. Otherwise, races get forced into a runoff between the top two finishers.



Electoral Votes counted by Congress Wednesday

A joint session of Congress will meet to confirm the Electoral College results.

The Electoral College has already cemented Joe Bidens victory and all thats left is Congress formal recognition of the count before the new president is sworn in, but several Republican legislators say theyll challenge the outcome  an effort thats doomed to fail.

When Congress convenes to certify the Electoral College results, any lawmaker can object to a states votes on any grounds. (The objection must be in writing and signed by both a member of the House and a member of the Senate.)

When there is such a request, the House and Senate go into separate sessions to consider it. For the objection to be sustained, both chambers must agree to it by a simple majority vote. If they disagree, the original electoral votes are counted.

Biden is set to be inaugurated Jan. 20 after winning the Electoral College vote 306-232.

Apple iTunes turns 20

The iconic digital store that helped transform the music industry with individual tracks sold for under $1 is reaching another milestone.

The iTunes store may be shifting out of focus as Apple seeks to replace it with Apple Music and other apps, but its still maintaining a presence where people can buy music from the two-decades-old platform.

As music and video streaming services continue to boom, Apples legacy in this area, coupled with its revolutionary iPods and iconic commercials, will certainly leave a lasting impact (where people were encouraged to pay artists once again) or at least leave us with notable mentions on Remember the 00s and 10s shows.
Stock Market Major Peak in Early April 2021

In the first part of this research article, we highlighted some of W.D. Ganns research, particularly the theory of price vibrations, angles, slopes, and how they relate to future price projections/targets. We also showed how important it was to understand what price does when it reaches these critical inflection points. In this second part of our research, we are going to explore Gann time/price cycles and how they relate to our Fibonacci Price Amplitude Arcs.

Our research will show you exactly why we believe an early April 2021 peak may be setting up in the US/global markets and why you need to prepare for this now. We believe the remainder of the bullish price trend may continue to push higher, scaling very close to the CYAN trendline on the chart below over the next 60+ days before starting to break lower as we near the end of March 2021. Lets explore why we believe this is likely to happen.

We highlighted the importance of the CYAN trend line and the multiple Fibonacci Price Amplitude Arcs that are arcing through the recent price range in Part I. It is our belief that these critical levels represent a major inflection point in the advance of price and that price may continue to attempt to push higher  but may align itself below the CYAN trendline as it inches closer to the early April Gann price/time arc that we believe will set up a major top in the markets.

Weekly SPY Chart Showing Key Price Trendline & Time Factors

When we apply time-factoring to the SPY chart below, we are inclined to support the theory that a 200% time factor applies to the current market setup from the lows established in 2009. If we measure price trend and vibration from the 2009 low point, we immediately come to the October 13, 2014 lows  which were subsequently retested multiple times over the next 3+ years (August 2015, January 2016, February 2016). Our researchers believe these lows represent the end of one cycle/vibration phase and the beginning of another. By aligning a mirror-image of the original Gann Time-Arcs to the October 2014 lows, we can see that another critical Gann Vibration cycle is likely ending near mid-April 2021 through early July 2021.

We believe the next few weeks and months, as well as almost all of 2021 and beyond, will be full of major trend changes and fluctuating price activity as global investors attempt to navigate the changes in the global markets. Currently, many of the foreign markets are nearing what appear to be peak levels and, if our Gann research is correct, the US stock market is only about 90 days away from reaching the start of another Gann Time-factoring Vibration energy phase/cycle. This means there is going to be another shift in how investors perceive value in investments and where capital moves to attempt to hedge/profit from this cycle phase.

Weekly SPY Chart Showing Key Price Trendline & Time Factors

This next Weekly SPY chart shows a closer look at the Gann Time-factor arcs and how they aligned with the previous price corrections. Pay attention to how accurate these Gann Time-factor arcs predicted the downward price vibrations over the past three years. Remember, these Gann phases are a replica of the 2009 bottom to 2014 peak  applied to the 2014 low price levels. They represent an exact replica of the same price vibrations that took place between 2009 and 2014. They also show a period of time between April 2021 and July 2021 which may represent a very big, deep vibration in price which may target low price levels near $292 on the SPY.

Be sure to sign up for our free market trend analysis and signals now so you dont miss our next special report!

The bigger question in our minds is do our Fibonacci Price Amplitude Arcs align with W.D. Gann price/time theories and the Law Of Vibration? If so, then our Fibonacci Price Amplitude Arcs may be somewhat close to what W.D. Gann attempted to describe relating to his Law Of Vibration and the universal key to unlocking the secrets of identifying and predicting future price peaks/troughs accurately. If not, then we are confident they will lead us to even more breakthroughs as we continue to attempt to adapt and improve our technical analysis research.

One thing is for certain, 2021 appears to be setting up as a traders market where trends may change very quickly and aggressively. 2021 is going to be a year where traders need to stay ahead of the risks and shifting market cycles to find the best assets to own and profit from. Our BAN technology was designed specifically to address this issue  always being able to find and identify the best assets to own within any type of trend.

Our researchers believe increased price volatility will likely be seen near the end of March 2021 and by mid-April 2021, we may already start to see signs of a broad market decline setting up. Our research suggests a deep bottom may setup in October 2021 or later. Are you ready for this type of move in the markets? If not, learn how BAN can help you trade the best assets by visiting www.TheTechnicalTraders.com.

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.




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Bola Tinubu, a former governor of Lagos State and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, has denied a report trending on social media that he is battling with COVID-19.

Mr Tinubus spokesperson, Tunde Rahman, said his principal has done COVID-19 test 15 times and all results came negative.

There were speculations on Sunday morning about the health status of the national leader of the ruling party, APC, following a publication by The Page Newsdesk that Mr Tinubu has been hospitalised in France even before the New Year.

The report, which did not produce enough details to back the claims made about Mr Tinubu, said the politician was battling with COVID-19.

Reacting to the report in a short statement, Mr Rahman said his boss was well and healthy.

He claimed that the report about his principal is a lie from the pit of hell.

Asiwaju is very okay. He is very fine and not sick. He does not have COVID-19. If you must know, we have done COVID-19 test 15 times, each time he felt we had travelled and mingled with many people and could be vulnerable even though he always wore his face mask, but he has been certified negative 15 times.

Although he confirmed that Mr Tinubu is not in Nigeria at the moment, he, however, said he was not in France as reported.

Yes he is abroad. Not in France, but in London resting. So you can see the falsity in that information, the statement read.

Like many other countries across the world, Nigeria has been battling with the deadly coronavirus for nearly a year.

The first case was recorded in February last year and since then, thousands of cases have been recorded, killing young and old including top government officials.

The total number of COVID-19 reported in the country as of the time of this report is 89,163.

The country has recorded a total of 1,302 deaths while 74,789 patients have been discharged from hospitals after treatment.


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With the Oxford-AstraZeneca and Bharat Biotech Covid-19 vaccines approved for emergency use in India, the countrys health infrastructure will undertake a mammoth vaccine drive in the coming months. Covid-19 operational guidelines, a handbook shared by the Centre with states, details every single aspect of the gigantic drive that vaccinating against Covid-19 is set to be.

Who Will be Vaccinated First?

As per the operational guidelines drafted by the Centre and issued to the states, the following groups will get the first shot:

Healthcare Workers: Around 1 crore workers in the sector will get the first doses across India. This includes ICDS workers, nurses, supervisors, medical officers, paramedical staff, support staff, and students.

Frontline Workers: The 2 crore people in this group include personnel from the Army, Navy, Air Force, coast guard, certain teams coming directly under the home ministry, Assam Rifles, BSF, CISF, CRPF, ITBP, NSG, SSB, home guards, prison staff and disaster management.

Ministry of Housing: Municipal workers and state police would be in line. Municipal workers include sanitation workers, sweepers, waste collectors, cremation staff, and ground staff.

Prioritized age groups: Around 26 crore Indians fall in this category above the age of 50. Next would be 1 crore Indians who are under 50 but have co-morbidities. The age will be calculated based on January 1, 2021 as the cutoff date and anyone born on or before January 1, 1971 will fall under this category, the document says.

A Day at the Vaccination Site

A vaccine site, a stationary one for the healthcare workers, will see vaccinators work between 9 am to 5 pm, with up to 200 people vaccinated in each session. Monitoring these people will take up to 30 minutes wherein they will be kept under observation. Adverse events are anticipated and have been categorized in the document as follows:

- Minor AEFI (adverse event following immunization), self-limiting e.g. pain and swelling at injection site, fever, irritability, malaise, etc.

- Severe AEFI, which are non-hospitalized cases with increased severity which do not lead to long-term problems but can be disabling. Examples: Non-hospitalized cases of anaphylaxis that have recovered, high fever of more than 102 degrees, hypotonic hyporesponsive episodes, sepsis, etc.

- Serious AEFI that includes deaths, hospitalizations, clusters, disability, media reports/community/parental concern following vaccination.

Each vaccination site should be well stocked with the following: three printed copies of beneficiary list (wherever feasible), vaccine carrier with ice packs and additional vaccine carrier, adequate Covid-19 vaccines, adequate numbers of AD syringes and reconstitution syringes (if needed), sanitizer and masks, vaccine vial opener, hub cutter, screen for privacy, anaphylaxis kit, red, yellow & black bags, puncture proof blue container, waste basket, cotton wool tally sheet, IEC material, and hand washing facilities.

The handbook says that a day before vaccination, district authorities may undertake a random inspection of private sector sites to assess preparedness. The document also details the manner of placement that is expected at each of the sites. Social distancing is to be ensured and certain facilities like internet connectivity, drinking water and waiting room which allows for staggered seating should be ensured.

While most of the healthcare and frontline workers would be vaccinated at fixed session sites, vaccination of other high-risk populations may require outreach session sites, and mobile sites/teams.

5-MEMBER VACCINATION TEAM

As per the handbook, the vaccination team will consist of five members as follows: vaccination officer  doctors (MBBS/BDS), staff nurse, pharmacist, auxiliary nurse midwife, lady health assistant; anyone legally authorized to administer injection may be considered as potential vaccinator or vaccination officer. It says that at least one person (police, home guard, civil defence, NCC, NSS, NYK) will check registration status of beneficiary at the entry point and ensure guarded entry to the vaccination session. The second vaccinator is the verifier who will authenticate/verify the identification documents. The third and fourth vaccination officers are the two support staff who will be responsible for crowd management, communication and support to vaccinator.

It also makes mandatory the creation of the state control room, with participation of key officials responsible for cold chain, and partners including WHO, UNICEF and UNDP. It will have 24x7 telephone helpline. The document says that one district will get vaccine from one manufacturer to avoid mixing, and seeks demarcated responsibility of district, urban, and state task forces.

MULTI-DEPARTMENT ENDEAVOUR

The document says it should be a multi-department endeavor and over 20 dozen ministries must be involved in the process. For example, the department of power supply must ensure unhindered supply of electricity, the state AIDS control society will ensure hesitancy is taken care of. The animal husbandry department would support provision of dedicated cold storage equipment and facilities, if required. The department of food and civil supplies would be supporting provision of cold storage spaces and transport system, if needed. There would be biometric authentication at session sites.

Defence forces would be involved in support registration of armed forces beneficiaries and supply for vaccine delivery in hard to reach and security sensitive areas, liasoning with district administration for session planning and training of vaccinators in their system to ensure vaccination of their staff.

Co-WIN

The Covid-19 vaccine will be provided only to beneficiaries pre-registered in Co-WIN. The self-registration link on the Co-WIN website is essentially meant for the general population wherein an individual can register themselves by providing their basic demographic details like name, date of birth, permanent and current address, and details of co-morbidities if any. There will be no on the spot registration. The individual interested to register themselves will be required to provide their photo identity.

After vaccination of the beneficiary, Vaccination Officer-2 ticks the vaccination completion checkbox in Co-WIN system. The beneficiary will receive the SMS notification with a link for the date and time of subsequent dose. The state helpline 104 should be utilized to provide necessary information and guidance on Covid-19 vaccination.

The document also shows the government is prepared for theft and pilferage and asks for stringent vigilance mechanism to check the same. Any such activity should be immediately reported, and prompt police action should be initiated with clear accountability, it says.


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On his way to prison in January 1994, the 44-year Richard Foley said he knew how his obituary would begin: There would be a mention of his service as a state lawmaker and Republican state chairman, followed by the fact he was convicted of taking a bribe.

Dick Foley wasnt known for flinching. He was the blue-collar guy who led the state GOP from 1989 to 1992, when Connecticut was a presidential swing state and the party struggled to decide if its future was in Fairfield County or the post-industrial Naugatuck Valley.

When it became clear in late 1992 that he was in the crosshairs of the FBI, Foley called a press conference to call the feds bumblers and bureaucrats. Were going on offense. Put up or shut up, Foley said. They picked on the wrong mick.

The quote ended up on the wall of a semi-secret office the FBI kept for a time in Waterbury, a corruption target. Two years later, Foley was convicted of four felonies in connection with $25,000 he accepted from two corrupt businessmen, a developer and a banker.

When asked for an interview before he left for prison, Foley said, Yeah, why not?

Foley, 71, was found dead at his condominium in Danbury on Saturday. His friend, Ben F. Proto, said Foleys daughter called with news of his death. No cause was immediately evident.

An Irish memory

He came head-on at pretty much everything, from politics to prison. He had an Irish memory, forever remembering friends and foes. He was a state representative, a salesman and a student of human behavior.

His conviction was overturned on appeal, and Foley managed a second act in political life as a lobbyist and campaign consultant. He attempted a comeback last year, challenging J.R. Romano for state chair of the GOP.

He won and lost plenty of political bets. In 1991, he was convinced that passage of the income tax by a Democratic legislature and an independent governor, Lowell P. Weicker Jr., would be the GOPs ticket to the majority. It wasnt.

I talked with him earlier in the week, said Ben Proto, a Republican insider who joined Foley in the 2018 floor fight at the GOP state convention that led to Steve Obsitnik of Westport obtaining enough delegate support to join the party primary for governor. We were going to have lunch next week. He was a dear friend. He was the kind of guy you wanted to have as a friend.

Proto said that Foley was steeped in Connecticuts political history and was among the very young Republicans who, in the early 1970s, made up Gov. Thomas Meskills kiddie corps.

Chris Healy, a former GOP state chairman, said Foley prized  and exuded  loyalty.

He was the most-loyal, steadfast person you could find, Healy said Saturday. I am grief-stricken because I lost one of my best friends. You either loved him or hated him, and those of us who loved him, we would have done anything for him. He loved to have fun, and he loved to laugh at the absurdity of things. You always ended up laughing during a conversation with Dick Foley, at some point.

Foley was blunt, often coarse. He had no patience for the timid or cautious. To them, he would say, If you want a guarantee, then buy a f refrigerator.

He could be flippant, but his advice to candidates seeking counsel on issues of morality was not: figure out where you stand; dont be cute; your constituents will tolerate a principled difference.

He offered himself as an example. For 10 years, he represented a conservative and largely Catholic district, but he was more pro-choice than pro-life in his voting.

Facing time in prison

His legal troubles came from an association with Richard D. Barbieri Sr. and John A. Corpaci, key figures in a Waterbury corruption scandal. They told the FBI they had built a favor bank with politicians as they established a real estate and banking business.

To curry favor with a bigger banking chain, they said they paid Foley $25,000 to help pass a bill liberalizing state banking laws. The story had some holes: Foley, for one, was in the minority. Second, he voted against the bill and urged its defeat.

Foley never denied accepting ten $2,500 payments, but he insisted they were a consulting fee in return for seeking tenants for a commercial property. He was convicted and sentenced to 40 months in prison.

He went to prison uncertain about winning his appeal.

Over coffee at an Abdows Big Boy on the Silas Deane Highway in Wethersfield, Foley talked for three hours about prison and his expectation he might have to serve three years before qualifying for a good-behavior release.

He smoked a cigar, one that he promised would be among his last. He was loud. An elderly woman in the next booth gave him a long sideward glance, mouth agape.

Foley talked about quitting tobacco, losing weight. If he was going to lose three years going in, perhaps he could gain five more on the back end by clean living.

But he had no illusions about how he would be remembered, even if he won his appeal.

In most situations, death pays the debt. Not in this one, he said. This one you pay after you die. Thats hard. Thats hard. But thats one you gotta accept. Thats the way its going to be.

Foley served four months in prison, then was freed on bond during his appeal.

Nineteen months later, a federal appeals court voted 2-1 in January 1996 to overturn his conviction, concluding he had been improperly charged under statutes that covered the illegal acceptance of federal funds.

Ken Dixon of Hearst Conneticut Media contributed to this report.
Paris, TX (75460)

Today

Partly to mostly cloudy with scattered showers and thunderstorms overnight. Low 67F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Partly to mostly cloudy with scattered showers and thunderstorms overnight. Low 67F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
Find all of the most important pandemic education news on Educating N.J., a special resource guide created for parents, students and educators.

Before they sit down at their classroom desks again this month, every student should have proof they have tested negative for COVID-19, the head of the teachers union in New Jerseys largest school district says.

Newark public schools, which are slated to reopen for in-person classes Jan. 25, are already requiring coronavirus tests for teachers and staff. All students should be required to get tested too, said John Abeigon, president of the Newark Teachers Union.

The Newark Teachers Union has strongly urged the Newark Board of Education and the state Department of Education to mandate student testing on the informed assumption that everyone in the city has come in presumptive contact with someone affected by the COVID (virus), Abeigon said.

Across the state, schools are preparing to reopen after winter break while the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic continues to drive up infection rates.

Some schools have been hybrid or offering in-person classes since the start of the school year. Other large districts that have been all-remote, including Newark, Elizabeth and Jersey City, are tentatively scheduled to reopen classrooms in this month or in February for the first time since the pandemic began.

However, many students and teachers may have been traveling over the winter break or visiting family and attending holiday events where they could have been exposed to the virus, raising questions about how safe classrooms will be when they reopen.

In Newark, the teachers union is also calling on district and state officials to consider mandating that the citys 36,000 public school students get a COVID-19 vaccination once they become widely available for children.

A spokeswoman for Newark public schools did not respond to a request to comment.

New Jersey does not require COVID-19 testing for either students or teachers for K-12 schools to reopen. But some public and private schools have set up their own rules asking teachers and other staff members get periodically tested.

Some schools have set up testing sites either in schools or near schools to make it easier for students and their families to get screened for the virus quickly and for free.

Smaller districts, including Metuchen in Middlesex County, have also set up voluntary testing days for students to get screened before returning to school next week.

We are happy to announce that we are offering free COVID-19 testing for all staff and students. We have partnered with Back to Work Solutions, the school district said in an email to parents earlier this week. The initial test day was Thursday, the note said.

Red Bank Regional High School in Monmouth County has also partnered with the medical provider Back-to-Work Solutions to offer voluntary free testing to students and staff in the schools field house starting Jan. 6.

We are encouraging everyone to test as often as possible, the schools announcement said.

Several New Jersey private schools  including St. Benedicts Preparatory School in Newark, Far Brook School in the Short Hills section of Millburn and the Wardlaw-Hartridge School in Edison  already have in-school testing sites. Because they are smaller than most public school districts, prep schools have been able to offer regular testing for students and staff with relatively quick results.

Princeton University is planning on universal COVID-19 testing for its students and staff at least twice a week when it reopens its campus in February.

Were going to run a campus that is run with a set of testing protocols that go far beyond what is applicable to most of the population, said Princeton President Christopher Eisgruber said last month.

The university will use a newly created on-campus testing lab to process the results, which should be available within 24 hours, Eisgruber said. Students who dont agree to testing will not be able to stay on campus.

Some of New Jerseys larger K-12 school districts also offer testing, but it is not mandatory. In Lakewood, one of the few public school districts offering all in-person classes, a local health center stationed a mobile testing unit in a school parking lot to offer free tests at the beginning of the school year.

New York City, the nations largest school district, has implemented a testing program that randomly selects students to test every week to help better track possible outbreaks and keep schools open. About 258,000 tests had been conducted as of last week, with a positivity rate of 0.42%, the districts dashboard says.

It remains unclear if universal testing of all students and staff would be effective in large school districts. Testing everyone and tracking results could be costly and difficult to administer. And testing negative would not guarantee a student does not have the virus because he or she could have been exposed after the screening.

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says schools play an important role in helping identify people who have been exposed to the coronavirus and helping them get tested. But the CDC has stopped short of recommending schools require universal COVID-19 testing to return to the classroom.

If a school is implementing a testing strategy, testing should be offered on a voluntary basis. It is unethical and illegal to test someone who does not want to be tested, including students whose parents or guardians do not want them to be tested, the CDCs latest guidelines say.

President-elect Joe Bidens new administration is reportedly considering a more aggressive school reopening plan that would include testing students and staff once a week. The federal government would cover the cost of rapid tests that could provide results in minutes.

The plan is similar to one proposed by the Rockefeller Foundation, a science-based non-profit group, earlier this month. The foundation proposes reopening nearly 100,000 U.S. public schools by March by regularly testing 300 million schoolchildren. Testing students once a week and teachers twice a week would cost the federal government an estimated $8.5 billion per month for the remainder of the school year, the report says.

Because many COVID-19 infected children never show symptoms, widespread testing is key to getting schools reopened and keeping them open, the Rockefeller Foundation report concludes.

Since it will take some time for vaccines to be widespread and ubiquitous, this new plan represents the most practical, pragmatic, and achievable plan to reopen K-12 education in America using the tools and tests we have to make public school classrooms the safest place to be outside of the home, said Rajiv Shah, president of the Rockefeller Foundation.

British schools are set to debut a new school testing plan when students return to class in January with members of the military helping administer the tests. Teachers are scheduled to be tested weekly and students who may have been exposed to COVID-19 will be tested daily for seven days.

However, British teachers unions have said the plan was rushed and is unlikely to be operable when schools reopen.

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So unless this commission is carefully crafted, its going to be obvious from the start that its all a ruse. And that will set off the pro-America patriots who have had enough of bogus investigations, waiting for Bill Barr to do something useful, or sitting around hoping that deep state swamp creatures might one day face arrest for their crimes against the United States.

The commission would reportedly consist of five members of the House, five from the Senate and five US Supreme Court justices. Unless this group is chosen to include patriots like Sen. Hawley, Sen. Cruz, Justices Thomas and Alito, Rep. Mo Brooks and similar, a group of 5 Representatives + 5 Senators + 5 SCOTUS justices sounds like 15 filthy traitors in a smoke-filled room , ready to betray the republic by burying all the evidence.

There is historical precedent for exactly this sort of investigation, and Pence has plenary power to invoke this himself, needing no approval from anyone else. Should he do so, it would likely push the inauguration day beyond January 20th, which is perfectly fine with the Twelfth Amendment, which states that the inauguration can be as late as March 4th in cases of a contested election.

( Natural News ) A dozen U.S. Senators have signed on to a demand for an emergency 10-day elections investigation commission that would dive into all the known allegations of election fraud and produce a final report. Speculation is swirling that VP Mike Pence will himself invoke this 10-day investigation on January 6th, refusing to open and read the electoral votes from swing states until this 10-day investigation is complete.

About the author: Mike Adams (aka the Health Ranger) is a best selling author (#1 best selling science book on Amazon.com called Food Forensics), an environmental scientist, a patent holder for a cesium radioactive isotope elimination invention, a multiple award winner for outstanding journalism, a science news publisher and influential commentator on topics ranging from science and medicine to culture and politics. Follow his videos, podcasts, websites and science projects at the links below.

Mike Adams serves as the founding editor of NaturalNews.com and the lab science director of an internationally accredited (ISO 17025) analytical laboratory known as CWC Labs. There, he was awarded a Certificate of Excellence for achieving extremely high accuracy in the analysis of toxic elements in unknown water samples using ICP-MS instrumentation. Adams is also highly proficient in running liquid chromatography, ion chromatography and mass spectrometry time-of-flight analytical instrumentation. He has also achieved numerous laboratory breakthroughs in the programming of automated liquid handling robots for sample preparation and external standards prep.

The U.S. patent office has awarded Mike Adams patent NO. US 9526751 B2 for the invention of Cesium Eliminator, a lifesaving invention that removes up to 95% of radioactive cesium from the human digestive tract. Adams has pledged to donate full patent licensing rights to any state or national government that needs to manufacture the product to save human lives in the aftermath of a nuclear accident, disaster, act of war or act of terrorism. He has also stockpiled 10,000 kg of raw material to manufacture Cesium Eliminator in a Texas warehouse, and plans to donate the finished product to help save lives in Texas when the next nuclear event occurs. No independent scientist in the world has done more research on the removal of radioactive elements from the human digestive tract.

Adams is a person of color whose ancestors include Africans and American Indians. He is of Native American heritage, which he credits as inspiring his Health Ranger passion for protecting life and nature against the destruction caused by chemicals, heavy metals and other forms of pollution.

Adams is the author of the worlds first book that published ICP-MS heavy metals analysis results for foods, dietary supplements, pet food, spices and fast food. The book is entitled Food Forensics and is published by BenBella Books.

In his laboratory research, Adams has made numerous food safety breakthroughs such as revealing rice protein products imported from Asia to be contaminated with toxic heavy metals like lead, cadmium and tungsten. Adams was the first food science researcher to document high levels of tungsten in superfoods. He also discovered over 11 ppm lead in imported mangosteen powder, and led an industry-wide voluntary agreement to limit heavy metals in rice protein products.

In addition to his lab work, Adams is also the (non-paid) executive director of the non-profit Consumer Wellness Center (CWC), an organization that redirects 100% of its donations receipts to grant programs that teach children and women how to grow their own food or vastly improve their nutrition. Through the non-profit CWC, Adams also launched Nutrition Rescue, a program that donates essential vitamins to people in need. Click here to see some of the CWC success stories.

With a background in science and software technology, Adams is the original founder of the email newsletter technology company known as Arial Software. Using his technical experience combined with his love for natural health, Adams developed and deployed the content management system currently driving NaturalNews.com. He also engineered the high-level statistical algorithms that power SCIENCE.naturalnews.com, a massive research resource featuring over 10 million scientific studies.

Adams is well known for his incredibly popular consumer activism video blowing the lid on fake blueberries used throughout the food supply. He has also exposed strange fibers found in Chicken McNuggets, fake academic credentials of so-called health gurus, dangerous detox products imported as battery acid and sold for oral consumption, fake acai berry scams, the California raw milk raids, the vaccine research fraud revealed by industry whistleblowers and many other topics.

Adams has also helped defend the rights of home gardeners and protect the medical freedom rights of parents. Adams is widely recognized to have made a remarkable global impact on issues like GMOs, vaccines, nutrition therapies, human consciousness.

In addition to his activism, Adams is an accomplished musician who has released over fifteen popular songs covering a variety of activism topics.

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Egypt has approved the use of a Covid-19 vaccine developed by Chinese pharma giant Sinopharm with its rollout to start later in January, the health minister said.

"The Egyptian pharmaceutical authority approved on Saturday the Chinese Sinopharm vaccine," Hala Zayed said late Saturday, on the local MBC Masr channel.

The first batch of the vaccine was delivered in December, with further doses expected this month.

"The second shipment of this vaccine is due to arrive in the second or third week of January, and as soon as it arrives, we will start vaccinations," the minister said.

Each batch of the vaccine consists of 50,000 doses, and the ministry has announced that the first group to receive it will be medical workers.

Zayed said Egypt plans to purchase 40 million doses of the Sinopharm jab.

Egypt, the Arab world's most populous country with around 100 million inhabitants, has recorded more than 140,000 cases of the Covid-19 disease, including 7,800 deaths.

After a brief lull, the number of infections rose dramatically in late 2020, from around 100 new cases confirmed per day in October, to some 1,400 daily cases currently.

Sinopharm announced on Wednesday that one of its vaccines, to be distributed in China, was 79 percent effective.

The jabs efficacity is lower than that of vaccines developed by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna -- both over 90 percent effective.

A jab developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University has proved 70 percent effective with one dose, and 100 percent effective with two.

Egypt will also receive the AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine in the third or fourth week of January, according to Zayed, who added that a contract "was being finalised".

Negotiations with Pfizer "are underway" as well, she added.





This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.

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VIGO COUNTY, Ind. (WTHI) - Members of a Wabash Valley group took some time between holidays to get some exercise and raise money.

Wabash Valley Crew took part in the Holiday Challenge between Thanksgiving and Christmas. A business called Concept2 sent rowing machines to three local rowers so they could take part in the competition at home instead of on the water. Concept2 donated money to charity based on the distance rowed.

Wabash Valley Crew selected A Most Beautiful Thing Inclusion Fund for its charity. Arshay Cooper established the fund. Cooper made history as part of the first all-black rowing team.

"We want to make this a group effort, if you will, for our community, and involve anybody that's interested in rowing can start at any age," said board president Jim Owen.

Crew members contributed to the $70,000 total that was raised and split between charities.
Haryana Police seized 9kg heroin from across the state last year and nabbed 105 most-wanted criminals, according to director general of police (DGP) Manoj Yadava.

In 2020, police had also seized 52kg opium, 60kg charas, over 4,141kg poppy husk, 1kg smack, 2,371kg ganja, 5,375 banned injections, over 1.49 lakh prohibited pharma tablets and 5,839 cartons of liquor.

DGP Yadava said the Haryana Polices STF set up to deal with organised crime apprehended 105 hardened criminals and 22 offenders carrying cash rewards ranging between Rs 10,000 and Rs 2.5 lakh.

He said the STF crackdown on organised gangs resulted in the arrest of criminals like Raju Basodi, Rajesh Rakbar, Ashok alias Soki, Imran, Sohit Rancho, Manish Baba and Vicky Garg.

Haryana Police had declared a collective reward of more than Rs 10 lakh on their arrest, the DGP said.

One of the arrested criminals, Raju Basodi, was accused in more than 30 cases of murder, attempt to murder, extortion, and robbery. He was operating his gang from Thailand, the DGP said.

Due to continuous fear and pressure of the STF, most offenders and dreaded criminals opted to stay out of Haryana, he said, congratulating STF chief Amitabh Singh Dhillon, DIG (STF) Sateesh Balan and the entire task force for their performance.

The STF arrested 77 people and recovered 81 illegal pistols, revolvers and 320 cartridges from them, said the DGP, pointing out that STF had also identified a number of most-wanted criminals who were spreading their criminal activities in Haryana and neighbouring states of Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab.
Loading Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt, speaking soon after Mr Weimar, said Victoria had a duty to find a "pathway" to get residents into the state. "We recognise there have to be proportionate responses, but they have to be compassionate," he said. "I am confident Victoria is working on ways to help bring their citizens home in a COVID-safe way as soon as possible. "The important thing, and we are beginning to see this from Victoria, is that a pathway is found to help bring people home to Victoria," he said. NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard said on Sunday his government was working through the issue of Victorians stranded in NSW with the Victorian government. "But at this point, theres no clarity on that," he said.

On Sunday afternoon, Victorians in NSW seeking information about the exemption permit system were played an automated message saying that "due to a high volume of calls" no one could answer their phone call. The pre-recorded message then stopped and the call was ended. "You have called the Department of Health and Human Services COVID-19 mass gathering information line," the recorded message said. "Due to a high volume of calls, we are currently unable to take your call. Please try again later." Clifton Hill man Chris Sanders said he had unsuccessfully called the Department of Health and Human Services number multiple times. Clifton Hill man Chris Sanders said he had unsuccessfully called the department's number multiple times in his bid to return to Victoria from Suffolk Park, five kilometres south of Byron Bay. Leaving Victoria on December 15 to visit his sister for the first time 12 months, the 68-year-old said he was "not aware of any warnings" to avoid travel to NSW.

When Mr Sanders found out he had just over a day to get back to Victoria from the NSW "green zone", he decided not to risk the 16-hour-drive, which he would have had to do alone. "Suddenly on Thursday night, it became clear that the window of opportunity was shutting. I had the option of packing my car and driving for almost 17 hours," he said on Sunday. "I wasn't prepared to do that, it was too risky. I'm 68, I'm also diabetic, so I'd fall asleep under that sort of duress. It's dangerous driving those sorts of distances." Mr Sanders is hoping to get an exemption to return home to run his small business, but he said after repeated attempts he still couldn't get through to the DHHS phone hotline to get clear information on how to apply and what would be required. "There will be lots of people in this situation others like me that feel stranded," he said. "This can't go on forever."

Larrisa Jones, 34, who was planning to move to Melbourne from Sydney with her partner on Monday, is "in limbo" after the border slammed shut. The couple signed a lease on a house in Melbourne in early December, paid $12,000 and gave notice to their Sydney landlord. They heard the border announcement on New Year's Eve, but were unable to dash across the border as there was no way they could pack all their belongings and transport their two cats in time. The will soon have to move out of their Sydney home, and will be paying for a house in Melbourne they can't live in. "We dont have the money to pay double rent for an indefinite period," she said. "Double rent in two capital cities is almost impossible."

"We are just in this absolute grey hole, this limbo of what we can do at this stage." She said the pair would apply for an exemption. "Its been incredibly stressful and it is really worrying financially, that's the biggest component," she said. "That's the biggest thing, how do we make ends meet? How do we muscle up $3000 to live indefinitely over two houses?" On Sunday night, the DHHS acknowleged a high volume of calls to the hotline and said it planned to nearly triple the number of staff answering inquiries from 100 to 270. "We know there is a high demand for information, and we thank everyone for their patience as we work through the volume of calls and permit applications," a spokesperson said.
Here's how material shortages are hitting home construction

"It's not just that prices are going up; it's how quickly they're going up and nothing's coming down," said CEO of the PA Builders Association.
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According to news published on the HABER VAKTI website, January 2, 2021, the construction of the first Istanbul-class frigate F515 continues at the Istanbul Shipyard Command in collaboration with many Turkish companies under the leed of Turkish company STM. The Istanbul-class frigate F515 will be launched on January 17, 2021.

According to news published on the HABER VAKTI website, January 2, 2021, the construction of the first Istanbul-class frigate F515 continues at the Istanbul Shipyard Command in collaboration with many Turkish companies under the leed of Turkish company STM. The Istanbul-class frigate F515 will be launched on January 17, 2021.

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The new Istanbul-class frigate F515 for the Turkish Navy. (Picture source Naval Analyses)

The Istanbul-class is a new generation of frigates developed under the MILGEM Turkish warship program as the I-class frigate. As of 2018, the MILGEM project covers four Ada class anti-submarine warfare corvettes and one ELINT corvette, four Istanbul class multipurpose frigates and TF2000 class anti-air warfare destroyers destined for the Turkish Navy, four Jinnah-class frigates for the Pakistan Navy.

The first Istanbul-class frigate F515 was laid down on 19 January 2017. Turkey has ordered four Istanbul-class frigates named TCG Istanbul F-515, TCG Izmir F-516, TCG Icel F-517, and TCG Izmit F-518.

The Istanbul-class frigate, also referred to as TF100 and TF2000, has been designed to perform Anti-Air Warfare (AAW) missions carrying ESSM missiles as well as Anti-Surface Warfare (ASuW). The ship has a length of 113.2 m, a beam of 14.40 m, a drfat of 4.05 m and a displacement of 3,000 tones.

The Istanbul-class frigate is powered by a CODAG (Combined Diesel and Das) type main propulsion system including 1 gas turbine and 2 diesel engines. The ship can reach a top speed of 29 kn (54 km/h; 33 mph) with a maximum cruising range of 6,570 nmi (12,170 km; 7,560 mi) at 14 kn (26 km/h; 16 mph). She will have a crew of 125 sailors.

The Istanbul-class frigate has an operational capability of 15 days without replenishment. The ship has a hangar and a landing deck to carry S-70B Seahawk ASW (Anti-Submarine Warfare) helicopter and Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV)/

The Istanbul-class frigate is armed with one 76 mm (3 in) Oto Melara Super Rapid naval gun, two 25 mm (0.98 in) Aselsan STOP remotely operated weapon stations, one CIWS (Close-In Weapon Station), 16 Mk 41 VLS (Vertical Launching System) able to launch Harpoon or Atmaca anti-ship missiles, 16Mk.41 VLS for ESSM designed to counter supersonic maneuvering anti-ship missiles and two 324 mm (13 in) Double Torpedo launchers.
At midnight on New Years Eve Joe and Jill Biden posted a message online. The finale of the greeting was to be a pop-up confetti firecracker. It failed in its mission like a wet squib.

A perfect ending to a rotten year in which after riots and a rapidly spreading Chinese virus, we got a highly suspicious election in which the apparent winners were a crook demonstrably suffering from dementia and an unprincipled leftist with no evident qualifications for a job she may have to assume in his stead. Maybe though its an omen of things to come.

On January 6 a large demonstration in support of Stop the Steal is scheduled. President Trump says he will produce evidence of a stolen election. If you only get your news from the major media you might think there is no such evidence, but there is.

The Presidents counsel, Rudy Giuliani (Sidney Powell whos working on hardening election procedures, and Lin Wood who is representing himself, do not directly represent Trump) tweeted:

@RudyGiuliani Dec 31, 2020 In a country with a free press, you would know: 1. The Georgia Senate Judiciary Committee issued a report demonstrating the vote was stolen from @realDonaldTrump 2. The vote was unanimous and BIPARTISAN to audit Fulton Countys Absentee ballots. 3. And to de-certify Biden.

Scott Adams (Dilbert's creator) looked at the findings of the Georgia Senate Judiciary Subcommittee that heard the evidence Giuliani presented and agrees that Trump won Georgia and the problems demonstrated in the machine in use at the precinct where they got to examine one evince a far broader steal: If you can find a problem in one machine you can throw out the whole election.

Heres the report that summarizes the testimony presented under oath in person and by affidavit.

Among the findings were these:

Protocols to ensure the proper chain of custody of ballots throughout the Election, after the opening of ballots prior to the elections, and during the recounts were not followed.

"It was possible or even likely that large numbers of fraudulent ballots were introduced into the pool of ballots that we're counted as voted.

There were pristine ballots in the mix whose origin looked suspicious and which could not be verified  and poll workers were unable to distinguish between test ballots and absentee ballots.

Poll watchers observed that ballots were not secured, that seals and security tags were not used, both during the count and recount process.

There was a lack of enforcement of the law, sloppy handling of the ballots by those handling and counting, deliberate covering-up of voting numbers by poll workers, unsafe handling of military ballots and insecure data such as on laptops and flash drives.

Equipment failures were frequent and some ballots would not go through the machines while others were counted more than once.

Republican observers were deliberately blocked from observing the counting.

Even more troubling than this was the subcommittees findings about the Dominion voting machines:

The Subcommittee takes notice of the various publicly reported functions of the machines and heard evidence that the machines can duplicate fraudulent ballots to the point that not even trained personnel can tell the difference between a test ballot and a real ballot. Testimony also suggested that the system responds wirelessly to being reset from an unknown location as happened with the poll books. The Subcommittee also heard that Dominion machines can be programmed with algorithms that reallocate votes between candidates. In addition, the Dominion machines are programmed to count votes using percentages of whole numbers rather than actual votes, which is a feature incompatible with the actual voting process. The Subcommittee learned that the history and control of the company that owns the Dominion voting system is unclear and provides serious implications of foreign interference in the U.S. election.

The details of the testimony upon which the report is based are in the report.

A number of recommendations in the report go to future election procedures. The report also recommends prosecution of those who violate election laws by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the attorney general, including those conspiring to place fraudulent ballots into the system and the 1,000 persons identified by the Secretary of state who voted twice in the 2020 primaries. It recommends forensic audits of the ballots and machines by third-party auditors.

From the point of view of the present, the most significant recommendation is this:

The Legislature should carefully consider its obligations under the U.S. Constitution. If a majority of the General Assembly concurs with the findings of this report, the certification of the Election should be rescinded and the General Assembly should act to determine the proper Electors to be certified to the Electoral College in the 2020 presidential race. Since time is of the essence, the Chairman and Senators who concur with this report recommend that the leadership of the General Assembly and the Governor immediately convene to allow further consideration by the entire General Assembly.

Voters have good reason to believe that the numerous incidents of malfeasance found in Georgia were repeated elsewhere. Gateway Pundit summarizes the problems, noting three states alone that counted one million illegitimate votes for Biden: Wisconsin, Georgia, and Pennsylvania.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court held that more than 200,000 ballots cast (estimated to be heavily for Biden) in the 2020 election were illegitimate.

In Georgia 460,000 absentee ballots, most of which went to Biden, were counted with no compliance with the chain of custody requirements of Georgia law.

In Pennsylvania there still is a case pending before the Supreme Court. There the state allowed hundreds of thousands of ballots to be counted even though they were not turned in until after 8 p.m. on election day as state law mandates.

Regardless of the outcomes in other disputed states, decertifying and refusing to count the votes in these three states alone would hand the election to President Trump.

Those of us who believed all along that this election was stolen for Biden had good reason to think so.

There was an overwhelmingly obvious disparity in enthusiasm between the huge crowds for Trump throughout the country and the turnouts even smaller than those that greeted Hillary when Biden occasionally emerged from his basement. President Trump forcefully criticized the riots and looting in Democrat-run cities while Biden remained in a muddled mostly peaceful camp. The Presidents stopping flights from China and his effort to quickly get a COVID vaccine created and distributed so that the country could get moving and lives saved contrasts with Basement Bidens criticism of the flight stoppage and support for more lockdown and mask gimmickry. Finally, Biden had no coattails which in an honest election one would expect. The Democrats lost 27 out of 27 tossup elections. Looks close to a pantsing to me.

What Congress will do before January 20s inauguration is beyond my poor powers of prognostication, but the numbers of legislators saying theyd be willing to challenge the certifications keeps growing. It has taken this long to amass the evidence supportive of our rational doubts. In large part, this is the nature of such things where the equipment used is solely in the hands of the very people who created or, at a minimum, indulged this mess and would not release them for inspection, and a court system reluctant to get involved in election disputes.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-03 22:00:18|Editor: huaxia

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URUMQI, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- A record number of 9,679 inbound and outbound China-Europe freight trains passed through northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in 2020, according to China Railway Urumqi Group Co. Ltd.

The number of trains traveling through Alataw Pass reached 5,027 in 2020, up 41.8 percent year on year, while those through Horgos Port totaled 4,652, up 37 percent year on year.

Sources with the company said a large quantity of goods previously transported to Europe via air and sea shifted to the China-Europe freight train last year.

Local railway authorities expanded the capacity of the Alataw Pass and th Horgos Port and optimized the operation of production in 2020. Through better coordination among railway, customs, border control authorities as well as Kazak authorities, the time a train needed to pass the border was reduced to less than one hour from 10 hours, the sources said.

Currently, 22 lines run through Alataw Pass, reaching 13 countries including Germany and Poland, and 16 lines travel through Horgos Port to over 10 countries including Uzbekistan. Enditem


The beleaguered MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa says President Emmerson Mnangagwa will not bury him politically and has threatened a vicious 2021 comeback despite alleged attempts by his nemesis at decimating his party.

Chamisa conceded that 2020 was a difficult year for the MDC Alliance which he said had to contend with a vindictive Mnangagwa who was bitter with the 2018 presidential election results, hence his determination to destroy the opposition party at all costs.

Mnangagwa has since appeared to warm up to the controversial winner of the MDC-T extraordinary congress, Douglas Mwonzora, whom he has pledged to work with in the Political Actors Dialogue (Polad).

ED (Mnangagwa), you have been working so hard, 24/7, to try and bury Nelson Chamisa. Note this: when you try to bury him, you are only planting him and he will only germinate even more viciously, Chamisa said in an interview with The Standard yesterday.

ED will never forgive us for drubbing him in 2018. The peoples crime is that they showed him a red card in 2018 only to get relief and extra time through the ConCourt.

Describing the year 2021 as a turning point, Chamisa said: Through the hurdles, attacks and downs of 2020, we remain standing and marching towards a free and new great Zimbabwe. Fighting for freedom is a national duty and a patriotic act. 2021 will be incredible and full of surprises.

On Zanu PFs apparent interest and excitement over Mwonzoras victory, Chamisa said: A ruling or ruining party must never be allowed to organise, patronise, sponsor, define and determine its alternative. Never!

Mnangagwa and his party have been congratulating Mwonzora on his election victory, a move the MDC Alliance has viewed as a way to accommodate a weaker opposition while pursuing the bigger picture of decimating Chamisa.

The MDC Alliance suffered several huge setbacks last year including the recalling of over 30 Members of Parliament by the then Thokozani Khupe-led MDC-T.

Over 80 councillors were also recalled by Khupe working with Mwonzora, and the MDC Alliance has accused them of being in cahoots with the ruling Zanu PF party.

Mnangagwa has tried to bring Chamisa into the Polad dialogue platform, but the main opposition leader has snubbed the invitations saying the Polad forum did not present genuine dialogue.

In his congratulatory message to Mwonzora, Mnangagwa said: A few days ago, the opposition MDC-T party held its elective congress in full compliance with and fulfilment of court judgements. Let me take this opportunity to formally and personally congratulate Mwonzora for prevailing at that congress.

We took particular note of his declared wish to guide and reshape the politics of opposition towards constructive engagement with the government of the day.

This is a very welcome move for our nation which is likely to put politics of rancour behind us thus triggering collaboration, development and the harmony we sorely need for national progress, Mnangagwa added.

Both as the ruling Zanu PF party and as the government, we assure Senator Mwonzora and the MDC-T leadership our collaboration towards the growth and prosperity of our nation.

We appeal to all those still stuck to yesterdays politics of destruction and obstruction to learn from this salutary gesture by the MDC-T. To be in opposition need not mean being unduly negative, confrontational, divisive and disloyal to ones nation and people.

Last week, Presidential spokesperson George Charamba took to microblogging site Twitter to suggest working together with Mwonzora in Polad.

Last but not least significant, Mwonzora made mention by name of only two political organisations in Zimbabwe, his MDC-T and Zanu PF, both of which he placed on even, co-operating plenitude.

Read together with the notion of responsible opposition, that seems to suggest engagement (with) the ruling party, something Khupe had started. Much rests on how he relates to Polad, although he hinted he believed in unity of opposition, Charamba said. Standard
ANN ARBOR, MI - If youre looking for a chance to get a little out-of-this-world, a Michigan astronomer will be hosting a live YouTube show on Sunday, Jan. 3 to give viewers a glimpse into deep space. The topic for tonights event is galaxies.

The program will run from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. EST on this site: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIqdn5NLQxw

Well use the remote-control telescope located in the desert to be able to see Andromeda and other galaxies, said Brian Ottum, a Michigan astronomer who is a frequent source for MLives skywatching stories.

Ottum is a member of the Ann-Arbor area University Lowbrow Astronomers club, which is a group of more than 100 astronomers. After his show explaining the recent Christmas Star phenomenon, Ottum said viewers requested more glimpses of deep space and information about celestial events.

He can offer people here a unique view via a telescope set up in the southwestern United States.

Though Im located in the Ann Arbor area, my telescope is located in the New Mexico desert, where it is very, very dark and almost always cloudless. At the start of my show, I have a three-minute video that explains me, moving my telescope from Michigan to New Mexico, and how it all works.

READ MORE

Michigan sparkles in first New Years satellite images from space

2021 meteor shower lineup, when to plan your own star party
She has been spending the holiday season with her family in Brazil, even bidding farewell to 2020 in the South American country.

And Alessandra Ambrosio looked every bit the bikini babe as she hung out on the beach in the city of Florianopolis on Saturday afternoon.

The supermodel, 39, put her toned physique on display in a tiny pink two piece that highlighted her glowing tan.

Bikini babe: Alessandra Ambrosio looked every bit the bikini babe as she hung out on the beach in the city of Florianopolis on Saturday afternoon

Alessandra's swimwear, pulled directly from her line GAL Floripa, consisted of a flattering underwire top and a pair of bikini bottoms with slight ruffling on the sides.

Her freshly highlighted tresses were effortlessly swept to one side and flowed down her back and chest in soft waves.

Ambrosio kept her sultry peepers concealed behind a pair of chic cateye shades, before pushing them up into her hair to take a phone call.

The former Victoria's Secret model, known for accessorizing, layered a variety of chains around her neck, while slipping a watch and a slew of bracelets onto her wrist.

Glowing: The supermodel, 39, put her toned physique on display in a tiny pink two piece that highlighted her glowing tan

Switch up: Ambrosio kept her sultry peepers concealed behind a pair of chic cateye shades, before pushing them up into her hair to take a phone call

She also fastened some dangling earrings to her ears and placed a single gold ring on each hand.

Despite the idyllic beach weather, Alessandra stayed out of the water and, instead, chose to lounge on the shore.

Ambrosio quenched her thirst by sipping on some fresh coconut water out of an actual coconut.

Just a peek: Taking to her Instagram Story, Alessandra gave her 10.2million followers a peek into her luxe accommodations in Brazil

Casual: She posed for a video on the deck of her hotel room, while swinging the sleeve of her swimsuit coverup threw the air

While walking through the sand, the brunette beauty threw a bright pink swimsuit cover up over her bikini-clad body.

Taking to her Instagram Story, Alessandra gave her 10.2million followers a peek into her luxe accommodations in Brazil.

She posed for a video on the deck of her hotel room, while swinging the sleeve of her swimsuit coverup threw the air.

Bonding: Though she spent most of her time at the beach reveling in its beauty, the star did take a moment to snap a quick photo of herself and her nephew for Instagram

Allowing it: Alessandra let the baby boy, whom her sister Aline welcomed in March of last year, play with her sunglasses as she cradled him in her arms

Ambrosio's room had an incredible view on the ocean and a spacious deck complete with outdoor seating, various lounge chairs, and a fire pit.

Though she spent most of her time at the beach reveling in its beauty, the star did take a moment to snap a quick photo of herself and her nephew for Instagram.

Alessandra let the baby boy, whom her sister Aline welcomed in March of last year, play with her sunglasses as she cradled him in her arms.

Ringing in the New Year: Ambrosio often uses social media to document memorable times with her family, such as their most recent New Year's Eve celebration

Ambrosio often uses social media to document memorable times with her family, such as their most recent New Year's Eve celebration.

Joined by her children, daughter Anja, 12, and son Noah eight, Alessandra (in PatBo) and her entire family dressed in white and rang in 2021 with a spectacular firework show.

The runway maven shares Anja and Noah with her former fiance Jamie Mazur, 39, whom she split from in 2018.
A US man is due in court for a hearing on charges that he threatened to kill his former boss after he didnt accept his Facebook friend request.

Caleb Burczyk (29) had reached out to his old employer with an invitation to become virtual pals on Christmas Eve.

However, when the man did not reply to his Facebook friend request Burczyk went to his dads house where he is accused of kicking in the front door.

Police say Burczyk started sending aggressive Facebook messages, according to an affidavit of probable cause.

He threatened the mans life and warned him that he was going to come at him if he did not accept his Facebook friend request, the affidavit stated.

Accept my friend request or Im going to murder you, Burczyk wrote in a message to his ex-co-worker, according to the affidavit.

Security footage shows a man kicking in the front door of the house and investigators later identified the man as Burczyk, the affidavit states.

Authorities said Burczyk posted a photo of himself on Snapchat in a cap and vest with a message saying the victims family would need a new door.

Surveillance footage from his former boss home showed the man who kicked in the door was wearing an identical outfit, according to court documents obtained by the paper.

The suspects boss was not named in the documents, but on Burczyks Facebook profile, which has 550 friends, it says he most recently worked as a wireline operator at GR Energy Services until March.

Burczyk was charged with felony counts of burglary and terrorising in connection to the bizarre incident.

He is due in court on January 27 for a hearing on the charges against him.

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In terms of wealth, Nigerias economic hub, Lagos, is the richest state in the country. Also arguably the most populous, Lagos is prided to have a burgeoning educated population and is considered Nigerias most cosmopolitan city.

But all these do not translate to civic responsiveness for the states residents as data has shown that an overwhelming majority of eligible voters among Lagosians, as people who live in Lagos are often called, have a penchant for boycotting elections.

A state-by-state breakdown of the election turnout in the last two general elections in the country shows that Lagos sat afoot the ranking on both occasions.

The state had back-to-back lowest voters turnout in the 2015 and 2019 elections.

Although the nationwide turnout  which has been falling consecutively over the years  in the two elections were respectively about 44 per cent and 35 per cent, it was much worse in Lagos.

In 2015, voters turnout in the state was 29 per cent. By 2019, it fell to 17.25 per cent.

On the other hand, voters in poorer states like Jigawa, Sokoto and Katsina States had 55.7, 50.3 and 50.7 per cent turnout respectively in the last election.

Election apathy is being watered by the countrys existing legislative framework for elections, the executive director of Yiaga Africa, a not-for-profit civic organization, Samson Itodo, said.

You can only vote where you registered. That makes it difficult for people to transfer their registration from one place to another. We need to get to a point where people can vote anywhere they are, he noted.

One-party state

Since 1999, one party (in various forms) has run Lagos State and has won virtually all local, state and federal elections in the state.

The All Progressives Congress (APC), and its predecessors, has had a tight grip on the state and it has shrugged off every opposition in the states elections in the last two decades. All governors of the state since 1999 have been members of the APC or the party that morphed into the APC after repeatedly changing its name (AD, AC, ACN before APC).

All incumbent senators from the state are members of the APC. All but three of the states 24 federal House of Representatives members are from the APC.

The non-APC federal legislators from Lagos are Tajudeen Obasa of Ojo federal constituency; Olatunji Soyinka of Surulere II federal constituency; and Ajokpa Oghene of Amuwo/Odofin federal constituency  all of whom are members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the APCs main opposition.

For the first time since 1999, the 40 state assembly members elected in 2019 are all members of the All Progressives Congress.

Could people be boycotting the elections in Lagos because of the one-party system it runs, especially because there are no strong opposition parties?

The coordinator of the African Centre for Media and Information Literacy (AFRICMIL), Chido Onumah, says it is a contributory factor.

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There is a level of cynicism, rightly so, that the votes of Lagosians do not count. They believe that no matter what they do, it is the candidate of not just the ruling party but the godfather of Lagos politics, Bola Tinubu, that will be declared (the) winner, Mr Onumah said.

To this, a member of the APC and the Lagos state chapter chairman of the Yoruba Afenifere Youth Organization of Nigeria (YAYON), Sodiq Onifade, disagreed. He said boycotting elections because a party holds sway is not a genuine reason.

Because previously some states were operating one-party system before the APC overtook the mantle of leadership in those respective states, he noted.

Constant pattern

The constant apathy towards voting in Lagos State was again reflected in the legislative by-elections held last month.

Of the 1,168,790 registered voters in the Lagos East senatorial district, only 104,405 voted, according to INEC  about nine per cent attendance rate. Or, simply put, only nine in every 100 registered voters voted.

Comparatively, that was the poorest return of all the 11 states where by-elections were held.

Mr Onumah said the trend should concern anyone who wants to understand why democracy is not flourishing in Nigeria, especially in Lagos, which has a relatively higher population of enlightened citizens.

There is mistrust on the part of citizens and a deliberate attempt on the part of the dominant ruling class in the state to constrict the right of citizens to choose who governs them, he noted.

Winning with a 9 per cent attendance rate implies that the APCs popularity in the state is only among a few eligible electorates.

Analysts believe that for more political competitiveness and to make the state a multi-party state, opposition parties would need to identify those that are not voting and convince them to vote.

Mr Onifade agreed too, but he doubts his party can be unseated in Lagos just yet.

They (opposition parties) have tried that several times, he said, adding that the problem is that there are some disgruntled elements within the party (APC).

Match up in December 2020 by-elections

In North-east Bauchi, the House of Assembly by-election that was conducted in Dass federal constituency returned a 41.9 per cent voter turnout. Of the 58,112 total registered voters, 24,376 votes were cast.

In the Bayelsa Central Central Senatorial District election, the turnout was 33.9 per cent as 141,392 votes were cast out of the 417,408 registered voters.

The turnout was higher in the Bayelsa West Senatorial by-election of the south-south state, which was won by the immediate past governor, Seriake Dickson. Of the 234,609 registered voters, 133,503 valid votes were cast, making 56.9 per cent turnout.

By-elections were held in two state constituencies in Borno, and despite the threat of insurgency both had better turnouts than Lagos.

While the Bayo constituency by-election had 38.1 per cent turnout, the Nganzai constituency by-election had about 26.7 per cent voter turnout.

Although the Enugu State Assembly by-election for the Isi-Uzo state constituency recorded a low 19.4 per cent voter turnout, it was still higher than the figure from Lagos.

Turnout in the Bakori LGA State House of Assembly by-election was 27.2 per cent.

In the Plateau South senatorial district by-election, the turnout was about 23.6 per cent with 157,803 total votes recorded as against the 667,424 registered voters in the district.

Even in the Kogi State Ibaji State House of Assembly by-election which had a low turnout of 19.4 per cent, it fared better than Lagos States turnout of 9 per cent.

Likewise, the Bakura constituency in Zamfara State by-election recorded a turnout of 44.6 per cent with 40,809 votes cast from the 91,480 total registered voters.

Repeated efforts to get a comment from the APC hierarchy in Lagos were unsuccessful. Lanre Ogunyemi, APC Lagos spokesman, and Joe Igbokwe, a vocal chieftain of the party and its former spokesperson, both declined to comment after several attempts through calls, text, WhatsApp and Facebook messages.

Moving forward

Mr Itodo said at the heart of the disinterest towards elections in Nigeria is the failure of the political leadership to deliver on their electoral promises, largely due to ideological blankness of the nations political parties.

Some residents in the state who said they do not vote affirmed this.

Olowolagba Tobi, 25, said he did not vote in 2019 and he does not have the intent to even do so anytime soon because we are tired of fake promises.

He said he wont change his mind until I know the essence of doing so.

Mr Itodo said as a way out, we need to raise the bar of public leadership. Political leadership should not be based on sycophancy. We need to ensure party reforms and leadership inclusiveness.

Mr Onumah said voter apathy is part of the general structural malaise in Nigeria which can be solved through the devolution of power to states and local governments. He urged more young people to get involved in the electoral process.

We can make progress if more young people get involved in the political process, both in terms of running for office and voting during elections, he said.

They are the only ones to end this hegemony. They should translate the gains of #EndSARS, the ability to mobilise, etc., to the political arena.

There is the other issue of not letting politicians use them to rig or disrupt elections. This of course is a challenge because many young people have been pauperized by the state and the political elite that they are now at the mercy of politicians, Mr Onumah added.

Mr Itodo noted that while it was key to create more polling units due to obsolescence of the existing ones, it is equally important to update the voters register to capture the current status of the electorate.
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Recent political talk has focused almost entirely on Jan. 5 (the Georgia Senate runoffs) and Jan. 6 (congressional certification of the Electoral College results). Important as they are, we also should remember Jan. 20. On that day Americans will witness a truly remarkable tradition: the peaceful transfer of power between opposing parties. Such handovers are extremely rare in history and a towering, hard-won achievement. Our next one is worth celebrating, regardless of how you voted.

It is especially important for Donald Trump to attend this one since he has contested the November outcome so aggressively. Those challenges have gone well beyond formal legal contests. He has rallied supporters to challenge the legitimacy of the election outcome. That rallying cry needs to end, even as legal battles continue. It is time for President Trump to signal his public recognition that Joe Biden won the 2020 election and that he and the Republican Party are now the loyal opposition.

The losers presence at the inauguration serves two crucial functions. First, it makes clear that they accept the winner as legitimate. Like the swearing-in of members of Congress and Supreme Court justices, it tells all Americans that our top officials hold their positions rightfully.

Second, it shows that defeated candidates and their party are integral features of our ongoing constitutional process. Their presence says they will continue to seek election and work within that framework.

The losing side has every right to challenge the elections integrity in court. Trump has done so repeatedly and failed each time. Thats partly because it is nearly impossible to swiftly prove fact claims, such as voter fraud. Still, Trumps legal team has held numerous press conferences and public hearings to assert they have incontrovertible proof. Their claims have convinced die-hard believers but not trial judges, appellate courts, or state legislatures. Repeating these claims of a stolen election, without convincing the courts, rends the countrys already-fraying political fabric.

Few open-minded people would doubt there was some fraud in this election. It was probably worse this year because so many states instituted widespread mail-in voting without experience or solid protections against fraud.

Still, no courts or administrative tribunals have found mistakes or malfeasance large enough to change any states electoral votes. Some courts may have been biased, but Trumps team has lost before multiple judges he appointed. He has lost administrative challenges in states led by Republicans he once endorsed. He has every right to continue these challenges, but, without major legal victories, it irresponsible to claim that Joe Biden is not the duly elected president. He is. Attorney General Bill Barr underscored that point in a final press conference, saying his department has not yet found any evidence of widespread fraud.

Many Trump voters believe all of them are lying. They have convinced themselves that Republicans who recognize Bidens victory, including those who voted for Trump, are weak-kneed RINOs. President Trump has encouraged this thinking. Ending it is another reason Trump should stand on stage with Joe Biden.

Democrats dont come to this moment with clean hands. Its fine for them to celebrate their presidential victory. But its rich to see them parading their moral superiority. Their abysmal behavior after Trumps victory four years ago is a one reason we face such ferocious pushback today.

Hillary Clinton may have behaved properly in public, attending Trumps inauguration, but her private behavior was appalling. In 2016, she and the Democratic National Committee used intermediaries to hire foreign agents, who concocted false and defamatory stories about Trump colluding with the Kremlin to win the election. Those agents werent loose cannons. They were doing precisely what they were hired to do. Clintons close associates then worked assiduously to feed that false information to the media, the State Department, the Department of Justice, and the FBI, hoping to fuel a federal investigation into Trump-Russia collusion.

At the same time, the FBI not only spied on the Trump campaign, it spied on the newly elected president and his team. Holdover officials continued to do so after Trump was sworn in. Their efforts were profoundly damaging. They deliberately sabotaged the transition of power while publicly undermining the new presidents legitimacy. Theirs was abuse of power on a grand scale.

This effort to delegitimize Trumps presidency was systematic, sustained, and well-orchestrated. Its overriding aim was to show that Trump did not win the presidency honestly, exactly what Trump himself is now saying about Biden. Democratic lawmakers tipped their hand at Trumps inauguration, when some five dozen House members, led by civil rights icon John Lewis, refused to attend. Lewis said openly that Trump is not a legitimate president. He also refused to attend George W. Bushs inauguration in 2001.

Boycotts like this are something new and troubling for our democracy. Lewis had every right not to attend, as do pro-Trump representatives this time. Thats their prerogative, but we all pay a price when they exercise it. Their disdain for the rival political party undermines our shared traditions and institutions.

Eschewing civic niceties pales beside the damage done by prolonged, politically inspired investigations. Those were the sulfurous face of the Washington Swamp: James Comeys FBI; Special Counsel Robert Mueller and his top aide, Andrew Weissmann; anti-Trump leakers in the bureaucracy and White House; and the Democratic House of Representatives. The mainstream media participated actively, eagerly. They hated Trump more than they loved journalism.

They all had the same straightforward goal: showing that Trump was elected only because he sought help from a foreign enemy and received it. How, then, could he possibly be considered a legitimate president?

It was certainly appropriate for Congress and the Department of Justice to see if Russia interfered in the election and if either party received foreign assistance. Fair-minded investigations, including Muellers, would have included Hillary Clintons campaign payments to foreign investigators, who relied on questionable Russian sources. Mueller never looked into those and never explained why. But, then, these investigations were never really about Russia. They were about Trump, whom Democrats wanted to sink by tying him to Vladimir Putin. Ideally, they would remove him from office. Failing that, they hoped to immobilize his presidency and hurt his chances of reelection.

Thats why, as soon as Democrats won the House in 2018, they ginned up a massive investigation, endorsed by their partys top elected official, Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Thats why the Mueller team, filled with anti-Trump partisans, refused to release a partial report before the 2018 election, clearing Trump of collusion with Russia. That part of the investigation was already complete. They knew the evidence fell far short of collusion, and they should have informed the public.

Meanwhile, the House investigation, led by Pelosis protege Adam Schiff, was coming up dry, too. Schiffs House Intelligence Committee secretly interviewed all of Barack Obamas top officials in law enforcement, intelligence, and national security. Every one of them, testifying under oath, said they had no evidence of Trump-Russia collusion. They said something very different before the cameras while Schiff hid their secret testimony for two years. Schiff himself repeatedly told reporters he had conclusive evidence of Trump-Russia collusion. If it exists, it remains as secret today as the formula for Coca-Cola.

These constant investigations, targeting a sitting president with little or no basis, hiding exculpatory evidence, spewing false information to take down political opponents, are noxious. They are not the behavior of a loyal opposition, operating within clear constitutional limits. They are the behavior of malignant politicians, journalists, and broadcasters who see their political competitors as enemies. Their actions, combined with the collapse of public trust in our institutions, endangers our constitutional order.

President Trump is doing the exact same thing now. His backers say, They did it to us, and we need to fight back just as hard. This eye for an eye is blinding our democracy.

Its fruitless to direct blame at one party. Both have wrongly claimed the winner is illegitimate. We need to restore a bipartisan sense that our leaders hold office rightfully, thanks to free and fair elections.

That restoration should begin with a bipartisan effort to ensure future elections are honest, especially if they involve large-scale mail-in voting. Second, politicians and their ardent supporters need to stop promoting unproven claims of fraud and criminality. Third, leaders from both parties, including the outgoing president, need to affirm Americas constitutional stability by standing together as the new president is sworn in. Trump will have to grit his teeth, but his appearance on stage with Joe Biden will show the world our democracy endures.
Plans to turn three-bedroom property into childrens care home submitted to Wrexham Council

This article is old - Published: Sunday, Jan 3rd, 2021

Plans to turn a three-bedroom property into a childrens care home have been put forward to Wrexham Council.

The Omega Care Group, which provides support for young people with emotional and behavioural disorders, has applied to convert a house on Heol Maelor in Coedpoeth.

If approved, three children aged between 10 and 17 would be looked after at the home, know as the Laurels.

Documents show that some of them may have gone through traumatic events in childhood.





The company said it would look to ensure that youngsters who are placed there settle positively into the local community.

In a statement submitted to the local authority, representatives said: There will be a significant emphasis on enabling a secure base, providing an emotionally and physically safe home environment.

Omegas approach is rooted in working in partnership with each child, ensuring and enabling their rights to be heard and listened to, valuing difference and diversity and operating within a positive behavioural management framework.

It is important in the case of The Laurels that all children residing within the home are enabled to integrate positively into, and to be considered a part of, their local community.

The management of the home is committed to transparency, effective communication and to working with relevant others to address any potential barriers or issues.

Referrals to the home will made by the council, with a risk assessment carried out before children are placed there.

The firm said behaviours displayed by youngsters would also be considered before any decisions are made.

The home would operate on a one to one staffing basis, which may increase depending on the needs of each child, with workers based there 24/7.

A decision will be made on the proposals by the council at a later date.

By Liam Randall  BBC Local Democracy Reporter
Between 30 and 60 tonnes of trash is being collected from Bali's usually beautiful beaches each day

Monsoon season usually brings in trash but officials have never seen this much with sand covered in debris

The biggest problem is believed to be Indonesia's ineffective rubbish handling systems not cleaning up

The area is usually teeming with tourists, with thousands of Australians flocking to Bali annually pre-Covid

Bali's iconic beaches and typically idyllic waters have transformed into rubbish dumps with tonnes of filth piling higher than deck chairs where Australian tourists once sunned themselves on holiday.

The once-popular Kuta Beach is now a deserted coastline that looks more like a tip than an idyllic tourist destination, strewn with washed up bottles, bags, and plastic.

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Between 30 and 60 tonnes of trash is being collected from Bali's most popular beaches each day, with the problem at its worst from December to March each year, where seasonal winds and heavy rain wash up the rubbish on the beach.

But locals believe the problem is worse than ever this year, as the island's workers also struggling with the Covid-19 pandemic denying them of the usual flood of tourists.

Shocking photos have emerged of local surfers and beachgoers sunbaking and walking along shorelines strewn with mountains of plastic cups, cans, bottles, discarded footwear and other debris.

The beaches are usually packed with hundreds of international tourists kept away by the coronavirus pandemic.

The monsoon season usually brings in trash but this year authorities say it has become worse with 30 and 60 tonnes of trash being collected from Bali's best known beaches each day. These pictures were taken over the weekend at Kuta Beach showing a once frequented tourist destination now submerged in piles of rubbish

Rubbish continues to plague the usually-idyllic beach, with locals unable to keep up with the quantity of debris (pictured, the beach on Saturday)

More than 30 tonnes of rubbish was removed on Friday from beaches in Kuta, Legian and Seminyak but the next day the amount doubled to 60 tonnes

Local residents sunbaking on a clean and rubbish free Kuta Beach in September before the monsoon season hit and left it looking like a rubbish tip (pictured on September 4)

The trash continues to grow, despite the desperate efforts by local authorities to clear the mess on a daily basis.

Wayan Puja, from Badung's environment and sanitation agency, which covers the Kuta, Seminyak and Jimbaran beaches, says the trash is seemingly never-ending.

'We have been working really hard to clean up the beaches, however the trash keeps coming,' Wayan said.

'Every day we deploy our personnel, trucks and loaders.'

He said more than 30 tonnes of rubbish was removed on Friday from beaches in Kuta, Legian and Seminyak before the amount doubled to 60 tonnes on Saturday.

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More than a million Australians flocked to Bali each year before the coronavirus pandemic hit. Pictured is Kuta Beach

Thousands visit Bali's famous Kuta Beach (pictured pristine outside monsoon season) each year

Wayan said while rubbish flooding onto Bali beaches was a regular phenomenon at this time of year, due to weather conditions, it was getting worse.

Dr Gede Hendrawan, the head of the Centre for Remote Sensing and Ocean Scienes at Bali's Udayana University, said the biggest problem was Indonesia's ineffective rubbish handling systems.

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'The biggest problem is actually the trash handling hasn't been effective in Indonesia. Bali has just started to reorganise it, also Java has just started,' he said.

Indonesia's ineffective rubbish handling systems has been blamed as Bali's Governor, Wayan Koster, urges a serious clean-up for beaches (pictured, trash on Kuta Beach)

The cleaning up system does not have adequate equipment and resources to quickly remove rubbish from beaches. Currently, they use trucks and loaders (pictured on Kuta Beach on Saturday)

Locals are disappointed at what their beaches have become - the site of a rubbish tip (pictured) littered with plastic

Kuta Beach (pictured) is rubbish-free for nine months of the year, until the monsoon season hits in December (pictured, the clean beach in September)

Bali's beaches are usually packed with international tourists all year round. Pictured are tourists on Kuta Beach in March, a month before Indonesia closed its foreign borders

Bali's Governor, Wayan Koster, urged serious action to clean up the beaches - which are a huge tourist drawcard.

'The Badung administration should have a trash handling system at Kuta Beach that is complete with adequate equipment and human resources so they can work quickly to clean up the trash washed onto the beach,' he said.

'Moreover, in the rainy season when there are tourists visiting, the trash handling systems should be working 24 hours a day. Don't wait for tomorrow.'

Indonesia is among the worst contributors to plastic pollution, with 200,000 tonnes of plastic washing into the ocean, according to a study published by the journal Nature Communications in 2017.

Siblings Rizkika Arshanty and Rizkella Triara, from Jakarta said they were disappointed to visit Kuta Beach and find it inundated with rubbish.

Thousands of Australian tourists would normally be in Bali over the summer holiday period but the coronavirus pandemic has halted overseas travel.

Sadly, Kuta Beach doesn't look this clean and pristine all year round with the shoreline inundated with mountains of washed up rubbish during the monsoon season

Former Australian Bachelorette Anna Heinrich at Finns Beach club in Bali. More than a million Australians travel to Indonesia each year and make up more than a quarter of Bali tourists - but this has dropped to zero during the pandemic

Indonesia has recorded 758,000 coronavirus cases and 22,555 deaths as of Sunday.

Indonesia closed its international borders in April, which crippled the Balinese economy - normally almost entirely dependent on foreign tourism.

Businesses reopened to Bali locals in July after a three month hiatus.

Kuta has transformed from a bustling tourist mecca into a deserted ghost town, forcing accommodation operators to rethink their survival strategy and slash prices.

Locals are assisting authorities efforts to clean Bali's beaches

Crews are clearing debris at Kuta Beach daily

Indonesia is keeping its borders closed to all foreign arrivals until at least January 14 in a bid to halt the spread of the new strains of Covid-19 that have emerged in the UK, South Africa and the US which have spread to other countries, including Australia.

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Entry to Indonesia is only open to foreign nationals already holding a valid stay permit who must return a negative coronavirus test before they fly and spend 14 days in hotel quarantine when they arrive in Indonesia.

Bali Governor Wayan Koster remains optimistic about the revival of international tourism on the island, despite rising COVID-19 cases in the country.

'We have agreed to keep on pushing various policies to return the trust of tourists, especially foreign tourists, to visit Bali. [This is] so that the tourism sector can revive,' Koster told reporters last week.

Pre-COVID, more than a million Australians travelled to Indonesia each year and made up more than a quarter of Bali tourists.

Around 1.23 million Australians visited Bali in 2019 - a rise of 5.24 per cent on 2018 figures.

Around 20,000 Australians visited Bali at any one time before the pandemic before the number of foreign tourists arriving in Indonesia plunged 60 per cent in March as the outbreak spread worldwide.

As a result, more than 73,000 people have been furloughed and another 2,500 workers have lost their jobs in Bali due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Foreign tourist arrivals in Indonesia slumped 89.22 percent year-on-year to 164,970 in August 2020.

The Indonesian government predicts $14 billion will be lost from tourism in 2020 and has introduced a $28 billion in fiscal stimulus to fight the downturn.

Kuta Beach is located in the regency of Badung, which normally earns between $19 million and $38 million from January to June.

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The regency had only earned $572,000 from January to June this year.
A health worker takes a swab sample from a resident for a COVID-19 test in Shenyang, China, on Jan. 2, 2021. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)

China Announces New UK COVID-19 Variant Cases, While Superspreaders Appear in Multiple Cities

CCP virus outbreaks in areas of northern China continued to worsen over the weekend as authorities announced that they had detected patients infected with the new virus variant that first emerged in the United Kingdom.

The metropolis of Shanghai and southern Guangdong Province each reported a patient who tested positive for B.1.1.7, the new UK-derived virus strain. Both were students in the UK who returned to China in December last year. After genome sequencing, it was confirmed that they had the new strain, which is more contagious.

Meanwhile, Shenyang and Dalian authorities provided details about local superspreaders who had spread the virus to dozens of others.

Locals told The Epoch Times that they knew of cases that their local governments didnt announce, leading them to suspect that authorities have been covering up the outbreak.

A medical worker takes a swab sample from a child to test for COVID-19 in Shenyang, China, on Dec. 31, 2020. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)

Superspreaders

Over the weekend, authorities announced more cases in Heihe of Heilongjiang Province; Dalian and Shenyang cities in Liaoning Province; Beijing; and Shijiazhuang in Hebei Province.

According to Shenyang authorities, all who were infected in this latest wave had contact with a woman surnamed Yin, who arrived in Shenyang from South Korea on Nov. 29, 2020.

State-run newspaper The Paper created a map that showed how Yins contacts became infected, including her granddaughter, roommates, the medical staff who treated her at the hospital for COVID-19, and patients who were in nearby beds.

A security person scans a mans body temperature in Shenyang, China, on Jan. 2, 2021. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)

In Dalian, a 34-year-old patient surnamed Jin spread the virus to at least 33 others, according to local health officials.

At a press conference on Jan. 3, Zhao Lian, vice director of the Dalian health commission, said that Jin operates a clothing booth inside a local mall and contracted the disease at the venue.

Jin participated in a family gathering after experiencing symptoms and spread the virus to 10 of the 11 family members who were there.

Beijing authorities said the latest diagnosis was an 8-month-old infant. The childs mother and grandmother had tested positive on Dec. 31.

But most of the cases authorities have disclosed in past days are related to a 31-year-old woman who was diagnosed on Dec. 24, 2020.

People line up for COVID-19 testing in Shenyang, China, on Jan. 2, 2021. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)

Unreported Cases

Ms. Li from Beijing told the Chinese-language Epoch Times that the outbreak in Beijing was far worse than officials have announced, noting that she heard of more diagnosed patients found in Shunyi and Chaoyang districts.

A lot of people have been infected with the virus in Beijing, and the government doesnt dare to report any details, Li said.

She said authorities dont want to reveal the real scale of the outbreak, which could damage their image, but they issued strict lockdown policies in order to stop the outbreak and save their reputation.

Li also questioned officials narrative that many of the infections were people who recently traveled overseas.

I wonder why these people were healthy when they were outside of China, but they were infected after they came to China? Li said.

A child takes a COVID-19 swab test in Shenyang, China, on Jan. 1, 2021. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)

Ming Xuan (a pseudonym) is a student at Jinzhou Normal College, a school to train teachers located in northeastern Liaoning Province. He told the Chinese-language Epoch Times on Jan. 2 that his school has been fully locked down since Dec. 27 and has not allowed any student to leave the campus during the winter break.

We heard that a university student from another city came back to Jinzhou with a negative nucleic acid test and without any symptoms. But after he came here, he tested positive for COVID-19, Ming said.

The Epoch Times couldnt verify the infection Ming mentioned, but checked with other students, who confirmed that the college was fully locked down and nobody knew when students could go back home for the winter break.

On Jan. 3, Qinghe county in Xingtai, Hebei Province, announced that a resident in neighboring Nangong was diagnosed with COVID-19. The county alerted its residents to stop going to Nangong.

However, Nangong authorities didnt announce any infections.

That day, Shijiazhuang in Hebei also confirmed a new patient, but the National Health Commission didnt announce the two diagnosed cases in Hebei.
A police chase on Saturday evening in East Texas culminated in a fatal confrontation on Sunday morning in a church between its pastor and a fugitive who was hiding there, officials said.

The shooting, at Starrville Methodist Church in Starrville, Texas, a small, unincorporated community about 100 miles east of Dallas, left the pastor dead and three others, including the gunman, injured, the authorities said.

The man had been fleeing the police in a Volkswagen Jetta on Saturday evening, brandishing a shotgun during the chase, Sheriff Larry Smith of Smith County said at a news conference on Sunday.

The man, identified as Mytrez Deunte Woolen, 21, of Marshall, Texas, was sought in two separate shootings on Saturday evening, Sheriff Smith said. He did not elaborate on those episodes but added that the license plates on the car Mr. Woolen was driving were fictitious  they didnt belong on that vehicle.
Cyberbullying is always wrong  unless it serves the cause of social justice. Then the victims are simply collateral damage in the long march toward a progressive utopia.

That message, delivered daily by Twitter mobs and public shaming campaigns, was endorsed by the New York Times on Dec. 26 in a long article headlined A Racial Slur, a Viral Video, and a Reckoning. The piece demands scrutiny because it reveals how the news organization that corrupted our nations history to claim America is irredeemably racist in its 1619 Project continues to normalize false assumptions and frameworks to advance leftist ideology.

First, the background. The Times article focuses on two high school seniors  Mimi Groves, who is white, and Jimmy Galligan, who has a white father and African American mother  who grew up in the well-to-do Northern Virginia town of Leesburg. Groves thought her years of hard work had paid off last May when she earned a spot on the University of Tennessees national champion cheerleading squad.

Her world crumbled a few weeks later when, ironically, she joined the social justice caravan by urging her Instagram followers to protest, donate, sign a petition, rally, do something in support of Black Lives Matter following George Floyds death.

Groves Instagram post infuriated Galligan, who commented: You have the audacity to post this, after saying the N-word.

Later that afternoon, the Times reports, Mr. Galligan, who had waited until Ms. Groves had chosen a college, posted a three-second video Groves made in 2016, as a 15-year old, upon receiving her learners permit. I can drive, niggah, she said joyfully into the camera, echoing the idiom of hip-hop culture so familiar to her generation.

A national controversy ensued. The Tennessee cheer squad booted Groves, who subsequently withdrew from the university under mounting pressure. She is now taking remote classes at a community college.

The Times does not tell its readers that this is a textbook case of cyberbullying, which the U.S. government defines as sending, posting, or sharing negative, harmful, false, or mean content about someone else  causing embarrassment or humiliation.

While noting in a single sentence that the incident reflects broader efforts of public shaming and cancellation that can include harassment, the paper of record devotes thousands of words to providing misleading context that works to justify the punishment of Groves alleged crime. The story behind the backlash, reporter Dan Levin writes, also reveals a more complex portrait of behavior that for generations had gone unchecked in schools in one of the nations wealthiest counties, where Black students said they had long been subjected to ridicule.

The Times presents a cherry-picked version of history to depict Leesburg and surrounding Loudoun County  where Democrat Joe Biden won 61% of the vote  as a hotbed of racism, embodied and embraced by the then-15-year-old Groves in her three-second video.

The dishonesty begins with the papers headline, which states that Groves used a racial slur. She did not. Merriam-Webster defines a slur as an insulting or disparaging remark or innuendo. Groves had no such intent. This is obvious as her video was made in a youthful moment of celebration  I can drive!  not racial hatred.

The Times also muddied the waters by refusing to print the offending word, only alluding to her damning language as a racial slur and the N-word. Nuance matters, so it is essential to note that Groves did not use N-word per se but a softer variant. The African American linguist John McWhorter describes this crucial difference in his 2017 book Talking Back, Talking Black: Nigger is a slur associated with disrespect from whites but nigg-ah [the term Groves used]  is different. Nigga is friendly.

Both words are ubiquitous in rap music; her use of the benign term reflected the broad reach of this genre. Groves herself told the Times the word was in all the songs we listened to, while adding, Im not using that as an excuse.

Granted, this may still offend some people. But it seems cruel and vindictive to attack what was, at worst, an honest mistake by a naive 15-year-old. Frankly, the larger issue is the bizarre circumstance in which white children are inundated with words they must never repeat but which their African Americans cohorts are allowed to use with impunity. This double-standard may make sense on one level, but it is also Kafkaesque.

Ignoring Groves innocent use of the N-word allows the Times to engage in another left-wing trope  the misuse of history  to provide false context aimed at justifying Galligans actions and Groves fate. The third paragraph of the article is an exercise in tendentious innuendo. It informs readers that Leesburg was named for an ancestor of the Confederate general Robert E. Lee without noting that Col. Thomas Lee died in 1750, decades before the Revolutionary War and more than a century before the Civil War. It also states that Loudoun Countys school system had fought an order to desegregate for more than a decade after the Supreme Courts landmark ruling. It does not tell readers that ruling occurred in 1954. Later Levin finds it relevant to report that "slave auctions were once held on the courthouse grounds."

As it did in the 1619 Project, the Times cynically invokes unmoored pieces of history to paint a false picture of the present. It commits memory malpractice by failing to show that these historical facts influenced Groves behavior. For the left, the recitation of past sins is the only evidence required for contemporary indictments.

The Times does report that Loudoun County schools, like those in almost every other system in the nation, are still grappling with racial disparities. However, it ignores African American achievement  97% of black students in the county graduate from high school, 57% of whom earn advanced diplomas.

The Times also fails to mention that just 8% of the districts students are black, a statistic that is hard to interpret on its own but suggests one reason why some African Americans, according to a 2019 district report, feel marginalized within the school division and do not feel that they are supported in developing a sense of cultural or academic identity.

Instead, the paper focuses on its interviews with current and former students of color [who] described an environment rife with racial insensitivity, including casual uses of slurs.

A long article detailing how and when such slurs are used in Loudoun County schools would have been illuminating. Ironically, by focusing on Groves situation, the Times gives license to those who want to downplay racial issues by relying on an example that can be dismissed as harmless.

In creating the impression that Groves got what was coming to her, the Times reflects two other poisonous aspects of left-wing ideology  the ideas of racial collective guilt and the disposability of individuals in the cause for justice.

For the Times, Groves, like all whites, is inescapably responsible for past, present  and future  racial injustices in Leesburg. The complicating particulars of her case are irrelevant because it can be used to shine a light on larger issues. And even if she is paying an unfair price, well, you cant make an omelet without breaking a few eggs.

This callousness was articulated by one of the 20 comments  out of 1,622  Times editors chose to highlight in response to the article: Ms. Groves and her family keep claiming that her life is ruined, but it's not. She's white and her family is well off. She will be fine. She'll go to *gasp" [sic] community college for a year, and then she'll matriculate at some nice school. Hopefully, she learned a little about racism and how harmful racist language can be.

The tragedy of Mimi Groves is alarming because it reflects the dangerous mindset the radical left that is ascendant in America. The punishment meted out to her by the University of Tennessee and others demonstrates the triumph of ideology over reason and compassion. The efforts by the Times to legitimize these actions provide further proof of how many of our nations most influential institutions have embraced bullying as a form of justice.
Sports lie at the margins of our culture, different from how it is elsewhere in the world, and from how it used to be. This is one of the reasons why criminality among youth proceeds unchecked. There is no youth labour market, and the school system ruthlessly triages youth.
For taking the decision to donate the organs of loved ones who have suffered brain death, the donors families are vilified and ostracized.

"Families of organ donors have special stories. Behind their kindness and bravery are things difficulties that cannot be seen easily," said Dr. Du Thi Ngoc Thu, head of the organ transplant coordination unit at Saigons Cho Ray Hospital.

Since its founding in 2014, the unit has recorded 38 cases of organ donations from brain dead patients, she said.

In 2010, when the hospital took its first steps in transplanting organs from brain-dead patients, the doctor and her colleagues tried to convince the mother and brother of a man who had gone brain dead after a severe accident to donate his organs to other patients who needed them.

The grief-stricken mother, hoping her sons body can save other lives, agreed.

Former Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Kim Tuyen (R) with families of organ donors including a mother (second from left) who had donated her son's organ at a ceremony in 2016. Photo courtesy of Du Thi Ngoc Thu.

But, when she took her sons body to his hometown for the funeral, the mother was rejected by her family and relatives.

She had to put up a tent outside her house to organize the funeral for her dead son and refused all the money people gave her to prove that she had not been greedy in donating her sons organs.

The mother and son later left their hometown for good and changed their phone numbers to avoid facing the anger and nastiness of their neighbors.

But this was not the end of their troubles.

When Cho Ray Hospital organized an event to pay tribute to families donating organs of their loved ones, Thu and her colleagues had to try very hard to find the mother, they were shocked to learn what shed been through.

The old woman had an accident herself and was operated on at the Cho Ray Hospital, but she did not want to call Thu because she was afraid people would say she wanted to wheedle people into helping her.

Later, the mother and her son bought a house on an installment plan. However, the landlord wanted to sell it to someone else for more money, so a lot of difficulties were created to drive the mother and son away.

After they won a lawsuit and proved their legal ownership, an anonymous donor helped them pay the rest of the installment money, but the house had been sold to another person by the former landlord.

"The situation was out of my league, and it tortured me," Thu said.

In another case, a middle-aged woman lost her husband whod been treated at the Cho Ray Hospitals ICU in 2016.

Thu and her colleagues tried their best to save the man whose brain was dead, but they failed. Later, they persuaded his family members to donate the brain dead mans kidneys and corneas, saving four other patients.

After several months, Thu visited the woman, who looked haggard and depressed. She told the doctor how her life changed after donating her husbands organs.

A 53-year-old woman in the southern province of Bac Lieu is able to see after receiving corneas from a stranger who died in a traffic accident. Photo by VnExpress/Thu Anh.

The husbands family, thinking that the woman had sold her husbands organs for money, cut her off and refused to keep in touch with her. She said that even a lottery seller on the streets heard the rumors and despised her.

She began getting anonymous letters saying her husband own a lot of money.

"They were all fake, because they thought I got a lot of money after donating my husbands organs," she said. Having no support from relatives and friends, she fell into a depression and stopped communicating with people.

"If I had known all of this, I would have never donated his organs," she told Thu, who was shocked, yet again.

The doctor felt bad for not foreseeing the difficulties that families of organ donors have to face and keeps in touch with them.

At the "For People's Health" ceremony organized by the Ministry of Health in 2016, Thu told the woman, who was recognized for her brave and kind decision: "Be proud of what you did, because it is not a thing everyone can do."

Recently, after four years, Thu visited the woman. She does not care about rumors or nasty words anymore and believes that her husband would have agreed with what she did.

To avoid such tragedies in the future, doctors in the organ transplant coordination unit at the Cho Ray Hospital will also attend the donors funerals, and keep in touch the families for at least two years to provide any assistance or advice they may need.

Between June 2013 and November 2020, 5,473 organ donations have been recorded, according to the Vietnam National Coordinating Center for Human Organ Transplantation (VNHOT).

The center says the demand for organ transplants in Vietnam is high, but the number of donors is very low. As of December 6, there were 2,524 registered cases that need organ transplants.
Farmworkers demanding better wages clashed with police on a Peru's Pan-American highway Wednesday, leaving at least three people dead and 24 injured in a dispute over reforms to the country's agro-export sector.

The workers for agricultural export companies are unhappy with an increase in their daily wage worth $2.50 when they were asking for a $6.50 hike.

The Ombudsmans Office in Peru said two protesters died of gunshot wounds at a road blockade Wednesday, while the third death was a 56-year-old man with cancer who died on a vehicle stranded by the protest. Office representative Jose Aguero said the clash caused 24 injuries, including 15 police officers.

Video obtained by The Associated Press showed stone-throwing farm workers being repelled by police firing tear gas and buckshot. The Pan-American highway crosses Peru from the border of Ecuador to Chile. The protest took place in the Chao district in the La Libertad region.

Reforms to Peru's agrarian law adopted by Congress on Tuesday left neither the farm workers nor the agricultural business union happy. Business leaders say higher wages will affect some 2,000 companies and 200,000 jobs. Under the new law, workers will earn $13.40 a day.

The protests began in early December and the death of a protester in the southern Ica region led to the repeal of the old law with Congress promising reforms.

Representatives of the workers say agro-export companies have enjoyed state support for two decades paying less taxes than other sectors despite high profits. Farm workers are often hired on short-term contracts, impeding unionization and wage bargaining.

According to official data, in the Ica region, one of the largest agro-export areas in Peru, there are roughly 80,000 farm workers but only three unions with a few hundred members each.

As there is no collective bargaining, wages cannot grow," said labor lawyer Javier Mujica. "They have always been close to the minimum living wage, which in Peru is subsistence.

Peru is the worlds leading exporter of blueberries and also grows grapes and other produce.

(Image credit: AP)

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Starch Derivatives Market by Type (Hydro lysates, Modified Starch, Glucose Syrup, Cyclodextrin, Maltodextrin), Raw Material (Potato, Cassava, Corn, Wheat), Application (Industrial, Food & Beverages, and Feed), Region, Global Industry Analysis, Market Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2021 to 2028Newark, NJ, May 25, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As per the report published by Fior Markets, the global starch derivatives market is expected to grow from USD 51 billion in 2020 and reach USD 70.1 billion by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 4.5% during the forecast period 2021-2028. Developing economies such as India and China have witnessed significant growth in the consumption of starch derivatives mainly due to the rapid industrialization and an increase in the spending capacity of the people due to the rise in the per capita income of the consumers. Starch derivatives have a vital role in the packaging application as the sustainable plastics derived from the starch derivatives can act as a replacement for synthetic plastics. This is most likely to drive the growth of starch derivatives demand in the market. The modified starch derivatives are gaining popularity in industrial applications mainly due to their biocompatible properties when compared to synthetic polymers. Starch derivatives hold a vital position in the market from the industrial perspective as it has a wide range of applications as additives in various industries. Starch derivatives are an effective option for their biodegradability, safety, and technical properties such as thickening, gelling, and binding materials. It is also used in acid-picking thickeners, ceramic fibers and cement retardants. In some cases, the starch is modified to augment its stability against extreme temperatures and also for altering the texture of the food. The factors driving the market are the growing awareness of the people about the health benefits of organic ingredients used in the food, heightened requirements for natural sweeteners in non-carbonated soft drinks and energy drinks are most likely to drive the demand for the starch derivatives market. The factors restraining the growth of the market are the heavy dependency on the availability of raw materials and the fluctuating prices of the raw materials required, and also the significant investments required for research and development. Promoting the use of natural ingredients and the rise in applications, especially in growing economies will open up a number of opportunities for the growth of the market. DOWNLOAD FREE SAMPLE REPORT AT https://www.fiormarkets.com/report-detail/419445/request-sample Some of the major players operating in the starch derivatives market are J.P. & S.B. International (Spain), Cargill (U.S.), Archer Daniels Midland Company (U.S.), Ingredion (U.S.), Tate & Lyle (U.K.), Roquette Freres (France), Grain Processing Corporation (U.S.), Molinos Juan Semino SA (Argentina), Global Sweeteners Holdings Ltd. (Hong Kong), AGRANA (Austria), ), Varun Industries (India), Gulshan Polyols (India), Fooding Company Limited (China), Foodchem International Corporation (China), Tereos (France), ShreeGluco Biotech Private Ltd., (India), Shubham Starch Chem Pvt. Ltd. (India), Matsutani Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. (Japan), Sanstar Bio-Polymers Ltd. (India) Glucose syrup segment dominated the market and held the largest market share of 46% in 2020Based on type, the global starch derivatives market is segmented into Hydrolysates, Modified Starch, Glucose Syrup, Cyclodextrin, Maltodextrin. The glucose syrup segment dominated the market and held the largest market share of 36% in 2020. This growth is mainly due to the rise in the consumption of desserts, ice creams, bakery products, sauce, processed meat etc. In addition to this, glucose syrup acts as a texture agent, volume adding agent and flavor enhancer in food & beverages. Corn segment dominated the market and held the largest market share of 40% in 2020Based on raw material, the global starch derivatives market is segmented into potato, cassava, corn, and wheat. The corn segment dominated the market and held the largest market share of 40% in 2020. This growth can be attributed to the consumers preference towards it due to the various nutritional benefits to be gained from corn when included in the diet. It is a staple food in a large number of countries. Food & beverages segment dominated the market and held the largest market share of 52% in 2020Based on application, the global starch derivatives market is segmented into industrial, food & beverages, feed. The food & beverages segment dominated the market and held the largest market share of 52% in 2020. This growth can be attributed to the rise in the preference of the consumers towards healthy food, and also the various product innovations in the food & beverages sector is likely to boost the demand for starch derivatives in this area of application. Browse full report with TOC at https://www.fiormarkets.com/report/starch-derivatives-market-by-type-hydro-lysates-modified-419445.html Regional Segment of Starch Derivatives Market North America (U.S., Canada, Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, U.K., Italy, Spain, Rest of Europe)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, India, Rest of APAC)South America (Brazil and Rest of South America)The Middle East and Africa (UAE, South Africa, Rest of MEA) Based on geography, the global starch derivatives market is classified into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and South America. Asia-Pacific dominated the market and held the largest market share of 36% in 2020. This growth is mainly due to the expansion of pharmaceuticals and food & beverages sectors in India, China, Thailand, South Korea, Indonesia, etc. The growing demand for convenience foods and the developments in the textile and paper industry will boost the growth of the market during the forecast period. North America is anticipated to witness growth in the market due to the developments in the food & beverage sectors and the industrial application such as packaging. Europe will also see a substantial increase in the market due to the increasing demand for personal care products and also the development of the textile industry. Request for Customization: https://www.fiormarkets.com/enquiry/request-customization/419445 About the report:The global starch derivatives market is analyzed based on value (USD billion). All the segments have been analyzed on a global, regional and country basis. The study includes the analysis of more than 30 countries for each segment. The report offers an in-depth analysis of driving factors, opportunities, restraints, and challenges for gaining critical insights. The study includes porters five forces model, attractiveness analysis, raw material analysis, and competitors position grid analysis. For Instant Purchase: https://www.fiormarkets.com/checkout.html?reportid=419445&type=single Customization of the Report: The report can be customized as per client requirements. For further queries, you can contact us on sales@fiormarkets.com or +1-201-465-4211. Our executives will be pleased to understand your requirements and offer you the best-suited reports. About Fior Markets Fior Markets is a futuristic market intelligence company, helping customers flourish their business strategies and make better decisions using actionable intelligence. With transparent information pool, we meet clients objectives, commitments on high standard and targeting possible prospects for SWOT analysis and market research reports. Fior Markets deploys a wide range of regional and global market intelligence research reports including industries like technology, pharmaceutical, consumer goods, food and beverages, chemicals, media, materials and many others. Our Strategic Intelligence capabilities are purposely planned to boost your business extension and elucidate the vigor of diverse industry. We hold distinguished units of highly expert analysts and consultants according to their respective domains. The global market research reports we provide involve both qualitative and quantitative analysis of current market scenario as per the geographical regions segregated and comprehensive performance in different regions with global approach. In addition, our syndicated research reports offer a packaged guide to keep companies abreast of the upcoming major restyle in their domains. Fior Markets facilitates clients with research analysis that are customized to their exact requirements, specifications and challenges, whether it is comprehensive desk research, survey work, composition of multiple methods, in-detailed interviewing or competitive intelligence. Our research experts are experienced in matching the exact personnel and methodology to your business need. Contact Us Avinash DHead of Business DevelopmentPhone: +1-201-465-4211Email: sales@fiormarkets.comWeb: www.fiormarkets.com To know more market research reports and industry analysis, visit our associate website: https://www.mrinsights.biz/ Related ReportsBrewery Equipment Market - https://www.fiormarkets.com/report/brewery-equipment-market-by-mode-of-operation-manual-407152.htmlPackaged Vegan Food Market - https://www.fiormarkets.com/report/packaged-vegan-food-market-by-type-vegan-dairy-407148.htmlStarter Culture Market - https://www.fiormarkets.com/report/starter-culture-market-by-microorganism-bacteria-yeasts-molds-407134.htmlVegan Protein Bar Market - https://www.fiormarkets.com/report/vegan-protein-bar-market-by-type-vegetable-nuts-407137.html
Chinese oil majors may be next in line for delisting in the US after the New York Stock Exchange said last week it would remove the Asian nations three biggest telecom companies.

Chinas largest offshore oil producer CNOOC Ltd. could be most at risk as its on the Pentagons list of companies it says are owned or controlled by Chinese military, according to Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Henik Fung. PetroChina Co. Ltd. and China Petroleum and Chemical Corp., also known as Sinopec, may also be under threat as the energy sector is crucial to Chinas military, he said.

More Chinese companies could get delisted in the U.S. and the oil majors could come as the next wave, said Steven Leung, executive director at UOB Kay Hian in Hong Kong. At the same time, the impact of removing the telecom firms is probably minimal as they were thinly-traded in the U.S. and they havent raised much funds there, he said.

The NYSE said it would delist the telecom operators to comply with a U.S. executive order imposing restrictions on companies identified as affiliated with the Chinese military. China Mobile Ltd., China Telecom Corp Ltd. and China Unicom Hong Kong Ltd. would all be suspended from trading between Jan. 7 and Jan. 11, and proceedings to delist them have started, the exchange said.

Chinas Ministry of Commerce responded on Saturday, saying the country would take necessary action to protect the rights of Chinese companies and it hoped the two countries could work together to create a fair and predictable environment for businesses and investors.

U.S. President Donald Trump signed an order in November barring American investments in Chinese firms owned or controlled by the military in a bid to pressure Beijing over what it views as abusive business practices. The order prohibited U.S. investors from buying and selling shares in a list of Chinese companies designated by the Pentagon as having military ties.

Chinas Foreign Ministry later accused the U.S. of viciously slandering its military-civilian integration policies and vowed to protect the countrys companies. Chinese officials have also threatened to respond to previous Trump administration actions with their own blacklist of U.S. companies.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-03 18:52:33|Editor: huaxia

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-- China and the European Union have completed investment agreement negotiations as scheduled, which is expected to inject new vitality into the pandemic-battered global economy.

-- Both Chinese and European companies will benefit from much wider investment access and better protection in their respective markets, while ordinary people will also benefit because more investment will create more jobs and enrich the options of consumers.

-- China is now the biggest trade partner of the EU while the EU is China's second-largest trade partner.

by Xinhua writers Zhu Sheng, Zuo Wei

BERLIN, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- China and the European Union (EU) on Wednesday announced they have completed investment agreement negotiations as scheduled.

The long-awaited result, which came after 35 rounds of negotiations in the course of seven years, is a milestone in EU-China relations and is expected to inject new vitality into the pandemic-battered global economy, European experts, officials and business leaders have said.

Aerial photo shows a China-Europe freight train bound for Duisburg of Germany departing from Tuanjiecun Railway Station in southwest China's Chongqing, Jan. 1, 2021. (Xinhua/Tang Yi)

GOOD NEWS

Jan Zahradil, vice-chair of the European Parliament's international trade committee, deemed the completion of the negotiations "good news at the end of otherwise not (a) very good year."

Featuring greater market access, improved business environments, stronger institutional guarantees and brighter cooperation prospects for mutual investment, the China-EU investment agreement is a hard-won achievement between the two major economies that have already enjoyed high-level economic relations.

In 2019, two-way trade between both sides reached 4.86 trillion yuan (roughly 740 billion U.S. dollars), and over 3,200 Chinese enterprises have invested directly in the EU, creating nearly 260,000 jobs for locals.

Despite the pandemic and the stifling economic woes induced by the outbreak, bilateral economic cooperation continues to march forward, with the completion of investment agreement negotiations as a new landmark.

A man works at Tiexi Plant of BMW Brilliance Automotive (BBA) in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province, Feb. 17, 2020.(Xinhua/Pan Yulong)

"The investment agreement reached between the EU and China opens the door to a future market for our companies. The close economic exchange with China also secures many jobs in Austria," said Margarete Schrambock, Austria's economy minister.

Shada Islam, a Brussels-based commentator on EU affairs, said that the agreement will provide much-needed stability and predictability to European and Chinese investors by ensuring that the job-generating foreign direct investment flows remain dynamic despite pandemic-induced economic headwinds.

Actually, the China-EU investment agreement is not only "good news" for the two major economies themselves, but also an encouraging message for the global economic recovery amid the pandemic.

In the eyes of James Zhan, editor-in-chief of annual UN World Investment Report, the agreement represents both a milestone for China and the EU to boost their bilateral investment and a landmark of joint commitments to sustainable global development.

A staff member works in a primary packaging workshop at Bayer HealthCare Company Limited Qidong Branch in Qidong, east China's Jiangsu Province, Dec. 2, 2020. (Xinhua/Zhang Yuwei)

MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL

China has become the biggest trade partner of the EU while the EU is now China's second-largest trade partner. The EU is also China's third-largest source and destination of investment.

In September 2020, the two sides announced the official signing of the China-EU agreement on geographical indications, and decided to establish a China-EU High Level Environment and Climate Dialogue and a China-EU High Level Digital Cooperation Dialogue.

The investment treaty between China and the EU is a continuation of such mutually beneficial cooperation over the past decades.

The treaty is a balanced, high-standard and mutually beneficial agreement that matches high-level international economic and trade rules and focuses on institutional opening-up, said China's Ministry of Commerce.

Aerial photo taken on Feb. 15, 2019 shows the COSCO Shipping Pisces approaching Piraeus port, Greece. (Xinhua/Wu Lu)

It is "definitely a win-win" between the two economies that are reliant on each other not only for trade, but increasingly so for investment, said Margit Molnar, head of the China Desk at the Economics Department of the Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

"This investment treaty, which has reciprocity as a basic principle, will create a more welcoming environment for Chinese investors in the EU," and EU firms will face a level playing field in China, she said.

Noting the agreement is an important step in China's unwavering efforts to promote high-level opening-up, Fabrice Megarbane, president and CEO of L'Oreal China, said the continuous strengthening of cooperation between European and Chinese companies will create new opportunities for the development of bilateral relations.

Both Chinese and European companies will benefit from much wider investment access and better protection in their respective markets, said Zhou Lihong, chairperson of the China Chamber of Commerce to the EU.

Zhou also believed that ordinary people will benefit from the treaty because more investment will create more jobs in various sectors and "enrich the options of consumers."

An exhibitor shows a slice of ham from Spain at the Food and Agricultural Products exhibition area during the third China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai, east China, Nov. 7, 2020. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe)

POSITIVE SIGNAL

Against the backdrop of the raging pandemic, continuing recession, surging isolationism and rising protectionism, the completion of China-EU investment agreement negotiations has undoubtedly offered a silver lining to the global economy.

The agreement will unleash the market potential of the two stabilizing forces in the world economy and push forward their efforts to strengthen trade and investment, and stabilize global industrial and supply chains.

The deepening cooperation between the EU and China is of great significance and will contribute to the "reboot" of the global economy, establishing a "beacon" for economic globalization and trade liberalization, Megarbane said.

The commitment to rules-based economic relations by the two major economies is a positive signal for the world economy, which has seen rising protectionism in recent years, said Cora Jungbluth, senior expert at the German think tank Bertelsmann Foundation.

Customers try Xiaomi products at a newly-opened Mi store in Porto, Portugal, June 15, 2019. (Xinhua/Petro Fiuza)

Jim O'Neill, British economist and chairman of the London-based think tank Chatham House, told Xinhua that the agreement adds to the confidence of a significant positive recovery in 2021 around the world, as the world moves beyond the pandemic.

The completion of the agreement negotiations is a strong signal from both China and the EU to keep their commitments to supporting an open and multilateral global system, said Fu Xiaolan, founding director of the Technology and Management Center for Development of the University of Oxford.

"It sends out the goodwill to the world, and is of special importance at a time of global pandemic and economic recession. It also demonstrates China is practicing its commitments to launching a deeper and higher level of openness," Fu said.

(Xinhua reporters Li Jizhi in Brussels, Tang Ji, Liu Fang, Xu Yongchun in Paris, Chen Junxia, Ling Xin in Geneva, Yu Tao in Vienna, Shen Zhonghao in Frankfurt, Feng Junwei, Meng Dingbo in Madrid, Sun Xiaoling in London, Zhang Zhang in Warsaw also contributed to the story.)

(Video reporters: Han Chong, Zhao Yuchao, Li Jizhi; video editor: Hong Yan)





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Khartoum, Jan 3 : Sudan, Egypt and Ethiopia will hold a new round of talks on Sunday over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on the Nile river under the patronage of African Union (AU).

"This meeting will discuss Sudan's proposal aimed at reactivating the negotiations via giving a greater role for the AU experts to reach a binding legal agreement on the GERD according to Sudan's previous request and then look into the draft of understanding prepared by the AU experts to reach a satisfactory deal for the three parties," Xinhua news agency quoted Sudanese state media as saying in a report on Saturday.

Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Irrigation of Sudan, Egypt and Ethiopia are expected to participate in the talks.

Sudan, Egypt and Ethiopia have been negotiating under the AU over technical and legal issues related to the filling and operation of the GERD.

Ethiopia, which started building the GERD in 2011, expects to produce more than 6,000 megawatts of electricity from the project.

But Egypt and Sudan, downstream Nile Basin countries that rely on the river for its fresh water, are concerned that the dam might affect their water resources.
U.S.-Iran Tensions High at Jan. 3 Anniversary of U.S. Assassination of Iranian General

Jan. 2, 2021 (EIRNS)Jan. 3 is the first anniversary of the U.S. assassination of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, in Iraq, who had been the long-time commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force. The rhetoric is more intense than ever. Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif took one very important initiative today, warning the U.S. against falling for, or plotting for, any false flag action, to make it seem Iran would stage an attack. Zarif warned President Donald Trump on Twitter not to be drawn in, writing: Be careful of a trap. Any fireworks will backfire badly, particularly against your same BFFs. His message, reported by RT today, was that, New intelligence from Iraq indicates that Israeli agent-provocateurs are plotting attacks against Americansputting an outgoing Trump in a bind with a fake casus belli.

The Wall Street Journal reported yesterday that U.S. and Iraqi authorities issued warnings to Iran against any retaliatory action to mark the anniversary. No one should underestimate our ability to defend our forces or to act decisively in response to any attack, the top U.S. military commander for the Middle East, Gen. Frank McKenzie, said on Dec. 30.

According to the same report, calls for violence against Americans in Iraq by militia groups that sympathize with Iran have been increasing. On Dec, 31, a pro-Iranian Iraqi news group on the messaging service Telegram published a picture of the U.S. Embassy captioned: Remember always I can see what you are doing.

No Iraqi officials are actually quoted in the Journal report issuing their own warnings to Tehran, however. The report, citing Iraqi lawmaker Amer al-Fayez, only notes that Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi dispatched a delegation to Tehran asking the government there to help curb attacks, last month.

In their public statements at least, the Iranians are totally unfazed by U.S. military shows of force. Iran has no worries. We are ready to defend our independence, vital interests and achievements of our great (1979 Islamic) Revolution as we have demonstrated over the past 41 years, Maj. Gen. Hossein Salami, commander of the IRGC, said on New Years Day in an address to a ceremony marking the Soleimani assassination. Today, we have no problems, worries nor concerns to face any military power, he stressed. He said the Pentagons recent decision to ramp up its military presence and activities in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman is because of the mistake it made last year.

This intense hatred always haunts Americans like a nightmare. They have taken a series of actions to escape from this horrible nightmare. We have braced ourselves for any scenario, Salami declared.

Apparently speaking at the same ceremony, Soleimanis replacement, Brig. Gen. Esmail Ghaani, said that Iran was not afraid of confronting powers. He also warned that freedom seekers within the U.S. could retaliate for the attack that killed Soleimani, telling America that inside your own home, there might be those who want to respond to the crime that you committedan apparently explicit threat of terrorist attacks inside the U.S.

The head of Irans judiciary, Ebrahim Raisi, said all those who had a role in Soleimanis killing will not be able to escape law and justice, even if they were a U.S. President.

Hossein Dehqan, defense minister during Rouhanis first term but whose pedigree is that of the IRGC, warned that all U.S. military bases in the Persian Gulf region are within range of Iranian missiles. I saw it in the news that the Americans are on standby for the fear of (Irans) revenge, and have flown two B-52 bombers over the Persian Gulf for show, Dehqan tweeted Dec. 31, reported Tasnim. All their military bases in the region are within the range of our missiles, he said. He also advised those fired from the White House not to turn New Year into a tragedy for Americans. Dehqan is reported to be a possible candidate in the upcoming Presidential election in Iran.
Most primary schools in England are expected to re-open their doors tomorrow

Secondary schools will reopen on a staggered basis later this month with testing

UK's largest teaching union advised members it's not safe to return to classroom

And UK head teachers are calling for this year's exams to be scrapped

Head teachers are calling on the Government to scrap this summer's GCSE and A-level exams amid outrage over Gavin Williamson's plans to keep schools open.

Most primaries in England are expected to re-open their doors tomorrow, while secondary schools will reopen on a staggered basis later this month with plans to test every student weekly.

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Yesterday, however, the UK's largest teaching union advised members it was not safe to return to the classroom - with several left-wing councils demanding their primary schools move to online teaching only.

And in another blow to the Education Secretary's plans, UK head teachers are now calling for this year's exams to be scrapped to prioritise 'wider public health, pupil and staff safety'.

They also claim it would be unfair to force students to sit exams when those whose schools were open earlier would have more contact time than those with later start dates.

Head teachers are calling on the Government to scrap this summer's GCSE and A-level exams amid outrage over Gavin Williamson's plans to keep schools open (file image)

The WorthLess? campaign group - a collection of 2,000 head teachers in 80 local authorities - said: 'Wider public health, pupil and staff safety should be prioritised ahead of examinations.

'Public safety should not be risked or driven by an inflexible pursuit of GCSE and A-levels.'

Head teacher of Tanbridge House School in Horsham - and one of the WorthLess? leaders - Jules White told The Times: 'There is great scepticism that exams can now go ahead fairly.'

Their statements come after Brighton and Hove City Council followed eight authorities in London in demanding primaries teach remotely amid rising Covid cases.

CLASS WAR: The Government is keen to get children back to schools however, left-wing councils have joined revolt against Government plans as UKs largest teaching union advised members it was not safe to return

The National Education Union, which has 450,000 members, said the Government was 'failing to protect children, their families and our communities', adding that their members had a legal right to refuse to work.

The move has put them on a collision course with Education Secretary Gavin Williamson, who said it was imperative that the nation's children were back in class to stop them falling behind.

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Writing in The Mail on Sunday, the father-of-two has urged teachers and parents to 'move heaven and earth', adding the young must not 'bear the heaviest cost' of the pandemic.

He said: 'Both of my daughters, one of whom is in an exam year, have had to self-isolate. I know how difficult the last year has been, because I have seen them miss being in the classroom, where they want to be. So I want my children, and all children, to be able to get back to school and stay in class  we will continue to prioritise making this happen where we can.'

The start of the new academic term has been mired in confusion as Covid rates continue to rise, driven by the new variant.

Recent notes from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) revealed scientists have warned that schools may need to be closed to bring down transmission.

But Children's Minister Vicky Ford yesterday told MPs there was no evidence that the new strain caused more serious illness in either adults or children.

Senior Government sources said that Mr Williamson had tried to keep schools open but has been overruled by Health Secretary Matt Hancock and Michael Gove.

The pair have pushed for tighter measures until more people have been vaccinated, but critics accused them of 'natural authoritarianism'.

The National Education Union tweeted earlier today: 'Our Executive is meeting this morning and we will announce new guidance shortly afterwards'

A tweet from the National Education Union today, saying: 'We have thousands of reps from all the country on our briefing right now. We must #MakeSchoolsSafe to #ProtectCommunities'

Childrens Minister Vicky Ford yesterday told MPs there was no evidence that the new strain caused more serious illness in either adults or children

Last week, Mr Williamson announced all primaries would return on Monday. Ten London boroughs were told to open their schools but after a revolt by eight Labour-led councils, Mr Williamson was forced into a U-turn. Now all schools in the capital will operate remote learning for the first two weeks.

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The rebellion was led initially by Haringey, once dubbed the first 'Corbyn council' because of its large number of Left-wing Momentum councillors. Council leader Joseph Ejiofor said he would back head teachers who wanted to defy the Government and he was later followed by Harrow Council.

Brighton and Hove has now advised all primary schools to teach remotely until January 18.

Chris McGovern, chairman of the Campaign for Real Education, has accused the Left of politicising the issue saying: 'This is about knocking the Tories. Keeping schools open should be non-negotiable.' More than one million four to 11-year-olds will now start the academic term with lessons online.

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In advising members to work from home, Dr Mary Bousted, the NEU's joint general secretary, said: 'If Government does not act to follow the science, we must.'

Her views were echoed by the NASUWT union.

Ministers are considering proposals to make teachers a higher priority in the vaccine roll-out as a way to keep physical classrooms open.

Plans for schools reopening differ across the four nations of the UK.In Scotland, most pupils will have online learning for the week of January 11. In Wales, schools are expected to provide face-to-face learning for the majority of their pupils by January 11.

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And in Northern Ireland, secondary school years eight to 11 will be taught via remote learning throughout January while primary pupils will return to the classroom on January 11.
Mike Pence has said he welcomes an attempt by Republican senators to overturn the US election.

Ted Cruz is among 12 GOP senators who say they are preparing to challenge the results of the election in a joint session of Congress next week.

The Texas representative leads a group of 11 politicians who say they will not certify the election results unless there is a 10-day emergency audit of the results, in support of Donald Trump. Separately, Josh Hawley of Missouri plans his own challenge.

The outgoing president has refused to concede the election and made a string of false and debunked claims about election fraud in battleground states.

These false claims have been rejected by judges across the country, and Mr Trump and his backers have not provided any evidence to back their many discredited lawsuits. The election results have been ratified by every state and the former head of the federal governments cyber security unit described it as the most secure poll in US history.

Vice president Pence shares the concerns of millions of Americans about voter fraud and irregularities in the last election," said Mr Pences chief of staff Marc Short in a statement hours after Mr Cruz announced his groups intentions.

The vice president welcomes the efforts of members of the House and Senate to use the authority they have under the law to raise objections and bring forward evidence before the Congress and the American people on 6 January.

Mr Cruz is being joined by Ron Johnson, James Lankford, Steve Daines, John Kennedy, Marsha Blackburn, Mike Braun, as well as Senators-elect Cynthia Lummis, Roger Marshall, Bill Hagerty, and Tommy Tuberville.

Together the 11 senators claimed, without providing new evidence, that the election featured unprecedented allegations of voter fraud and illegal conduct. Mr Trump tweeted approvingly in response, writing: Our country will love them for it! #StopTheSteal.

Members of the House of Representatives and the US Senate will meet in joint session on 6 January in the House Chamber.

Mr Pence will preside in his role as president of the Senate and leaders of both parties will appoint lawmakers from both chambers to act as tellers.

Mr Pence will open certificates of the electoral vote from each state and they are handed to the tellers.

Any objection to the vote must be made in writing and endorsed by at least one member of the House and Senate.

Debate on any objection is limited to two hours and a majority vote is required in each chamber to uphold the objection and throw out the states votes.

If that is not achieved the objection is disposed of and the electoral votes are counted as cast.

Mr Cruz has become an outspoken supporter of Mr Trump, despite their public clashes since 2016. Mr Trump infamously questioned the attractiveness of Mr Cruzs wife, Heidi, on Twitter, and even once asked if the senators father was involved in the Kennedy assassination.

As many as 140 House Republicans are expected to also object to the election results. It is unlikely to make any difference to the outcome, as Joe Bidens win is almost guaranteed to be certified by majorities in the Democratic House and Republican Senate.

Observers say that the move is the first effort by potential 2024 Republican presidential candidates to position themselves and win approval from Mr Trump, if he decides against running for the White House again.

Pennsylvanias Republican senator, Pat Toomey, has criticised his GOP colleagues. The senators justify their intent by observing that there have been many allegations of fraud. But allegations of fraud by a losing campaign cannot justify overturning an election," said Mr Toomey.

Senator Mitt Romney was similarly displeased, saying in a statement: The egregious ploy to reject electors may enhance the political ambition of some, but dangerously threatens our democratic republic.

"The congressional power to reject electors is reserved for the most extreme and unusual circumstances. These are far from it. More Americans participated in this election than ever before, and they made their choice.

"President Trumps lawyers made their case before scores of courts; in every instance, they failed. The Justice Department found no evidence of irregularity sufficient to overturn the election.

The Presidential Voter Fraud Commission disbanded without finding such evidence.

Senator Lisa Murkowski, from Alaska, also said she would vote to back the results of the 2020 election, adding: The courts and state legislatures have all honoured their duty to hear legal allegations and have found nothing to warrant overturning the results.

"I urge my colleagues from both parties to recognise this and to join me in maintaining confidence in the electoral college and our elections."
Government has invited preliminary bids for 26% strategic stake sale in BEML Limited which is engaged in manufacturing and supply of equipment for mining, construction, defence and rail projects.

The centre currently holds 54.03% in the publicly listed public sector enterprise (PSE) and intends to transfer management control along with strategic disinvestment through open competitive bidding route. It has appointed SBI Capital Markets Limited as its transaction adviser to advise and manage the strategic disinvestment process.

Also Read | A year on, China is shaking up the world

The company has a market capitalization of around 2500 crore and total revenue from operations of 3,028.8 crore in FY 20. It has three subsidiaries: Vignyan Industries Limited; MAMC Industries Limited; and BEML Brazil Industrial Ltd and BEML Midwest Ltd, a Joint Venture with Midwest Granite Pvt. Ltd. (MGPL) and P T Sumber Mitra Jaya of Indonesia. The stock price of BEML has gained 0.33% in last one month and ended at 972.15 on Friday.

PSEs with majority government stake have been barred from bidding for BEML. For other interested bidders, a minimum net worth of 1,400 crore and positive profit after tax in at least three of the immediately preceding five financial years has been set as the eligibility criteria.

The successful bidder could be required to undertake certain obligations relating to certain matters, such as, employee protection, asset stripping, business continuity, lock-in of the shares acquired in the proposed transaction, and/or shareholding of consortium members in the SPV. These conditions, and those relating to the respective responsibilities and liabilities of the successful bidder and the consortium members (if any), shall be specified at the RFP (request for proposal) stage," the bid document said.

The coronavirus pandemic has derailed governments disinvestment plans for FY21. Government has so far garnered 12,225 crore through minority stake sales and IPO of Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited against a record target of 2.1 trillion for FY21. It is, however, yet to carry out any strategic disinvestments so far this fiscal year. While the finance ministry had missed the disinvestment target of 65,000 crore for FY20 by 14,701 crore, it is likely to miss the target again due to the pandemic induced economic downturn.

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After the release of VCE results last Wednesday, The Age checked in with some of the students we have spoken to throughout the coronavirus pandemic to see how they fared and how they're feeling at the end of an extraordinary year.

Kezzia Chan

Kezzia Chan, who studied at Killester College in Springvale, said in April that lockdown restrictions had stripped the fun out of her VCE year.

Year 12 students Kezzia Chan (foreground) and Sylvia Griffin. Credit:Joe Armao

Now, fresh from scoring an ATAR that will allow her to pursue a nursing degree at Deakin University, Kezzia said she felt proud she had endured a time that took such a toll on her mental health.
Nineteen new Covid-19 cases were reported at the New Zealand border in the last three days, as the country announcing tightened border restrictions on Sunday.

The new cases were all detected in managed isolation while no new case was found in the community, said the Ministry of Health in a statement on Sunday.

The ministrys last media statement on the Covid-19 case numbers was on Thursday.

The total number of active cases in New Zealand was currently 72, and the total number of confirmed cases reached 1,825, said the ministry.

The total tests processed by New Zealand laboratories to date reached 1,414,422, according to the statement.

The New Zealand Ministry of Health confirmed in the statement that six positive cases of Covid-19 have been found to match the new Covid-19 variant that was discovered in Britain.

The Minister for Covid-19 Response, Chris Hipkins has also announced on Sunday that, from January 15, travellers from the United States and Britain will be required to get a negative test result for Covid-19 before departing for New Zealand, and work is underway to extend the requirement to other long haul flights to New Zealand as well.

The pre-departure test is an additional requirement to the day zero/day one testing and stay in their room in MIQ (Managed isolation and quarantine) requirement for arrivals from higher-risk countries that came into force last Friday. Travellers from Britain and the United States will still have to go through New Zealands 14-day quarantine regime, said Hipkins.

New Zealand is currently at Covid-19 Alert Level one with no restrictions on gathering.
(Newser)  In the biggest violation yet of an international nuclear agreement, Iran is going ahead with enriching its uranium to 20% purity. A nuclear bomb requires 90% purity, but the Iran nuclear deal of 2015 had limited enrichment levels to less than 4%, the BBC reports. Iran has violated provisions of the deal since President Trump restored sanctions and pulled the US out of the agreement in 2018, such as increasing enrichment of uranium to 4.5%. But 20% enrichment would be the high point since the deal took effect, per NPR. Iran signaled that it would take this step last month. The International Atomic Energy Agency said the enrichment will take place at Iran's Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant, which is built under a mountain near the city of Qom.

story continues below

The agency said its inspectors "have regular access to Fordow," but Iran has said it will prevent inspections if oil and banking sanctions aren't lifted by February. The UK, France, Germany, Russia, and China want the nuclear deal fully restored. President-elect Joe Biden has said he'd favor that if Iran is in "strict compliance" with the agreement. And Iranian Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said that if Biden "returns to the situation as it was in 2017, then so will we." But the agency's director general said last month that that might not be possible. "I cannot imagine that they are going simply to say, 'We are back to square one' because square one is no longer there," Rafael Mariano Grossi said. (Read more Iranian nuclear program stories.)
The sprawling SolarWinds hack by suspected Russian state-backed hackers is the latest sign of Moscows growing resolve and improving technical ability to cause disruption and conduct espionage at a global scale in cyberspace.

The hack, which compromised parts of the U.S. government as well as tech companies, a hospital and a university, adds to a string of increasingly sophisticated and ever more brazen online intrusions, demonstrating how cyber operations have become a key plank in Russias confrontation with the West, analysts and officials say.

Moscows relations with the West continue to sour, and the Kremlin sees the cyber operations as a cheap and effective way to achieve its geopolitical goals, analysts say. Russia, they say, is therefore unlikely to back off from such tactics, even while facing U.S. sanctions or countermeasures.

For a country that already perceives itself as being in conflict with the West practically in every domain except open military clashes, there is no incentive to leave any field that can offer an advantage," said Keir Giles, senior consulting fellow at Chatham House think tank.

The scope of Russias cyber operations has grown in tandem with Moscows global ambitions: from cyberattacks on neighboring Estonia in 2007 to election interference in the U.S. and France a decade later, to SolarWinds, seen as one of the worst known hacks of federal computer systems.

We can definitely see that Russia is stepping on the gas on cyber operations," said Sven Herpig, a former German government cybersecurity official and expert at German independent public-policy think tank Stiftung Neue Verantwortung. The development of new tools, the division of labor, the creation of attack platforms, has all increased in sophistication over the years," he said.

Jamil Jaffer, a former White House and Justice Department official, said that cyber operations have become a significant part of [Russias] play."

Its allowed them to level up," said Mr. Jaffer, senior vice president at IronNet Cybersecurity.

Russia has consistently denied engaging in state-backed hacking campaigns, including SolarWinds, maintaining that the country isnt conducting offensive cyber operations. In September, Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed a reset of U.S.-Russia information-security relations.

Russia is not involved in such attacks, particularly in [SolarWinds]. We state this officially and resolutely," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said recently. Any allegations of Russia being involved are absolutely groundless and appear to be the continuation of a kind of blind Russophobia," he said.

But analysts say that Moscow has added hacking to its arsenal of so-called gray-area activitiesa type of warfare that stops short of actual shootingalongside disinformation campaigns and the use of little green men," the masked soldiers in green uniforms who appeared with Russian arms on Ukrainian territory in 2014.

Jeffrey Edmonds, a former White House and Central Intelligence Agency official who studies Russia at CNA, a nonprofit research organization that advises the Pentagon, said that Russias cyber operations have numerous simultaneous goals, including gathering intelligence, testing capabilities, preparing for potential conflict by mapping adversaries critical infrastructure and laying the groundwork for cyber negotiations.

Such operations are a relatively inexpensive and effective way to conduct geopolitics, said Bilyana Lilly, researcher at think tank Rand Corp. That is crucial for Russia, which is facing considerable economic and demographic challenges and whose economy is smaller than Italys. A 2012 article in an official Russian military journal said that the complete destruction of the information infrastructures" of the U.S. or Russia could be carried out by just one battalion of 600 info warriors" at a price tag of $100 million.

Responding to Moscows increased cyber activity has been a challenge. Washingtons retaliation measuressanctions, property seizures, diplomatic expulsions, even the cyber equivalent of warning shotsappear to have done little to deter hacks.

Russia doesnt see sanctions as an instrument of pressure but as an instrument of punishment," said Pavel Sharikov, senior fellow at the Russian Academy of Sciencess Institute for U.S. and Canadian Studies. The Russian government says, Yes we understand that you dont like what we are doing, but we dont really care."

In recent years, so-called information confrontation has become an established part of Russias military doctrine, according to a paper co-written by Rands Ms. Lilly. In 2019, Gen. Valery Gerasimov, Russias General Staff chief, said that in modern warfare, cyberspace provides opportunities for remote, covert influence not only on critical information infrastructures, but also on the population of the country, directly influencing national security."

Russias use of hacking to advance its geopolitical agenda initially focused mainly on targets in ex-Soviet countries. A 2007 cyberattack in Estonia disabled websites of the government, banks and newspapers. Later attacks in Ukraine and Georgia knocked out power supplies, disrupted media outlets and targeted election infrastructure, officials said.

More recently, Russian state-backed hackers set their sights on the West. In 2014, they penetrated the State Departments unclassified email system and a White House computer server and stole President Barack Obamas unclassified schedule, U.S. officials said. In 2015, they got into the German parliament, according to German officials, in what experts see as the most significant hack in the countrys history.

Since its interference in the 2016 U.S. elections, Russia has been accused of attacks on the French elections and the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics and the costly NotPetya malware attacks on corporate networks. This year, Western governments accused Russia of cyber espionage against targets related to coronavirus vaccines. Russia has denied involvement.

As the operations have grown in scope, Russian hackers technical abilities have improved, experts say.

In the 2007 Estonia attack, hackers used a relatively crude tool called distributed denial-of-service" which knocked websites offline by flooding them with data, and did little to hide their trail, with some of their IP addresses located in Russia.

More recent operations have used new reconnaissance tools and methods to cloak operations, including false flag tactics, to make it appear that another country was responsible.

In 2018, federal officials said that state-sponsored Russian hackers broke into supposedly secure, air-gapped" or isolated networks owned by U.S. electric utilities. In the SolarWinds hack, intruders stealthily used a routine software update to gain access to hundreds of U.S. government and corporate systems undetected for months.

Still, some former U.S. officials said Russia is far from flawless in the cybersphere.

Theyre not 10 feet tall. They are detectable," said former senior CIA official Steven Hall, who oversaw U.S. intelligence operations in the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe.

Ultimately, how sophisticated Russia is in the cyber realm remains to be seen, said Bruce Potter, chief information security officer at cybersecurity firm Expel. Nations are reluctant to deploy their best cyber tools because doing so would cause countries and companies to rapidly patch a vulnerability.

They just put down enough to get the job done," he said. And they get the job done."

(This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text.)

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South Carolina surpassed 5,000 confirmed coronavirus deaths on Sunday as the state neared 300,000 confirmed cases.

Nearly 4,000 new cases were reported by the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control on Sunday, giving data for Friday's numbers. It was delayed due to the holiday. Thursday's data also was released on Sunday.

A high percentage of tests for the virus have returned positive results, indicating widespread community transmission. Out of 13,364 new tests conducted for Sunday's report, 29.6 percent were positive for COVID-19.

Statewide numbers

New cases reported: 3,952, which is 2,401 percent higher than the 158 tallied on March 31, the day Gov. Henry McMaster ordered nonessential businesses to close.

Total cases in S.C.: 296,093, plus 25,576 probable cases

New deaths reported: 28

Total deaths in S.C.: 5,042 confirmed, 427 probable

Total tests in S.C.: 3,774,527

Hospitalized patients: 2,072

Percent of positive tests, seven-day average: 30.3 percent. Five percent of tests or fewer returning positive results is a good sign the virus spread is slowing, researchers say.

Hardest-hit areas

The top South Carolina counties for new coronavirus cases as of Friday were Greenville, 805; Spartanburg, 319; and Richland, 280.

On Thursday, the top three counties were Greenville, 688; Spartanburg, 396; and Horry, 303.

What about tri-county?

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For Friday's report, Charleston County had 102 new cases; Berkeley, 47; and Dorchester, 43.

On Thursday, Charleston County reported 215 new cases, while Berkeley County reported 87 and Dorchester County logged 101.

One Berkeley County patient died last week after contracting COVID-19, along with two Charleston County patients, DHEC said Sunday.

The St. Paul's Hollywood Library closed temporarily Sunday due to a staff member testing positive for the virus. The branch will reopen once it has been cleaned.

Deaths

Of the 28 new deaths reported as of Friday, eight were patients aged 35 to 64, while the rest were aged 65 and older.

They lived in Abbeville, Beaufort, Berkeley, Florence, Georgetown, Greenville, Horry, Kershaw, Lancaster, Lexington, Orangeburg, Richland, Sumter, Williamsburg and York counties.

On Sunday, DHEC also reported that 50 new deaths were logged on Thursday. Nine were patients aged 35 to 64, while the rest were aged 65 and older.

They were residents of Aiken, Anderson, Barnwell, Charleston, Cherokee, Clarendon, Dillon, Florence, Georgetown, Greenville, Greenwood, Horry, Kershaw, Laurens, Lexington, Oconee, Orangeburg, Pickens, Richland, Spartanburg, Sumter, Union, Williamsburg and York counties.

Hospitalizations

Of the 2,072 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 reported as of Sunday, 414 were in intensive care and 217 were on ventilators.

What do experts say?

Authorities continue to urge South Carolinians to take precautions, such as wearing masks or other face coverings, social distancing and frequently washing hands.

They also urge anyone who believes theyve been exposed to the virus or who is developing symptoms to get tested. Those out in the community or not able to socially distance should get tested monthly, DHEC advised.

Go to scdhec.gov/findatest to find a testing site in your area.
The project's Christo Grozev said new evidence would be released within the next two weeks.

A number of Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) operatives earlier exposed by a joint media investigation of poisoning Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny with the novichok nerve agent may be involved in three murders.

That's according to Christo Grozev of Bellingcat, the investigative project that co-authored the Navalny poisoning probe, Echo of Moscow reports.

Grozev said the new evidence would be released within the next two weeks.

Read alsoIn prank phonecall, Navalny dupes FSB operative into admitting role in poisoning conspiracyEarlier, the journalist made public an extensive travel log of the FSB team allegedly involved in Navalny's poisoning.

Christo Grozev has co-authored the investigation into the circumstances of Navalny's poisoning, which points to involvement by FSB operatives. Moscow has decried the investigation results. During the recent press conference, however, Russian President Vladimir Putin actually confirmed a surveillance program targeting Navalny.

Navalny poisoning: Background

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny felt sick on board the plane he was flying from the city of Tomsk to Moscow on August 20. His rapidly deteriorating condition forced the captain to perform an emergency landing in Omsk.

Navalny was evacuated from Omsk to Berlin's Charite hospital on an ambulance aircraft for further medical treatment on August 22.

On September 4, it was announced that experts with the Bundeswehr laboratory had found traces of poison from the Novichok group in Navalny's body. In this regard, Berlin called on Moscow to explain the circumstances of the poisoning of the Russian opposition figure.

On September 10, it was reported Navalny had made further progress in his recovery and was able to speak again.

On September 14, French and Swedish laboratories independently confirmed Navalny had been poisoned with a chemical nerve agent of the Novichok group.

On September 23, he was discharged from Charite. He is now convalescing in a secret location.

On September 25, Navalny's press secretary, Kira Yarmysh, said that the opposition leader would remain in Germany until the end of his rehabilitation course.

On October 1, speaking in an interview for Germany's Der Spiegel, Navalny said that Russian President Vladimir Putin was personally behind the attempt to poison him with Novichok. Navalny said he planned to return to Russia.

In a prank call late December, Navalny duped a Russian secret agent into disclosing details of the botched plot to kill him and had been told that poison had been placed in his underpants.

Reporting by UNIAN
So the Government thought 2020 was tough? Well, the opening weeks of this new year are shaping up to make the considerable challenges of the past six months seem like a picnic.

The explosion in the number of Covid cases in recent days and a sense, for the first time since last March, that the pandemic is spiralling out of control leaves the coalition in full crisis mode.

The pre-Christmas optimism - when numbers appeared to be back under control, particularly compared with the rest of Europe, and the vaccine offered a bright light at the end of the tunnel - seems like a different world now.

A spring of serious discontent lies ahead, with the real and unpalatable prospects of thousands of daily cases, as well as many deaths, long queues of ambulances outside hospitals, and restrictions lasting months before the vaccine can have an impact.

That is obviously an appalling vista for the country, but it also spells serious trouble for the Government.

Already there are mutterings about the decision to reopen the country so early and so liberally at the start of December. Should pubs and restaurants have been allowed to open? Was too much latitude given to people?

It's easy with hindsight, of course. The need to give businesses some badly needed respite will be forgotten. The reality that a failure to lift restrictions would have almost certainly resulted in widespread breaches by people won't matter. The fact that personal responsibility seems to have gone out the window these past few weeks will be ignored.

Read More

But if things get as bad as Nphet fears, with the health service unable to cope and in meltdown, there is no doubting who'll get the blame.

Sinn Fein, even though it backed the reopening of things, won't be slow about making political capital.

The Government is facing into the perfect storm. It is in a 'no-win' situation on the return to school tomorrow week: damned if they do and damned if they don't. The slow pace of the roll-out of the vaccine, relative to north of the Border and in Britain, doesn't help either.

The public won't be interested in the complexities of the EU drug approval system and impatience about why more people are not getting the jab quicker is only going to increase as the lockdown continues.

Micheal Martin would be forgiven for thinking that if he had ducks, they would drown.

He got to the top job too late to benefit from the over-the-top social media love-in that Leo Varadkar enjoyed at the start of the pandemic. Back then the country was united behind the need to stay home, make sourdough bread and do Zoom calls. Once the caretaker government followed the advice of Nphet and said the right things about superheroes not wearing capes in state-of-the-nation addresses, it couldn't lose politically. To be fair, it did that very cleverly.

However, as the sense of public solidarity inevitably evaporated, managing the reopening and the second and third waves was always going to be politically trickier.

Because he was on the opposition benches until June, Martin didn't have the political credit built up from the first lockdown that Varadkar does. Martin is every bit as competent as his predecessor, but because of how things played out last March and April, the public perception is different - and that seems to have impacted on Martin's confidence and, at times, his performance.

The same goes for Health Minister Stephen Donnelly. He has actually done a decent job in health, but there is a feeling around Government that he hasn't been as effective as Simon Harris in managing the public communications side of things and connecting with voters.

He is going to be right in the firing line if things get as bad in our hospitals as is predicted. Nobody emerges entirely unscathed from the Department of Health at the best of times and, despite all its many problems over the years, up to now we have never experienced a time when the system couldn't cope. Things could get very ugly.

Despite her inexperience, Norma Foley has surprised and impressed people during her six months in Education, but the coming weeks will be massively challenging, regardless of what the Government decides in relation to schools reopening. Big decisions will have to be made.

Fianna Fail ministers won't be the only ones under the cosh. Fine Gael (and Green) ministers were also around the Cabinet table when the decisions were made to ease restrictions, and Leo Varadkar may yet come to rue his televised evisceration of Tony Holohan back in October.

Most worrying, though, for the Government must be the sense that, not unlike the financial crisis over a decade ago, events are coming close to being outside their control.

They've thrown the kitchen sink at things with the early return to Level 5, but what if that doesn't work?

It's no exaggeration to say that the coming weeks could make or break this Government. Making it to Easter intact must be ministers' short-term ambition - both for themselves and the health of nation.

Shane Coleman presents 'Newstalk Breakfast', weekdays at 7am
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Mumbai: Actor Pankaj Tripathi describes his upcoming film 'Kaagaz' as a satirical take on reality. The Satish Kaushik directorial is based in Uttar Pradesh, and Tripathi, hailing from the heartland, says he understood the complexity of the situation that the story portrays.

"The film is a satirical take on a real situation that has happened in the past with a man. Me being a person from that landscape, I understand the complexity of the situation. I belong to that world and I feel like I am part of that society that I have an insight. So, when the film offer came to me from Satish sir, I immediately said yes," Tripathi told IANS.

The film revolves around a farmer in Uttar Pradesh who is officially declared dead in government documents and how he goes through struggle and paperwork to prove that he is alive, in the process laying bare the corruption that exists in the system.

'Kaagaz' is produced by Salman Khan and also features Monal Gajjar, Amar Upadhyay and Lankesh Bhardwaj, among others.

Tripathi, who has made his mark in mainstream as well offbeat content across the platforms of cinema and OTT, agrees with the view that there is room for all kinds of films to co-exist.

"We should have every kind of film -- whether a film has a message or is set in current affairs, or mirrors society or is just an out-and-out entertaining film. We should leave it to the filmmakers. I personally believe the co-existence of both kinds of films is important. No matter what, an audience watches a film primarily to be entertained. If there is a message conveyed by the maker, it is his choice," he said.

"I think in a democracy, while it is the right of the people to express their opinion, we should remember that if someone does not want to express their opinion through cinema or their work publicly, that is also their choice and we should not judge that," he added.

'Kaagaz' releases on the OTT platform Zee5 on January 7.
Covaxin Only Back-Up, Compensation to be Offered in Case of Side Effects, Says AIIMS Chief Amid Concerns

AIIMS director Randeep Guleria on Sunday said India will use only Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines in the first phase of Covid-19 vaccination and Bharat Biotechs Covaxin is only a back-up in case the more infectious UK virus variant gets out of control. Both vaccines have been granted emergency use approval by the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) but the nod to Covaxin has triggered concerns since the Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech is yet to complete phase III human trials. Read more

At Least 18 Killed as Crematorium Roof Collapses in Ghabziabad's Muradnagar, Rescue Ops Underway

At least 18 people have been killed and several others injured or trapped in debris after the roof of a crematorium collapsed in Ghaziabads Muradnagar. A team of police and NDRF personnel are at the spot and conducting rescue operations. The roof in an area undergoing construction work reportedly collapsed when over 25 people attending a funeral were taking shelter from rain. Most of them were relatives of Ram Dhan, who was being cremated at that time. Read more

Efficacy, Price, Storage: How AstraZeneca's Covid-19 Vaccine Compares With Pfizer-BioNTech

India on Sunday formally approved the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine for emergency use. The vaccine, manufactured in India by the Serum Institute, was first approved by Britain this week. Heres all you need to know about the shot called Covishield in India. Read more

Approval to Bharat Biotechs Covaxin Without Phase 3 Trials Premature, Say Senior Congress Leaders

Senior Congress leaders on Sunday raised concerns over India's drugs regulator granting permission for restricted use of Bharat Biotech's Covid-19 vaccine and asked the government to explain why mandatory protocols and verification of data has been dispensed with. India's drugs regulator DCGI on Sunday approved Oxford-AstraZenecas Covid-19 vaccine Covishield and Bharat Biotech's Covaxin for restricted emergency use. Read more

Still Time for Modi Govt to Shun Arrogance of Power and Withdraw Farm Laws: Sonia Gandhi

Congress interim President Sonia Gandhi in a statement on Sunday accused the Narendra Modi-led government of "arrogance", asked it to shun its arrogance of power, follow the 'raj dharma', and withdraw the three "black" farm laws. "There is still time for the Modi government to come out of arrogance of power and withdraw the three new central farm laws to end the farmers agitation. This is 'raj dharma' (righteous conduct of ruler) and a real tribute to the departed souls of farmers who have died since the beginning of the protest," she said in a statement. Read more

45 More Arrested Over Attack on Hindu Temple in Northwest Pakistan

Pakistani police have arrested 45 more people for their alleged involvement in the vandalisation of a Hindu temple by a mob led by members of a radical Islamist party in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. With the latest arrests, the number of accused arrested in the case has risen to 100. Over 350 people have been named in the FIR after the temple in Terri village in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Karak district was vandalised and set on fire on Wednesday by a mob protesting against its expansion work. Read more

India vs Australia: Visitors' Request to Ease Rules Takes Ugly Turn After Queensland Minister Says, 'Don't Come'

There are clouds over the fourth and final Test between India and Australia, to be hosted at Brisbane. While the Indians have made it clear that they do not wish to go to Queensland due to strict Covid rules, on the other hand the Australian team seems to have no problem with it. A source from the Indian team had told Cricbuzz, If you look at it, we were quarantining for 14 days in Dubai before landing in Sydney and doing so for another 14 days. That means we were in a hard bubble for nearly a month before coming out. What we dont want now is to quarantine again at the end of the tour. Read more
The year 2020 is in the record books, and I wanted to recap a few significant changes we made last year.

First, we made two major changes on OregonLive. In January, we ended reader comments. For many years, readers could register and leave anonymous comments at the end of articles.

The comments were an endless source of frustration for our journalists, who  often in vain -- tried to keep them civil. Conversations often devolved into abusive back and forth arguments among commenters.

In the end, we decided the energy we were expending to moderate the very small number of readers who dominated the discussions was better spent elsewhere.

As I noted at the time, there are still plenty of ways to reach us, through email, clicking on the byline of the reporters name online, on social media, and the like.

Last summer, we made another substantial change to OregonLive and began restricting some premium articles to subscribers only. These articles are labeled Subscriber Exclusive.

Newspapers have long been supported by readers who paid to receive the news. I dont see this as any different, but I acknowledge OregonLive was free and open to all for more than 20 years. It is an adjustment for readers.

We made the change in late July and I am pleased to say we now have about 9,000 paying subscribers to the website.

During the pandemic, we kept open to all the daily reports of the spread of the pandemic, as well as information about government restrictions. We also maintained a comprehensive data page to help readers sort through the numbers and to highlight trends.

During the historic wildfires this summer, we kept public safety information available to any reader. Likewise, almost all of our coverage of the long string of nightly protests was free to all, even though covering the 100-plus nights required a significant investment of newsroom resources.

But in 2021 you will see a higher percentage of articles open only to paying subscribers, as we tighten down free access to our work. We appreciate all of you who are supporting the important local journalism we do.

Another notable change in 2020 was a return to presidential endorsements by The Oregonian/OregonLive Editorial Board. The board in 2012 decided to forgo endorsing in the race for president, in order to focus on local issues and candidates. The decision in 2020 was a recognition by the board that readers wanted to know where the institution stands.

The editorial board is independent of the newsroom, which means reporters have nothing to do with the opinions expressed in published editorials.

In the newsroom, we made the decision to stop routinely publishing mugshots of people accused of a crime. We still publish them in the case of fugitives or high-profile crimes, among other exceptions. But the lasting harm of a photo at someones lowest point outweighs any benefit. As I wrote at the time, the move was an overdue recognition that mugshots serve little purpose by way of reader understanding of our criminal justice system, which should be our goal.

Last year, The Oregonian/OregonLive took part in a collaboration among Oregon newsrooms  print, broadcast, online  to share coronavirus coverage. None of the editors in charge of those newsrooms knew what 2020 would bring, but we all recognized the public would be best served if we set aside our natural competitiveness and got as much information in front of Oregonians as we possibly could.

That collaboration culminated on Dec. 20, when dozens of stories focused on the human toll of the pandemic were published in news outlets across the state. Thanks to all of our partners in that effort.

As I acknowledged, we could not get our arms around this once in a lifetime story by going it alone. But I would like to end with a note of thanks to The Oregonian/OregonLives newsroom staff. They rose to the challenge of 2020 repeatedly.

They risked exposure to coronavirus to bring you news from inside hard-hit nursing homes. They put themselves in harms way to witness nightly protests. Our photographers were struck, one by police baton, one by what appeared to be a rubber bullet. A reporter vomited after a gas canister was lobbed at her feet by departing police, despite no protest activity around her. Our journalists drove hours through smoke to chronicle the devastation from the wildfires.

I commend them, and I could not be prouder of their work. Thank you for supporting it.
Boris Johnson last night hailed the arrival of the Oxford vaccine as a 'triumph of British science' and said he was 'confident this is the year we will defeat coronavirus'.

The first batches yesterday began arriving at UK hospitals, including the Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath, West Sussex, where laboratory technician Lukasz Najdrowski carefully removed the packs of vials from a cardboard box.

With an initial 530,000 doses available from tomorrow, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the addition of the Oxford vaccine to the Pfizer drug which has been in use since December 8 meant 'the end is in sight'.

About two-thirds of the million doses delivered UK-wide by New Year's Eve have been used to vaccinate those over 80, meaning about a fifth of that highly vulnerable age group have received their first jab.

Boris Johnson last night hailed the arrival of the Oxford vaccine as a 'triumph of British science' and said he was 'confident this is the year we will defeat coronavirus'

Mr Hancock added: 'The vaccine is our way out and this huge achievement brings us a step closer to the normality we've all been working hard to reclaim.'

Hundreds of new vaccination sites will begin to provide injections this week, joining 700 already in operation.

'The Oxford vaccine is a triumph of British science and I want to thank everyone involved in its development and production,' the Prime Minister said.

'From tomorrow, the NHS will start using the Oxford vaccine to give protection against Covid-19.'

The deployment of the Oxford vaccine will accelerate the programme as, unlike the Pfizer drug, it does not need to be stored at very cold temperatures so is far easier to distribute.

The first doses of the Oxford jab will be given at the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Five other trusts  Brighton, Nuneaton, Lancaster and two in London  will also start providing injections from tomorrow, ahead of it being rolled out to other hospitals and GP surgeries.

By the end of this week, 160 hospital sites across England plus more than 800 GP surgeries should be offering Covid vaccinations. Jabs are also being given at dozens more hospitals and scores more surgeries across Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Ministers are keen to 'step on the gas' to ensure that the 15 million people most at risk from Covid-19 get their dose within the next ten weeks. A source said the Government hoped to deliver up to 1.5 million vaccines this week alone  comprising the 530,000 Oxford doses and a million Pfizer shots.

The first batches yesterday began arriving at UK hospitals, including the Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath, West Sussex, where laboratory technician Lukasz Najdrowski carefully removed the packs of vials from a cardboard box

That should rise to two million a week from early February  the rate seen as necessary to prevent a devastating third wave.

To help speed up the process, community pharmacies will be used alongside hospitals and GP surgeries from next week.

NHS England chief executive Sir Simon Stevens said the arrival of the Oxford vaccine marked 'a major milestone in humanity's battle against coronavirus'.

He added: 'The vaccination programme  the biggest in NHS history  has got off to a strong start, and by New Year's Day we'd been able to vaccinate more people than the rest of Europe combined. Now we have a second, more versatile, jab in our armoury, and NHS staff are expanding the programme as extra vaccine supplies come on-stream, and the arrival of the Oxford jab, coupled with more Pfizer vaccine being made available, will allow us to protect many more people faster.'

The initial supplies of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine have been produced by a company called Halix in the Netherlands.

Once produced in bulk, the vaccine goes to a plant in Wrexham, run by an Indian company called Wockhardt, where it is decanted into vials in a process known as 'fill and finish'. The plant can bottle at least 150,000 doses a day.

The team at Oxford's specialist vaccines and immunology centre, the Jenner Institute, developed the Covid-19 vaccine by adapting one they were already working on for a related coronavirus.

Meanwhile, Vaccines Minister Nadhim Zahawi has criticised a Labour MP who attacked the decision to change the policy on administering second doses.

After the Government said the second jab would be given 12 weeks after the first, rather than three, Clive Lewis tweeted: 'Next they'll be suggesting the second vaccine dose can be substituted with bleach.' Mr Zahawi replied: 'Clive, this is irresponsible of you.'

As first boxes of Oxford vaccine arrive in hospitals, Britain's Deputy Chief Medical Officer assures the nation... New jab policy will save many lives

The scientist leading the UK coronavirus vaccination programme has defended the decision to extend the gap between the two doses, insisting it is 'the way we save lives'.

Professor Jonathan Van-Tam says waiting 12 weeks between jabs rather than the original three will protect those most at risk of dying from Covid-19, adding that the focus must be 'to deliver first vaccine doses to as many people, in the shortest possible timeframe'.

As the first supplies of the Oxford vaccine arrived in the UK yesterday, the Deputy Chief Medical Officer  who has become the trusted face of Downing Street press conferences during the crisis  predicted that 'tens of millions of doses' will be available by the end of March.

Last week, the UK became the first country in the world to authorise the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine and this week we'll be the first to start using it to inoculate people against Covid-19  having already given more than a million people an initial first dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, writes deputy chief medical officer JONATHAN VAN-TAM

A senior Government source last night said that the 15 million jabs needed to protect those most at risk could be delivered by mid-March. Vaccinating that vulnerable group is seen as crucial in releasing Britain from the crippling effects of lockdown.

Writing exclusively in The Mail on Sunday, Prof Van-Tam rejects criticism that changing the period between the two doses of the Oxford and Pfizer vaccines is confusing and potentially dangerous.

'Simply put, every time we vaccinate someone a second time, we are not vaccinating someone else for the first time,' he says. 'It means we are missing an opportunity to greatly reduce the chances of the most vulnerable people getting severely ill from Covid-19.'

In his article for this newspaper, Prof Van-Tam says the independent Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has found the Pfizer vaccine to be 89 per cent effective against Covid-19 from between 15 and 21 days after the first dose.

That rises to 95 per cent after a second dose, but he argues that extra six per cent comes at the cost of halving the number who can get a large degree of immunity from a single jab.

He adds: 'If a family has two elderly grandparents and there are two vaccines available, it is better to give both 89 per cent protection than to give one 95 per cent protection with two quick doses, and the other grandparent no protection at all. The virus is unfortunately spreading fast, and this is a race against time.

'My mum, as well as you or your older loved ones, may be affected by this decision, but it is still the right thing to do for the nation as a whole.'

His intervention came as:

Boris Johnson hailed the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine as 'a triumph of British science';

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said more than a million shots had so far been administered, with a fifth of those aged over 80 already given their first dose;

Government sources said Ministers planned to 'step on the gas' by delivering up to 1.5 million vaccines this week and reach the 2 million-a-week target by February;

The Armed Forces are to deploy 150 mobile vaccination teams, including some on helicopters, to help deliver jabs as part of what has been dubbed 'Operation Delta Force';

A record 57,725 new infections were recorded yesterday, up from 35,691 a week ago, and a further 445 deaths were reported, almost double the death toll from last Saturday;

Professor Andrew Goddard, the president of the Royal College of Physicians, warned the number of people in hospital was currently 'mild' compared to what he expects the NHS to face this week;

The stand-off over schools reopening intensified, with unions telling primary teachers it is unsafe to return to work this week, and Education Secretary Gavin Williamson, using a Mail on Sunday article to call on staff to 'move heaven and earth to get children back to the classroom';

German firm BioNTech said the EU had failed to order more doses of the vaccine it developed with Pfizer, as it emerged France had only delivered 352 jabs after European regulators were slow to approve its use.

In Britain, medics will start using the initial 530,000 doses of the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab from tomorrow. The first will be administered at the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

By the end of the week, vaccines will be available at 160 hospital sites and 800 GP surgeries. Community pharmacies will also be used to deliver jabs.

The programme cannot be rolled out fast enough for crisis-hit schools and hospitals. Half of the major hospital trusts in England are dealing with more Covid-19 patients than they were at the peak of the first wave in April, and 29 out of 39 NHS Trusts have postponed most elective surgery.

Meanwhile, Ministers are considering proposals to make teachers a higher priority for vaccines in a bid to end the schools stand-off.

Deploying this second vaccine is another huge achievement for science and public health in the global effort to tackle Covid-19. Pictured: Assistant Technical Officer Lukasz Najdrowski unpacks doses of the Oxford University/AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine as they arrive at the Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath, West Sussex

More Left-wing councils yesterday said they would not allow classrooms to reopen, while the row created fresh splits within Labour, with Corbynista MPs backing the unions, but party leader Sir Keir Starmer failing to endorse their stance.

The Government last week changed its policy on administering a second jab following advice from the JCVI supported by Chief Medical Officers across the UK.

However, the British Medical Association echoed the concern of some family doctors that the move was misguided. On Friday, Dr Richard Vautrey, chairman of the BMA's GP committee, said: 'The existing commitment made to these patients by the NHS and local clinicians should be respected.

'If GPs decide to honour these booked appointments in January, the BMA will support them.'

Welcoming the arrival of the first batch of Oxford vaccines, Mr Johnson said: 'We know there are challenges still ahead of us over the coming weeks and months, but I'm confident this is the year we will defeat coronavirus and start building back better.'

NHS chief executive Sir Simon Stevens added: 'The vaccination programme  the biggest in NHS history  has got off to a strong start, and by New Year's Day we'd been able to vaccinate more people than the rest of Europe combined. Now we have a second, more versatile, jab in our armoury.'

Meanwhile, security agencies have warned Ministers that disinformation about the 12-week gap between jabs could be used by Britain's enemies to create 'panic'.

One Government source said: 'All the usual suspects will be trying to sow doubt.'

New jab policy will save MANY lives: Jonathan Van Tam says waiting 12 weeks rather than original three is the best way to save most vulnerable from dying of Covid as first boxes of Oxford vaccine arrive

Last week, the UK became the first country in the world to authorise the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine and this week we'll be the first to start using it to inoculate people against Covid-19  having already given more than a million people an initial first dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine.

Deploying this second vaccine is another huge achievement for science and public health in the global effort to tackle Covid-19.

The hard work of the researchers and scientists, and the selflessness of volunteers throughout months of rigorous clinical trials, will soon begin to save lives.

The independent Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has advised that at this stage of the pandemic, the priority should be to deliver first vaccine doses to as many people on the Phase 1 priority list in the shortest possible timeframe  and myself and the UK's four Chief Medical Officers agree with that recommendation.

It means across the UK, the NHS will now prioritise giving the first dose of the vaccine to those in the most high-risk groups, with a second dose due to be administered within 12 weeks of the first.

The hard work of the researchers and scientists, and the selflessness of volunteers throughout months of rigorous clinical trials, will soon begin to save lives. Pictured: A vial of doses of the Oxford University/AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine is checked

The flexibility to extend the time period between the two doses was a critical decision, made by the regulator  and one which allows us to save more lives, based on the latest advice from the independent experts of the JCVI. Their analysis shows the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine is 89 per cent effective against preventing Covid-19 in the period from 15 to 21 days after the first dose.

Science experts know that if you have protection as high as 89 per cent on Day 21, it is not really possible that this would have declined by much after just 84 days, or 12 weeks. If a vaccine is that good, antibody levels simply don't drop away that fast.

The evidence clearly shows vaccinated individuals get almost complete protection after the first dose.

Simply put, every time we vaccinate someone a second time, we are not vaccinating someone else for the first time. It means we are missing an opportunity to greatly reduce the chances of the most vulnerable people getting severely ill from Covid-19.

If a family has two elderly grandparents and there are two vaccines available, it is better to give both 89 per cent protection than to give one 95 per cent protection with two quick doses, and the other grandparent no protection at all.

The virus is unfortunately spreading fast, and this is a race against time. My mum, as well as you or your older loved ones, may be affected by this decision, but it is still the right thing to do for the nation as a whole.

The UK has taken action to secure as many vaccine doses as possible with early access to 357 million doses of seven of the most promising vaccines so far. We have 530,000 quality-checked doses of the Oxford/AstraZeneca available in the UK from tomorrow, with more available this month and tens of millions by the end of March.

The independent Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has advised that at this stage of the pandemic, the priority should be to deliver first vaccine doses to as many people on the Phase 1 priority list in the shortest possible timeframe  and myself and the UK's four Chief Medical Officers agree with that recommendation. Pictured: Key workers queue for the vaccine

But we know there is global pressure on the supply of all of these vaccines. So by prioritising the first dose, we can give more people a high level of protection sooner, without compromising their immunity in the longer term. This is the way we save the most lives and avoid the most hospital admissions  it is as simple as that.

This is especially vital at the moment, given the high levels of infection we are seeing in the midst of the most difficult time of year for our NHS.

Those working on wards in the last week will know how serious this is, and how it is right we prioritise giving protection to as many people who need it as possible.

I understand this decision may cause some inconvenience and worry for those who had their second doses booked in but I can assure all Mail on Sunday readers that we have not taken it lightly.

We have to do the best we can, with what we have now, to protect the largest number of vulnerable people in the shortest possible time.

The decision we have taken will literally double the number of people who are protected over the next few crucial months.
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WASHINGTON/REHOBOTH BEACH, Del.: In Washingtons months-long political slugfest over who should get aid to counter the financial damage from the COVID-19 pandemic, there was at least one clear loser: local government.

In the midst of cutbacks in workforce and emergency services and growing poverty, U.S. cities, especially the smaller ones, are hoping the next round of stimulus includes them and that President-elect Joe Biden advocates for them when he takes office on Jan. 20.

The latest coronavirus bill for $892 billion in aid - painstakingly negotiated over months and begrudgingly signed into law last week by President Donald Trump - left a bad taste in some mayors mouths.

In Dayton, Ohio, population 140,000, Mayor Nan Whaley noted that Congress voted to restore a three-martini lunch" corporate tax break and approved money to bail out theaters in the aid bill. But they left the cities out. I have a real problem with that," the Democratic mayor told Reuters after Congress passed the bill.

Her city will not be able to hire a new class of police and firefighters in 2021 without emergency funding from Washington, she said.

Under Bidens guidance, a Democratic-crafted bill is likely to seek an infusion of hundreds of billions in cash to help state and local governments, compelled by the toll of the pandemic. He has called for a bipartisan effort in January.

That action should include additional resources to communities to help keep teachers, firefighters, police officers and other first responders on the job, and more funds for testing, vaccine manufacturing and distribution and resources for schools across the country," said Biden transition spokesman TJ Ducklo.

But with the new Congress that convenes on Sunday, there could be resistance from the Senate, especially if Republicans hold control of the chamber after two runoffs in Georgia on Jan. 5.

After allowing some state and local aid in an early 2020 stimulus, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican, stood firmly against an additional tranche, calling it massive bailouts" and an unnecessary slush fund" for Democratic states.

Graphic: Local government employment https://graphics.reuters.com/HEALTH-CORONAVIRUS/USA-CONGRESS/dgkplqzwdvb/index.html

Officials from localities too small to have qualified for federal aid delivered in March described a different landscape.

Asked about McConnells remarks, Arlington, Texas, Mayor Jeff Williams, a Republican, said in a Dec. 22 telephone interview: Please dont characterize all cities" that way.

Williams said his city of 400,000 imposed across-the-board job cuts in October in anticipation of an 8-10% revenue drop, largely because pandemic lockdowns translated into commercial business property values falling.

He said more job cuts could be on the way.

Greg Fischer, president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, said given that fire, police and other public safety workers comprise about two-thirds of many city budgets, Congress refusal to help smaller local governments was kind of baffling and infuriating. These are the folks citizens depend on for public safety services" during the pandemic.

Fischer is the Democratic mayor of Louisville, Kentucky, McConnells hometown, which did receive federal aid from the March 2020 law.

The United States has reported more cases and deaths than any other country, with nearly 20 million people infected by the coronavirus and more than 340,000 deaths.

Officials in counties across the United States tell Reuters the funding crisis has limited the hiring of needed vaccine staff, delayed the creation of vaccination centers, and undermined efforts to raise public awareness.

States, meanwhile, are having to increase spending on Medicaid healthcare for the poor amid high levels of unemployment brought by the pandemic, according to the National Association of State Budget Officers Kathryn White.

In the spring, Congress earmarked roughly $200 billion for states, local and tribal governments and school and transit systems, a figure that fell far short of what was needed to plug the budget gaps caused by the pandemic.

In an updated survey released on Dec. 23, NASBO described significant budget problems since the pandemic began in the United States. During 2020 legislative sessions, states faced rapidly deteriorating economic conditions and revenue outlooks," the survey said.

According to the association, total balances were seen falling by $33.3 billion in fiscal 2021 compared to fiscal 2019 levels.

As coronavirus problems ripple through economies, McConnell has warned against rushing to enact more aid. We will take a look at it, based upon conditions in the country at that time," he told Fox News on Dec. 22, referring to an anticipated Biden proposal.

Meanwhile, governors and mayors argue that a 2021 federal stimulus makes long-term sense, on top of the nearly $4 trillion in aid already provided between measures taken in the spring and the latest deal.

Williams noted that with infrastructure investments also high on Bidens 2021 agenda, cities have to be well enough to have matching funds" in reserve in order to qualify for federally-financed projects.

Disclaimer: This post has been auto-published from an agency feed without any modifications to the text and has not been reviewed by an editor
Zak Wellerman/Associated Press

WINONA  A pastor was killed and two other people were injured in a shooting at an East Texas church Sunday, after the pastor pulled a gun on a suspect who had been hiding out in the church, a local sheriff said.

Police had been searching for the man late Saturday in woods near Winona following a car chase. The pastor of the Starrville Methodist Church discovered the suspect hiding in a church bathroom around 9:20 a.m., Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith said at a news conference.
More than 50,000 students have fled Michigans K-12 public schools this year as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, a mass exodus that could amount to millions of dollars in lost school funding from the state.

School leaders are now tasked with finding those students and bringing them back to the public school system next year. But the return of those students is not a guarantee, as thousands of Michigan families have opted for alternatives like homeschooling and charter schools amid the pandemic.

Every child is important, State Superintendent Michael Rice said in a recent op-ed. To lose even one is too many.

Michigan public school enrollment is down 53,200 students this fall, a 3.7% decline from the roughly 1.5 million students recorded last year, according to enrollment figures verified by the states Center for Education and Performance Information.

While Michigan public schools have seen steadily declining enrollment in the last decade, the departure of thousands of students this year can be linked mostly to the COVID-19 crisis, Rice said in a recent op-ed.

Thats especially true with the 13,000 students missing from this years count because their parents chose to delay their start in kindergarten due to the pandemic. While some of these children who arent yet ready to start school will likely benefit from a year-long delay in kindergarten, others wont, Rice said.

Still, these children arent missing, Rice wrote in the prepared statement. Their parents have delayed their kindergarten entry in a pandemic, as is their right.

More than 17,000 students also have been reported as leaving their public schools for homeschooling this year, a huge increase from the roughly 3,000 students per year who typically are recorded as homeschooled, Rice said.

RELATED: Many Michigan parents chose home schooling during the pandemic. Will they return?

The state does not track the movement of students who switch to a non-public school, which Rice said is mainly because many parents dont report to their local district where they are taking their kids.

We can track moves between public schools. However, tracking enrollment in home schools and nonpublic schools, or schools in another state, is unlikely due to different reporting requirements, MDE spokesman William DiSessa said in a prepared statement.

As a result of this, roughly another 13,000 students are missing from the states enrollment count  and educators dont know where they went.

All children should be connected to a school  public, private, parochial, or homeschool, Rice said in his statement. Local schools and school districts should continue to work with the widest range of community partners  faith-based institutions, social service agencies, law enforcement, and others  to ensure that every child in each community is receiving an education.

Educators across the state are concerned about where these students have gone  or if they are still receiving any remote instruction  and are working diligently to find them.

We have to somehow recapture these kids that we dont have this year, said Sam Sinicropi, superintendent of Lansing Public Schools, which lost roughly 800 students this fall.

Lansing Public Schools is working to find its missing students through a volunteer program called Take Five, Sinicropi said. The district utilizes dozens of volunteers to each contact five students a week who have not enrolled or have poor attendance. The goal is to help get these kids back to learning, Sinicropi said.

Thats been successful in some cases  but we still got a lot of work to do, he said.

On the west side of the state, Muskegon-area schools will soon have access to a recently-created truancy officer position, which will work to connect students back to the school system, said Muskegon Area Intermediate School District Superintendent John Severson.

We know that while were in this virtual world theres still a disconnect with kids that are not showing up to classes, Severson said.

We felt that we needed to be more proactive with this, because bottom line, we want students to graduate. So this new position will be an ISD staff member who is out in the field, working with districts to get kids back in school.

There is concern among school leaders about many students being behind academically once they return to the public schools, Severson said.

I mean, weve never been in this type of situation before, he said. When we come out of this, we have to really be in a good position fiscally but also staff wise to catch these kids up as quickly as we can. That could be unique tutoring, summer programming, smaller class sizes, different kinds of supports for kids.

Im really worried about the younger aged of them falling behind -- kids who are in kindergarten, first grade that werent in that classroom, were all very concerned about that.

But overall, Severson said he isnt concerned families will choose to stay out of the public schools after the pandemic. He said hes confident students who left will come back because parents trust their local public schools.

We are a safe and good place for kids to be, and we know parents are going to want their kids back in school once its safe, he said.

The states enrollment drop will have a financial impact on some public schools, despite state lawmakers creating a new funding formula this year to keep schools from being penalized if students left their district for other preferred learning options.

The super blend school funding formula weighs 75% of last years attendance and 25% of this years attendance. Usually, the fall count day in October makes up 90% of the schools funding and the February count provides 10% of the total funding.

However, Grand Rapids Public Schools saw such a drastic enrollment drop it will lose roughly $1 million in state funding this year, district spokesperson John Helmholdt said.

RELATED: COVID-19 pandemic cuts Grand Rapids schools enrollment by more than 800 students

The district lost more than 800 students this fall, a 5% decline school leaders largely attribute to the districts decision to conduct online-only classes amid the coronavirus pandemic. GRPS is the largest district in West Michigan with 14,509 students.

Grand Rapids administrators have not yet determined how to offset the reduced state funding, Helmholdt said.

But when it comes to spending cuts, Michigan Education Association spokesperson Liz Boyd said it is imperative that teachers have a seat at the discussion table.

Across the board, (educators) are on the front line when it comes to public education and, therefore, are in the best position to help school administrators determine how they will adjust budgets in ways that will not jeopardize the mission of educating our young people, Boyd said in a prepared statement.

Many districts, like Lansing Public Schools, will not see a decline in funding this year thanks to the states new funding formula. Lansing saw a 9% decrease in student enrollment this year, but is above its enrollment projections for this years budget, Sinicropi said.

Adjustments to the state funding formula again next year are a necessity, Sinicropi said.

Unless the state does something different with funding, well have a problem next year, in the 2021-2022 academic year, he said. We have to somehow recapture some of these kids that we dont have this year.

To help you navigate this complicated fall, were pleased to offer you a simpler way to get all of your education news: Our new Michigan Schools: Education in the COVID Era newsletter delivered right to your inbox. To receive this newsletter, simply click here to sign up.

More on MLive:

A look back at the lost semester of school in Michigan

Michigans next school semester might look more like 2020 than a new year

In-person classes dont contribute to community spread of COVID-19, report shows
Seventeen people were killed when the roof of a shelter at a cremation ground in Uttar Pradeshs Muradnagar collapsed on Sunday, news agency ANI reported.

17 people have died so far while 38 people have been rescued after a shed collapsed in Muradnagar. Weve started a probe and well take strict action against those found guilty, Anita C Meshram, Divisional Commissioner, Meerut told ANI.

According to HTs sister publication Livehindustan, over 40 people were initially trapped in the debris. The police and administration team arrived at the spot on receiving information and rescued the people, who were then admitted to Ghaziabad District Hospital.

Around 100 people were attending the funeral procession of a local resident of Dayanand Colony, who died on Saturday, when the roof collapsed and hardly anyone got a chance to escape, according to Livehindustan. While a few got trapped in the rubble, some managed to save their lives by running.

The building structure at the cremation ground was not very old and it is feared that the incident took place because the building was constructed in an area where frequent water-logging takes place. Due to heavy rain, the soil moved and thr mishap took place, according to Livehindustan.

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath has condoled the death of people in the incident. He has instructed officials to provide financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh to the dependents of the deceased in this accident. He has also instructed the Mandalayukta, Meerut and ADG, Meerut Zone to submit a report regarding the incident.

(With agency inputs)

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In the fall of 1970, Carol Weintraub insisted to the San Francisco Chronicle that she wasn't suing hofbrau Schroeder's because of the women's liberation movement.

Instead, Weintraub told the newspaper it was merely because she preferred a bit of German food for lunch.

"It so happens I like German food  which Schroeder's is noted for  and I wanted to eat it during my lunch hour," she was quoted as saying. ("She simply likes German food," reads the caption beneath Weintraub's photo in The Chronicle.)

At the time, Schroeder's, located at 240 Front St. where it remains today, mainly catered to men at the lunch hour. It had long been a men-only establishment since its beginnings in 1893 with founder Henry Schroeder. Once its next owner, Max Kniesche, took over the business from Schroeder's widow in 1922, he made some changes to the business. One major update to the business was the addition of dinner in 1935, and with it, came a light update to the men-only policy  women were allowed to enter, so long as it was after 1:30 p.m.

The men-only lunch policy stood its ground for the next 35 years  at least until Weintraub decided to challenge it.

"I'm not doing this because of the women's liberation movement; I have no affiliation with women's lib," Weintraub announced to The Chronicle at the time. "I am doing this because I feel people should be judged individually and for themselves."

Weintraub alleged that she was refused lunch service at Schroeder's twice, due to its men-only lunch policy. Kniesche, who was 82 years old at the time, was one of those who refused her service, instead calling her "silly," the newspaper wrote.

But whether or not Weintraub privately felt she had an affiliation with the women's liberation movement, there was one organization she did have a known affiliation with: the American Civil Liberties Union.

Namely, she was the director of the Northern California chapter at the time.

So Weintraub filed a lawsuit against Schroeder's, asking for $500 in damages (or just over $3,353 in today's money) as well as an injunction to halt the longstanding policy.

San Francisco Chronicle

Kniesche wasn't a fan of the idea, at least outwardly. He told The Chronicle, "It doesn't make sense, the whole thing. I run my business the way I think is best. If we have women in here I'll lose 80 per cent of my customers  I couldn't make it work, believe me.

"Listen, I'll tell you something: if a woman comes in here she wants something light and dainty. She wouldn't like the food I serve here, so she'll be uncomfortable, and the men are uncomfortable, so what can I do?" he added.

At the time, Kniesche had taken over Schroeder's in 1922, sex-segregated dining was starting to be on its way out, according to this history of women and restaurants. Around the 1920s, "women were rapidly becoming a market to be reckoned with, increasing from 20% to nearly 60% of the dining public between World War I and 1927" and suddenly "male restaurateurs scrambled to figure out how to please them."

Yet, Schroeder's lunch policy remained.

Paul Halvonik, credited as the ACLU's staff counsel at the time of Weintraub's protest said, "The policy of the restaurant seems premised on the theory that the professional world is a world of men only, which in this day and age is manifestly untrue." He went on to add that "the law's right and the time is right, so we decided to move [with the lawsuit]."

Despite the timing feeling "right" to Halvonik, the fight to allow women into Schroeder's for lunch wasn't particularly appreciated, judging by some published letters in The Chronicle. One male letter-writer called the lawsuit "another ax-blow to what remains of San Francisco's character,"  turns out this is a timeless complaint of San Franciscans  writing in part, "The sad thing is that I suspect few women want to eat there anyhow and that, having destroyed a colorful anachoronism and derived no particular benefit from doing so, the feminists will forget all about it and go their way, leveling other molehills of tradition with their bulldozer while mountains of real injustice tower untouched all around them."

But it wasn't just men who supported Schroeder's policy; women did, too, apparently. Two women "delighted patrons" at Schroeder's during their lunch hour with signs reading "Women for Men's Rights" and defended "a man's privilege of wining and dining with his own kind," according to the photo caption.

Yet, despite supporters of its policy, Kniesche decided to allow women in for lunch, just two days after Weintraub spoke to the press about the lawsuit. The restaurant had its windows broken twice in recent weeks at this point, which Kniesche seemed to attribute to the arguing over Schroeder's lunch policy.

San Francisco Chronicle

The first women to be served at lunch were thoroughly documented for an article in The Examiner. Titled "3 Girls Crash Schroeder's," the writer not only noted that all three women are of the astrological sign Aries  "the sign of pioneers," the article helpfully added  but that the threesome was easily served their drinks "and thus fell, with a vaguely disappointing lack of conflict, another holdout of discrimination."

As for the lawsuit, Halvonik said he would continue with it, despite the policy change, "just to get it on the record."

For his part, Kniesche continued to publicly grouse about the change in its policy, telling The Examiner, "I've got to do a big business in an hour. If a woman comes in here and wants a table alone, and then she takes a long time ordering, it is going to hurt the business."

Kniesche told the paper he was being abused over the phone by women, stating, "They have called me up and called me a schweinhund, and a Hitler. I'm 82 years old, and we just want to get along with everybody. The women are welcome."

In a 1976 interview recounting his restaurant career at the age of 88, however, Kniesche changed his tune quite a bit from the quotes he once gave about the men-only lunch policy.

"I tell you something, when we let the women in altogether, when the women's lib came along. That was the best thing that ever happened for me!" he told the interviewer. "I tell you something, the men didn't come so much no more, because they were going out with the women. Things came easier. Before that, everybody watched their own pocketbook, you know, but now the women have the same privileges the men have."

In a different part of the interview, Kniesche even postured himself as wanting to change the men-only policy from the get go.

"Before the women's lib came out, I said to my boy, 'Junior,' I says, 'You got to do something. We got to get the women in  but how? If we let the women in by ourselves, we'll get crucified," he told an interviewer. "So we stood there and waited and waited. And then all at once, the women's lib came on. They put the pressure on us, and then we fell for it.

"I said, 'Oh my God! That's the downfall of Schroeder's!'" Kneische continued. "All the same, I was laughing inside, because I got one day on television, all day long, advertisement. ... I could never have paid for it, but believe me, everybody sympathized with us  now we're sitting pretty!"

Schroeder's is located at 240 Front St. in San Francisco and is temporarily closed as of November 2020.
Redmond O'Hanlon in Borneo and My Adventures with Leeches and Rhinos

Story and Photos by Sherry Shahan

A writer wanders into a rough Borneo expedition through a classic travel adventure book and reflects on creature encounters in Kenya and Australia.



 Anders Jacobsen

I sat on the beach in a laid-back beach town in California, thumbing through Into the Heart of Borneo (1984) by Redmond O'Hanlon, knowing it was probably as close as I'd get to the 3rd largest island in the world (287,001 square miles) after Greenland and New Guinea. Formerly a British protectorate, it's presently governed by three sovereign political powers: Indonesia, Brunei and Malaysia.

The book's pages were marred with my inky notes and liberal exclamation points; the musty smell evoked tangled vegetation and inscrutable peril. I slogged inleeches, parasitic worms, crotch rot, and allslipping in and out of my own haunting memories as a traveler.

Professors on a Mission

O'Hanlon has always been obsessed with biology and spent seven years on his thesis of Conrad and Darwin; Darwin like O'Hanlon, struggled to land in a hammock without capsizing. His travelogues inspire and inform with a waggish wit.

James Fenton, a renowned poet and former Oxford University Professor of Poetry, asked his friend if he'd like to go to Borneo for a holiday. "To scuba dive," Fenton said.

The scholars were woefully out of shape. Fenton, bald with fleshy jowls, and a serious paunch. O'Hanlon, the older of the pair at 32, rosy-cheeked with a wild shock of white hair, and equally unfit, though he somehow wrangled permission to train beforehand with the Special Air Service (SAS), a unit of the British Army.

A plan began to unfold: A two-month expedition into darkest Sarawak, from Kuching on the South China Sea to the headwaters of the Baleh River, the fourth-longest river in Borneo. No outsider had been to the Tiban Mountain region since Swiss zoologist and ethnographer Eric Mjoberg in 1926, and he'd approached from the other side.

O'Hanlon laid out a kit-bag of gifts for the natives: bottles of whiskey, a smoking pipe, a vessel of ribbon-cut tobacco, a well-worn, hand-sewn cartridge belt, and picture postcards of the Queen, preferably, "on horseback and showing all four legs, because they (Iban peoples) think she's all one piece."

That quote and tip came from O'Hanlon's friend John Hatt, author of The Tropical Traveler, published in 1982. The medicine bag held water-purifying and anti-malaria pills, industrial-strength insect repellent, fizz-activated tablets for indigestion (swilled after the smoked tail of a monitor lizard appeared in his mess tin), anti-fungus powder (applied until, as he said his "erogenous zone looked like meat chunks rolled in flour"), etc.

The scope and weight of items crammed into his rucksack astounded. I recall shrugging into a hefty pack for a single-day 22-mile round-trip assault on Mount Whitney (14, 491 ft.), the highest peak in the contiguous U.S. The burden of weight caused my body to lose confidence in itself.

O'Hanlon's purpose was in part to determine whether the Borneo two-horned rhinoceros, presumably extinct, might still exist in the central highlands. Markedly smaller than the three subspecies of Sumatran rhinoceros, the Borneo genus is a solitary animal, feeding during daylight hours and lolling in mud at dusk.

Into the Heart of Kenya

Moving across the globe to Kenya, I studied online photos of the odd-toed ungulate O'Hanlon hoped to see. The images brought back memories of its cousin the hippo. Both herbivorous mammals are immense with large heads. The hippo is a swift moving semiaquatic creature thoughone that nearly took me out in a tent camp along Kenya's Mara River.

At the time I was showering in my smallings, lathering up with bar soap beneath a water bag hanging from a thorny acacia tree. Water slapped the dusty ground, tick, tick, tick, like drops squeezed from a rusty sprinkler. The tree and I were the only obstacles between the hippo and its beloved river.



 David Clode

Afterward, I sat on my cot and scribbled notes about the incident, feeling lucky to have escaped an animal that can snap a canoe in half with its jaws. Hippos kill around 500 people in Africa each year.

Treacherous Rivers and Sizzling Temperatures

O'Hanlon and Fenton and their three Iban guides sliced up treacherous rivers in an engine-powered dugout canoe, where temperatures boomeranged between 110 and 120 Fahrenheit and humidity hovered at 98 percent. They marched through a jungle with 1,700 different species of parasitic worm and unfurled bedrolls in longhouses beneath human skulls clustered in woven palm nets that hung from exposed crossbeams.

The threat of natives wielding poisonous blowpipes was as real as multi-syllabic diseases and Thread Leeches that like to attack your nose and mouth while you sip of river water.

"Should I tell James?" O'Hanlon writes after reading John Whitehead's warning of the foot-long giant leech. "Or would it be kinder to simply allow him to pull them out of his pants when the need arose?"

Whitehead (1860-1899) was an English explorer and naturalist who collected natural history specimens in Southeast Asia.

O'Hanlon's accounts teach and inspire, a bridge that invited me to cross over. I scanned the globe for a leafy place without malaria, dengue fever, cholera, typhoid, or bacillary dysentery.

Leeches in the Land Down Under

I flew to Queensland, Australia, rented a jeep and drove to an old-growth jungle, an area revered for its section of Gondwana Rainforests, the most extensive area of subtropical rainforest in the world.

It was late November, nearing summer, hot and sultry. I bunked at O'Reilly's Retreat in Lamington National Park, a bucolic lodge that had hosted guests since 1915. When I heard about their semi-annual 24-mile hike I signed on.

Three of us gathered at 4 a.m., testing battery-powered flashlights and stowing bottled water and box lunches in daypacks. From the lodge we followed the Border Track, crisscrossing McPherson range. Our guide didn't carry a map or compass; no towering power poles to follow.

"The Eastern Tiger snake is one of Australia's deadlier reptiles," she said with unbridled enthusiasm. "Its jaws are capable of considerable extension. It's best to avoid Lawyer vines, a climbing palm with spiny stems. Once they get their hooks in you they don't let go."



 Sherry Shahan

The sun rose in persistent pastels throwing light on overgrown grasses, fanning ferns, beech trees, ghost gums. Flame trees spouted a fountain of red bell-shaped flowers. Late morning, clouds blew in. Early afternoon brought rain. A suffocating mist rose from the ground.

On steep, downward stretches I aimed myself from tree to treearms outstretched like shock absorbersto keep from slipping and cracking my head on boulders partially hidden by silt. The ground-dwelling jawed leeches seemed little more than a nuisance, like snippets of string raining from trees. There was nothing to do but pluck them from my shorts and sleeves, roll them into balls, and flick them into the bush.

Something like 18 hours later, I collapsed in O'Reilly's mudroom with a Billy tin of tea and removed my muddy boots and socks. Looking closer I saw bloodsucking parasites between my toes. They glinted like exquisite jewels. An anti-coagulant in their saliva kept me from bleeding to death; the vital fluid, they saved for themselves. I detached them with the edge of a credit card.

Poetry and Rice Wine

In the Borneo expedition, Fenton sat in the canoe with "a straw boater on his bald head," reading his way through Hugo's Les Miserables and Jonathan Swift, the Complete Poems by Pat Rogers (editor), remarking on the Anglo-Irish's poetry, "Some of this juvenilia is pretty feeble."

O'Hanlon waxed lyrical about insects, birds, and the insufferable heat.

"It squeezed round you like the rank coils of an unseen snake, pressing the good air out of your lungs, covering you in a slimy sweat."

From Into the Heart of Borneo I learned the difference between tauk (rice-wine) and arak (rice-brandy). Tauk being saki in Japan, mi ju in China, Sato in Thailand, or moonshine in my California kitchen.

Arak (rice-brandy) looks like cloudy brandy. Well-traveled author Hatt describes the drink as "every bit as lethal as it tastes," known to "supercharge ordinary nightmares."

Ancillary Connections in Borneo

Farewell to the King is a 1989 film set in Borneo during WWII, starring lion-haired Nick Nolte as American soldier Learoyd. After fleeing Japanese forces, he staggers half-deranged through the jungle, and in time goes wholly native, adopting Iban customs and language. Eventually the Iban embraced him as their leader.

Writer and director John Milius adapted Farewell from the French novel of the same name, L'Adieu au Roi by Pierre Schoendoerffer. Likewise, Schoendoerffer's version drew from Tom Harrisson's memoir World Within: A Borneo Story (1959).

Harrisson was a British polymath born in Argentina in 1911. He's been called the barefoot anthropologist, a contentious conservationist, deliberately outrageous, grossly immoral, and more. A guerilla fighter in WWII, he parachuted deep into the jungles of Japanese occupied Borneo. (The rhinoceros Didermocerus sumatrensis harrissoni bears his name.)

While Farewell draws heavily from L'Adieu au Roi, it's not a literal replication. Though it does reflect Harrisson's concerns over those who yearn to practice pacifist isolationism and encroaching outside influences.

I continued to reread passages in Heart of Borneo. While wading into a river to bathe, a swarm of catfish nuzzled O'Hanlon's private parts, which spurred him to swim to an upstream eddy where

" ...luckily, all alone, I learned from personal experience the most important lesson of all for the tranquil conduct of life in the jungle: never, ever shit in a whirlpool. It is a terrible decision to have to make, whether to duck or jump."

No one else would have put it quite like that.



 Glen Carrie

The Bornean Rhinoceros

In 2015, the Malaysian government declared the Bornean rhinoceros to be extinct in the Malaysian portion of Borneo, with only two individuals (females) left in a zoo in the northern state of Sabah. However, in March 2016, a young female rhino was captured in the Indonesian portion of Borneo, proof of their continued existence. This, 33 years after O'Hanlon and Fenton's exploration Into the Heart of Borneo.

Sherry Shahan's Alaskan-based adventure novels include Ice Island and Frozen Stiff. Her travel articles and photographs have appeared in The Los Angeles Times, Christian Science Monitor, Backpacker, Country Living and many other magazines and newspapers. See more at SherryShahan.com.

Related Features:

The Last Village in North Borneo - Marco Ferrarese

Rent a Real Man in Borneo - Bruce Northam

Orangutan Warfare in Borneo - Marco Ferrarese

Dug-outs Downstream in PNG - Tony Robinson-Smith





See other Asia travel stories from the archives
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The Shiv Sena has denied that it was planning a demonstration outside the Enforcement Directorate (ED) office at Ballard Pier on Tuesday. The clarification was issued after a few reports claimed that the ruling party had planned an agitation outside the office of the investigating agency, with thousands of workers scheduled to attend.

The Sena has been aggressive against the ED since it sent notice against Varsha Raut, wife of its member of Parliament (MP) Sanjay Raut, and had started mobilising its workers for the demonstration.

However, the reports were dismissed by Raut. These news are false. We will come on streets when required but not for this reason. Such acts of vengeance will be answered by legal means. Why should we fear when we have [done] nothing wrong? tweeted Raut.

The Sena leader further said that he had the support of his partys workers, but there was no reason for such a show of strength at this moment. He underlined that he understood the anxiety of the workers.

The demonstration was being planned on the lines of the one put up by the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) during its chief Sharad Pawars scheduled appearance before ED officers in September 2019.

According to a senior Sena leader, there was a strong section of the party which was against taking on the ED. Many Sena leaders have entered into questionable financial dealings and just infuriating the ED will not serve us any purpose. Its better to tackle this case legally instead of aggravating the situation, said the leader, on condition of anonymity.

Varsha is expected to visit the ED office on January 5, after she asked for it to be rescheduled. ED had summoned Varsha concerning the transfer of 50 lakh from the accounts of Pravin Raut, an accused arrested in connection with the Punjab and Maharashtra Cooperative (PMC) Bank fraud case, which is also being probed by ED.

Pravin was one of the directors in Guruashish Constructions, a subsidiary of Housing Development and Infrastructure Limited (HDIL). He was arrested along with the HDIL directors for illegally availing loans from PMC Bank.

Raut has been accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of running a campaign to destabilise the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in Maharashtra.
(CNN)  At a recent Saturday protest outside London's Stratford train station -- comprised of bindi-wearing hippies, conspiracy theorists in balaclavas, and middle-aged men in waterproof jackets -- a protester with the grassroots, anti-lockdown group StandUpX yelled into a megaphone.

"The vaccine is there to make you infertile... that vaccine is just going to make them able to control you," they shouted.

Listening to the dangerously false spiel was 24-year-old Rebekah, who we are only identifying by her first name. A survivor of domestic abuse, Rebekah said she was living in a Manchester safe house when the first UK-wide lockdown began in March. "If I was still living at home [with her abuser] in lockdown, I probably would have died," she told CNN.

But Rebekah's concerns about the crushing social and economic effects of pandemic restrictions took a conspiratorial turn after she read an Instagram post that she said made her question "information shared by the media." She researched the matter online, churning up information that, while not supported by facts, nonetheless backed up her growing suspicions.

Many conspiracy theories have found legs during the pandemic, and one of the first ones that Rebekah found was the widely debunked claim that Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates was profiting from coronavirus vaccines.

There's no evidence Gates or his foundation will profit from the Covid-19 vaccines, according to PolitiFact, a nonpartisan fact-checking operation.

In recent weeks, Rebekah says she has attended numerous anti-lockdown protests with her two children, while sharing conspiracy-laden posts about the pandemic to her 11,000 followers on Instagram. "We have to trust it [the vaccine] ... knowing that they [Gates and the pharmaceutical companies] won't get in trouble if any of us die," she said as she handed her daughter a lollipop.

While it might seem easy to pass off the 80-strong rally as a fringe event, Rebekah's journey to the protest frontlines is a microcosm of how online misinformation has allowed fantastical conspiracies to find a bigger audience.

The World Health Organization (WHO) "realized if people think Covid-19 is a hoax they will not only go outside and flout rules," said Anna-Sophie Harling, the Europe managing director of internet trust tool NewsGuard, which flags anti-vaccination misinformation for the UN agency, among other projects. "But it's hard to convince people to take a vaccine for something they don't think exists or don't think is a problem," she told CNN.

In 2021, experts fear this alternative, fact-free universe will fuel hesitancy in taking the vaccine, a vital weapon in the fight against the virus. "To beat Covid-19, we also need to defeat the parallel pandemic of mistrust that has consistently hindered our collective response to this disease," Francesco Rocca, president of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, warned in a virtual briefing to the UN Correspondents Association on November 30.

The alt-universe

The first sign of a problem began as lockdowns shuttered large swathes of the planet in the spring.

A study by the University of Oxford found that thousands of coronavirus misinformation videos, including the "Plandemic" clip that falsely claimed Covid-19 was created in a lab for profit, were shared 20 million times on social media between October 2019 and June 2020.

Around the same time, QAnon, a dangerous online cult that believes US President Donald Trump is secretly fighting to bring down a cabal of pedophiles, also found a wider audience in Europe. A CNN investigation reviewed Facebook pages and groups related to the QAnon conspiracy based outside the US and found at least 12.8 million interactions between the beginning of the year and the last week of September.

As the months wore on, libertarian debates against mask-wearing and lockdowns began to intersect more strongly with conspiracy theories. An August march against Covid-19 restrictions in Germany's capital Berlin ended with protestors storming the steps of the Reichstag. Among the crowd were QAnon supporters toting the conspiracy group's insignia, as well as demonstrators waving imperial banners, a flag now deployed by the far right as the swastika is banned in Germany.

Anetta Kahane, founder of the anti-racism group the Amadeu Antonio Foundation, watched the march from her Berlin apartment's window in horror. She told CNN it looked like disparate groups of conspiracists, neo-nazis, anti-vaxxers and esoterics appeared to have overcome their political differences. "It is against liberalism, against globalised society, against science, against intellectuals, against multiculturalism and all the [trappings of] modern society," she said at the time.

Louise Creffield and Vince Dunmall, the founders of one anti-lockdown group, Save Our Rights UK, told CNN their focus was legislation, not conspiracies -- insisting that lockdowns and mask mandates are illegal and undemocratic.

The group's founders have, however, expressed anti-vaccination sentiments and knowingly co-organized marches with anti-vaxxers and conspiracy theorists like Piers Corbyn -- brother of former British Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn. Piers Corbyn is a climate change denier who proselytizes online about Covid-19 being a "fake virus," despite all the evidence to the contrary.

CNN has reached out to Corbyn for comment.

The group's Facebook page has posted videos featuring anti-Semitic conspiracy theorists such as David Icke, who popularized the false idea that a shape-shifting lizard-like species exerts control over human society by garnering political power to manipulate the world. Considered one of the most notorious conspiracists in the UK, Icke now claims the pandemic was entirely planned. "We really do stand at the cusp between any kind type of freedom and a fascism that would make even the Nazis wince because of its technological nature," he said in Save Our Rights UK's video interview with him, which clocked nearly a quarter of a million

Nearly two months later, they posted an interview with Desmond Swayne, a ruling Conservative Party lawmaker, who is opposed to lockdowns. Save Our Rights UK's co-founder, Dunmall said: "Look, David Icke may be someone who is talking out of turn in respect to a lot of what a lot of people think. But we've had a combination of Mr. Desmond Swayne coming on and saying what he's got to say." "You know, it's freedom of speech, and it's a human right to have your opinions. Just because you don't agree with it doesn't mean you're not entitled to it," he told CNN.

"The interview with SOR [Save Our Rights UK] was exclusively about lockdown and coercion," Swayne told CNN in an email. "Whilst I would never countenance compulsory or coerced vaccination, I am an enthusiast for vaccination," he added.

'Truthiness'

The issue is not freedom of speech; the real problem is that professional conspiracy theorists like Icke have exploited world events to make a living, says Daniel Allington, a senior lecturer at King's College London and an expert on conspiracy beliefs.

When asked to comment on whether he exploited world events for financial gain, Icke declined to comment.

The government's Covid-19 restrictions contained aspects of scenarios that conspiracy theorists had been predicting for years, Allington said.

"That life is going to be like George Orwell's '1984' and every aspect of your life will be controlled by the government and everything will be tracked and you'll be under constant surveillance and there'll be terrible punishments for it," he explained.

It does not help when these false ideologies are backed by celebrities and television pundits. At the start of December, "Black Panther" star Letitia Wright shared concerns and conspiracy theories about Covid-19 vaccines.

The actress shared a video on Twitter from a YouTube personality who made baseless claims about the vaccines' safety, but eventually deleted the tweet after dozens of back-and-forth exchanges with people criticizing her for spreading potentially dangerous misinformation.

In November, British television presenter Emma Kenny suggested Covid-19 vaccinations would injure children in a since-deleted tweet. She also shared a video in which she said, "everything as far as I am concerned that I have considered conspiracy is looking more and more like reality."

In a statement to CNN, Kenny said she is not a Covid-19 denier or anti-vaccination. "In fact, for those wanting the vaccine then if that makes them feel secure, then that will be a good thing. I at this point just want to be allowed an informed choice and I would think in the US and the UK this would not be a contentious point. I will always stand for people to have autonomy over their bodies," she added.

Western populist movements, like the Brexit vote, also laid the groundwork for people to ignore warnings from experts around the middle of this decade, says Joe Ondrak, a senior researcher at fact-checking organization Logically.

"You had [Conservative lawmaker] Michael Gove's famous soundbite that people had enough of experts," Ondrak said of the politician's statement in the run-up to UK's Brexit vote in 2016. He explained that the period set a precedent for civil discourse no longer being about a person's qualifications to speak on a matter, but "far more about feelings and emotion," and the idea of "truthiness" -- the latter meaning that "it feels like the truth and therefore I'm going to believe it."

'Much of the damage has already been done'

The main culprit in the spread of these fictional worldviews has been social media.

While surveys by Allington have found a majority of people in the UK reject conspiracies, he said "it's quite clear that the events of the past year have thrown these theories into overdrive."

By May, a King's College London and Ipsos MORI study based on three surveys on Covid-19 conspiracies by Allington and his colleagues surveyed UK residents and found three in ten believed the virus was probably created in a lab. People who got their information from social media were more likely to believe in conspiracies than those who got it on television or radio the study also found.

"Facebook groups containing Covid-19 and vaccine misinformation have been growing virtually unchecked," NewsGuard's Harling said. "Each group has a backup group, and when that fails [after being de-platformed by Facebook] they tend to move off Facebook," to the controversial conservative social media platform Parler, or Gab or Telegram, she added.

Facebook has historically struggled to handle anti-vaccine misinformation on its platform and only started to ban QAnon sites in October, three years after the conspiracy formed.

The company said this month it would remove debunked coronavirus claims. But NewsGuard's report on Covid-19 vaccine misinformation 'superspreaders' on the platform, released prior to Facebook's announcement, shows that many of the flagged pages remain on the site.

A Facebook company spokesperson told CNN that it takes "aggressive steps to limit the spread of misinformation about Covid-19," that it has "connected over two billion people with accurate information from public health authorities" and it removes content that could lead to "imminent physical harm," such as false posts about virus cures or vaccines.

The spokesperson added that Facebook took down more than 12 million examples of such content between March and October and worked with third-party fact checkers to attach warnings to 167 million Covid-19 posts.

On Instagram, which is owned by Facebook, four of the top 10 search results for the word "vaccine" are anti-vaccination accounts. "In many ways, I think much of the damage has already been done. The anti-vax movement: people believe Covid-19 is a hoax -- those people have been sowing their seeds since March," Harling said.

Ondrak said another problem for Facebook is what he calls "micro-influencers" -- individual profiles promoting Covid-19 conspiracies through public posts that are getting hundreds of shares. "They are tricky as it is an underground network that is not viewable off analytics software," he added.

There is no one single solution to the problem. Ondrak worries that takedowns of posts and pages could risk re-enforcing people's views on conspiracies.

"Before 2020, fringe conspiracy narratives were just fringe, but it is not like that now and the idea of takedowns needs to be rethought, purely because it's wider discourse now," he said, adding that removal could in itself be seen as a vindication of someone's warped beliefs.

For Allington, social media giants like Facebook "need to own this problem and recognize they have contributed to it through their policies."

One possible fix could be opening itself up to external researchers "who will be able to audit the success of their policies and controlling the spread of this content," Allington said.

When asked if Facebook would be open to Allington's suggestion, the company spokesperson said it worked with third-party fact checkers and has "displayed warnings on around 167 million COVID-19 posts - leading to 95% of people not clicking through to read the original post."

Another focus, said Harling, is upping media literacy skills and complete transparency from tech companies.

"So transparency towards the user on what's behind the content in their newsfeed, but also on the part of the tech platforms as to why they're making certain decisions, how much content they're removing, what steps are being taken and why," she said.

Back at the London protest, Rebekah told CNN after the demonstration that she didn't leave her flat for three months during the UK's first national lockdown, fearful for her and her children's lives due to Covid-19.

But she said she felt conned after reading a misleading Instagram post in the summer, which pointed to the UK government downgrading Covid-19 from its high consequence infectious disease (HCID) list as proof that authorities were overhyping the virus.

It is true that England's public health agency no longer considers Covid-19 a HCID, but that does not mean the country does not consider it as highly dangerous. The HCID designation is for pathogens like Ebola, which has an average death rate of 50%. While Covid-19 has a fatality rate of around 1% in high-income countries, according to Imperial College London, it has a higher rate of transmission, and has killed far more people in Africa than the 2014-16 Ebola outbreak.

"To find out that during all that time, my mind could have been at peace, I could have focused on other things. The children could have gone out and played, I felt so gullible," Rebekah said. Now, she says, there is very little that will change her mind about her belief in the conspiracy about Bill Gates and the Covid-19 vaccine. Nor will she be taking the Covid-19 vaccine. "I always question everything... I know Google isn't everything, but I'll have a look on there and see what I can find."

This story was first published on CNN.com, "2020's alternative universe is not going away."
She enjoyed a fun-filled New Year's Eve, partying the night away with her reality star pals in Dubai.

And Georgia Steel looked sensational as she continued her luxury break and posed up a storm during a sunbathing session on Sunday.

The former Love Island star, 22, flaunted her washboard abs in a tiny white bikini which sat high on her hips to highlight her toned physique.

Wow! Georgia Steel looked sensational as she flaunted her washboard abs in a tiny white bikini while soaking up the sun in Dubai on Sunday

Georgia exuded confidence in her slinky two-piece which also featured a string tie detail around her slim waist.

She wore her long brunette locks down, letting them cascade over her shoulders and added a slick of nude lipstick for the sizzling snap.

Not forgetting her accessories, Georgia donned a chic shell necklace and pair of stylish gold hoop earrings.

The reality star also took to Instagram Stories to share more glimpses into her day, revealing she was with fellow Love Islanders Hayley Hughes and Joanna Chimonides.

Georgia again showcased her enviable physique as she enjoyed New Year's Eve celebrations with her friends on Thursday night.

The beauty looked sensational in a plunging red velvet mini dress as she struck a flirty pose in front of the cityscape.

Alongside her New Year's Eve post, she penned: 'I hope you all have a special and blessed new year. I got a feeling 2021 is going to be the best yet and I'm excited' (sic)

She also revealed that she has had some 'huge life changes' this year and urged her fans to remember that 'everything happens for a reason' as she positively looked ahead to the New Year.

Gal pals: Georgia was joined for the day by fellow Love Islanders Hayley Hughes and Joanna Chimonides

Stunning: She added a chic shell necklace and gold earrings to her beachy ensemble (pictured with Hayley)

One short caption read: 'Ready to see 2020 out the right way'

Before she added: '2020 has definitely been a mad year. I had some huge life changes this year, I'm sure many other people have too.

'Let's not forget everything happens for a reason and everything we experience in life is to shape us and make us grow. Hard times are just so we appreciate the good.'

But she seemed to forget what year it was as she looked forward to '2020', concluding: 'Always trust the process, I got a feeling 2020 going to be a good one'

She was quick to correct herself in another selfie, adopting an unimpressed pose as she jokingly penned: 'I meant 2021 alright don't come for me...' (sic)

Stunning: It comes after Georgia celebrated New Year's Eve with her pals in Dubai

Her latest flood of enviable Dubai snaps come after she became one of the latest stars to jet off to the city for a post-Christmas trip last Monday.

She shared a series of snaps taken in Manchester Airport before setting off amid the city's Tier 3 status and guidelines - instructing against non-essential travel.

And on Tuesday, Georgia Steel joined fellow Love Islander Francesca Allen, 25, on a yacht in Dubai, as they ignored social distancing rules to embrace.

In Dubai, social distancing and the wearing of face masks is mandatory when away from your home. This also applies to visitors staying in hotels when they are not in their room.

Year ahead: The reality TV star shared a flood of sensational selfies on her Instagram stories as she reflected on the 'mad' year of 2020 while heading out for the night in a car

The pair stripped off to their bikini as they posed and pouted up a storm, amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

Georgia and Francesca have joined fellow Love Islanders Joanna Chimonides and Hayley Hughes in the UAE, amid growing fury over reality stars 'bending rules' while the UK remains in partial lockdown.

In recent weeks, stars including Amber Turner, Ella Rae Wise, Kelsey Stratford, as well as Love Island's Maura Higgins and Gabby Allen, have jetted to Dubai for a festive break.

The city has been an ideal choice for many as visitors aren't currently required to quarantine upon their return to the UK.

Many stars have insisted their trips are for 'work' as the government currently asks UK residents living in high-risk areas to avoid unnecessary travel.
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Australia closing its embassy in Kabul for security reasons

Biden to discuss issues related to Belarus and Ukraine with Putin

Armenian acting FM meets with ambassadors of CSTO member states accredited to Armenia

Armenia Ombudsman presents human rights protection in post-war period to CoE Programmes Directorate General

Germany is investigating Google's position in market

France: Sanctions against Belarus will continue

Armenia opposition party MP: Azerbaijan is a terrorist state, negotiations can't be led with such a country

US to reopen its Consulate General in Jerusalem

EU expects to receive over 1 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccine by end of September

Armenian MFA strongly condemns Azerbaijan's blatant armed encroachment on Armenia's sovereign territory

UN still awaits strong evidence that Dubai ruler's daughter is alive

Opposition Bright Armenia Party urges Government to immediately address UN Security Council

Armen Sarkissian receives Russia Ambassador to Armenia

Armenia President, France Ambassador discuss situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border

Overchuk: We hope unblocking of links between Armenia and Azerbaijan is a success

Armenia police officer commits suicide, criminal case launched

Armenia Environmental Protection and Mining Inspection Body has new deputy heads

Zarif, Aliyev discuss railway routes connecting Iran, Azerbaijan and Armenia

EU leaders agree to donate at least 100 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine to poor countries

Armenian serviceman Mher Hovhannisyan fires gunshot at his head, criminal case launched

Soldier who died in Armenia's Verin Shorzha was son of ARF-D member, father of 2

Blinken promises to continue close consultations with Israel on Iran

Armen Sarkissian: Armenia's relevant state institutions need to take the tightest measures

Armenian soldier commits suicide, opposition speaks on tense situation on border, 25.05.21 digest

Yerevan man's body found at Tatul Krpeyan Park

Armenia MOD: Reports about Armenian soldiers being injured in Sisian section of border not confirmed

EU summit calls for rarly implementation of vaccination certificates

Parliament of the Netherlands adopts resolution, EU must demand that Azerbaijan pull out troops from Armenia

Kremlin: Russian and US presidents to meet in Geneva on June 16

Spokesperson of community council of Armenia's Sisian: Men got enlisted and climbed to military posts

Bright Armenia Party: We are not satisfied with CSTO response

EU leaders urge council to review internal border guidelines by mid-June

Armenia MOD: Fixed-term serviceman receives lethal firearm injury in head area

Dollar still stable in Armenia

Armenian Catholic Catholicos-Patriarch passes away

Kathimerini: US seeks to increase military presence in Greece due to doubts about Turkey's reliability

US Congress members call on Biden to suspend all military assistance to Azerbaijan

Armenia acting economy minister receives Montenegro's newly appointed Ambassador

Armenia MOD: Soldier killed during shootings from Azerbaijani side in Verin Shorzha

Russian MP: Azerbaijani leadership interested in Armenia acting PM's victory in snap elections

Armenia MOD reports shooting from Azerbaijani side in Verin Shorzha border section

Armenia opposition MP: Authorities promised to separate business from politics, but they're failing to fulfill promise

There will be post-election processes if authorities try to rig voting, says Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan

CNN: Putin and Biden will meet on June 15-16 in Geneva

Latin America has the highest poverty rate in 20 years

Ex-President Kocharyan on Armenia applying to CSTO: No one will help you if you do nothing to solve your problems

Armenia ruling Civil Contract Party presents list of first 10 candidates ahead of snap parliamentary elections

Armenia acting justice minister discusses broad range of cooperation issues with top CoE official

Armenia former President Kocharyan: This guilt, this criminal article is on these authorities

Man survives after spending 17 days in desert

Azerbaijan continues course towards systematic extermination of Armenian heritage in Shushi

Armenia Syunik Province ex-governor: Azerbaijani soldiers advanced along length of border two days ago

Newly appointed Ambassador of Montenegro presents Letters of Credence to Armenia President

Its about bringing Karabakh issue back to right to self-determination, says Armenia ex-President Kocharyan

Iran FM to arrive in Armenia

Ara Aivazian and Austrian counterpart hold phone talks, focus on Azeri army's infiltration into Armenia's territory

Kocharyan: Elect todays political team if you are ready to live squatting

Jean-Michel Basquiat's painting sold at auction in Hong Kong for $ 30 million

2nd President Kocharyan on Armenia Security Council chief: Do you take that person seriously?

"Key" to settlement of Karabakh conflict cant be in one place, says Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan

Texas may permit carrying of pistols without special permission

Ex-President Kocharyan on Armenia acting PM Pashinyan's high popularity rating: We will wear it down to the root

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Election bloc format must be workable in some logical sense

Attorney: Political persecution against Robert Kocharyan is becoming more noticeable during election campaign

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: We must do everything so that our domestic politics is not dictated by Azerbaijan

Armenian acting defense minister meets Russian peacekeeping mission chief

Congress predicts US nuclear spending to reach $ 634 billion by 2030

Russian MP: The effectiveness of military cooperation with Armenia depends on Yerevan as well

Delimitation now may create some problems in Karabakh negotiation process, says Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan on relations with 3rd President Sargsyan: We go our own way they go their own

Judge adjourns hearing over case of Armenia 2nd President and ex-Deputy PM for 3 weeks

Court hearing over case of Armenia 2nd President and ex-Deputy PM

2nd President Kocharyan: Armenia must show that it will not be subjected to such pressures

Kocharyan: You may find yourself in stupid situations if you come to negotiations without any baggage

Armenia Investigative Committee: Criminal case opened into soldiers death

157 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

EU helps UN World Food Programme provide humanitarian assistance for conflict-affected people in Armenia

Yerevan municipal council convenes regular session

Armenia legislature speaker on situation at Syunik Province: CSTO still has procedures

Blinken arrives on his first official visit to Israel

World oil prices going up

Provincial hall issues statement on Tavush section of Armenia border with Azerbaijan

MFA statement: Azerbaijan continues to use Armenian POWs as political hostages

Newspaper: There are last-minute changes on Armenia ruling party electoral list

Armenia parliament starts regular sessions

Newspaper: Armenia 3rd President Sargsyan intensively engaged in election campaign

EU leaders call for ban on Belarus airlines flights to their countries

Quake hits Georgia, also felt in Armenia

2nd President Kocharyan: Process of obtaining Armenia citizenship shall be simplified, shall take only few months

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Appointments in army were not based on knowledge but on loyalty

Robert Kocharyan: Armenia must not go back to the past and stay there, just like the incumbent authorities did

Armenia 2nd President on recent Karabakh war, consequences and the signed document

Armenia 2nd President: Current authorities don't have remorse, aren't conscious and patriotic

Armenia 2nd President on black PR and management system in the country
RUTH SUNDERLAND: New Year is always a time for reflection but never more so than the strange, muted first days of 2021 - so what have we learned?













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Lives and businesses have changed in ways that would have been unimaginable at the start of 2020

In business, Covid-19 has delivered a coup de grace to the weak, the debt-ridden, the hot air merchants and the greedy

In a pandemic, well-run companies are also vulnerable  but firms with good governance, sensible debt and a solid business model stand more chance

Almost exactly a year ago, the World Health Organisation issued a warning that the Chinese authorities had alerted it to an outbreak of 'pneumonia of unknown cause' in Wuhan.

Forty-four cases had been reported, with 11 severely ill, all linked to the Huanan seafood market. The news, so ominous in hindsight, passed largely unremarked.

Around the same time, there were also reports on recent Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and a new MERSCoV case in Saudi Arabia, and it seemed like just another disease in faraway lands.

On January 31, two Chinese tourists visiting York were Britain's first publicised coronavirus victims. In the months that followed, lives and businesses have changed in ways that would have been unimaginable at the start of 2020.

New Year is always a time for reflection but never more so than the strange, muted first days of 2021. So what have we learned? Perhaps the most important lesson for business is the way Covid-19 has delivered a coup de grace to the weak, the debt-ridden, the hot air merchants and the greedy. A number of high-profile collapses, including Debenhams and Sir Philip Green's Arcadia, were in trouble before the virus, which merely accelerated their demise.

In a pandemic, well-run companies are also vulnerable  but firms with good governance, sensible debt and a solid business model stand more chance of survival.

The second lesson is that so-called efficiency is over-rated, at least in the sense of adopting the cheapest and fastest possible methods of operating, with not a millimetre of slack.

George Stigler, a leading light at the Chicago School of Economics, famously observed that if you never miss a plane, you are wasting too much of your life at the airport. Just-in-time supply chains are an example of this philosophy in action.

But the pandemic  and Brexit  have taught us the value of running with a margin for error, just-in-case.

Thirdly, too much debt is dangerous. This ought to be obvious, but apparently isn't. Businesses and individuals up to their necks in borrowing fall into trouble very quickly.

The country now has a millstone of more than 2trillion of debt, which is not an immediate problem but leaves us less firepower for the next crisis.

The fourth lesson is that the technology revolution is in its infancy and will transform our lives more than anything we have witnessed. Productivity could finally be turned around through smarter, tech-enabled ways of working. Robotics and artificial intelligence could revolutionise everything from food shopping to elder care.

Lesson five is that we can all achieve more at work and in life than we think possible.

However incompetent the Government is about the rollout of a vaccine, the fact that Pfizer and AstraZeneca produced their jabs in such a short time scale is phenomenal.

On a lesser level, supermarkets made sure the nation was fed. No-one needed to panic buy that toilet tissue, and could have stuck to a just-in-time purchasing strategy.

As individuals, many of us acquired new skills, including my mum, who learned to use Skype and Zoom to bridge the gap of separation from children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

As for me, I didn't have time to re-read my A-level French set book, La Peste, as I intended. But to quote Camus: 'What we learn in a plague is that there is more to admire in human beings than to despise.' Happy New Year.

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Share or comment on this article: RUTH SUNDERLAND: Lessons learned from a plague year











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LUDLOW  A police officer was injured early Sunday morning while arresting a Vermont man accused of possession of more than 700 packets of heroin or fentanyl.

The officer was brought to Mercy Medical Center, in Springfield, by the Ludlow Fire Department ambulance and treated for a lower leg injury received while he was arresting the suspect. He was released and is in good condition, Police Chief Daniel Valadas said.

An employee at Pride gas station, 478 Center St., asked for assistance at about 2:30 a.m. after noticing a driver was parked for about an hour at a gas pump and appeared to be unconscious, Valadas said.

Officers approached the man and asked him to step out of his vehicle because they were concerned he may be a danger to himself and others. He is accused of being belligerent, uncooperative and trying to drive away from them, Valadas said.

They were able to remove him from his vehicle while he continually resisted them, Valadas said.

Police then placed Timothy J. Sweet, 34, of Vergennes, Vermont under arrest. He faces multiple charges including possession of heroin and or fentanyl with intent to distribute; drunken driving, second offense; driving while under the influence of drugs; failure to stop for a police officer and three counts of resisting arrest, Valadas said.

After Sweet was taken into custody, police searched his 2004 Volvo XC90 and found more than 700 packages of what is believed to be heroin, fentanyl or both, he said.

Sweet is being held on $5,000 cash bail at the Hampden County Correctional Center in Ludlow. He is expected to be arraigned in court on Monday, he said.

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Nancy Pelosi was speaker of the House when she woke up on Sunday. Then she wasnt. Now she is again.

By noon on Sunday, when the 116th Congress had disbanded and the new 117th Congress was being sworn in, the longtime San Francisco Democrat was just a regular member again, the House rules and leadership structure resetting as they do after each biennial election cycle.

Three hours later, around 3pm on the East Coast, a slim House Democratic majority voted for Ms Pelosi to serve as the chambers speaker for a second consecutive term, her fourth overall.

I am enormously grateful for the trust that Members have placed in me, she wrote in a letter to her Democratic caucus on Sunday.

Ms Pelosi expressed confidence heading into the day that Sundays election for speaker would show a united Democratic Caucus ready to meet the challenges ahead, including ratifying Joe Bidens November Electoral College victory and continuing to pass legislation to handle the ongoing Covid crisis.

This is, ostensibly, Ms Pelosis last term atop the House Democratic totem pole. She indicated after the election results began to crystallise in November that she intends to keep her promise from 2018 to step down from her leadership post at the end of the next Congress in 2023.

The California congresswoman stepping down would spell the end of a 20-year reign as the top-ranking Democrat in the chamber.

Ms Pelosi took over for former Congressman Dick Gephardt as House Democratic Leader in 2003.

A thin margin

The speaker faced no formal opposition within her own party for the speakers gavel this year, although a handful of both moderates and progressives refused to vote for her on Sunday, instead merely voting present.

One of those members is Democratic Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin, who won a second term by 4 percentage points in Michigans 8th District. Donald Trump carried Ms Slotkins district over President-elect Joe Biden, 50-49 per cent.

I'm not supporting the Speaker. I'll be voting present, because no one stepped up to run against her. It's a commitment that I made in March of 2018 before I was elected, Ms Slotkin explained to reporters at the Capitol on Sunday.

Ms Slotkin is one of a small cadre of moderate Democratic congresswomen in swing districts, including Virginias Abigail Spanberger and Maines Jared Golden, whose opposition to Ms Pelosis stewardship of the party has become a central aspect of their public images to help survive in hostile political terrain.

Those Democrats opposition to Ms Pelosi was more consequential to this years vote than last years, with the partys majority pared down to a single-digit margin over Republicans in the 2020 elections. Ms Pelosi could not afford more than a handful of defectors voting present (or for Democrats other than Ms Pelosi) on Sunday to keep the gavel.

I've been pretty vocal about the need for more Midwestern leaders, people who represent areas like where I'm from. And also I think it's important to be training a next generation of leaders as just a healthy habit of building the bench. So I was up front with her. We had a one-on-one conversation right after the election, just as we did back in 2018. And I'm going to vote to live up to that commitment to my district, Ms Slotkin said on Sunday.

Hard-won support

With less wiggle room this time around, Ms Pelosi managed to win back some longtime Democrats who did not vote for her in 2018. Congressman Jim Cooper of Tennessee and Kurt Schrader of Oregon both cast votes for Ms Pelosi on Sunday after snubbing her at the beginning of last Congress.

The speaker also managed to capture some crucial votes from members who had declined to tip their hands heading into Sunday. Most notably, she split votes among the Squad of young progressives of colour that includes Congresswomen Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, and others.

Freshman Congressman Jamaal Bowman of New York  who appears to have joined the Squad  cast an early vote for Ms Pelosi on Sunday. So did Ms Ocasio-Cortez, Ms Omar and Congresswomen Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts.

Congresswoman Cori Bush of Missouri, another freshman progressive supported by the leftist group Justice Democrats, did not.

Coming in second place in the race for the speakership was House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy. The California Republican has cemented his hold on the top spot in the House GOP pecking order for a second consecutive term after former Speaker Paul Ryan of Wisconsin retired in 2019.

Covid drama

Although Ms Pelosi was all but certain to win the speakership on Sunday, there was nevertheless some drama on the House floor leading up to the vote.

Ms Pelosi had installed a plexiglass box so members who had recently been diagnosed with Covid could cast their voice votes for speaker in person.

That allowed Wisconsin Democratic Congresswoman Gwen Moore, who tested positive for Covid on 28 December, to cast her vote for Ms Pelosi. Ms Moore tweeted on Sunday that she had been medically cleared to go back to work in person.

Last year, the Democratic-controlled House offered members the chance to vote remotely by proxy to mitigate the potential spread of Covid at the Capitol. But when a session of Congress expires every two years, the new body must vote on new rules packages governing procedures in each chamber. To vote on Sunday, members were required to do so in person.

Republicans initially raised objections to the plexiglass setup, saying it was a naked play by Ms Pelosi to keep her hold on the speakers gavel while putting members in jeopardy of exposure to others who may be contagious with Covid.

Pelosi is putting the publics health at risk to keep herself in power, Colorado GOP Congressman Ken Buck tweeted on Sunday.

But the attending physician at the Capitol, Dr Brian Monahan, had pre-approved Ms Pelosis plan.

Upon the direction of the Office of the Attending Physician and the House Sergeant at Arms, a secure enclosure has been erected in Gallery 4 of the House Chamber to allow Members who are in quarantine status to fulfill their Constitutional duties, Dr Monahan said in a statement ahead of Sundays vote.

Under federal guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), essential workers, in order to ensure continuity of operations of essential functions, are permitted to continue work following potential exposure to COVID-19 provided they remain asymptomatic and additional precautions are implemented to protect them and the community. The highest possible safeguards have been implemented including separate holding facilities for any Members utilizing Gallery 4. This step will only be necessary until proxy voting resumes as an option for impacted members, the doctor said.

Earlier in the day, two Republican freshmen  including Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia  were denied access to the House floor after refusing to wear masks.

Ms Greene later gained entry to the House floor and voted for Mr McCarthy without a mask before putting one on her chin, covering neither her nose or mouth.
WASHINGTON - The time to question election results has passed, and there is no role for the military in changing them, all 10 of the living former defense secretaries said in an extraordinary rebuke to President Donald Trump and other Republicans who are backing unfounded claims of widespread fraud at the ballot box.

The former Pentagon chiefs issued their warning Sunday evening in an opinion piece that they co-authored and published in The Washington Post. Its authors include Trump's two former defense secretaries, Jim Mattis and Mark Esper, as well as each living Senate-confirmed Pentagon chief dating back to Donald Rumsfeld in the 1970s.

The article was published as some Republicans plan to contest the electoral college vote certification Wednesday, even after the president's attempts to challenge election results in court have failed. It also comes as concerns persist that Trump might seek to use the military to keep him in office, despite his electoral loss.

"Our elections have occurred. Recounts and audits have been conducted," the former defense secretaries wrote. "Appropriate challenges have been addressed by the courts. Governors have certified the results. And the electoral college has voted. The time for questioning the results has passed; the time for the formal counting of the electoral college votes, as prescribed in the Constitution and statute, has arrived."

The White House did not respond to a request for comment about the article.

The article brings together a group of Republicans and Democrats who disagree on many national security issues. Its genesis is a conversation between Eric Edelman, a former U.S. ambassador and defense official in Republican administrations, and Cheney about how the military might be used in coming days, Edelman said in an interview.

While Trump has called reports that he discussed the possibility of invoking martial law to overturn election results "fake news," he did have Michael Flynn, a retired Army general and former national security adviser for Trump, at the White House recently after Flynn suggested on television that Trump could declare martial law and use the military to hold new elections.

Protests are expected in Washington on Trump's behalf this week, and the president has encouraged his supporters to show up, tweeting, "Be there, will be wild!"

Edelman, who was among a group of Republicans who endorsed Joe Biden over Trump, said that after Cheney expressed interest in co-writing an opinion piece, Edelman solicited participation from other former defense secretaries, and wrote a draft of the article along with Eliot Cohen, a former Republican national security official who is dean of the Johns Hopkins University school for advanced international studies.

Some of the defense secretaries requested revisions, but nothing significant to the message, Edelman and Cohen said.

"I do think that once one signs, another might be more willing to sign. But I still think it's pretty remarkable," said Cohen, an expert on civil-military relations. "This is a fairly gutsy thing to do, and I give them a lot of credit for it."

Chuck Hagel, a former Republican senator who served as a defense secretary for President Barack Obama, said in an interview on Sunday that he asked ahead of publication whether the piece would be an overreaction to a potential problem.

But he ultimately decided that it was wise to weigh in, citing a desire to remind those serving in the Defense Department of their responsibility to help ensure a peaceful transition of power.

"This is a fundamental element of our democracy, and it lands squarely in the responsibilities of defense officials," Hagel said. "I thought, in the end, that this was something that was important that we do."

William Cohen, who served as defense secretary under President Bill Clinton, said in an interview that the discussion of martial law alarmed him, especially after Trump's use of the military and other federal forces to remove protesters outside the White House in June.

The former defense secretary also cited the use of federal law enforcement personnel to remove protesters in Portland, Ore., in unmarked vehicles as another abuse of power. While he said he has no doubts about the willingness of Gen. Mark Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and other senior military officials to follow the law, he is concerned that potential violence started by Trump supporters including the Proud Boys in coming days could be used as a pretext to use the military against civilians again.

"It's a very dangerous course of action that needs to be called out before it happens," Cohen said of using the military against civilians.

Other former defense secretaries either could not be reached for comment, or declined to speak, citing a desire to let the article speak for itself.

In addition to stating their concerns about the ongoing contesting of the election, the defense secretaries backed recent comments from senior military leaders that there is no role for the military in determining the outcome of a U.S. election, a point they affirmed after Flynn suggested that the president could invoke martial law.

"Efforts to involve the U.S. armed forces in resolving election disputes would take us into dangerous, unlawful and unconstitutional territory," the defense secretaries wrote. "Civilian and military officials who direct or carry out such measures would be accountable, including potentially facing criminal penalties, for the grave consequences of their actions on our republic."

The former Pentagon chiefs also called on acting defense secretary Christopher Miller and other Trump administration officials in the Pentagon to "wholeheartedly" facilitate a transition to President-elect Joe Biden's administration.

While some transition meetings were carried out in late-November and December, Miller canceled others beginning Dec. 18, citing a backlog of work that senior Pentagon lawyers had.

"We call upon them, in the strongest terms, to do as so many generations of Americans have done before them," the former defense secretaries said of the transition. "This final action is in keeping with the highest traditions and professionalism of the U.S. armed forces, and the history of democratic transition in our great country."

Pentagon officials have said those transition meetings will begin again in a significant way this week, and they denied accusations by Biden that his transition team had encountered "roadblocks" to needed information that smacked of "irresponsibility." Among those meeting with the transition team this week are senior officers including Gen. Scott Miller, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, and Gen. Stephen Townsend, the top commander overseeing operations in Africa.

Mick Mulroy, an ABC News analyst and former defense official under Trump, said in a statement that the opinion article is "exceptional in its scope and its directness."

"It needed to be," Mulroy said. "I volunteered to assist with the transition as soon as I was asked. I am not a partisan person, but this is beyond partisanship. It is the duty of any American, especially those that gave an oath to the Constitution, to ensure the peaceful transfer of power to the duly elected President."

- - -

The Washington Post's Missy Ryan contributed to this report.
During a conversation with Armenian News-NEWS.am, head of Shurnukh village Hakob Arshakyan said the residents of the 12 houses of the village transferred to the Azerbaijanis must leave their homes before January 5.

The Azerbaijanis gave us time until January 5 to leave the territories transferred to them and said anyone, including animals passing through that territory after January 5 will be theirs, Arshakyan said.

In regard to the photo of a library that was disseminated these past couple of days, Arshakyan stated that he couldnt confirm if it was the library in Shurnukh or not.

The village head added that he has shown the map of the USSR showing Shurnukh as an Armenian village to a Russian army general and peacekeepers.

We were told that its not up to them and that the decision has already been made. Now the villagers and I are trying to find documents from the archives in order to retrieve our lands, Arshakyan stated.

Yesterday the village head informed that Azerbaijanis and Russian border guards had entered the Shurnukh village of Syunik Province. According to the demarcation conducted by the Azerbaijanis, 12 houses in Shurnukh are being transferred to Azerbaijan.
THE term Bro (a derivation of brother) can be traced back to at least 1660 and an original reference to African-American men. Nowadays, its most common meaning is male friend, irrespective of colour. On reading Miki Garcias The Caribbean Irish, as a hot take on race and language, when Afro-Caribbeans address Irishmen as Bro today, could this be prompted by an intangible genetic memory, and might they be, if not brothers, distant cousins at least?

Miki Garcias book, The Caribbean Irish  How the Slave Myth Was Made (Chronos Books) presents us with a fresh look at the Irish Diaspora, the West Indies and slavery. As the Black Lives Matter movement makes the 1600s ever topical, this book reflects on the same period in Irish history, ethnic cleansing, forced migration, emigration, and indentured servitude that had lasting legacies. Garcia explains how the Irish Travelling community are also rooted in this era. A people dispossessed of lands, they were forced West of the Shannon to roam, to paraphrase Cromwell to Hell or to Connaught.

In a more modern era, Rebuilding London - Irish Migrants in Post War Britain (History Press) Garcia explores the decade of disappearing Irish, the years immediately after the Second World War and peak period of emigration since the Great Famine. Many of these migrants went to Britain and played a key role in rebuilding the country after the ravages of war. Her book Irelands Invasion of the World: the Irish Diaspora In A Nutshell (History Press) is self-explanatory. And, with more Irish related books in the pipeline, when did Garcia, a Japanese/Dutch journalist, who identifies herself as a Londoner and an internationalist begin her fascination with Irish history?

A journalist who lived in Africa, Asia, Europe and the USA, Garcia states her first interaction with Irish people was when volunteering with a human rights charity in London .I got to know quite a few Irish homeless in the Kings Cross area and discovered they had similar characteristics  all teenagers of the 1950s who came from the countryside to work as navvy construction workers. A trigger was woken; as a journalist I asked all the Whys as no one knew anything about those people; I started studying Irish history. Her subsequent book explored the economic and social factors of Irish emigration of the period, and the various support systems that formed as a result, the Church, Irish clubs and charities.

Their legacy is not only in bricks and mortar, but cultural and still tangible today. Im interested in social history; that is history from above, not from below. I studied how Irish people were the major workforce for centuries in England and Britain as a whole. She states that in the footsteps of Germans and Russians like Engels and Marx, she too became fascinated by the Irish within the British system and how they were impacted by colonisation.

An experienced journalist, Garcia says Im obsessed with Irish history, my interest lying more with the Irish diaspora rather than the Irish at home. I consider myself a Londoner, and culturally, if you know London, you know Irish people played a big part in its development for centuries. I started getting interested in Irish history during the 1990s IRA bombing campaigns in London. Irish history is not taught in England; unless you make a real effort to educate yourself you havent a clue whats going on. As a journalist I was curious around censorship laws and why the BBC wouldnt broadcast Gerry Adams' voice. With no proper information on what was going on in Northern Ireland, I took it upon myself to learn.

Initially, I studied Irish history to understand events; now its become a passion. I learned Irish. I learned how to play the Bodhran, tin whistle and uileann pipes. I lived in Dublin for a time. With an MA in journalism, when shes not writing books on the Irish diaspora, Garcia works for various institutes and think-tanks, recent academic research including the war-time Irish linen market. As a journalist by profession Im grateful to be able to do different things; Im currently researching the impacts of Brexit for consultants and think-tanks.

Garcia explains the trigger for her Caribbean Irish research. Two years ago there was a popular internet search topic around Black Lives Matter, the Irish and slavery. After reading a lot of wrong information and opinions online I wanted to write something not too heavy on the matter, something easy, accessible and informative so The Caribbean Irish was born. From 1620 onwards the Irish were amongst the earliest settlers in the Caribbean. Although some arrived as influential colonisers and merchants, the majority were indentured servants. Garcia explains. The original title was simply the Caribbean Irish. I was a bit nervous about the final title as it can be a bit contentious.

An indentured servant's life in the British West Indies was no better than slavery. Following abduction, a cruel period of free labour promised low survival rates, starvation and severe punishments dished up daily as they toiled for free on sugar, cotton and tobacco farms. However, once African slaves arrived, being hardier in the tropical climate, they were considered a more valuable commodity. Servants roles diminished, the Irish now spread their wings to all levels of Caribbean society. The book gives a 200-year history of ports, trades, wars of religion, and insights into the poorest and richest of the Irish Caribbean community. The political situation at home in Ireland always coloured events; we read of Irish rebellions on British islands and constant deflections to those preferred under Spanish rule.

Garcia tells the Irish Examiner: "I travelled the West Indies to research. To my delight the Jamaican archives were fantastic and held centuries old materials in good condition  the Caribbean can be humid and hot; I often found old documents gone rotten. I loved travelling around the Emerald Isle of the Caribbean  Montserrat. I definitely picked up on the Irish accent there; linguists are researching this; however with the advent of globalisation it is now disappearing.

"Across the world the Irish diaspora are hungry for knowledge. Whether its IRA bombings or the current Brexit/ Border issue, its impossible to understand if you dont know the history. Continental Europeans dont study Irish history either so its a pretty much hidden subject. I find myself giving informal Irish history lectures in pubs, parties and gatherings, especially to those whove become Irish citizens as adults; Ive met South Americans and Africans of Irish descent hungry for information; I feel I have a role to play in sharing my passion."

As centuries old contributors to England and Britain, Garcia feels the Irish were victims overwhelmed by a British system. "The British Empire and its impact on the Irish is a fascinating subject. The reason I wanted to be a journalist initially was my interest in human rights, however my writing perspective is very much through the eyes of British history; you cant study Irish history without understanding British authoritarianism." On asked her feelings on the Dutch Orange influence on the Irish flag, Garcia states that while her Japanese background is custom based, in contrast the Dutch are forward-looking. "They spend little time studying history and rarely look back, a different cultural approach to the British and Irish who celebrate past events as part of their normal ritual."

Speaking Dutch, Japanese and English, Garcia has learned Irish, mostly in order to read Irish texts but also to sing as Gaeilge. "While I enjoy it Im not desperate to reach perfect." On future projects, she states "Im always working on something. Im in a gestation period for my next volume of Irish interest research, though currently studying connections between Dutch and Irish which Im soon to write about it; there is so much similarity in words and pronunciation, its fascinating."
What an awful year weve just experienced. Never again I hope. F

ear, loss, lockdown, separation from loved ones (Mums and Dads, especially) and economic emasculation on a scale Ive not witnessed before in my 31 long years as a personal finance editor for a national newspaper.

Yes, tough times, awful times, sad times  and were not out of the woods yet as coronavirus continues to rampage through our island like a wildfire out of control and most of the country is now in virtual lockdown.

'The approval in recent days of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine represents a massive step forward,' says Jeff Prestridge

But the new year that has just commenced  happy New Year to you all  offers hope we will soon leave the devastation of 2020 behind.

In its place will come replenishment, rebuilding and economic revitalisation. More boom than last years doom, although I am sure there will be hiccups along the way.

The approval in recent days of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine represents a massive step forward.

Provided the Government uses all its nous to ramp up the vaccination programme in the coming weeks, the wrath of coronavirus should be quelled by spring, allowing tiers to be dismantled (for good) and for life to return to near-normal.

With that will come a semblance of economic stability, followed (hopefully) by a period of sustained growth.

And, of course, the Brexit deal signed last Wednesday means the nation  directed by Government  can now start preparing for a life unencumbered by Europes bureaucratic demands.

Yes, our break from Europe will come at some cost with the loss of convenient perks such as the EU pet passport, the European Health Insurance Card and the Erasmus scheme for students. But some of these will in time be replaced by broader global lookalikes.

Brexit: Britain's break from Europe will come at some cost with the loss of convenient perks such as the EU pet passport and the European Health Insurance Card

There will also be some extra costs as a result of waving goodbye to the EU  impacting on travel  but the fact remains that we will be better for being out rather than in.

Certainly, the UK stock market, the mainstay of our pension funds and investments, reacted positively to a deal being done although the FTSE 100 ended the year in subdued mood at 6,460 (some 15 per cent down on the year).

What we now need from the Government is a plan that will allow business to prosper once the threat of coronavirus is assuaged.

That task lies primarily with Chancellor Rishi Sunak who so far has done an effective job in shielding many (not all) businesses and workers from the savage commercial consequences of lockdown and restrictive tiers.

The Chancellors March Budget will be pivotal. He could revert to prudent Conservative-type and sweep in a new era of austerity (no thank you).

Alternatively, he could well spring a round of nasty tax rises on the middle classes (again, no thank you).

There are already whispers that he has his sights on both capital gains tax and tax relief on pension contributions as ways of either raising revenue or cutting back on expenditure. Yet such moves would be foolhardy. Why?

Well, increases in capital gains tax would act as a deterrent to the entrepreneurialism we desperately need to revitalise the economy.

It would make many entrepreneurs think twice about setting up a business in the UK for fear of being taxed to the hilt when they eventually come to sell it  part or whole.

'Politically toxic, was the reaction of Andy Bell, founder of wealth platform AJ Bell, to fears that CGT hikes are around the corner. Coincidentally or intentionally, he followed this comment by selling a 17million stake in his business, although it still leaves him with a holding worth 430million.

As for reductions in tax relief on pension contributions, they would merely discourage millions of people from saving for their retirement. In other words, a counterproductive move.

If there were a new tax introduced by Sunak that would be tolerated by a majority of people, it would be one to fund social care. Successive governments have shamefully side-stepped much-needed reform of the sector.

Its now time Sunak bit the bullet and came up with a solution, thereby delivering on the Prime Ministers promise last year to fix the social care crisis once and for all.

Once again, a happy New Year. The good times are just around the corner.
WASHINGTON, D. C. - Toledo Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur has ordered more than 400 copies of the December issue of National Geographic magazine to distribute to every one of her U.S. House of Representatives colleagues. The cover features an article titled Saving the Great Lakes, which also is the subject of much of Kapturs legislative agenda for 2021.

Along with other Ohio Congress members from both political parties, Kaptur has big plans for this new year. While she has long bemoaned the fact that Democratic party leaders from coastal states dont focus on midwestern interests, shes hopeful that President-elect Joe Bidens addition of Warrensville Heights Rep. Marcia Fudge to his cabinet as housing secretary, former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm as energy secretary and former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg as transportation secretary will jump start rebuilding the economy and environment of Great Lake states.

If Kaptur gets her way, that will mean the environmental and infrastructure build back better campaign initiatives that Biden promised will help areas such as Ohio, and not focus on places like Washington, D.C., or New York. She says the $300 million thats allotted to the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative in a typical year is tiddlywinks compared to the kind of money shed like to see devoted to the region, and feels she can help steer its way in her post as chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee that funds energy and water projects. She says that the incoming chair of the full House Appropriations Committee, Connecticut Democrat Rosa DeLauro, pledged to be more sensitive to the needs of the Great Lakes region when Kaptur gave up her own bid for the job and threw her support to DeLauro.

This is a once in a lifetime opportunity, says Kaptur, who would like to modernize energy infrastructure in the Midwest to make its costs competitive with other parts of the country and to serve as incentives for industrial investment. She says she plans to put forward a bill that would establish a new federal office of manufacturing and industrial innovation. Shed also like to help modernize the Midwests air, land and sea transportation infrastructure, suggesting that widening the St. Lawrence Seaway could allow larger, ocean-going cargo ships in and out of the Great Lakes.

Thats a big idea worth fighting for, says Kaptur. Seaborne is the least costly transportation for goods.

U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan, Democrat from the Niles area, said his top priority, and that of every other Congress members, should be healing our countrys health and economic crisis.

I will be fighting to provide the American people with direct economic impact payments of $2,000 per month until this crisis is over and working to ensure the vaccine distribution is run efficiently and effectively, said a statement from Ryan.

In 2021, Ryan will become vice-chair of the appropriations subcommittee that funds defense projects, a post that will help him support local projects and bring money back to Ohio. Hell also continue to chair the House Manufacturing Caucus, where he plans to prioritize manufacturing and innovation at the federal level. He said he plans to introduce legislation to establish an office in the White House to shape manufacturing policies and to prepare our future workforce so they can lear n the skills necessary to compete in our shifting 21st century economy.

Finally, I plan to work across the aisle to create in infrastructure bill that will make good on years of promises and repair our crippling roads and bridges, clear out blight in our communities, and expand broadband so every American has access to highspeed internet, Ryan continued.

Ohio Republicans in Congress, like Champaign Countys Jim Jordan and Holmes Countys Bob Gibbs, believe having Biden in the White House will shift the nations focus away from their favorite issues such as cutting taxes and government regulations.

Some of their ability to get things done will depend on the outcome of two runoff U.S. Senate elections in Georgia on Jan. 5. If Democrats win both races, theyll have control of the Senate, as well as the presidency and House of Representatives. If Republicans win at least one of those Georgia seats, the GOP will continue to call the shots in the Senate, giving the party more say in shaping policy.

No matter who wins, Jordan anticipates using his post as the top Republican on the House Judiciary Committee to voice his concerns about Hunter Bidens dealings with foreign companies while his father was vice president, probe the integrity of the 2020 election, examine the ramifications of calls to defund police, and express his dissatisfaction with coronavirus-related government restrictions on businesses and individuals.

Hopefully Santa makes it through Ohio tonight by the 10 p.m. curfew, Jordan said in a Christmas eve Twitter posting. Fly fast, Rudolph. The #COVID19 agents will be on the look out.

Some of Jordans other priorities will include fighting to secure the U.S. border, opposing abortion, protecting constitutional rights to own guns, keeping taxes low, and cutting government waste, his spokesman said. Hell also oppose any efforts by Democrats to enact a Green New Deal or pack the U.S. Supreme Court by expanding the number of justices. A resolution he introduced in September said packing the court would undermine our democratic institutions and destroy the Supreme Courts credibility.

Gibbs intends to keep pursuing regulatory reform and examining ways to ensure more secure elections and prevent voter fraud, such as tightening up voter ID laws, his spokesman said. Gibbs will also seek legislative term limits because he believes it would make Congress more responsive to voters. After its leaders spent months bickering over coronavirus relief legislation, Gibbs argued in a Washington Examiner column that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer of New York should retire of be fired.

Ive come to understand and believe that limiting the time in which politicians can climb the ladder and become swamp creatures is one of the few ways to make Congress a more responsive and representative body of the people, wrote Gibbs, who was first elected to Congress in 2010.

Mitigating the impact COVID-19 has had on the health and stability of Northeast Ohio families will be Bainbridge Township GOP Rep. Dave Joyces top priority in the next Congress, his spokesperson said. Joyce also will focus on legislation to fight human trafficking, combat the scourge of opioid addiction and expedite the processing of the hundreds of thousands of sexual assault kits that police departments across the country havent yet tested.

Like Kaptur, hell prioritize Great Lakes efforts like the Brandon Road project to keep invasive Asian Carp away from the lake system and the Great Lakes Coastal Resiliency Study to recommend measures to bolster the coastlines ability to withstand, recover from, and adapt to severe storms and rising water levels.

In addition to supporting Northeast Ohio jobs and rebuilding the local economy after coronavirus is defeated, Rocky River GOP Rep. Anthony Gonzalez plans to work with U.S. Sen Rob. Portman in 2021 to develop the next generations work force through job training programs in a JOBS Act bill that both support, as well as invigorating local communities through infrastructure investments, said a spokesman for Gonzalez.

Gonzalez also plans to continue his work to end online child exploitation, champion forward thinking policies to strengthen the U.S. health-care system, pursue legislation hes introduced to give student athletes the right to make endorsement deals, and continue working to fight Chinese Communist Party (CCP) influence in the United States.

The CCP represents one of the greatest existential threats facing our nation today, said a statement from Gonzalez. Beyond their human rights violations and egregious mishandling of the coronavirus pandemic, the CCP has continued to abuse international organizations, violate agreements, exploit developing nations through the harmful Belt and Road Initiative, and seek to expand malign influence inside the U.S. through our research and financial institutions. It is past time that the United States take action to recalibrate our relationship with the CCP and hold them accountable.

Read more:

House votes to override Trump defense bill veto but approves a $2,000 pandemic relief payment he sought

Ohios Stephanie Tubbs Jones lodged the nations last electoral vote protest in Congress

Ohios Jim Jordan to participate in Jan. 6 congressional effort to question presidential election results

Years of work fighting for Northeast Ohio earn Marcia Fudge a seat at Bidens Cabinet table

Marcia Fudge makes her public debut as a member of Joe Bidens team

What Rep. Marcia Fudge hopes to accomplish as Housing and Urban Development Secretary: Q & A

Biden transition office officially announces Rep. Marcia Fudge will be HUD nominee

President-elect Joe Biden picks Rep. Marcia Fudge to be Housing and Urban Development secretary, report says

Rep. Jim Clyburn predicts Ohios Rep. Marcia Fudge will end up in Bidens cabinet

U.S. House passes bill to decriminalize marijuana over opposition from all Ohio Republicans

Columbus Democratic Rep. Joyce Beatty selected to chair the Congressional Black Caucus

Sen. Sherrod Brown predicts smooth confirmation for Rep. Marcia Fudge if shes picked as Bidens Agriculture Secretary
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 3) Two people were found dead after a passenger bus caught fire along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City, the Bureau of Fire Protection reported on Sunday.

Authorities told CNN Philippines that the two fatalities were a female conductor and a male passenger.

In its initial report, the BFP said the bus caught fire while traversing the southbound lane, across Pearl Drive in Greater Fairview sometime past noon. Authorities declared a fire out at 1:20 p.m.

In a Facebook post by Barangay North Fairview, it reported that most passengers had to jump out of the window of the vehicle to escape the fire, but some were trapped inside.

Speaking to CNN Philippines, one of the bus passengers said both the conductor and the passenger had an argument before things escalated.

"Nagsasapakan sila, nagkakabangayan. Sinabi kasi nung lalaki, 'Anong sabi mo? Anong sabi mo?' Sabi niya dun sa kunduktora na kaaway niya... Biglang naglabas yung lalaki, na meron siyang dalang (bote) ang laman niya gas... Unti-unti niyang binubuhos dun sa babae, yung kunduktora na kaaway niya...kinakalat niya dun sa kaaway niya," she said

[Translation: They were hitting each other, and exchanging words. The man was telling the conductor, 'What did you say? What did you say?'... He then took out a bottle containing gasoline...And he slowly started pouring it over the female conductor.]

She said the fight continued until both reached the front of the bus, upon which the male passenger took out a lighter and set the female conductor on fire.

"Nung nakarating sila sa harap, biglang dumukot 'yung lalaki...dumukot siya ng lighter, sinilaban niya 'yung babae," she said.

[Translation: When they reached the front of the bus, the man took out a lighter and set fire to the woman.]

The passenger then poured the remaining liquid on himself, before setting himself on fire as well.

CNN Philippines is still verifying information on the identities of the victims and other details of the incident. Investigation is still ongoing.
In this July 21, 2020, file photo, Darryl Hutchinson, facing camera, is hugged by a relative during a funeral service for Lydia Nunez, who was Hutchinson's cousin at the Metropolitan Baptist Church in Los Angeles. Nunez died from COVID-19. Southern California funeral homes are turning away bereaved families because they're running out of space for the bodies piling up during an unrelenting coronavirus surge. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File)

As communities across the country feel the pain of a surge in coronavirus cases, funeral homes in the hot spot of Southern California say they must turn away grieving families as they run out of space for the bodies piling up.

The head of the state funeral directors association says mortuaries are being inundated as the United States nears a grim tally of 350,000 COVID-19 deaths. More than 20 million people in the country have been infected, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.

"I've been in the funeral industry for 40 years and never in my life did I think that this could happen, that I'd have to tell a family, 'No, we can't take your family member,'" said Magda Maldonado, owner of Continental Funeral Home in Los Angeles.

Continental is averaging about 30 body removals a daysix times its normal rate. Mortuary owners are calling one another to see whether anyone can handle overflow, and the answer is always the same: They're full, too.

In order to keep up with the flood of bodies, Maldonado has rented extra 50-foot (15-meter) refrigerators for two of the four facilities she runs in LA and surrounding counties. Continental has also been delaying pickups at hospitals for a day or two while they deal with residential clients.

In this March, 12, 2020, file photo, Los Angeles County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer takes questions at a news conference in Los Angeles. Los Angeles County, the state's most populous with 10 million residents, on Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2020, surpassed 10,000 COVID-19 deaths. Ferrer called it a "terrible milestone," while noting that more than 7,400 people remain hospitalized with coronavirus in the county, with 20% of them in intensive care units. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File)

Bob Achermann, executive director of the California Funeral Directors Association, said that the whole process of burying and cremating bodies has slowed down, including embalming bodies and obtaining death certificates. During normal times, cremation might happen within a day or two; now it takes at least a week or longer.

Achermann said that in the southern part of the state, "every funeral home I talk to says, 'We're paddling as fast as we can.'"

"The volume is just incredible and they fear that they won't be able to keep up," he said. "And the worst of the surge could still be ahead of us."

Los Angeles County, the epicenter of the crisis in California, has surpassed 10,000 COVID-19 deaths alone. Hospitals in the area are overwhelmed, and are struggling to keep up with basics such as oxygen as they treat an unprecedented number of patients with respiratory issues. On Saturday, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers crews arrived to update some hospital's oxygen delivery systems.

In this July 21, 2020 file photo Pall bearers carry a casket with the body of Lydia Nunez, who died from COVID-19, after a funeral service at the Metropolitan Baptist Church, in Los Angeles. Southern California funeral homes are turning away bereaved families because they're running out of space for the bodies piling up during an unrelenting coronavirus surge. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez,File)

Nationally, an average of just over 2,500 people have died of COVID-19 over the past seven days, according to Johns Hopkins data. The number of daily newly reported cases in that period has averaged close to 195,000, a decline from two weeks earlier.

It's feared that holiday gatherings could fuel yet another rise in cases.

Arkansas officials reported a record of more than 4,300 new COVID-19 cases Friday. Gov. Asa Hutchinson tweeted that the state is "certainly in the surge after Christmas travel and gatherings" and added, "As we enter this new year, our first resolution should be to follow guidelines."

North Carolina officials also reported a record 9,527 confirmed cases New Year's Day. That's more than 1,000 cases above the previous daily high.

In Louisiana, a funeral was being held Saturday for a congressman-elect who died of COVID-19 complications. Republican Luke Letlow died Tuesday at age 41. His swearing-in had been scheduled Sunday. He leaves behind his wife, Julia Letlow, and two children, ages 1 and 3.

In this July 22, 2020 file photo, Luke Letlow, R-Start, chief of staff to exiting U.S. Rep. Ralph Abraham, speaks after signing up to run for Louisiana's 5th Congressional District in Baton Rouge, La. Letlow, who was elected to Congress in a December runoff, died Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2020, of complications from COVID-19. (AP Photo/Melinda Deslatte, File)

Magda Maldonado, owner of Continental Funeral Home in Los Angeles, poses in her mortuary on Dec. 30, 2020. Southern California funeral homes are turning away bereaved families because they're running out of space for all the bodies piling up during an unrelenting coronavirus surge that has sent COVID-19 death rates to new highs. "I've been in the funeral industry for 40 years and never in my life did I think that this could happen, that I'd have to tell a family 'no, we can't take your family member,'" said Maldonado. (Magda Maldonado via AP

In Texas, state officials say they have only 580 intensive care beds available as staff treat more than 12,480 hospitalized coronavirus patients, a number that has risen steadily since September and has set record highs this past week.

In Window Rock, Arizona, the Navajo Nation remained in the midst of a weekend lockdown to try to slow the rate of infection. The tribe late Friday reported another seven deaths, bringing its totals since the pandemic began to 23,429 cases and 813 deaths. The reservation includes parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah.

The number of infections is thought to be far higher than reported because many people have not been tested, and studies suggest people can be infected with the virus without feeling sick.

Arizona on Saturday reported 18,943 new cases Friday and Saturday, a record for the state in any two-day period. It also reported 46 new deaths Saturday.

Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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Conservation organizations across the state praised the introduction of new federal legislation that would aim to protect forage fish  smaller fish such as anchovies that serve as a vital food source for seabirds, larger fish and other marine life.

U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., introduced the Forage Fish Conservation Act earlier this month. It would amend the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act  the primary law that governs ocean fish management in federal waters. The new act would look to recognize for the first time the important role forage fish serve in the ecosystem.

Common and roseate terns, among other Long Island Sound-based birds such as osprey and cormorants, depend on forage fish to survive and raise chicks. But forage fish populations are declining and shifting in range, which threatens birds and people that depend on them, Robert LaFrance, policy director for Audubon Connecticut, said in a statement. The Forage Fish Conservation Act is essential to protecting wildlife, and recreational fishing industry jobs, in Connecticut and beyond.

Seabirds like puffins and terns are vulnerable to shifts in fish populations, whether caused by over-fishing or climate change, said Sarah Greenberger, senior vice president for conservation policy at the National Audubon Society. We are grateful to Sen. Blumenthal for his leadership to ensure a future for the birds in our ocean.

Greenberger said the new legislation would build on more than 40 years of fisheries management to include forage fish, which make up the base of the ocean food web.

We are encouraged to see Congress take big steps to protect these little but important fish and to help seabirds recover from decades of decline, she said.

The Senate bill serves as a companion to H.R. 2236, also called the Forage Fish Conservation Act, which was introduced by U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Mich., and U.S. Rep. Brian Mast, R-Fla., in 2019.

The House bill saw bipartisan support as well as support from Audubon, the National Wildlife Federation, the American Sportfishing Association and more.

Several state conservation organizations also heralded Blumenthals newly introduced bill.

Forage fish are a vital link between the sun, plankton and the rest of the food web, so (they) are absolutely critical to human harvesters and wildlife alike, said Bill Lucey, Long Island Soundkeeper with Save the Sound. Therefore, we applaud our Connecticut and New York delegations championing these small fish to ensure they finally receive full management consideration. Restoring these runs are an investment for a future teeming with fish and wildlife.

Craig Repasz, chair of the Connecticut Ornithological Association Conservation Committee, said his organization supports the legislation.

Connecticut supports large populations of waterfowl and shorebirds and other bird species that rely on these small forage fish, Repasz said. We have had great success supporting the recovery of our osprey populations, but we are still concerned with threatened species like the roseate tern that rely on this food source.

Peter Auster, senior research scientist at Mystic Aquarium, said forage species were critical links among plankton, the base of ocean food webs and higher trophic level predators.

Currently there is no management plan for many forage species, so there is no mechanism in place to minimize the potential for significant declines with resulting ecosystem impacts, Auster said. The Forage Fish Conservation Act will address these problems within the larger context of federal fisheries and ocean management.

DeWitt Allen, president of New Haven Bird Club, and Deborah Johnson, chair of New Haven Bird Club Conservation, also shared support.

Long Island Sound and its freshwater tributaries host many species of waterfowl and shorebirds that rely throughout the year on this crucial food source, they said in a joint statement. What is good for the fish is good for the birds and good for the ecosystem. The health of the ecosystem is good for us, the people who live here.

dj.simmons@hearstmediact.com
A British couple have managed to dodge the entire coronavirus pandemic - by becoming the only inhabitants of a tiny island with no electricity, gas or running water.

Luke and Sarah Flanagan moved to Owey Island off the west coast of County Donegal in Ireland on March 14 last year, just two days before the UK went into lockdown.

The pair say the purpose of their stay on the 300-acre chunk of land was simply to take 12 months out to enjoy a slower pace of life.

Luke and Sarah Flanagan (pictured) moved to Owey Island off the west coast of County Donegal in Ireland on March 14 last year

The pair say the purpose of their stay on the 300 acre chunk of land was simply to take 12 months out to enjoy a slower pace of life (pictured: Owey Island)

While taking scenic walks, going fishing and tending to homegrown crops, Luke, 34, and Sarah, 36, have easily managed to remain isolated.

The couple had no idea about the impending pandemic and have kept themselves clear of Covid-19.

Luke and Sarah are originally from Leeds, West Yorkshire, but were living in the Scottish Highlands when the chance to move to Ireland presented itself.

Luke, a joiner by trade, said: 'It's been really weird and strange hearing about everything that's happening while being isolated on this little island.

Owey Island is a small patch of land off the coast of Donegal containing a handful of properties with no schools or shops and only two narrow roads going through it

Luke said him and wife Sarah pass the time in Owey by tending to the property and playing with their two rescue staffies, which they took with them (Pictured: Sarah and the dogs)

'As you can imagine, we haven't had to worry about social distancing. The experience as a whole has been incredible.

He added: 'The pace of life is so slow but it's lovely, we spend our days out walking with the dogs, growing our own food and learning new skills.

'It's not for everyone but we have loved it.'

Owey Island is a small patch of land off the coast of Donegal containing a handful of properties with no schools or shops and only two narrow roads going through it.

Luke and Sarah are living in a small cottage using coal fires to keep warm, a tank to collect rainwater, gas bottles to cook and solar panels to charge their electrical items.

They use the collected water as well as water from a well to wash themselves and clean their clothes.

While taking scenic walks, going fishing and tending to homegrown crops, Luke, 34, and Sarah, 36, have easily managed to remain isolated

They also grow their own food for sustenance, raising hens for eggs and even braving the seas for fish.

Luke said he started as a 'rubbish' fisherman and that he 'isn't much better now' but added he has been able to learn how to catch pollock, the most common type of fish in the area.

Due to their living conditions he also learned the old fashioned preparation technique of salting his catch so that it can be stored and remain edible for months on end.

The couple's only way off the island is via dinghy around three quarters of a mile to another island, which is connected to the mainland by a bridge.

The couple also grow their own food for sustenance, raising hens for eggs and even braving the seas for fish. Luke has been able to catch pollock, the most common fish in the area

While there are some houses on Owey they are only inhabited in the summer months and, according to local history books, the last time anyone spent the winter there was 1974.

They noticed an advert online offering the opportunity to become the tenants of a small cottage there.

The couple decided the chance was too good to pass up so decided to take a year off from work.

According to Luke, the homeowner wanted to prove it's possible to spend an entire winter season on Owey in a bid to encourage others to do the same in the future.

Luke said other residents started arriving on the island as summer 2020 approached and that many helped them by teaching them about how to survive the conditions

Luke said other residents started arriving on the island as summer 2020 approached and that many helped them by teaching them about how to survive the conditions.

He added: 'Over the summer the community feeling here is great.

'But as soon as autumn started coming in everyone left and we were left on our own, luckily we were well prepared to cope thanks to the help of other people.'

Luke said him and wife Sarah pass the time in Owey by tending to the property, reading and playing with their two rescue staffies, which they took with them.

Luckily, thanks to nearby shipping lanes, the couple are able to get good signal on their phones.

This means they can speak to their families back in Leeds and keep up to date with the news.

Sarah, a social worker, said: 'My overall thoughts about our time on the island are how incredibly lucky we are to be here.

'We have both learned so much and had experiences I would never have even imagined.

'From learning about the sea, fishing and boats, to raising our own animals, things I've never had anything to do with before.

'It's been so cool to learn how much material stuff you actually don't need, and as I suppose people would have done in years gone by, making use of what you have rather than buying what you want.'
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle cannot want freedom from royal responsibilities and then crave royal recognition. Even the doting Queen Elizabeth allegedly realized that made sure she sent out that message clearly.

Queen Elizabeth Abdication Too Early: She's Still Too Wise!

According to New York Post, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle cannot benefit from their titles while striving to live their lives as "private" citizens. It's unfair, and the Queen is not allowing the to do that.

A new report alleged that the Queen herself rejected Harry's request to have a wreath lain for him during the Remembrance Day ceremonies held back in November 2020. What makes the whole thing "harsher" is that she allegedly did not even think that long and hard about it. It just took her "two seconds" to make up her mind.

The Truth About Prince Harry and Meghan Markle During Remembrance Day

Without a choice, Harry and Meghan allegedly engaged in an awkward photo shoot of them laying flowers alone at Los Angeles National Cemetery. People cannot help but say it was a publicity stunt as a result. Piers Morgan was particularly harsh about it, calling it distasteful, as reported by the Insider.

The original report claimed that the Queen did not know Prince Harry would be excluded from the event. The report had it that palace officials made the decision without even discussing it with the Queen, but the Daily Mail now reports that this is not the case. Instead, the Queen allegedly knew about this, because she was the one who approved it personally and quickly.

"Remembrance Sunday is sacrosanct when it comes to Her Majesty's diary," a source told the paper. "It's one of the most important dates in her calendar and nothing is done without her knowledge. People were suggesting the Palace's reaction to what Harry asked was petty. But it was the Queen's decision. And what's more, she actually had very strong views on the subject."

Another source confirmed this account to the Mail and added: "While she has enormous admiration for Harry's achievements both in and out of the military, this was seen as an example of his lack of understanding at what it means for him to be a non-working royal. The Queen is very firmly of the opinion that you can't pick and choose what you do when it comes to the institution. Either you are in - or you are out."

No Fooling Queen Elizabeth: Prince Harry Warning

Another source claimed that the Queen already warned Prince Harry that he is essentially not someone the monarchy works for but the other way around - he must work for the monarchy. And if he cannot accept that, then he is perfectly allowed to walk away.

The source claimed that the Queen might love her grandson, but she never deviated from this edict, not even once. "I think what has evolved this year across the Atlantic has only served to prove her point," the source added.

READ MORE: Olivia Jade Makes Bold and Rational Move After Lori Loughlin Prison Release

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New Delhi:

Chemists across the country have shut shops in protest against the stringent regulations on the sale of medicines.



According to the All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD), their several representations opposing the regulations on the sale of medicines in the country, submitted to the government, went unheeded, following which the one-day strike was called.



We have been asked to upload all information related to sale of medicines on a portal, which is not possible with the existing infrastructure, said a senior member of AIOCD on Monday.



The chemists are also opposing online pharmacy, which they say, poses a threat to their business.



The online pharmacy will also encourage irrational usage of medicines and sale of fake drugs, the AIOCD member said.



The chemist body is also likely to hold a demonstration at Jantar Mantar to highlight their concerns.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Newlywed actor Kajal Aggarwal is still in her honeymoon phase. On Saturday, she shared another sweet and romantic picture with her husband Gautam Kitchlu. They are in Shimla these days.

Sharing the pictures, she wrote nothing as caption but mentioned the hotel where they were at the time of posting the picture. The couple went to Himachal Pradesh to celebrate and welcome the new year.

Kajal had, in fact, shared a number of pictures from Kufri hill station, where they were enjoying the snow and sunshine. Sharing a picture from her time there, she had written: Winter is not a season, its a celebration. On New Years eve, she had shared a picture with Gautam and had written a long post. Reflecting on the year gone by... Yes, its been difficult for all of us sitting at home and being uncertain about what the future holds for us and our loved ones, but its the many blessings we must remember to be grateful for and I wanted to share what Im grateful for.

I couldnt be more grateful for the opportunity to turn inwards and focus on my spiritual growth. This tremendous learning has given me the ability to deal with uncertainty better in these unprecedented times. I am grateful for all of the wonderful people who entered my life and led me on this path and supported my journey.

Also read: Kareena Kapoor designs her dream home ahead of arrival of her second child, shares a glimpse. See here

Im grateful for the honour @madametussauds bestowed upon me, all the love showered upon me by you- my extended family. Grateful for marrying the love of my life @kitchlug and our new beginnings. It wasnt how wed ideally expected and missed close family and friends who couldnt make it but then - Reality does not conform to the ideal, but confirms it cannot be thankful enough for the love and blessings!

Kajal and Gautam married on October 30 in Mumbai. Their rituals included Punjabi, Kashmir and Telugu traditions. They took off to Maldives for their honeymoon. Earlier this month, Kajal resumed work when she reported on the sets of her upcoming Telugu film, Chiranjeevi starrer Acharya.

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ott:10
Pathankot:

A search operation was launched by the Punjab Police and the Army after an abandoned bag containing Army fatigues was found in Pathankot, a police official said on Monday.



A local resident informed the police about the bag on Sunday following which the search operation was conducted in Pathankot city and Mamoon Cantonment.



We conducted a search operation along with army officials here to look for any suspicious person, the official said.



Five shirts and two trousers were found in a wheat flour bag at a secluded place near the Defence Road here, the official said.

Read | Pathankot police recovers two unattended bags carrying mobile tower batteries near military base



In 2015, three heavily-armed terrorists wearing Army fatigues, had hijacked a car and stormed a police station in Dinanagar town of Gurdaspur district. They killed seven persons, including a Superintendent of Police, before they were gunned down.



Last year, four terrorists who had sneaked in from across the border had attacked the Pathankot Air Base on the intervening night of January 1 and 2, claiming the lives of seven security personnel.

Punjab:High alert in Pathankot, search Op being conducted by police SWAT team & Army after a suspicious bag containing 3 uniforms was found pic.twitter.com/WbeKEq6N6p  ANI (@ANI_news) May 29, 2017

Punjab: High alert in Pathankot, after a suspicious bag containing a uniform was found near Mamun military station last night. pic.twitter.com/wnji6nTMjr  ANI (@ANI_news) May 29, 2017



Read | Pathankot attack martyr Kulwant Singhs family manhandled by agent after being denied Rs 5 lakh





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More than 180 L&T workmen in the Dubai Investment Park (DIP) welcomed the New Year with a breakfast session with Dr Aman Puri, the Consul-General of India in Dubai.

The event was a part of 'Breakfast with the Consul General', a monthly community welfare initiative, launched by the Consulate General of India in Dubai in collaboration with the Pravasi Bhartiya Sahayata Kendra (PBSK).

The Dubai Indian Consulate chose L&Ts camp as the launching point for the welfare initiative of the Indian government to support its citizens.

L&T, the $21 billion leading technology, engineering, and construction conglomerate, operates in over 30 countries and has established a strong presence in the Middle Easts construction, power-transmission, infrastructure and hydrocarbon sectors over the past four decades.

While addressing the workmen, the Indian consul-general urged workers in Dubai to keep aside small amounts of money each month and start saving for retirement. You send most of your salary to your families back home and thats how they survive, but you must also think about your future he cautioned. There will come a time when you will have to leave and you must have savings to survive then, he added thanking them for continuing to work during the pandemic.

"The Indian government and the rest of India have immense respect and value for workmen living in the UAE. You have left behind your families and have come here to work, however, the entire country is in your debt, he highlighted mentioning L&T as a known conglomerate that takes care of its employees.

Neeraj Agarwal, Consul (Press, Information, Culture), senior diplomats, Rajesh Kumar, UAE Country Head, L&T Power Transmission Distribution and other L&T senior officials attended the event.-- Tradearabia News Service
Angola, IN (46703)

Today

Cloudy with rain developing after midnight. Low 64F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch..

Tonight

Cloudy with rain developing after midnight. Low 64F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch.
(L-R) U.S. President Donald Trump, U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations (U.N.) Kelly Craft attend a meeting on religious freedom at U.N. headquarters in New York City on Sept. 23, 2019. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Secretary Pompeo Lists Foreign Policy Achievements of Trump Administration

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo wrote on Twitter that in the upcoming days, he would give the complete account of their foreign policy as his New Year Resolution, adding that it could not be found anywhere else.

America is a force for goodan exceptional nation like none other in history. First country ever to recognize that every human being has God-given rights. Truly a shining city on a hill, Pompeo wrote.

Pompeo started the series of tweets by stating that now the country is a lot safer than before the current administration took office.

He also criticized the 1619 projecta New York Times narrative that claims that the basis of the United States founding was slavery, rather than the Declaration of Independenceas false and an attempt to smear the vision of a noble founding of America.

1619 Project has the history exactly backward. Our founding is not evil, it is noble. America was founded by visionaries who knew wed always strive for a more perfect union. pic.twitter.com/AWldoofDvu  Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) January 1, 2021

The Secretary of State said that he has embarked on a foreign policy that takes seriously the Founding Fathers ideas laid out in the Constitution.

Realism. Restraint. Respect for our founding. These are the core ideas that define America First, he wrote.

A large portion of the thread includes successful counter-terrorism measures and many hostage releases that didnt involve payment to the terrorists.

Its truly been an honor to bring home dozens of American hostages and detainees, he said, adding that they never gave payment in order to rescue the hostages, We never, ever paid to get our people home. Appeasement invites more hostage-taking. We restored Americas credibility. No more phony redlines or pallets of cash to dictators and bullies.

Quick story. I keep this photo in my office, from May 2018. I had traveled to Pyongyang to secure the release of Kim Dong-chul, Tony Kim, and Kim Hak-song. @realDonaldTrump and I personally welcomed them home at JBA Andrews. pic.twitter.com/3z4sOXn76k  Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) January 1, 2021

Pompeo recalled the rescue of Americans Kim Dong-chul, Tony Kim, and Kim Hak-song from North Korean captivity, when he traveled to Pyongyang to oversee their release. President Donald Trump and Pompeo welcomed them at Joint Base Andrews.

He mentioned their efforts to secure the release of Pastor Andrew Brunson from Turkey in 2018 and Navy Veteran Michael White from Iran in 2020. Other hostages who were rescued also appeared on his feed.

Some cases we can talk about; others, we cant. One of the most public fights we had was with Turkey, over Pastor Andrew Brunson. Thanks to @StateSPEHAs efforts, President @realDonaldTrump welcomed Pastor Brunson home at the White House on Oct 13, 2018. #AmericansFirst pic.twitter.com/kDA4II5kW6  Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) January 1, 2021

Pompeo also noted Operation Mueller, named after a 26-year-old American Kayla Mueller, who was kidnapped and killed by the ISIS terrorist group. The operation concluded with the killing of terrorist leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

We showed our enemies what happens when they harm American hostages, Pompeo wrote, adding a hashtag referring to peace through strength.

Pompeo wrote about the U.S. sanctions imposed on North Korea for their use of ballistic missiles, which made the UN enforce them materially, instead of looking the other way for P5 violators, he said.

He posted a video of Trump warning North Korea, writing, We negotiated with North Korea from a position of strength.

The secretary of state also noted that the Trump administration kept its promise not to start any new wars.

No New Wars. And we brought thousands of our men and women home to their families, he wrote. America is still safe and our military is ready to strike if duty calls.
Northern Ireland's First Minister Arlene Foster is to present a dossier to Taoiseach Micheal Martin early this month containing allegations the Irish State colluded with the IRA during the Troubles.

The Democratic Unionist Party leader will ask Mr Martin to study the file - which she says "points to collusion between the Provisional IRA and gardai" - and provide answers on behalf of the State.

"I trust this will be an opportunity to set out the concerns of many innocent victims and press forward with the Irish State being able to provide families with some answers," Ms Foster told the Sunday Independent.

She will raise the findings of the Smithwick Tribunal, which confirmed there had been collusion which led to the murders of two Royal Ulster Constabulary police officers, Chief Superintendent Harry Breen and Superintendent Bob Buchanan, in 1989.

"The tribunal reported in December 2013 but to date no further action has been taken," she said.

Ms Foster will also detail the "extensive allegations of collusion between the Provisional IRA and the Garda" in the murder of Ian Sproule, who was shot outside his house in Co Tyrone in 1991.

"These allegations surround a copy of a garda intelligence file which was leaked to the IRA and subsequently presented to journalists by the terrorists as justification for Ian's murder," she said.

She claims gardai had requested intelligence information about Mr Sproule from the RUC "just weeks prior to his murder".

"This family, along with many others, respectfully seek answers from the Irish Government," said Ms Foster.

Meanwhile, the region's former police ombudsman Nuala O'Loan says gardai and the PSNI must assist one another in investigating claims of collusion.

"I think there should be every possible cooperation between the Garda and the PSNI in investigating these matters when people have died at the hands of the IRA or loyalists," she said.

Last week Mr Martin said he would pursue answers on the "heinous" bombing in Belturbet in Co Cavan in 1972 in which Geraldine O'Reilly (15), and Paddy Stanley (16), were killed.

Loyalists were blamed for the attack, but there have been allegations of collusion by British security forces.

Sunday Independent
Iraqs military on Saturday said explosives experts with its naval forces successfully dismantled a mine that was discovered stuck to an oil tanker in the Persian Gulf two days earlier.

The statement said Iraqi authorities have opened an investigation into the incident. No group has claimed responsibility for placing the mine.

The announcement came a day after Iraq confirmed reports by private security firms that a mine had been discovered attached to the side of a tanker rented from Iraqs Oil Marketing Company, known as SOMO, as it was refueling another vessel. It said that Iraqi teams were working to dismantle the mine.

Iraq has not provided further details, but the two private security firms said the discovery was likely a limpet mine on the MT Pola, a Liberian-flagged tanker.

A limpet mine is a type of naval mine that attaches to the side of a ship, usually by a diver-member of special forces. It later explodes, and can significantly damage a vessel.

The discovery came amid heightened tensions between Iran and the U.S. in the final days of President Donald Trumps administration.

Already, America has conducted B-52 bomber flyovers and sent a nuclear submarine into the Persian Gulf over what Trump officials describe as the possibility of an Iranian attack on the one-year anniversary of the U.S. drone strike near Baghdad that killed a top Iranian general, Qassem Soleimani, and top Iraqi militia leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.

Iraq is marking the anniversary with a series of events this week, including a ceremony at Baghdads airport Saturday night, where the strike that killed the two men occurred.

Thousands of mourners joined a mock funeral procession on the highway leading to the airport, which was blocked with cars Saturday evening.

Posters of the dead men adorned both sides of the road, which was lined with tents that served food and drinks for those who walked the highway. The scene of the bombing was turned into a shrine-like area sealed off by red ropes, with a photo of Soleimani and al-Muhandis in the middle, as mourners lit candles.

Shrapnel marks were still visible on the asphalt and walls in the area.

Soleimani headed Irans Revolutionary Guards elite Quds Force, responsible for the Islamic Republics foreign operations and frequently shuttling between Iraq, Lebanon and Syria. His assassination dramatically ratcheted up tensions in the region and brought the U.S. and Iran to the brink of war.

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Clouds of smoke billowed from the roof of a vacant home north of downtown Saturday night as the San Antonio Fire Department fought to contain the intense fire.

Firefighters arrived at the home around 6:15 p.m. finding quite a bit of fire, according to Joe Arrington, fire department spokesman.

They attempted to make an aggressive interior attack, but the flames were too much, Arrington said.

We had to go defensive on it because of the amount of fire that was above our heads, he said.

Later, firefighters called for more manpower  totaling about 25 units by 7 p.m.  not because of the size of the fire, but the amount of work thats going to be involved, Arrington said.

Its going to be a long night, weve got to make sure that its out, Arrington said. In these older homes that are built as well as they are, the fire can tend to hide in the void spaces so weve got to get in there and tear it all apart and make sure we get all the fire out.

Firefighters did not find anyone injured from the fire in their initial search, and will conduct a second search after containing the fire.

The cause is still under investigation, but is likely tied to squatters, Arrington said.

Though vacant, the home at the corner of N. Flores St. and W. Russell Place, is known by neighbors as a place where people who are homeless congregate.

You could tell there was activity there, said neighbor Dan Heggem, recalling having seen debris left on the porch and messages on the door. The property had been cleaned up a few months ago, but as it got colder, people sought shelter there.

It was still too early to assess the amount of damage caused by the fire, but Arrington called it substantial.
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As a new millennium dawned, a new event put Scranton in the spotlight.

First Night Scranton, an alcohol-free bash celebrating New Years Eve in the Electric City, launched in 1999 thanks mainly to efforts of Scranton Tomorrow.

A millennium brings anticipation, and the reality is we are celebrating it in Scranton in high style, First Night Executive Director Kathleen Kern told The Times-Tribune in September 1999. First Night is a chance for all of us to come together and celebrate our past and plan for our future.

Scranton was the 16th city in Pennsylvania to add a First Night celebration to its roster; the event had roots in Boston going back to the mid-1970s.

At that inaugural event, participants bought a button  starting at $5 in advance and rising to $7 as the event approached  for admission to a slate of events across downtown Scranton. Festivities included performances by John Stanky and the Coal Miners, the Poets, Big Daddy Dex and the Mere Mortals, Doug Smiths Dixieland All-Stars, the Alliance String Quartet, Ballet Theater of Scranton and more.

Elm Park United Methodist Church hosted a potluck supper, followed by games and an 11 p.m. service. Bethel AME and Shiloh Baptist also held an 11 p.m. service. St. Peters Cathedral hosted a millennium Mass at 12:30 a.m. Jan. 1. Fireworks rang in the new year.

By 2003, First Night Scranton had found its footing.

We have really fine-tuned the program, First Night co-chair Frank DiPaolo told The Times-Tribune on Dec. 28, 2003. Weve done a good job covering all areas.

That year, organizers focused on bringing in more programming for kids, including life-size board games, clowns, magicians, storytellers, jugglers and face painters at the Mall at Steamtown and Elm Park UMC.

There was also a processional of pint-size First Night attendees from Elm Park to Courthouse Square at 7:45 p.m. The parade was led by 9-year-old Rachel Fitz of Scranton; she won the honor by entering a First Night essay contest.

The setup was much the same as years past. Attendees bought a button that allowed them access to a variety of First Night venues to watch bands and other performers. From polka to country, jazz to modern rock, there was something for everyone.

For the next decade-plus, First Night continued to be a beloved tradition that brought locals downtown, capped with a fireworks display to ring in the new year.

But in 2016, First Night would not go on as planned.

Citing economic challenges, a dwindling volunteer base and declining attendance, the First Night Scranton Committee has decided not to hold its annual New Years Eve celebration this year, an Oct. 23, 2016, Times-Tribune story reported.


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Was it a signal from intelligent life in another solar system?

Or was the radio signal picked up in April 2019, and reported in December by several publications, just human-made interference, like all others have turned out to be so far?

Researchers at Penn State are among the scientists examining the signal detected by a radio telescope pointed at Proxima Centauri, our solar systems nearest neighbor.

Its some sort of technological signal. The question is whether its Earth technology or technology from somewhere out yonder, Sofia Sheikh, a graduate student at Penn State, who is leading a team studying the signal and trying to decipher its origin, told the New York Times.

She is part of Breakthrough Listen, a $100 million effort funded by Yuri Milner, an Israeli-Russian billionaire investor, to find alien radio waves.

Proxima Centauri is a red dwarf star, invisible to the naked eye from Earth, and part of the three-star system of Alpha Centauri. Its about 4.24 light years away from us.

The star is orbited by two known planets, one of which resides in the habitable zone that could support the Earth-like conditions that would allow for life as we know it, according to Scientific American.

Its exciting, but researchers are cautiously optimistic.

If you see such a signal and its not coming from the surface of Earth, you know you have detected extraterrestrial technology, Jason Wright, a Penn State University associate professor of astronomy and astrophysics, told Scientific American. Unfortunately, humans have launched a lot of extraterrestrial technology.

The narrow-band 982.02 MHz signal does fall in a transmission range of our satellites and spacecraft, reports indicate.

But Astronomy.com reports the signal showed up during five 30-minute periods over several days, all while the telescope was pointing directly at Proxima Centauri. When the telescope was turned away from the star, the signal vanished.

Wright spoke to PennLive in 2019, soon after the formation of the Extraterrestrial Intelligence Center (PSETI), a global leader and worldwide hub for research aimed at answering the big question.

And that big question  Are we alone in the universe?

This signal may  or may not  hold the answer.

The signal was first detected in April 2019, recorded at the Parkes Observatory in Australia, according to reports. It wasnt until October 2020, though, when researchers sifted through the data and found the curious signal.

Its the most exciting signal that weve found in the Breakthrough Listen project, because we havent had a signal jump through this many of our filters before, Sheikh told Scientific American.

She is helming subsequent analysis of the signal.

The signal appears to only show up in our data when were looking in the direction of Proxima Centauri, which is exciting, Sheikh told the New York Times. Thats a threshold thats never been passed by any signal that weve seen previously, but there are a lot of caveats.

While hopeful, researchers still point out that the chance of this being anything other than terrestrial interference is remote.

Our experiment exists in a sea of interfering signals, Andrew Siemion of the Berkeley SETI Research Center and investigator for Breakthrough Listen told the New York Times. My instinct in the end is that it will be anthropogenic in origin.

But the signal cant be explained yet, he added.

Scientists first started listening to the stars in 1959, searching for a radio signal that could have been sent our way from a civilization in a distant solar system.

To date, no evidence has been conclusively found, and most signals with potential have been ruled out as interference from Earth. But in all of those decades, only a tiny fraction of the universe has been searched. Its like trying to scour the ocean for evidence of fish, but only looking at enough water to fill a bathtub, Wright told PennLive in 2019.

The phrase its never aliens, is one that Wright does not like to hear.

I hate that phrase, because if you say that, then why even look? Wright told Scientific American. What we mean by that is that its never been aliens before.
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The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is set to hold a meeting on Sunday to formulate a plan of action for the upcoming panchayat elections in Uttar Pradesh. Radha Mohan Singh, the BJPs national vice president and in-charge of the state affairs, will be a part of the meeting. The BJP state unit vice president and member of the legislative council Vijay Bahadur Pathak had earlier said that various key issues would be taken up in the meeting apart from the discussion of panchayat polls.

Besides, the meeting will also discuss a work plan for taking the achievements of the Yogi Adityanath government, which is completing four years in office on March 19, among the people, Pathak had said.

He also said the state governments commitment to conduct the panchayat elections within six months. An official date hasnt been announced yet.

Also Read| BJP govt crossed all limits of injustice, atrocities; farmers will bring them down: Akhilesh Yadav

The ruling BJP will be contesting against the Samajwadi Party (SP), the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the Congress. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Shiv Sena are fresh competitors to arrive in the panchayat polls.

Delhi chief minister and the AAPs national convener Arvind Kejriwal after making the announcement on December 15 accused all parties in UP of betraying people as each government crossed the other one in terms of corruption. Kejriwal said that politics in the state lacked good intent and the AAP could change that.

Meanwhile, Bhim Armys president Chandrashekhar Azad said on December 22 that his party would also field candidates in the panchayat polls before the 2022 assembly polls in the state.

Also Read| AAP will contest 2022 UP assembly elections: Kejriwal

The State Election Commission in Uttar Pradesh had prepared the initial draft of the voters list from December 28 to January 3. The list will be available with the assistant electoral registration officer or the booth level officer. In November, the booth level officers had conducted a door to door survey to gather information about the voters. They registered the names of those people who would attain the age of 18 on January 21 this year and also struck off the names of the duplicate and deceased voters.

(With agency inputs)

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We left Santa Fe at 8 a.m., my wife, Sherry, and I with our two tiny dogs huddled in blankets in the back seat and a bag of sandwiches, apples, nuts, brownies plus a cooler with drinks. The temperature was a bitter 11 degrees. Its about 325 miles to the border wall west of El Paso and Juarez and between Sunland Park and Anapra, Mexico, where we hoped to interview and photograph the Mexican soldiers who have been stationed there to keep migrants from crossing. For a decade, I crossed the border at least once a month to document conditions in the Juarez area as well as tiny Palomas to the west, but I have only crossed once since the pandemic began. This border wall idea was to be a substitute.

It was 46 degrees when we reached the wall area at mid-afternoon, and we waited while a lengthy train passed. A Border Patrol officer was parked near the tracks and told us he had been working in this area for 10 years and loved his work. He said that migrants were still crossing, over the wall with ladders or to the west where the wall ends at the beginning of the rugged slopes of Mount Cristo Rey.

I told him that we were going to follow the narrow dirt road east along the wall and look for Mexican soldiers on the other side. Often the Border Patrol will tell us not to do this because it is private property, but he simply said that he would keep an eye on us if there should be trouble.

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Several kids from the Anapra side had gathered by the wall and we parked, gave them cash and took photos. The oldest boy was named Victor. Soon there were eight or nine kids, all reaching out through the bars. Normally we carry a wad of $1 bills, but this time we ran out quickly.

At the end of the wall, we found eight Mexican soldiers. The lieutenant was from the state of Tabasco, the others from Puebla, Tamaulipas, Veracruz and other states to the south. They appreciated the packets of cookies we brought and enjoyed having someone to talk to to break the monotony, especially when I told them that I, too, had once been a soldier. Contradicting the Border Patrol officer, they said that no migrants were crossing the wall. They did add, however, that much of their work was rescuing migrants who were attempting to cross via the very rugged Mount Cristo Rey. For women with children or older people, this would be a highly dangerous crossing; its only for the truly desperate.

When the lieutenant finally agreed to let me take photos, he told the others to get their weapons and helmets. Then as we were leaving, he reached out with his fist for a fist bump.

As we drove back along the wall toward where Victor had been, we saw another Border Patrol vehicle and pulled up next to it. The officer was a woman, and it was hard to understand her because of her mask and a heavy accent. We assumed she was originally from Mexico as many of the agents are.

We finally understood, however, that she was not here to patrol. Her area was closer to El Paso. She was actually there to give cash to the kids on the Anapra side and their families.

I have been to Anapra many times, helped build a home there with a group from St. Bedes Episcopal Church in Santa Fe, participated in an Operation Christmas Child event with Carlos and Hector Garcia also from Santa Fe, and have cruised through the dirt streets dozens of times looking for photo ops. It is an area of miserable poverty, so Sherry and I found more cash and pooled our efforts with the officer. When my cash was gone, I stood behind her and took photos, careful not to show her face and perhaps get her in trouble, although that seemed unlikely since the officer we first talked to was still parked by the railroad tracks only a hundred yards away and must have known what she was doing.

When her cash was gone, the officer said that she would be back on Christmas Day with more. The crowd at the wall calmed. They believed her, and so did we. She gave me her phone number, and well try to team up with her again on another visit.

This encounter was the highlight of our near-700-mile round trip. Yes, you can argue that handing a few dollars through the border wall is just a drop in the bucket, you can say that we need structural reform, but I believe that we all ought to do the best we can, even if the amount is small. We ought to be like this officer, out there alone on Christmas Eve, showing that she cares.

Morgan Smith has been documenting border conditions for the last decade and can be reached at Morgan-smith@comcast.net.
India formally approved the coronavirus vaccines developed by Oxford-AstraZeneca (and made by Serum Institute of India in India) and Bharat Biotech for emergency roll-out on Sunday. The decision comes at a time of growing urgency as a mutant new strain threatens to make the pandemic harder to control. While the two doses will in no doubt improve Indias vaccination drive, the approvals by the Drugs Controller General of India leave several unanswered questions. It has chosen to green-light Bharat Biotechs Covaxin, albeit with some riders, despite the fact that the candidate has not yet demonstrated how effective it is in preventing disease, and more importantly, its safety performance  according to latest company disclosures  has only been judged in limited numbers, that too over a short duration.

The candidate uses a tried-and-tested technique for making vaccines. The premise is simple: an inactivated Sars-Cov-2 virion is used to teach the recipients immune system how to combat a live pathogen. Early stage trials showed the vaccine did not cause any serious side effects and, as most inactivated virus vaccines today are, was safe. It also triggered a robust immune response. While this is encouraging, there are important caveats: this data, released on December 23, is yet to undergo peer review, relates only to findings in 190 people, and did not include anyone above the age of 65. The finding that it led to volunteers developing antibodies also does not automatically translate into protection from disease. That test is in determining the efficacy rate, which is indeed why the world had to wait for so long for its first successful candidates.

Vaccine makers give thousands of volunteers in phase III trials the dose or a placebo and wait to see who develops infections. If, for instance, infections are lower by 50% in the vaccinated group, the efficacy rate comes to 50% -- the globally accepted benchmark for success. Oxford-AstraZeneca took nearly six months to determine this; Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna almost four months. In contrast, Covaxins late-stage trials began only one-and-a-half month ago, its efficacy rate is unknown, and the period may be too short to map all possible side-effects. Authorities indicated that Covaxin will be used only if there is a shortage and if the new mutation takes hold. But Bharat Biotech and the regulators must now speed up the disclosures around the vaccine  people who receive it have the right to know how effective and safe it is.
JACKSON, Miss. (WTVA) - The Lieutenant Governor of Mississippi, Delbert Hosemann, said one of the plans on the agenda is increasing teacher pay. Hosemann said senators want to start the pay raise at 1,000 dollars like they did in 2020.

"We just need and hope we will have a good first quarter and that will stick," he said. "So once we do that, then we can start the process of looking at future compensation packages that are respectful of the work those people do."

Although Hosemann applauds teachers for their work during distance learning, he said students throughout the state need to fully return to classrooms as soon as possible after the coronavirus vaccination is complete.

Until then, the lieutenant governor said lawmakers want to continue expanding broadband in Mississippi to help students, businesses, and rural communities.

Allowing for dark fiber that may be underutilized by some of our public utilities to be utilized to further expand out to unserved areas in Mississippi to give them access to broadband coverage,  he said.

Hosemann also talked about vaccine distribution plans. He said leaders are trying to make sure the coronavirus vaccine will be available to everyone. Hosemann said once medical professionals, seniors, and people with critical illnesses get the vaccine, the public will be next.

"Clearly by March or the end of March we will have hundreds of thousands of Mississippians that are vaccinated that are not today, he said.

Hosemann said senate leaders may return to the capital as soon as next week to discuss their plans further.
Police have issued a renewed appeal for information over the murder of 47-year-old Glenn Quinn in Carrickfergus, ahead of the first anniversary of the killing on Monday.

Mr Quinn, who was terminally ill, was found murdered in his home at Ashleigh Park in the town on January 4, last year.

It is believed that he was attacked by a gang of men as he returned home the previous evening. The gang are thought to have set upon him in the communal hallway of his apartment block, before forcing their way into his flat and launching a "sustained and violent attack" on the innocent man.

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This attack left Mr Quinn with serious injuries, including multiple fractures to his ribs, which eventually lead to his death.

It is believed a individuals with links to the South East Antrim UDA carried out the vicious assault.

Last year, detectives made an appeal on BBCs Crimewatch Roadshow Live with a 10,000 offer for information leads to the arrest and conviction of those responsible from the independent charity Crimestoppers.

Read More

Detective Chief Inspector Darren McCartney said police believe that there are people living in Carrickfergus and the surrounding areas who know what happened to Mr Quinn.

"We appeal to those people to search their conscience and stop this from happening to another family, by coming forward and helping us bring those responsible to justice. Any information in relation to the investigation, no matter how insignificant it may seem, could be vital in helping catch these appalling individuals," he said,

Glenn was well-known throughout Carrickfergus and had no known enemies and no reason that police are aware of for anyone to cause him harm. He was a good and kind man, who did not deserve to die the way he did. Glenn had a terminal blood disorder and was totally defenceless when he was attacked in his apartment, somewhere he should have felt safe.

"This was a violent and unprovoked attack on a vulnerable member of your community who was not in the best of health."

DCI McCartney said police know Mr Quinn was previously assaulted outside his home on December 29 and, while not badly injured, he was left shaken. He asked anyone who saw Mr Quinn between Christmas and when he was found dead to contact them.

"We also know that Glenn drove to the local shops on Woodburn Road at around 2pm on Thursday 2nd January. It is important that anyone who spoke with him at this time comes forward to help with our enquiries," he added.

If you were in Ashleigh Park on Friday 3rd January 2020 or witnessed the attack on Glenn on 29th December we need to speak to you, particularly if you may have captured any footage on dash cam or mobile phone. Did you see or speak to Glenn at any time between Thursday, 2nd January and Friday, 3rd January? If you did we need to hear from you.

Glenns heartbroken family deserve answers and deserve to see these barbaric killers put behind bars. We would ask those with information to come forward, as we can put measures in place to protect from any potential risk. It is clear that those responsible dont represent the Carrickfergus community, due to the continued shock and revulsion about this killing in the area.

Glenns family deserve justice, so anyone with any information is asked to contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Download the Belfast Telegraph App Get quick and easy access to the latest Northern Ireland news, sport, business and opinion with the Belfast Telegraph App.

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Here's how material shortages are hitting home construction

"It's not just that prices are going up; it's how quickly they're going up and nothing's coming down," said CEO of the PA Builders Association.
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Loss of smell and taste may be lasting in some patients One of the first likely symptoms of Covid-19 is the loss of smell, that is sooner or later accompanied by loss of taste. Many patients experience this during the initial stages of getting infected and recover as they test negative.

But, in some cases, the loss is lasting several months and even beyond. Even as research is going on to find out exactly why this is happening, as more and more people get infected experts fear that the pandemic may leave many with a permanent loss of smell and taste. Read here Let's look at the ...
Representative image: Reuters

Nobody believes it was ET phoning, but radio astronomers admit they do not have an explanation yet for a beam of radio waves that apparently came from the direction of the star Proxima Centauri.

Its some sort of technological signal. The question is whether its Earth technology or technology from somewhere out yonder, said Sofia Sheikh, a graduate student at Pennsylvania State University leading a team studying the signal and trying to decipher its origin. She is part of Breakthrough Listen, a $100 million effort funded by Yuri Milner, a Russian billionaire investor, to find alien radio waves. The project has now stumbled on its most intriguing pay dirt yet.

Proxima Centauri is an inviting prospect for out yonder.

It is the closest known star to the sun, only 4.24 light-years from Earth, part of a triple-star system known as Alpha Centauri. Proxima has at least two planets, one of which is a rocky world only slightly more massive than Earth that occupies the stars so-called habitable zone, where temperatures should be conducive to water, the stuff of life, on its surface.

The radio signal itself, detected in spring 2019 and reported on earlier in The Guardian, is in many ways the stuff of dreams for alien hunters. It was a narrow-band signal with a frequency of 982.02 megahertz as recorded at the Parkes Observatory in Australia. Nature, whether an exploding star or a geomagnetic storm, tends to broadcast on a wide range of frequencies.

The signal appears to only show up in our data when were looking in the direction of Proxima Centauri, which is exciting, Sheikh said. Thats a threshold thats never been passed by any signal that weve seen previously, but there are a lot of caveats.

Practitioners of the hopeful field of the search for extraterrestrial intelligence, also known as SETI, say they have seen it all before.

Weve seen these types of signal before, and its always turned out to be RFI  radio frequency interference, Dan Werthimer, chief technologist at the Berkeley SETI Research Center, who is not part of the Proxima Centauri study, wrote in an email.

That thought was echoed by his Berkeley colleague Andrew Siemion, who is the principal investigator for Breakthrough Listen. Our experiment exists in a sea of interfering signals, he said.

My instinct in the end is that it will be anthropogenic in origin, he added. But so far we cant yet fully explain it.

So theres nothing to see here, folks. Until there is. Notwithstanding claims of biosignature gases on Venus and tales of UFO sightings collected by the Pentagon, the discovery of life  let alone intelligence  out there would be a psychological thunderclap of cosmic and historic proportions.

False alarms have been part of SETI since the very beginning, when Frank Drake, then at Cornell and now retired from the University of California, Santa Cruz, pointed a radio telescope in Green Bank, West Virginia, in 1960 at a pair of stars, hoping to hear aliens radio waves. He detected what seemed to be a signal. Could it be this easy to discover we are not alone?

It turned out to be a secret military experiment.

Sixty years later we are still officially alone, and SETI as an enterprise has been through the wars economically and politically, even as technology has enhanced humanitys ability to comb the nearly infinite haystack of planets, stars and magical frequencies on which They might be broadcasting.

Breakthrough Listen was announced with much fanfare by Milner and Stephen Hawking in 2015, sparking what Siemion called a renaissance.

This is the best time to be doing SETI, he said.

The recent excitement began April 29, 2019, when Breakthrough Listen scientists turned the Parkes radio telescope on Proxima Centauri to monitor the star for violent flares. It is a small star known as a red dwarf. These stars are prone to such outbursts, which could strip the atmosphere from a planet and render it unlivable.

In all they recorded 26 hours of data. The Parkes radio telescope, however, was equipped with a new receiver capable of resolving narrow-band signals of the type SETI researchers seek. So in fall 2020, the team decided to search the data for such signals, a job that fell to Shane Smith, an undergraduate at Hillsdale College in Michigan and an intern with Breakthrough.

The signal that surprised the team appeared five times April 29 during a series of 30-minute windows in which the telescope was pointed in the direction of Proxima Centauri. It has not appeared since. It was a pure unmodulated tone, meaning it appeared to carry no message except the fact of its own existence.

The signal also showed a tendency to drift slightly in frequency during the 30-minute intervals, a sign that whatever the signal came from is not on the surface of Earth but often correlates with a rotating or orbiting object.

But the drift does not match the motions of any known planets in Proxima Centauri. And, in fact, the signal  if it is real  might be coming from someplace beyond the Alpha Centauri system. Who knows?

The subsequent nonappearance of the signal has prompted comparisons to a famous detection known as the Wow! Signal that appeared on a printout from the Big Ear radio telescope, operated by Ohio State University in 1977. Jerry Ehman, a now retired astronomer, wrote Wow! on the side of the printout when he saw it after that fact. The signal never appeared again, nor was it satisfactorily explained, and some people still wonder if it was a missed call from Out There.

Of the Proxima signal, Siemion said, There have been some exclamations, but wow hasnt been one of them.

Asked what they were, he laughed.

Initially there were perplexed reactions from folks, but it settled down quickly, he said.

Over a period of 24 to 48 hours at the end of this October, he said, the mood shifted from inquisitive and curious to very serious scientific detective work.

Sheikh, who expects to get her doctorate this coming summer, is leading the detective work. She got her bachelors degree at the University of California, Berkeley, intending to go into particle physics, but found herself drifting into astronomy instead. She first heard about the Breakthrough Listen project and SETI on Reddit while she was looking for a new undergraduate research project.

I would say we were extremely skeptical at first, and I remain skeptical, she said about the putative signal. But she added that it was the most interesting signal to come through the Breakthrough Listen program.

The team hopes to publish its results early in 2021.

The Parkes telescope  which once relayed communications to the Apollo astronauts  is notorious for false alarms, Werthimer said. In one recent example, he said, astronomers thought they had discovered a new astrophysical phenomenon.

It was very exciting until somebody noticed the signals only appeared at the lunch hour, he said. They were coming from a microwave oven.

Over the years SETI astronomers have prided themselves on their ability to chase down the source of suspicious signals and eliminate them before word leaked out to the public.

This time their work was reported by The Guardian. The public wants to know; we get that, Siemion said. But, as he and Sheikh emphasize, they are not nearly done yet.

Frankly, theres still a lot of analysis that we have to do to be confident that this thing is not interference, Sheikh said.

Part of the problem, she explained, is that the original observations were not done according to the standard SETI protocol. Normally, a radio telescope would point at a star or other target for five minutes and then nod slightly away from it for five minutes to see if the signal persisted.

In the Proxima observations, however, the telescope pointed for 30 minutes and then moved far across the sky (30 degrees or so) for five minutes to a quasar the astronomers were using to calibrate the brightness of the stars flares. Such a large swing might have taken the telescope away from whatever the source of the radio interference was.

If all else fails, Sheikh said, they will try to reproduce the results by replicating the exact movements of the Parkes telescope again on April 29, 2021.

Because, she said, if its actually coming from Proxima, then maybe they would like send a hello once a year or something like that. But its more likely that theres some sort of yearly event that happens at the visitor center, or something like that, that causes an environmental effect that doesnt happen the rest of the year.

The Proxima signal could be destined to pass into legend like the Ohio State Wow! Signal, but in SETI, there is always another day, another star.

Its been fun, Sheikh said, even if the Proxima signal ends up being interference. This is extremely exciting, no matter what comes out of it.

By Dennis Overbye

c.2020 The New York Times Company
Accusing the Centre of pushing Jammu and Kashmir's mainstream parties "to the wall", former chief minister on Sunday said sadly, these parties have become "scapegoats and everybody's favourite whipping boy".

Nevertheless, the PDP leader said, they are prepared for a "long and arduous political fight" for the restoration of Article 370 of the Constitution which was "illegally" abrogated.

"Sadly, the mainstream has become a scapegoat and everybody's favourite whipping boy," Mehbooba said.

"Truth is we will spend our entire political lives firefighting accusations from Delhi of being pro-Pakistan and from Kashmir of being too pro-India and anti-Kashmir," she added.

During an interview here with PTI, Mehbooba emphasised that the PDP and six other mainstream parties which recently came together to form the People's Alliance of Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) had resolved to fight for the restoration of the erstwhile state's special status through only democratic and peaceful means but the "government of India is still pushing us to the wall and criminalising dissent".

Article 370 accorded special status to the erstwhile state of

"Nothing is set in stone," the PDP leader remarked when asked if she realistically expected any government in India to reverse the abrogation of Article 370 by Parliament on August 5, 2019, a decision that was widely welcomed across the country.

"Had Parliament's decision been ultimate, we would not have seen lakhs of people on the streets protesting against laws like CAA or farm bills," Mehbooba said before asserting, "What was snatched from us unconstitutionally will have to be returned, but it is going to be a long and arduous fight".

The former chief minister said the results of the recent District Development Council (DDC) elections, in which the PAGD won 112 seats out of 280, were a clear rejection of the abrogation of Article 370 by the people.

"DDC elections were a sudden challenge thrown at us and we were denied a level playing field. We took it head-on and fought it unitedly to deny any democratic space to BJP and its proxies and prevent them from disempowering our people.

"But the BJP, by making Article 370 an issue in the elections, turned it into a referendum. So people, by voting en masse for our alliance, have made it clear that they reject August 5, 2019's illegal decision," she said.

Mehbooba said the decision to scrap Article 370 and bifurcate the erstwhile state left people "totally shocked and betrayed".

It further alienated the people of from the country, "complicating the Kashmir issue further", she said.

"Those like us in the mainstream, who believed in a resolution to the Kashmir issue within the Indian Constitution have been put on the defensive.

"The road ahead has to be reconciliation, dialogue with all the stakeholders and discussing various options for resolution without compromising the sovereignty of the country, but at the same time fulfilling the aspirations of people," she said.

Asked about the PDP's alliance with the BJP to form the government in the erstwhile state, Mehbooba said "...my father (Mufti Sayeed) put everything at stake and tried to engage BJP through an alliance for a larger cause...."



She said she was not disappointed by the BJP's decision to break the alliance in 2018 and that she could "sense that they (BJP) felt I was being soft in dealing with the situation".

The BJP pulled out from the ruling alliance with the PDP in June 2018 leading to the imposition of Governor's rule in This was followed by the abrogation of the special status of the erstwhile state and its bifurcation into union territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.

(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 former Tullamore based priest has been appointed as the new Archbishop of Dublin.

Pope Francis, has appointed the Most Reverend Dr Dermot Farrell, until now Bishop of Ossory, as Archbishop of Dublin. A Westmeath native, he was appointed Curate in Tullamore Parish in the late 1980s after returning from studying in Rome.

Born in 1954, he began his studies for the priesthood at Saint Patricks College, Maynooth in 1972, obtaining a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1976, as part of his philosophical studies.

During his theological studies he was awarded a Bachelor in Divinity Degree in 1979 and a licence is Theology in 1981, both by the Pontifical University, Maynooth.

He was ordained to the priesthood in Saint Michaels Church, Castletown-Geoghegan on 7 June 1980.

Upon the completion of his studies he was appointed as Curate in the Cathedral Parish of Christ the King, Mullingar. In 1985 he began doctoral studies in the Gregorian University and, in 1988, was awarded a Doctoral Degree in Theology , for a dissertation entitled: The Dogmatic Foundations of Bernard Harings Thought on Christian Morality as a Sacramental Way of Life.

His final year in Rome also saw him serving as a Director of Formation in the Pontifical Irish College.

Following his return from Rome he was appointed Curate in Tullamore Parish and in 1989-90 he began lecturing in Moral Theology at Saint Patricks College, Maynooth. In 1990 the Maynooth College Trustees appointed him Executive Assistant to the President of College and to membership of the Faculty of Theology, holding the post of Director of the one-year Religious Studies Programme.

In 1993 he was appointed Vice-President of Saint Patricks College, Maynooth, and in 1996 was appointed President of the College, a position he held until his retirement in 2007.

In 1997 he was named as an Honorary Prelate of his Holiness. From September 2007 until 2018 he served as Parish Priest of Dunboyne and Kilbride Parish, Co Meath, and was appointed Vicar General of the Diocese of Meath in 2009.

Bishop Farrell has extensive administrative experience: he has served on various boards and committees, among them, the Board of Allianz plc; the Governing Body of the National University of Ireland, Maynooth; the Theological Department Irish Inter-Church Committee, and as National Director of the Permanent Diaconate, and he is currently Chairman of Veritas Communications.

His appointment as Bishop of Ossory by Pope Francis was announced on January 3, 2018, and he was ordained bishop in Saint Marys Cathedral, Kilkenny, on 11 March 2018.

He was elected Finance Secretary of the Irish Bishops Conference in March 2019.

Archbishop-elect Farrell replaces the Most Reverend Archbishop Diarmuid Martin whose request for retirement has been accepted by Pope Francis, and becomes effective from today, the day of the appointment of his successor.

The date for taking over the pastoral governance of the Archdiocese of Dublin will be announced at a later time and, during the interregnum until the installation of the new Archbishop, Pope Francis has appointed Archbishop Martin by Decree as Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Dublin with all the rights, faculties and duties of a diocesan bishop.

Bishop Farrell becomes Archbishop-elect of Dublin and continues in the capacity of the Administrator of the Diocese of Ossory.
Portland police on Saturday publicly identified the person killed in a traffic crash the day before as a 19-year-old man.

Daniel Martinez, a Portland resident, crashed into a pole shortly after 7 a.m. Friday at Southeast Division Street and 112th Avenue, police said.

One of his passengers was seriously hurt, according to police. Another passenger suffered minor injuries and was treated at the scene.

Martinezs car was seen traveling at a high rate of speed before hitting the pole, police said. Investigators dont think any other cars were involved in the crash, which was Portlands first fatal traffic incident of 2021.

Martinezs family and friends started an online fundraiser to help bring his body back to Puebla, Mexico, where his mother lives.

The crash occurred less than 12 hours after the last fatal crash of 2020. The earlier incident marked the citys 58th traffic-related death of that year, according to police.

-- Jim Ryan

jryan@oregonian.com; 503-221-8005; @Jimryan015
Eleven Senate Republicans on Saturday announced that they would vote for objections to the Electoral College results come Wednesday when the US Congress convenes in a joint session to formally count the vote.

The senators called on the US Congress to appoint an Electoral Commission to conduct an emergency 10-day audit of the election returns in disputed states.

According to The Hill, GOP (Grand Old Party -- another slang for the Republican Party) Senators Ted Cruz, Ron Johnson, James Lankford, Steve Daines, John Kennedy, Marsha Blackburn and Mike Braun and Senators-elect Cynthia Lummis, Roger Marshall, Bill Hagerty and Tommy Tuberville said in a joint statement that they will vote against accepting the election results until there is a 10-day audit.

"Congress should immediately appoint an Electoral Commission, with full investigatory and fact-finding authority, to conduct an emergency 10-day audit of the election returns in the disputed states," they said.

"Once completed, individual states would evaluate the Commission's findings and could convene a special legislative session to certify a change in their vote, if needed, the joint statement read further.

"Accordingly, we intend to vote on January 6 to reject the electors from disputed states as not 'regularly given' and 'lawfully certified' (the statutory requisite), unless and until that emergency 10-day audit is completed," they added.

However, according to the statement, there were no mention whether they plan to object to the results from specific states and "how they would divvy up those objections" or if they would just vote in support of challenges to the Electoral College results if they reach the Senate.

The GOP senators further said that a "fair and credible" audit-conducted expeditiously and completed well before January 20"would dramatically improve Americans' faith in our electoral process and would significantly enhance the legitimacy of whoever becomes our next President."

They added, "These are matters worthy of the Congress, and entrusted to us to defend. We do not take this action lightly. We are acting not to thwart the democratic process, but rather to protect it."

The Senators said that the election of 2020, like the election of 2016, was hard-fought and, in many swing states, narrowly decided. "The 2020 election, however, featured unprecedented allegations of voter fraud, violations and lax enforcement of election law, and other voting irregularities," the senators said.

Sputnik reported that seven incumbent and four elected members of the US upper house have spoken in favour of individual states assessing the commission's findings and, if necessary, holding a special legislative session to certify the adjusted election results.

Biden was confirmed the winner of the November presidential election by the Electoral College on December 14 after all 50 states officially certified the voting results. According to official results, Biden collected 306 electoral votes as opposed to 232 votes cast for incumbent US President Donald Trump.

The US Congress will meet in the joint session on January 6 to confirm the Electoral College votes, with Vice President Mike Pence presiding over the session to count the votes from each state.

Biden's inauguration is scheduled for January 20.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-03 18:55:28|Editor: huaxia

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A medical worker disinfects a transfer vehicle in Shunyi District of Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 31, 2020. (Xinhua/Chen Zhonghao)

The local government of Beijing "has cautioned they should only be implemented with 'appropriate stringency,' with most of the measures kept voluntary and only minimally disruptive to the daily lives of the majority of citizens."



WASHINGTON, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- Chinese authorities in recent weeks have adopted a "more targeted approach toward pandemic control" by "sticking to more selective and less invasive measures," instead of sweeping enforced lockdowns and business closures, said a recent report by The Wall Street Journal (WSJ).

Such a strategy has "kept the virus spread in check without hurting the economic recovery," the report added.

A medical worker puts on protective gloves before disinfecting transfer vehicles in Shunyi District of Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 31, 2020. (Xinhua/Chen Zhonghao)

For instance, China's capital of Beijing has been pursuing "a more surgical approach," the report said.

Although Beijing recently tightened health rules against the coronavirus, local government "has cautioned they should only be implemented with 'appropriate stringency,' with most of the measures kept voluntary and only minimally disruptive to the daily lives of the majority of citizens," the newspaper added. 
On Nov. 3, Nicole Malliotakis was elected to represent New Yorks 11th District in Congress. While I voted for Congresswoman-Elect Malliotakis, and actively advocated for her campaign, I have been disappointed by her relative silence on matters of fraud in the 2020 election. As our representative, Malliotakis has a responsibility to take a firm stance on this issue: either she views the election as being rigged and plagued with intolerable irregularities, OR, she views President Trumps attempts to overturn the election as unfounded and dangerous.

If its the former, she must object to the certification results on January 6th and take an unwavering stance in defense of the integrity of our vote. If its the latter, she has a responsibility to come clean with the voters and condemn Trumps efforts in the strongest of terms as undemocratic.

This is the most salient issue in American politics, and to ignore it is to do a disservice to your constituents. Despite the mainstream medias attempts to downplay allegations of voter fraud, the evidence is staggering. Since the election, thousands of affedivates across multiple states have been filed, alleging various types of fraud and misconduct. By definition, an affidavit is evidence that is legally admissible in court. Those who signed such documents did so under the penalty of perjury, meaning if they are found to be lying they will face prosecution. Additionally, indisputable evidence of ballot mishandling, voting machine irregularities, and signifigant statistical anamolies have arisen. For example, an audit of the Dominion voting machines in Antrim County revealed a sixty-eight percent error rate. Meanwhile, the Federal Election Committee requires that election systems must have an error rate of no greater than .0008 percent.

Nicole Malliotakis would be in good company if she decided to contest the election on January 6. In fact, Congressman-Elect Madison Cawthorn, Congresswoman-Elect Lauren Boebert, and Congresswoman-Elect Marjorie Greene, among others, have already declared their intent to object to the certification of election results. Malliotakis has a responsibility to defend our republic. What good is a Freedom Sqaud that cant defend our most basic freedom, the right to vote?

The Trump wing of the party was not necessarily eager to vote for Nicole Malliotakis, but we did so because the alternative was a candidate who voted with House Speaker (D) Nancy Pelosi 96% of the time . We were willing to overlook Malliotakiss inconsistency regarding her support for President Trump. We were even willing to tolerate her past support for sanctuary cities. We will not, however, tolerate Nicole Malliotakiss betrayal.

Joe Silverstein is an undergraduate at Cornell University, where he studies government and applied economics.
A section of farmers camping on the Delhi-Jaipur highway at Sangwari Chowk, in Rewari city, tried to move towards Delhi on Sunday evening, said the police.

The Rewari Police said the protestors at Sangwari Chowk broke the barricades and tried to move towards Gurugram and Delhi, following which they had to release tear-gas shells and water cannons to stop them.

Farmers, on the other hand, alleged that the tear gas shells used by the police were expired and that the gas cylinders kept in their tractor-trolleys could have exploded as a result of the shells. In the ruckus that took place between the police and the protestors on Sunday, one farmer was reportedly injured.

Read more| Free bus service for farmers who want to join protests at Ghazipur-UP border

Earlier, last Thursday, another section of farmers had broken the barricades at Shahjahanpur and entered Rewari on the Delhi-Jaipur highway. Over 2,000 farmers from Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Haryana and members of trade unions are currently protesting at Bawal in Rewari. The farmers at Bawal have asked their counterparts in Shahjhanapur to join them so that they could proceed towards Delhi on Monday.

Haryana Police said that more than 20 tractors and a section of farmers crossed the border but later stopped as their counterparts could not manage to break the barricades and there was no other facility to camp for the night.

Rajesh Kumar, deputy superintendent of Bawal, said that farmers at Sangwari Chowk broke the police barricades and tried to move towards Delhi. The police had to use tear gas and water cannons to stop the protesters. They shouted slogans and forcefully tried to break the barricades. As such, we had to take necessary steps to stop them, he said.

Last month, over a thousand farmers from Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Haryana reached Jaisinghpur Khera and joined the agitation. The protesting farmers had earlier announced that they would start moving towards Delhi on Monday, signalling their intent to further escalate the ongoing agitation.

Satnarayan Nehra, president of Nehra Khap of Haryana, said that due to the rains, there were fewer protestors at the spot. They were expecting that more than 6,000 farmers on Sunday but hardly 1,000 turned up. Our plan to move to Delhi failed but we will try to move ahead on late Sunday night as farmers from nearby areas are gathering at the Kheda border. We are trying to figure out how to cross the stretch, he said.

Read more| Gehlot, Pilot to lead protests against farm laws in Jaipur

Rashid Ahmed, a protestor from Nuh, said, Rajasthan Police allowed us to cross but Haryana Police refused. Many farmers have been camping since December 12 and are not doing well. However, they are not willing to return home either. The community leaders have requested the police to let them cross the stretch peacefully and have tried to pacify the protestors.

Farmers complain of lack of facilities

Meanwhile, the farmers, who have been protesting at the border since December 12, have alleged that there is no running water and no toilets for them at the protest sites in Haryana and Rajasthan. They alleged that they are being compelled to use either agricultural fields or the nearest fuel stations to relieve themselves. While bathing and drinking water have not been a major concerns for most of them, using toilets has been an issue for them. Water trolleys have been arranged by the villagers but there are no arrangements for toilets.

Krishan Kumar, one of the protestors, said that they are travelling to the nearby petrol pumps to use toilets. We have been cleaning the areas on our own and making sure of water and other facilities. The authorities should provide the basic facilities for us, he said.
Tributes have been paid to well-known Cork musician Reuben Lynch, who was found dead at a house in Bishopstown on New Year's Day.

Gardai were called to a residence in Curraheen Drive by family members yesterday and Mr Lynch was pronounced dead at the scene. A post mortem took place today at Cork University Hospital and it is understood his death is not being treated as suspicious.

Mr Lynch, who was in his 40s, was well known on Cork's music scene as a member of his father Ricky's band, The Lynch Mob.

Fellow musician Hank Wedel, who played many times with the talented bass player, described Mr Lynch's death as a very sad day for Cork.

He hailed the late Mr Lynch for his ability.

He was one of the boss bass men around, he said. "You could call on Reuben and you wouldnt have to worry about the gig.

"He was such a gifted and talented musician.

"He played mainly with his father, but I played music with him many times. I would hire him to play with my band as the music world generally ebbs and flows. He was a natural musician. He was immersed in music. He knew how to immerse himself in any song or style."

Mr Wedel paid tribute to the deceased man whose death marks 'the end of an era in Cork City'.

He said Mr Lynch was a very popular figure on the music scene in Cork.

Very sad news, Reuben Lynch bass player in his father's band, The Lynch Mob has passed away. RIP Reuben. https://t.co/PbNhbt97Tb  Cork Folk Festival (@CorkFolkFest) January 1, 2021

He was at the centre of so many circles of friends in the music world," Mr Wedel said. "You can tell that from the outpouring of grief since the news broke about his sad death. He was loved and he was so popular. He was gentle and he was so kind. He was romantic about his music and the music scene in Cork,

Things will never be the same again for a lot of people. It is the end of an era. It is weird enough at the moment for musicians dealing with the pandemic. This is a real blow. He was at the centre of so much."
Josh Hawley Challenges Pat Toomey to a Senate Debate Over Election Integrity

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) on Saturday night fired back at criticism from Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Penn.), challenging him to a debate on the Senate floor over irregularities in the presidential election.

Hawley, who is part of an effort to oppose the certification of the Electoral College votes, sent an email to the Senate GOP Conference Saturday night, saying that Toomey was making unfounded claims about the intentions of our fellow Senators.

In the email, Hawley said that very serious irregularities have occurred on a very large scale during last years election, including in Toomeys home state of Pennsylvania, where some election procedures were altered to enable mass scale mail-in voting.

Instead of debating the issue of election integrity by press release, conference call or e-mail, perhaps we could have a debate on the Senate floor for all of the American people to judge, he wrote.

Toomey is one of the Senate Republicans objecting the initiative to refuse to certify the Electoral College votes unless there is an emergency 10-day audit of the election returns in the disputed states. At least 11 incumbent and incoming Republican Senators, headed by Ted Cruz (R-Tx.), said they intend to vote on Jan. 6 to reject the electors from disputed states as not regularly given and lawfully certified. In addition, some 140 House Republicans have also indicated that they may vote against counting the electoral votes.

A fundamental, defining feature of a democratic republic is the right of the people to elect their own leaders, Toomey said Saturday in a statement. The effort by Sens. Hawley, Cruz, and others to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in swing states like Pennsylvania directly undermines this right.

Toomey also dismissed his colleagues claim that Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden won Pennsylvania because of widespread election fraud.

His narrow victory in Pennsylvania is easily explained by the decline in suburban support for President Trump and the presidents slightly smaller victory margins in most rural counties, he said.

Toomey is joined by Sens. Mitt Romney (R-Utah), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), and Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) in opposing to their colleagues effort. They are also among a handful of Republicans who publicly congratulated Biden after he was projected by mainstream media as the winner of the White House race.

The egregious ploy to reject electors may enhance the political ambition of some, but dangerously threatens our Democratic Republic, Romney said Saturday in response to the Hawley and Cruz initiative. The congressional power to reject electors is reserved for the most extreme and unusual circumstances. These are far from it.
Dennis Staples, who teaches automotive technology at Worcester Technical High School, has been watching coronavirus case counts remain high in Massachusetts this winter.

Staples is among educators in Worcester who are looking for accommodations as the start date for hybrid learning approaches this month. Because of a breathing disorder, Staples said hes worried about contracting the virus in the classroom, where students and teachers historically work closely together.

It is physically impossible to social distance in a shop setting because of the tools, the equipment, Staples said. We work basically hand-to-hand with the students, so the 6-feet thing is not going to work.

Students with the highest level of needs and Chapter 74 students are slated to start hybrid education and return to classrooms on Jan 25. Other students are not expected to start hybrid learning until March. Meanwhile, a complaint has been filed with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination questioning if the district discriminated against employees with disabilities by not engaging in an authentic interactive process regarding requests for accommodation.

Staples said his doctor has told him that if he were to get the coronavirus, hed likely have to be hospitalized. Cases of the common cold have landed Staples in the emergency room before, he said.

Most anybody whos applied for any type of accommodation is not doing it because we dont want to work, Staples said. Believe me, its easier for me to go in and do my job than it is to do it online. Its just not safe at this point. Thats the whole problem here.

About 200 teachers have asked for accommodations, according to Roger Nugent, the president of the Educational Association of Worcester, the local teachers union. Conferences have happened to discuss accommodation requests, but as of Saturday, Nugent said he is not aware of any decisions. There was a goal to have decisions out by Jan. 1, and Nugent said he believes employees may be notified of decisions starting Monday.

Superintendent Maureen Binienda said because expanded family and medical leave requirements expired Dec. 31, the only way someone can take leave now is under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

People applying for leave, theyre only going to get a leave if it fits the Americans with Disabilities Act, Binienda said. Its very different. Theres not as many reasons that you can be granted a paid leave.

Nugent said the union will advocate for a broadening of who is approved and who is not approved.

Were encouraging the district to look at this situation with an open mind because the educators have more than come to the table and done the work thats been asked of them, Nugent said. And now its at a point where their personal safety could be compromised. Thats not an unreasonable ask that people not be asked to go into the buildings until the buildings are 100% safe and that peoples health not be compromised because of the work being asked of them to do.

Were not going to ask our people to put themselves in harms way, Nugent added.

Meanwhile, an email from the EAW indicates that the Massachusetts Teachers Association was filing an Unfair Labor Practice at the Department of Labor Relations and a complaint with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination.

The MCAD complaint, dated Dec. 28, is filed on behalf of all WPS employees that have requested an accommodation for a disability during the pandemic. It alleges that the district has needlessly expedited its process for evaluating accommodation requests by imposing short deadlines.

Employees returning for the start of hybrid learning were expected to submit a written request for accommodation by Dec. 11. Those employees were instructed to attach a form filled out by their treating physician. Meetings about potential accommodations started around Dec. 16, according to the complaint.

Jennifer Boulais, the districts chief human resources officer, told employees that decisions regarding accommodations were expected to be made by Jan. 1, whether or not the employee was able to obtain medical documentation from their physician, the complaint reads.

Employees who requested an accommodation have experienced increased anxiety and stress because of the expedited process by the district, according to the complaint. The class action allegation questions whether the district discriminated against employees with disabilities by not engaging in an authentic interactive process regarding the requests for accommodation.

At a time when COVID-19 rates are surging and everyone has an interest in slowing the spread of the virus, [Worcester Public Schools] systemic failures to engage in an authentic interactive process with disabled employees puts not only the employees own health and safety at risk by potentially subjecting them to unnecessary exposure to the virus, but that of their families and members of the public, the complaint reads.

The complaint seeks damages in the form of a cease and desist of deadlines for eligibility for an accommodation and compensation for severe emotional distress caused.

Those filings follow a December cease and desist letter, which union representatives allege has been ignored by the district.

The letter demands that the district cease and desist from acting in bad faith when engaging in the interactive process with our nearly 200 affected members who each made a lawful request for a reasonable accommodation. The letter, signed by Rebecca Yee, the general counsel for the MTA, says the district essentially rejected a request for accommodations from an employee who is 15-weeks into a high-risk pregnancy.

In fact, when asked what would happen if the District cannot accommodate her request for remote teaching, you indifferently brought up termination before any other reasonable or viable option. Not only was your response harsh and insensitive, but it also seems very discriminatory and retaliatory, the letter reads.

The state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has told districts to prioritize in-person learning even if a community is considered high risk for spreading the coronavirus.

The EAW represents about 3,200 employees of the Worcester Public Schools. The union and district are currently in mediation. Theyve been in negotiations since July and currently do not have a memorandum of understanding.

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A woman was treated at the hospital after she was shot in the stomach during an argument late Saturday in the St. Claude neighborhood, the New Orleans Police Department said.

The NOPD did not say when the shooting in the 2000 block of Louisa Street, near North Johnson Street, took place, but it reported it to the public at about 10 p.m.

Police said the shooting started during an argument the man and the woman were were having inside a vehicle. The suspect struck the woman in the face, got out and fired several shots at the vehicle, with at least one striking the woman in the stomach.

She was taken to the hospital in a private vehicle.

Authorities have identified a suspect, but provided no other information.
Whats in a name? A lot, to judge by the backlash against a proposal to rechristen about one-third of San Francisco schools, including Abraham Lincoln High School.

Everyone wants the school board to act: President Trump called the renaming so ridiculous and unfair, Mayor London Breed asked the school board to shelve the issue until schools reopened, and the renaming committee called for a quick affirmation.

This is the right discussion to have, but the wrong way to have it. Discernment and discussion, not speed, is of the essence. Striking the names probably wont deepen our understanding of the past, but keeping them probably wont either. A well-planned public debate just might.

We wont get to deeper understanding by prevailing in a political process. But we might get there if we follow the guidance of many of my fellow scholars of the Civil War era: We want more history.

More history means serious debate about the legacy of these historical figures, and the relevance of those debates to the world we live in today. There is a lot to wrestle with. Some of my students at UC Davis are shocked when they confront Abraham Lincolns casual racism and support for voluntary resettlement of people of African descent. Theyre used to the Great Emancipator legend. Other students, however, are equally shocked to see Lincolns unequivocal denunciations of slavery in public and in private. Theyve learned a counter-myth of Lincoln as racist apologist.

Neither myth captures a politician who both resisted calls for quick emancipation in the wars first days and went far beyond public opinion in calling for the enfranchisement of some black men in what became his final speech, the words that inspired a Confederate sympathizer to assassinate him.

And slavery and emancipation, important as they are, are only part of Lincolns legacy. There is also the nations other great crime: the murder and displacement of native peoples. This debate came home to San Francisco in the renaming report that referenced Lincolns native policies. And, probably, it came home again last weekend in splotches of red paint that appeared on Lincolns statue at City Hall. The paint couldnt tell us what it meant, but the act may have been timed for the anniversary of the mass hanging of 38 Dakota men in December 1862.

We arent going to grapple with our history by shutting down all discussion of Lincolns legacy or by forcing a quick renaming or by splashing paint. And there is some little-known history we must grapple with if we are to understand the nations past and its present: the Dakota War, the Dakota and Ho-Chunk removal, the hurried and ill-founded death sentences handed down to 303 Dakota people, Lincolns commutations of most of those sentences, Lincolns approval of 38 hangings. We need more history about the nations actions toward Native peoples, including more history about Lincoln.

And we need more history about the dozens of people the committee named, and about some the committee didnt.

Simply saying yes or no to the names isnt going to lead us to a deeper understanding of that history. But a serious discussion could help us all stop and think, if the school board can design the right public process. I suggest:

(1) Embracing education. Researchers should prepare extensive documentation on the actions and words of each of the historical figures under discussion. Dont rely on Wikipedia or simplistic pro- and anti- arguments but accumulate and disseminate information. More history.

(2) Acknowledging human frailty. No human being  not my heroes and not yours  will live up to a standard of one strike and youre out, once applied universally and rigorously. We dont have to overlook their flaws, but we do have to accept that all the honorees, like all of us, will be imperfect. We honor them for their acts in their time.

(3) Reframing, not just renaming. Whatever we decide about names, we should develop displays and teaching tools that explain the actions of both those we honor and those who are replaced. More history.

(4) Engaging with, not just humoring, the public. Too often public comments simply fill time while public bodies wait to act. Lets have real discussion: questions and answers, genuine and sustained debate, straw polls. Lets remember how to talk to each other, not past each other.

(5) Repeating the process every 20 years. We show respect for history by taking it seriously, not by chiseling names on edifices.

(6) Soliciting Bay Area honorees. The school board should build a nominations suggestion box, prioritizing candidates with Bay Area ties, and ask submitters to explain their reasoning. We learn more about our past if we state clearly why we honor particular people, and if we try to honor people who worked right here in the Bay Area, both the famous and the unjustly forgotten.

Gregory Downs is a professor of history at UC Davis.
The author of one of the most ambitious climate plans in the European Union says 2020 was a turning point thats left him optimistic about the future of the planet.

Although the year showed the scale of the effort needed -- with temperatures rising despite lockdowns across the world that brought most economies to a virtual standstill -- Danish climate minister Dan Jorgensen says theres cause to be more upbeat. He points to the EUs latest climate deal and the US election, which will bring the worlds biggest economy back into the Paris agreement.

It is remarkable that closing down our societies has not led us anywhere near the level of reductions we need, so behavioral changes alone wont do it, Jorgensen said in an interview in Copenhagen. But while the analysis is often negative, there are reasons for optimism and to celebrate as well, he said.

Jorgensen ended the year with a pledge to cease oil exploration in the EUs biggest crude producer. The move prompted Greenpeace to say, this is what climate leadership looks like, and is part of a plan to slash 70% off Denmarks carbon emissions by 2030, compared with 1990 levels. More ambitious than the 55% targeted by the EU, it puts the Danes at the absolute forefront of the blocs efforts to protect the environment.

The pandemic triggered a wave of fiscal relief thats opened the door to some of the boldest climate initiatives yet. Eight of the worlds 10 largest economies, including China and Japan, have set goals to reach net-zero emission within decades. US President-elect Joe Biden wants the US to be carbon neutral by 2050.

We are going to spend billions of euros on economic recovery in Europe and if we are smart and invest in green infrastructure and energy efficiency, something good can actually come of this, Jorgensen said.

Denmarks path toward a carbon-neutral economy suggests there are financial rewards to be reaped. The country started investing heavily in wind energy in the 1970s. It now gets more than 40% of its electricity from wind power.

Denmark is home to the worlds biggest wind-turbine maker, Vestas Wind Systems A/S, and the worlds top developer of offshore wind parks, Orsted A/S. The latter, which is half owned by the government, started off as a state oil and gas producer, but reinvented itself half a decade ago. Since then, its value has soared about 430%.

Aside from Denmarks decision to phase out its North Sea oil production, and end it totally by 2050, the country made several other commitments in 2020. These include plans to build two islands to house the infrastructure for new offshore wind farms, helping Denmark move closer to its ultimate goal of generating all its electricity from renewable energy sources.

The Social Democrat government Jorgensen is part of has also had its critics when it comes to the climate. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has been accused of shying away from using taxes to steer consumers and businesses toward environmentally friendly behavior. And efforts to promote electric vehicles were slammed for lacking ambition.

But the government has argued that investing in new technologies will ultimately prove the best way to bring about change.

Jorgensen says policy makers need to keep the public on their side. He points to France, where protesters in 2018 donned yellow vests and took to the streets for months after being angered by hikes in fuel prices.

The high cost of achieving climate goals means we need to think hard about how to approach it, Jorgensen said. The hope is that Denmark can become a model for others to follow, he said.

If our plan would result in a decline in production or closing down some industries, no other countries would think our plan was a good idea.
The Samsung Galaxy S21 series has been a part of the rumour mill for a very long time, and the smartphones are expected to arrive on 14 January. Over the last few months, we have seen a series of leaks that pretty much sums up all specifications of the rumoured Samsung S21 lineup. All smartphones in the lineup are said to feature the unannounced Exynos 2100 SoC or Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 SoC depending on the region. As Samsung is yet to confirm the development, here's a look at all the details we know about the Galaxy S21 series.

Starting with the basics, the series will reportedly include the regular Galaxy S21 with the Galaxy S21 Plus and the Galaxy S21 Ultra. The top model may come with stylus (or Galaxy S Pen) support, that previously came with Samsung Note devices. Notably, reports have suggested that the South Korean tech giant may ditch the USB charger from its official packaging, despite mocking Apple for the same move with its iPhone 12 series. A known tipster has claimed that Samsung may include the USB charger for limited markets. Additionally, all the devices in the lineup may feature 5G connectivity but lack microSD card support. The phones are also said to come with Android 11-based One UI 3.0 out-of-the-box.

Samsung Galaxy S21: The base model will reportedly sport a 6.2-inch full-HD+ Infinity-O Dynamic AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate and Corning Gorilla Glass Victus protection. Under the hood, it is expected to pack the Exynos 2100 SoC (in Europe) or Snapdragon 888 SoC (in the US) coupled with 8GB RAM and up to 256GB internal storage.

Its triple rear camera setup could include a 12-megapixel primary camera with f/1.8 aperture and OIS, a 12-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera with f/2.2 aperture and finally, a 64-megapixel telephoto camera with f/2.0 aperture, OIS, and 3x hybrid optical zoom. At the front, it is rumoured to house a 10-megapixel camera inside the hole-punch cutout.

In terms of battery, the Galaxy S21 may pack a 4,000mAh battery with support for both fast wired and wireless charging. Other rumoured features include Bluetooth v5, USB Type C port, NFC, Wi-Fi 6, and three colour variants.

Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus: The Plus variant is said to pack a larger a 6.7-inch full-HD+ Infinity-O AMOLED display and 4,800mAh battery. Its camera features will reportedly be the same as the Galaxy S21. It is also expected to pack the Samsung Exynos 2100 SoC or Snapdragon 888 SoC depending upon the region.

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra: The top model in the Galaxy S21 series may feature a 6.8-inch Infinity-O-Edge Dynamic AMOLED display with a resolution of 3,200x1,440 pixels (WQHD+), 515ppi, 1600 nits peak brightness, and 120Hz refresh rate. In terms of cameras, the phone is expected to carry a quad rear camera setup that reportedly houses a 108-megapixel primary sensor with f/1.8 wide-angle lens and auto-focus capabilities. There's also a 12-megapixel sensor with f/2.2 ultra-wide-angle lens and 120-degree field of view, a 10-megapixel telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom, and finally, a 10-megapixel periscope-style secondary telephoto camera with OIS and 10x optical zoom. The rear camera system further houses a laser autofocus system that replaces the Time-of-Flight (ToF) sensor available on the Galaxy S20 Ultra, the report indicates. For selfies and video calling, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is said to carry a 40-megapixel shooter housed inside the hole-punch cutout.

Other rumoured features on the phone include dual-SIM + eSIM (varies by region), 5G, WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.1, GNSS, NFC, an IP68 rating, and support for S Pen stylus (optional). The Galaxy S21 Ultra may pack a 5,000mAh battery with 45W wired fast charging, fast wireless charging (Qi), Wireless PowerShare (reverse wireless charging) support.

Prices: The Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus price is expected to start at EUR 1,049 (roughly Rs 94,500) for 128GB model, and its 256GB variant might carry a price tag of EUR 1,099 (roughly Rs 99,000). The regular Galaxy S21 could be available at EUR 849 (approx Rs 76,000) for the 128GB storage option. On the other hand, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra price will reportedly start at EUR 1,399 which is roughly Rs 1.26 lakh in India. The vanilla model may come in black, pink, purple, and white colour options, whereas the Galaxy S21 Plus model is rumoured to have the same colour finishes except for the white option. Notably, ahead of its highly anticipated launch, it seems that the Samsung Galaxy S21 series is officially up for pre-order reservations in the US. According to a landing page on the Samsung website, the company is offering up to $700 (roughly Rs 51,400) instant trade-in credit for an exchange on old Samsung smartphones.
1. Yes. The public must have assurances that ethical standards are met by everyone.

2. Yes. As long as an independent board hears the grievances, its a worthwhile idea.

3. No. The concept is too broad. It should be limited to the citys elected officials.

4. No. There are plenty of stipulations in place already. An ordinance is a waste of time.

5. Unsure. Its hard to say without seeing how it would be structured and applied.

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Joey Bunch: "After eight years of no-drama Obama, 46.1% of American voters were ready to be wowed, loud and proud, like a WrestleMania of politics and grievance.

Now the show appears to be over."
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Here's how material shortages are hitting home construction

"It's not just that prices are going up; it's how quickly they're going up and nothing's coming down," said CEO of the PA Builders Association.
Bengaluru, Jan 3 : An English language teacher couple working in a government school in Mysuru walked the extra mile to help two meritorious students and bring a smile to their faces.

Vani, along with her husband, who is professor in Maharani College in Mysuru, came to the rescue of the children.

Vani's students - R. Rakshita and Pallavi - studying in class 10 are bright students who consistently secured 'A+' grades in examinations since 8th standard. Both students are sincere, dedicated and hardworking but they lived in utter poverty and their mothers could not afford square meals a day, as they had lost their menial jobs due to the Covid pandemic.

With schools shut for nearly 10 months due to Covid and being deprived of their mid-day meals, it had become even more difficult for the two girls to fill their bellies. One of the students, Rakshita had to worry about her house as well, as it was in a dilapidated condition.

As these students started showing less interest in their studies, the worried teacher took a small trip to their village on the outskirts to meet them. Both students initially resisted her coming over to their houses, but the determined teacher asserted that she would meet them in their homes.

To her shock, in Pallavi's home there was no ration while in Rakshita's house, apart from no rations, the condition of her house was even worse as it would have taken one or two spells of rains to knock down the entire structure.

Seeing these conditions, Vani instantly realised why her students were not concentrating on studies that too in crucial years like Class 10 examination.

Vani told IANS from Mysuru that first she tried to help them to get rations with the help of her acquaintances, which she did successfully. "My primary concern was to move Rakshita and her mother to a safer place as the house in which this family was put up, it was dangerous to live even for a day. Therefore, I asked my husband, Professor Hemchandra, who teaches Geography in Maharani College, and he instantly pitched in to help me out," she explained.

In case of Pallavi, members of the Lion's Club came forward to donate a smartphone and notebooks, to help her attend online classes while a family friend of the teacher, Assistant Director in veterinary department, Nagaraj handed over cash to her family to purchase rations and other important materials.

Hemchandra added that he was part of a like-minded friends' group on WhatsApp consisting of nearly 40 members. "We mobilised funds to the tune of Rs 2 lakh to hire a small house on a lease agreement for three years in Ganasagarahundi village which is on the outskirts of Mysuru," he said.

He said that they shifted Rakshita along with her mother and younger sister to this house and also deposited about Rs 40,000 in Rakshita's account to help her procure study material and rations.

Speaking to IANS, Rakshita said she was lucky to find such an affable teacher, who took interest in her problems. "I have not decided about my future but at present I want to secure 600 marks in my SSLC (Class 10) examination," she said.

Pallavi also said that she too wants to work in the government sector but she has not yet made up her mind. "I want to secure 100 out of 100 in all subjects, that is my aim," she added.

Vani on her part said that she was trying to help them get Aadhaar cards as well as include their names in Below Poverty Line scheme, enabling them to secure several benefits of various government departments.

"As soon as they pass their SSLC examinations (Class 10) I will try to get them accommodated in government hostels where they get nutritious food as well as better education facilities," Vani said, adding that "these children are born to achieve something different, that is what I have observed in them as they are very dedicated students." Hemchandra said that his acquaintances helped Pallavi's mother used to work as a maid to support her family but was rendered jobless due to the pandemic. Now a private hostel owner has agreed to employ her as a maid in his hostel as a result of which she is able to earn Rs 10,000 monthly, but Rakshita's mother could not get a job till now despite his best efforts.

"I am trying to find a job for her as well," he said humbly and added that his friends on WhatsApp are also trying their best to help these children.

"We formed a WhatsApp group basically to share our experiences and make it a point to meet once in a year to go on a road trip on our Bullet bikes. During our ride we usually identify a school in a remote village, where we help the school to repair and renovate by pooling in our own resources. Annually all 40 of us pool in nearly Rs 6 to 8 lakh to repair school buildings or equip these schools with solar power, or any other work which a school needs. Be it benches or computers or lab equipment, we do it for our own satisfaction not for publicity," he said.
(Newser)  A New Years revelers refusal to wear a mask in a taxi cost him $690 in fines and some time in the drunk tank in Victoria, British Columbia, the Powell River Peak reports. The man, who entered a cab about 1am on Friday, belligerently refused to wear a face covering in accordance with local mandates and was reportedly touching the drivers face. So the cabbie, who had been in contact with 911, drove straight to police headquarters, per the CBC, where officers were waiting.

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The passenger was hit with three fines of $230 each for failing to wear a face covering, abusive or belligerent behavior, and failing to comply with an officer (he reportedly refused to exit the cab and had to be removed), according to a statement from the Victoria Police Department. He also was ticketed for public intoxication and jailed until he sobered up. The trio of fines amounted to the largest COVID-related penalty thus far handed out by the department, according to reports. (Read more New Year's Eve stories.)
Prime Minister on Sunday warned that the current tiered system of lockdown to arrest the spread of COVID-19 may have to be toughened further as the grapples with the new strain of the

As teachers' unions have been calling for a countrywide closure of all schools for a few weeks due to the rapid spread of the new variation, Johnson insisted that parents should send their children to school from Monday in the areas where they remain open as the threat to young kids from the deadly virus is very small.

However, he admitted that even stricter restrictions for the wider public may be on their way in the coming weeks as the cases in the country jumped by 57,725 this weekend, taking the death toll close to 75,000.

"Alas, restrictions may be about to get tougher," Johnson told the BBC, when asked about the lockdown.

"It may be that we need to do things in the next few weeks that may be tougher. I'm fully reconciled to that. I think the whole country is fully reconciled to that. There are a range of tougher measures that we might have to take.

"Schools are safe. It's very important to stress that. The threat to young people, kids, is very small. The risk to staff is very small. The benefits of education are so huge," the Prime Minister said.

Under the current rules, most of the country is under the toughest measures already with Tier 4, which involves a near-complete shutdown of most businesses and non-essential retail as the state-funded National Health Service (NHS) comes under an increasing pressure with the mounting rate of hospitalisations.

Defending his handling of the pandemic, Johnson, a COVID-19 survivor, said that his government had taken "every reasonable step that we reasonably could" to prepare for winter months.

It comes as the NHS prepares to begin rolling out the Oxford University vaccine produced by AstraZeneca from Monday, as hospitals began receiving deliveries of the jabs this weekend after it became the second vaccine to be given regulatory approval after the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine against COVID-19.

Johnson said that there will be "around 530,000" doses of the new vaccine available from next week.

"We're rolling them out as fast as we can," he said, when asked about the numbers of both vaccines being pumped into the health service network.

We know there are challenges still ahead of us over the coming weeks and months, but I'm confident this is the year we will defeat and start building back better," he said.

Hundreds of new vaccination sites are due to be up and running from next week as the NHS ramps up its coronavirus immunisation programme with the newly-approved vaccine.

"The delivery of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine marks another first for the NHS, and a major milestone in humanity's battle against coronavirus, said NHS Chief Executive Sir Simon Stevens.

The vaccination programme the biggest in NHS history has got off to a strong start, and by New Year's Day we'd been able to vaccinate more people than the rest of Europe combined.

Now we have a second, more versatile jab in our armoury, and NHS staff are expanding the programme as extra vaccine supplies come onstream. The arrival of the Oxford jab, coupled with more Pfizer vaccine being made available, will allow us to protect many more people faster, he said.

Second doses of either vaccine will now take place within 12 weeks rather than the 21 days initially planned with the Pfizer/BioNTech jab following a change in guidance which aims to accelerate immunisation.

This new guidance has proved controversial because initially priority patients were urged to remember to go for their second dose after 21 days.

But medical chiefs have defended the change, saying it means more people should get a first dose before the initial group gets their second, which would result in longer term protection against the deadly virus.

In March, Johnson was tested positive for the coronavirus and was admitted to hospital and spent three nights in intensive care.

(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 prominent German state governor is calling for the countrys lockdown to be extended until the end of January and says there should be no rushed reopening of schools.

Germanys current lockdown took effect on Dec. 16 after a partial shutdown that started at the beginning of November failed to reduce new coronavirus infections. It was initially set to expire Jan. 10.

Its clear that Chancellor Angela Merkel and Germanys 16 state governors will agree to extend it when they review the situation on Tuesday. The question is by how long, and to what extent schools will open.

Bavarian governor Markus Soeder told Sundays Bild am Sonntag newspaper that the lockdown must be extended until the end of January. He said that hasty easing would set us back a long way and that neighboring Austria has shown the open-closed-open-closed model doesnt work.

Some officials advocate opening primary schools early. But Soeder, whose state has above-average virus infections, said it would be irresponsible to send all students and teachers straight back to school.

Germanys new infections remain at nearly three times the level of 50 per 100,000 residents over seven days that the government wants to reach.

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Minister for Health Greg Hunt addresses media during a doorstop in the Mural Hall at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia on Dec.8, 2020. (Sam Mooy/Getty Images)

Health Minister Hunt Praises NSW, Victoria Over Virus Outbreak Response

The federal government has applauded New South Wales and Victorias responses to fresh COVID-19 outbreaks while urging Victoria to allow its residents back home.

The recent outbreaks in NSW could have been on a vastly larger scale than the disastrous second wave in Victoria, federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said on Sunday, describing advice from Commonwealth Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly.

With seedings at multiple venues across Sydney, a potentially enormous event could have occurred but for the extent and speed of the states response and the capacity of its contact-tracing system.

Hunt said Victoria was in a much stronger place with dramatically improved systems since the 2020 crisis.

Although the times are challenging  there is significant cause for hope in Australia, Hunt said.

Amid controversy over border closures, Hunt cautioned that any response had to have a compassionate element and bringing people home was part of governments role.

Victorias border is now closed to all travellers from NSW, with some Victorian residents complaining that they are unable to make it home.

Were confident that Victoria will work and find ways to bring people home to their home state, Hunt said, adding Australia had no domestic passports.

But he reiterated the federal governments position that border closures are a matter for the states.

Staff at CSL are seen working in the lab in Melbourne, Australia on Nov. 8, 2020. (Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

Meanwhile, the federal government is providing $10 million in funding to COVID-19-related trials from its Medical Research Future Funds Clinical Trials Activity Initiative, Hunt announced in a media release on Sunday.

The funded projects include a next-generation vaccine program being developed by the University of Melbourne, which would use a spike protein but not require ultra-cold transportation.

Other trials are looking at infection control, recovery from the virus, and aged care.

The government has now completed all the paperwork for the American Novavax vaccine and is ahead of schedule for its vaccine rollout, Hunt says.

Hunt praised the NSW and Victorian governments for providing a comprehensive explanation of the origins of the 11 locally acquired cases reported on Sunday.

No Australians were currently on ventilation or in intensive care because of COVID-19, he said.

By Andi Yu
Milwaukee, WI, USA

Call for Papers for Women in French

2021 Midwest Modern Language Association Convention

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

November 4-7, 2021

The Call for Papers for WIF at the 2021 MMLA Convention (November 4-7 in Milwaukee, WI). Since the 2020 MMLA Convention was cancelled due to the ongoing pandemic, the organizers have retained the 2020 theme for 2021: Cultures of Collectivity.

At heart, the conference theme seeks to address a set of questions about how meaning is forged in connection with collective acts. How, for example, are cultures created by the gathering together of human subjects? What modes of collectivity, be they formal or informal, arise from culture, or have arisen historically? How might we meet and answer the salient political and social challenges of our time through collective response and collaborationas artists, as academics, as teachers and students, and as laborers? We seek proposals that wrestle with these (or related) transhistorical questions about what it means to work, think, and join together under the auspices of language, literature, and culture.

Perhaps of interest are the nascent Cultures of Collectivity that have formed in the virtual sphere over the past year.

Please send a 250-word abstract in French or English along with your academic affiliation, brief bio, and A/V requirements to Jennifer Howell, Illinois State University, jthowel@ilstu.edu by May 1, 2021. Proposals for complete panels and/or roundtables are also welcome.

Notifications will be sent by May 15, 2021. All presenters must be current members of both the Midwest Modern Language Association and Women in French by July 1, 2021 in order to participate. If your submission for 2020 was accepted, you need not resubmit. I will be in contact with those individuals in May to confirm their participation.

Additional information can be found on the conference website:

https://www.luc.edu/mmla/convention/
Mexican authorities said they are studying the case of a 32-year-old female doctor who was hospitalized after receiving the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.

The doctor, whose name has not been released, was admitted to the intensive care unit of a public hospital in the northern state of Nuevo Leon after she experienced seizures, difficulty breathing and a skin rash.

"The initial diagnosis is encephalomyelitis," the Health Ministry said in a statement released on Friday night. Encephalomyelitis is an inflammation of the brain and spinal cord.

The ministry added that the doctor has a history of allergic reactions and said that there is no evidence from clinical trials that anyone has developed an inflammation of the brain after the vaccine's application.

Pfizer and BioNTech could not immediately be reached for comment.

More than 126,500 people have died from COVID-19 in Mexico. The country began distributing the first round of COVID-19 vaccines to healthcare workers on Dec. 24.

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text.

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There are indications that several crime suspects including kidnappers, armed robbers and cultists have escaped from the custody of the Edo State Police Command.

The suspects allegedly escaped from the detention facility of the State Criminal Investigations Department (SCID) at the commands headquarters in Benin City.

All the police officers on duty at the SCID during the escape, PREMIUM TIMES learnt on Sunday, have been arrested and detained on the order of the state Commissioner of Police, Johnson Kokumo.

The actual number of suspects that escaped could not be ascertained, but sources at the commands headquarters disclosed that the majority of the escapees are kidnap and armed robbery suspects who were arrested in the past two months after the #EndSARS protests.

A police officer, who preferred anonymity, said the incident happened around midnight on Saturday.

But attempts to get a clearer picture of how the incident happened were not possible as the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Kokumo, neither picked calls nor responded to text messages to his phone.

Also, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Chidi Nwabuzor, declined several calls on his phone and did not respond to text messages.

However, a Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations in the state, Ajala Ayoola, who did not confirm the number of escapees, said the incident did not happen on Saturday night.

Mr Ayoola simply told our correspondent to wait for an official statement from the state command for details of the incident.

Yes, he said of the incident occurring; adding, however, that it is not true that it happened last night (Saturday).

Wait for a statement from the PPRO, he said.

The police source said Mr Kokumo was miffed over the unfortunate incident.

All the arrested officers and men on duty at the time of the cell break and escape of the suspects would be made to face orderly room trial and must face the wrath of the law, the source said.

The road leading to the state police command in Benin City has since the end of the #EndSARS protests in October 2020 been cordoned off and restricted to few vehicles.

During the #EndSARS protests, about 2000 inmates in the Benin and Oko Medium Security Correctional Centres escaped after hoodlums attacked the facilities.

The state police command recently constituted a Joint Security Taskforce made up of soldiers, men of the Directorate of the State Services (DSS), the police, and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to tackle the rising crime rate in some parts of the state.

The latest development is coming at a time kidnappers, armed robbers, and rival secret cult groups have laid siege to Benin City and adjoining towns for the past two months.

Residents fear the escape of the suspects could worsen the already dire security situation.

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In the last week, at least 10 persons have been reported killed in the wake of a renewed cult war in parts of Benin City.

Armed robbery and kidnappings gave also been on the rise in the state.

Traders and operators of Point of Service (POS) outlets have also been attacked by robbers in the last few weeks.

Female journalists attacked

Meanwhile, a female journalist, Flora Bossey, was on Sunday attacked and robbed by unknown gunmen in Benin City.

Mrs Bossey said she went to the Automated Teller Machine (ATM) stand located at the beginning of Airport Road in Kings Square in Benin City and was robbed after she finished withdrawing some money.

It was learnt that the two armed men waited for her to finish the cash withdrawal and immediately swooped on her at gunpoint.

After dispossessing the journalist of her two ATM cards, mobile phones, and other personal items, the thieves drove towards the Airport Road.

Mrs Bossey, a former vice-chair of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Edo State Council, told PREMIUM TIMES that the sight of the gunmen was very scary.

Thank God I was not injured by the attackers. They only made away with some of my belongings at gunpoint. They took my Zenith and First Bank ATM cards and forced me to give them the secret number.

I, however, thank God for sparing my life. I want to advise residents of Benin and environs to be wary of the kind of ATM stand they visit for transactions, she said.
Thank you for reading!

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Chandigarh, Jan 3 : Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Sunday hit out at the BJP's state leadership over its "sordid attempts to lower the prestige" of the Governor's office by pulling the constitutional authority into "unsavoury controversies" in states where it is in the Opposition in a bid to get rid of democratically elected governments there.

Reacting sharply to BJP state unit's tweet accusing him of trying to make Punjab into another West Bengal, the Chief Minister said it was the "power-hungry BJP which had been trying to use the office of the Governor for its own vested interests".

"It has been happening in West Bengal, it happened in Maharashtra, and now they are trying to do the same in Punjab," said Amarinder Singh, slamming the BJP for its "shameless efforts to force its way into power in states where they are currently not ruling".

"The BJP, which has been systemically trampling all democratic and constitutional institutions, has not spared even the office of Governor," said the Chief Minister, adding that "these actions do not behove a party that is the custodian of these institutions as the ruling party at the Centre." Amarinder Singh quipped that the BJP, despite being a national party, seemed totally ignorant about the constitutional provisions, according to which the Governor was the titular head of the state but all administration authority vested with the Chief Minister.

"Don't these BJP leaders know that the law and order responsibility of my state lies with me not only as Chief Minister but also as the Home Minister?" he asked, urging the BJP leaders of Punjab to first learn the ABCs of the Indian Constitution before "shooting their mouth on constitutional matters".

Describing as shocking the BJP's repeated attempts at politicisation of the farmers' agitation, the Chief Minister said the party was "shamelessly exploiting the situation" and spreading lies for furthering its political interests".

This, he said, was evident in their bid to project the farmers' genuine anger as a law and order situation in Punjab.

Incidents of BJP leaders facing the wrath of farmers have been reported from the BJP-ruled Haryana, and even Uttar Pradesh, he pointed out, adding that by the same yardstick, those should also be construed as a case of collapse of law and order in those states.

"And if the incidents of farmers venting their anger at BJP leaders in Punjab are at the behest of the ruling Congress here, as they are alleging, then by the same logic, the ruling BJP in Haryana and UP is to blame for the trouble there," he added.

The Chief Minister also hit out at the BJP over its threat of gherao of Punjab Congress MP Ravneet Singh Bittu's house if FIR is not registered against him by the Punjab Police.

"This was not only ridiculous but another instance of the BJP playing to the gallery since the Delhi Police had already registered a case in a non-cognizable offence against Bittu," he added.

It was sad that at a time when farmers were dying every day in the bitter winter cold while sitting in protest at Delhi borders for the past nearly 40 days, the BJP was busy indulging in cheap politics, said Amarinder Singh.

The BJP would gain more political mileage by responding to the woes of the farmers and heeding their voice instead of resorting to political theatrics and lies, he said, adding that it was high time the ruling party at the Centre stopped playing with the lives of the farmers and repealed the "black" farm laws.

"The entire nation can feel the pain of the farmers except the party which heads the country," said Amarinder Singh, urging the BJP-led Central government to climb down from its "exalted ego and bring the farming crisis to an end before it gets completely out of hand and brings India to ruination".
Lets be clear: Former Ohio Health Director Dr. Amy Acton was the A-team. Who among us doubts that she would have properly coordinated and directed the administration of vaccines into peoples arms once shipments started arriving to the state? She no doubt could have used her power to direct resources to hospitals and pharmacies so vaccines would be administered quickly and efficiently.

Perhaps in that case, by now my 85-year-old parents would have received their vaccinations and been protected from this real threat. Instead, my parents shelter in place alone and distant from loved ones.

Alas, the states B-team must wait and take its cues from the Ohio House of Representatives and those who have the power to brutalize and incite with threatening, front-lawn protests. The B-team is powerless and our compassionate governor is ineffective in the face of our now reelected Ohio representatives.

The corrupt and inept legislators who caused the A-team to disband now stand between me and my vaccine. I dont have $6 billion to advance my interests. I wear my mask and avoid going out. Voting did not work.

Russ Smith,

Strongsville


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Last year, as Elon Musk's SpaceX soared through the Earth's orbit and into space, an Irish company's technology was ready and waiting to play a mission-critical role. Dublin-based Skytek's IPV Tablet system was used to provide advanced astronaut support on the International Space Station (ISS). With the system, astronauts had access to more than 14,000 operational procedures, which support all operational activities on board.

When the SpaceX Dragon capsule docked to the station, the astronauts on board could use IPV procedures to support the safe operation of the capsule with onboard systems.

"It's always exciting," said Sarah Bourke, chief executive of Skytek, regarding the company's technology playing a role in such space missions.

"For so many years, the Americans could not launch. Everyone was dependent on the Russians. For the Americans to launch their own shuttles was a huge thing for the space industry.

"You now have Boeing coming on stream, so you'll have two commercial carriers. There is vast money going into it, and it's not just shuttles, it's satellites as well. The industry is changing."

With commercial sales by companies in Ireland directly resulting from ESA support expected to expand from over 75m in 2015 to 133m by 2020 and with space-linked employment also set to double to over 4,500, many believe Ireland's space sector could be on the cusp of taking off.

In 2019, the Irish Government launched its first National Space Strategy into orbit, with lofty ambitions to support 100 companies through ESA by 2025.

Companies contracted with ESA receive a level of validation which helps to make products more available to the broader space sector.

Spanning between now and 2025, the Government said the plan would provide strategic support to Ireland's space sector, both in industry and research. Between 2009 and 2019, Ireland's ESA commitment grew from 14.8m to 18.3m per annum.

The strategy counts six ambitious targets, including doubling space-related revenue and employment in Irish space companies and doubling the value of contracts won through the EU Horizon programmes.

The space industry received a further boost in December, when UCD launched a dedicated space research centre, C-Space, to help more SMEs go to infinity and beyond.

There is still much to do to achieve the full potential of the space industry in Ireland, however.

Bourke is keen to point out that if the industry here is to live long and prosper, it will need more investment than it currently receives.

"This is a huge growth area," she said. "But it needs more investment - significantly more. The budgets that other countries have are vast. If you want to be able to compete, then you need to be able to compete effectively."

As more commercial operators, such as Boeing, Virgin and SpaceX, join the space race with the publicly-backed industry players like the European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA, Irish companies are finding innovative ways of tapping into the high-value space industry.

Playing a crucial role in launching more Irish companies into the stratosphere is Tony McDonald, programme manager of the space industry at Enterprise Ireland.

He said the number of Irish companies in contract with ESA had doubled in the past five years, with 80 companies involved as of this year.

According to McDonald, behind the boom in Irish companies entering the space industry are startups adapting their products to the sector.

"In the past few years we have seen a surge in companies engaging with ESA," he said.

"Engaging with ESA forms a commercial market opportunity. ESA is the route to market, and the enabler to help companies to qualify technologies for commercial space applications. It is the only way for Irish companies to qualify technologies, as we don't have a space agency.

"What is really interesting is that these are companies that you wouldn't expect to be involved in space.

"The difference between Ireland and other countries is we don't have a traditional space sector. But what we do have is a growing number of very innovative companies who are developing technologies that are finding their way into space applications."

McDonald said companies from sectors such as transportation, environmental monitoring and even healthcare are adapting their products or services to either enter the space industry or take advantage of it.

He said these companies are either involved in the upstream side of the space sector, where the tech goes into space, and others in the downstream side where they use the space technology.

"We believe [the Irish space industry] is going to be important in two respects," he said.

"The space market is transforming quite dramatically. In the 60s, 70s and 80s it was very institutional programmes, but now you see more commercial... That is helping a growing number of startups [across the world] who can take very low-cost solutions and develop them for space.

"The whole dynamic is changing. It used to be expensive... That growing number of new players opens up opportunities for Irish companies.

"The other area is, in the past, if you were developing technology for space, it would have to be really special. It is now moving toward more straight off the shelf. Not only that, but these [space tech] technologies can be used in other sectors, like automotive or even healthcare."

McDonald said many great Irish companies had found a niche in the space sector. As well as Skytek, he points to innovative examples such as Innalabs, Ubotica, Robotify, Woodco, Icon Group, Verifish, OCE, PMD Solutions and Realtra.

In November, Robotify, a virtual robotics platform founded by two former DCU students, won a contract with the European Space Agency worth more than 450,000.

"I'm very optimistic after this year," said McDonald. "The growth is very strong, the level of interest is very strong, and the business case behind investing and engaging in space is stronger now than it ever was."

One company which showed ability to transition its product into the space industry is Lios Group, an acoustic materials company formerly known as Restored Hearing.

Co-founder Rhona Togher said insight from its tinnitus therapy customers led to the development of SoundBounce, a smart acoustic material for use in the automotive, aerospace, construction, and home appliances sectors.

SoundBounce could help protect people and structures from loud low-frequency sound.

Lios conducted pilot projects with customers in these industries before being approached by two major European space companies to help solve the problem of noise and vibration damaging launcher payloads with SoundBounce.

These relationships led to its involvement in the 12-month Future Launchers Preparatory Programme with ESA.

"The space industry is a great opportunity for Lios," said Togher. "There is a lot of overlap between technology for use in space and those which can be used elsewhere like in cars or planes.

"The rigorous requirements of the space sector, such as being able to operate in extreme temperatures or high vibration environments, put new technology through its paces.

"As part of our engagement with space sector customers and ESA, we have planned future development work to build on the anticipated success of this initial phase one project. We look forward to working with ESA and our space partners to build SoundBounce into next-generation launch vehicles."

While Lios's technology is set to help protect vehicles launching into space, other Irish companies are utilising space technology for services not just on land, but also at sea.

Verifish, a Cork-based technology company that uses blockchain technology to track and trace fishing catches, started using space technology to bolster its services.

Founded by former commercial fisherman Frank Fleming, Verifish secured 300,000 from ESA about five years ago.

Fleming was introduced to the world of space technology by a friend who told him of his success in developing software under contract to ESA.

The entrepreneur subsequently looked at how this could apply to the seafood sector.

"In 2014, the first project was focused on using space assets to collect sustainability and food safety information from vessels while they were at sea, often long distances from the shore, in real-time," Fleming said.

"This was a pivotal project for us as it was an introduction to the world of software. We learned how the quality of data could be improved (compared to paper-based systems), how applications are scalable and how new datasets could help customers in innovative ways."

Fleming said the use of space assets to support applications across multiple sectors is a huge growth area.

Verifish has expanded internationally and is set to undertake a project in the agriculture sector during 2021, which will also be under contract to ESA.

"Capturing accurate data in real-time has benefits in terms of food safety, sustainability and improving business processes," he said. "There will be many opportunities in this area in the coming years, and we are well-positioned to capitalise on these.

"The number of Irish companies working with Enterprise Ireland and ESA has grown substantially over the last number of years. There are great opportunities in the area and a wide range of benefits in winning contracts from ESA.

"Working with the Space Agency pushes early-stage companies, such as ours, to work in a very structured way which brings long-term benefits.

"There are many opportunities in the space area for Irish companies, and I believe we will see many success stories emerging in the coming years supporting strong job creation in the sector," he added.

While seafood and space may not be easily linked, other Irish companies have a natural fit in the space industry and are thriving as a result.

Innalabs, a Dublin-based designer and manufacturer of inertial sensors for navigation systems, has had great success with commercial and publicly-backed space operators.

The company has attracted interest from the space sector since early 2014.

One of Innalabs' first success stories was on a US programme linked to Google for commercial high-resolution coloured imaging of Earth.

More recently, Innalabs was announced as part of an ESA mission that will be humankind's first probe to rendezvous with a binary asteroid system named Didymos.

According to Innalabs CEO John O'Leary, the mission's main objective is to develop planetary defence technologies to protect humanity against extinction, such as the one that wiped off the dinosaurs from Earth about 66 million years ago.

While O'Leary acknowledges that the space sector on its own isn't yet as valuable commercially, it has allowed him to improve his products and enter larger markets such as aerospace, rail and energy.

The company's success in the space industry has provided it with great credibility.

"The confidence that customers have now in our products as we become a space supplier has increased tremendously since the logic is 'if it's good enough for space, then it's good enough for me'," he said.

"We need to build on our successes," he added.

"As we are a nation with a strong industrial background, hard-working, highly innovative, educated, and resourceful in all problem solving, [these] are all ideal attributes for a growing space sector.

"It's my belief that Ireland has all the credentials to capture a slice of this new space business."

For Bourke's Skytek, which was also co-founded by Paul Kiernan, the company's chief technical officer, business is continuing to soar - just like the shuttles its technology helps to dock at the International Space Station safely.

Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic it has been working on another commercial launch, believed to be with SpaceX, which is set to take place over the next year.

With Skytek being founded around 15 years ago, Bourke, like many others, believes that other Irish companies looking to serve the space industry could be about to tap into a real growth area and opportunity.

Skytek as a business has never been one to rest on its laurels. It is always innovating.

The company has a research partnership with insurance giant Aon, which it announced in 2019. The partnership will use advanced data analysis techniques and space technology to monitor marine, port and offshore assets to help insurers gain insight into risk accumulation.

With commercial opportunities growing, Bourke accepts there will be challenges for those entering. Still, it's up to firms to develop technologies and gain the experience, while it's for others to increase their investments to help the sector lift off.

"As an Irish company, the only reason we are still there is that we are really good at what we do," she said. "It's a difficult enough industry to get started in, but we have been around."
US fintech giant Square has begun hiring staff in Dublin to support its Cash App services in Europe.

Cash App is a money transfer app that allows for peer-to-peer payments between users. It is active in the US and UK with around 30 million users, but it has not yet launched in Europe.

Square is led by Twitter chief Jack Dorsey (inset right) and has its European headquarters in Dublin where it supports operations for its payments software and card readers for businesses.

It is now hiring a European operations manager, based here.

The job listing states that the operations manager will be a "key leader responsible for Cash App in Europe" and will be responsible for plans to "optimize operations in the UK, Ireland and Europe". Square declined to comment on expansion plans.

During Square's third quarter earnings call earlier this year, Dorsey said that international growth for Cash App is a "top priority for us".

Square has made some notable investments in Europe this year, including Satispay in Italy as well as the acquisition of Spanish peer-to-peer payments start-up Verse. The latter, Dorsey said, "gives us an opportunity to learn from the peer-to-peer growth in European markets".

Earlier this year, Square obtained an electronic money licence from the Central Bank of Ireland to ensure it still has the regulatory clearances to operate payments services in the EU after Brexit. It was previously using its UK-issued licence.

Square's main line of business is developing card readers and payments software for businesses. The company opened its European headquarters in Dublin in 2016 but it has yet to launch services in Ireland. The Dublin office houses staff carrying out customer functions and compliance.

Sunday Indo Business
GRAND RAPIDS, MI  Flames emitting from police cruisers.

Thrown fireworks exploding on downtown streets.

Police, dressed in riot gear, standing should to shoulder.

And large storefront windows breaking.

The sights of the riots in Grand Rapids in late spring 2020 created an unbelievable scene in the downtown of Michigans second-largest city. The video above shows several different parts of the riot.

RELATED: Looking back at Grand Rapids riot, the damage and charges in unprecedented melee

Rioters caused more than $2 million in damage when hundreds of downtown windows were broken and some stores were looted May 30, 2020.

Held in the wake of the killing of George Floyd, demonstrations in Grand Rapids on that day started out peaceful. However, a riot transpired as night fell.

Heres a by the numbers look back at that chaotic night:

$2.07 million -- The damage estimate caused by the riot.

7 -- The number of police cruisers set ablaze overnight.

22 -- The number of people arrested and facing riot charges.

100 -- The number of buildings estimated to be damaged in the riot.

Thousands  The crowd estimate earlier in the day for the protest that was peaceful.

$503,000 -- The amount spent on overtime pay by Grand Rapids police.

35 Photos of damage from Grand Rapids riot

Also on MLive:

Michigan burned through 84% of its unemployment cash in 2020. What happens when its gone?

Grand Rapids radio personality who died of COVID-19 remembered as loving husband and father

Retiring prosecutor pursued justice over decades through personal tragedy, tough first year
Champaign, IL (61820)

Today

Showers this evening, becoming a steady rain overnight. Low around 65F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%..

Tonight

Showers this evening, becoming a steady rain overnight. Low around 65F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%.
Pursuit Leads to Tennessee Woman's Arrest

By West Kentucky Star Staff

MARSHALL COUNTY - A Union City, Tennessee woman was arrested Saturday after a pursuit through Marshall County.Marshall County 911 received a call at 4:44 p.m. regarding multiple hit and run collisions in the Draffenville area. Not long after the first call, authorities began receiving other calls about the vehicle as it allegedly drove recklessly through the area.A trooper with the Kentucky State Police was able to locate the vehicle a short time later and attempted to perform a traffic stop, but the driver fled through Draffenville.Marshall County deputies joined the pursuit as the vehicle reportedly swerved across the roadway, pushing other vehicles off the shoulders.Deputies deployed spike strips at the Marshall and McCracken County line, but this didn't stop the vehicle. At the US 68 and Benton Road intersection, a Marshall County deputy utilized the PIT maneuver, disabling the vehicle and allowing other deputies to pin the vehicle in.At this point, 22-year-old Heaven Tynes of Union City, Tennessee, was taken into custody. Authorities say it was determined that Tynes was under the influence of controlled substances. She was taken to a local hospital for treatment.Tynes was charged by the Kentucky State Police with first degree fleeing or evading (motor vehicle), first degree possession of a controlled substance (heroin), possession of a legend drug, driving a vehicle under the influence of a substance first offense, first degree criminal mischief, drug paraphernalia, and several traffic violations.The Marshall County Sheriff's Office was assisted by the Kentucky State Police, the Benton Police, and the McCracken County Sheriff's Office.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Sunday that tougher lockdown restrictions were probably on the way as COVID-19 cases keep rising, but that schools were safe places and children should continue to attend where permitted.

Cases of COVID-19 in Britain are at record levels and increasing, fuelled by a new and more transmissible variant of the virus. That has already forced the government to cancel the planned reopening of schools in and around London, with calls from teaching unions for wider closures.Much of England is already living under the toughest level of restriction set out in a four-tier system of regional regulations designed to stop the spread of the virus and protect the national healthcare system.But Johnson, asked in a BBC interview about concerns that the system may not be enough to bring the virus back under control, said that restrictions "alas, might be about to get tougher"."There are obviously a range of tougher measures that we would have to consider ... I'm not going to speculate now about what they would be."Johnson sets policy for England, with rules in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales set by their devolved authorities.Britain recorded 57,725 new cases of the virus on Saturday, and with more than 74,000 deaths so far during the pandemic the government's response has been heavily criticised.However the rollout of vaccines was set to accelerate on Monday with the first 530,000 doses of the newly approved Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccines ready to be administered, Johnson said. He added he hoped "tens of millions" would be treated over the next three months.Addressing concerns over education, and with millions of pupils set to return from their Christmas holidays on Monday, Johnson said schools were safe, and advised parents to send their children in, in areas where rules allow it."There is no doubt in my mind that schools are safe, and that education is a priority," he said.The schools issue has split opinion, with unions and some local authorities warning against reopening and threatening to act against government advice, and others saying that closures also have a big negative impact on students."We must renew and maintain the consensus that children's time out of school should be kept to the absolute minimum," Amanda Spielman, chief schools inspector, wrote in the Sunday Telegraph.Also read: AstraZeneca plans 2 million doses of Oxford COVID-19 vaccine for UK per week

Also read: Ireland to end UK travel ban, will enforce stricter COVID-19 testing
The number of giant pandas in captivity worldwide reached 633 in 2020, thanks to China's increasing panda breeding and conservation efforts, official data shows.



By Dec. 1, a total of 44 panda cubs had been born and survived in 2020, according to the National Forestry and Grassland Administration.

The number of wild giant pandas in China has increased from 1,114 in the 1980s to 1,864, according to a survey on the panda population. Meanwhile, the protected panda habitat area has almost doubled to 2.58 million hectares, protecting 66.8 percent of giant pandas living in the wild.

Growth in captive panda numbers resulted from improved breeding technologies, overcoming challenges such as difficulties in giant panda mating and the low survival rate of panda cubs.

So far, nine captive-bred giant pandas have been released into the wild and have survived, the administration said, adding that 61 giant pandas have been involved in the country's scientific and research cooperation with 22 zoos in 18 countries.

Efforts will be made to strengthen key giant panda breeding and protection technologies, develop panda vaccines and increase the wild panda population, according to the administration.
Expelled DMK leader M K Alagiri on Sunday held discussions with his close associates and supporters here over his next course of political action and said he might make an announcement soon. Asking his supporters to be prepared for any kind of move from him, Alagiri said he might either come up with a "good decision" or not, seven years after he was expelled from the DMK for alleged anti-party activities in the wake of sibling rivalry with his brother and incumbent party chief M K Stalin.

With Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu likely to be held in April-May, the former Union Minister's role is being speculated, from joining the BJP to floating his own outfit. He also trained his guns on Stalin, claiming his younger brother "can never become Chief Minister" of Tamil Nadu.

"I will soon announce my decision. The supporters should accept it whether is is good decision or not," Alagiri told a well-attended meeting of his supporters here. The former DMK South Organisation Secretary said he was never behind posts and claimed such responsibilities were 'forced' on him by his father and late DMK chief M Karunanidhi.

Recalling the bypoll victory in Tirumangalam in 2009 here under his leadership, when DMK was in power in the state, Alagiri said he ensured his party won by a margin of 40,000 votes. Contrary to claims of a "Tirumangalam formula" involving cash distribution "by media and some persons," Alagiri said he had ensured the DMK's victory only through sheer hard work.

He claimed that Stalin and Maran brothers implored him to work and help the party to win in the Tirumangalamby poll. He further claimed that he had once told Stalin that "you are everything" after Karunanidhi and wondered why he was kicked out of the party later.

A critic of his sibling, Alagiri said Stalin's supporters often hail him as "future CM." "Now I say Stalin can never become chief minister. My supporters won't allow you," he added. Alagiri, a former Madurai strongman of the DMK with considerable clout in southern districts, also claimed that Karunanidhi was not keen on contesting the 2016 Assembly polls, where he won from his native Tiruvarur constituency.

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If by their friends, and by their enemies, you shall know a person, then both categories are revealing about Dade Phelan, presumptive speaker of the Texas House of Representatives.

A three-term Republican House member from Beaumont, Matthew McDade Phelan counts among his supporters, not only Gov. Greg Abbott and the Tea Party-aligned Texas Freedom Caucus, but also state Reps. Armando Walle and Senfronia Thompson, Houston-area Democrats.

State Rep. Joe Moody, an El Paso Democrat, told the Chronicle that Phelan enjoys support from a broad cross-section of the Legislature because hes willing to build coalitions. State Rep. Jim Murphy was equally complimentary. Hes ethical, smart and hardworking, the Houston Republican told the Chronicle.

Phelan isnt giving many interviews, a practice we hope will evolve once he holds the gavel. But his spokesman, Enrique Marquez, described Phelans approach to the powerful post as inclusive. He told the editorial board that Phelans fellow House members backed him for speaker because they know him to be an honest broker who will empower members to faithfully represent the needs of their districts.

Good speakers respect whats known as the will of the House because they know it represents the will of the people across this diverse state. Activists, not so much.

The anti-Phelan crowd, albeit small, is telling. It is utterly absurd and demonstrably idiotic that any Republican would join with Democrats to lead our Republican majority (83-67) Texas state House, Texas GOP Chairman Allen West said in a recent email.

West is a former one-term congressman from Florida, a bloviating conspiracy theorist who moved to Texas in an apparent effort to build a base for some sort of political comeback. The man who called former President Barack Obama a low-level Socialist agitator labeled Phelan a Republican political traitor.

Texas Values, an advocacy group opposing abortion and LGBT rights, also opposes the 45-year-old lawmaker. Rep. Phelan used his power last session to advance the LGBT agenda and we have not forgotten, Jonathan Saenz, the organizations president, said in a statement.

Phelan earned Saenzs ire when he reworked a bill supported by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick that would have eliminated workplace protections for LGBTQ Texans. Phelan told the Texas Tribune that he was done talking about bashing on the gay community, which he called completely unacceptable.

Fortunately, neither West nor Saenz are lawmakers, and yet the always-dapper Phelan, a self-professed germaphobe, may have to get his hands dirty to keep lawmakers focused on the critical issues this session, issues almost unprecedented in their severity.

Hes a conservative Republican, to be sure, but in one respect he reminds us of his two immediate predecessors, Joe Straus and Dennis Bonnen (the current speaker). Both Republicans who enjoyed wide support (except with the far right), they worked during heated sessions to avoid bitter and distracting cultural combat.

Under Phelans leadership, we expect to see lawmakers ignoring bathroom bills and focusing on issues of the utmost urgency. The plague year may have come to a merciful end last week, but the plague and related miseries have not.

Phelan was little known outside his Golden Triangle district until Bonnen named him chairman of the powerful Committee on State Affairs last session. We became aware of him a couple of years earlier, thanks to his yeoman work in the wake of Hurricane Harvey. Not only was he on the flood-saturated ground in the immediate aftermath of the natural disaster, meeting with constituents and elected officials, but he also made sure that his fellow lawmakers responded.

Acutely aware that southeast Texas was vulnerable to future Harveys, he focused on efforts last session to prepare for that inevitability. With support from both Republicans and Democrats, he sponsored a relief package that took $1.7 billion from the states rainy day fund to finance flood mitigation projects.

Lawmakers will be convening this time under skies dark with foreboding. Texans are dying, hospitals are overwhelmed and the moneys running out. With Texans out of work and businesses shuttered (if not shut down), Phelan and his colleagues will be facing a revenue shortfall projected to be around $4.6 billion . Lawmakers obviously cant ignore the pandemic, but they also cant ignore billions of dollars they promised Texas schools last session. They shouldnt ignore Medicaid expansion  or squander the opportunity the option has long presented to uninsured Texans and state coffers.

Well be counting on Phelans bipartisan inclinations and his political acumen to keep the House focused on these and other urgent matters. He will also be speaker at a time when his colleagues get to redraw legislative and congressional districts for the next decade. Call us naive, but we would like to think he will ensure that the process is fair and reasonable even when partisan pressures demand otherwise.

Redistricting is a reminder  as if anguished Democrats needed a reminder  that Phelan is a politician, a conservative Republican politician with a 100 percent rating from the National Rifle Association and pro-life bona fides. What were counting on, though, is that he is bigger and broader than his ideological inclinations and partisan affiliations. During this time of crisis, we need elected officials who understand that were all in this together, that we need our representatives to work pragmatically to do the most good for the most Texans. together.

For now, the man from Beaumont gives us hope.
Katie Holmes has been rarely spotted without daughter Suri Cruise or boyfriend Emilio Vitolo this holiday season.

On Saturday the 42-year-old Dawson's Creek darling hit the streets of New York as she ran some errands solo, before flexing her new quarantine hobby - photography.

Wearing a sand colored wool coat and a pair of light-washed bootcut jeans she put on a laidback display while strolling to Washington Square Park to snap some photos.

Getting creative: Katie Holmes, 42, flies solo in New York on Saturday as she does some errands in a wool coat and light-washed jeans before flexing her photography skills in the park

Sporting her usual messy top-knot and a pair of white velcro sneakers, Holmes opted for a no fuss look.

She carried a burlap pouch in her hand and sported a white tote bag as she made her way around the city with a white face mask.

Perhaps a new holiday gift or a hobby for 2021, Katie took her digital camera out of her bag as she took in the park's beauty.

She was seen shooting everything from flowers to candid people snaps as she focused hard on her subjects.

Focus: She was seen shooting everything from flowers to candid people snaps as she focused hard on her subjects

Natural beauty: Perhaps a holiday gift or a New Year's resolution, Katie was seen breaking out a new creative hobby as she peacefully strolled

On December 18 her restaurateur boyfriend Vitolo, 33, made their relationship Instagram official as he paid tribute to Katie on her birthday.

Though it has been no secret that the two are an item, he solidified their increasingly serious relationship on social media.

Calling her the 'most amazing, kindest, beautiful person,' with a face that makes him smile, there were no doubts about his feelings for the Batman Begins actress as he finished, 'I love you!!.'

She acknowledged the sweet post as she commented, 'Thank you so much my love. I love u too!!!!.'

Solo stroll: With her messy bun and her prefered uniform of jeans and a coat, she carried a burlap pouch as she strolled around the city

Introducing Emilio to her only daughter Suri, 14, who she shares with ex husband of six years, Tom Cruise, 58, the Emilio's Ballato chef reportedly 'adores' her.

The pair spent part of Thanksgiving and all of Christmas together with Suri having taken a liking to her new man.

Despite only being linked since September - after he called things off with his fiance via text message - their relationship has progressed quickly as Katie has been free from work obligations.

In love: Though nearly inseparable with Vitolo since they were first spotted in September, he made things Instagram official as he paid tribute to her on her birthday and said, 'I love you'

Family time: Introducing Emilio to her only daughter Suri, 14, who she shares with ex husband of six years, Tom Cruise, 58, the Emilio's Ballato chef reportedly 'adores' her

'Emilio thinks their relationship will continue to be strong in the new year,' a source told People.

Having just entered 2021, the pair seemed to ring in the new year at trendy eatery Madam Ji, as Katie shared a photo of the restaurants balloons from an outdoor dining pod.

The pair seem to be in it for the long haul as an insider revealed to Us Katie could not be happier.

'For the first time in longer than she can remember, there's a guy by her side whom she knows has her back no matter what, and that counts for so much.'

Dawson's Creek is available to stream on Stan in Australia

Looking forward: Though their relationship started off a bit rocky as Emilio was engaged - before swiftly ending it over text on account of his love for Katie - the pair are looking to continue to build their life; pictured November 3

Old school: Katie looked fierce in a repeated throwback photos she shared to her Instagram on Saturday. The vintage look featured her in a turtleneck and a furry top
Days after Indonesian fishermen discovered a suspected Chinese submarine drone near Selayar Island in South Sulawesi, several politicians have expressed their concern about the find and have demanded the government to take firm actions.

According to a report in Indonesian news agency Antara, a top legislator has said that Indonesia needs to strengthen its underwater defence and security in the wake of the discovery of an Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (UUV) belonging to a foreign nation deep inside its territorial waters.

A fisherman in Selayar Island, South Sulawesi, has found a UUV:



Length: 225 cm

Tail: 18 cm

Wingspan: 50 cm

Trailing antenna: 93 cm



Very similar to China's 'Sea Wing' UUV, which, if it's true, raised many questions especially how it managed to be found deep inside our territory pic.twitter.com/RAiX8Xw2BK  JATOSINT (@Jatosint) December 29, 2020

'A threat to Indonesia's underwater defence & security'

"Any underwater drone and submarine of foreign countries cannot be at our sea without our government's permission, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives (DPR), Azis Syamsuddin, said on Friday. The Indonesian Foreign Ministry must lodge a protest with the country which owns the drone that was recently found by a fisherman near Selayar island, South Sulawesi province, he added.

"The discovery of an underwater drone, which resembles China's Sea Wing UUV in physical appearance, indeed poses a serious threat to Indonesia's underwater defence and security," he asserted. "The Indonesian government must work to protect and secure the country's territorial waters by modernizing its underwater detection and tracking capability," he added.

"This is a homework for Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto to enhance our capabilities to accelerate the development of remote-sensing technology," Sukamta, a member of the House of Representatives (DPRs) Commission I, stated in Jakarta on Saturday. According to media reports, the drone is currently examined by the Indonesian Navy in their 2nd Fleet HQ, Surabaya.

READ | Sourav Ganguly undergoes primary angioplasty; doctors say 'will be monitored for 24 hrs'

Drone seized by the Indonesian military

The UUV was recovered from the water by a local fisherman on December 20 but was only reported to authorities six days later. According to Indonesian media, the captured drone is 225cm in length, with a 50cm wingspan and a 93cm-long trailing antenna. Another report in Independent said that the torpedo-shaped object equipped with camera and antenna was apparently still active when it was netted near Selayar Island 20 December, with its light blinking and sensors working. The drone has now been seized by the military and transferred to the 6th Main Naval Base in Makassar, where it is currently being inspected.

READ | Sourav Ganguly Health Updates LIVE: 'BCCI Prez stable haemodynamically,' updates hospital

Writing in his blog, submarine warfare expert H I Sutton said Sea Wing gliders have been recovered in Indonesia on at least three occasions. According to him, China has deployed a number of underwater drones called Sea Wing (Haiyi) glider in the Indian Ocean, which can operate for months on end and make observations for naval intelligence purposes.

READ | Bharat Biotech's Covaxin gets SEC's nod, DCGI decision on vaccine likely tomorrow: Sources

Writing for the Forbes magazine, Sutton said that these sea gliders, which the Chinese are deploying "en masse", are a type of Uncrewed Underwater Vehicle (UUV) which were launched in mid-December 2019 and recovered in February after making over 3,400 observations. Citing the government sources, Sutton in his report said that these gliders are similar to those deployed by the US Navy, one of which was seized by Beijing in 2016 to ensure "safe navigation of passing ships."

READ | SHOCKER: Akhilesh Yadav says 'Won't take BJP's vaccine' as pan-India 'dry run' commences
The US army is investigating the fatal shooting of a drill sergeant in Texas.

Staff sergeant Jessica Mitchell, 30, died from multiple gun shot wounds while on holiday leave in San Antonio, Texas.

Ms Mitchell was discovered in a vehicle after firefighters in the city responded to reports of a vehicle collision, according to FOX 29.

She was taken to University Hospital San Antonio, where she was pronounced dead.

Mitchell was assigned as a dental specialist to the US Army Medical Center of Excellence on Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston.

We are devastated by the tragic loss of Drill Sergeant Jessica Mitchell," said Major General Dennis LeMaster.

"Our sincere condolences go out to her family and friends. We are focused on supporting Drill Sergeant Mitchells family as well as her soldiers during this extremely difficult time.

Military officials say that the armys criminal investigation division and the San Antonio police department are both investigating.

"I told all my children, I want you to do better than what I have done," her father, Mayo Mitchell, told FOX 29.

She and my children have so far and she wanted to be the best that she can be in her military career. But that was cut short."

Ms Mitchells brother, Justice Mitchell, was also shot and killed in 2017 at the age of 18.

Why would anybody want to do this?" added her sister Ashley Mitchell.

Why do people do such heinous acts of crime for no reason?

India has finally approved two vaccines to protect the population against coronavirus. The Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) has approved Bharat Biotech's Covaxin and Serum-AstraZeneca's Covishield for emergency use in the country.

Following the development, Dr Randeep Guleria, the Director of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi, laid out the plans how the two inoculations could be used to vaccinate Indians. Exclaiming that it is a great day for the country, he said that initially Covishield will be administered to the public. Later, as Covaxin becomes available, it can be treated as a back-up.

Covishield has been jointly developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca. Serum Institute of India is manufacturing and will distribute the jab in the country. The vaccine has shown efficacy rate of 70 per cent after two full doses. However, one of the regimens with a half dose and a full dose showed 90 per cent efficacy against the virus. Serum Institute has stockpiled 50 million doses of Covishield, most of which is expected to come to India.

ALSO READ: India's nod to indigenous vaccine condemned over lack of data released on efficacy

On the other hand, Covaxin has been developed by Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech, in collaboration with Indian Council of Medical Research and National Institute of Virology. It is the first indigenous coronavirus vaccine developed in India. Phase 3 clinical trials of the vaccine are still underway and there is still no clarity on vaccine efficacy. Notably, shortly after approving it for emergency use, DCGI has given licensing permission to Bharat Biotech to manufacture Covaxin.

"Initially, Serum Institute vaccine will be given. They already have 50 million doses available and they'll be able to give that in initial phase where we'll vaccinate around 3 crore people. Gradually, we'll build on it and by the time Bharat Biotech data will also be available," Dr Guleria said.

He further suggested that Covaxin can be used to address emergency situations, like a sudden flare-up in COVID-19 cases, and as a back-up, if there are doubts on the efficacy of the Serum-AstraZeneca vaccine.

ALSO READ: Serum Institute, Bharat Biotech vaccines get emergency use approval; first COVID-19 vaccines in India

"In an emergency situation when there is a sudden increase in cases and we need to vaccinate, Bharat Biotech vaccine will be used. It can also be used as a back-up when we're not sure how efficacious the Serum Institute vaccine is going to be," Dr Guleria said.

The AIIMS Director emphasised the vaccines will be rolled out for emergency use only and trials for them will continue to provide better efficacy and safety data.

"Approval clearly says 'emergency situation' keeping in mind the circulating variant strains and at the same time, they have to continue the trial and get the data in. Once that data comes in, we'll be more confident as far as safety and efficacy is concerned," he said.

ALSO READ: 'All risks paid off; will roll out COVID-19 vaccine in coming weeks,' says Serum CEO Adar Poonawalla
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The has sought financial support from its finance counterpart to pay compensation to the employees of public sector trading firm (Metals & Minerals Trading Corporation of India) under its VRS scheme, sources said.

According to sources in the Commerce Ministry, which is the nodal ministry of MMTC, the ministry has sent a proposal regarding this to the

The company needs money to pay its employees who are opting for VRS (voluntary retirement scheme), and due to its weak financial conditions, is unable to pay the due amount, one of the sources said.

The ministry is hopeful that the would consider the proposal positively, the sources said.

In July last year, MMTC's board had approved the VRS proposal for its employees.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
As President-elect Joe Biden builds his administration, he has drawn on his long experience in national politics, filling key positions with White House veterans and a sprinkling of newcomers. But the success of Mr. Bidens administration will depend not just on who gets big jobs but on the thoughtful management of his team. The new president needs a staff and cabinet that are cohesive in debate and unified in action.

Administration infighting is inevitable, but it neednt be paralyzing. Mr. Bidens goal should be to manage conflict, not to eliminate it. History points to three primary levers at his disposal: recognizing and managing ideological conflict, maintaining a strong decision-making process and dealing firmly with staff and cabinet misbehavior.

The most frequent White House divisions are along ideological lines. President Ronald Reagans administration was plagued by clashes between moderates, led by White House chief of staff James A. Baker, and committed conservatives, led by counselor Edwin Meese. Mr. Baker, in particular, was a master leaker and infighter. Still, when Reagan chose Mr. Baker over Mr. Meese as chief of staff, he directed Mr. Baker to make it right with Ed." The two joined with deputy chief of staff Michael Deaver to form the troika" that ran the early Reagan White House.

The lack of trust among the troika members wound up leaving them joined at the hip, reluctant to let each other meet privately with Reagan for fear that the others might use facetime with the president to their advantage. This need to stick together applied even after Reagan was shot in 1981. When the troika visited his hospital bed together, Reagan joked, I shouldve known I wasnt going to avoid a staff meeting." Yet getting the perspective of the two main competing ideologies within the GOP helped Reagan to hold on to both sides.

President Bill Clinton also used his ideologically divided staff to his advantage. His team initially pulled his administration leftward with an unsuccessful health care initiative, a tax hike and a push to end the Pentagons ban on gay people serving in the military. The liberal drift contributed to the Democrats loss of both houses of Congress in 1994. Smarting, Mr. Clinton brought in a secret adviserwhom he code-named Charlie"to help moderate his administration. This advisers tactics and mysterious identity unnerved liberal White House staffers like George Stephanopoulos and Harold Ickes, who found that progressive decisions made by day would shift to the right overnight.

Charlie" was soon revealed as the conservative consultant Dick Morris, which enraged many liberal staffers. Mr. Ickes was gleeful when Mr. Morris fell from grace in 1996 over his relationship with a prostitute. But the internal tensions may have been part of the plan. Mr. Stephanopoulos, who loathed Mr. Morris, later wrote that Mr. Clinton had been playing me off against Morris, taking the best from both of us and turning it into something better." A more moderate Mr. Clinton romped to reelection.

The second lever is process, which determines how information flows, who attends key meetings and when timelines are set for decisions. Poor processes set up administrations for unhealthy forms of dissent, including leaking while in power and score-settling for years afterward.

President Jimmy Carters White House was plagued by a bad decision-making process from the start. Mr. Carter initially refused to have a chief of staff, leading to chronic turbulence. On the first day of the administration, White House counsel Robert Lipshutz tried to assert himself by saying, I guess because Im the oldest one here. Ill call this meeting to order." It didnt work. Mr. Carters chief strategist, Hamilton Jordan, was asked how to proceed and said enigmatically, Well have a meeting when theres something to meet about." Another aide, Mark Siegel, witnessed this and wondered, My God, what would the KGB think if they could see us now?" Carter speechwriter James Fallows later wrote that a year was wasted as we blindly groped for answers and did for ourselves what a staff coordinator could have done."

George W. Bush, the first president with an MBA, recognized the importance of process, at least on domestic policy. His political adviser, Karl Rove, said that team members could go to the Oval Office and advocate a perspective diametrically opposed to the point of view of the person on the sofa across" from them, and even in defeat, you can link arms and go on, and be certain that your [losing] view wont appear in the paper." But the same discipline didnt carry over to foreign policy. Mr. Bushs State Department, Defense Department and Office of the Vice President were often at odds, as a less disciplined National Security Council process bred leaks and policy dysfunction.

Finally, presidents set the tone for how and whether to express dissent. President Gerald Ford was reluctant to confront troublemakers. His White House became one of the most rivalrous in history, chaotic and leak-prone. You dont suspect ill motives of anyone until youre kicked in the balls three times," Fords friend and speechwriter Robert Hartmann told him. As a human being, thats a virtue. As a president, its a weakness."

President Barack Obama maintained his No Drama Obama" ethos by making it clear that he disapproved of backbiting and aides who acted out of line. His recent memoir admits to some internal friction" and tension," as does the memoir of former White House deputy chief of staff Alyssa Mastromonaco. As she relates, she once took offense at an article describing her as responsible for overseeing scheduling, personnel and much more." She saw the description as a sexist slight and suspected it came from a colleague, leading her to reply all" to a senior staff email sharing the offending article with a very cutting, infuriated response." The next day, she recalls, Mr. Obama summoned her to the Oval Office and greeted her with the admonition, So, I hear you sent quite an email."

Another time, when White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel couldnt help venting to friends around town" (as Mr. Obama writes) about his unhappiness with the administrations early approach to health care reform, the president called him on the carpet. Mr. Emanuel was contrite, and Mr. Obama forgave him with a condition. You know what your real punishment is?" Mr. Obama said. You have to go pass the goddamn health care bill!"

The Biden team has seen both peaceful and tumultuous periods. In the primaries, reports of staff battles during his early losses in Iowa and New Hampshire led to a reshuffling of his top campaign personnel. The rejiggered group proved more disciplined during the general election, with scant public evidence of infighting.

Like so many presidents before him, Mr. Biden will soon be reminded that campaigning is one thing and governing another. As campaign promises give way to policy realities, disagreements quickly become more serious. If the president-elect wants to avoid letting infighting define his tenure, he will need the lessons of historyand the resolve to enforce them.

(This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text.)

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Shopping for a dishwasher isnt what it used to be.

Who knew that trying to find such a banal appliance would remind you of what it felt like to find toilet paper in April? Or dry yeast in April. Or a bicycle in May. You might be left wondering: When did dishwashers become the next hot item?

Thats what Sonya Racine began to think after she started shopping for one in early August. She had just bought a 2,000-square-foot house in LaSalle, Ill., and the dishwasher in the small, 1920s kitchen was broken. So she decided to buy an 18-inch Bosch in stainless steel  a seemingly reasonable purchase. The narrow model is pretty common, said Ms. Racine, 54, a retired flight attendant. A lot of my friends have them in Chicago.

But when she went to a local appliance store, she was told they had none, nor had they idea when they would get any. They wouldnt even take her order. Home Depot was back-ordered until November. She had no luck at Lowes or Best Buy, either.

Even the white ones were out of stock, she said. In August, she found one at a local New Jersey chain that could ship in October. But the machine arrived damaged and had to be sent back. By then, that November Home Depot option didnt look so bad, so she ordered one and actually got it at the end of the month.
Veterans assisted during the holidays

Chef Mark McAndrew, a culinary instructor at the Career Technology Center of Lackawanna County and city councilman, teamed up with Fight4Vets to provide a Christmas dinner for the residents of St. Francis Commons.

Scranton-based nonprofit Fight4Vets, which helps veterans in need, was co-founded by veteran and West Scranton native Sean Manley, who was present during the organizations first Christmas dinner at the commons, a transitional housing complex for veterans in Scranton.

Fight4Vets funded the dinner and McAndrew, who donated his time to make the meal, served roasted beef tenderloin with French onion roasted potatoes and green beans almondine. National Pastry Bake Shop also donated rolls and pastries.

COVID-19 restrictions were followed during the meal preparation and around 30 residents of the commons enjoyed their meal in the commons rec/dining room.

For more details on the nonprofit or for assistance, visit Fight4Vets on Facebook.

The VETS (Veterans Education, Training & Support) Fund along with the Gardner-Warner American Legion Post 154 from Montrose donated new sweatshirts and sweaters to the residents of the Gino J. Merli Veterans Center in Scranton.

A collaborative effort, the two organizations provided funding to purchase the gifts.

American Legion Auxiliary Unit 869 members, including Margaret Hartmann, Terri Heid, Elizabeth Marion, Melissa Turlip and Ann Sarnoski, helped pack the items in holiday bags to help the veterans celebrate the holiday and to thank them for their service.

The VETS Fund was established at the Community Foundation of the Endless Mountains, a division of Commonwealth Charitable Management, in 2016 in support of local veterans. The fund provides scholarships, assists with physical and mental health needs and crisis intervention.

For more details, contact vets@community-foundation.org.

High notes Since March, Indian American Association of NEPA Youth Leader Leana Pande has held virtual art classes over Zoom.

At $10 a class, Leana donated the proceeds, along with proceeds from a fundraiser held by the association, to the St. Francis of Assisi Kitchen in Scranton.

Their contribution totaled $500.

A goal of the nonprofit association, whose members include President Mona Pande and Munireh Sayed is to find ways to donate back to the community.

Credit supports program Outreach Executive Director Linda Ciampi was among members of her organization who received $1,000 from Landmark Community Bank through the Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program.

Liz Ratchford, Outreach director of Community Outreach and Resource Development, and Carlene Gula, Outreach Early Childhood Program manager, were present outside the organizations facility in Scranton to accept the funding from David Wintermute, vice president of Landmark Community Bank, and Dani Farrell, Scranton branch manager.

The funding will help Outreachs after-school programs that strive to improve the educational outcomes of children in the community. The organization provides innovative after-school programs that enhance the arts and sciences by providing hands-on workshops and demonstrations with a different focus and delivery approach using materials that demonstrate the connections between art and science, according to Outreach.
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Gia Ba Kenh (L) and Gia Duy Chung with the drugs after being arrested on January 1, 2021. Photo courtesy of Nghe An Province Border Police.

Authorities detained two teenagers in the central province of Nghe An and seized 12 packs of heroin and other drugs.

Provincial border guards said they coordinated with the police to arrest Gia Duy Chung, 18 and Gia Ba Kenh, 17, who were traveling by motorbike on Highway 7 in Nam Can Commune, Ky Son District, Friday night.

When their motorbike was stopped, Chung and Kenh, both residents of Ky Son District, tried to fight back and escape, but were restrained and arrested.

A search of their backpacks found 12 packs of 330 grams each of heroin, one kg of meth and 54,000 tablets of synthetic drugs.

The young men said the drugs they got originated in Laos. They were hired by an unidentified Lao national to transport them from Nghe An to northern provinces for VND300 million ($13,000).

The case is being investigated further.

Vietnam is a key trafficking hub for narcotics from the Golden Triangle, an intersection of China, Laos, Thailand, and Myanmar and the world's second-largest drug-producing area behind the Golden Crescent in South Asia.

The repeated seizure of huge amounts of narcotics has been happening despite the nation having some of the worlds toughest drug laws. Those convicted of possessing or smuggling more than 600 grams of heroin or cocaine or over 2.5 kg of methamphetamine could face capital punishment.
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The village of Jieyuan is one of many successes of President Xi Jinpings ambitious pledge to eradicate abject rural poverty by the end of 2020. In just five years, China says it has lifted from extreme poverty over 50 million farmers left behind by breakneck economic growth in cities.

When the Chinese government offered free cows to farmers in Jieyuan, villagers in the remote mountain community were skeptical. They worried officials would ask them to return the cattle later, along with any calves they managed to raise.

But the farmers kept the cows, and the money they brought. Others received small flocks of sheep. Government workers also paved a road into the town, built new houses for the villages poorest residents and repurposed an old school as a community center.

Jia Huanwen, a 58-year-old farmer in the village in Gansu Province, was given a large cow three years ago that produced two healthy calves. He sold the cow in April for $2,900, as much as he earns in two years growing potatoes, wheat and corn on the terraced, yellow clay hillsides nearby. Now he buys vegetables regularly for his familys table and medicine for an arthritic knee.

It was the best cow Ive ever had, Mr. Jia said.

The village of Jieyuan is one of many successes of President Xi Jinpings ambitious pledge to eradicate abject rural poverty by the end of 2020. In just five years, China says it has lifted from extreme poverty over 50 million farmers left behind by breakneck economic growth in cities.

But the village, one of six in Gansu visited by The New York Times without government oversight, is also a testament to the considerable cost of the ruling Communist Partys approach to poverty alleviation. That approach has relied on massive, possibly unsustainable subsidies to create jobs and build better housing.

Local cadres fanned out to identify impoverished households  defined as living on less than $1.70 a day. They handed out loans, grants and even farm animals to poor villagers. Officials visited residents weekly to check on their progress.

Were pretty sure Chinas eradication of absolute poverty in rural areas has been successful  given the resources mobilized, we are less sure it is sustainable or cost effective, said Martin Raiser, the World Bank country director for China.

Beijing poured almost $700 billion in loans and grants into poverty alleviation over the past five years  about 1 percent of each years economic output. That excludes large donations by state-owned enterprises like State Grid, a power transmission giant, which put $120 billion into rural electricity upgrades and assigned more than 7,000 employees to work on poverty alleviation projects.

The campaign took on new urgency this year as the country faced devastation from the coronavirus pandemic and severe flooding. One by one, provinces announced they had met their goals. In early December, Mr. Xi declared that China had achieved a significant victory that impresses the world.

But Mr. Xi acknowledged further efforts were needed to share wealth more widely. A migrant worker in a coastal factory city can earn as much in a month as a Gansu farmer earns in a year.

Mr. Xi also called for officials to make sure that newly created jobs and aid for the poor did not fade away in the coming years.

Gansu, Chinas poorest province, declared in late November that it had lifted its last counties out of poverty. Just a decade ago, poverty in the province was widespread.

Hu Jintao, Chinas leader before Mr. Xi, visited people living in simple homes with few furnishings. Villagers ate so many potatoes that local officials were embarrassed when a young girl initially refused to eat yet another one with Mr. Hu in front of television cameras because she was tired of them, according to a cable disclosed by WikiLeaks.

Though many villages are still reachable only by single-lane roads, they are lined with streetlights powered by solar panels. New industrial-scale pig farms, plant nurseries and small factories have sprung up, creating jobs. Workers are building new houses for farmers.

Three years ago, Zhang Jinlu woke in terror when the rain-weakened mud brick walls of his home gave way. Half the roof timbers came crashing down with slabs of dirt, narrowly missing him and his mother.

Officials in Youfang village built a spacious new concrete house for them, complete with new furniture. Mr. Zhang, 69, now receives a monthly stipend of $82 through the poverty program. His original house was rebuilt for him as a storage shed.

This house used to be dilapidated, and it leaked when it rained, Mr. Zhang said.

The government helps private factories buy equipment and pay salaries if they hire workers deemed impoverished.

At Tanyue Tongwei Clothing & Accessories Company in southeastern Gansu, about 170 workers, mostly women, sewed school uniforms, T-shirts, down jackets and face masks. Workers said that several dozen employees received extra payments from the poverty alleviation program in addition to their salaries.

Lu Yaming, the companys legal representative, said Tanyue receives at least $26,000 a year in subsidies from poverty alleviation programs  out of which $500 a year was paid to each of the 17 villagers deemed impoverished.

But the viability of these factories without ongoing aid is far from clear. Until the subsidies arrived, the factory frequently had trouble paying wages on time, Mr. Lu said.

Inevitable questions swirl over whether some families have used personal ties to local officials to qualify for grants. Corruption investigators punished 99,000 people nationwide in connection with poverty relief efforts last year, according to official statistics. At local eateries in communities like Mayingzhen, where a heavily seasoned platter of fried donkey meat costs $7, the talk is all about who received what, and whether they really should have qualified.

While the poverty alleviation program has helped millions of poor people, critics point to the campaigns rigid definitions. The program assists people classified as extremely poor at some point from 2014 to 2016, without adding others who may have fallen on hard times since then. It also does very little to help poor people in big cities where wages are higher but workers must pay far more for food and rent.

According to the governments complicated criteria for determining eligibility for aid, anyone who owned a car, had more than $4,600 in assets or had a new or recently rebuilt house was excluded. People hovering just above the governments poverty line continue to struggle to make ends meet, but are often denied help with housing or other benefits.

Zhang Sumei, a 53-year-old farmer, earns $1,500 a year growing and selling potatoes and had to use her savings to build her home in concrete. She says that she should have qualified for aid for the extremely poor. Farming Gansus notoriously infertile soil is hard and difficult.

In this society, poor families are designated by cadres, and we have nothing. she said bitterly.

The partys campaign-style approach also fails to tackle deep-seated problems that disproportionately hurt the poor, including the cost of health care and other gaping holes in Chinas emerging social safety net. Villages provide limited health insurance  only 17 percent of the cost of Mr. Jias arthritis medicine is covered, for example. Hefty medical bills can ruin families.

Yang Xiaoling, a 48-year-old worker who works at another government-subsidized factory in Gansu, wept uncontrollably as she described the crippling debt she faced after paying medical fees for her husband, who suffered kidney failure.

Three years ago, she borrowed $7,700 at zero interest from a bank affiliated with the poverty alleviation program and was supposed to invest the money in buying livestock. But instead she borrowed more money from relatives and then spent all the money on a kidney transplant and medicine for her husband.

Now the entire loan is due and she has no money to repay it. Follow-up medical treatments for her husband consume her entire salary. So the couple and their three children and her husbands invalid parents subsist on monthly government poverty assistance payments of less than $50 per person.

I dont have the ability to pay it back. I cant help it, Ms. Yang sobbed. I have already borrowed a lot of money, and now no one lends me money.

Despite the challenges, the poverty relief program may have a long-term political benefit that helps to ensure some of it survives. Gratitude for the program seems to be reinforcing the political power of the party in rural areas.

In Youfang, Mr. Zhang was quick to praise not just the poverty program but also Mr. Xi, comparing him to Mao.

It is good for the country to have Xi Jinping, he said, and the national policy is good.

Chris Buckley contributed reporting from Sydney. Liu Yi, Amber Wang and Coral Yang contributed research.

( Courtesy: New York Times )
Hours after a 67-year-old BJP leader was murdered in Salepur area of Cuttack district in Odisha, the party alleged that the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has started retributive politics like the Trinamool Congress in neighbouring West Bengal. The BJP leader was murdered along with his 71-year-old associate by six miscreants over past enmity.

On Saturday evening, Kulamani Baral, 67, and in-charge of Salepur mandal of BJP and former chairman of Mahanga panchayat Samiti was hacked to death along with his 71-year-old associate Dibyasingh Baral near Jankoti village while coming home on a motorcycle. The duo received grievous injuries on their face and chest. While Kulamani succumbed to the death on the spot, Dibyasingh died while undergoing treatment at the SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack on Sunday morning.

Angry over the twin murders, the BJP said that the ruling BJD had started eliminating rivals in a cold-blooded manner like Mamata Banerjee was doing in Bengal.

Anyone who raises voice against Mamata is being killed in Bengal. Likewise, BJD leaders in Odisha are doing the same to its political rivals. As a senior BJP leader, Baral was raising his voice in corruption in Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana in Nrutanga gram panchayat for quite some time. After he alleged that the well-to-do BJD leaders in the panchayat were appropriating the PMAY houses meant for poor people, the local administration had lodged cases against the ineligible beneficiaries. Those BJD leaders harboured a grudge against him for a long time, alleged Golak Mohapatra, BJP state spokesperson.

Also read: Bharat Biotechs Covaxin can be used as backup, says AIIMS Director

Union petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan also condemned the alleged murder of Baral and his associate and urged the administration to take exemplary action against the culprits. Expressing deep anguish over the incident, BJP national vice president Baijayant Panda said that stringent action should be taken against those involved in the incident after probe. Odisha Congress president Niranjan Patnaik said, Kulamani was a strong leader. His death shows that political killings have now begun in the state. I request the government to take stringent action against the accused.

Son of Kulamani, who lodged an FIR against 12 persons, said his father was raising voice against corruption in several government schemes such as PMAY. My father had already informed the police about the threat to his life. Yet no action was taken, said Ramakant Baral, son of Kulamani. The husband of a local sarpach and a former chairman of panchayat samiti have been named in the FIR.

He also alleged that several persons against whom he lodged an FIR today were behind the murder of Bikash Jena, a local BJP leader in the Jankoti village in December 2018. Had the police taken action against those accused, then my father would not have been killed. These accused are protected by law minister and Mahanga MLA Pratap Jena, said Ramakant.

However, law minister Pratap Jena said that he would see to it that those who killed the BJP leader get punished. There is no place for violence in politics, he said.
Amid the ongoing debate challenge politics between Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) senior leader and Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia and Uttarakhand urban development minister Madan Kaushik, the latter has written a four-page open letter to Sisodia in which he has called him a tourist politician to Uttarakhand.

Kaushik released the letter on social media on Sunday in which he also attacked the AAP government in Delhi by alleging it of duping people of Delhi in its seven-year rule.

Kaushiks open letter has come in response to Sisodias letter dated December 31 wherein he had invited Kaushik for an open debate in Dehradun on January 4 on the development works done by the BJP government in its three and a half years of tenure.

Kaushik in his letter stated, Uttarakhand welcomes crores of tourists each year. It doesnt have any problem in welcoming a tourist politician like you.

Replying on Sisodias debate challenge, he said, As far as the debate challenge is concerned, any of our leader, minister or even a small party worker is ready for it anywhere. But Sisodia should understand that politics is a serious subject and not any theatre show that he wants with the open debate.

Also read: Farmers, govt hopeful of positive outcome day before 7th round of talks

Attacking the AAP, he termed it as a party with a migratory mindset.

Everyone in the country knows about it. Sometimes their leadership tries to leave Delhi and head to Uttar Pradesh and then it tries for chief ministership of Punjab. Now they have turned towards Uttarakhand. However, people of our state are very aware and believe only on development-based politics and not AAPs hope-selling politics due to which people of Delhi are suffering, said Kaushik.

Citing Sisodias challenge to list five development works in health, education, power, water, employment and others, Kaushik alleged that AAPs Delhi government has failed on all these fronts but it is asking Uttarakhands BJP government which has done several hundred works on these fronts.

In education, the AAP government promised to open 400 libraries in Delhi but not even 1/4th have been set up. Also, it has falsely praised itself by supplying water for only two hours a day in many areas. Their Mohalla Clinics have also been locked, on which they thump their chests. There is also a constant dropout of children from government schools in Delhi. On the other hand, if Sisodia checks the works done by us, he will know the reality, said Kaushik.

He also took a jibe on Sisodias letter which stated the year 2020 instead of 2021 as the debate date. It just shows how much he is serious with facts and figures. He should first do proper homework and check the facts before coming for a debate.

On Kaushiks letter, AAP Uttarakhand president SS Kaler said, If Kaushik doesnt come forward for the debate on Monday, it will show that there are no development works to show. We will then go among people to expose this government. This will enable people to look for themselves at development claims while voting in the next assembly elections in the state in 2022, said Kaler.
WASHINGTON (AP)  A coalition of 11 Republican senators announced Saturday it will challenge the outcome of the presidential election by voting to reject electors from some states when Congress meets next week to certify the Electoral College results that confirmed President-elect Joe Biden won.

President Donald Trumps extraordinary refusal to accept his election defeat and the effort to subvert the will of the voters has become a defining moment for Republicans and is tearing the party apart. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has urged Republican not to try to overturn the election.

The 11 senators, led by Ted Cruz of Texas, said they will vote against certain state electors unless Congress appoints an electoral commission to immediately conduct an audit of the election results. They acknowledged they are unlikely to change the results of the election.

We intend to vote on January 6 to reject the electors from disputed states as not regularly given and lawfully certified (the statutory requisite), unless and until that emergency 10-day audit is completed, they wrote in the statement.

We do not take this action lightly, they said.

In response to Trumps unfounded claims of voter fraud, bipartisan election officials and Trumps then-Attorney General William Barr have said there was no evidence of widespread fraud and the election ran smoothly.

The days ahead are expected to do little to change the outcome. Biden is set to be inaugurated Jan. 20 after winning the Electoral College vote 306-232.

Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri was the first to defy McConnell by announcing he would join House Republicans in objecting to the state tallies during Wednesday's joint session of Congress.

On the other side of the partys split, Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska warned such challenges are a dangerous ploy threatening the nations civic norms.

The issue is forcing Republicans to make choices that will set the contours of the post-Trump era and an evolving GOP. Caught in the middle is Vice President Mike Pence, who faces growing pressure and a lawsuit from Trumps allies over his ceremonial role in presiding over the session Wednesday.

I will not be participating in a project to overturn the election, Sasse wrote in a lengthy social media post. Sasse, a potential 2024 presidential contender, said he was urging my colleagues also to reject this dangerous ploy.

Trump, the first president to lose a reelection bid in almost 30 years, has attributed his defeat to widespread voter fraud, despite the consensus of nonpartisan election officials that there wasnt any. Of the roughly 50 lawsuits the president and his allies have filed challenging election results, nearly all have been dismissed or dropped. Hes also lost twice at the U.S. Supreme Court.

Still, the president has pushed Republican senators to pursue his unfounded charges even though the Electoral College has already cemented Bidens victory and all thats left is Congress formal recognition of the count before the new president is sworn in.

We are letting people vote their conscience, Sen. John Thune, the second-ranking Republican, told reporters at the Capitol.

Thunes remarks as the GOP whip in charge of rounding up votes show that Republican leadership is not putting its muscle behind Trumps demands, but allowing senators to choose their course. He noted the gravity of questioning the election outcome.

This is an issue thats incredibly consequential, incredibly rare historically and very precedent-setting, he said. This is a big vote. They are thinking about it.

Pence will be carefully watched as he presides over what is typically a routine vote count in Congress but is now heading toward a prolonged showdown that could extend into Wednesday night, depending on how many challenges are mounted.

The vice president is being sued by a group of Republicans who want Pence to have the power to overturn the election results by doing away with an 1887 law that spells out how Congress handles the vote count.

Trumps own Justice Department may have complicated what is already a highly improbable effort to upend the ritualistic count. It asked a federal judge to dismiss the last-gasp lawsuit from Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas, and a group of Republican electors from Arizona who are seeking to force Pence to step outside mere ceremony and shape the outcome of the vote.

In a court filing in Texas, the department said they have have sued the wrong defendant and Pence should not be the target of the legal action.

A suit to establish that the Vice President has discretion over the count, filed against the Vice President, is a walking legal contradiction, the department argues.

A judge in Texas dismissed the Gohmert lawsuit Friday night. U.S. District Judge Jeremy Kernodle, a Trump appointee, wrote that the plaintiffs allege an injury that is not fairly traceable to Pence, and is unlikely to be redressed by the requested relief.

To ward off a dramatic unraveling, McConnell convened a conference call with Republican senators Thursday specifically to address the coming joint session and logistics of tallying the vote, according to several Republicans granted anonymity to discuss the private call.

The Republican leader pointedly called on Hawley to answer questions about his challenge to Bidens victory, according to two of the Republicans.

But there was no response because Hawley was a no-show, the Republicans said.

His office did not respond to a request for comment.

Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., who has acknowledged Bidens victory and defended his states elections systems as valid and accurate, spoke up on the call, objecting to those challenging Pennsylvanias results and making clear he disagrees with Hawleys plan to contest the result, his office said in a statement.

McConnell had previously warned GOP senators not to participate in raising objections, saying it would be a terrible vote for colleagues. In essence, lawmakers would be forced to choose between the will of the outgoing president and that of the voters.

Several Republicans have indicated they are under pressure from constituents back home to show they are fighting for Trump in his baseless campaign to stay in office.

___

Associated Press writer Aamer Madhani in Chicago contributed to this report.
Modern Australia was built on waves of immigrants who arrived on the country's shores seeking better lives

Pictures show immigration through the years from ocean liners sailing to Australia to the first plane arrivals

In 2019 there were more than 7.5million immigrant Australians, almost 30 per cent of the entire population

As international borders closed in March 2020 amid the Covid pandemic, immigration reduced to a trickle

Much of Australia's modern prosperity was built on waves of migrants who arrived on the shores of a vast, free southern continent to build a better life and enrich the nation.

From ocean liners crossing the seas filled with immigrants from Europe bound for Australia to the first arrivals by plane and the beginnings of a multicultural nation - incredible pictures reveal the history of Australian immigration.

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The story of modern Australia, built on strong population growth, begins on August 2, 1945 with a speech by Australia's first immigration minister Arthur Calwell signalling the beginnings of a policy shift.

'If Australians have learned one lesson from the Pacific War it is surely that we cannot continue to hold our island continent for ourselves and our descendants unless we greatly increase our numbers,' Calwell declared in a speech to Parliament.

'We are about 7million people and we hold 3million square miles of this Earth surface ... much development and settlement have yet to be undertaken. Our need to undertake it is urgent and imperative if we are to survive.'

While the post-war Labor minister remained a supporter of the White Australia policy, he allowed immigration from Eastern Europe and the Baltic states, ending a preference for Britons as part of his 'populate or perish' mantra.

This change eventually led to the first modern waves of Asian immigration during the 1960s, under a Coalition government, although the White Australia policy wasn't officially abolished until 1973 by Labor.

A racially-discriminatory policy and the notion of assimilation was replaced by multiculturalism.

In the decades since Mr Calwell's speech - aimed at winning the Australian public's favour for a campaign of increased immigration - the proportion of the Australian population who were born overseas has tripled from about 10 per cent to nearly 30 per cent.

Since Australia closed its international borders in March 2020 to combat the international coronavirus pandemic, the usual steady stream of immigration abruptly reduced to a trickle.

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In mid-2019 there were more than 7.5 million immigrants living in Australia - with India and China surpassing the United Kingdom in as Australia's highest migrant nations.

In July, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg revealed the government expected overseas migration to Australia to plunge by 80 per cent over the 2020-21 financial year compared to the previous year where 154,000 permanent residency visas were granted.

Here in pictures is a look at the history of Australia's immigration, which has been widely flagged as one of the most important processes for post-Covid recovery in Australia.

1940 - 1950

October 10, 1947: The Critchlow family (pictured) leaving Tilbury in Essex, England aboard the ship the 'Ormonde' to build homes for the Australian government in New South Wales

A young couple (pictured) look out over the Australian landscape at a migrant camp Bathurst on December 8, 1949

A young couple (pictured) read and listen to the radio at a migrant camp in Bathurst, regional New South Wales on December 8, 1949

A migrant ship arrives in Sydney Harbour (pictured) in 1947 packed to the brim with new arrivals seeing Australia for the first time

The first assisted passage migrant from England, Tommy Smith (pictured left), meets Prime Minister Ben Chifley (pictured centre) and Arthur Calwell (pictured right) in 1947

Arthur Calwell (pictured left) and Mrs Calwell (pictured centre) at the New Australian festival are greeted by a Lithuanian immigrant in handcrafted traditional dress in Canberra in 1949

1950 - 1960

April 20, 1955: The Igoe family from Edinburgh (pictured) waiting for their train at London's Waterloo Station, en route to a new life in Melbourne. They are among 2,600 British citizens who were given aid to emigrate to Australia in the next two days

Jubilant Dutch migrant families (pictured) on board the ocean liner the "Sibajak" arrive in Port Melbourne, 1954

A young couple (pictured) migrating to Australia through the World Council of Churches from Yugoslavia aboard the "Castel Felice" in 1955

From left to right - Mrs Jean Knight holds young Jeremy Roger, 2 while Mr Raymond Knight shows Richard John, the 3000th member of the Birmingham Cobbers Club to migrate to Australia, the port as they reach Melbourne on the migrant ship "Fairsea" in 1957

A group of passengers (pictured) on board the migrant transport ship the Fairsea enjoy some socialising on their way to Australia in 1955

Dr Eva Haarmann (standing, right), of Vienna, gives an English lesson to other Australian migrants on the Italian liner 'Fairsea' en route to Australia in 1955

Two immigrants from the United Kingdom (pictured) en route to Australia aboard the Fairsea in 1955

Click here to resize this module

1960 - 1970

Almost 450 migrants from Northern Spain arrived in Melbourne in February, 1962, in the Italian liner, 'Castel Felice'. This was the largest group of Spanish assisted migrants to arrive in Australia since the beginning of post war migration. Most of the migrants were family groups, which included 173 children under the age of 10. Many of the men went to work in the fruit growing area of the Murray Valley. One of the largest families to arrive was that of Mr and Mrs Juan Sanchez (pictured) boarding the train for Bonegilla Migrant Camp with their children. Left to right are Rosa Maria, 7, Maria Pilar, 8, Isabel, 10, Christina, 12, Maria Luisa, 15, Juan, 17, Fernando, 20 and in Mrs Sanchez' arms, nine month old Eduardo

The Taylor family (pictured) on the deck of the modern liner "Fairsea" in 1960 when they arrived in Sydney. They travelled 200 miles by car and train to establish the children comfortably in the Fairbridge School at Molong before the parents returned to Sydney to stay in a British Migrants Accommodation. A miner for 14 years at Bestwood Colliery near Nottingham, Mr Taylor will work as a labourer or factory worker in Australia

The Fairsea arrives in Australia in 1963 from the United Kingdom with a passenger load of new arrivals relocating to the Australian continent (pictured)

A young family arrives in Australia (pictured) aboard the ocean liner the Fairsea bringing in migrants from the United Kingdom in 1963

1970 - 2000

A family of Indo-Chinese refugees (pictured) arrive in Melbourne in 1979 as they walk to temporary accommodation at the Melbourne Hotel

Mr Nguyen Huu Nhu (left) and wife Minh Thi (centre) and their three children meet in Australia in 1982 after six years of separation for the Vietnamese family

A young couple arrive in Australia (pictured) in 1984 from a Special Humanitarian Program inviting refugees from Sri Lanka to the country

Zhang Chun Mei (right), a Mechanical Engineer from China, arrives in Australia to a reunion with family members in 1994

2000 - 2019

Zaira Alieva (left), Michael Edwards (centre) and Amina Khugaeva (right) pose for a photograph during the City of Wanneroo citizenship ceremony, in Perth, Friday, January 26, 2018. The family emigrated from Italy five years ago and were celebrating becoming Australian citizens with a barbecue after the ceremony
ComebackTown is published by David Sher for a more prosperous greater Birmingham and Alabama

Click here to sign up for newsletter. (Opt out at any time)

The Whats happening in Mountain Brook Facebook page is a powerhouse.

More than 23,000 members when there are only about 20,000 men, women, and children who live in all of Mountain Brook, Ala.

Ive been posting ComebackTown articles on this Mountain Brook Facebook page for more than eight years, developed a loyal following andBOOMI was suddenly banned from the site.

You may be reading this column on al.com, LinkedIn, Twitter, Reddit, or on one of our many local Facebook community pages, but you are not reading it on the Whats happening in Mountain Brook Facebook page  unless one of its members shares it.

The Facebook administrators totally blocked my access with no warning, no discussion, and with no right of appeal. I tried to direct message the administrator, but received no response.

No rules for the group seem to have been broken (see below), and theres no requirement that a member live in Mountain Brook.

I was disappointed, but whats really ironic is that the ban reinforces one of the primary concerns of ComebackTown - that some people in our too many municipalities dont want to participate in a community-wide conversation on a better Birmingham region.

And it certainly magnifies one of the most worrisome problems in America today  some people dont want to be exposed to ideas that may differ from their own.

Lets go back ten years

I was sitting at a table at the Harbert Center downtown at a civic club lunch meeting. All my dining companions were older, white, well-to-do Mountain Brook businessmen.

I was shaken by some of the comments they made about their children. All, except one, had adult children who had moved away. The one father that had school age children lamented that he looked forward to the day when his kids would graduate high school and leave Birmingham forever.

I was dumbfounded.

These fathers had everything they thought they wanted from living in a prosperous bedroom community, but they had lost their most important possessiontheir children and grandchildren. Nice homes, gorgeous neighborhood, good schools, wonderful quality of life but children who saw no opportunity here.

Ive been fortunate to visit many other cities and listen to political and business leaders discuss their regions many successes. Cities such as Nashville, Charlotte and Austin are all poaching Birminghams brightest and best. These cities create good jobs while our Birmingham region languishes.

So in 2012 I began publishing ComebackTown, an on-line public forum to discuss a better Birmingham region and state.

Banned from Mountain Brook

But in June, prior to Gov. Kay Iveys required face mask mandate, Frank McPhillips, an attorney and a Mountain Brook resident, noticed that many people in some of our over the mountain communities werent wearing face masks and that COVID was spreading at a higher rate in those areas. He wrote a column for ComebackTown titled, Hoover and Mountain Brook not immune from coronavirus.

The day after it published on the Whats happening in Mountain Brook Facebook page, I was denied access.

Its disappointing the administrators of the Mountain Brook Facebook page deny content to subscribers on topics that concern their community.

The primary objective of ComebackTown is to create a more collaborative and knowledgeable region. I strongly believe most people in Mountain Brook would like to be a part of that conversation.

Im particularly excited about MB Listens , a nonpartisan, grassroots organization that is striving to ensure that everyone is accepted, welcomed, and treated equally in Mountain Brook.

ComebackTowns readership continues to grow and e-mail newsletter subscriptions are at an all-time higheven without the Mountain Brook Facebook page. But Mountain Brook plays a leadership role in our region/state and its Facebook readers should have easy access to ideas and conversations about our past and future.

If you agree and are a member of the Whats happening in Mountain Brook Facebook page, would you consider contacting the administrator to share your feelings? Im sure the administrator would agree if she understood the big picture. At least encourage her to contact me to discuss.

I have lived most of my life in Mountain Brook and am its biggest fan.

ComebackTowns strongest audience is young folks 40 and underwho are ready for a more progressive Birmingham region.

Theres no need for censorship. If anyone doesnt want to read ComebackTown, they dont have to read itbut they should have the option.

*Rules for Whats happening in Mountain Brook Facebook Page

No spamming the group

Be kind and courteous

No hate speech or bullying

Respect everyones privacy

No trolling

Click here to sign up for our newsletter.(Opt out at any time)

David Sher is Co-Founder of AmSher Compassionate Collections. Hes past Chairman of the Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce (BBA), Operation New Birmingham (REV Birmingham), and the City Action Partnership (CAP).

Invite David to speak to your group for free about a better Birmingham. dsher@amsher.com
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Amanda Burke covers Pittsfield City Hall for The Berkshire Eagle. An Ithaca, New York native, she previously worked at The Herald News of Fall River and the Fitchburg Sentinel & Enterprise. Find her on Twitter at @amandaburkec.
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Hungary is unlikely to use Russia's coronavirus vaccine due to its limited production capacity, Prime Minister Viktor Orban said Sunday while criticizing the EU's vaccine acquisition approach.

Often at loggerheads with Brussels over democratic standards, Orban has sent experts to monitor vaccine development in Russia and China, and received samples of Moscow's controversial Sputnik V jab.

"We know that the Russian vaccine is good, but there is not enough of it and probably will not be, as there are production capacity limits," Orban said in an interview on Hungarian public radio.

In comparison with Sputnik V "the Chinese (vaccine) is more promising, it seems that it will be available sooner and in greater quantities," said Orban.

"Ideally, you will be able to choose whether you want to vaccinate yourself with either a vaccine from the west or a Chinese vaccine," he said.

In November Budapest boasted that Hungary was the first European country to receive test samples of the Russian vaccine.

Western and Russian experts have raised concerns over the fast-tracked drug, which has not yet been approved for marketing inside the bloc by the EU's European Medicines Agency (EMA).

Critics have also described Sputnik V as a tool to bolster Russia's geopolitical influence.

Orban said Sunday however that he is "not happy with the pace" of vaccine acquisition from the EU.

"There were manufacturers whose products were available sooner in Canada, the UK, and in Israel than for example in the EU," he said.

"But that is Brussels' job, they are dealing with it," he added.

"We are looking after the eastern relations contact network, as Brussels is not doing that.., that is why it is better to stand on two legs," he said.

Orban's latest jibe toward Brussels comes after Hungary sidestepped the EU's coordinated approach to vaccinations last week.

After receiving its first delivery of the Belgian-made Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus jab December 26 it immediately started administering the vaccine, sidestepping the EU's joint start that began a day later.

Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

 2021 AFP
Samsung Group leader Lee Jae-yong arrives at Seoul High Court, Dec. 30, to attend a hearing of his retrial. / Yonhap



By Baek Byung-yeul



Samsung leader Lee Jae-yong could face up to nine years in prison after prosecutors demanded this in the high court's re-hearing of his trial ordered by the Supreme Court.



Lee and top executives of Samsung are having their original high court sentences reassessed following the order, after originally being found guilty of some of the bribery charges laid against them in the case involving the impeachment of former President Park Geun-hye.



The court will deliver its verdict and possible re-sentencing Jan. 18.



Analysts note that a key point is whether Lee can continue serving a suspended sentence so that he can continue to perform hands-on managerial work at Samsung.



They added that it remains to be seen whether the company's establishment of a compliance committee early this year will work in his favor.



The compliance committee, which was launched last February, recently received a constructive review from a court advisory panel, being recognized for its effectiveness as a watchdog in ensuring Samsung abides by the law and improves its management transparency.



The Samsung Vice Chairman Lee was indicted in 2017 for allegedly offering a bribe to Park's confidant, Choi Sun-sil, in order to get support for his taking over of the ownership of the conglomerate.



He was initially sentenced to five years in jail, but was freed after a year when the Seoul High Court reduced this to a suspended two-year term, while dismissing some of the bribery charges laid against him during an appeal hearing.



However, the Supreme Court overturned part of the appeals court ruling in 2019 and sent the case back to the high court, saying charges that Lee offered bribes to Choi had been excluded in the previous ruling.



During the hearing, prosecutors asked the high court to sentence Lee to prison as Samsung actively sought unjust benefits by bribing the former president and her confidant. By applying a strict stance against Samsung they added the case should become an example of the country's efforts to fight corruption.



The Samsung leader gave an emotional final testimony, tearing up several times while vowing not to repeat similar practices in an apparent plea for leniency. "Today, I stand here with a repentant heart. I stand here, pledging to myself that I will not repeat my mistakes again," Lee told the judges.



In regard to the group's ownership succession issue, Lee reiterated that he won't seek to pass on the management of the conglomerate to his children. The leader also vowed that he will work on facilitating active communication between management and a newly established union.



"Accepting the recommendation made by the compliance committee in May, I revealed my thoughts on ownership succession. I won't let my children even mention anything related to management succession issues. Samsung will never again be controversial for these issues," Lee said, adding the conglomerate "will create a culture of active communication between the union and management."



He also said Samsung is doing its utmost to enhance compliance and the committee has helped in creating meaningful progress.



"Meaningful changes are taking place in our company. They are not small changes at all. I myself am also realizing the changes made through compliance management," Lee said. "When comparing recent meetings to those in the past, the questions I have not asked before have significantly increased. What did the compliance team say? Has the legal team finished its review? Should we bring this issue to the compliance committee? I ask and ask again about anything that could be a problem."



The Seoul High Court recently made public a report of three experts who assessed the activities of Samsung's compliance committee. The experts  former Constitutional Court Judge Kang Il-won, attorney Kim Kyung-soo and accountant Hong Soon-tak  submitted their 83-page final report to the court, Dec. 14.



In the report, the former Constitutional Court judge expressed a positive view on the committee's activities, recognizing its durability and effectiveness.



"What is positive is the committee set an agenda regarding managerial succession, unions and communication with civic organizations and recommended the group improve these," Kang noted in the report, adding the recommendations clearly helped Samsung improve its compliance system.



The compliance committee was initiated after the court recommended Samsung create an internal watchdog in October 2019, saying this would be taken into consideration at sentencing. How much the judges will take the committee's activities into account could have a huge influence on Lee's sentence.


Sir Lenny Henry has called for the BBC and other traditional broadcasters to follow the lead of Netflix in casting actors that represent Britain's ethnic diversity.

The actor and comedian, 62, who has been on our screens for forty years, said that he still felt 'very lonely' in the industry as someone from a minority background.

In his new book which examines issues of race and diversity in British TV Sir Lenny warned that the BBC that it could find itself losing black and asian viewers to on-demand streaming services that 'do a better job at representing their lives', The Times reported.

The Comic Relief co-founder wrote: 'If British broadcasters don't tackle the diversity grey rhino now, they run the risk of losing large parts of their audience forever.'

Sir Lenny Henry, 62, has called for the BBC and other traditional broadcasters to follow the lead of Netflix in casting actors that represent Britain's ethnic diversity

He told how one in five Britons will be from a black, asian or minority ethnic background by 2031.

Sir Lenny added that research had shown this segment of society were watching on-demand streaming services more than others as they feel the shows 'do a better job at representing their lives' than terrestrial broadcasters such as The BBC, Channel 4, Channel 5 and ITV.

The actor makes the call for diversity in all aspects of TV, on screen and behind the camera, in his new book, Access All Areas: The Diversity Manifesto for TV and Beyond, which was co-written by Marcus Ryder, a media diversity expert, and will be released on Thursday by Faber.

Bridgerton, on Netflix, is based on Julia Quinn's best-selling novels and follows the romance between Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynevor) and Simon Basset (Rege-Jean Page), pictured

Bridgerton depicts the wife of King George III as black, based on a disputed theory that she was of African descent. Queen Charlotte is played by British actress Golda Rosheuvel, 49

Recent examples of the streaming service Netflix having succeeded in casting a more diverse range of actors than broadcasters such as ITV can be seen in it's hit show Bridgerton, which is set in early 19th century London and held colour-blind casting calls.

The period drama, which is based on Julia Quinn's best-selling novels, follows the romance between Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynevor) and Simon Basset (Rege-Jean Page, a British-Zimbabwean actor) and has been tipped to become the next Downton Abbey after it enjoyed a successful launch on the streaming site this Christmas.

In the show King George III's wife Queen Charlotte is black, played by British actress Golda Rosheuvel, 49, with Ms Quinn, the author, backing the 'colour-conscious' casting and adding that 'many historians' believe Queen Charlotte had 'some African background'.

Reviews of Bridgerton have been very positive. It was described by the Daily Mail's Weekend Magazine as 'a rollicking romp of a show full of froth, escapism and romance'

Sir Lenny appeared to take a swipe at the lack of diversity in ITV's hit show Downton Abbey, which has a largely white cast, writing in his book that the nominee list at the Royal Television Society's annual awards was like 'a Downton Abbey Christmas special', The Times reported.

The comedian said more needed to be done to increase the number of minority writers, producers and directors, behind the camera - as well as on screen. He added that only having diversity on-screen was 'fake diversity'.

Netflix said it intends to increase diversity across its programming schedule as it aims to be a 'force for good', with the goal of minority background actors playing at least 20 per cent of speaking roles and holding at least one writing, producing or directing, role on each show.

It hopes the content will meet the demands of a 'diverse audience' and attract younger viewers to the subscription service.

At the BBC the goal for off-camera contributions by ethnic minorities is 20 per cent, however it currently stands at 10 per cent. At ITV 11.5 per cent of individuals holding off-screen roles are from minority backgrounds, The Times reports.

Anne Mensah, Netflix's vice-president of original series who used to work for the BBC and joined Netflix in 2018, told The Guardian: 'We've got to get to a place where if somebody is doing something that doesn't take an inclusive approach that should be surprising to you.

'It should be like washing your hands; it should be just what you do.'
Last month, 23 people, including rapists and a murderer - due to be deported to Caribbean country - were removed at the 11th hour after legal challenges

Similar reprieves for some of those due to be flown out of UK on February flight

Celebrities Naomi Campbell, Thandie Newton and Naomie Harris joined more than 60 MPs in writing to Ms Patel calling for deportation flight to be cancelled

Priti Patel (above) has vowed to defy 'do-gooder' celebrities and activist lawyers by making deportation flights to Jamaica a 'regular drumbeat'

Priti Patel has vowed to defy 'do-gooder' celebrities and activist lawyers by making deportation flights to Jamaica a 'regular drumbeat'.

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The Home Secretary was dismayed last month when 23 people, including rapists and a murderer, who were due to be deported to the Caribbean country were instead removed at the 11th hour after legal challenges.

In the end only 13 criminals were returned.

There were similar reprieves for some of those due to be flown out of the UK on a flight in February.

Since April, the Government has chartered more than 30 flights to deport criminals to countries including Albania, France, Germany, Ghana, Lithuania, Nigeria, Poland and Spain.

But a source close to Ms Patel said: 'Each time we do a flight to Jamaica it becomes a big event. We have done two last year and both ended up with statements in Parliament. We run flights to Albania sometimes twice a week.

'This year we will see the number of flights to Jamaica go up. They will become a regular drumbeat.

'It's not fair on either the migrants or the taxpayer to have people stuck in a system where they are about to be deported.'

Plea: Actress Thandie Newton

Bond actress Naomie Harris is among those who called for a deportation flight to be cancelled

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Those who avoided extradition after lawyers intervened included Jermaine Stewart (above), who was sentenced to six years in jail in 2016 for rape

Celebrities including model Naomi Campbell, the actresses Thandie Newton and Naomie Harris and historian David Olusoga joined more than 60 MPs in writing to Ms Patel calling for the deportation flight to be cancelled.

Those who avoided extradition after lawyers intervened included Michael White, a drug dealer who was sentenced to a minimum of 18 years in jail for murder and attempted murder in 2003, and Jermaine Stewart, who was sentenced to six years in jail in 2016 for rape.

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Ms Patel accused the MPs of 're-traumatising' victims of rape and other serious crimes by challenging the removals and described those defending the 'broken' immigration appeals system as 'do-gooders' and 'Leftie lawyers'.

A total of 1,128 foreign-born serious offenders were deported last year, including 23 murderers, 189 rapists and 70 child sex offenders.

The Home Office is considering legislation allowing the deportation of foreign criminals sentenced to at least six months in jail.

Under the current 2007 UK Borders Act, their term must be at least 12 months.
MONTREAL/TORONTO: Medical companies and shippers in Canada are racing to transport time-sensitive radiochemical materials used to treat cancer, as a pandemic-induced drop in passenger flights has narrowed transportation options and created cargo delays.

Half of air cargo normally travels in the belly of passenger jets rather than dedicated freighters. But flight cancellations as traffic plummeted during the pandemic have left some companies scrambling to ship treatments that decay over time, pushing up overall transportation costs.

Before the pandemic, the McMaster Nuclear Reactor in the Canadian province of Ontario could ship its iodine-125 isotope anywhere in a couple of days.

But since spring, deliveries of the isotope, used to treat about 70,000 patients a year with a procedure called brachytherapy, have been delayed as long as 10 days.

Theres fewer flights, so its creating longer routes, said Karin Stephenson, manager of commercial operations at the reactor. Its been really challenging trying to get our product around."

It is a problem in Canada, where a limited domestic market and restrictions on international travel, like a 14-day quarantine for arrivals, have hit air passenger traffic harder than in some other countries like the United States. Travel volumes are down 90% at Canadian airports on an annual basis, according to the government.

U.S. cancer specialists and the American College of Radiology said they had not heard of any widespread concerns over shipping isotopes.

For the broader industry, moving medical isotopes is a challenge because they decay over time. In 10 days, iodine-125 loses about 20% of its radioactivity, said Stephenson.

Another product shipped by McMaster, holmium-166, the key raw material in a liver cancer therapy used in Europe called QuiremSpheres, has a half life of only 27 hours.

Timing is extremely critical," said Jan Sigger, chief executive of Netherlands-based Quirem Medical, recently acquired by Japans Terumo Corp.

Quirem supply chain manager Jerfaas Haalboom said some patients treatments were rescheduled because of delayed shipments.

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Airlines are also moving to smaller planes with less cargo capacity which can lead to some goods being bumped.

Shipments get bumped all the time because of aircraft capacity," said Mike Stopay, director of Pacer Air Freight, a Toronto-area cargo specialist.

The recent pickup in transport of COVID-19 vaccines, equivalent to about 0.3% of global air freight, is not likely to displace time-sensitive medical products in cargo planes, said Marco Bloemen, managing director of Seabury Consulting, a division of Accenture Plc.

Falling plane values, and a rise in e-commerce due to the pandemic, are also fueling a boom in converting passenger planes to freighters. Freighters have greater capacity but fly less frequently, creating a potential headache for some shippers of time-sensitive cargo.

Roy Bekic, logistic manager at the Centre for Probe Development and Commercialization in Ontario, said he depends on passenger flights to ship products to Australia via a connection in Vancouver. Delays have led him to lose a handful of shipments.

For some of my Australian clients I have only about 90 hours before (the treatment) expires," Bekic said.

The challenges are leading to higher transport costs, either to compensate for products lost due to delays, or because companies have fewer options to ship the materials.

Stephenson said McMaster, which has to transport more material to account for longer travel times, recently raised its shipping charges, after absorbing extra costs for months.

Gabriel Freitas, an executive at Vancouver-based isoSolutions, which specializes in sourcing and distributing products in nuclear medicine, said the company has faced increases in shipping prices ranging from around 20% to 30%.

Before COVID-19, Freitas could secure lower prices by searching competing flights.

Now you go with whatever option you get."

Disclaimer: This post has been auto-published from an agency feed without any modifications to the text and has not been reviewed by an editor
This is a simple story of Soviet espionage, an Australian aircraft carrier and what a Qantas navigator saw out of the aircraft window one sunny morning at the height of the Cold War.

Jed Hartman from Killarney Heights, now aged 91, says when interrogated by the Royal Australian Navy about the following events in April 1961 he was asked not to talk to the press.

He has two reasons to talk now. First, he has had extensive heart surgery and faces more operations in the new year. "If I die, the whole story goes with me," he says.

Former navigator Jed Hartman, aged 90, who spotted a Russian warship in Australian waters during the Cold War in 1961. Credit:Ben Rushton

Secondly, having stumbled in November across a story in the Herald about declassified ASIO secret files, he believes he now understands more fully the significance of what he saw. The report said Australian naval intelligence had warned there was "evidence of a Soviet submarine operating in South Australian waters" at the time of major missile firings at the Weapons Research Establishment in Woomera, north of Adelaide.
Moments later, Breseman called his adult son allegedly admitting that he killed Czuj and made suicidal threats, authorities said. Breseman told his son that the victim had urinated in the truck and had struck him, but police later noted no signs of urine in the vehicle, nor any marks or bruises on Breseman.
BEIJING, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), has signed an order to release revised regulations on military equipment.

Focusing on war preparedness and combat capabilities, the regulations define the basic tasks, contents and management mechanisms for military equipment work under the new situation and system.

Comprised of 100 stipulations under 14 chapters, the document adheres to the general principle of "the CMC exercising overall leadership, theater commands responsible for military operations and the services focusing on developing capabilities."

It took effect on Jan. 1, 2021.
We accept obituaries only from the funeral home in charge. For information on submitting an obituary, please contact The Herald-Dispatch by phone at 304-526-2793 or email at obits@herald-dispatch.com. Obituaries for The Herald-Dispatch must be received by 2 p.m. to appear in the next days publication. Obituaries for the Wayne County News, which publishes on Wednesday, must be received by noon Tuesday.
Blue Crush alum Kate Bosworth donned a cut-out top to celebrate her 38th birthday with her husband of seven years, Michael Polish, at a friend's house in Beverly Hills on Saturday.

The platinum-blonde Buddhist unloaded a six-pack of beer from their car while the 50-year-old Independent Spirit Award winner carried two bottles of champagne.

Kate (born Catherine) received three bouquets of white roses and lilies for her special day, which she joked was 'a floral art installation.'

HBD! Blue Crush alum Kate Bosworth donned a cut-out top to celebrate her 38th birthday with her husband of seven years, Michael Polish, at a friend's house in Beverly Hills on Saturday

Boozy bash: The platinum-blonde Buddhist unloaded a six-pack of beer from their car while the 50-year-old Independent Spirit Award winner carried two bottles of champagne

In a tribute, Bosworth's stepdaughter Jasper (from Michael's first marriage to make-up artist Jo Strettell) thanked her for being her 'mentor and guardian for the past 11 years.'

'Happy Birthday Madre!' the 23-year-old actress gushed. 'From the moment we met you've been the warmest most loving women and have been there for me every step of the way. You are not only a mother figure to me but a best friend, I love you so much.'

The Los Angeles native and Polish's love - which she called 'life's greatest achievement' - originally began in mid-2011 when he directed her in his dismally-reviewed film Big Sur.

Kate and the Force of Nature filmmaker are reportedly shopping around their 10-episode modern western drama Bring on the Dancing Horses, which they shot in Montana where they wed.

In bloom: Kate (born Catherine) received three bouquets of white roses and lilies for her special day, which she joked was 'a floral art installation'

'I love you baby girl!' In a tribute, Bosworth's stepdaughter Jasper (from Michael's first marriage to make-up artist Jo Strettell) thanked her for being her 'mentor and guardian for the past 11 years'

'Life's greatest achievement': The Los Angeles native and Polish's love originally began in mid-2011 when he directed her in his dismally-reviewed film Big Sur (pictured December 25)

Feeling the love: Kate also received birthday tidings from celeb pals like January Jones, Selma Blair, Emile Hirsch, Sophia Bush, Walton Goggins, Rachel Zoe, and Helena Christensen

Bosworth also received birthday tidings from celeb pals like January Jones, Selma Blair, Emile Hirsch, Sophia Bush, Walton Goggins, Rachel Zoe, and Helena Christensen.

Speaking of Emile, he and the I-Land producer-star have been hard at work filming Mukunda Michael Dewil's psychological thriller The Immaculate Room

The film 'follows a seemingly perfect couple who take part in a psychological experiment that will reward them $5M if they can stay in a perfectly white room for 50 days,' according to Deadline.

Kate will next likely head to Utah to attend the January 30th Sundance Film Festival premiere of Lyle Mitchell Corbine Jr.'s feature directorial debut, Wild Indian.

'It's going to be SO good!' Speaking of Emile (L), he and Bosworth have been hard at work filming Mukunda Michael Dewil's psychological thriller The Immaculate Room
Republican Senator Ted Cruz led the group of GOP Senators to object next week or on Jan.6 the certification of the presidential elections.

Numerous allies of Pres. Donald Trump from the House of Senate will object to the certification of the presidential election results next week and will demand a 10-day audit of the results by an electoral commission. The group of Republican Senators to object to the certification is headed by Sen. Ted Cruz.

Read also: IRS, Treasury Start Sending Out $600 Stimulus Payments

GOP Senators To Object the Certification of Presidential Results

Just weeks before President-elect Joe Biden enters the White House, a group of Republican Senators headed by Sen. Ted Cruz decided to object to the certification of the Presidential election results. They will attempt to stop the certification next week or on Jan. 6.

According to a published article in FOX News, Cruz and other Republican lawmakers claimed that the recent Presidential election "featured unprecedented allegations of voter fraud and illegal conduct." In fact, Pres. Trump had filed different cases in different states to overturn the result of the election.

Along with Sen. Ted Cruz who are decided to object to the certification are Sens. Ron Johnson, R-Wis.; James Lankford, R-Okla.; Steve Daines, R-Mont.; John Kennedy, R-La.; Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., and Mike Braun, R-Ind.; as well as Sens.-elect Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo.; Roger Marshall, R-Kansas; Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., and Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala.

Moreover, their attempt to stop or to block the certification is separate from a petition that Sen. Josh Hawley announced recently this week and said that he will object to what he claims was the failure of some states most especially Pennsylvania for not following their election laws.

Lawmakers Asserted Fraud During the Election

In the official statement lawmakers released, they said "Voter fraud has posed a persistent challenge in our elections, although its breadth and scope are disputed. By any measure, the allegations of fraud and irregularities in the 2020 election exceed any in our lifetimes."

According to a reliable source, Sen. Ted Cruz orchestrated the push the object to the certification just days before the joint session of Congress on Wednesday to officially approve the Electoral College votes electing former Vice President Joe Biden.

Lawmakers also explained that there was also a time where members of the Democratic Party objected to the Presidential elections. These were in 1969, 2001, 2005, and 2019.

They said, "In both 1969 and 2005, a Democratic Senator joined with a Democratic House Member in forcing votes in both houses on whether to accept the presidential electors being challenged."

Moreover, Sen. Ted Cruz and other lawmakers who joined him are calling for Congress to appoint a commission to conduct a 10-day emergency audit of the election returns in states where the results are disputed.

They gave the 1877 race between Samuel Tilden and Rutherford Hayes in which there were allegations of fraud in multiple states.

Lawmakers explained that Congress did not ignore the allegations in 1877 and instead they appointed members of the Electoral Commission. They are composed of five Senators, five House Members, and five Supreme Court Justices.

Read also: State Senator Ben Chafin Dies at Age 60 From COVID-19
Kourtney Kardashian is often the host of the Kardashian-Jenner clan's holiday season celebrations, including their recent family-only Christmas Eve party.

But the POOSH founder, 41, allowed herself to enjoy a day of relaxation on Saturday as she cozied up by the fireplace in her lavish Calabasas home.

Holding a cup of tea to her mouth, Kardashian explained to her 105million followers on Instagram that she relies on a non-melatonin based tea to calm her down at bedtime.

Relaxing: Kourtney Kardashian allowed herself to enjoy a day of relaxation on Saturday as she cozied up by the fireplace in her lavish Calabasas home

'Sleep is so important for our physical and mental health, and of course we all need our beauty sleep,' wrote Kourtney, who kept her fit frame concealed beneath a cozy blanket.

Her lengthy raven hair was tied up into a high ponytail and she appeared to be wearing a minimal amount of makeup.

The KUWTK star's fireplace blazed behind her as she leisurely sipped on her boiling hot cup of tea.

After enjoying some alone time, Kardashian headed out into her backyard to catch the day's gorgeous sunset.

Stunning: After enjoying some alone time, Kardashian headed out into her backyard to catch the day's gorgeous sunset

Meanwhile: As the sun set, her two sons, Mason, 11, and Reign, five, wrestled with one another atop a trampoline

As the sun set, her two sons, Mason, 11, and Reign, five, wrestled with one another atop a trampoline.

The pair had on opposing costumes as they playfully writhed around.

'Brothers,' wrote Kourtney, who shares Mason and Reign, as well as eight-year-old daughter Penelope, with ex Scott Disick, 37.

Bon Apetit: Once night came, Kardashian headed into her spacious kitchen and decided to whip her family up a home cooked meal

Once night came, Kardashian headed into her spacious kitchen and decided to whip her family up a home cooked meal.

She prepared a green-toned pasta dish that required a ton of freshly minced garlic and half a stick of butter.

'I don't cook but when I do,' captioned Kourtney, who documented portions of her cooking process on her Instagram Story.

Whipping it up: She prepared a green-toned pasta dish that required a ton of freshly minced garlic and half a stick of butter

Going all out: 'I don't cook but when I do,' captioned Kourtney, who documented portions of her cooking process on her Instagram Story

Kourtney, who often referred to herself a homebody, has gotten to spend plenty of time with her three children amid the coronavirus lockdown in Los Angeles.

And on New Year's Day, the sister of Kim Kardashian could not help but express her gratitude over getting the opportunity to wake up with her children every morning.

'Feeling extra grateful this morning that I get to wake up with these cuties,' began the star, who included a photo of herself with Reign and Penelope.

Grateful: And on New Year's Day, the sister of Kim Kardashian could not help but express her gratitude over getting the opportunity to wake up with her children every morning

'[I am grateful] or all of the special time we got together this last year, for all of the reminders about what really matters, for slowing down.

'I learned so much this past year! Sending prayers of health and happiness to all. Happy New Year! (And yes, still in Christmas pajamas)' concluded Kardashian.

As for New Year's Eve, Kourtney was able to showcase the glamorous, party side that all of her fans have grown to love since her Keeping Up With The Kardashians days.

Party time: As for New Year's Eve, Kourtney was able to showcase the glamorous, party side that all of her fans have grown to love since her Keeping Up With The Kardashians days

Bartending: 'tequila on the rocks with lime,' captioned Kardashian as she posed for some festive social media snaps in front of her swanky bar while shaking up some tequila cocktails

'tequila on the rocks with lime,' captioned Kardashian as she posed for some festive social media snaps in front of her swanky bar while shaking up some tequila cocktails.

The Kardashian/Jenner favorite is a simple mix of tequila over ice with lime, which she gladly whipped up for the evening.

She rocked a plunging patent leather party dress with high heels and a high ponytail
Americas future depends on our handling of truth. Thats a tall order in a morally relative society during the information age. Our politicians and media personalities have taken note and advantage. They beg us to fight shadowy socialists, fascists, racists, and capitalists imbued with the force of government who threaten us. Their solution is almost always yielding more power and influence to them.

Christians have engaged the political space since the founding of America, but lately somethings changed. Too many American Christians have proven willing to subordinate the truth to their preferred political propaganda. Control of government has become more critical to Christian identity than the person of Jesus Christ. Were not the first generation of believers to face such a critical choice.

From the Politburos perspective, Pope John Paul IIs visit to Poland in the summer of 1979 had not gone well. Polish apparatchiks had little interest in explaining to Moscow why they provided him with yet another platform before his return to the Vatican. For that reason, they refused to allow the Popes mass in Blonie Field to be advertised.

But the whispers about the Popes trip had already traveled far and wide across the country.

His pilgrimage marked the 900th anniversary of the martyrdom of St. Stanislaus, a saint killed for his political defiance. Likewise, John Paul II refused to subordinate the message of the church to that of the communist state. Christ will never approve that man be considered, or that man consider himself, merely as a means of production, declared the Polish Pope, or that he be appreciated, esteemed and valued in accordance with that principle. His message found its target. Earlier in the week, a million people in Warsaw chanted, We want God! as their secular totalitarian government watched in dismay.

So the people came.

All total, more than three million souls crowded into a meadow adjacent to Krakow because the Pope reminded them of a choice: Identity with Christ or the state. Only one of those choices met the deepest desire of their hearts.

Everything we have accomplished, in terms of the secularization of society, lamented a senior Communist Party official from Poland, everything we have done since 1945, we will have to begin again. Over the next decade, the crack which began in Poland would ultimately bring down an infamous wall in Berlin.

All human beings crave moral purpose. Without it, we have no unifying narrative to the events in our lives. Americans arent uniquely exempt from this phenomenon, and our civil liberties provide prime soil for political propaganda and outright lies to grow.

The Popes challenge in 1979 should resonate with Christians in a modern culture eroding truth itself:

You must be strong with the strength of faith, hope and charity, a charity that is aware, mature and responsible and helps us to set up the great dialogue with man and the world rooted in the dialogue with God himself, with the Father through the Son in the Holy Spirit, the dialogue of salvation.

Christians should not be confused regarding our moral purpose or personal identity because it is grounded in the deepest longing of our hearts: We want God.

We must absolutely participate in our representative democracy, but, where our faith and political inclinations collide, it is the latter which must give way. We have no need for political saviors because our salvation doesnt come from government structures, laws, or regulations. It is past time that many of us who claim to follow Jesus remembered that.

America is a historical anomaly where citizens govern themselves. We can worship freely, speak openly, and challenge the political class at will. If men and women of faith in Poland enduring the rule of an atheistic dictatorship possessed the moral clarity of desiring God, why do American Christians today find it so difficult?

The modern political lens is such a myopic view of the world as to border on blindness. Christians know the truth, and it sets us free in a manner no state can ever threaten. We have the option of using that liberty to set up the dialogue of salvation between God and man, or we can yield it in support of political narratives that conflict with the truth. We cannot do both and only one affords a future worthy of the divine calling weve received.
HERAT, Afghanistan, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- Armed militants abducted a passenger bus in Afghanistan's western province of Herat on Saturday, local official Lal Mohammad Omarzai said.

"A group of armed insurgents intercepted a passenger bus with dozens on board in Childokhtaran area along the Herat city-Turghundi highway at about 07:00 a.m. (local time) and took it to an unknown location," Omarzai who serves as the district chief for Rubat-e-Sangi district told Xinhua.

The official accused Taliban militants of kidnapping the bus, but the armed group has yet to make any comments.

No group has claimed responsibility for the abduction yet.

Police have launched an operation to secure the safe release of the passengers, the official said.
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The group, which presented no new evidence of election problems, includes senators Ron Johnson, of Wisconsin, James Lankford, of Oklahoma, Steve Daines, of Montana, John Kennedy, of Louisiana, Marsha Blackburn, of Tennessee, and Mike Braun, of Indiana, as well as senators-elect Cynthia Lummis, of Wyoming, Roger Marshall, of Kansas, Bill Hagerty, of Tennessee, and Tommy Tuberville, of Alabama. Trump, the first president to lose a re-election bid in almost 30 years, has attributed his defeat to widespread voter fraud, despite the consensus of non-partisan election officials and even Trump's attorney-general that there was none. Of the roughly 50 lawsuits the President and his allies have filed challenging election results, nearly all have been dismissed or dropped. Hes also lost twice at the US Supreme Court. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video The days ahead are expected to do little to change the outcome. Joe Biden will be inaugurated on January 20th, and no publicity stunt will change that," said Senator Amy Klobuchar, of Minnesota, the top Democrat on the panel overseeing the Electoral College count.

Klobuchar said the Republican effort to create a federal commission to supersede state certifications when the votes have already been counted, recounted, litigated, and state-certified was wrong. It is undemocratic. It is unAmerican. And fortunately, it will be unsuccessful. In the end, democracy will prevail, she said in a statement. The convening of the joint session to count the Electoral College votes is usually routine. While objections have surfaced before  in 2017, several House Democrats challenged Trump's win  few have approached this level of intensity. Vice President Mike Pence is under pressure to use his ceremonial role at Biden's confirmation to block votes. Credit:AP On the other side of the Republican divide, Nebraska senator Ben Sasse  another possible 2024 contender  has urged his colleagues to "reject this dangerous ploy", which he said threatened the nations civic norms.

Caught in the middle is Vice President Mike Pence, who faces growing pressure from Trumps allies over his ceremonial role in presiding over the session on Wednesday. Pence's chief of staff, Marc Short, said in a statement on Sunday AEDT that the politicians had the right to raise their objections. "The Vice President welcomes the efforts of members of the House and Senate to use the authority they have under the law to raise objections and bring forward evidence before the Congress and the American people on January 6," Short said. Pence will be carefully watched as he presides over what is typically a routine vote count in Congress but is now heading towards a prolonged showdown that could extend into Wednesday night, depending on how many challenges are mounted. Several Republicans have indicated they are under pressure from constituents back home to show they are fighting for Trump in his baseless campaign to stay in office.

Senator John Thune, the second-ranking Republican, told reporters at the Capitol that leadership was allowing senators to vote their conscience. Thunes remarks as the Republican in charge of rounding up votes show that the party's leadership is not putting its muscle behind Trumps demands, but allowing senators to choose their course. He noted the gravity of questioning the election outcome. This is an issue thats incredibly consequential, incredibly rare historically and very precedent-setting, he said. This is a big vote. A judge in Texas dismissed a lawsuit from Republican congressman Louie Gohmert and a group of Arizona electors trying to force Pence to step outside mere ceremony and shape the outcome of the vote. US District Judge Jeremy Kernodle, a Trump appointee, dismissed the suit late Friday, and an appeal the next day was rejected. To ward off a dramatic unraveling, McConnell convened a conference call with Republican senators on Thursday specifically to address the coming joint session and logistics of tallying the vote, according to several Republicans granted anonymity to discuss the private call.

The Republican leader pointedly called on Hawley to answer questions about his challenge to Bidens victory, according to two of the Republicans. But there was no response because Hawley was a no-show, the Republicans said. Loading Hawley's office said he sent an email afterward to his colleagues explaining his views. In the email, Hawley said constituents back home are angry and disillusioned with the outcome of the election. Republican Senator Pat Toomey, who has acknowledged Bidens victory and defended his states election systems as valid and accurate, spoke up on the call, objecting to those challenging Pennsylvanias results and making clear he disagreed with plans to contest the result, his office said in a statement.
WASHINGTON  A growing number of Republican lawmakers are joining President Donald Trumps extraordinary effort to overturn the election, pledging to reject the results when Congress meets next week to count the Electoral College votes and certify President-elect Joe Bidens win.

Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas on Saturday announced a coalition of 11 senators who have been enlisted for Trumps effort to subvert the will of American voters.

This follows the declaration from Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri, who was the first to buck Senate leadership by saying he would join with House Republicans in objecting to the state tallies during Wednesdays joint session of Congress.

Trumps refusal to accept his defeat is tearing the party apart as Republicans are forced to make consequential choices that will set the contours of the post-Trump era. Hawley and Cruz are both among potential 2024 presidential contenders.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell had urged his party not to try to overturn what nonpartisan election officials have concluded was a free and fair vote.

The 11 senators largely acknowledged Saturday they will not succeed in preventing Biden from being inaugurated on Jan. 20 after he won the Electoral College 306-232. But their challenges, and those from House Republicans, represent the most sweeping effort to undo a presidential election outcome since the Civil War.

We do not take this action lightly, Cruz and the other senators said in a joint statement.

They vowed to vote against certain state electors on Wednesday unless Congress appoints an electoral commission to immediately conduct an audit of the election results. They are zeroing in on the states where Trump has raised unfounded claims of voter fraud. Congress is unlikely to agree to their demand.

The group, which presented no new evidence of election problems, includes Sens. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, James Lankford of Oklahoma, Steve Daines of Montana, John Kennedy of Louisiana, Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee and Mike Braun of Indiana, and Sens.-elect Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming, Roger Marshall of Kansas, Bill Hagerty of Tennessee and Tommy Tuberville of Alabama.

Trump, the first president to lose a reelection bid in almost 30 years, has attributed his defeat to widespread voter fraud, despite the consensus of nonpartisan election officials and even Trumps attorney general that there was none. Of the roughly 50 lawsuits the president and his allies have filed challenging election results, nearly all have been dismissed or dropped. Hes also lost twice at the U.S. Supreme Court.

The days ahead are expected to do little to change the outcome.

Joe Biden will be inaugurated on January 20th, and no publicity stunt will change that, said Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, the top Democrat on the panel overseeing the Electoral College count.

Klobuchar said the Republican effort to create a federal commission to supersede state certifications is wrong.

It is undemocratic. It is un-American. And fortunately it will be unsuccessful. In the end, democracy will prevail, she said in a statement.

The convening of the joint session to count the Electoral College votes is usually routine. While objections have surfaced before  in 2017, several House Democrats challenged Trumps win  few have approached this level of intensity.

On the other side of the Republican divide, several senators spoke out Saturday against Cruz and Hawleys effort.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska said in a statement that she will vote to affirm the election and urged colleagues in both parties to join her in maintaining confidence in elections so that we ensure we have the continued trust of the American people.

Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania said a fundamental, defining feature of a democratic republic is the right of the people to elect their own leaders. He said the effort by Hawley, Cruz and others to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in swing states like Pennsylvania directly undermines this right.

Earlier this week, Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska, another possible 2024 contender, urged his colleagues to reject this dangerous ploy, which he said threatens the nations civic norms.

Caught in the middle is Vice President Mike Pence, who faces growing pressure from Trumps allies over his ceremonial role in presiding over the session Wednesday.

Several Republicans have indicated they are under pressure from constituents back home to show they are fighting for Trump in his baseless campaign to stay in office.

Sen. John Thune, the second-ranking Republican, told reporters at the Capitol that leadership was allowing senators to vote their conscience.

Thunes remarks as the GOP whip in charge of rounding up votes show that Republican leadership is not putting its muscle behind Trumps demands, but allowing senators to choose their course. He noted the gravity of questioning the election outcome.

This is an issue thats incredibly consequential, incredibly rare historically and very precedent-setting, he said. This is a big vote.

Pence will be carefully watched as he presides over what is typically a routine vote count in Congress but is now heading toward a prolonged showdown that could extend into Wednesday night, depending on how many challenges are mounted.

A judge in Texas dismissed a lawsuit from Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas, and a group of Arizona electors trying to force Pence to step outside mere ceremony and shape the outcome of the vote. U.S. District Judge Jeremy Kernodle, a Trump appointee, dismissed the suit late Friday.

To ward off a dramatic unraveling, McConnell convened a conference call with Republican senators Thursday specifically to address the coming joint session and logistics of tallying the vote, according to several Republicans granted anonymity to discuss the private call.

The Republican leader pointedly called on Hawley to answer questions about his challenge to Bidens victory, according to two of the Republicans.

But there was no response because Hawley was a no-show, the Republicans said.

Hawleys office said he sent an email afterward to his colleagues explaining his views. In the email, Hawley said constituents back home are angry and disillusioned with the outcome of the election.

McConnell had previously warned GOP senators not to participate in raising objections, saying it would be a terrible vote for colleagues. In essence, lawmakers would be forced to choose between the will of the outgoing president and that of the voters.


Native American tribes in the United States are working to protect their oldest members from the new coronavirus.

A Navajo woman, Monica Harvey, wanted to help the oldest members of her tribe get needed household goods without the risk of becoming infected with the virus. So, she started Defend Our Community, a group that sends supplies to older tribe members.

She said she got the idea from watching crowds at a Sams Club store in the northern part of the state of Arizona. People bought up all the necessary products. Older Native Americans did not move fast enough. Harvey saw them looking sad when they reached empty places in the store.

Harveys effort is about saving lives, but it also is about more than that. Tribal elders serve as honored links to the past and often have rare knowledge of language, history and culture.

The knowledge of elders is valuable because tribes often pass down their traditions using spoken words or by telling stories. Tribal groups are giving out protective equipment, providing meals and trying to quickly get vaccines for their oldest members.

That includes the Navajo Nation in the American Southwest, the Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma, the Blackfeet Nation in Montana and the Mashantucket Pequot Nation in Connecticut.

Loss of elders to the virus could mean a permanent loss of important traditions for the tribes.

"When you lose an elder, you lose a part of yourself," said Harvey. She lives in Leupp, Arizona, east of the city of Flagstaff.

Harvey remembers her own grandfather explaining the stories behind Navajo songs and teaching her Navajo words from the songs. She often listened to her grandparents speaking Navajo while she went over the words quietly to herself.

Tribal treasures

In Oklahoma, the Cherokee Nation has increased the amount of food it gives to elders. The nation has also given money to those who were struggling to pay living costs. The tribe plans to give COVID-19 vaccinations first to elders and those who work with them, along with hospital and emergency workers. Next are those whose first language is Cherokee and others considered "tribal treasures."

An effort among the Blackfeet in Montana is helping the tribe's members connect with elders who need support. Connecticut's Mashantucket Pequot Nation is providing its members with face coverings and online medical advice. They also say they are providing meals and vaccinations.

Precious libraries of knowledge

Loren Racine started a Facebook page offering help in the Blackfeet community. "Elders are like libraries. Losing one is like a library burning down," she said.

Roy Boney Jr. supervises a Cherokee language program. He said most Cherokee speakers are elders. They make up a small number of people the program trusts to teach the language. "Elders hold our history and culture but also our language. ... Our elders are precious," Boney said.

Almost half of the Cherokee who died from the coronavirus in the tribes health services spoke Cherokee well. Boney said losing even a few speakers can be very harmful to the efforts to save the language and culture. They have special knowledge of local ways of speaking, medicine and customs, he said. "All these things we're trying to revitalize and save, they're the heart of all of it."

Mashantucket Pequot elders changed to online meetings for the gatherings of many generations where traditional stories are told. An elders council also helps to organize Pequot language game nights and Schemitzun, the annual Festival of the Green Corn.

The tribes chief medical officer is Setu Vora. He said when his group heard about the threat of COVID-19, we immediately started working to protect them." The tribe has no known COVID-19 deaths.

Pequot elders play an important part in the effort to recover the tribe's language, which is no longer widely spoken. Elders still remember hearing family members speak the language and can give details about words. A few of the tribe's 2,000 members are learning to speak Pequot as they research and reclaim new words, Vora said.

Honoring 'Granny'

Karen Ketcher was among 28 Cherokee Nation elders who died from the coronavirus. She was almost 71 years old and had many years of experience working for the tribe and the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs. Her knowledge was valuable, said her granddaughter, Taryn King, who is 31 years old and lives in Stilwell, Oklahoma.

"There's so much at stake when this virus hits our communities," King said. She described elders as "the glue that holds our communities together."

A co-worker, Kamisha Hair, said everyone who worked with Ketcher loved her and called her Granny. Ketcher died in April. Relatives held a small outdoor service for her. When they returned to town, other Cherokees were standing in the streets to show their respect for her.

"Losing an elder like Granny is like losing a piece of your identity," Hair said. "It dies with them, and you can never get it back."

Im Jill Robbins.

And Im Armen Kassabian.

Christine Fernando and Felicia Fonseca wrote this story for the Associated Press. Jill Robbins adapted it for VOA Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor.

___________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

elder  n. an older person; senior member of a group

Nation  n. a tribe of Native Americans or a group of Native American tribes that share the same history, traditions, or language and is under the control of its own government

precious adj. very valuable and important

revitalize  v. to make (someone or something) active, healthy, or energetic again

at stake  adj. in a position to be lost or gained

glue  n. a substance used to stick things tightly together
Addis Ababa, Jan 3 : The Ethiopian government has deployed airplanes and helicopters in its fight against a recent locust invasion, an official said here.

On Saturday, Abera Lemma, Public Relations Director at Ethiopia Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), said the aircraft were being used to assess the extent of the invasionm as well as to spray chemicals on locust affected areas, reports Xinhua news agency.

Lemma said the planes and choppers were being deployed in areas located in Ethiopia's Southern, Oromia and Somali regions hit hardest by the locust invasion.

Lemma further said there are plans to initiate a community-led campaign to fight the locust invasion which crossed to Ethiopia from neighbouring Somalia.

The MoA has dispatched dozens of experts to help with the efforts to battle the locust invasion which is threatening tens of hectares of agricultural lands.

According to the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Ethiopia suffered the worst locust outbreak in 25 years in 2020.

Since January 2020, swarms of desert locusts damaged over 200,000 hectares of cropland in Ethiopia affecting the food security of millions of people, the FAO added.

Each square kilometre of a swarm can have from 40 million-80 million locusts.

An adult desert locust consumes food equaling roughly to its weight -- about two grams every day, which means that even a small swarm of insects will eat food consumed by six elephants, 20 camels, or 35,000 people every day, according to the FAO.
Georgia's Republican Senate candidates are backing Donald Trump's call to distribute $2000 stimulus checks to Americans amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue have both previously stated they are in favor of the handout, but have again pushed for the payment ahead of their crucial Senate run-off races next Tuesday, January 5.

'We have put together a robust legislative package that will benefit every Georgian and deliver $2,000 to those in need,' Perdue and Loeffler said in a new statement obtained by WCTV.

Their push for the increased sum of money puts them at odds with many Republicans, who have endorsed a much smaller payment of $600.

However, the $2,000 amount is likely to make the pair more appealing to voters - which is crucial given that both of their races are expected to come down to the wire.

Loeffler is taking on the Rev. Raphael Warnock, while Perdue is facing off against Jon Ossoff.

Georgia's Republican Senate candidates Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue are backing Donald Trump's call to distribute $2000 stimulus checks to Americans amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic

Loeffler is taking on the Rev. Raphael Warnock (left), while Perdue is facing off against Jon Ossoff (right)

Republican control of the Senate hinges on Perdue and Loeffler winning the run-offs.

If Warnock and Ossoff both manage to eke out victories, it will create a 50/50 split in the Senate, and provide incoming Vice President Kamala Harris with the deciding vote.

That would give Democrats control of the White House and both chambers of Congress, leaving Trump's MAGA legacy in tatters.

Trump is keenly aware of that risk, and has confirmed he will travel to Georgia on Monday to support Loeffler and Perdue.

Biden will also be in the Peach State Monday, lending some star power to Warnock and Ossoff's rallies.

In recent months, Biden and his team have steered at least $18 million to help Ossoff and Warnock try to unseat the Republican senators.

Biden will also be in the Peach State Monday, lending some star power to Warnock and Ossoff's rallies. He is pictured with Warnock at a rally in Atlanta last month

Biden's campaign manager and incoming White House deputy chief of staff, Jen O'Malley Dillon, confirmed the figures to the Associated Press on Saturday.

The money includes about $6 million in staff and voter data support and $12 million in fundraising for the two campaigns.

The president-elect and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris also have recorded robocalls to blanket the state ahead of Tuesday. The pair has planned media interviews in markets across Georgia, including morning and late-afternoon 'drive-time' radio on Election Day.

Republicans face considerable pressure to maximize their expected Election Day advantage to make up for an apparent repeat of Democrats' success in early voting turnout in November's election.

'This is a turnout election, and the Democrats are turning out their votes,' Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, warned a GOP crowd Saturday in Cumming, an Atlanta suburb where he campaigned with Loeffler.

Meanwhile, Trump tweeted Saturday morning urging his followers to get behind the two GOP Senate candidates as he announced he was traveling south to help the candidates.

'Will be in Georgia on Monday night, 9:00 P.M. to RALLY for two GREAT people, @sendavidperdue & @kloeffler. GET READY TO VOTE ON TUESDAY!!!' he tweeted Saturday morning.

Meanwhile, Trump tweeted Saturday morning urging his followers to get behind the two GOP Senate candidates as he announced he was traveling south to help the candidates

Donald Trump will be in Georgia on Monday stumping for Loeffler and Perdue

However, the president has consistently called into question the legitimacy of the runoff races.

In a Twitter rant on New Year's Day, Trump claimed the whole of Georgia's election is 'not legal or constitutional' due to 'massive' changes to the voting process he says were made 'hastily' in the run up to the presidential election.

Trump specifically took aim at the Georgia 'consent decree' - a bipartisan agreement reached in March by state Democratic and Republican officials that determined standards for validating signatures on absentee ballots.

He also continued to push unfounded claims of widespread election fraud saying without evidence that there was 'massive corruption' in the 2020 election in the Twitter thread that was marked with a 'disputed' warning by the platform.

Trump's swipes at Georgia is fueling fears among the GOP that it will dissuade his supporters from voting in the crucial runoffs on Tuesday,

Georgia Republicans including Georgia Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan are warning him he is damaging Loeffler and Perdue's chances.

In a Twitter rant on New Year's Day, Trump claimed the whole of Georgia's election is 'not legal or constitutional' due to 'massive' changes to the voting process he says were made 'hastily' in the run up to the presidential election

Loeffler is increasing her visibility on the campaign trail ahead of Trump's arrival in the state

Meanwhile, Loeffler is increasing her visibility on the campaign trail ahead of Trump's arrival in the state.

She held a campaign rally Saturday joined by Texas Senator Ted Cruz in Cumming, Georgia.

Perdue meanwhile announced Thursday he was in quarantine after being exposed to COVID-19 by a staff member.

Elsewhere on Saturday, Ossoff was also on the trail holding a speech to a crowd of supporters at a Get Out The Vote rally in Stone Mountain.

Ossoff speaks to a crowd of supporters Saturday in the days before the Senate runoffs where he takes on Perdue
Denton, TX (76205)

Today

Partly cloudy this evening with thunderstorms becoming likely overnight. Low 68F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy this evening with thunderstorms becoming likely overnight. Low 68F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%.
Ending all speculations, Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank on Thursday (December 31) announced that CBSE Class 10, 12 board exams 2021 will be held in May-June. Pokhriyal announced that the exams will be held between May 4 and June 10 and results will be announced in July. The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), however, is yet to issue the date sheet or timetable for Class 10, 12 Board Exams.

Pokhriyal had said that the datesheet for CBSE Class 10, 12 Board Exams 2021 would be released soon and it is expected that the CBSE would release the datesheet in the coming days.

Earlier on December 10, Pokhriyal had intereacted with students and had made it clear that CBSE Class 10, 12 Board Exams 2021 may get delayed but it will not be cancelled. He had also said that JEE Main 2021 and NEET 2021 exams will not be cancelled in 2021 though they may get delayed.

Pokhriyal, however, is yet to announce any date for JEE Main 2021 and NET 2021 exams but during his interactions with students the Union Minister had suggested the students to prepare for the competitive exams.

"NEET 2021 will not be cancelled because it will be a big loss for the students and the nation. We postponed NEET thrice in 2020 and gave students an opportunity to change their exam centres..we could have cancelled the exam but it would have been a great loss for students and the country," the minister had said.

Live TV

It is to be noted that the CBSE has slashed the syllabus for Class 10, 12 Board exams by 30% but the syllabus of both JEE Main and NEET exams are still the same and several students have requested the minister to take steps aimed at reducing the syllabus for these competitive exams. The students said that they have not been able to attend classes due to the coronavirus pandemic and the susbsequent lockdown imposed by the government to curb the spread of the dealy virus in the country.
Mike Pence welcomes Republicans plan to 'raise objections' to Electoral College results, demand audit

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Vice President Mike Pence said Saturday night he shares the concerns about voter fraud and irregularities in the presidential election and welcomes Republican lawmakers plan to raise objections to the Jan. 6 certification of results without an audit by an electoral commission.

Vice President Pence shares the concerns of millions of Americans about voter fraud and irregularities in the last election, Marc Short, Pences chief of staff, said in a statement to The Hill.

The vice president welcomes the efforts of members of the House and Senate to use the authority they have under the law to raise objections and bring forward evidence before the Congress and the American people on January 6th, Short added.

Led by Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, a group of 11 GOP lawmakers are saying the Nov. 3 election featured unprecedented allegations of voter fraud and illegal conduct, according to Fox News.

Joe Biden, a Democrat, is scheduled to be inaugurated as president on Jan. 20. President Donald Trump has not conceded the Nov. 3 election.

The group comprises Sens. Ron Johnson from Wisconsin, James Lankford from Oklahoma, Steve Daines from Montana, John Kennedy from Louisiana, Marsha Blackburn from Tennessee, and Mike Braun from Indiana, and Sens.-elect Cynthia Lummis from Wyoming, Roger Marshall from Kansas, Bill Hagerty from Tennessee, and Tommy Tuberville from Alabama.

America is a Republic whose leaders are chosen in democratic elections. Those elections, in turn, must comply with the Constitution and with federal and state law, Cruz and the senators wrote in a joint statement.

When the voters fairly decide an election, pursuant to the rule of law, the losing candidate should acknowledge and respect the legitimacy of that election. And, if the voters choose to elect a new office-holder, our Nation should have a peaceful transfer of power. The election of 2020, like the election of 2016, was hard-fought and, in many swing states, narrowly decided. The 2020 election, however, featured unprecedented allegations of voter fraud, violations, and lax enforcement of election law, and other voting irregularities, the lawmakers said in the statement.

"Voter fraud has posed a persistent challenge in our elections, although its breadth and scope are disputed. By any measure, the allegations of fraud and irregularities in the 2020 election exceed any in our lifetimes. ... "Ideally, the courts would have heard evidence and resolved these claims of serious election fraud. Twice, the Supreme Court had the opportunity to do so; twice, the Court declined."

They added, Accordingly, we intend to vote on January 6 to reject the electors from disputed states as not regularly given and lawfully certified (the statutory requisite), unless and until that emergency 10-day audit is completed.

The senators noted that Democrats have also objected to election results in 1969, 2001, 2005, and 2019. And, in both 1969 and 2005, a Democratic Senator joined with a Democratic House Member in forcing votes in both houses on whether to accept the presidential electors being challenged.

In a separate statement, Blackburn and Hagerty said, American democracy relies on the consent of the governed. Allegations of voter fraud, irregularities, and unconstitutional actions diminish public confidence in what should be a free, fair, and transparent process. Protecting the integrity of the electoral process is paramount to preserving trust and legitimacy in the final outcome.

The effort is not expected to succeed since Democrats control the House, and several Republican senators have said they would oppose any objections.

The Republican lawmaker said in their joint statement that they are not "naive" and "fully expect most if not all Democrats, and perhaps more than a few Republicans, to vote otherwise."

"But support of election integrity should not be a partisan issue. A fair and credible audit-conducted expeditiously and completed well before January 20 would dramatically improve Americans' faith in our electoral process and would significantly enhance the legitimacy of whoever becomes our next President. We owe that to the People," they contend.

Pence will preside over the joint session on Wednesday as president of the Senate, but his role is largely ceremonial.

More votes were counted in the 2020 presidential election than any other in U.S. history. Former Vice President Joe Biden got over 80 million votes, the most votes for any presidential candidate, to President Trumps 74 million, the second-most votes in an election. Their totals also broke the record of votes cast for former President Barack Obama, who received 69.5 million votes in 2008.

After The Associated Press and other media outlets declared Biden the winner of the 2020 presidential election in November, the Republican National Committee and Trump campaign called for recounts, vote audits and signature checks. The RNC, Trump campaign and other individuals also filed lawsuits in six battleground states asking courts to allow evidence to be heard but the courts declined.

Biden won 306 electoral votes compared with Trumps 232.
Vietnams Ministry of Health announced eight new imported COVID-19 cases on Saturday evening, all Vietnamese repatriates.

The new patients were quarantined upon arrival by plane, the health ministry said.

Two of them returned from Germany, one from Taiwan, four from France, and one from Malaysia, it elaborated.

Their ages range from 29 to 62 years old.

Four of the patients are treated in Hanoi, one in southern Tien Giang Province, two in northern Hoa Binh Province, and one in southern Bac Lieu Province.

Vietnam has recorded 1,482 coronavirus patients as of Sunday morning, with 1,337 recoveries, including 12 announced on Saturday, and 35 virus-related deaths, according to the health ministry.

Six hundred and ninety-three of the total cases were locally transmitted.

The country has spent over a month detecting zero domestic infections.

Since December 26, Vietnam has recorded four cases among a group of six Vietnamese who made an illegal entry from Cambodia on December 24 to dodge mandatory quarantine that is applied to anyone arriving from outside the country.

The Vietnamese government allows entry to skilled workers, experts, diplomats, and Vietnamese repatriates, who are all subject to mandatory quarantine upon arrival, although it still closes the border to international arrivals to stall coronavirus transmission.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Sunday warned that the current tiered system of lockdown to arrest the spread of Covid-19 may have to be toughened further as the UK grapples with the new strain of the coronavirus.

As teachers unions have been calling for a countrywide closure of all schools for a few weeks due to the rapid spread of the new variation, Johnson insisted that parents should send their children to school from Monday in the areas where they remain open as the threat to young kids from the deadly virus is very small. However, he admitted that even ...
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Angry residents of Shinkafi Local Government Area of Zamfara State took to the streets on Saturday to protest the security situation in the area.

Shinkafi, like other parts of Zamfara, has witnessed several killings and kidnappings by bandits.

The protesters attacked the palace of the Emir of Shinkafi, Muhammed Makwashe, and the residences of political appointees in the state, mostly those appointed to oversee peace dialogues with bandits in Shinkafi area.

Zamfara has adopted a policy of engaging armed bandits in dialogue while making efforts to secure the state. Many Nigerians have condemned the policy, saying it encourages criminality. But the state government has defended it saying many kidnapped victims have been released due to the dialogue and some of the bandits have laid down their arms.

Residents of the area, including some of the protesters, told PREMIUM TIMES that the protesters used derogatory terms to accuse the state government and traditional rulers of underreporting their ordeals with the gunmen who frequently attacked their communities at will.

The protesters, who damaged the emirs palace, also called for the termination of peace dialogues with the bandits and demanded weapons for self-defence.

Residents told PREMIUM TIMES that the latest protest followed the abduction of a popular community volunteer and vigilante, Samaila Lagga, who is said to have been a target of the bandits for a long time.

The gunmen abducted Mr Lagga at his residence in Shinkafi, on Saturday, leading to the violent protest.

The residents called off the protest after a report that Mr Lagga was abandoned by the gunmen at a riverine area in the outskirts of Shinkafi and the security officials took him to a hospital for medical attention, the source added.

Sponsored protest  Police

The police spokesperson in Zamfara, Muhammad Shehu, in a statement, said the police have arrested 18 of the protesters for organising and partaking in an unlawful assembly, illicit demonstration and damage to public and private properties in Shinkafi.

He said the police recovered Dane guns, cutlasses and sticks from those arrested.

Mr Shehu said a team of police officers and repentant bandits responded quickly to Mr Laggas arrest and rescued him. He was reunited with his family after he was debriefed, he said.

The youths who were suspectedly sponsored to undermine the relative peace of the area were carrying Dane Guns, cutlasses and sticks to the Palace of Emir of Shinkafi and houses of One Murtala Dele and Moyi Sidi where they vandalised windows and doors of the three houses.

Joint Police and Military quickly responded and dispersed the protesters to avoid unwarranted break down of law and order and possible loss of lives and properties. Eighteen (18) Suspects were arrested in possession of Dane Guns, Cutlasses and Sticks. All the suspects are in Police Custody undergoing interrogation.

The Commissioner of Police CP Abutu Yaro fdc, has Ordered the State CID to commence a discreet investigation into the unlawful protest with a view to unravel the circumstances behind the dastardly act. He further warned parents and guardians to always have a firm control of their children so that they dont involve in violence activities, the police spokesperson said.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Outgoing Rep. Max Rose (D-Staten Island/Brooklyn) announced on Sunday he will not be running for mayor of New York City, less than a month after he said he would officially explore a mayoral campaign.

After serious consideration, I will not be running for Mayor of New York this year, Rose said in a statement posted to his Twitter account on Sunday.

A month after losing his Congressional re-election bid to Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis, Rose opened a mayoral campaign account and announced on Dec. 13 that he would run for mayor.

I urge every candidate to recognize that across the five boroughs no one believes that City Hall is on the side of the working class. People are scared and unsure if the New York they love will still exist in the years to come. The next mayor cant just balance the budget, he or she must build a social contract that leaves no one behind. New York City can set the governing example for the rest of the world, he continued in the statement.

Rose went on to say that representing New Yorks 11th Congressional District was an incredible honor and privilege.

While he wont be a candidate for mayor this cycle, he said he is not going anywhere in the fight to make our city and country live up to their promise.

He also shared personal updates in his announcement, including about his son Miles who recently learned to crawl and stand on his own. Rose also said the family hopes to adopt another beautiful baby into their family.

A long list of well-known politicians are eyeing the role of mayor in New York City, like Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer, City Council Member Carlos Menchaca, Kathryn Garcia, the former commissioner of the citys Department of Sanitation (DSNY), and former presidential candidate Andrew Yang.

Overall, more than 30 candidates have joined the race for mayor of New York City.

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The first wave of Covid-19 in Ireland provoked a policy response when new infections reached 34 per day. Pubs were closed on March 15 last year and a full lockdown, complete with a two-kilometre rule, was in place by March 27, when daily infections had reached 264.

A relaxation of measures did not commence until May 18, when daily infections had fallen to 81. Pubs had been reopened by June 29, when infections had fallen to single figures, but Ireland's second wave built steadily through August and September.

When Nphet recommended Level 5 on October 4, the daily rate of new infections had risen to 479. Media reaction to Nphet was mainly negative even at this figure, and the reluctance of government to share Dr Tony Holohan's alarm was reflected in the deferral of government action until October 21.

The numbers duly peaked in the 1,200-a-day zone before they began to fall.

In retrospect, Dr Holohan and his colleagues were insufficiently alarmed when the decline in incidence failed to drop to the announced trigger of 50 to 100 cases in time for the festive 'relaxation' from December 1, when new cases had fallen only to 286.

The ferocious onset of the third wave led to 818 cases by December 22 when the Government U-turned and announced a return to Level 5, since when cases have doubled to more than 1,700 last Friday.

The third wave has built even faster than the second, with record high rates of infection in recent days and more to come.

The chart for Ireland shows that the incidence of the disease has never been stabilised at levels like 300 or 500 per day.

At these intermediate infection rates, disease incidence is always either rising or falling. The dynamics of the epidemic appear to dictate that only at low levels, close to zero, can stability be attained, when test-and-trace systems are able to operate effectively.

The period of stability at low levels achieved in the summer could not survive the reintroduction of infection - notably a Spanish virus variant - into northern Europe courtesy of returning holidaymakers from August onwards, alongside the reopening of pubs, restaurants, and universities.

Public health officials are now expecting rising rates over the next few days, due mainly, it would appear, to the government-sanctioned festivities, with the impact of the new and more infectious UK variant yet to work through.

The third wave is the steepest yet and has already reached higher levels than the first and second. Fear of a full-scale meltdown in the hospitals is haunting the Irish medical profession, spooked by calls from their colleagues in the London hospitals.

Wherever the blame lies, there has been a policy failure. Immovable feast days, or midwinter commercial festivals, do not feature in the virus calendar. Band Aid released Do They Know It's Christmas? in 1984, one of the enduring seasonal pop favourites. The microbes did not know it was Christmas, either the Christian feast day or the pagan festival, and declined to take a couple of weeks off. It was always a gamble to hope they would, and it has failed.

When an infectious disease is prevalent in a society - most of whose members are infectable but uninfected - it will grow exponentially if the reproduction number R drifts substantially above 1. With the more contagious UK variant on the radar, it looks as if the R number may already exceed 2 and has a higher base of infection to work off.

A hospital system can better contain serious illness and fatality when the caseload is low, and Irish hospitals have been doing well, but the capacity constraint is approaching. When an exponential growth process bumps into a linear constraint, there is only one winner.

With R above 2, disease incidence can double inside a week and will crash the hospital system in short order. Lockdown 3 has already been tightened and there may have to be further measures, including school and building-site closures and compulsory test-and-quarantine at the airport.

Testing at airports including Reykjavik, Frankfurt, Munich, Athens and Rome was in place seven months ago and the failure to control external movement has been difficult to understand. There was no need during Lockdown 1 since there was virtually no airline traffic, but the absence of airport testing since the summer will be high up the agenda when the post-pandemic inquests begin.

Vaccination will proceed for the next few months at a pace too slow to make even a marginal contribution to ending the epidemic. The public health measures had better work since there are no other policy instruments available.

There are about 650,000 people in the priority groups identified by the Government (healthcare staff, care home residents and the over-70s) and it will be an achievement if these groups have been vaccinated by April.

But the remaining population will not be fully protected until most adults, a further three million or so, have taken the jab, unlikely to be achieved before autumn at the earliest.

Persuading the 'wait and see' people to take the vaccine will be critical. Since large numbers of younger healthcare staff will be vaccinated over the next few months, there will hopefully be persuasive evidence that they have avoided side-effects to help persuade the doubters. A vaccination requirement on airline passengers and attendees at stadiums and concerts would help, too.

If Lockdown 3 succeeds and a disaster in the hospitals is avoided, the next challenge for government will be the demands for an early relaxation of restrictions perhaps in February or March. If publicans, restaurateurs and the retail trade have learned anything, then the pressure on politicians will be less strident this time. The stop-go policy has been short-sighted and it is not clear the lobby groups have served their members well.

If the all-clear cannot be sounded until some date towards the end of the year, there could be further timing mistakes and another three or four lockdowns - a more destructive outcome for small business owners than a once-off, decisive suppression of the virus.

Policy needs to have a target. Ireland's response to the pandemic has been patchy and compares well only with countries whose performance has been disappointing, most notably the UK.

A curious feature has been the absence of a quantified policy target in a country much given to fanciful targets, accompanied by no policies at all. The most feasible target, delivered successfully in countries as diverse as Taiwan, South Korea and Australia, is to drive the disease down close to zero - without a vaccine - within the capacity of a well-resourced test, trace and isolate system.

Our Government needs finally to explain why a zero-target aspiration is somehow deemed too ambitious for Ireland, given the sharp falls in incidence that have been achieved in the past.
Columbia, MO (65201)

Today

Partly cloudy skies early followed by scattered thunderstorms overnight. Low around 65F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies early followed by scattered thunderstorms overnight. Low around 65F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
Then-White House National Trade Council Director Peter Navarro is seen outside the White House in Washington on Oct. 8, 2019. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

6-Person Team Briefs Hundreds of State Lawmakers on Election Irregularities

A six-person team that included Rudy Giuliani and Peter Navarro briefed hundreds of state lawmakers about evidence of election irregularities, during a Jan. 2 meeting.

The virtual meeting included legislators from Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, Navarro said during an appearance on Fox News.

These legislators, theyre hot, theyre angry, they want action, said Navarro, the White House director of trade and manufacturing policy. We gave them the receipts. We explained exactly how the Democrat Party, as a matter of strategy, stole this election from Donald J. Trump.

According to Got Freedom?, a nonprofit election integrity watchdog, the meeting included an address by President Donald Trump. Nearly 300 legislators heard from the president, Navarro, and Trumps lawyer, Giuliani.

John Eastman and John Lott were also part of the briefing. Eastman represented Texas in the now-dismissed interstate challenge to the outcome of the election, while Lott, a senior adviser for research and statistics for the Department of Justice, authored a recently released report on election theft.

Legislators were briefed on evidence of alleged voter, ballot, and election fraud, which can be viewed on a webpage hosted by Got Freedom?

This information should serve as an important resource for state legislators as they make calls for state legislatures to meet to investigate the election and consider decertifying their state election results, Phill Kline, who heads the Thomas More Foundations Amistad Project and who hosted the call on behalf of of the group, said in a statement.

The integrity of our elections is far too important to treat cavalierly, and elected officials deserve to have all relevant information at their disposal as they consider whether to accept the reported results of the 2020 elections, especially in states where the process was influenced by private interests.

Navarro released a report on Dec. 21 that summarized and categorized evidence of election theft. In the Jan. 2 interview, he said the report shows beyond a shadow of a doubt this election was stolen and that he planned to release another report on Jan. 4.

Trumps legal team and a handful of third parties are litigating challenges to the election in court in six battleground states. Dozens of U.S. senators and House members have committed to lodging objections to electoral slates from those states when Congress counts the Electoral College votes on Jan. 6.

Democrats have criticized the efforts and say the election ran smoothly, apart from a small number of voter fraud cases.

Navarro also suggested that a special counsel may be appointed to investigate if fraud had occurred.

I would not be surprised to see a special counsel on this, Navarro said.

Trumps legal team testified before several panels and committees from state legislatures, including in Michigan, Arizona, and Georgia. The team argued that the mounting evidence of election theft and malfeasance necessitated that the legislatures assert their constitutional right to appoint presidential electors. None of the legislatures have so far followed the teams advice.

Trump has called on his supporters to descend on Washington when Congress counts the electoral votes. Some of the senators who committed to objecting to the Electoral College votes that day said they will do so unless Congress appoints a special commission to conduct a 10-day emergency audit of the election.

Individual state legislatures would then vet the findings and have the opportunity to convene and vote on a new set of electors.

Follow Ivan on Parler: @IvanPentchoukov
A militarily organised mother has stunned the internet by finishing her Christmas shopping for 2021 just three days into the New Year.

The woman went to a Kmart store in Canberra in search of seasonal reductions and bagged 24 champagne flutes, nine side plates, two 12-piece dinner sets, a drinks stand, a water dispenser, a frozen drink maker and a festive platter for just $80.

A photo of her haul has gone viral on social media, racking up 711 likes since it was uploaded to an Australian consumer group on Facebook.

'Already organised for next Christmas for less than $80. There's a reason I love Kmart,' she wrote in the caption.

An Australian mum bagged this remarkable haul of tableware and gadgets for just $80 at Kmart, leaving her 'already organised' for Christmas 2021

Her remarkable organisation has sparked some delighted responses.

'Wow! Good job,' one woman replied.

'Fabulous,' added a second.

A third said she 'loved the flute glasses'.

One Queensland woman complained that none of her local outlets had clearance offers left after Christmas.

'All of the Kmart's around me on the Gold Coast had next to nothing left, even before Christmas,' she wrote.

'Nothing like last year, hopefully next year will be better. Congratulations on your bargains!'

Replying to queries about her haul, the mother confirmed everything had been marked down in a clearance sale but did not disclose the individual price of each item.

Many said they 'wished' they had enough storage space to stock up on festive bargains almost a year in advance.
Most bad movies are bad for simple reasons (the producer needs to launder $2 million in cocaine money and just bumped into Steven Seagal on a Russian mobster's Volga sex barge). But every so often a movie comes along with a backstory so weird you can almost forgive just how terrible the finished product is. Well ... almost .

4 Saddam Hussein's Propaganda Epic Was Derailed By Oliver Reed's Drinking Problem

Back in the 1980s, Iraq was under the tyrannical leadership of Saddam Hussein, who was having a bit of a PR nightmare. Convinced, for no obvious reason, that he was a military genius, Saddam had started a massive war with Iran, killing thousands of civilians. Fortunately, he knew exactly how to win back international goodwill: put on a big Hollywood-style show, complete with thrilling action scenes and some genuine international superstars. Which is why a number of British actors were suddenly offered up to five times their usual salary to fly to Iraq and appear in Clash Of Loyalties, which featured a Saddam-like figure leading a heroic uprising against foreign colonizers.

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"Would you like to fly to an active war zone and star in a propaganda movie for the Butcher of Khuzestan" turned out to be a pretty hard sell. However, they did manage to land legendary British actor Oliver Reed as the main bad guy. Reed, one of the biggest stars of the '70s, was in the middle of a decade-long drinking binge and decided that war-torn Iraq was just the place to get really weird with it. The middle-aged actor arrived in the country with his 17-year-old girlfriend, who he had met in a pub weeks earlier and randomly invited to the desert. The guy started drinking when he woke up and by nightfall would be swigging from an ice bucket full of cognac and champagne, kicking down hotel doors and challenging other guests to fight him. Within days, his own bodyguard was dangling him out the window and threatening to drop him several floors, while Reed laughed hysterically and dared him to go through with it.

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The stories are endless. At one point, he was invited to a fancy dinner with Saddam and started loudly insulting him, apparently assuming that the dictator couldn't speak English. Saddam ignored him till the end of the evening, then suddenly wandered over to make polite small talk, which was impressive self-control from a guy who later shot his health minister in the face in the middle of a cabinet meeting. Reed was later almost deported after peeing into an empty champagne bottle and trying to send it to another table at a restaurant "with my compliments." On set, he spent most of his time wandering around with a half-empty whiskey bottle, trying to show people erotic Polaroids of himself. It got to the point that they were filming in the middle of a literal war and the crew was most afraid of Oliver Reed.

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The movie ultimately went off the rails even further when another British actor was arrested by the secret police, who correctly suspected he was spying for MI6 in his spare time. The guy narrowly avoided torture, then fled the country so fast that he never even changed out of his costume. This apparently caused some consternation at London Heathrow airport, where a guy in a pith helmet and full World War I uniform stumbled out of the plane and started kissing the ground.
By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 01/03/2021



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[ Spoilers Warning: This report contains spoilers revealing if Tarik and Hazel split or if the couple is still together and happy.]

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Are Tarik and Hazel married now and still together -- or do spoilers reveal the couple call it quits?

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Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade.

couple Tarik Myers and Hazel Cagalitan just reunited in America on Season 8 of , but did their relationship last? What do spoilers reveal about if Hazel and Tarik are still together or whether they have broken up and gone their separate ways?Tarik was a 43-year-old realtor and single father from Virginia Beach, VA, when he became acquainted with his love interest Hazel, a single mother from Quezon City, Philippines who is now 28-years-old.Tarik and Hazel stumbled across each other on an Asian dating website, which Tarik had joined to broaden his search area for women considering he wasn't having much luck dating.After three months of dating virtually and over the phone, Tarik traveled over 9,000 miles and 36 hours to meet Hazel in-person in the Philippines on : Before the 90 Days' second season.A part of Tarik feared Hazel was scamming him because she was so shy and reserved when they met. Hazel's family also lived in the poorest and most shocking of conditions, and she refused to be physically intimate with Tarik for quite some time.But Tarik was completely smitten with the girl and chose to propose marriage to her anyway before he traveled back to the United States.Tarik and Hazel were still engaged six months after : Before the 90 Days' second-season finale aired on TLC in October 2018.Tarik wished his love a happy birthday in March 2019, and then he shared a sweet video of her face and captioned it with a series of hearts in April 2019.That same month, TLC released Season 3 of : What Now?, its online digital series that is available for streaming on tlc.com and the network's TLC GO app. The 21-episode season included two episodes focused on Tarik and Hazel.During the : What Now? episodes, Tarik explained he had traveled to the Philippines a total of three times to visit Hazel and was in the process of preparing all the paperwork required for Hazel's K-1 visa application.In addition, Tarik's family and friends were shown urging him to get Hazel to agree to sign a prenuptial agreement before they got married.Tarik followed their advice and told Hazel he would like her to sign a prenup before their wedding, and while she seemed offended at first, she ultimately agreed to follow through with it."She is beautiful on the inside and outside. She's like an Asian version of Angelina Jolie and I love her," Tarik said in a confessional on 's eighth season.At the time 's eighth season filmed, Tarik and Hazel had been together for two years and Hazel got approved for a K-1 visa. Hazel was scheduled to arrive in a few weeks, and Tarik said he couldn't wait to be in America with his love for the first time.Hazel was going to meet Tarik's seven-year-old daughter Arie for the first time. Tarik apparently has majority custody of Arie, who stays with her father five out of seven days a week and lives with her mother on the weekends.Tarik shared how Arie has high-functioning autism and everything in his life revolves around her. Tarik hoped Hazel would love Arie and that they'd get along wonderfully.Hazel also has an eight-year-old son Harry, and Hazel was having a tough time leaving him behind. Tarik and Hazel therefore planned to bring Harry to the United States "eventually" in order to give the boy more opportunities in life.Tarik admitted he was "surprised" when he learned Hazel is bisexual, and he told her that Virginia Beach is "full of smoking hot women."Hazel apparently wanted to have a girlfriend on the side, and Tarik therefore wondered how that was going to work and whether Hazel was really in their relationship for him or just permanent residency in the United States."I feel cautiously optimistic about it, but we're not even married yet -- and what you're thinking about is the girlfriend we need to find?" Tarik explained in a confessional."We've had some trust and jealousy issues in the past, so it does make me nervous. But she wants to go full steam ahead on this thing, so I hope we're really ready for it."Tarik revealed he had questioned Hazel's character one time but ended up being wrong.Tarik had been engaged for almost a year when he and Hazel had a big misunderstanding. Tarik recalled how they thought Hazel was pregnant at the time and so Hazel took one positive pregnancy, followed by two negative tests about a week later."So I'm thinking that she terminated the pregnancy, so I flipped out. I thought, 'I can't be with nobody who is going to do sh-t like this,'" Tarik explained."A woman can do whatever she wants with her body, but I think my feelings went all over the place because it's a trust thing. I thought she did it without talking to me, and I was like, 'This is over.'"Three weeks after their breakup, Tarik apparently started talking to a new woman named Minty from Thailand. Tarik said he had been "falling in like" -- not love -- with the girl, but he wanted to clean things up with Hazel before pursuing a new relationship.Hazel insisted to Tarik that a doctor had told her that she was never pregnant and her menstrual cycle had just been late. Hazel therefore forgave Tarik, who then came clean about his interactions with Minty.Hazel was upset at first but then suggested she wanted to talk to the "beautiful" Minty.Tarik had yet to tell close friends and family that Hazel is bisexual because he knew people would have preconceived notions, and Hazel having a girlfriend was simply going to be a part of their married life.Tarik revealed to Kia that he, Minty and Hazel all met in the Philippines about a year-and-a-half prior.Tarik suggested the girls had hooked up and everything was "beautiful" for two-and-a-half days."But Day 3, Hazel just put an end to it. Hazel felt like Minty was more into me than she was into Hazel," Tarik shared."Hazel could see I was just fascinated by Minty. It was refreshing to me to be able to speak in Thai and talk about all the stuff I experienced in Thailand, but there was this jealousy that came over Hazel immediately and it ended right there. Hazel told me to never contact Minty ever again."However, Tarik confessed he had texted Minty again a couple of weeks back. Tarik said he just wanted to check on Minty and make sure she was okay due to the coronavirus pandemic, and he insisted that he was going to tell Hazel.Tarik acknowledged Hazel isn't a pushover, so he was afraid to break the news that he had reached out to Minty.Tarik said raising a child with autism is tough and he could only hope Hazel would have the patience to co-parent his daughter and love her."You never really know someone until you live with them," Tarik noted.It had been four or five months since Tarik and Hazel last saw each other, and they had been dating for over two years and overcame many hardships together.Tarik then picked Hazel up at the airport with flowers. He wore a powder blue suit for their reunion, and it was an emotional moment for Tarik.Hazel said she was "overwhelmed" with happiness and Tarik looked "so handsome" in her favorite color.Hazel said she really missed her son and hated saying goodbye, but the pair planned to have Hazel's son join them in America someday for a better life."This is the turning point in my life. It's like everything before her and then everything after her," Tarik said.On the drive to Tarik's home, Hazel was shocked by all of the big houses in America and how clean everything looked. Tarik's home was huge compared to Hazel's place in the Philippines considering Hazel lived in poverty.Hazel noted the house was big but messy, and Tarik told the cameras he and his fiancee have two different definitions of "clean."Hazel said coming to the United States was "a dream" but Tarik's house was big and overwhelming. She hoped she could eventually feel at home in Tarik's place.Tarik and Hazel are still a couple and their romance appears to be thriving.On December 18, Tarik posted two selfies with Hazel in which she looked stunning in a burgundy dress and matching lip. In one of the pictures, she was kissing Tarik on the cheek."Hawt Sauws. Hella Hawt Sauws. #Tarzel Watch #90dayfiance Sunday at 8pm EST on @tlc #90daybaresall #90dayfiancepillowtalk #90dayfiancebeforethe90days," Tarik wrote alongside the images.One day earlier, Tarik posted a similar photo and captioned it, "Repost @illipina26 : Asialina Jolie says 'Haters don't hate hate, haters hate LOVE'. I concur. #90dayfiance #90daybaresall #90dayfiancebeforethe90days #90dayfiancepillowtalk."Hazel -- who initially posted the quote on her own Instagram account, along with selfies featuring Tarik and herself -- commented on Tarik's post with multiple kiss-blowing emoticons.Tarik also posted a video of Hazel on October 25.In the video, Hazel told her fans, "I'm here to send good tidings and well wishes to your family and friends... I'm here for y'all! Have a good one!"Tarik captioned the Instagram post, "My beautiful Hazel is on Cameo now. Book her for all occasions. She is Hazel Cagalitan on Cameo. Thanks. #beforethe90days #90dayfiance."On August 28, Tarik posted a selfie of the couple, revealing they had watched Black Panther three times in one week together because Hazel loved it so much. He said it was "the first move we ever watched together."Tarik posted a photo of Hazel and her father on June 21 and gushed about how he raised 14 children in poor conditions."I thought I knew the difficulties of fatherhood until I met this man. He raised 14 children in conditions most of us only see on TV. Never once shirked his responsibility. The definition of a real man. Salamat Pa. Happy Father's Day," Tarik wrote.Tarik also wished Hazel a happy Mother's Day in May."When life dealt you crap, you turned it into fertilizer. I was proud of you before the cameras rolled. And I'll be proud of you... Well anyway. I'm your defense mechanism against anyone. And I mean anyone. Happy Mother's Day Zellybean," Tarik wrote alongside a photo of Hazel and her son.Back in October 2019, Tarik gushed about Hazel on Instagram."I had so many rules that you became the exception to. So many standards that you exceeded. Also, I'm forever grateful to you for pulling those knives out of my back that a smiling faced Judas shoved in. You are goals. #TarZel #90dayfiance #90dayfiancepillowtalk," he wrote.And in August, 2019, Tarik called his girl "an implausible, irreplaceable gift from God.""I caught lightning in a bottle. A shy little Braveheart. Thinking about her disorients me. All of the 'but what ifs' become irrelevant. I get asked daily why I'm only following her on IG. My answer is bc I caught fking lightning in a bottle. Duh. #Tarzel #GodBlissWoman #90dayfiance," Tarik captioned the post.Hazel's latest post with Tarik is from July 2019, when the pair were enjoying each other's company at the beach.She also gushed about Tarik days earlier when she wrote, "Sometimes I still pinch myself to make sure Im not dreaming. Sometimes I still cant believe that youre real and that ur mine.""I never thought that some1 as amazing as u would fall in love with someone as silly as me," she continued."But Im so glad that u did because my life has been nothing but wonderful. Thank u 4 coming into my life and for letting me show u how much u mean to me. #TarZel #ILoveYouHoney."In summer of last year, Tarik said he likes to show Hazel his love rather than just say it and gushed about how strong and proud he was of her.Tarik and Hazel's posts about one another date all the way back to Fall 2018.In October 2018, Hazel posted a selfie with Tarik and captioned it, "I Love Him. Period."Want more spoilers or couples updates? Click here to visit our homepage!
On Sunday, Rep.-elect Nancy Mace will make history as the first Republican woman to be sworn in to Congress from South Carolina.

The working single mother has capitalized on that since she narrowly defeated Democratic Rep. Joe Cunningham for South Carolina's 1st Congressional District seat in November. Mace has been making the rounds with near-daily television interviews and headlines that identify her as part of a new brand of GOP politicians in Washington, D.C.

But as Mace's profile rises in Washington, it begs the question about what Cunningham's political future holds.

The one-term politician made history in 2018 when he flipped a district in South Carolina that had been controlled by the GOP for 40 years. But, in the era of President Donald Trump, he wasn't able to repeat the victory two years later.

In an exclusive interview with The Post and Courier this week, Cunningham said he wants to stay in South Carolina and hopes to serve the public in some capacity.

"I've seen some of my colleagues announced they're running right after they concede," Cunningham said. "It's important to take some time to reflect. But I don't think my time serving South Carolina is over. This defeat didn't break my spirit."

This comes after speculation that the former congressman is potentially eyeing the governor's mansion in 2022. Earlier in December, the web domain cunninghamforgovernor.com was registered in South Carolina.

Tyler Jones, Cunningham's political strategist, wouldn't confirm or deny if the domain was connected to them but said it "appears to have been registered privately."

Cunningham would likely face an uphill battle to win a statewide office as a Democrat, especially in a red state that overwhelmingly handed an election victory to Sen. Lindsey Graham in the most expensive political race in history against challenger Jaime Harrison.

But Cunningham said he cares about South Carolina. He did mention that he had been approached by people connected to President-elect Joe Biden to gauge his interest in potentially serving in the new administration.

But Cunningham said it was never really on his radar. He's a South Carolina loyalist through and through, and he wants to invest in the Palmetto State.

"A lot of people reached out and offered support or asked about some places I could land," he said. "But I love Charleston. It's hard to uproot here. For some people in other cities maybe D.C. is a step up, but for me it's a big step down from here."

The pop-top heard 'round the world

In the months following his loss, Cunningham has taken some time to unwind and reflect on what he learned in Washington.

During the sit-down at Jones' offices on Johns Island, Cunningham cracked a beer from Mount Pleasant-based Westbrook Brewing Co., put his feet up on a coffee table and leaned back on a couch.

It was an on-brand moment for the politician whose support of craft breweries was a major talking point, and one that shows the authenticity of his decision to crack a beer on the House floor earlier last month during his farewell address.

Alcohol is not allowed on the House floor, and Cunningham said he got yelled at by a congressional clerk for the move. It was a small price to pay for going out in style.

But Jones said the move wasn't a gimmick. It was quite literally a last-minute move that Cunningham had thought of the day of the speech.

The Democratic congressman ran to a nearby liquor store, bought a six-pack and took one of them and placed it in his pocket. He handed the remaining five to the cashier and wished them a Merry Christmas.

During his speech, he called out GOP rhetoric and D.C. hypocrisy that he felt was unbecoming of politicians. Then, he raised his beer and flipped open the pop-top.

The moment went viral, and was covered by every media outlet from Fox News and Newsmax to CNN and MSNBC. The way Jones and Cunningham see it, everyone got to hear those words of wisdom.

And in an era of hyperpartisanship, name-calling and divisiveness, Cunningham was happy that he cut through the noise.

"Bipartisanship doesn't go out of fashion, and it doesn't go out of style," Cunningham said. "Regardless if it can survive, it's the right thing to do. It's the opposing force that's fighting against extremes in both parties."

In his last months in office, he's taken aim at Trump's dealings with Congress regarding COVID-19-related stimulus payments. Notably, he also took aim at Gov. Henry McMaster for not instituting a statewide mask mandate.

"Something has to be done about it. Members of his own party aren't holding him accountable," Cunningham said. "South Carolina deserves better leadership than that."

Can't play favorites

Mace is already establishing herself as a different kind of Republican.

Even though Trump supported Mace's candidacy through tweets, phone calls to supporters and speeches, she is not backing GOP attempts to decertify Biden's election results happening her first week in Washington.

Some fellow GOP colleagues from South Carolina's delegation  Reps. Jeff Duncan, Ralph Norman and Joe Wilson  have been vocally opposing the Electoral College's results. Mace, however, sees it differently.

"Im not going to be voting with any of those folks, Mace said last week. I am not going to vote to overturn the results of the Electoral College because I do not believe that Congress knows better than voters or better than the states.

Additionally, she's adopted a seemingly more bipartisan tone when it comes to her messaging. When Cunningham cracked a beer, she tweeted a video of herself doing the same and applauded his civil sentiments.

While many GOP politicians are decrying mask-wearing, she's embraced it and said people should have the freedom to choose.

Her new staff is incredibly diverse, including one member who organized efforts to legalize marijuana and help loosen regulations on cannabis-related businesses. Mace has said she supports efforts to legalize the drug, both medically and recreationally.

But notably, Mace is in the minority in the House. With the future of the Senate in the air, it means that she could be facing potential headwinds with a Democratic-controlled executive and legislative branch.

So Mace said she's focusing on how she can best serve voters in her district.

She's maintained many of Cunningham's staff and both offices in Mount Pleasant and Beaufort to keep constituent services stable. Mace also updated the software used to handle casework and said it should expedite the time it takes to assist 1st District voters.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Mace was only allowed one guest for her swearing-in ceremony on Sunday. As the mother of two children, she knew she couldn't play favorites. So she decided to forgo having a guest.

"Neither child is more important than the other," Mace said. "But I'm going to have them with me."

Her 11-year-old daughter and her 14-year-old son likely will be watching their mom be sworn in on C-SPAN while sitting in her D.C. office.

Mace said she's ready to get to work and is eager to find out her committee assignments.

"I'm very excited and humbled by the job and task ahead," Mace said. "When I landed in Reagan National for the first time, I cried. I'm really honored."
New Mexico Republicans are accusing the states Secretary of State of playing partisan political games. They claim shes purposefully withholding election records from the presidents legal team.

The New Mexico GOP is accusing Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver, of intentionally delaying the release of election records requested by President Donald Trumps campaign.

Trumps legal team filed a public records request with the Secretary of State on December 17th. Theyre asking for information about Dominion Voting Systems contractors who might have had access to the voting machines during the election.

According to the New Mexico GOP, a poll watcher testified that Dominion had three contractors who had unfettered access to restricted areas.

Poll watcher testimony: Dominion had three contractors who had unfettered access to restricted areas.

The GOP claims that Toulouse Oliver committed to turning over the records by December 30th. But later notified Trumps attorneys saying her office was changing the date to January 14th.

But GOP chairman Steve Pearce says that she is deliberately withholding evidence until after January 6th, when Congress is set to certify the Electoral College vote. He claims its because the records are evidence that can be used by Trump.

Representative-elect Marjorie Taylor Greene, one of the 40 Representatives challenging the vote on January 6th, told The Epoch Times that theyre still deciding whether to object to the votes from New Mexico.
Union health minister Dr Harsh Vardhan said on Sunday the dry run of the coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccination drive on Saturday was based on poll process planned down to the booth level and that more than 57,000 participants across 719 districts had completed training.

The vaccination drive has been based on election process planned down to the booth level. Over 57,000 participants across 719 districts have completed training. 96,000 vaccinators have been trained so far, Vardhan said, according to news agency ANI.

Also Read| Amplifying reach, fake science biggest challenges to vaccination

Vardhan on Saturday had visited two mock vaccination centres in the national capital of Delhi to monitor the dry run drill for administering vaccine doses. He said that free vaccines would be given to the most prioritised beneficiaries which include one crore health care workers and 20 million frontline workers adding that details of how further 270 million prioritised beneficiaries are to be vaccinated until July were being finalised.

Vaccination drive has been based on election process planned down to the booth level. Over 57,000 participants across 719 districts have completed training. 96,000 vaccinators have been trained so far: Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan



(file pic) pic.twitter.com/KnpDZCzQsB  ANI (@ANI) January 3, 2021

The Union health minister also urged citizens to not pay attention to rumours as the vaccination drive was underway. I appeal to people not to pay heed to rumours. Ensuring the safety and efficacy of the vaccine is our priority. Different kinds of rumours were spread during polio immunisation but people took the vaccine and India is now polio-free, he had said.

Also Read| Drugs regulator chiefs press conference today, approval of Covid-19 vaccines likely

The Union health ministry had carried out an all-India mock drill at 286 sites across 125 districts in order to test the end-end planned operations and the apparatus which had been put up to ensure the smooth conduction of the coronavirus vaccination drive that would begin shortly. This exercise was earlier performed in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Gujarat and Punjab between December 28 and December 29.

Meanwhile, the Drugs Controller General of India (DGCI) will hold a news briefing at 11am on Sunday on the coronavirus vaccine. This comes after the Subject Expert Committee (SEC) of the Central Drugs Standards Control Organisation (CDSCO) recommended that the vaccines manufactured by the Serum Institute of India (SII) and Bharat Biotech be granted permission for restricted emergency use.

(With agency inputs)
Pastor Ed Young catches great white shark, fulfilling dream of a lifetime

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Pastor Ed Young of Fellowship Church in Grapevine, Texas, fulfilled a 50-year dream last week when he caught a great white shark weighing nearly 2,000 pounds.

During Christmas break, I fulfilled a 50-year dream, Young wrote on his Facebook page on Wednesday, referring to an 11-foot great white shark a few miles off the coast of Hilton Head Island in South Carolina.

I caught a Great White Shark on rod and reel off of the South Carolina coast with (Chip Michalove, the owner of) Outcast Sport Fishing who is the only captain who has a federal permit to target, tag and handle Great Whites.

Michalove, who is known as super-great-white-shark-whisperer, estimated that this beast [weighed] at nearly 2,000 pounds.

Michalove told Fits News that the sun was starting to set and he was wrapping up the charter trip when the first monstrous fish tugged the line.

The coolest part was being out there in the flattest ocean conditions you could ask for battling the baddest fish on the planet, Outcast Sport Fishing wrote on its Facebook page. I was with a pastor and we were talking how this is probably the closest you can get to heaven without crossing over.

The first shark managed to spit out the hook but the pastor, his friend Dave Clark and Michalove decided to wait. And they were rewarded.

Forty-five minutes later, they hooked another 11-foot male shark. We usually get one chance a day to hook a great white. Occasionally we get two, sometimes even three. But very rarely do you see another swim-up 45 minutes later, Michalove was quoted as saying. Seeing another that fast afterwards is an indication theyre all back.

Looking at the positioning of the hook, the fish could have escaped in the first two minutes, Michalove said on Facebook.

[It] helps when you have a pastor to even the odds, he added.

Michalove told For The Win Outdoors, He (Young) called me the next day and I asked him if he too feels like he was run over. But its all worth it; the fish swims off healthy with a full belly and we get the experience you only see on Discovery or Nat Geo.
American firm Morning Consult, which regularly tracks approval ratings of world leaders, said over 75 percent of people approve of the prime minister while 20 percent disapprove, putting his net approval rating at 55 percent

Noting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's approval rating is the highest among world leaders in a survey conducted by a US data firm, BJP president JP Nadda on Saturday said this is a testimony to his able leadership and a matter of pride for all Indians.

While Nadda tweeted to laud the prime minister's leadership, the BJP also held a press conference wherein Union minister Prakash Javadekar said it is a "rare phenomenon" that the prime minister's public approval has been rising over the past six years, defying the general trend of fluctuating ratings for most leaders.

American firm Morning Consult, which regularly tracks approval ratings of world leaders, said over 75 percent of people approve of Modi while 20 percent disapprove, putting his net approval rating at 55 percent.

This is higher than any other world leader the firm tracks.

Referring to the survey, Nadda tweeted that Prime Minister Modi has yet again emerged as the most popular head of government for his efficient handling of various issues and management of the COVID-19 crisis.

Hon PM @narendramodi jis popularity not only rises unabated across all demographic groups & geographic regions of the country and he also gets a thumbs up globally for his dedication to his country. PM Modi ranks Number 1 among all global leaders in this challenging times.  Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda) January 2, 2021

Ever since the Narendra Modi-led government came to power, people's trust in the government and the faith that the nation is progressing in the right direction has risen drastically, he added.

"This rating is a testimony of his able leadership and hard work and is a thing of pride for all Indians," Nadda said.

According to Morning Consult's survey, German Chancellor Angela Merkel's approval rating was 24 percent while it was in the negative for UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson as more people disapprove of his work than those who approve.

Javadekar attributed Modi's high approval rating to his foresight and able leadership. He said the government's "successful" handling of the COVID-19 pandemic has further boosted his popularity.

The Prime Minister has a vision for the country and formulates his programmes accordingly in which he is successful, he said.

Javadekar said Modi's approval rating of 55 percent is almost double that of the second most popular leader in the list of 13 democratic state heads, including those of the US, France, Australia, and Brazil.
A total of 12 US Republican senators, sitting and incoming, have made it known that they will oppose the certification of President-elect Joe Bidens election at a joint sitting of congress on January 6.

Vice-president Mike Pence, who will preside, welcomed the move to overturn the presidential election.

Eleven senators, including former presidential candidate Ted Cruz, made the announcement on Saturday. They joined Josh Hawley, who had already become the first senator to announce that he would oppose the certification, reportedly alongside more than 100 Republican members of the House.

Slamming the move in a tweet on Saturday, President Donald Trump said, An attempt to steal a landslide win. Cant let it happen!

The House and Senate will certify Bidens victory, a final step in the presidential election process that is usually a formality, in a joint session on January 6.

Trump is pushing the Republicans through appeals and threats to oppose the certification. But the move is widely expected to fail, as did the 60 lawsuits filed by him and his allies and the vote recounts.

The joint session is the final attempt by Trump to overturn his defeat to Biden in the presidential election, alleging that he lost because of voter fraud and irregularities in Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Arizona and Nevada - the swing states - and also in Georgia, an otherwise Republican stronghold.

In a joint statement, the 11 senators and senators-elect who joined Hawley called for an audit of the election results - in unidentified states - in 10 days time and said they will vote against the certification otherwise. Congress is unlikely to agree to their demand.

Pences chief of staff Marc Short released a statement shortly after, saying the vice-president shares the concerns about voter fraud and irregularities and welcomes the efforts of members of the House and Senate to use the authority they have under the law to raise objections and bring forward evidence before the congress and the American people on January 6.

Many Republicans have already accepted the election outcome and recognised Biden as president-elect. Senator Mitt Romney, who is one of them, lashed out at some senators from his party, calling their opposition to the certification an egregious ploy that dangerously threatens our Democratic republic.
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(Newser)  A Chicago Teachers Union leader is in hot water after a photo emerged of her apparently sitting poolside in the Caribbean while she personally urged other city educators not to return to the classroom due to unsafe COVID-related conditions. Per WGN9, CTU executive board member and area vice president Sarah Chambers posted a photo of herself in Puerto Rico on Instagram last week just hours after taking to Twitter to call for fellow special education teachers to remain home Jan. 4. "Tons of members are emailing their admin: Ill be asserting my right to continue to work in a safe remote environment on January 4th," Chambers tweeted, per reports. Chicago teachers have raised the possibility of a strike in response to city plans to return students to class.

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As reports of Chambers' post emerged, her Instagram was deleted. However, Chambers appeared to respond to the criticism on Twitter. "I got 4 covid tests (2 rapid, 2 PCR) b4 coming here [and] wore 2 masks (N95)," she wrote, per Fox News. She went on to say her doctor told her she was unlikely to catch the coronavirus on the trip because she'd already been seriously ill with COVID, an experience she details on her blog, CovidTeacher.com. The blog links to a Twitter account that also appears to have been deleted. Neither the CTU nor Chambers have thus far issued any comment to media. (Read more remote learning stories.)
ARCHIVED - Spain extends ban on UK nationals entering by air and sea until 19th January



Spains borders are open to European Union and Schengen-area countries

Only residents of Spain will be admitted

The Spanish authorities have announced they will be extending the restriction on passenger travelling from the UK (by air and sea) from 22 December until 19 January, with the exception of Spanish nationals and those legally resident in Spain. If you were due to travel to, or transit through, Spain please contact your travel operator before departure.

If you are resident in Spain, you should carry your residence document (the green paper EU residence certificate or the new TIE), as well as your valid passport when you travel. The Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that whilst these restrictions are in place only those residents who can prove their status as residents through the green paper EU residence certificate or the TIE card may enter Spain.

IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT to ensure that you carry documentation proving your residency as there have already been reports of travellers being refused entry and sent back to the UK.

Travellers arriving from the United Kingdom are not required to self-isolate on arrival in Spain. However, from the 23 rdNovember, there are some requirements for testing on arrival for those travelling by air and sea. Spot checks may be carried out on arrival to confirm travellers have undergone a COVID-19 PCR, TMA or LAMP test and have tested negative. A minimum fine of 3000 may be issued to anyone who does not comply.

This requirement applies to all passengers arriving in Spain by air or sea, regardless of your residency status in Spain and the length of time you intend on staying. Property owners in Spain are subject to this requirement.

If you are travelling by air or sea to Spain, you must declare on the mandatory Health Control Form listed below, that you have undertaken a PCR, TMA or LAMP test within no more than 72 hours prior to arrival, have tested negative for COVID-19, and can show on request evidence certifying your results.

The document you provide must be the original, be written in Spanish or English, may be submitted in paper or electronic format and must contain the following information:

 name of passenger

 passport number or ID card number (the number provided must match the one provided on the Health Control Form)

 test date

 name and contact details of the testing centre

 testing method applied (ie PCR)

 test results

You can do this on the Spain Travel Health website or downloadable app. On completion, you will be issued a personal and non-transferable QR code which you must show (electronically or hardcopy) at airport health controls on arrival. Anyone who has not completed this form electronically via the Spain Travel Health website or app, may submit it in paper format prior to boarding.

 temperature check

 undergo a visual health assessment

Anyone who presents symptoms or fails to meet one of the above requirements will be required to undergo a test on arrival and will be obliged to observe the COVID-19 protocols in place as determined by the local authorities of your destination in Spain.

Passengers may also be contacted and required to undertake a PCR, TMA or LAMP test at any point up to 48 hours after their arrival in Spain.

You should not use the NHS testing service to get a test in order to facilitate your travel to another country. You should arrange to take a private test and should confirm with the testing facility the type of tests available prior to booking an appointment.

Overland travellers to Spain are exempt from the above-mentioned entry requirements, and are therefore not currently required to present a PCR, TMA or LAMP test or Health Control Form on entry by road or rail.

Check travel information from the British Consulate if planning to travel by road through France.




The Congress, after its setback in the recent Bihar assembly elections, is planning a massive outreach to win back women voters in upcoming state polls, party functionaries familiar with the plan said.

The party is planning to appoint five women workers for every polling booth, at least across Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Assam, Kerala and Puducherry, to secure the support of female voters. Elections are to be held in the states and Puducherry, a Union territory, before May.

Five booth level workers will be appointed who will be responsible for translating the partys larger narrative for women empowerment at the ground level, Mahila Congress chief Sushmita Dev told Hindustan Times.

The push comes two days after the Mahila Congresss national executive met to discuss and brainstorm ideas to win the support of women voters. The meeting was attended by general secretary (organization) KC Venugopal. A report will be submitted on Friday to senior party leaders, including Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, capturing the salient points of the discussion and the Congresss outreach plan.

All state party presidents have been asked to offer their suggestions, a party functionary said on condition of anonymity. Just like schedule castes and schedule tribes are treated as a separate vote-bank, so should women be.

The need to recognise women as a separate electoral force was also noted at the meeting of the Mahila Congresss national executive. Issues such as domestic violence against women and the difficulties they were experiencing during the pandemic were discussed. Under the Congresss Garima campaign, 2.5 million sanitary napkins have distributed during the pandemic.

A state Congress chief said on condition of anonymity that the party was in the process of gathering suggestions. There are three focus areas for us, women, social media and block level outreach, the state president said. We have already appointed 280 observers at the block-level who are in the process of identifying women who are active in politics to play a key role in the outreach.

The state party chief added that the party would especially want to focus on housewives, semi-urban and rural women. The percentage of working women is relatively low. We want more women from the other demographics to actively take part in politics.

The party performed poorly in the October-November Bihar assembly elections, in which it won only 19 of the 70 seats it contested. Hindustan Times on 11 November reported how women voters influenced party-wise performance, by contrasting the number of electors and voter turnout figures, both of which are available by gender.

The data showed a massive lead of 19 percentage points in the National Democratic Alliances strike rate (seats won as a proportion of those contested) in assembly constituencies where the number of women who voted exceeded male voters. In fact, the higher the share of women voters in a constituency, the better was the NDAs performance.

The NDA won 62% of the seats where women voters were more compared to just 24% seats where they were fewer.

The first party functionary cited above, however, said that an analysis showed that more women than men had voted for the Congress party. Congress may not have received the greater share of votes, but an overall analysis shows that more women than men voted for the party. This makes them integral to our outreach.

The functionary added that a national narrative that flowed from the top to reclaim its legacy of women empowerment was the need of the hour for the party. Look at {Prime Minister} Narendra Modi. After they won Bihar, he said he had received the silent vote. He addressed the women directly. Congresss problem is that its top leaders arent talking to women directly.

The Bharatiya Janata Partys Rakesh Sinha said the Congress had lost its ideological glamour as well as organizational calibre. Therefore, whatever it claims or whichever resolution it passes becomes ritualistic and a non-starter, Sinha said. Both rural and urban women experienced the worst of the Congress regime. It is the Modi government which empowered them and showed genuine concerns for them. Therefore, Congress would continue to miss women support.

Experts too are sceptical of how much success the partys outreach to women will yield. Sanjay Kumar, director of the Centre for Study of Developing Societies, said the outreach can only help the party in states where it is viewed as a serious contender.

In states like West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, the Congress is not a player, so the outreach is unlikely to make an impact, Kumar said. In Assam, the faultlines are different, such as the linguistic divide or Hindu-Muslim polarisation. The narrative is different. The one state where it may make an impact is Kerala.
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As many as 26 new patients tested positive for Covid-19 in the district in the last 24 hours, however, no casualty was reported. There are 315 active patients in the district at present.

Deputy commissioner Varinder Sharma said reports of 1, 624 samples sent for testing, are still pending.

He said added that the cumulative count of cases in Ludhiana now stands at 24, 870, while 3, 716 patients belong to other districts and states.

He informed on Sunday, 59 persons were sent for home quarantine.

Sharma appealed to the residents to adhere to all safety protocols such as wearing masks, maintaining social distancing and washing hands frequently.
Pope Francis has said he is 'saddened' by Covid rule breakers who are ignoring travel restrictions during the pandemic and that they need to show a greater awareness of the suffering of others.

Speaking after his weekly noon blessing on Sunday, Francis said he had read newspaper reports of people catching flights to flee government curbs and seek fun elsewhere.

'They didn't think about those who were staying at home, of the economic problems of many people who have been hit hard by the lockdown, of the sick people. (They thought) only about going on holiday and having fun,' he said.

'This really saddened me,' he added in a video address from the library of the Vatican's Apostolic Palace.

Pope Francis has said he is 'saddened' by Covid rule breakers who are ignoring travel restrictions during pandemic and that they needed to show greater awareness of the suffering of others

The traditional Angelus blessing is normally given from a window overlooking St. Peter's Square, but it was moved indoors to prevent any crowds gathering and limit the spread of COVID-19.

'We don't know what 2021 will reserve for us, but what all of us can do together is make a bit more of an effort to take care of each other.

'There is the temptation to take care only of our own interests,' he added.

Many countries have imposed strict restrictions to prevent the spread of coronavirus, which has killed some 1.83 million people worldwide, according to the latest Reuters tally.

Pope Francis appeared in public on Friday for the first time since skipping New Year's masses at St Peter's Basilica because of a bout of sciatica.

Standing behind a desk and next to a Christmas tree and a nativity scene, the pontiff led the traditional Angelus prayers in the Apostolic Palace.

'I send you all my best wishes for peace and serenity in the new year,' he said.

Speaking after his weekly noon blessing on Sunday, Francis said he had read newspaper reports of people catching flights to flee government curbs and seek fun elsewhere

'The painful events which marked the life of humanity last year, in particular the pandemic, taught us how necessary it is to take an interest in the problems of others and share their concerns.'

The Vatican announced Thursday that Francis would be unable to celebrate New Year's masses Thursday evening and Friday morning because he was suffering from sciatica, a chronic nerve condition causing hip pain for the 84-year-old.

Shortly before Christmas, two cardinals in the pope's entourage contracted Covid-19, raising fears that Francis, who rarely wears a mask, risked infection.

During Italy's first lockdown in March, Francis initially delivered his Sunday Angelus prayers from the Vatican library instead of his usual window overlooking crowds on Saint Peter's Square.

The restriction prompted him to say he felt 'caged', and he made several brief appearances at the window, greeting the few people who ventured out into the vast square.

The pope has a risk factor for the coronavirus aside from his advanced age. When he was 21 years old in 1957, he suffered from severe pleurisy, requiring surgery to remove part of his right lung, according to biographer Austen Ivereigh.

The Vatican has not yet indicated when the pope may be vaccinated against Covid-19.
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As Nigerians joined the rest of the world to usher in the new year, activities in different sectors including the political scene, slowed down  save for the budget signing by President Muhammadu Buhari and a few other acts for the new year.

The signing of the 2021 Appropriation Bill into law by the president was one of the most talked-about events in the past week.

The act which took place on December 31, witnessed Mr Buhari sign N13.58 trillion for the nation for the 2021 fiscal year. The budget was signed about ten days after both chambers of the National Assembly passed it and three days after it was transmitted to the president for assent.

The lawmakers added N505 billion to the proposed budget of N13.08 trillion.

A breakdown of the approved budget figures shows about N496.5 billion approved for statutory transfers and N3.3 trillion for debt services. The recurrent expenditure was put at N5.6 trillion with capital expenditure at N4.1 trillion and fiscal deficit at N5.2 trillion (5,196,007,992,292).

PREMIUM TIMES reported how he signed the bill ignoring the N505 billion added by the National Assembly and N6 billion added to the lawmakers budget. Instead, he hailed his administration for achieving an impressive 97.7 per cent overall performance of the 2020 budget.

The following day, the president in his New Year speech, addressed Nigerians  recounting his administrations achievements of the previous year and making promises as well as assurances for 2021.

Top among his boasts is the nations economic diversification which he said has improved food security.

He also said economic diversification agenda embarked upon by his administration supports the primary goal of national food self-sufficiency and it helped during the long months of the pandemic lockdown.

In his speech, the president also made reference to last years #EndSARS protest which rocked the country for weeks. Mr Buhari described the protests as understandable and vowed to ensure that the demands of protesters are met.

While he hoped that 2021 will be productive, the president said his administration needs to strengthen the security of the nation to avoid the repeat of the December 11 abduction of schoolboys in Katsina State in any part of Nigeria.

This is as he pledged to re-energise and reorganise the security apparatus and personnel of the armed forces and the police with a view to enhance their capacity to engage, push back and dismantle the operations of both internal and external extremist and criminal groups waging war against our communities in some parts of the country.

The president also said his administration is adopting new strategies to deal with Nigerias security challenges which has a direct effect on the countrys economic growth.

In other news

Nigerias ruling party, APC, within the week, kicked against insinuations that the country was moving closer to a failed state. This was in response to commentators who have made reference to the worsening security situation and the negative economic situation, with Nigeria experiencing its worst recession, as signs the country was failing.

The APC in a statement disagreed saying president Buharis government is not oblivious to the countrys challenges and is visibly and frontally addressing them.

While naysayers and opposition partisans chorus their doomsday wishes for Nigeria, our dear country is nowhere close to becoming a failed state. From the economy to security, it is easy to sum up Nigeria with some recent recorded security incidents and the economic downturn. However, this government has displayed the political will and capacity to contain any criminal/terrorist activity and return the economy to growth, the ruling party said.

In a different message, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, in his new year message, urged leaders of the country to desist from blaming God for the woes of the nation.

He said with responsible leaders, no Nigerian should go to bed hungry.

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When we do the right thing, the economy will be what it should be. I like the motto of a school which says work and pray. Some people say it should be pray and work, but it doesnt matter to me in what order I put it, but prayer must go with work and work must go with prayer.

Meanwhile, President Buhari, Senate President Ahmad Lawan, and many other political leaders mourned a professor of criminology and member of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), Femi Odekunle, who died last week.

The leaders described the late Mr Odekunle as a valued friend and a towering intellectual giant with impeccable knowledge of his chosen academic field, criminology, and in such others as governance and administration.

And on the foreign scene, Queen Elizabeth II assented to the post-Brexit trade bill making it a law in Britain.

The legislation, officially called the European Union (Future Relationship) Act 2020, sets out the trade rules between Britain and the bloc from January 1. It comes days after elected lawmakers in the House of Commons voted 521 to 73 in support of the deal.

It then received an unopposed third reading in the House of Lords after nearly eight hours of debate.
All nursing home residents and staff will receive their first dose of the coronavirus vaccine by the end of January.

Thats according to Health Minister Stephen Donnelly, who said that around 40,000 residents and around 30,000 staff in Irelands nursing homes should expect to receive their jab over the coming weeks.

In a series of tweets yesterday, the Minister said the commencement of the first vaccinations in the country earlier this week was a huge milestone.

Ireland has so far opted into five advanced purchase agreements for Covid-19 vaccines through the European Union.

A brief update on our vaccination programme. The first vaccines were administered this week and marks a hugely important milestone. It has brought much-needed hope. We started with healthcare workers in our hospitals and are now moving into nursing homes. pic.twitter.com/ItHfgiDD0i  Stephen Donnelly (@DonnellyStephen) January 2, 2021

"While the Pfizer vaccine has already been approved for use here, Ireland has also signed up for both the Modern and AstraZeneca vaccines," he said.

It is estimated that roughly 7.6 million doses have been either ordered or pre ordered.

Mr Donnelly said the beginning of the countrys vaccination programme should provide the coutry with "a lot of hope as we look into this coming year.

We will keep you updated on our progress with the vaccine rollout regularly, he said.

In the interim, the Minister urged the public to adhere to the later public health guidelines and to keep safe, stay home, wear masks and keep distance.

We can suppress this virus again with everyones support. We will get through this difficult time. There are better days ahead, he added.

Mr Donnelly also noted that vaccinations will be added to the existing Covid-19 data hub, which tracks daily case numbers.

Meanwhile, the Health Service Executive (HSE) said it hopes that Irish nursing home residents will have received their second vaccine doses by the end of February, but warned that significant Covid-19 outbreaks in facilities between now and then may slow the process.
Use of the death penalty in Texas has dropped sharply in recent years, partly because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the election of prosecutors focused on criminal justice reform, a new report found.

Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzales is one of several prosecutors in Texas who have vowed to curtail use of the death penalty, according to the year-end report by the Texas Coalition Against the Death Penalty, a statewide advocacy group.

The pandemic largely halted executions because of public health concerns. Texas, which typically carries out the highest number of executions nationwide, executed three people in 2020, the report found. It was the lowest number statewide in nearly 25 years.

None of the men executed were from Bexar County.

While executions in the Lone Star State were at an all-time low, Texas was one of only two states  besides the federal government  that carried out executions during the pandemic.

It is shameful  to put anyone to death during a global pandemic, said Kristin Houle Cuellar, executive director of the Texas Coalition Against the Death Penalty, referring to the July execution of Billy Joe Wardlow.

Wardlow was sentenced to death in 1995 in the killing of 82-year-old Carl Cole during a botched attempt to steal Coles truck at his home in rural Morris County in East Texas. At the time, Wardlow was 18.

In July, in a last-ditch effort to halt Wardlows execution, attorneys representing him asked the Texas Supreme Court and Gov. Greg Abbott to halt his execution because of the pandemic. The court denied the motion, and Abbott took no action.

On ExpressNews.com: Coronavirus delays execution of San Antonio man who raped, killed teen girl a quarter century ago

The report shows that Texas juries sentenced two people to death last year  one in February and the other in March  before the coronavirus suspended most court proceedings.

The number of death sentences and executions in Texas and across the U.S. has steadily decreased over the last two decades. Texas executions peaked in 2000, when 40 people were put to death, the report states. In 2019, nine inmates were executed.

The decrease comes as public support for the death penalty has waned, especially as alternative sentences, such as life without the possibility of parole, have become available.

Prior to 2005, when then-Gov. Rick Perry signed a law allowing juries to sentence defendants to life without parole, the alternative was life in prison with the chance of parole after 40 years.

Opponents of capital punishment argue that the sentence is unfairly applied based on race and poses the risk of killing individuals with claims of actual innocence. According to the report, 70 percent of death sentences over the last five years have been imposed on people of color.

On ExpressNews.com: Bexar County prosecutors wrangle over death penalty

Of those, 38 percent were Black defendants. In comparison, roughly 13 percent of Texas population is Black, according to 2019 estimates from the Census Bureau.

As Texas moves away from the death penalty, what remains is an arbitrary, unfair and racially biased punishment, Cuellar said. At this critical moment of reckoning with systemic racism, elected officials and the public must continue to confront our states deeply troubling legacy of injustice reflected in the death penalty.

Cuellar said executions will likely continue to decline in the coming years, partly because of several district attorneys  including those in Dallas, Harris and Nueces counties  having vowed to curtail use of the death penalty.

Gonzales, who took office in 2019, has said he will seek the death penalty in only the worst of the worst cases.

So far, he has chosen to seek the death penalty twice: for Brian Flores, then accused in the 2015 deaths of two teenagers, and Otis Tyrone McKane, who is suspected in the 2016 killing of San Antonio Police Detective Benjamin Marconi.

Flores case was resolved after he pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

On ExpressNews.com: Former San Antonio gang members death sentence overturned due to intellectual disability

Last year, Gonzales helped lead the charge to reduce Geronimo Gutierrezs death sentence to life in prison. He was one of six men whose sentences were changed after prosecutors and judges agreed there was evidence the men had intellectual disabilities, the report states.

Gutierrez was the first person convicted in Bexar County to receive relief under the U.S. Supreme Courts decision in 2017 in Moore vs. Texas, which found that Texas courts were using outdated, nonmedical criteria to assess intellectual disability claims.

When his sentence was reduced, Gutierrez had spent more than 18 years on death row for the abduction and slaying of Rick Marin in 1999 in San Antonio.

The appeals of death penalty cases are lengthy and costly for taxpayers, Gonzales said at the time, explaining his recommendation to reduce Gutierrezs sentence. This court ruling means this defendant will spend the rest of his life in prison.

eeaton@express-news.net
A PROLIFIC thief with more than 400 convictions stole a backpack with rent money from a foreign student who had just arrived in Ireland, a court heard.

Catherine Lambert (46) was jailed for eight months when she admitted the latest series of theft charges.

Describing her record as "appalling", Judge Flann Brennan said the accused had taken considerable amounts of money and some of the offences were committed while she was on bail.

Dublin District Court heard Lambert, of no fixed address, was in Supermacs on O'Connell Street on November 9, 2018, when she approached a Brazilian student.

The woman had left her bag on the ground and Lambert bent down and grabbed it.

The backpack and its contents were worth just under 3,000 and included the victim's passport and 2,800 in cash for an apartment.

The victim had just arrived in Ireland, Garda Sergeant Zita Woods said.

Lambert also admitted other crimes including stealing women's bags while they were out socialising in Dublin city centre.

On September 6, a woman's handbag with her phone, house keys and bank card was stolen in South William Street.

The bank card was used in various shops.

On September 25, another woman was having a meal with a friend in a restaurant on the same street when Lambert stole her bag and contents worth 850.

The handbag was later found discarded in a bin but the debit card was used three times over the course of a number of minutes to make purchases in shops.

Lambert was identified from CCTV footage of these transactions.

The accused had a total of 431 prior convictions, the last of which was in May this year.

She had been remanded in custody since she was arrested in September.

Lambert had been stealing to fund a chronic drug addiction, which she was now trying to deal with in prison, her solicitor said.

She could offer no other excuse and there was no chance of compensation.

Judge Brennan said he had "enormous sympathy" for Lambert's plight but she had an appalling record, the offences were serious and he could not ignore the effect on the victims.

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Herald
By Chang Se-moon



"What to Do About North Korea"





This title is not my own. It is the topic of presentation that Ri Jong-ho made during the Dec. 2, foreign policy webinar sponsored by the Defense Forum Foundation. Since the National Assembly passed a law that bans an anti-North Korea leafleting campaign on Dec. 14, this may be a good time to again ask what to do about North Korea.



The Defense Forum Foundation, which promotes democracy around the world, is led by Suzanne Scholte who is well-known as a leading advocate for freedom and human rights for the people of North Korea.



Ri, the speaker at the webinar, defected from North Korea in 2014 after faithfully serving the Kim family, making billions for the regime through his work at Bureau 39 and as founder and CEO of the Daehung Shipping & Trading Company. He received numerous awards including the Hero of Labor Award, the highest civilian honor in North Korea.



What should we do about North Korea? According to Ri, the U.S. Congress should enact a new law that would "strengthen sanctions against North Korea for its denuclearization," and "completely block the North Korean rubber goods import market." Ri explains that the rubber for tires used on North Korean military vehicles is 100 percent imported.



Therefore, "banning North Korea's imports of rubber could cause all military vehicles, including missile vehicles, to stop and have a tremendous effect on denuclearization."



Ri also stressed the importance of "sending outside information into isolated North Korea so that the people of North Korea, including the North Korean elite, can learn the truth," as well as supporting Free North Korea Radio and activities of North Korean defectors. This clearly contradicts the idea of the new law that the National Assembly has recently passed, banning anti-North Korea leaflets.



Ri's view appears to support my opinion piece that appeared in the April 3, 2016, edition of The Korea Times where I stated: "For political and business leaders in Korea, it may be important, more likely critically important, to recognize that continuing the past policies of peaceful overtures to North Korea hoping that they will change is likely to jeopardize the very existence of Korea. No matter how good the intentions may be, continuing such policy while North Korea is getting so close to having tactical nuclear weapons ready is an invitation to mimic Nokia's loss on a grander scale."



Just in case you are wondering about "Nokia's loss," the story goes like this.



Microsoft announced it was buying Nokia for $7.2 billion in September 2013, and the deal was finalized on April 25, 2014. When the deal was announced, the then CEO of Nokia, Stephen Elop, gave a speech to his management team which he ended by saying that "we didn't do anything wrong, but somehow, we lost."



When he said that, all his management team, including Elop himself, shed tears. Nokia was a very respectable company at the time but failed to keep up with the rapidly changing market environment.



Consider the story of two lovers. The gist of this story was referred to in an article by Rosa Brooks, a law professor at Georgetown University, in Bob Woodward's book, "Rage." The article was printed in the Sept. 13, 2020, issue of the Washington Post.



Once there were two lovers in a fantasy land who were looking for their perfect match all over the world. Luckily for them, there was a matchmaker who was able to bring the two together. Soon, the two fell in love and began to send beautiful love letters to each other.



After about 25 such letters, the two lovers finally met on June 12, 2018. It was love at first sight, with lover #1 proclaiming "You meet a woman. In one second, you know whether or not it's going to happen."



They met again on Feb. 27, 2019, and again on June 30, 2019. Letters exchanged between the two could not be more sweet and lovely: "I cannot forget that moment ...," "Like the brief time we had together ," "Would you like me to come in?" and more.



Well, the two lovers were U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korea leader Kim Jong-un. The matchmaker was President Moon Jae-in. Quotations are real, not imagined.



President Moon and his policymakers may feel that they didn't do anything wrong, but the outcome to-date appears to be exactly as predicted in my 2016 article. North Korea has firmly established itself as a nuclear power, while peace between the two Koreas appears as far away as it has ever been.



Any future strategy accompanies danger to human lives and economic costs. I do not know what would be best for future negotiations between the two Koreas. I do believe, however, that we need an open discussion of all options by all stakeholders in South Korea so that no one will have to say "somehow we lost" in the future.





Chang Se-moon (changsemoon@yahoo.com) is the director of the Gulf Coast Center for Impact Studies.


Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa said that after its spectacular performance in the recently held Gram Panchayat polls, the party would focus on winning a majority in the Taluk and Zilla Panchayat polls to be held shortly. Yediyurappa was speaking at the BJPs special two-day core committee and executive committee meeting held at his native district of Shivamogga.

The BJP leader also said the party would focus on winning the by-polls to Maski and Basva Kalyan assembly seats plus the Belagavi Lok Sabha constituency, the elections to which are likely to be held shortly. Promising to bring the BJP back to power with 140 to 150 seats in the next assembly polls due in 2023, Yediyurappa said to do that he would undertake a statewide tour to strengthen the party.

As a part of its outreach to the electorate starting January 11, the CM and other party leaders will hold Jan Sevak conventions across all the districts in the state. Yediyurappa will kickstart this programme from Mysuru in which the party would convey the work being done by the Centre and the state government to the electorate. Union home minister Amit Shah will participate in a Jan Sevak event to be held in Bengaluru on January 16 or 17.

BJP national general secretary in-charge of Karnataka Arun Singh speaking to the media during the event said that there was no question of a change in leadership in the state. In light of speculation that the 77-year-old Yediyurappa maybe replaced as CM, Singh said that there was no such plan. He also deflected a question on cabinet expansion and reshuffle saying that it was the prerogative of the CM. Yediyurappa has visited Delhi several times seeking permission from the party high command for cabinet expansion.

Earlier, Karnataka BJP unit president Nalin Kumar Kateel praised the CM for passing an anti-cow slaughter ordinance and said that in the next session a bill against love-jihad would also be passed. Union ministers Prahalad Joshi and D V Sadananada Gowda also took part in the deliberations. Gowda who briefly took ill while coming back from Shivamogga to Bengaluru and was rushed to a hospital. He later tweeted saying that he was well and that it was just a case of low-sugar. He is likely to be discharged from the hospital on Monday.
The Nonprofit Spotlight is an occasional feature that allows North County nonprofits to showcase their work and volunteers. For more information about submitting an article, contact Managing Editor Marga Cooley at mcooley@santamariatimes.com.
12 opposition parties extend support to farmers protest call on May 26; urge Centre to hold talks with farmers

Will burn copies of new farm laws on Lohri: Farmers urge govt to leave its 'stubbornness', repeal laws

India

oi-Deepika S

New Delhi, Jan 03: Farmer leaders protesting at Delhi's Singhu border on Sunday said they will celebrate the festival of Lohri on January 13 by burning copies of newly introduced agriculture laws.

They also said they will observe the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on January 23 as 'Azad Hind Kisan Diwas'.

"We will celebrate the Lohri festival on January 13 by burning the copies of farm laws," farmers' leader Manjeet Singh Rai said.

Rai also urged people to hold protests in support of farmers across India from January 6 to 20.

Lohri is mostly celebrated in north India, marking the beginning of the spring season. Bonfires are a special characteristic of the festival.

Another farmers' leader Onkar Singh said, "Today is the 37th day of our protest. The government should leave its stubbornness. In these conditions, the farmers, including elders, have been sitting on protest, but the government is not concerned about it."

Braving the cold, thousands of farmers, mainly from Punjab and Haryana, are protesting at various borders of the national capital for more than a month against the three farm laws.

TN government announced Rs 600 crore relief for farmers

The farmers' leaders said they are ready for Monday's meeting with the government.

The next round of talks between the government and protesting farmer unions is scheduled to be held on January 4, Monday. On Friday last, the unions had announced that they would have to take firm steps if the meeting fails to resolve the deadlock.

"As the temperature is decreasing, we have tried to arrange the waterproof tents. We are also trying to arrange the blankets and warm water. Arrangements for 1,000 women have been made near the KFC with a tent and the mattresses," farmers'' leader Harmeet Singh Kadian said.

The protesting farmer unions on Saturday had said they will take out a tractor parade towards Delhi on January 26, when the country will celebrate Republic Day if their demands are not met.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will be in the national capital on January 26 as the chief guest at the Republic Day parade, which will be held at Rajpath.

In a statement, the All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC) said the success of Monday's talks depends entirely on the repeal of three farm laws.

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Story first published: Sunday, January 3, 2021, 21:02 [IST]
Microsoft AI Skills podcast

Driving AI skills in South Africa

A podcast from Microsoft about driving AI skills

About AI Skills

Technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things and machine learning have entered the mainstream, increasingly accelerating the journey to transform economies and redesign the future of work.

In this podcast series, we explore how Microsoft is tackling AI skills development to help create a future in which every person has access to the skills, technology, and opportunity they need to thrive in the digital economy. This includes students and job seekers who need to prepare for the jobs of today and tomorrow, employees who need skills to grow in their roles and leaders who need to lead with confidence in the age of AI.

Join our host, technology journalist and commentator, Arthur Goldstuck, as he dives into everything from the development of critical AI skills to help graduates become more employable to how AIs role in business is evolving in the 2020s.

Episode 1: Empowering youth in outlying areas with AI skills

In this episode, we explore digital skills development amongst youth located beyond the major metro areas. Skilling programmes, such as Microsofts Mobile Learning Labs, help address the gap for technical skills that are in high demand and enable learners in outlying areas to find employment and launch a career in digital technologies.

Technology journalist and commentator, Arthur Goldstuck is joined by Asif Valley, National Technology Officer at Microsoft South Africa and Mixo Ngoveni, Founder and CEO of Geekulcha to talk about Microsofts Mobile Learning Labs and some of the success stories stemming from this initiative. Driving skills impact requires strong partnerships and Mixo shares what the power of partnerships mean to him and what the skills of tomorrow look like.

Episode 2: Addressing the demand for groomed AI engineers

In this episode, we examine how we can address the demand for AI skills at a graduate level. The Central University of Technology, Free State introduced Microsofts first AI University programme in July 2020 to do just that.

Technology journalist and commentator, Arthur Goldstuck is joined by Asif Valley, National Technology Officer at Microsoft South Africa and Lebo Mabe, a developer at the Free State Department of Health and one of the AI University students to talk about the programme. Lebo shares her skilling journey and the learnings she hopes to take back to her workplace.

We also explore the development of critical AI skills to help graduates become more employable and to empower both the public and private sector with the capabilities to innovate by leveraging new technologies.

Episode 3: Driving AI skills at a leadership level

In this episode, we examine the importance of empowering business and government leaders to lead with confidence in the age of AI.

Technology journalist and commentator, Arthur Goldstuck is joined by Asif Valley, National Technology Officer at Microsoft South Africa and Dr Nick Bradshaw, Director at AI Media to talk about AI skills at a leadership level. Asif expands on Microsofts AI Business School, a free online master class series that focusses on AI strategy, culture and responsibility. Nick shares why he is passionate about AIs opportunity for business and whether leaders are effectively addressing the skills gap. We also explore how AIs role in business is evolving in the 2020s.
A large number of Chinese sturgeons have been imported into Vietnam and sold in the local market at cheap prices, resulting in challenges for fish farmers in the Southeast Asian country.

The issue has been addressed by Nguyen Dinh An, head of the Lam Dong Province Cold Water Fish Development Association, on behalf of the countrys sturgeon farmers.

An has sent a letter to the national government and asked the prime minister to order the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and Ministry of Public Security to verify whether or not sturgeons had been imported illegally into Vietnam from China.

Chinese sturgeons shipped through official and illegal channels have been sold at very cheap prices in the country, sparking concerns among local fish farmers.

Lam Dongs sturgeon output was nearly 3,000 metric tons last year, An stated, adding that about 500 metric tons of sturgeons could not be sold by the end of 2020 due to competition from cheap Chinese fish.

Many sturgeon farmers and businesses in Sa Pa Town, located in the northern province of Lao Cai, also aired the similar concerns.

About 240 farms, establishments, and households in Sa Pa specialize in raising sturgeons and supply at least 500 metric tons per year.

Do Tien Thang, vice-chairman of the Lao Cai Cold Water Fish Association, has also sent several documents to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and General Department of Vietnam Customs regarding this problem.

Measures must be taken to tighten the management of sturgeon importation to deal with the difficulties local farmers have been facing, Thang stated.

According to Le Thanh Luu, an official from the Vietnam Fisheries Society, Vietnams sturgeon output in 2019 was recorded at 2,500 metric tons, while the amount of sturgeons imported from Chinese was 4,500 metric tons, accounting for 65 percent of market demand.

Most of these fish were imported via unofficial channels, Luu added.

Chinese sturgeons are offered at VND140,000-160,000 (US$6-6.8) per kilogram, while buyers have to pay VND200,000-240,000 ($8.5-10.2) per kilogram of Vietnamese sturgeons, the official elaborated.

Sturgeons imported from China have lower quality, but their low prices have created cut-throat competition and challenges for fish farmers in Vietnam, he continued.

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Failure. Thats how Andy Banner-Price, the co-owner of The 25 Boutique B&B in Torquay, sees a four-star review on Tripadvisor, which earlier this year declared it the worlds best B&B for the second year running.

To date it has over 800 reviews on the site  and every single one of them is an excellent five out of five (MailOnlines etiquette expert William Hanson recently added to the tally with a five-star review from his visit).

When MailOnline Travel asked Andy what hed do if a guest posted a four-star review, he said: If someone did have a less-than-excellent experience, if they were a genuine guest and for some reason we have failed, then we would just need to take that on the chin.

Failure. Thats how Andy Banner-Price (left), the co-owner with husband Julian (right) of The 25 Boutique B&B in Torquay, sees a four-star review on Tripadvisor, which earlier this year declared it the worlds best B&B for the second year running. The couple are pictured here with their 2020 Visit England B&B of the Year award

When MailOnline Travel asked Andy what hed do if a guest posted a four-star review, he said: If someone did have a less-than-excellent experience, if they were a genuine guest and for some reason we have failed, then we would just need to take that on the chin'

And right there is all you need to know about his standards - anything less than perfection just wont do at all.

The perfect score for The 25, which Andy runs with his husband, Julian, has even held steady despite a fire alarm once going off at 1.30am and waking everyone up.

How did the couple head potential grumbling off at the pass? Hospitality managers pay attention - they went the extra mile, and then a bit further for good measure.

Andy said: In the morning, before breakfast, I canvassed opinion from other B&Bs and asked what would you do?

Ninety-nine out of 100 people said just apologise. A couple of people said I might offer them a complimentary drink.

'But to us, that wasnt good enough.

We tailored the response to each person, according to how long they were staying and so on. So one guest whod already had his stay covered by his company, we offered him a bottle of wine on check-out.

Someone who stayed for a week, we knocked a whole night off their bill. We said you wont have had a proper nights sleep so, the bed part is half the B&B, so well only charge you six nights.

Two of the guests have already been back and another one has booked in for a couple of weeks actually, so three out of the four or five woken up that night actually came back again - so its about how you handle things that go wrong.

The 25's Oddicombe Room, which features a giant orange gerbera. The 25 has been up and running since 2015

So again, I would hope that even if something went wrong they would think well I had an excellent experience, OK something went wrong, but they put it right immediately and everything else was perfect.

As well as supreme customer service, OCD characteristics also play their part in The 25s success, Andy admitted.

He said: Yeah. We both probably have OCD traits. Were obsessive about cleanliness and detail. Those plug sockets that are perfectly positioned next to the desk, both of the screw heads will be in line, because it just looks better.

The striking Torre Suite, which features bold hues and Frank the zebra head

When were deciding on the placing of something or a colour, where a light fitting would go for instance - we discuss it for an hour. Because its important to us.

We make sure that everything is right and works and as it should be.

So people, when they come and stay here, everything is just really smooth and everything is beautifully clean and everything that they could possible want is supplied. The beds are lovely and comfy. All the basics are there.

But then on top of that, we really care about the guest experience and that they have the best possible stay with us, not only here, but generally. Theres no point in us having fabulous accommodation if they then dont enjoy their experience on the English Riviera.

In this department, Andy even makes sure the surrounds are looking spick and span.

He said: En-route theres a postbox, which had a kind of faded pink colour and desperately needed painting. So I complained to Royal Mail and got it painted. And now its beautifully red and shiny. Because I dont want my guests to have to walk past a postbox that looks like it needs painting.

The couple also produce a leaflet of their recommended restaurants and local walks.

Andy said: We point out all the tourist attractions and interesting things to see en-route. You can walk to Cockington village, which is a thatched village and croft centre.

And we recommend a circular walk so that they come back a different way, along a stream and through some woods and back out onto the seafront and things.

If we could control absolutely everything, including the weather, then we would.

Andy said that if he could control the weather, then he would. Pictured here is one of the B&B's eye-catching light features

Andy and Julian work incredibly hard  but do occasionally take days off so they dont get crotchety and normally go an hour or an hour and a half down the road and stay at another B&B.

Are there any common mistakes they see while theyre away?

Andy said: I think its obvious when people havent thought about the customer journey, or theyve not stayed in their own bedrooms, so its maybe more so for larger places, they maybe get an interior designer in to design a fabulous hotel room that looks good, but when you actually try and use it, theres no flow to it. Its obvious that theyre interior designers rather than hotel managers.

'Most people who choose to stay here absolutely love everything,' said Andy. He reveals that the unique decor serves to help the property stand out from the crowd in Torquay, where there are around 150 B&Bs

Andy said: 'When people come and stay here, everything is just really smooth and everything is beautifully clean and everything that they could possible want is supplied.' Pictured is The Broadsands Room

THE 25'S HONOURS* Tripadvisor Travellers' Choice Award - crowned No.1 B&B in the World, Europe and the UK in 2019 and 2020. Winner of the 2020 Visit England B&B of the Year award South West Tourism Awards 2019/2020 - gold winner for Best B&B in the South West. The 25's awards are proudly displayed Unique B&B of the Year for Great Britain at The AA B&B Awards, 2018-2019. Great British Breakfast national winner  2016. Awarded five-star grading from The AA, 2015 to 2020. *A selection, to be accurate Advertisement

Ive been to places where you go to make a cup of tea, but the kettle isnt plugged in and youve got to hunt for a plug because there isnt one next to a tea tray.

Ive been to places where Ive had to unplug a lamp and have the kettle boiling on the floor.

'And then youve made your tea and youve got your wet dripping tea bag but then the bin is on the other side of the room rather than next to your tea tray.

'So do they expect you to drip tea all over the carpet on the way to the bin?

So something I do is move the bin next to the tea tray [when staying elsewhere]. But surely the cleaner every single day will see that the bin has been moved next to the tea tray. But they dont think to move it.

Of course, what strikes guests at The 25 isnt just that the bins, tea trays and plug points are all perfectly positioned. Its the bold decor, from quirky lamps to vibrant colour-schemes.

We realise its not for everybody, said Andy. But there are 30 B&Bs just on our road and theres something like 150 in Torquay and about 80-ish hotels. So you need to stand out in a very crowded market and just being excellent quality or five-star wasnt enough.

Hence the eye-catching interior.

Andy continued: This, when we took over in 2014, was a 10-bedroom guest house and literally every surface was a shade of beige.

'Even the feature wallpapers behind the bed were beige flowers. So we decided that wed be a bit bolder and go for something thats an escapism from your normal life.

Were a niche product but theres a lot of people looking for our kind of property.

'And most people who choose to stay here absolutely love everything  they love the sparkly wallpaper behind the beds, the feature lights and the mannequin lights that Ive made, the Frank the zebra head in the Torre Suite, and they really love the fun atmosphere.

The 25 is undoubtedly an amazing success story and Andy and Julian now find that the majority of bookings are from repeat guests.

What do they find when they return? Something even better.

We say its never a finished product, said Andy. Were always trying to improve what we have.

Failure is not an option.
A Pakistani woman named Bano Begum, who had come to India 35 years ago, was found running the affairs of a panchayat as the interim head of Gudau village in Etah, Uttar Pradesh on Saturday, said District Panchayati Raj Officer Alok Priyadarshi. The official further informed that the administration has registered an FIR against her. Speaking about this incident, Alok Priyadarshi said that one needs to be an Indian National to be elected as village panchayat head.

READ | BJP Wins Big In Rajasthan Panchayat & Zila Elections; Javadekar Credits Farmers, Farm Laws

UP: Pakistani woman found running for Gram Panchayat

District Panchyati Raj Officer Alok Priyadarshi said, "Members of Gram Panchayat unanimously elected her as village head. So they are responsible for this. One needs to be an Indian national to be elected as village panchayat head. We have given instructions to lodge FIR in this case."

READ | Karnataka Gram Panchayat Polls: Counting Of Votes Tomorrow

While speaking to news agency ANI, Bano Begam denied contesting any Gram Panchayat elections. She said, "It was the former Pradhan who made me the village head. I don't know much about this issue." This incident comes to fore after a senior superintendent of police in 2016 issued a notice to the Pakistani woman. The notice issued to her read, "your India visa had expired on September 6, 2016. You had applied late for the extension of visa. Hence, you are expected to pay the challan fee by September 30, 2016." The amount payable was 30 dollars.

READ | UP Panchayat Polls: BJP To Meet To Discuss Strategy

Stating that the required challan fee was not paid by Bano Begum, the District Panchayati Rah Officer Priyadarshi said, "we are closely looking into the matter."

READ | Process Of Bringing All Divisional Offices In One Building Has Started: UP CM

(With ANI inputs)
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In new TN assembly DMK has most MLAs with pending criminal background, crorepatis

TN government announced Rs 600 crore relief for farmers

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Chennai, Jan 03: Chief Minister K Palaniswami on Saturday announced  600 crore relief assistance to about five lakh farmers, whose crops on 3.10 lakh plus hectares were hit due to the recent back to back cyclones in Tamil Nadu.

A norm that permitted relief only upto a maximum of two hectares has been relaxed in view of the losses suffered by ryots and the assistance shall cover loss in its entirety without any upper limit, Mr Palaniswami said.

The assistance would be directly credited to the bank accounts of farmers from January 7, he said in an official release.

Palaniswami said agricultural and horticultural crops on 3,10,589.63 hectares were affected in Tamil Nadu due to the Nivar and Burevi cyclones witnessed during November-December last year. Farmers, who bore huge production cost, were hit badly due to the storms, he added.

The Chief Minister increased aid, covered under input subsidy head, to  20,000 from  13,500 per hectare for rainfed and irrigated paddy and for other crops with irrigation amenities.

For all rainfed crops, barring paddy, the relief assistance per hectare is raised to  10,000 from the present  7,410, he announced.

Similarly, the Chief Minister hiked assistance under the perennial crops category to  25,000 from the present  18,000 per hectare.

The present slab of assistance per hectare is based on the National Disaster Relief Fund guidelines and the quantum of hike over and above the NDRF stipulation shall be borne by the state government, Mr Palaniswami said.

Tamil Nadu has sought  3,750.38 crore assistance for damage due to Nivar and  1,514 crore for Burevi from the Central government.

"Rs 600 crore assistance will be provided to about five lakh farmers and the benefit shall be directed transferred to their bank accounts from January 7," he said.

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Story first published: Sunday, January 3, 2021, 10:02 [IST]
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(Natural News) The Department of Defense has informed the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) that they are considering dropping their support for most of the agencys counterterrorism missions in favor of utilizing more resources to combat the threats posed by Russia and China.

Acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller sent a letter to the Director of the CIA Gina Haspel on Wednesday, Dec. 9, outlining his decision to review the departments role in supporting the agencys operations. This information comes from several senior intelligence officials familiar with the new development. They have characterized the actions undertaken by Miller as both surprising and wholly unprecedented.

If the Pentagons decision to basically cut ties pushes through, it is still unclear how it would impact the CIAs counterterrorism missions across the globe, and it is also unclear what will happen to the agencys remaining agents still working in combat zones like Afghanistan.

Editors note: The CIA has been using DoD personnel and resources to run its black ops missions domestically, in the USA, which are executions, kidnappings and ransom operations. All the official explanations are cover stories for the truth, which is that the CIA is a secret military group working for the deep state, and operating in the continental United States.

What is known is that the CIA will no longer have access to Defense personnel assigned to the agency as detailees, as well as equipment loaned from the military, such as drones.

The Special Activities Center of the CIA mainly handles counterterrorism operations thanks to its own paramilitary force that is deployed for covert operations across the world. They act independently of the Defense Department and the military. However, they still require a lot of support in order to function effectively, whether that be through transportation, general logistics and medical support or providing the agency with additional personnel.

Defense and national security news website Defense One broke the story, citing multiple sources familiar with the situation as well as with the letter Miller sent to Haspel.

Experts fear decision will lead to deaths of CIA agents still in combat zones but this is just more CIA propaganda

Acting Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence Ezra Cohen-Watnick is spearheading the review of the Defense Departments role in supporting the CIAs operations. He was appointed by President Donald Trump in the wake of the Election following the departure of multiple people in the department.

According to sources, the desire to cut support for the CIA is due to the Pentagons belief that their resources can be better spent for missions related to the American desire to better counter the threat posed by Russia and China. (Related: Director of National Intelligence calls China National Security Threat No. 1.)

Current and former administration and military officials who spoke with Defense One said that the Pentagon believes that the threat of terrorism comes secondary to the threat posed by the two potential superpowers.

This line of thinking is coming from former Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, who in 2018 rolled out a national defense strategy that saw the United States begin focusing their efforts in curtailing what they have called near-peer competitors, or nations that have the potential of matching the U.S. in terms of military might, such as Russia and China. This has left the CIA and its many agents and assets focused on counterterrorism operations out in the cold, as they are unsure of what their role is in this new defense strategy.

Some within the Defense Department have raised concerns over what they see as an attempt to halt the Pentagons role in supporting the prevention of terror threats to the nation.

I think its fair for the DOD to say, Id like some of our detailees to be involved in these higher-level missions  and they are, but [very few people are going to be involved] because theres very few involved in those missions anyway, said one former administration official. If [the Pentagon] goes, We dont want to help you with the counterterrorism missions, well, somebody has to do it.

One former military official argued that the Defense Departments support for the CIA makes sense from an economic standpoint. Many other departments and agencies dont have to be as large because the DODs budget allows them to provide a lot of services while cutting down on costs.

Imagine all the additional resources the CIA would need if they couldnt rely on the DOD for support, said the former military official.

Many other officials critical of the Pentagons decision believe that the department is acting in a very shortsighted manner, and that the supposed review will inevitably lead to the deaths of CIA officers still in active combat zones, as well as their assets and the DOD detailees working for them.

[The review] is basically going to ask the CIA to carry the burden for two-and-a-half months, and then pull the rug out from under them at the same time, said one former official. If agents start dying in Afghanistan, this is going to be a big deal.

The Pentagons decision has not yet been finalized, and some officials have argued against taking such an alarmist stance.

However, rumors surrounding the plan have persisted and are spreading through the Pentagon like wildfire, and it is unlikely to die down until the Trump administration and the DOD finalize their decisions on the matter.

Learn more about the issues and decisions being made that affect the countrys national security by reading the latest articles at NationalSecurity.news.

Sources include:

ABCNews.go.com

Edition.CNN.com

DefenseOne.com
NEW YORK, Jan. 3, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. ("Northern Dynasty" or the "Company") (NYSE: NAK) and certain of its officers. The class action, filed in United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, and docketed under 20-cv-06126, is on behalf of a class consisting of all persons and entities other than Defendants that purchased or otherwise acquired Northern Dynasty securities from December 21, 2017 through November 25, 2020, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"). Plaintiff seeks to recover compensable damages caused by Defendants' violations of the federal securities laws and to pursue remedies under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

If you are a shareholder who purchased Northern Dynasty securities during the Class Period, you have until February 2, 2021 to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com. To discuss this action, contact Robert S. Willoughby at [email protected] or 888.476.6529 (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 7980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased.

[Click here for information about joining the class action]

Northern Dynasty engages in the exploration of mineral properties in the U.S. Its principal mineral property is the Pebble copper-gold-molybdenum project comprising 2,402 mineral claims that cover an area of approximately 417 square miles located in southwest Alaska (the "Pebble Project").

The Complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements, and failed to disclose material adverse facts about the Company's business, operational, and compliance policies. Specifically, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and failed to disclose to investors that: (i) the Company's Pebble Project was contrary to Clean Water Act guidelines and to the public interest; (ii) the Company planned that the Pebble Project would be larger in duration and scope than conveyed to the public; (iii) as a result, the Company's permit applications for the Pebble Project would be denied by the US Army Corps of Engineers ("USACE") and (iv) as a result, Defendants' public statements were materially false and/or misleading at all relevant times.

On August 24, 2020, the U.S. Army released a statement concerning the Pebble Project, stating that it would result in "significant degradation of the environment and would likely result in significant adverse effects on the aquatic system or human environment." The U.S. Army further found that "the project, as currently proposed, cannot be permitted under section 404 of the Clean Water Act." The U.S. Army requested that the Company submit a mitigation plan in response to this finding.

On this news, Northern Dynasty's common share price fell $0.55 per share, or 37.9%, to close at $0.90 per share on August 24, 2020.

On September 21, 2020, the Environmental Investigation Agency released a recording between investigators and Company executives that demonstrated that Northern Dynasty, contrary to previous public statements, actually planned to build a mine that would last up to 180 years.

On November 25, 2020, Northern Dynasty reported that the USACE had rejected its permit applications related to the Pebble Project.

On this news, Northern Dynasty's common share price fell $0.40 per share, or 50%, to close at $0.40 per share on November 25, 2020, damaging investors.

The Pomerantz Firm, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Paris is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, the Pomerantz Firm pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 80 years later, the Pomerantz Firm continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomerantzlaw.com.

CONTACT:

Robert S. Willoughby

Pomerantz LLP

[email protected]

888-476-6529 ext. 7980

SOURCE Pomerantz LLP

Related Links

www.pomerantzlaw.com


New York Army National Guard Lt. Col. Matthias Greene, a veteran of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, has taken command of the 3rd Battalion, 142nd Assault Helicopter Regiment, which includes a unit at the Aviation Support Facility at the Albany International Airport in Colonie.

Greene replaces Lt. Col. Jason Lefton of Niskayuna, who has become the New York Army National Guard aviation officer. The regiment has elements at McArthur Airport in Ronkonkoma and Albany International Airport.

Greene previously served at the National Guard Bureau Headquarters, Washington D.C. He is attending the Naval War College in Newport, R.I. for advanced military training.

The Massachusetts native earned his Army commission in 2000 from a Reserve Officers Training Corps program at University of South Alabama upon graduation from Spring Hill College.

Greene, who is trained as a pilot in the OH-58D and UH-60 helicopters, has logged more than 2,000 flight hours. He has served as an assistant operations officer, airspace management officer, executive officer, and personnel officer.

He led an Air Cavalry platoon in Iraq during the invasion of that country in 2003 as a member of the 2nd Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment. He served with that unit in Iraq a second time in 2006-07. In 2009-10 he deployed to Afghanistan as the commander of a Wyoming Army National Guard Medical Evacuation Company.

Greene has earned a Bronze Star Medal, an Air Medal, the Bronze Star, an Air Force Commendation Medal, an Army Commendation Medal, an Army Achievement Medal, a Master Army Aviator Badge, a Parachutist Badge and an Air Assault Badge.

Veteran burials

Veterans are entitled to be buried in a national cemetery at no cost, according to the Veterans Affairs National Cemetery Administration.

Veterans who never received disability or any other benefit from the VA are eligible if they served on active duty and were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable.

Vets who served in a Reserve Component and were mobilized or served long enough to earn a retirement are also eligible.

The best, most effective way to ensure veterans get the burial or memorial benefits they and their spouse have earned through military service is through a VA program called Pre-Need Eligibility, or Pre-Need. Pre-Need establishes eligibility for VA burial and memorial benefits before death, so the family doesnt have to go searching for documentation after the veterans death.

Simply fill out a VA form 40-10007 and mail it in to the St. Louis office indicated on the top of the form. Veterans can print out a form or fill it out online. The form and more information is available at https://www.cem.va.gov/pre-need.

VA officials will review each application and send a letter confirming or denying eligibility. If approved, safely store the letter and inform someone of its location. Pre-Need provides veterans and families with peace of mind. This information is particularly important for Guard and Reserve members, many of whom dont realize that their service entitles them to burial benefits.

There are some nuances for reservists who may have to provide additional paperwork if a mobilization isnt documented on their DD Form 214, so it is even more important for them to apply for Pre-Need. Waiting to establish eligibility at the time of death can sometimes result in a non-eligible decision with little or no time to provide additional information.

More Information News of your troops and units can be sent to Duty Calls, Terry Brown, Times Union, Box 15000, Albany, NY 12212 or brownt@timesunion.com See More Collapse

If a VA national, state or tribal veteran cemetery is selected as the final resting place, a veteran will receive the following: gravesite, opening and closing of the grave, grave liner, and perpetual care of the gravesite. Also included are memorial benefits such as a headstone, marker or cover for a columbarium niche. All are absolutely free, which means a savings of thousands of dollars to the veterans family.

At many VA national cemeteries, including the Gerald Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery at Schuylerville, NCA partners with local military units or volunteer service organizations to provide deceased veterans with military funeral honors, including the playing of taps and presentation of the burial flag. The veterans spouse as well as minor children and unmarried adult children who legally rely on the veteran for support are also eligible for internment free of charge, typically in the same grave or columbarium niche as the veteran.

If veterans choose to be interred in a private cemetery, they can still have a free government-furnished headstone, marker or niche cover. If a veteran chooses burial in a private cemetery with a privately purchased headstone, marker or niche cover, their family may request a free bronze medallion with the word veteran and the appropriate branch of service to attach to the headstone. Families also receive a burial flag.

Finally, upon request, the veterans family will receive a Presidential Memorial Certificate signed by the current U.S. president. Multiple copies can be requested so that all family members can have one. For more information about VA burial and memorial benefits, visit www.cem.va.gov or call 800-697-6947.

Also, especially if Pre-Need Eligibility has been done, Capital Region funeral directors can help coordinate burial in The Saratoga National Cemetery. A copy of the veteran DD-214 form discharge papers can expedite eligibility.
President Donald Trump put forth a dizzying array of fuzzy accounting and outright false claims in an extraordinary phone call to Georgia s secretary of state seeking a reversal of his election defeat, fabricating a slew of votes that he said should've been counted in his favor.

In the hourlong conversation Saturday with Georgias secretary of state, Brad Raffensperger, Trump suggested that the Republican find enough votes to hand Trump the victory.

The Associated Press obtained the full audio of Trumps conversation with Georgia officials from a person on the call. The AP is not publishing the full audio in keeping with its policy of not amplifying disinformation and unproven allegations.

A look at Trump's claims on the call and how they compare with reality:

TRUMP: If we can go over some of the numbers, I think its pretty clear we won, we won very substantially in Georgia.

THE FACTS: No, Trump lost Georgia in an election the state has certified for Democrat Joe Biden. Republican election officials have affirmed the election was conducted and counted fairly.

With ballots counted three times, including once by hand, Georgias certified totals show Trump lost to Biden by 11,779 votes out of nearly 5 million cast. Raffensperger certified the totals with officials saying theyve found no evidence that Trump won.

No credible claims of fraud or systemic errors have been sustained. Judges have turned away legal challenges to the results, although at least one is still pending in state court.

___

TRUMP: We have anywhere from 250 (thousand) to 300,000 ballots were dropped mysteriously into the rolls, much of that had to do with Fulton County, which hasnt been checked.

THE FACTS: There's nothing mysterious or suspect about it. He is describing a legitimate vote counting process, not a sudden surge of malfeasance.

Trump appears to be referring to large numbers of votes that were tabulated in the early hours of Wednesday morning after Election Day and later. The arrival of those votes was not mysterious, but expected, because many of Georgias 159 counties had large stacks of mail-in ballots that had to be tabulated after polls closed and in-person ballots were counted.

Indeed, news organizations and officials had warned in the days leading up to the election that the results would likely come in just as they did: In-person votes, which tend to be counted more quickly, would likely favor the president, who had spent months warning his supporters to avoid mail-in voting and to vote in person either early or on Election Day.

And mail-in-ballots, which take longer to count since they must be removed from envelopes and verified before they are counted, would favor Biden. States tend to count mail-in ballots at the end of the process.

___

TRUMP: We think ... if (there is) a real check of signatures going back in Fulton County, youll find at least a couple of hundred thousand of forged signatures.

THE FACTS: That has no basis in reality.

It would be impossible for anyone to have forged hundreds of thousands of signatures on mail-in ballots in Fulton County because there were only about 147,000 mail-in ballots in Georgias most populous county, with about 116,000 of them going to Biden.

___

TRUMP, citing 18,000 suspicious votes: The tape thats been shown all over the world ... they said very clearly there was a major water main break. Everybody fled the area and then they came back ... there were no Republican poll watchers ... and there was no law enforcement ... It was stuffed with votes. They werent in an official voter box, they were in what looked to be in suitcases or trunks. ... The minimum number it could be ... was 18,000 ballots, all for Biden.

THE FACTS: That's a gross distortion of what actually happened.

State and Fulton County election officials say surveillance video that Trump refers shows no improper behavior, but normal ballot processing using not suitcases, but ballot containers on wheels. Officials said that the entire video showed the same workers had earlier packed the ballot containers with valid, uncounted ballots.

Republicans have contended that their observers were told to leave Fulton Countys vote counting center, but elections officials said they actually left after confusion that arose because election workers thought they were done for the night.

An independent monitor and an investigator in fact oversaw the vote count, according to state and county officials. Trump also refers to a fake confession attributed by a woman allegedly involved in the incident that was posted on social media.

___

EDITOR'S NOTE  A look at the veracity of claims by political figures.

___

Find AP Fact Checks at http://apnews.com/APFactCheck

Follow @APFactCheck on Twitter: https://twitter.com/APFactCheck
https://www.aish.com/sp/so/The-Shabbat-Meal-that-Rocked-My-World.html

Sometimes small acts have huge outcomes. I know. My life's trajectory was changed by one.

I was lying in bed in December, 2010 when I felt my heart beating in a way that I had never felt before. As quickly as it started, it stopped. But then a few minutes later it happened again: my heart was beating as if I had just run a 100-meter dash or finished a high-energy aerobics class. But I wasnt running or exercising; I was lying in my bed! Yet I felt my heart was literally beating out of my chest.

And then, just like before, after a few minutes my heart went back to beating regularly. This continued into the evening. Realizing that something was wrong, I drove to the closest hospital to check it out. They immediately hooked me up to an electrocardiogram (ECG), which checks how your heart is functioning by measuring its electrical activity. After being hooked up for 10 minutes, the technician came in and said, "Everything looks normal, go home."

Because the irregular beating wasn't consistent, the first ECG didn't catch it and they sent me home. The next morning, I could barely walk up the stairs. My husband immediately drove me to the hospital and this time the ECG did catch the irregular heartbeat. Turns out I was experiencing something called atrial fibrillation (AFib), and the first question the doctor asked me was, "This is very uncommon for someone your age. Are you currently taking drugs like cocaine?"

He cant be serious, I thought to myself. "No, I'm not taking any drugs," I replied.

"Are you sure? Because its quite rare to see someone your age with these symptoms, other than someone who has a drug addiction."

After finally accepting that I was an anomaly, and the fact that there was inconsistency with the AFib, the doctor gave me a requisition for an appointment with a cardiologist and a recommendation to come back if I feel unwell again.

Not long after, a third trip to the Emergency was in order where they immediately connected me to the ECG which once again didn't catch the AFib. I was sent into the emergency waiting room where I waited for over 2.5 hours. Finally fed up, I approached the nurse and said, Something is very wrong with my heart and I need to be hooked up to a machine right away! A room somehow magically opened up and the nurse hooked me up to the machine. The moment she took her hands off the electrodes, the alarm for CODE BLUE began to sound throughout the emergency room! Doctors flew into my room to see the heartrate monitor read over 160.

I spent the next week in the hospital and ran through a gamut of tests, including being awake while a camera was lowered down my throat to see my heart. The most frightening day occurred when a nurse rushed me to have a CT scan because the doctors were worried I had a blood clot. Even though speaking to God at that time in my life wasn't something I was comfortable with, my first words out of my mouth were, Please God, I have two children who need me! Pease, please let me be okay!

Thank God no blood clot, and after a myriad of tests, doctors had no explanation as to why I was experiencing AFib. I was sent home on a Friday evening with medication and continued cardiac care. When my husband and I walked into our home we saw an unfamiliar sight. Foil containers covered the counter. I peeked into one and saw roast chicken. I slowly lifted the lid of another  green beans in soya sauce. A third  roasted potatoes. Beside them sat four beautiful challahs, grape juice, and brownies for dessert.

"Where did this come from? I asked my mom who was home watching the kids.

"One of the teachers from Presleys school dropped it off for you, she replied.

Presleys teacher?

No, another teacher from the school.

It was as if the words of the Torah lifted off the pages and were brought to life, my life. Something so heavenly was brought down to earth and made deeply personal.

The tears immediately began to flow. A stranger did this for me? I thought to myself. I was completely dumbfounded. I had never experienced anything like this in my life. I couldnt stop crying. Who does this? What type of people drop off a meal to someone they barely know? Turns out it was Rebbetzin Esther Gitlin, of Chabad of Markham in Toronto, who made this Shabbat dinner for our family.

At that time I had already been attending many Torah classes and learning a lot about Judaism, but I wasn't yet ready to actually start practicing and increase my observance. At that moment, seeing this breathtaking act of kindness, it was as if the words of the Torah lifted off the pages and were brought to life, my life. Something so heavenly was brought down to earth and made deeply personal. God wasnt "out there"; He was right here with us, revealed in the world by the actions of caring individuals. Standing there in my kitchen, I knew this is who I wanted to be when I grow up.

Rebbetzin Gitlin's kindness enhanced my interest to grow Jewishly, to learn more, and most importantly start doing. I always had a desire to make the world a better place, only now I made the connection that this was a deeply Jewish act, the God-given mission of the Jewish people. "Olam chessed yibaneh  the world is built on loving kindness" became my personal mantra. I began taking every opportunity I could to get my family involved in volunteering in my community, to give back.

We wrapped gifts for children fighting illness; we baked challah for the elderly; we raised money for Israel, baked sandwiches for the homeless, made muffins and cards for fire-fighters and made meals for people in need. One of the most memorable experiences was going as a community of Chabad of Markham to visit a number of homeless shelters in Toronto. We delivered hats, gloves, scarves and hot chocolate. As I handed winter hats to a family who were living at the shelter, I realized that its not our job to understand why bad things happen to good people, its our job to help when bad things happen to good people.

Over the years, a dream was building inside me, a dream of bringing women together to create a sisterhood of kindness. Just prior to Covid, I brought my dream of bringing women together to give back to fruition. Through NCSY, I created a program called Live2Give Moms where we partner with different organizations each month and volunteer our time, our money and our heart. This has been such a labour of love for me and has brought my personal passion to my professional life.

Over the years, many people have asked me the reason for our familys embrace of Torah Judaism. I often share with them it was through our gratitude to God for all the blessings in our life that was the catalyst for this change in our lives. We fell in love with the beauty and depth of our heritage. But truth be told, the reason is far more simple than this. The reason is kindness.

You see, when Rebbetzin Esther Gitlin made that Shabbat meal for our family, she set in motion a trajectory for me that looking back I could have never anticipated. It's been over 10 years since that Shabbat meal, and all my volunteer work that I have merited to do stems from the one act of kindness. There is a concept in Judaism called mitzvah goreret mitvah, one mitzvah leads to another. Like a pebble dropped into a pond, the ripples go on and on. This mitzvah changed my life, and in turn, has given me the opportunity to touch the lives of so many others. My gratitude for this knows no end.

People think it takes a lot to change the world. It doesnt. We don't need to redeem the whole world all at once. As I repeatedly learned from Rabbi Sacks ztl, We heal the fractures of the world, one day at a time, one person at a time, one act at a time. A single life, said the sages, is like a universe. Save a life and you save a world. Change a life and you begin to change the world.

We are here to make a difference, to take our experiences and use them in service of others. Someone elses physical needs are my spiritual obligation. Just as Rebbetzin Gitlin responded when she had heard that a mom of one of the students was hospitalized and took action, so too, I keep my eyes and ears open for opportunities to reach out to those in need and use my God-given abilities to make the world a better place.

Our actions affect those around us in immeasurable ways. I do not know why God sent me this trial with my heart, but I do know that there is meaning to be found in every experience in life. Perhaps the lesson is that the greatest distance is the distance between the head and the heart, and when we put what we learn into action, our ability to touch the lives of those around us takes form. As Rebbetzin Dena Weinberg says, "Torah is not education; it's transformation."

Sometimes embracing a challenge can launch us to greater heights far beyond what we thought was possible. Our actions make a difference, sometimes all the difference in the world.

Dedicated to the incredible Rebbetzins, Rabbis and teachers at Chabad of Markham, who have shaped my life in ways I would have never imagined. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Zak Wellerman/Associated Press

WINONA  A pastor was killed and two other people were injured in a shooting at an East Texas church Sunday, after the pastor pulled a gun on a suspect who had been hiding out in the church, a local sheriff said.

Police had been searching for the man late Saturday in woods near Winona following a car chase. The pastor of the Starrville Methodist Church discovered the suspect hiding in a church bathroom around 9:20 a.m., Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith said at a news conference.
A small plane flying from Georgia crashed into a house and burst into flames in southeastern Michigan, killing the pilot, his wife and son on board.

The crash took place Saturday around 4pm when the single-engine Piper PA-24 plane suddenly plummeted into a two-story home, just north of the Oakland/Southwest Airport in Lyon Township, Michigan.

David S. Compo, 60, his wife Michelle, 55, and their 18-year-old son Dawson died in the fiery crash, the Home Builders Association of Southeastern Michigan said Saturday night.

Compo had just retired as president of the Home Builders Association of Southeastern Michigan on New Years Eve.

Compo, an experienced pilot, had flown to Canton, Georgia on December 29 and the family was returning home to Michigan in their private plane on Saturday when the tragedy struck.

A family-of-five was inside the home when the plane hit, but escaped unharmed. But the residence was severely damaged by fire in Lyon Township, located 40 miles northwest of Detroit.

A small plane flying from Georgia to Michigan crashed into a home near a local airport and engulfed it in flames, killing three people on board the aircraft

A family-of-five was inside the home when the plane hit, but escaped unharmed. A view of the tail of the small plane above protruding from the side of the home

Victims: Business man and experienced pilot David S. Compo, 60, his wife Michelle, 55, and their 18-year-old son Dawson died in the fiery crash

The family had been in the living room getting ready to watch a movie and went into the kitchen to get snacks when the plane crashed into the living room moments later and engulfed the house in flames.

The family's cat died, according to WDIV.

At the scene the smashed remains of the small white plane were seen protruding from the home.

Compo was also the president and co-founder of Compo Builders Inc., based in Novi, according to the company's website.

'We were fortunate to have David leading our team for 2020,' Home Builders Association of Southeastern Michigan CEO Michael Stoskopf said in a statement, as per ClickOnDetroit.

'His involvement, professionalism and experience over the years have been great assets to our organization and he has been a true friend to me as we faced challenge after challenge during this past year,' he added.

Compo (left) had just retired as president of the Home Builders Association of Southeastern Michigan on New Years Eve. Compo was also the president and co-founder of Compo Builders Inc., based in Novi. Son Dawson pictured right

The Lyon Township Fire Department shared these photos showing the extensive damage the house suffered

Firefighters pictured descending upon the scene on Saturday afternoon

Firefighters pictured outside and inside the home after the fire exploded

David Compo was a prominent figure in his community.

Throughout his career hes overseen the building for over 600 southeast Michigan families as well as hundreds of remodeling and indoor pool and spa projects.

He was named the HBA Builder of the Year in 2013 and Developer of the Year in 2015.

Neighbors said when the plane crashed, the house was so thick with smoke, they didn't think it would remain standing.

'You couldnt even see the house, it was so much smoke. There was a huge cloud of smoke, really tall flames and we thought the whole house was going to be gone,' neigbor Chase Southwick, said.

A view of the home covered in thick smoke above. The crash caused severe damage to the home

A view of the house damage and the broke off tail of the small plane above

'It was just weird because a hot air balloon crashed in the exact same spot this summer,' he added.

According to FlightAware the plane took off at 12.51pm and was scheduled to land at 4.11pm.

The FAA registry shows the plane is owned by Aircom LLC, which is based in Novi and shares an address with Compo Builders, and was manufactured in 1964. Both are registered to Compo.

The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the crash.

At the time of the crash the weather was not severe other than some low cloud cover, according ot the National Weather Service White Lake Township office.

There was no rain, ice or snow and temperatures were around freezing and winds light.
The United States on Saturday saw its highest number yet of coronavirus cases recorded in one day, with more than 277,000 infections. With infections surging, top US government scientist Anthony Fauci warned just days after Christmas that the worst of the pandemic may be yet to come, and it is driving the country to a "critical point" as holiday travel spreads the virus.

Meanwhile, with 57,725 cases in one day, the United Kingdom on Saturday hit a daily record for new coronavirus infections. In the wake of the new coronavirus strain, the country looks set to soon overtake Italy once again to become the worst-hit country in Europe with nearly 75,000 COVID-19 deaths. The fear is that with rising infections, the number of deaths will also grow over the coming weeks.

The US marked 20.4 million cases overall and just under 350,000 deaths

The hardest-hit country in the world by the pandemic, the United States has marked 20.4 million cases overall and just under 350,000 deaths.

The country has floundered in its efforts to quell Covid-19, with its vaccination program beset by logistical problems and overstretched hospitals.

More than 4.2 million people in the US have already received their first jabs, with 13 million doses distributed, but that falls well behind the 20 million inoculations that President Donald Trump's administration promised by the end of 2020.

The UK registers another record increase in COVID-19 cases in 24 hours

With 57,725 new infections registered in one day, the total number of registered cases in the country to just under 2.6 million, according to government figures. Also, it has recorded its five highest daily new infection numbers over the past five days  all above 50,000 and double the number of only a few weeks ago.

At the same time, an additional 445 fatalities put the overall death toll at 74,570.

UK's health authorities do not keep a tally of recoveries, which leaves the number of active cases in the country unknown.

The UK may have been the origin of a new strain of the coronavirus which is believed to be 70 percent more infectious than its predecessor and may be driving the new wave of transmissions. Much of the UK is under the strictest level of lockdown with the holiday season effectively cancelled this year.

In the wake of the new Covid strain, the British government is facing mounting pressure from teachers' unions to keep schools in England closed for at least another two weeks.

The government, which oversees schools in England, has already decided to keep all schools in London closed next week to try to stem new infections. Unions want the policy extended across the whole of England, expressing fears about the health of both teachers and children.

US not to follow UK's decision to delay second doses: Fauci

The United States will not follow the UK's decision to delay the second doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, said Fauci.

Fauci while speaking to CNN on Friday said, "I would not be in favor of that... We're going to keep doing what we're doing,"

According to CNN, the UK government announced on Wednesday that "the UK will prioritize giving the first dose of the vaccine to those in the most high-risk group" and allow the second dose to be given up to 12 weeks later.

The UK adopted the strategy to give as many people as possible the first dose as quickly as possible, saying it affords some amount of protection.

Asked about his previous remark on whether the US should change its approach and adopt the UK's plan where Fauci answered, "that's under consideration." He told CNN Friday that this comment had been "misinterpreted."

Fauci noted that in their clinical trials, Pfizer and Moderna - the makers of the two vaccines approved in the US - studied the effectiveness of two doses a few weeks apart, not a few months apart. The director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases said, "The fact is we want to stick with what the science tells us, and the data that we have for both (vaccines) indicate you give a prime, followed by a boost in 21 days with Pfizer and 28 days with Moderna. And right now, that's the way we're going with it, and that's the decision that is made."

(With inputs from agencies)

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WASHINGTON, D. C. - One of Ohios U.S. senators will get to chair a Senate committee in 2021. After Tuesday, well know who it is.

If Democrats win both of the Georgia U.S. Senate seats that are up for grabs in Tuesdays Georgia runoff, Ohios Sherrod Brown will chair the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, which oversees issues including banks and financial institutions, foreign trade promotion, urban development and mass transit. Democrats would control the White House and both houses of Congress, and steer the nations legislative agenda until the next congressional election.

If Republicans win either (or both) of the Georgia seats, Ohios Rob Portman will chair the Senates Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, which oversees matters that pertain the Department of Homeland Security, the Census and the U.S. Postal Service and studies the efficiency of all federal agencies and departments.

As chair of that committee, Portman will continue to conduct investigations, as hes done while chairing the committees permanent investigate subcommittee, his office says. He also plans to prioritize cybersecurity and holding foreign actors accountable for actions that threaten national security.

During 2021, Portman also plans to continue focusing on many of his past legislative concerns, which include addressing the ongoing addiction epidemic, safeguarding communities from the scourge of human trafficking, and assuring transparency in ongoing COVID-19 relief efforts and ensuring that U.S. companies rather than foreign competitors produce the supplies the nation needs to fight the pandemic.

We will continue our work to respond to this unprecedented health care and economic crisis, and I will keep working to find bipartisan solutions to move Ohio and out country forward, said a statement from Portman.

Republican control of the Senate would give Portman and other Republicans more legislative input than theyd get with Democrats in charge of the White House and both houses of Congress, just as Democratic control would give Brown more sway. While both would prefer to set the agenda as committee chairs, each would fight for similar priorities if their party ends up in the Senate minority.

Brown, who has served as the banking committees top Democrat while the Senate has been under Republican control, says hed use its chairmanship to immediately work on emergency rental assistance to prevent mass evictions during the coronavirus pandemic.

Weve got to figure out a way to provide more housing for people, says Brown. For too many people, there isnt affordable, accessible housing, partly because wages have been stagnant and people cant afford to buy homes.

He also predicts a new coronavirus relief package once Democratic President-elect Joe Biden takes office that would put a moratorium on foreclosures and evictions, defer student loan payments, and provide Ohioans with further economic relief. His other 2021 priorities include raising the minimum wage and passing the John Lewis Voting Rights Act to fight efforts to suppress minority votes.

The American people sent a clear message with this election: they want a president whos on their side again, said a statement from Brown. We face great challenges  were in a public health crisis, an economic crisis, and a climate crisis, and extraordinary times call for us to rise to meet this moment, and restore peoples faith in their government.

Read more:

Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown wants Senate vote on $2,000 stimulus check, criticizes Republican efforts to reject presidential electoral votes

House votes to override Trump defense bill veto but approves a $2,000 pandemic relief payment he sought

Ohios Stephanie Tubbs Jones lodged the nations last electoral vote protest in Congress

Ohios Jim Jordan to participate in Jan. 6 congressional effort to question presidential election results

Years of work fighting for Northeast Ohio earn Marcia Fudge a seat at Bidens Cabinet table

Marcia Fudge makes her public debut as a member of Joe Bidens team

What Rep. Marcia Fudge hopes to accomplish as Housing and Urban Development Secretary: Q & A

Biden transition office officially announces Rep. Marcia Fudge will be HUD nominee

President-elect Joe Biden picks Rep. Marcia Fudge to be Housing and Urban Development secretary, report says

Rep. Jim Clyburn predicts Ohios Rep. Marcia Fudge will end up in Bidens cabinet

U.S. House passes bill to decriminalize marijuana over opposition from all Ohio Republicans

Columbus Democratic Rep. Joyce Beatty selected to chair the Congressional Black Caucus
The Institute of Vaccines and Medical Biologicals (IVAC), based in central Khanh Hoa province, has proposed the Ministry of Health allow human trials of its COVID-19 vaccine to begin in January, two months ahead of schedule.

A medial worker prepares to inject Nanocovax, the first made-in-Vietnam COVID-19 vaccine, into a volunteer as part of human trials on December 17, 2020

The IVAC said it made the proposal following the testing on animals like hamsters, mice, and rabbits, which has shown that the candidate vaccine is safe and creates high immune response on the animals.

If permitted, this will be the second Vietnamese vaccine in clinical trials on humans, after Nanocovax of the Nanogen Pharmaceutical Biotechnology JSC, which started the first phase of human trials on December 10, 2020.

IVAC Director Duong Huu Thai said the institutes research on a COVID-19 vaccine began in May, aiming to successfully produce a vaccine and complete three phases of clinical trials in 18 months.

Initial results are relatively goods, he said, noting that the first phase of testing will last for about two months and conclude in April.

If all the three phases show good results, the vaccine will be available as soon as late 2021, Thai added.

The IVAC is set to coordinate with the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology (NIHE) and the Hanoi Medical University to conduct clinical trials.

Different dosages of the vaccine will be injected into 125 volunteers of various age groups.

Apart from the IVACs vaccine and Nanocovax, Vietnam also has some other COVID-19 candidate vaccines being developed./.VNA
According to a statement released by the Australian Department of Defence on December 30, 2020, the Government of Australia has also approved sustainment funding for the currently approved fleet of three MQ-4C Triton naval unmanned aircraft.

According to a statement released by the Australian Department of Defence on December 30, 2020, the Government of Australia has also approved sustainment funding for the currently approved fleet of three MQ-4C Triton naval unmanned aircraft.

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An MQ-4C Triton unmanned aircraft system (UAS) taxis after landing at Andersen Air Force Base. (Picture source U.S. Navy)

In June 2018, Australia has announced an investment of $1.4 billion for the acquisition of six MQ-4C Triton remotely piloted aircraft through a cooperative program with the United States Navy. The MQ-4C will be used by the Australian Navy to complement the surveillance role of the P-8A Poseidon aircraft through sustained operations at long ranges as well as being able to undertake a range of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance tasks.

Together these aircraft will significantly enhance Australian Navy anti-submarine warfare and maritime strike capability, as well as search and rescue capability.

On June 19, 2020, Northrop Grumman Corporation has announced the Australian governments decision to provide funding for an additional three of their planned six MQ-4C Tritons and associated ground mission control stations.

In December 2020, Northrop Grumman Corporation has completed Phase 1A - initial development - of the MQ-4C Triton Network Integration Test Environment (NITE), located at Royal Australian Air Force Base Edinburgh in South Australia.

Phase 1A completion means CIOG can begin developing the Triton network design for Australia and to test basic Triton network configuration settings. Northrop Grumman Australia will develop NITE in three phases, allowing CIOG to progress from basic continuity testing between distributed environments to an advanced integrated capability development environment.

The MQ-4C Triton is an American high-altitude long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) under development by Northrop Grumman for the United States Navy as a surveillance aircraft.

The MQ-4C Triton air vehicle is based upon the United States Air Force (USAF) RQ-4B Global Hawk, while its sensors are based upon components of already fielded in the U.S. DoD (Department of Defense) inventory. Along with the P-8A manned aircraft, the MQ-4C Triton is integral to the Navy's Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Force (MPRF) Family of Systems (FoS).

The fuselage of the MQ-4C Triton is an aluminum semi-monocoque construction while the V-tail, engine nacelle, and aft fuselage are made of composite materials. It has a length of 14.5 m, a height of 4.7 m, and a wingspan of 39.9 m. It has an internal payload of 1,452 kg maximum and an external payload of 1,089 kg.

The MQ-4C Triton can fly at a maximum altitude of 18,300m (60,000ft). It has a gross take-off weight of 14,628 kg. Its maximum unrefueled range is 18,427 km (9,950 nm) and has a flight endurance of 30 hours. It can reach a maximum speed of 575 km (357 mph).
1. Yes. The public must have assurances that ethical standards are met by everyone.

2. Yes. As long as an independent board hears the grievances, its a worthwhile idea.

3. No. The concept is too broad. It should be limited to the citys elected officials.

4. No. There are plenty of stipulations in place already. An ordinance is a waste of time.

5. Unsure. Its hard to say without seeing how it would be structured and applied.

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It is amazing that after creating and approving vaccines in warp speed, and after handling the COVID-19 crisis in New Jersey with lockdowns that were no more damaging than necessary (kudos to the governor), we will have to watch our neighbors and friends continue to die of the disease for months, as the vaccine supply chain is failing us.

Based on figures for Dec. 31, the state reported 5,107 new COVID-19 cases and 90 additional deaths, as the transmission rate dropped again. As of last week, only about 70,000 people had been vaccinated in New Jersey. According to nj.com, Gov. Phil Murphy said he hopes that vaccine doses for the general public will be available by April or May.

Israel, which has about the same population as New Jersey, and received its first vaccine doses later than the United States, has vaccinated 800,000 people already. The country expects to vaccinate most of its 9 million people within a couple of months.

Also, to avoid death and illnesses, the current, complex priority systems in the United States  rife with ambiguities, opportunities for political pressures and opportunities for exploitation by people with means and connections  should be replaced by a simple priority list based on age.

The difference in fatalities among age groups is astonishing. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention statistics as of Dec. 23, in the 25-34 age group, 1 in 22,508 has died of COVID-19. In the 75-84 age group, the comparable death rate is 1 in 200. That is 100 times higher.

S. Abraham Ravid, Leonia

The writer is a professor of finance at the Sy Syms School of Business at Yeshiva University in New York City.

Arrogant McConnell finally finds tax cut he hates

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., has refused to bring to a vote a bill to increase COVID-19 relief payments to $2,000 (from $600) for each person in eligible households, because he said the money would go to plenty of households that dont need it.

Not another firehose of borrowed money is how he phrased it.

What arrogance and hypocrisy! Sure, it was perfectly fine for McConnell to advocate and push through the enormous 2017 tax cut that mainly helped the wealthiest Americans and big corporations, who, for sure, dont need the extra money. But, oh, no, something similar cant be done now for millions of Americans who are starving and are out of work.

Also, you can be sure that Republicans will be yelling and screaming now to cut back on expenses to curtail the deficit.

Its shameful that McConnell gets away with this.

Steven Bellows, East Brunswick

Reading list for first 2021 weekend

As we begin a new year, let us remember the principles upon which this country was built. Let us read our Bill of Rights and our Constitution, and never forget them.

And, we should always remind ourselves that we are the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Happy new year to all.

Bill Keller, Scotch Plains

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The Justice Vishnu Sahay Commission probing the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots has indicted BJP MLA Sangeet Singh Som and other political leaders of the region for their role in the violence that killed 62 people.

In its 775-page report, the commission has also indicted local officials and given suggestions on how to check the recurrence of such incidents in Uttar Pradesh. Though senior officers of the state government remained tight-lipped on the issue, sources said Soms role had come into question along with that of lower-rung police officers.

Som and some officers have been indicted for their role, a senior official said on the condition of anonymity.

Som denied any role in the riots and said the commission worked liked a committee of the Samajwadi Party (SP) government.

We reject the commissions report as it did not probe even a single BJP worker. We have sufficient evidence to nail the SP leaders. So, a CBI probe should be conducted, Som said.

The SP alleged that most of the leaders chargesheeted in the riots were from the BJP and accused the party of defending and even rewarding them.

Most of the leaders who have been chargesheeted and are facing trial for heinous offences in the riots are from BJP, SP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia said. He said his party would take action against any leader found complicit and will not try to defend them like the BJP.

The Congress demanded strict action against those who participated, perpetrated and instigated riots and are responsible for the killing of innocent people, irrespective of their party affiliations.

It is a very serious report. It has vindicated what we have been saying from day one, Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said in Delhi.

BSP supremo Mayawati demanded the report be made public and alleged the SP and BJP colluded in the riots. Though riots in SP regime are routine, Muzaffarnagar riots showed lax attitude of SP and its connivance with BJP, she said in a statement.

(With agency inputs)
Ghazipur, Jan 3 : Farmers who are protesting against the three farm laws are now facing the wrath of the rains amid the chilling cold weather at various borders of the national capital. The early morning rains on Sunday have further aggravated the problems of the farmers.

The tents put up by the farmers are filled with rain water and the blankets used by them have also turned wet. The Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) on Sunday morning received a lot of rainfall. While the farmers camping at the Ghazipur border were battling the cold winds on one side, the sudden lashing of rains have left them doubly aggrieved.

Women, children and elderly farmers sitting at the borders had to bear the brunt of the rains. The rains have washed away the various arrangements made by the farmers. While the protesting farmers were preparing on how to tackle the rains on one side, they also struggled to save food items for themselves at the border.

Speaking on the morning rain lashing the Ghazipur border and the current condition of farmers, Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) national spokesperson Rakesh Tikait said the situation at the border was similar to the rain water falling down from the mountains. Farmers have pitched their tents here and have been living here for the last one month.

"I appeal to the farmer brethren that the farmers coming to the Ghazipur border must bring polythene, tarpaulin and other things to cover their tractors from the rains," he said.

However, when the rains halted, the 'langar seva' was started again. On the one hand some protesting farmers are looking for ways to avoid the rain, while some are engaged in helping other fellow farmers.

A protesting farmer at the Ghazipur border said that the rain is the divine will and the farmers and the divine are the only two supreme powers.

Some young farmers are draining the water and mud in the tents with the help of wipers.
Jade Parker, the young Portadown wife and mother who had been suffering from terminal cancer, has died - just two days after her New Years Eve wedding.

She had planned both her wedding and her funeral - which is to take place on Friday.



Jade (28) was first diagnosed with cancer in 2019, and had endured a gruelling series of surgical operations, chemotherapy and radiotherapy in a bid to overcome the disease.



Although she completed her treatment last month, the cancer had returned, attaching itself to her brain and spinal cord - making it impossible to operate.



In a moving post on social media on Sunday, her heartbroken husband Lee Parker shared his grief at Jades death.



So on the 31st of December 2020, Jade Caughey and I made the choice to bring our wedding forward, Lee (37) wrote.



She knew in herself that her time was getting shorter. We got married at home surrounded by close friends and family in a very intimate ceremony...



Later that evening Jade fell asleep and sadly never reawakened... Jade passed away peacefully at home early on the 2nd of January with myself and Billy holding her hand.. our hearts are broken but at peace knowing jade is no longer suffering..



Our family would like to thank everyone for your support during this horrific time. Lee wrote.



Jade and Lee had been together for almost eight years and had been engaged for seven. They had three children: Kai (13), Ben (6) and James, aged two.



Hundreds of friends sent messages of condolence onto Lees social media channel on Sunday.



Pal Patrick Begley wrote "Sorry for your loss mate, glad to hear that you and Jade were able to share some happiness in her final hours, while Portadown woman Jill Forde said; Oh Lee... such a heartbreaking time for you and your wee family x deepest condolences to you, your children and wider family circle xx."



Stacey Agnew posted: Im so sorry for you all and the boys to experience this loss. Thinking of you all in the days ahead and months ahead. Jade used to have a wee chat with me outside the house after the school run with the wee one in the pram. Such a lovely girl.I'm so sorry for your loss!



In a funeral notice, Lee asked family and friends to pay their respects as Jades cortege leaves Milnes funeral home in Portadown this coming Friday at 3pm.

House and funeral will be private due to the current circumstances.

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The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Ali Pantami, has directed the immediate suspension of officials involved in extortion of applicants at the NIMC Bauchi and Kaduna State offices.

This directive came on the heels of public outcry that some personnel of NIMC, particularly at some enrolment centres in Bauchi and Kaduna were capitalising on the rush for NIN by the public to perpetuate fraudulent activities inimical to policy directive of the Federal Government which requires mobile network subscribers to update their SIM registration with a valid National Identification Number (NIN).

The directive of the minister was contained in a press release signed by Kayode Adegoke, head of corporate communications.

Mr Pantami restated his zero tolerance stance on extortion, bribery and corruption and further noted that such unethical practices, if allowed to fester and not nipped in the bud by taking stiffer actions against the culprits, has the potency of derailing the SIM-NIN Integration project.

Enrolment for the National Identification Number (NIN) is free of charge, and on no occasion should anyone pay to obtain an enrolment form or to have their biometrics captured.

All personnel involved in the enrolment and NIN issuance exercise must carry out their respective duties professionally, fairly and with integrity, according to the statement

In light of the above, we wish to call on the general public to assist us in putting our commitments into action by sending proof of any nefarious activity within and around our enrolment centers (snapshot, footage, audio recordings) to 08157691214; 08157691071 or e-mail actu@nimc.gov.ng, a part of the statement read.

This newspaper has reported how some staffers of NIMC have turned the NIN enrollment into some sort of racket to cream off money from enrollees.
THIBODAUX, La. (AP)  Demarkus Lampley had a career-high 27 points as Sam Houston State narrowly beat Nicholls State 84-81 on Saturday.

Lampley made 7 of 10 3-pointers. He added eight rebounds.

The game marked the first Southland Conference matchup of the season for both teams.

Jarren Cook had 16 points for Sam Houston State (7-5), which won its fourth straight game. Tristan Ikpe added 10 points and eight rebounds. Donte Powers had seven rebounds.

Zach Nutall, who led the Bearkats in scoring entering the matchup with 20 points per game, was held to only six points on 3-of-11 shooting.

Kevin Johnson had 17 points for the Colonels (2-5), whose losing streak reached five games. Jeremiah Buford added 15 points. Ty Gordon had 15 points.

___

For more AP college basketball coverage: https://apnews.com/Collegebasketball and http://twitter.com/AP_Top25

___

This was generated by Automated Insights, http://www.automatedinsights.com/ap, using data from STATS LLC, https://www.stats.com
Tim Severin, a British adventurer who for 40 years meticulously replicated the journeys of real and mythic explorers such as St Brendan the Navigator, Sinbad the Sailor and Marco Polo, died on December 18 at his home in West Cork, Ireland. He was 80.

His daughter, Ida Ashworth, said the cause was cancer.

In May 1976, Severin left Ireland on his most audacious voyage: following in the wake of St Brendan, a sixth-century monk, who, with a party of other monks, is said to have made a spectacular journey from Ireland across the Atlantic to the "Promised Land" in a leather-wrapped boat.

Tim Severin's leather boat in which he replicated the legend of St Brendan's voyage across the Atlantic.

After studying an account of the trip in a medieval Latin text, Severin assembled a team of designers and craftsmen to build an eight-metre, two-masted boat of oak and ash, covered in oxhide.
Southern Pines, NC (28387)

Today

A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible early. Mainly clear. Low 66F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible early. Mainly clear. Low 66F. Winds light and variable.
Jose Mourinho is backing Steven Bergwijn to come good in front of goal once the Dutchman can shake off lingering fitness issues.

Bergwijn received online abuse from Spurs fans after he missed two gilt-edged chances in the recent defeat at Liverpool and he was again wasteful in Saturday's 3-0 win over Leeds.

The Holland international is a key part of Mourinho's front three alongside Harry Kane and Son Heung-min, performing admirable defensive work, but is not contributing with goals.

Steven Bergwijn received abuse for missing two gilt-edged opportunities against Liverpool

He has yet to find the net in 11 Premier League games this season, but Mourinho says he has been hampered physically.

'We need him to score goals. Of course we know he has the ability to do that,' the Portuguese said.

'If you go back one year, his first match and he scored an amazing goal (against Manchester City). We know that he has the ability to do that.

'He's accumulating also physical problems. I don't know if you could see but even in the last 10 minutes he was touching his groin, he was touching his adductor.

'He's having problems that are stopping him now and again from training properly and at high intensity so he's suffering a little bit.

Jose Mourinho believes Bergwijn will deliver in front of goal after overcoming fitness issues

The 23-year-old forward (right) is yet to score in 11 Premier League games this season

'But of course he gives very good things to the team. I believe the goals will arrive if his condition improves.'

Son is having no such problems as he brought up a century of Tottenham goals in the rout over Leeds.

Fifteen of those have come this season, 12 in the league, as he becomes the first non-British or Irish player to score 100 goals for the club.

The South Korean told Spurs TV: 'It is really special, I need a help from my team-mates and from the fans, who are supporting me always, even when I have bad moments.

'It is a massive, massive achievement for me and I am really grateful and I want to say thank you for everyone who helped me score 100 goals for Spurs.

'To score 100 goals with the fans would have been the best feeling ever. Without them I would not be here. It is a great feeling.'

Harry Kane and Son Heung-Min (right) are providing the goals for Tottenham so far this season

While Leeds have had an impressive return to the top flight, they have struggled against the top sides as this defeat follows others at Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United.

Captain Luke Ayling says his side are on a learning curve.

'Us boys are still learning in this league and we have been caught out a few times,' he told the club's official website.

'We are learning the hard way a lot of times, so we will keep learning and trying to put it right.

'Most of us are still only 17 games in, it takes a while to settle down and I think we are doing alright.

'It has been a real tough week. Three games in six days is what we live for and to take six points from those games makes it a good week.'
SAN DIEGO, Jan. 03, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

Shareholder rights law firm Johnson Fistel, LLP is investigating potential violations of the federal securities laws by SolarWinds Corporation ("SolarWinds" or "the Company") (NYSE: SWI).

Johnson Fistel's investigation seeks to determine whether the Company issued false or misleading statements or failed to disclose information relevant to investors. Reuters reported on December 13, 2020, that state-sponsored hackers are believed to have penetrated the IT systems of federal government agencies by manipulating software updates released by SolarWinds. The Company disclosed on December 14, 2020, that the hackers targeted its Orion monitoring product, interfering with updates between March and June 2020.

Filings with the SEC show that just days before the cyberattack, millions of dollars in stock had been sold by members of the Board of Directors. The investigation will also seek to determine who at SolarWinds was aware of the security vulnerabilities and breaches and when they knew.

If you have information that could assist in this investigation, or if you are a SolarWinds shareholder and are interested in learning more about the investigation, please contact Jim Baker ( jimb@johnsonfistel.com ) at 619-814-4471. If emailing, please include a phone number.

Additionally, you can [click here to join this action]. There is no cost or obligation to you.

About Johnson Fistel, LLP:

Johnson Fistel, LLP is a nationally recognized shareholder rights law firm with offices in California, New York and Georgia. The firm represents individual and institutional investors in shareholder derivative and securities class action lawsuits. For more information about the firm and its attorneys, please visit http://www.johnsonfistel.com . Attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.

Contact:

Johnson Fistel, LLP

Jim Baker, 619-814-4471

jimb@johnsonfistel.com

[ click here to join t h is action ].




Pakistani police have arrested 45 more people for their alleged involvement in the vandalisation of a Hindu temple by a mob led by members of a radical Islamist party in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

With the latest arrests, the number of accused arrested in the case has risen to 100. Over 350 people have been named in the FIR after the temple in Terri village in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Karak district was vandalised and set on fire on Wednesday by a mob protesting against its expansion work.

The arrested people were produced in the anti-terrorist court (ATC) where the police secured three days remand of the accused. The temple, which also has a samadhi of a Hindu religious leader, was attacked by the mob after members of the Hindu community received permission from local authorities to renovate its decades-old building.

The mob, led by some local clerics and supporters of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam party (Fazal ur Rehman group), demolished the newly constructed work alongside the old structure. The attack on the temple drew strong condemnation from human rights activists and the minority Hindu community leaders.

India has also lodged a protest with Pakistan over the vandalisation of the temple and sought strict action against those responsible for the incident. The protest was conveyed to Pakistan through diplomatic channels, sources in New Delhi said on Friday.

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister Mahmood Khan has assured that his government would reconstruct the damaged temple and the Samadhi at the shortest possible time. According to a notification issued by the Chief Minister's Secretariat on late Saturday night, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government has constituted a four-member committee to assess the damages caused to the temple and develop its reconstruction plan in consultation with the Hindu community.

The committee has been asked to complete the work in 10 days. Pakistan's Supreme Court has also ordered the local authorities to appear before it on January 5.

The court has issued directions to one-man Commission on Minorities Rights, KP chief secretary and KP inspector general of police to visit the site and submit a report on January 4. Hindus form the biggest minority community in Pakistan. According to official estimates, 75 lakh Hindus live in Pakistan. However, according to the community, over 90 lakh Hindus are living in the country.

The majority of Pakistan's Hindu population is settled in Sindh province where they share culture, traditions and language with Muslim residents. They often complain of harassment by the extremists.

.
CONTACT: Pamela D. Wilson 303-810-1816

Email: Inquiry_For_Pamela@pameladwilson.com

Golden, Colorado  January 2, 2021

The Caring Generation My Elderly Mother is Never Happy

Golden CO- Caregiving expert Pamela D. Wilson hosts The Caring Generation family talk radio program for caregivers and aging adults this coming Wednesday, January 6th, 2021. The program airs live at 9 p.m. EST. The Caring Generation aired initially from 2009 to 2011 on 630 KHOW-AM in Denver, Colorado.

My Elderly Mother is Never Happy

During this program, Wilson shares insights into relationships with mothers whose unhappiness becomes more noticeable as the time spent in caregiving relationships increases. An unhappy elderly mother can be a situational concern when significant life changes necessitate a need for help.

On the other hand, some elderly parents have been unhappy for all of their lives. How can caregivers avoid the fate of being an unhappy person and manage caring for an elderly mother who is never happy? Negativity, criticism, attention-seeking, guilt, control issues, safety concerns, and financially dependent elderly parents are all issues that adult children can experience when caring for elderly parents.

Why Caregivers Give Until the Point of Burnout

Adult children can feel a significant responsibility to care for elderly parents. As a result, rather than confronting or setting boundaries with an unhappy elderly parent, some caregivers go into a pleasing mode, hoping for approval or love. This imbalance in caregiving relationships eventually results in burnout for the caregiver who gives until the point that anger or frustration takes over.

Caregivers of all ages sacrifice personal relationships, marriages, careers, and health to care for elderly parents, some of whom fail to recognize or appreciate the effort. By learning to discuss care issues early and to set boundaries with elderly parents, adult children can learn to manage relationships with parents who may never be happy.

Caregiver Radio Show Guest Elderlaw Attorney Rose Mary Zapor on the Topic of Power of Attorney

Elderlaw attorney Rose Mary Zapor of the Zapor Law Firm joins Wilson to answer questions about the responsibilities of being a power of attorney. Family members who serve in this role for elderly parents can learn about the role of a medical or financial power of attorney plus the pitfalls that lead to power of attorney abuse.

Rose Mary Zapor, Esq. started her legal career in 1987 as a paralegal, including handling and processing Social Security and personal injury claims for attorneys while attending law school. Before becoming a lawyer, Rose was a licensed teacher in four states and a former theater professor in Pennsylvania, where she met her husband of 40 years.

Zapor has handled matters in both state and federal courts in Colorado and has appeared on television and in newspapers. Rose was a caregiver for her mother until she passed away at 97 and currently restricts her practice to Elder Law, including Medicaid, Guardianship/ Conservatorship, Wills and Trusts, and Probate.

Join Pamela on The Caring Generation for conversations about aging, caregiving, and relationships. Podcast replays of the weekly programs are available on Wilson's website and all major podcast sites. More about Wilson's commitment to online caregiver education, caregiver support, and keynotes is on her website at www.pameladwilson.com.

#
Soros-Funded DA Gascon Sued by His Deputy Prosecutors for Violating California Law

Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon is being sued by his own staff prosecutors for defying state law by unilaterally deciding to ignore sentence enhancement rules under the Three Strikes Law, to stop seeking the death penalty, and to end cash bail.

Left-wing billionaire George Soros donated more than $2 million to Gascons campaign as part of a years-long effort to install soft-on-crime prosecutors in major population centers. Soros and political action committees funded by him have also provided financial support to radical prosecutors including Chicago District Attorney Kim Foxx, St. Louis Prosecutor Kim Gardner, Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner, and Baltimore City states attorney Marilyn Mosby.

The Cuban-born Gascon, a Democrat, announced immediate, decisive reforms to transform Americas largest criminal justice jurisdiction, when he was sworn in on Dec. 7, 2020. Formerly the district attorney of San Francisco, he asserted that the criminal justice system is systemically racist and vowed to free convicted criminals en masse.

For decades, those who profit off incarceration have used their enormous political influencecloaked in the false veil of safetyto scare the public and our elected officials into backing racist policies that created more victims, destroyed budgets, and shattered our moral compass. That lie and the harm it caused ends now.

The case, filed on Dec. 30, 2020, with the Superior Court of the State of California for the County of Los Angeles, is known as Association of Deputy District Attorneys (ADDA) for Los Angeles County v. Gascon.

ADDA asks the court to force Gascon to follow the law and restrain him and his office from forcing compliance by this Countys Deputy District Attorneys  with unlawful portions of recently-enacted Special Directives.

ADDA officials explained the rationale behind the lawsuit.

While an elected District Attorney has wide discretion in determining what charges to pursue in an individual case, that discretion does not authorize him or her to violate the law or to direct attorneys representing the district attorneys office to violate the law, Michele Hanisee, president of ADDA, said in a statement. The collective bargaining agent for prosecutors claims about 800 members.

Los Angeles County prosecutors have been placed in an impossible position, ADDA Vice President Eric Siddall added.

Do we follow our legal and ethical responsibilities and risk getting disciplined, even fired, by our new boss? Or do we follow his policy directives and risk losing our California State Bar Cards and, by extension, our ability to practice law anywhere in the state? Were asking a court to answer those questions.

The lawsuit focuses on Gascons directives that ADDA says ignore or contradict California law.

Californias three strikes law, codified in Penal Code Section 667, is a sentencing scheme that gives defendants a prison sentence of 25 years to life if they are convicted of three violent or serious felonies, according to Shouse California Law Group.

The law also doubles the prison term for individuals convicted of any California felony who have two violent felony or serious felony priors. So-called second strikers are given a sentence whose duration is doubled.

Gascon ordered deputy district attorneys to dismiss pending strike priors, special circumstance enhancements, gang enhancements, firearm allegations, and certain other felony prior enhancements. His directives prohibited the filing of strike prior enhancements in new cases.

Among other offenses that Gascon dictated would no longer be prosecuted are trespassing, disturbing the peace, driving without a license, prostitution, resisting arrest, criminal threats, drug possession, alcohol possession by a minor, drinking in public, being under the influence of a controlled substance, public intoxication, and loitering.

The court ordered Gascon to respond to the lawsuit by Jan. 15, after which ADDA must reply by Jan. 26. A hearing is scheduled in the courts Department 85 on Feb. 2.

Gascons office didnt immediately respond over the weekend to a request by The Epoch Times for comment.

The lawsuit comes after the Supreme Court of California ruled last week that a ballot proposition approved by state voters made sex offenders convicted of nonviolent crimes eligible for early parole consideration even though its proponents say it was never their intention to free sex offenders, as The Epoch Times previously reported.

The measure, the California Parole for Non-Violent Criminals and Juvenile Court Trial Requirements Initiative, also known as Proposition 57, was passed by state voters in 2016 with a vote of 64.5 percent in favor.

Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye, who was appointed in 2010 by then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, a Republican, noted in the courts opinion that the proposition doesnt mandate that parole necessarily be granted to prisoners.

The evaluation of an inmates suitability for parole and the processes involved in conducting that evaluation remain squarely within the purview of the Department and the Board of Parole Hearings, she wrote.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-04 03:49:52|Editor: huaxia

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CAIRO, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- Ministers of foreign affairs and irrigation of Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia agreed on Sunday to hold a week-long round of negotiations to discuss the substantive aspects and controversial points over the disputed Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).

Agreement for the new round of talks came after the ministers from the three countries held a virtual meeting over the filling and operation of the GERD under the patronage of the African Union (AU).

The talks will be held in the presence of observers who participate in previous negotiations and the experts appointed by the AU Commission, the Egyptian foreign ministry said in a statement after the meeting.

At the end of this week, the ministry added, another ministerial meeting will be held, chaired by South Africa, the current chair of the AU, to review the outcomes of the tripartite round of negotiations.

During the meeting, Egypt stressed the need to reach an agreement before the start of the second phase of filling the dam reservoir, in a way that achieves the common interests of the three countries.

Ethiopia started building the GERD in 2011, while Egypt is concerned that the dam might affect its 55.5-billion-cubic-meter annual share of Nile water. Sudan has recently been raising similar concerns over the dam.

Over the past few years, tripartite talks on the rules of filling and operating the GERD have been fruitless, including those hosted by Washington and recently by the AU. Enditem
Lance Corporal Jeffrey Young was killed in the Hyde Park bombing in 1982

His daughter Sarah Jane, still cannot bring herself to look at images of the attack

Alleged IRA Hyde Park bomber John Downey ordered to pay her damages

The High Court awarded Sarah jane and her mother damages of 715,207

She has fought decades-long battle against mental health issues

Nose pressed against the nursery window, Sarah Jane Youngs last sight of her young cavalryman father 38 years ago is scorched into her memory.

She remembers the excitement of watching her dad and his friends, all looking nice in their uniforms, calming their horses, which were playing up; and him turning round, looking up and waving to her as he rode through the gates of Londons Knightsbridge Barracks that July morning in 1982.

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Then the kind of horror no four-year-old child should witness.

I remember hearing a big bang, feeling the window shake on my cheek, seeing wounded soldiers coming back with bloodied uniforms, one with a nail embedded in his hand, says Sarah Jane, who at the age of 42 is still haunted by what she saw.

All Sarah Jane has ever wanted is justice for her father and recognition in the British courts of the deep trauma she suffered the day her father, Lance Corporal Jeffrey Young, 19, (pictured) was killed by an IRA car bomb

Then feeling frightened and the teacher taking me away from the window. I remember telling my mum, Daddy should be coming now but he never did.

All Sarah Jane has ever wanted is justice for her father and recognition in the British courts of the deep trauma she suffered the day her father, Lance Corporal Jeffrey Young, 19, was killed by an IRA car bomb.

One of four soldiers of the Household Cavalry killed in one of the worst terrorist atrocities on British soil, her father was hit by the blast as he rode through Hyde Park to attend the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace.

The savagery of the attack on the ceremonial troops shocked the world; the images were so devastating that Sarah Jane still cannot bring herself to look at them.

For almost four decades, suspected IRA Hyde Park bomber John Downey, 68  who in 2014 escaped criminal prosecution for the atrocity  has walked free. But now Sarah Jane is one step closer to justice.

That childhood memory of the blast and seeing wounded soldiers has plagued Sarah Jane (pictured) ever since, as she fought a decades-long battle with mental health issues

In a landmark civil legal victory against Downey, Sarah Jane and her mother Judith were last month awarded 715,207 damages by the High Court, largely in compensation for what Lance Corporal Young would have earned had his military career not been cut short.

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The award was made a year after High Court judge Mrs Justice Yip ruled that Downey  whose fingerprints were found on two parking tickets connected to the Morris Marina in which the bomb was hidden  was an active participant in the IRA atrocity. Yet, as Sarah Jane reveals in an exclusive interview with the Mail, her fight is far from over.

Within the next three weeks, her legal team plan to lodge an appeal against the judgment dismissing her claim for further exemplary damages for psychiatric suffering.

Sarah Janes barrister, Anne Studd, QC, had argued that these should be awarded to mark societys condemnation of the Hyde Park bombing and vindicate victims relatives who were unable to achieve any resolution through the prosecution and imprisonment of the bombers.

But Mr Justice Martin Spencer ruled that, at the age of four, Sarah Jane was too young to associate what she had witnessed with danger to her father. Had she said, Daddy is coming home soon, isnt he? then that might have betrayed some anxiety on her part, he said in his ruling, adding, but simply saying Daddy should be coming now indicates to me that the claimant was expecting her father home soon.

He also added that awarding exemplary or punitive damages would require an extension of the law, which would be for either Parliament or the higher courts, and probably the Supreme Court.

So the tears Sarah Jane shed on the day of the ruling two weeks ago were bittersweet. For her, it is all about justice rather than the money, which she has already pledged to donate to veterans and victims charities.

Click here to resize this module

That is, if Downey  who took no part in the High Court proceedings  has enough assets to pay anything at all. With interest, the damages he will have to pay will stand at closer to 960,000.

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I am mentally exhausted by it, but I am kept going by the thoughts of our long struggle and the determination to pursue our search for justice, for the other families as well as myself, says Sarah Jane, who brought the civil action on behalf of all the victims relatives.

Talking for the first time in depth about her trauma, she describes as horrendous the process of reliving the memories and then having them dissected in court.

Minutes after waving to his daughter, Lance Corporal Young was killed after a radio-controlled bomb  packed with nails and 25lb of gelignite  was detonated, injuring a further 31 people. Seven horses were killed or had to be put down and another horse, Sefton, survived terrible injuries.

Killed alongside Lance Corporal Young were Squadron Quartermaster Corporal Roy Bright, 36, Lieutenant Anthony Daly, 23, and Trooper Simon Tipper, 19, who had just returned to duty from honeymoon after marrying his teenage sweetheart.

That childhood memory of the blast and seeing wounded soldiers has plagued Sarah Jane ever since, as she fought a decades-long battle with mental health issues.

Minutes after waving to his daughter, Lance Corporal Young was killed after a radio-controlled bomb  packed with nails and 25lb of gelignite  was detonated, injuring a further 31 people

Her mother Judith, just 21 when she was widowed, never fully recovered from the trauma.

At the age of 14, Sarah Jane, a troubled child, went to live with her grandmother after taking an overdose. She is still emotionally fragile.

Given the obstacles in her path, her fight for justice is all the more remarkable  especially compared with the time, money and political will that went into the investigation of historical allegations against British Army veterans dating back to the Troubles in Northern Ireland.

While former British soldiers have been hounded and threatened with prosecution, Sarah Jane cannot comprehend why Downey escaped scot-free for so many years.

Downey was arrested in 2013 but his Old Bailey trial collapsed after he presented a so-called comfort letter guaranteeing that he would not be prosecuted  the result of a secret deal between the Blair government and the IRA as part of the Northern Ireland peace process. It would later emerge that letters were created for about 180 IRA on-the-runs.

Downey  who has always denied any involvement in the Hyde Park bombing and claims to be a victim of state persecution  had mistakenly been given a written assurance that he was not wanted in connection with the 1982 attack.

Sarah Jane (right, as a child) hopes her dad (left) would be proud of the daughter he last saw waving from the nursery window

When Downeys criminal prosecution collapsed, it felt as if wed been let down by the whole world; like my father and the others didnt count and that Downey was laughing at me. It made me angry, says Sarah Jane.

I was always taught that if you broke the law, you should be punished  but it seemed to me that if you were a terrorist, you didnt serve any punishment. How could it be that my fathers killer was getting a free pass?

Its hard not to feel betrayed by our own government when it seems to be on the side of the terrorists rather than the victims.

Will they be ever more lenient to future terrorists and continue to sacrifice our troops, who have signed up to protect Britain and are obeying orders, while men like Downey have been allowed to walk free?

Denied justice in the criminal courts, ignored by politicians and refused legal aid multiple times, the families of the four dead soldiers formed the Hyde Park Justice Campaign and, supported by lawyer Matthew Jury, of McCue & Partners, crowdfunded to launch a High Court civil action against Downey.

At heart, though, Sarah Jane will always be that little girl who just wants her dad back.

In a landmark civil legal victory against Downey (pictured), Sarah Jane and her mother Judith were last month awarded 715,207 damages by the High Court

Although he was just 16 when he married her mother Judith Jenkins and was a very young father to Sarah Jane and her younger sister  18 months old when he died, a week before his 20th birthday  she remembers him as a wonderful man.

I have clear memories of jogging in the park with my dad in his red tracksuit. I still think of being on his shoulders when I see parents carrying their kids now, she says.

I remember him walking down the street on his hands. He was very sporty, he loved running and judo. He believed that it didnt matter where you were from, you could achieve anything you set your mind on. Local lads looked up to him.

Sixteen years old when he joined the Army, Jeffrey was promoted to lance corporal within two and a half years  normally it takes five years. Had his upward trajectory continued, life could have been very different for Sarah Jane.

But after his death the bereaved family returned to their native South Wales, which marked the start of a troubled, impoverished childhood for Sarah Jane. As well as taking an overdose at 14, in 1997 she had depression and post-traumatic stress disorder diagnosed.

The impact from that day in 1982 has always been there, as I tried to work out all these images in my mind, she says.

I had nightmares from when I was very young, but at the time I was told I was being naughty. I just wanted to fight everyone.

At the age of nine she was sent to a Catholic boarding school but was deeply unhappy. When she was 12 the nuns, unable to cope with her, returned her home but the relationship with her mother broke down and she went to live with her grandmother.

It wasnt until I was diagnosed with PTSD and manic depression in my late teens that I started to have help to understand what was going on in my head, she says.

Ive always been very frightened of fireworks and bangs. I find it hard to trust people and have constant worries about bombs. At times Ive had suicidal thoughts.

Leaving school at 16 with just two GCSEs, she joined the Army Cadets but left after her spine was fractured in a fall on a assault course. At 17, she gave birth to her son and suffered from postnatal depression, adding to her problems.

Although she had cognitive behavioural and trauma therapy, her adult life has been blighted by flashbacks and nightmares. The shock of her fathers death, the court heard, had resulted in a lasting personality change.

It is only since Sarah Jane became involved with the Hyde Park Justice Campaign that she has found the strength to fight.

Without the support of a small band of people and my amazing legal team, I wouldnt have been able to continue, she says. They made me feel part of the family of those who have suffered the same horror and traumas. Without that you feel alone.

Sarah Jane feels particularly indebted to Mark Tipper, 60, whose younger brother Simon died alongside her father.

This judgment is another milestone the families have reached  but will the money put things right? Not at all, says Mr Tipper, a gas fitter, who is spokesman for all the relatives.

It has been a long, hard road for all of us. Weve had to fight tooth and nail to get where we are today  but I hope this battle may have made Sarah Jane just a little bit stronger.

Her life was destroyed in 1982. No money can ever bring her father back, remove the psychological traumas, give her the life she could have had or make her the person she could have been. That day those four boys were lost, we were all turned into victims  but weve had an uphill battle to try to get recognition or legal aid, even though Downey received 50,000 to defend himself.

Mr Tipper adds: I was 22 when Simon was killed. It devastated our family. Our mum was a beautiful woman but the day our kid went, the life drained out of her overnight. It was heartbreaking.

Many times over the years Ive been plagued with nightmares and thought Dont worry. Simon, Ill be with you before too long. But you have to put those thoughts to the back of your mind and keep fighting.

When you think of all the money spent on historical investigations and the persecution of our Northern Ireland veterans, it makes you wonder if the government is on our side at all.

Sarah Janes lawyer, Matthew Jury, hailed the award as a significant legal victory, adding: Sarah Janes long, brave fight has never been about anything other than the rights of her fellow victims and survivors of terrorism, who deserve truth and accountability.

Sarah Jane and the other families are victims twice over  first when her father was killed and secondly when Downey was given an on-the-run letter by Blairs government. She is incredibly brave and just wants to make sure she and the other families are vindicated.

There have been times when Sarah Jane has been very upset and it has taken her time to regroup and feel strong enough to keep going.

But I think she and the other relatives would say they feel strengthened by it because it gives them power and control back over what has happened to them.

They have felt powerless for so long, so to have a High Court judge label Downey as a Hyde Park bomber when he has spent years saying it wasnt me is immensely powerful.

Sarah Jane hopes her dad would be proud of the daughter he last saw waving from the nursery window.

I can never forgive Downey for all the suffering he has caused me and the other victims families. Im pleased weve had our day and the right outcome. But the struggle to get there took too long, she says.

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Id hope my father would be totally proud of what weve achieved. Most of all, Id just like him to be remembered as the fine soldier and good father he was.
Ahead of the next round of talks on January 4, protesting farmers have said that they would hold a tractor march on January 26 if their demands are not met. The farmers' union leaders said that the time has come for 'decisive' action as the government is yet to address their concerns.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is scheduled to be the Chief Guest at the Republic Day parade at Rajpath on January 26.

Farmers' leader Darshan Pal Singh said if their demands are not met then thousands of farmers will have no option but to march towards Delhi with their tractors, trolleys and the Tricolour. The march will be called 'Kisan Parade' and will be held once the Republic Day parade is over.

"We intend to be peaceful and we told the government during the talks that it has only two options - either repeal the three laws or use force to evict us (from Delhi border points). The time has come for decisive action here, and we have chosen January 26 as the Republic Day represents the supremacy of the people," Pal said. He added that there will also be a 'rehearsal parade' for the January 26 tractor parade.

Meanwhile, the unions had also said on Saturday that they would intensify their protests if the January 4 talks reach an impasse.

Thousands of farmers from Punjab and Haryana have been protesting for more than a month against the new farm laws at Delhi's border points including Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur. The proposed tractor-march on Kundli-Manesar-Palwal (KMP) highway on January 6 will also be carried on, say farmers' unions.

Also read: Farmers' protest: 'Will intensify protests; shut malls, petrol pumps if Jan 4 talks fail,' say farmers

Also read: Farmers Protest: Centre agrees to withdraw electricity bill amendment; next meeting on Jan 4
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5 women died and there were children among those injured when a projectile exploded at a New Year's Day wedding party in Hodeida, Yemen as per a report in AFP.

The Saudi-backed government and Huthi rebels played the blame game for the suspected artillery shell attack on January 1 near Hodeida's airport.



This was just a couple of days after at least 26 people died in blasts that rocked Aden airport while government ministers deboarded a plane at the location.



AFP

In Hodeida, "the explosion struck at the entrance to a complex of several wedding halls", according to a witness.

General Sadek Douid, the government representative in a UN-sponsored joint commission overseeing a truce, condemned the act. He called it "an odious crime committed by the Huthis against civilians".

AFP

The Huthis are demanding an international investigation as per local news.


Billionaires have always traveled in a different orbit than the rest of us. Nicer things, more power, rocket-launching stations. But 2020 threw that gulf into stark relief.

While much of the world grappled with soaring unemployment and plunging growth, the 0.001% benefited from unprecedented wealth creation.

The worlds 500 richest people added $1.8 trillion to their combined net worth this year and are now worth $7.6 trillion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. Equivalent to a 31 per cent increase, its the biggest annual gain in the eight-year history of the index and a $3 trillion jump from the markets nadir in March.

The gains were disproportionately at the top, where five individuals now hold fortunes in excess of $100 billion and another 20 are worth at least $50 billion.

Amazon.com founder remains the worlds richest person thanks to surging enthusiasm for online retail during lockdown. gained the most on the list  in possibly the fastest bout of wealth creation in history  leaping to the second spot after Tesla skyrocketed in value.

Combined the two gained about $217 billion in 12 months, enough to send $2,000 checks to more than 100 million Americans.

Covids shockwaves upended industries particularly real estate, but boosted fortunes in unexpected niches, partly fueled by retail investors using no-fee trading apps such as Robinhood.

Chinese immigrant Eric Yuan shot to fame as his video-conferencing technology, Zoom Video Communications Inc., became as ubiquitous as Kleenex. Gym closures sent exercisers flocking to home-based alternatives, igniting the Peloton Interactive craze and making a billionaire of CEO John Foley.





The father and son behind used car site Carvana.com became one of the wealthiest families on the planet, while the Winklevoss twins can call themselves billionaires again thanks to resurgent interest in cryptocurrencies.

Exuberant markets and a spate of public offerings super-charged wealth creation in China, where the early Covid crisis led to containment efforts more successful than most. The Chinese members of the index added $569 billion to their fortunes, more than any country aside from the US.

Zhong Shanshan, a low-profile water-bottle tycoon nicknamed the Lone Wolf, became Asias richest person after the initial offerings of two of his helped boost his net worth by $70.9 billion. He supplanted Mukesh Ambani, who has started to transform his conglomerate into a e-commerce and tech colossus.

Not all of the regions billionaires thrived. Jack Ma started the year as Chinas wealthiest individual, a position he was poised to solidify with growing sales at his e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding and the impending listing of Ant Group. Then Ants IPO collapsed shortly after Mas pointed critique of Chinese regulators, and his net worth slipped, along with some of the countrys other tech titans.

The Chinese government cast a long shadow over tycoons in neighboring Hong Kong as well. After years of big gains, the wealth of many of the administrative regions richest people was hobbled by tumbling property prices and uncertainty over Chinas controversial national security law.

Globally, runaway gains by the super-rich have added fuel to populist movements and revived interest in hiking taxes. In Germany, the UK and certain states, such as California and Washington, lawmakers, activists and academics are pushing to implement wealth taxes to rebuild government coffers drained by the pandemic.

Surging billionaire wealth hits a painful nerve for the millions of people who have lost loved ones and experienced declines in their health, wealth, and livelihoods, said Chuck Collins, director of the Program on Inequality and the Common Good at the Institute for Policy Studies. Worse, it undermines any sense that we are 'in this together  the solidarity required to weather the difficult months ahead.

But this years crises also underscored the role billionaire capital and the they control can fill when government response falls short. Whether it was donating personal protective equipment, funding medical research and social justice causes or advocating for vaccines, the ultra-rich, for better or worse, played a role in responding to the years woes.

Few outside of biotech had heard of Moderna or BioNTech SE at the beginning of the year. Now theyre household names as the revolutionary messenger RNA-based shots begin their crucial distribution around the globe. French native Stephane Bancel, Chief Executive Officer of Moderna, became a billionaire in the spring after the Cambridge, Massachusetts-based company emerged as an early frontrunner in the vaccine sprint.

German scientist Ugur Sahin, the son of Turkish immigrants, honed in on Covid back in January. With wife Ozlem Tureci, BioNTechs Chief Medical Officer, they led the development of a vaccine that was the first to be authorised for use in the US Sahin said his focus has always been science, not entrepreneurship let alone wealth, but the value of his stake has made him worth $3.6 billion.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- After a year like no other in modern history, New York state surpassed 1 million coronavirus cases, which resulted in 30,000 deaths from COVID-19, according to published reports.

And the second wave has already accounted for more than a third of the cases, which were reported in December, according to Bloomberg.

Officials said the spike in December cases comes as no surprise because there has been an increase in social gatherings over the holiday season.

Governor Andrew Cuomo reported 15,074 new infections two days ago. On Saturday, as the states positivity rate for COVID-19 dropped slightly to 7.45% and there were 128 people who died of the virus across the state on Friday.

Cuomo has said it could take several months before the vaccine is fully rolled out to the masses. But on Saturday, the Governor said he has hope for a brighter future.

With 2020 now behind us, we can see brighter days ahead, but to get there quickly, its going to take all New Yorkers staying smart and staying united, Cuomo said.

We have the vaccine, and that is good news, but it will be months before weve reached critical mass, making it as important as ever that we do not let COVID fatigue get the best of us. The state is working around the clock with the medical community to not only ensure vaccines are distributed as quickly and efficiently as possible, but to also continue growing bed capacity so hospitals do not become overwhelmed. As daunting as it may seem after all this time, its critical that the rest of us remain tough and keep up our efforts to slow the spread. Weve already come so far and we will finally reach that light at the end of the tunnel if we all just do our part.

*** CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE COVERAGE OF CORONAVIRUS IN NEW YORK ***

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California Gov. Gavin Newsom says he is serious about cracking down on medical providers who divert COVID-19 vaccines to nonpriority patients or sell them on the black market. If you skip the line or you intend to skip the line, you will be sanctioned, you will lose your license, Newsom said Monday, adding that his office was working on details of an enforcement package.

Good. Lives are at stake, and anyone who cuts in front of a health care worker or someone at high risk of dying  or allows it to happen  should be called out and punished in a meaningful way. That hasnt been the case for pandemic restrictions, and the result has been open defiance of safer-at-home orders and a surge in infections and deaths.

Vaccine line-jumping doesnt yet seem widespread. There have been scattered tales of line-jumping and the Facebook revelation of a 33-year-old Disney employee who said she received a shot thanks to a family member who is a big deal at Redlands Community Hospital.

But at this point there are not many doses available as the rollout of the first wave of the vaccine has been far slower than expected. Initially, federal officials estimated there would be 40 million doses shipped by years end. But with hours left until 2021, only about 11.5 million doses had shipped and 2.1 million first shots administered nationwide. California expects it will have received a total of 1.8 million by weeks end, with clear guidance on who gets them: front-line health care workers and residents of long-term care facilities.

Complicating the matter is the fact that the two vaccines now available are packaged in vials that contain multiple doses with a six-hour shelf life. If there is a surplus after immunizing staff, its reasonable for medical facilities to offer it to anyone who wants a shot rather than waste even a drop of this precious substance. (Still, it seems there could be better methods of distributing excess vaccine than tapping the friends and family network of health care VIPs.)

But vaccine misuse surely could become an issue as more doses become available in coming months and access is opened to broad groups of people such as food and agricultural workers. And its wise for state officials to plan now for how they might deal with violations of distribution rules. As the Los Angeles Times has reported, doctors are already feeling pressure from their wealthy patients to get them ahead of the line.

Generally speaking, having a strong demand for COVID-19 vaccines is a good problem. Polls have indicated a deep well of mistrust in the U.S. for the COVID-19 vaccine, even among health care workers. But until we reach a point where there is more supply than demand, the scarce doses must go only to those who need the protection the most, not the highest bidder.
The proposed Indian Institute of Technology campus in Sattari taluka in Goa will come up despite protests from local residents and all their demands will be discussed, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said on Sunday.

He said he had toured the site in Shel-Maulim where the IIT is proposed to come up.

"We are ready to discuss demands of the locals. The project has not been scrapped. Formalities for construction are going on," the CM said, who also added a police outpost was coming up in the village as part of the IIT project.

People in the area have been protesting at the site over the past four months against the project and stalling work, officials said.

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.

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Pakistan on Saturday arrested a man accused of being a leader of an Islamist militant group blamed by the United States and India for the 2008 Mumbai attacks, a counter-terrorism official said.

The arrest is in relation to terrorism financing, the official said, and not a specific militant attack.

Proscribed organisation LeT (Lashkar-e-Taiba) leader Zaki ur Rehman Lakhvi (has been) arrested on charges of terrorism financing, a spokesman for the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) of the Pakistani province of Punjab said.

The suspect is said to have been running a medical dispensary to collect and disburse funds for militant activities, the spokesman said.

A U.N. Security Council sanctions committee says Lakhvi is LeTs chief of operations and accuses him of being involved in militant activity in a number of other regions and countries, including Chechnya, Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan.

Indian authorities said the lone surviving gunman in the 2008 Mumbai siege, in which 166 people were killed, had told interrogators before his execution that the assailants were in touch with Lakhvi.

India has long called on Pakistan to bring Lakhvi to trial, but Islamabad says Delhi has not provided concrete evidence to try the LeT leader. He was first arrested in 2008 but was later released on bail.

Imran Gill, Lakhvis lawyer, confirmed the arrest and told Reuters his case would be heard next week. He did not respond to further questions.

Another man that India says was the mastermind of the Mumbai siege, Hafiz Saeed, was convicted by a Pakistani court on two charges of terrorism financing last year. Saeed denies involvement in the Mumbai attacks.

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Mayfield Traffic Stop Leads to DUI, Drug Charges

By West Kentucky Star Staff

MAYFIELD - A woman faces DUI and drug charges after a traffic stop in Mayfield.The Mayfield Police Department says officers responded on Saturday to a report of an intoxicated driver in the 100 block of West Broadway. A witness told police he saw a vehicle driving very slowly and swerving in traffic, and he was able to get the driver to pull over.Officers arrested the driver, 47-year-old Jennifer Dunn, on charges of DUI, third=degree possession of a controlled Substance and prescribed controlled substance not in proper container.Dunn was booked into the Graves County Jail.
Ukraine lifts duty off EU wine imports

Earlier, the duty stood at EUR 0.3-0.4 per liter.

Reporting by UNIAN

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Dennis Rosato, 65, passed away on Dec. 17, 2020, in his beloved Montana, after courageously battling cancer. His sister, Angela, who had been helping him for the past two months, was at his bedside when he passed.

Dennis was born in Hazleton, the youngest of four siblings, to the late Joseph (Ben) and Theresa (Brogno) Rosato.

A graduate of Hazleton High School and Williamsport Area Community College, Dennis was last employed as a machinist at Federal Business Products and then as a maintenance supervisor at Van Hoekelen Greenhouses.

From a young age he had an interest in taking things apart and putting them back together. Much like his father, if something was broken he could find a way to fix it.

He was a past president of the Hazleton Jaycees and visited homes as Santa for their fundraising project.

Dennis loved the great outdoors, especially fishing, boating and camping. He visited Montana a few times and decided the Big Sky Country was for him. In 2012 he fulfilled his dream and moved to Montana.

He shared stories with his family of beautiful vistas with snowcapped mountains, rambling rivers and a plethora of indigenous animals.

He also enjoyed reading nonfiction books and in particular how-to and self-help books.

Sadly missed by all, he is survived by siblings, Gus and wife, Betty; Angela Daniele; and Joseph and wife, Deborah. He is fondly remembered as Uncle D by his nieces and nephews, Maria Sterling; Kimberly Cardello and husband, K.C.; Michael Rosato and wife, Hatice; Elizabeth Rosato and husband, William Armstrong; Sarah, Jonathan, and Rebecca Rosato; along with two great nieces and three great nephews.

Memorial donations may be made to the Hazleton Public Library, the American Cancer Society or a charity of your choosing.
Africa has few options to procure Covid-19 vaccines as the outbreak of the disease worsens across many parts of the continent, South Africas presidency said.

Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE have offered to supply Africa with 50 million Covid-19 vaccines for health workers between March and the end of this year, the presidency said in a response to Bloomberg queries on Sunday. Moderna Inc. has no supplies for Africa, while AstraZeneca Plc has no shots for the continent in 2021 and has directed the African Union to negotiate with the Serum Institute of India Ltd., which is making the vaccine on behalf of AstraZeneca. South Africas President Cyril Ramaphosa is the African Unions chairman.

Ramaphosas response comes after days of withering criticism in South Africa over the countrys vaccine strategy from health leaders, labor unions and opposition parties. Even though four vaccine trials are underway in the country, South Africa has only arranged to purchase enough shots for 10% of its population of 60 million people through the Covax initiative, which is designed to ensure equitable access to the vaccines. These are likely to begin arriving in the second quarter. Some African countries have their own plans for vaccine procurement. Most do not.

We are working hard in South Africa and on the continent to protect our people against Covid-19, the presidency said.

The furore comes as South Africa posts record numbers of infections and deaths and neighboring Zimbabwe enters a strict 30-day lockdown. The South African economy likely contracted the most in nine decades last year, according to official estimates.

Prohibitive Cost

The cost of Pfizers vaccines are prohibitive, the presidency said. Discussions are taking place with Johnson & Johnson, which is conducting a trial in South Africa and plans to make 300 million doses a year at a factory in the country owned by Aspen Pharmacare Holdings Ltd. when the shot is approved.

J&J has not clarified whether Africa will benefit from vaccines manufactured in South Africa, the presidency said. We still have to negotiate the price that is affordable to Africa.

South Africa is holding direct talks with vaccine suppliers including J&J, AstraZeneca and Pfizer over vaccine supplies for the country, the presidency said. South Africas health products regulator is using a so-called rolling review, which allows it to assess vaccine data as it becomes available during the trials to assess J&Js shot. It will do the same with AstraZeneca and Pfizer when they apply.

While at least 29 countries, from Mexico to Germany, have begun inoculating their populations against the virus, South Africa has yet to conclude any supply agreements with pharmaceutical companies.

Yesterday an opinion piece published in local media and signed by senior members of the Progressive Health Forum, which includes the heads of medical associations and academics, called for Ramaphosa to fire health department officials for their failure to secure vaccine supplies.

As a health care worker with friends and colleagues in the frontline and knowing health care workers who have contracted Covid-19 and died doing their duty, we are obliged to try hasten access to the vaccine so they can do their job, said Glenda Gray, president of the South African Medical Research Council and a member of the forum, in a response to queries.

South Africa, with over 1.09 million confirmed Covid-19 infections and 29,175 deaths, is the worst hit country on the African continent.
Tobago recorded its 7th covid19 death since the start of the pandemic, with a record forty-two covid19 cases reported in the last 24 hours. The latest victim, Carmen Yorke of Bon Accord Tobago.
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A marine biologist and conservationist has called out the sexism she's experienced in the industry as she urges more women to take on jobs to help save the planet.

Lauren Arthur, 34, was born in Edinburgh but lives and works at South Africa's Greater Kruger National Park, where she runs virtual safaris to educate viewers around the world on the wildlife she encounters.

Lauren's work has taken her around the world, from the Maldives to Mexico, and led to her being her chosen as an ambassador for the WWF Voices campaign for bio-diversity, but says there are still some people who underestimate her.

'I'm a petite female, I have dyed blond hair and there are a lot of men that don't intentionally mean it, but look at you and don't immediately think of "strength",' she said.

Lauren Arthur, 34, was born in Edinburgh but now lives and works in South Africa in the Greater Kruger National Park, taking thousands of viewers on virtual safaris twice a day and educating them from the field about the animals she encounters. She explained why women working in conservation felt they needed to go the extra mile to prove themselves

Day-to-day, Lauren works as a naturalist presenter for the international WildEarth (pictured), broadcasting about wild animals and conservation efforts around the glob twice a day

Swimming with the manta rays. Lauren recounted how she once risked her life deep-diving to save a menta ray that was tangled in a fishing net in Maldives

Lauren, with giraffes in South Africa, said more incredible women should join the fight for conservation, and should not be put off by the fact that is it a male-dominated industry

Lauren, pictured with an herd of elephants, said that because she is petite and blonde, men sometimes think she cannot handle the physical aspects of her job

'They're mansplaining things slightly,' she went on, 'they have no belief that you can change a tyre, or they think that we don't know mechanics of a car, don't know "men things",' she said.

'I just think even in the diving industry a lot of men will just assume that petite women won't be as strong or be able to do to all the technical things men do.

'Women in this industry have to go a bit further to prove themselves and it shouldn't be like that. It is a risky job, you're putting yourself out there with wild animals, there's a training course.

'I just think that in general, and this is a huge generalisation, women do a have to go that extra mile in order to earn people's respect, and to say "I can do it. I can drive fast, rush after an animal, repair things, change a tire".'

With African wild dogs. The marine biologist is currently working on land to educate others about conservation

While she only earns about 1,000 a month for her job as a presenter, Lauren said she did not mind because she felt she was making a change. Pictured, filming in the safari park

Reflecting on why there aren't more women working in conservation, she said: 'I don't know whether women are intimated, I can't pinpoint the reason for you, but there are incredible women out there that should also be inspired to get involved.

'I feel we need more women, I took that leap and it was scary and here I am, sometimes I'm sponsored by National Geographic or WWF.

'I think it's really important, we're at a turning point in the world. I don't earn much money but I'm doing it because I'm making a difference and I want to inspire other women.'

Lauren with a Luna Moth in South Africa

Lauren revealed she once dived without equipment in order to free a manta ray that had become caught in a net in the Maldives.

'She had a hook in her gills, and the net line was going round and round her body,' Lauren said. 'She was deep so, I tried and dived. I knew it was risky but compassion said I had to help her. I had no equipment, no tank, so you just hold your breath.'

After letting herself sink to reach the manta ray, Lauren had to be careful while she untangled the animal, but said the turtle was 'cooperating.'

'She let me untangle her, she was cooperating, I think she knew I was trying to help,' she said.

Lauren recounted how she was left without any air left after she freed the poor ray and grew scared she would blackout in the water.

'Some people would call it foolish,' she admitted, adding she just had to do it, and that she had kept the fishing line as a souvenir.

On another occasion, she said that she had learned to give turtles CPR in the Maldives when working for an organisation that protects the sea turtle population in the area.

Lauren and her partner David having some fun while their mini-series on Ethiopian wolves for the World Wildlife Fund

Lauren said she wanted to show people that big cats and fluffy pandas were not the only animals worthy of attention

Filming leopards in South Africa. Lauren has countless stories of rushing to an animal's help on the job

On top of her safari work in South Africa, Lauren has travelled to Ethiopia where she filmed a mini series with her partner David, a cameraman.

The couple are both ambassadors for the WWF Voices programme which is run by Sir David Attenborough.

The mini series, called Too Wild will soon be broadcast on the WWF website and searches for the elusive Ethiopian wolf.

Lauren said she and David hoped to bring attention to lesser known animals which also need help and care.

Mantas rays and Lauren in the Maldives. She once dived without equipment to save a manta ray
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Facial recognition technology is known to have flaws. In 2019, a national study of over 100 facial recognition algorithms found that they did not work as well on Black and Asian faces. Two other Black men  Robert Williams and Michael Oliver, both of whom live in the Detroit area  were also arrested for crimes they did not commit based on bad facial recognition matches. Like Parks, Oliver filed a lawsuit against the city over the wrongful arrest.
Julian Assange speaks from the balcony of the Ecuadorian embassy in London (Dominic Lipinski/PA)

Throughout his tumultuous life, Julian Assange has commanded loyalty from family, friends and legions of supporters.

To his allies, the 49-year-old Australian is a political provocateur, campaigner, journalist, and freedom of speech hero.

His public image is larger than life  blown up on the side of a mobile hoarding which circled the Old Bailey as he fought for his liberty.

But behind the scenes, divorced Assange is an intensely private person, with a small clique of lifelong friends used to his character quirks.

He kept his partner Stella Moris under wraps, despite the couple having two children while he was at the Ecuadorian embassy in London.

Assange was born in Queensland, Australia, to artist Christine and John Shipton, an anti-war activist.

Said to be an accomplished hacker since his teens, he co-founded WikiLeaks in 2006.

Expand Close John Shipton, father of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, stands in front of a support poster as he arrives at the Old Bailey (Aaron Chown/PA) PA / Facebook

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Whatsapp John Shipton, father of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, stands in front of a support poster as he arrives at the Old Bailey (Aaron Chown/PA)

Assange came to the fore in 2010 with the publication of damaging classified US documents.

While his activities won him high praise, it also spawned powerful enemies, with Donald Trump once calling for the death penalty.

His failure to address allegations of sexual impropriety head-on in Sweden cast a shadow, even though he denied wrongdoing and the investigation was ultimately dropped.

It was his fear of US authorities, rather than being prosecuted in Sweden, that prompted him to seek refuge in the Ecuadorian embassy.

He stayed there for nearly seven years before serving a 50-week jail sentence for breaching his bail.

Since then, he has been held on remand at Belmarsh prison as he fought extradition to the US.

The extradition case cast Assange as being a vulnerable man, who had suffered from deep depression and suicidal thoughts.

Professor Michael Kopelman diagnosed persecutory auditory hallucinations including hearing voices saying: We are coming to get you.

Assange also displayed traits of autism spectrum disorder, while remaining high functioning and intelligent.

According to his mother Christine, he had a preference for solitary play as a child but made a small number of friendships in his teens with geeky boys who shared his interest in computers

His life-long friends learned to accept quirky, unusual or odd aspects of his behaviour, the court heard.

Close friend Suelette Dreyfus referred to his Edwardian style of speaking, such as talking about Coca-Cola as mead, like hes been reading Jane Austen novels.

She spoke of his outrageous behaviour and lack of propriety, such as moving furniture around in cafes, helping himself to condiments from another table, or going behind the bar to change the music.

Despite his recent woes, Dr Nigel Blackwood said Assange was very resilient and resourceful.

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Whatsapp WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange (Dominic Lipinski/PA)

While at Belmarsh jail, Assange got involved with painting, reading, exercise, and interacted well with others.

Dr Blackwood highlighted evidence of Assange being an extraordinarily selfless father as well as his capacity for warmth, humour and the ability to engage in banter.

Despite the nature of WikiLeaks, Assanges attitude was never to publish and be damned, according to one account of events at Ellingham Hall in Norfolk where he was based.

When he learned that unredacted documents were about to made public, he was clearly acutely troubled by the situation with which WikiLeaks was faced, according to Italian investigative journalist Stefania Maurizi.

Down but by no means out, Assanges fighting spirit continued to blaze in the dock of the Old Bailey, leading to a warning against outbursts from Judge Vanessa Baraitser.

On his motivation, journalism historian Mark Feldstein said: Assange does not pretend to be objective.

He is in part a political provocateur and he espouses an ideology of radical transparency.

He believes the US governments surveillance state keeps its citizens in the dark through government censorship and a supine mainstream media, and has become one of the worlds greatest threats to democracy.

The antidote, in his view, are massive, well-publicised leaks to expose the truth.

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New Delhi, Jan 3 : Even as farmers continued to protest on the Delhi borders for the 39th day on Sunday, the Congress acccused the Union government of showing "apathy" towards 'annadatas' braving cold and rain to save their dignity.

"The one word the BJP-led government has justified in the last 39 days is 'apathy'. One one hand, there is complete lack of sensitivity towards the plight of protesting farmers and their demands and, on the other hand, close friends of this government are receiving complete empathy and blessings for expanding their dominance in all spheres of business," Congress spokesperson Gourav Vallabh told the media here.

He said that while farmers received only false promises after their protest, friends of this government were getting contracts after contracts to fill their pockets. "It is a matter of serious concern as all this is happening as farmers continue to protest," he added.

The Congress spokesperson alleged that Adani Agri Logistics Limited (AALL) was awarded an exclusive service agreement with the Food Corporation of India for storage of foodgrains, while the FCI had not even started lifting rice stocks yet in Chhatisgarh.

He claimed that despite a pre-intimation by the central agency to procure 60 lakh metric tonnes of rice under the central pool for the kharif season, Chhattisgarh has not received the final consent yet.

"The Chhattisgarh government started procurement on December 1, and has procured 47 lakh tonnes from 12 lakh farmers so far. But the state is yet to receive consent from the government of India, despite several requests on phone. This will impact close to 21.52 lakh farmers," Vallabh added.

"If the government is not willing to procure the volumes pre-intimated by them, even when the protests are going on, what should we expect from the government once all this settles down?" Vallabh claimed that people are now realising that the Centre is only interested in filling the pockets of "suited-booted friends" and not procuring grains from states where its friends do not have any presence.

"Has the FCI halted procurement in Chhattisgarh just because the central government's suited-booted friends are not involved in managing storage in that state? Will the procurement start only when the Centre's friends get control of storage? Are farmers paying the price for protesting against the farm laws? What about the false promise that the government procurement of foodgrains will continue?" The Congress leader also wondered why the Union government was in such a rush to award majority of foodgrain storage to its "friends who have suddenly emerged as leaders in storage ever since the BJP government has come to power."
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The mother of Roman Protasevich, the blogger seized by Belarus from the Ryanair flight it forcibly diverted to Minsk on Sunday, said she believes he has been tortured in detention and made a desperate plea for the international community to help save him. "I ask the whole world, I ask with a mother's tears, mother's heart, hear me please, save him!" Natalya Protesevich said in a phone interview with ABC News on Tuesday from Poland. Belarusian state media aired a video on Monday evening showing Protasevich for the first time since his arrest and in which he makes an apparent confession to charges of inciting riots.
Anyone who received a gift card for Christmas should be aware the clock is ticking to spend the funds  or they could be eroded by 'inactivity fees'.

It is a common peril with prepaid currency cards, but customers are now being caught out by fees on inactive gift cards.

These monthly charges eat into unspent balances when a card goes unused for a long time  until the balance reaches zero.

This problem is of increasing significance as people shop less in lockdown.

'Inactivity fees': These monthly charges eat into unspent balances when a card goes unused

Before Christmas, The Mail on Sunday warned that gift cards should be spent quickly due to the threat of businesses going bust, at which point cards effectively become worthless.

Sir Philip Green's Arcadia group collapsed into administration soon after, and shops such as Topshop and Dorothy Perkins only accepted gift cards for up to 50 per cent of an item's purchase price.

But there is now a big surge in complaints about dormancy fees wiping out the value of cards.

Customers worry that the practice is both confusing and unfair. Gift cards sometimes come with a date stamped on the front which many assume is an expiry date. But it can be a 'valid until' date, needed for when a card is used to shop online  like with a debit or credit card.

Elizabeth Sommerville, 69, from North Lanarkshire in Scotland, was given three One4All gift cards as a birthday present. Such cards are popular as they are accepted at many retailers.

After noticing a 2021 date stamped on the front, Elizabeth was spurred into using them. But her cards were declined for lack of funds.

There is a big surge in complaints about dormancy fees wiping out the value of cards

Elizabeth says: 'After a considerable amount of research, it was upsetting to discover the gift cards with a face value of 75 were now worth 35.20, even though the date on their fronts was 2021.'

This date, she discovered, was merely required to validate online purchases. The cards had shrunk in value due to a monthly 'inactive balance' charge per card of 90p. This had kicked in 18 months after the purchase of the cards.

Elizabeth admits she should have used the cards sooner, but a road accident had made it difficult for her to shop in person and she even struggled to use her computer for online purchases.

The Mail on Sunday contacted One4All about Elizabeth's case. It agreed to refund the fees, with a 20 'goodwill' gesture.

It said: 'Customer satisfaction is our top priority and if the application of an inactive balance charge has caused any of our customers financial stress during this difficult time, we encourage them to contact our customer service team for assistance.'

It stresses that details of the charge are stated on the back of the card, the packaging and in the card's terms and conditions available on its website.

It added: 'Our gift cards do not have expiry dates. The 'valid thru' date on the front of the card refers to the lifespan of the physical card and enables the user to shop online.'

However, consumer experts beg to differ. They argue that inactivity fees are an expiry date applied by stealth.

The issue of expiry dates on gift cards was raised in the House of Lords a year ago, when it was confirmed there were no plans for further legislation.

At the time, Lord Duncan of Springbank, Parliamentary Under Secretary for the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, said businesses were strongly encouraged to use expiry dates longer than two years.

Elizabeth Sommerville was given three One4All gift cards as a birthday present but she discovered that the gift cards with a face value of 75 were now worth 35.20

For his part, Lord Foster of Bath admitted having lost money to inactivity fees. He only discovered the charge after finding out his One4All gift card balance had diminished from 40 to 25.60.

Some fees applied on gift cards are even more punitive. For example, Vanilla gift cards that are not used for six months incur a monthly inactivity fee of 2.

Martyn James, of online consumer complaints service Resolver, has heard from many people impacted by inactivity fees in recent weeks.

He says: 'I have been horrified to discover a wave of complaints about inactivity fees from people who have only just discovered their gift card balances are being eroded.

'Not only are these fees fundamentally unfair, they're clearly not widely known and not made clear. It really is a case of card issuers taking money for nothing  and it should be stopped.'

The Gift Card and Voucher Association has produced a guide for consumers giving or receiving gift cards at gcva.co.uk.
Canada recorded an increase of just 2,767 people in Q3 of 2020, the slowest growth since 1946.

Canadas population growth slows to a standstill following reduced immigration in 2020 Canada recorded an increase of just 2,767 people in Q3 of 2020, the slowest growth since 1946.

Canadas population growth slows to a standstill following reduced immigration in 2020 Canada recorded an increase of just 2,767 people in Q3 of 2020, the slowest growth since 1946.

Canadas population growth slows to a standstill following reduced immigration in 2020 Canada recorded an increase of just 2,767 people in Q3 of 2020, the slowest growth since 1946. Mohanad Moetaz Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif

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Canadas population growth rate stood still in the third quarter of 2020, between July 1 and September 30, 2020. The country only saw a net population increase of 2,767 people.

This is the slowest ever recorded growth, since national quarterly data became available in 1946. This information is according to the quarterly demographic estimates released by Statistics Canada.

The slow growth comes mainly from negative net international migration. This means that more people left Canada than those who moved to Canada.

In the first quarter of 2020, Canadas population increased by about 70,000 from net international migration, and increased by around 10,000 naturally (the difference between births and deaths). This is because Canadas travel restrictions did not go into effect until March 2020. These travel restrictions played a massive role in slowing Canadas population growth. As such, in the second quarter, Canadas population increased by just under 10,000 from net international migration, and increased by around 15,000 naturally.

Canadas growth from international migration continued to slow, and in the third quarter of 2020, the net population increase from international migration was 27,143. This is the biggest hit to Canadas population growth since 1946, when such data became available.

Find out if youre eligible for Canadian immigration

Despite this, Canada welcomed a total of 40,069 new immigrants in the third quarter of 2020, more than in the second quarter when that number was 34,271. The largest impact on Canadas population growth, was the sharp drop in the net number of non-permanent resident migration. Every third quarter, a large number of non-permanent residents are expected, as this is when international students are expected to begin their academic year. However, due to border restrictions and many programs having moved online, many students were either unable or unwilling to travel to Canada.

This slow growth means that Canada will depend on immigration, now more than ever, for its post-pandemic economic recovery.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is continuing to process permanent residence applications. This highlights Canadas need for attracting and retaining eligible highly skilled candidates, as they will be crucial for Canadas economic recovery.

Prior to the pandemic, Canada still depended greatly on immigrants for economic growth, and the country aimed to welcome an increasing number of permanent residents and immigrants every year. This is because Canada has an aging population, which creates labour shortages across the country. The COVID-19 pandemic and slow population growth merely magnified the need for increased immigration.

The population of eight provinces and territories dropped: Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Ontario, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.

The population increased in five provinces and territories: Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Manitoba, Alberta and Yukon.

Find out if youre eligible for Canadian immigration

 CIC News All Rights Reserved. Visit CanadaVisa.com to discover your Canadian immigration options.
The Chattanooga Mocs got a career-high 29 points in an 84-79 loss at VMI in Cameron Hall Saturday afternoon. The 29 matched Malachi Smiths 29 at Tennessee State for the individual high by a Moc this season.VMI was paced by the trio of Jake Stephens, Greg Parham and Kamdyn Curfman who combined for 67 of their 84 tallied. Stephen and Parham had 25 each, while Curfman added 17. Stefan Kenic scored 19 for Chattanooga with Smith putting together another double-double performance with 15 points and a game-high 10 rebounds.The Keydets led for a majority of the contest.The Mocs made inroads and got close but every turn was thwarted by VMI on its offensive end of the floor.I was really disappointed in our inability to defend, Coach Lamont Paris summed up. I couldnt be any more disappointed to be honest with you. Even at halftime we challenged them. We gave up 37 points and were on track to give up 80, and we gave up 84. I was really disappointed in our defense in a general rule, the entire game really.VMI shot 50.9 percent for the game, 58.8 percent from 3pt range. The took their biggest lead of 13, 76-63, with 3:11 to play on two Sean Conway free throws. The Mocs have found a way through late deficits throughout the season, and today appeared to be no exception.A three-point play followed by a three-point jumper by Jean-Baptiste got the margin to just six, 76-70, with 1:45 to go. A defensive stop followed, and Jean-Baptiste had a good look for three in front of his bench. It came out and the battle for the rebound went out of bounds for the Keydets. They inbounded long to Myles Lewis over the press for the dunk and an eight-point lead with 1:01 to play. It got within four twice, but VMI held off the charge to claim the win.The Mocs return home Wednesday hosting Samford. The 7 p.m., tipoff features on ESPN+ and over the airwaves in Chattanooga via WFLI 97.7 FM and 1070 AM is you prefer the veteran vocal talent of Voice of the Mocs Jim Reynolds. Links for video, audio and live stats for each contest is located on the mens basketball schedule page.
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House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., made a fiery speech on Sunday night just as House speaker Nancy Pelosi was reelected to her fourth term as Speaker of the House.

McCarthy accused Pelosi and the Democratic party of being more concerned with a far-left agenda rather than focusing on the needs of the American people, however he did not mention the Democrats by name.

Before her ceremonially handed her the speaker's gavel - a normally genial moment - he provided a stark reminder of the partisan divide coloring Congress.

McCarthy accused Pelosi of over the past two years leading 'the least productive Congress in nearly 50 years' and said there was a clear message in last November's elections, when Republicans gained seats by defeating a dozen Democratic incumbents. 'It was a wake-up call,' he said. 'The question I ask of this majority: were you listening?'

Those are assertions that Democrats strongly dispute, saying it's Republicans, especially in the GOP-led Senate, who've blocked progress on pandemic aid and other issues.

U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi is handed the Speaker's gavel by House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) to lead the 117th House of Representatives after Pelosi was re-elected as Speaker in Washington, U.S.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was reelected to her speakership on Sunday as the first session of the 117th Congress gaveled in members sworn in

Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi (Democrat of California) walks to the House chamber in the US Capitol in Washington, DC

Both chambers held rare Sunday sessions to open the new Congress on January 3 as the Constitution requires. Swearing-in Ceremony for members of 117th Congress,

'When the need for more pandemic relief was obvious, did we deliver a timely lifeline America needed? Or did we say nothing was better than something until politics dictated our actions?' McCarthy asked.

'When unrest spilled into the cities and communities across the country, did we deliver safety that Americans wanted or did we let calls to defund the police, intimidate us from protecting life, liberty and property?'

McCarthy accused lawmakers in the House of neglecting their responsibilities 'during some of the most challenging times for our country.'

Those watching were divided with in their response with some members booing at McCarthy's remarks, while others cheered the House minority leader on.

But McCarthy wasn't finished and continued to contrast the Republicans' and Democrats' respective mantras claiming the GOP listened to the American people and have 'made a commitment to America to restore our way of life, rebuild the economy and renew the American dream.'

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy accused Democrats of being more focused on their 'far-left agenda' than with the needs of the American people

McCarthy accused lawmakers in the House of neglecting their responsibilities 'during some of the most challenging times for our country'

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was re-elected to her leadership position on Sunday despite concerns progressive members would object to her fourth term as speaker

United States Representative Brian Mast (Republican of Florida) walks with his sons Magnum and Maverick in the US Capitol

United States Representative Louie Gohmert (Representative of Texas) waits outside the House chamber in the US Capitol

Members and guests wait outside the House chamber in the US Capitol in Washington during the swearing-in ceremony for members of the 117th Congress

United States Representative Brian Mast (Republican of Florida) (L) walks with his sons Magnum and Maverick in the US Capitol in Washington

Members of the house depart after the first session of the 117th Congress in the House Chamber at the US Capitol

He stated as evidence the fact that no Republican incumbent was defeated in November's election.

'Voters have endorsed common sense, not conflict,' McCarthy proclaimed. 'It was a referendum against a radical agenda to defund the police and punish hard work. It was a wakeup call,' he continued.

McCarthy vowed to fight for the people he represents: 'farmers and oilfield workers who rise at the dawn to go to work, who pray to God and raise the next generation of good, decent citizens.'

'Can we keep that commitment to America? No more misplaced priorities. The American people deserve better. America is worth fighting for. American's rights are worth fighting for. Their dreams are worth fighting for. Their voices are worth fighting for. And most importantly, their voices are worth being heard on this floor,' McCarthy continued.

When McCarthy had said his piece, he finally congratulated Pelosi on her fourth term as House speaker.

"We accept a responsibility as daunting and demanding as any that previous generations of leadership have faced," Pelosi, a California Democrat told the chamber as she accepted a fresh two-year term in her post, perhaps her last.

Citing the 350,000 Americans who've died from COVID-19 and the millions who've lost jobs and livelihoods, she won a standing ovation when she said, "Our most urgent priority will continue to be defeating the coronavirus. And defeat it, we will."

United States Representative Matt Gaetz (Republican of Florida) and Ginger Luckey walk to the House Chamber

United States Representative Young Kim (Republican of California) (R) walks in the US Capitol in Washington

Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi (Democrat of California) walks back to her office after being in the house chamber

United States Representative-elect Blake Moore (Republican of Utah) speaks to his family in the US Capitol

Pelosi has led the Democrats in the House since 2003 and is the only woman to be speaker. She received 216 votes compared to 209 for McCarthy with just a handful of Democrats either voting 'present' or for another member.

Democrats gave Pelosi a standing ovation as the final tally was revealed. The Republican side of the chamber was virtually empty.

Among those voting to restore Pelosi to her position as Speaker was Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez who at first abstained.

'When you look at the razor-thin margins, and the fact that you have  we are just an extremely slim amount of votes away from risking the speakership to the Republican Party. And this is bigger than any one of us, and that is consequential,' Ocasio-Cortez explained to reporters on Capitol Hill.

On Sunday, 427 members announced themselves as present  220 Democrats and 207 Republicans. This means Pelosi could have only lost six votes or else be booted from her position and pave the way for McCarthy, to take the post despite Democrats holding a majority in the chamber.

In the weeks leading up to the vote, Ocasio-Cortez voiced the Democratic Party needs new, more progressive leadership. She also said she couldn't be the one to fill that role right now.

Democrats have the slimmest majority margin in the House in 20 years with just 11 more members than Republicans.

It was the first vote of the new Congress, which convened Sunday with COVID-19 guidelines requiring testing and face coverings for lawmakers. There was widespread mask-wearing and far fewer legislators and guests in the chamber than usual, an unimaginable tableau when the last Congress commenced two years ago, before the pandemic struck.

Pelosi's election came 17 days before Biden is inaugurated. Yet rather than a fresh start for him and Pelosi, there are issues and undercurrents that will carry over from President Donald Trumps tempestuous administration.

Though Congress enacted - and Trump finally signed - a $900 billion COVID-19 relief package late last month, Biden and many Democrats say they consider that measure a down payment. They say more aid is needed to bolster efforts to vaccinate the public, curb the virus and restore jobs and businesses lost to the pandemic.

Bidens priorities also include efforts on health care and the environment.

Guiding such legislation through the House will be a challenge for Pelosi because her partys narrow majority means just a handful of defectors could be fatal.

There were concerns of the Speaker gaining reelection as she could only afford to lose six Democratic votes, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez initially abstained from her vote before later switching in favor of Pelosi's reelection

Pelosi resumes her Speakership with Democrats having the slimmest majority margin in the House in 20 years with just 11 more members than Republicans

Ocasio-Cortez thinks Democrats need new leadership. Pictured is the newly expanded squad, pictured from L to R: Rashida Tlaib, Ilhan Omar, Jamaal Bowman, AOC, Cori Bush and Ayanna Pressley

Vice President Mike Pence arrived on Capitol Hill to swear in members of the 117th Congress  starting with the Senate before moving onto House members

Pence elbow bumps with Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon during the swearing-in reenactment where lawmakers receive a photo-op holding up their hand with the other placed on the bible and reciting their oath of office for the vice president

With coronavirus-era restrictions in place, Pence began by swearing in members of the Senate. Here Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell takes his oath of office with wife and Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao by his side holding a Bible

Unmasked: McConnell easily won reelection to his Kentucky Senate seat. He and his wife removed their masks for a portion of the swearing-in ceremony

At most points, Republicans removed their face masks during the swearing in. Here Maine Senator Susan Collins removed her masks as the oath of office was administered

Incoming Representatives Cori Bush and Jamaal Bowman, two new members of the 'squad,'  and the first male member  were noncommittal last week on if they would vote for Pelosi in her speakership reelection.

The 'squad' now sits at six members with AOC at the helm, freshman Reps. Bush and Bowman and original members Reps. Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib and Ayanna Pressley.

Vice President Mike Pence arrived at Capitol Hill Sunday afternoon to first participate in the swearing in of senators as House members continued calling roll  a process lengthened by coronavirus restrictions breaking up how many people can be in the chamber at once.

When Ocasio-Cortez's name was initially called to vote for House speaker, there was no response  indicating she was abstaining from voting. She later changed her vote for Pelosi.

The 117th U.S. Congress is beginning as the House and Senate gaveled into a rare Sunday afternoon session to swear in new members and open the new Congress on January 3, as the Constitution requires.

All members of the House and roughly one-third of the Senate are participating in the swearing in.

Freshman Representative Troy Nehls of Texas hugs his his daughter Tori in the Capitol Rotunda ahead of his swearing-in ceremony on Sunday

Freshman Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (left), known for being a follower of QAnon conspiracies, walks outside the House Chamber. She refused to wear a mask once inside the chamber

Control of the Senate is in question until Tuesday's runoff elections for two Senate seats in Georgia. The outcome will determine which party holds the chamber.

Georgia's incumbent Republican Senator Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue are facing off against Democratic challengers Reverend Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff.

If Republicans hold onto just one  or both seats  they will retain a slim majority in the upper chamber. If Democrats, however, are able to flip both seat blue, they will bring the count to 50-50, with Vice President-elect Kamala Harris holding the tie-breaking vote.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP)  An Omaha man who has served five stints in prison is now charged with attempted murder, child abuse and other counts after police say he repeatedly hanged and choked his girlfriend's 2-year-old daughter until the child lost consciousness.
As politics over Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine continue, BJP chief J P Nadda, on Sunday, said that the Congress was 'not proud of anything Indian'. Advising the Congress to 'introspect how their lies will be used by vested interest groups', Nadda said that Opposition leaders are trying to cause panic in the minds of the people. Congress leaders like - Shashi Tharoor and Jairam Ramesh have questioned why Bharat Biotech - ICMR's 'COVAXIN' vaccine has been approved while Phase-3 trials are underway, modifying 'internationally accepted protocols'. The DCGI has allowed AstraZeneca - SII's 'COVISHIELD' and Bharat Biotech - ICMR's 'COVAXIN' vaccines for restricted use in an emergency situation.

Coronavirus LIVE Updates: Covishield, Covaxin get DCGI nod; PM Modi hails decision

JP Nadda: 'Congress not proud of anything Indian'

Within a year of the COVID-19 pandemic coming to India, our scientists and innovators have worked hard for a vaccine to cure this pandemic. While the entire nation is happy about this, the Opposition led the Congress is filled with anger, ridicule and disdain.  Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda) January 3, 2021

Congress and the Opposition is not proud of anything Indian. They should introspect about how their lies on the COVID-19 vaccine will be used by vested interest groups for their own agendas.

People of India have been rejecting such politics and will keep doing so in the future.  Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda) January 3, 2021

Union Min Hardeep Singh Puri slams Congress cynics' doubts over DCGI nod to COVAXIN

To further their own failed politics and nefarious agendas, Congress and other Opposition leaders are trying to cause panic in the minds of the people. I urge them to do politics on other issues, they should avoid playing with peoples previous lives and hard earned livelihoods.  Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda) January 3, 2021

Time and again we have seen whenever India achieves something commendable - that will further public good - the Congress comes up with wild theories to oppose and ridicule the accomplishments. The more they oppose, the more they are exposed. Latest example is the Covid vaccines.  Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda) January 3, 2021

SHOCKER: Akhilesh Yadav says 'Won't take BJP's vaccine' as pan-India 'dry run' commences

Vaccine politics

After Subject Expert Committee (SEC)'s nod to both vaccines on Saturday, former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, said that 'I will not get vaccinated - that too on BJP's vaccine (COVID-19), as I don't trust it, at a press conference in Lucknow. He also added that his government comes to power, the vaccine will we be provided free - 'not BJP's vaccine'. His statement drew severe flak from BJP, which termed it an 'insult to scientists', while other parties reiterated their faith in the vaccines.

Similarly, after the DCGI's nod to COVAXIN and COVISHIELD, Ramesh said that Phase 3 trials protocol have been modified for the Bharat Biotech vaccine candidate, urging Health Minister Harshvardhan to clarify on the same. Meanwhile, Tharoor stated that the DCGI 'approval was premature and could be dangerous', opining that its use should be avoided till full trials are over. Their doubts over COVAXIN has been slammed by several politicians included ex-Congress member Sanjay Jha who said he will 'willing to publicly take Covaxin'.

India Approves SII's Covishield & Bharat Biotech's Covaxin COVID Vaccines: DCGI statement

DCGI gives nod to COVISHIELD & COVAXIN

On Sunday, Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) VG Somani announced that the vaccines of Serum Institue of India (Covishield) and Bharat Biotech (Covaxin) have been granted permission for restricted use in an emergency situation. Covishield - a Recombinant Chimpanzee Adenovirus vector vaccine - has an efficacy of 70.42%, with interim safety and immunogenicity data of Phase-II/III trials submitted to the SEC. Covaxin - a Whole Virion Inactivated Corona Virus Vaccine - 22,500 participants vaccinated in Phase-III trials and was found to be safe as per the data available till date. Meanwhile, Zydus-Cadilla's nCov-Vaccine using DNA platform technology has been allowed to conduct Phase-III clinical trial in 26000 Indian participants. The government has stated that the first phase of the vaccination drive will be free including 1 crore healthcare workers and two crore frontline workers, aiming to vaccinate 27 crore priority beneficiaries until July.
So far the county received 15,625 doses of vaccine including 6,825 from Pfizer and 8,800 from Moderna. Pfister said though both vaccines are 95% effective, they are not interchangeable. If the first shot was Pfizer, the second one must be Pfizer too. Those receiving the Pfizer vaccine wait 21 days between shots while those using Moderna have a 28-day interval.
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Former rugby league WAG Phoebe Burgess is now officially divorced from her ex-husband Sam after five years of marriage.

And on Sunday, the 31-year-old influencer subtly celebrated her single status by showing off her ring-free wedding finger on Instagram.

She shared a photo of her left hand, and was conspicuously not wearing her wedding or engagement rings.

It's over: Phoebe Burgess subtly celebrated her single status by showing off her ring-free wedding finger on Instagram. Pictured with her ex-husband Sam Burgess

The only ring she wore was a fashionable gold band on her little finger.

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The Sunday Telegraph reported over the weekend that a divorce order for the Burgesses had been issued 'just before Christmas' - 14 months after their separation.

Click here to resize this module

Phoebe and the South Sydney Rabbitohs star, 32, share custody of two children, Billy, two, and Poppy, three.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Phoebe and Sam Burgess for further comment.

Gone: She shared this photo of her left hand, and was conspicuously not wearing her wedding or engagement rings. The only ring she wore was a fashionable gold band on her little finger

Finalised: The Sunday Telegraph reported over the weekend that a divorce order for the Burgesses had been issued 'just before Christmas ' - 14 months after their separation

The former couple married in 2015 at Phoebe's parents' country estate near Bowral. They separated in September 2019.

Phoebe is said to have walked away with 70 per cent of the pair's marital wealth.

The Burgesses remain embroiled in an ugly legal dispute following their split.

Family: Phoebe, 31, and Sam, 32, share custody of their two children, Billy, two, (right) and Poppy, three (left)

Sam is accused of intimidating Phoebe's father, Mitchell Hooke, at his Southern Highlands home on October 19, 2019.

The Rabbitohs player is also charged with common assault in relation to the same alleged incident. Sam has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Police have also taken out an interim AVO to allegedly protect Mr Hooke from Burgess, who has had no contact with his former father-in-law for more than a year.

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The hearing will continue in Moss Vale Local Court on January 22.
Beshear's State of Commonwealth Address Wednesday

By West Kentucky Star Staff

FRANKFORT - Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear will deliver his combined State of the Commonwealth Address and Budget Address on Wednesday.The governor delivers his annual message to a joint session of the General Assembly, but this year it will be done virtually.The address will be presented at 6 pm on Wednesday. It will be streamed on Beshear's Facebook page and YouTube channel, and will be broadcast on Kentucky Educational Television.
Another protest over the shooting of George Nkencho is set to take place in west Dublin tomorrow morning.

The 27-year-old died in hospital after being shot by an armed garda on Wednesday in Hartstown, Co Dublin.

Gardai said he had threatened officers and members of the public with a knife and previous non-lethal attempts with two tasers and pepper spray had failed to subdue the man.

A video taken locally captured the incident and appeared to show the man, suspected of holding a knife, swinging and lunging at nearby gardai, even after shots were fired at him.

Protesters walk to Pearse Street Garda Station in Dublin after the fatal shooting of George Nkencho on Wednesday.

The Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission (Gsoc) immediately launched an investigation, as it is legally required to do in such situations, and attended the scene.

The man is described as having suffered from significant personal issues and is understood to have lived with his parents.

A Garda statement said: "During an incident at the EuroSpar business premises in Hartstown Shopping Centre a male staff member received facial injuries and is currently receiving medical attention in Connolly Memorial Hospital.

"Subsequently a second public order incident was reported at the Post Office in the Hartstown Shopping Centre.

"Uniform, unarmed Gardai responded to the scene and observed a male in possession of a knife.

"The male continued to threaten members of the public and unarmed Gardai with the knife."

Molly Dumbu, Navan, and Nereane Mbala, Blanchardstown, during a protest at Blanchardstown Garda Station, Dublin. Picture: Gareth Chaney/Collins

The statement said responding gardai followed the male on foot and by vehicles from the shopping centre towards Manorsfields Drive, Dublin 15. Gardai engaged with the man and encouraged him to drop the knife.

The statement said members of the Armed Support Unit then arrived at the scene at Manorfields Drive, a housing estate where the man lived with his family.

"The Armed Support Unit were also threatened with a knife and implemented a graduated response where the use of less-lethal force options (taser and OC spray) was initially administered in an effort to resolve the incident. The less-lethal use of force options were unsuccessful," it said.

"At approximately 12.35pm a member of the Armed Support Unit discharged a number of shots from his official firearm shooting the male."

It said the male was treated at the scene by Armed Support Unit paramedics and Dublin Fire Brigade paramedics, before being brought to hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Calls for calm

There have been calls for calm but also transparency about how long the Gsoc investigation will take.

Local pastor Dare Adetuberu said Blanchardstown now needs to start the healing process.

Protest has to be peaceful for us to concentrate and focus on the issues.

"I am quite involved with a lot of good work that I know the guards are doing, not only myself but a lot of people in the community.

"This is tragic, this is unfortunate, this is a setback for a lot of us, but we must rise above it and make sure that we ensure justice and continue the good work that is being done in the name of George who is now killed," Mr Adetuberu said.
Asaduddin-Owaisi

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Sunday said TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee, instead of pointing accusatory fingers at his outfit, should introspect and ascertain how the BJP managed to clinch 18 Lok Sabha seats in the state.

Owaisi, who was here to hold a meeting with Muslim cleric Abbasuddin Sidiqqui, rejected TMC's claims that his party was a "B-team of the BJP", and would eat into anti- saffron camp votes.

"We are a political party; we will establish our presence and fight the elections (in West Bengal).

"... Bharat ke siyasat ka mai Laila hu, aur mere Majnu bahut hai, usse koi faraq nehi parta (I am like Laila from the popular folklore who has many admirers, but that doesn't matter)," Owaisi told reporters, hinting that many parties wish to benefit from his political endeavours.

Later, while talking to a news channel, he said his party was yet to decide if it would contest the elections on its own or forge an alliance with another outfit.

The AIMIM chief, however, stressed that he has the support of 'peerzada' Siddiqui of Furfura Sharif -- a much- revered shrine in Bengal's Hooghly district.

Rubbishing the TMC's claim that the AIMIM helped the BJP-led NDA win the Bihar assembly elections, he said his party had contested 20 seats in the neighbouring state, of which it won five and the Mahagathbandhan nine, while the NDA managed to bag six constituencies.

"The TMC should introspect and find out what worked in BJP's favour during Lok Sabha elections. The party should analyse why its members were leaving..." Owaisi said.

Asked about the issues that he would highlight during his election campaigns in Bengal, he said "underdevelopment and political empowerment of weaker sections" would be his party's two major poll planks.

Earlier in the day, senior TMC leader and MP Sougata Roy said that the "AIMIM was nothing but a proxy of the BJP".

"Owaisi is well aware that Muslims here are mostly Bengali-speaking, and won't support him. He is trying to forge ties with Abbas Siddiqui, but that won't yield any result. Muslims in Bengal stand firmly by Mamata Banerjee," Roy said.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc chairs 37th ASEAN Summit (Source: VNA)

Hanoi - The ASEAN Chairmanship Year 2020 has contributed to effectively implementing the Partys foreign policy, raising Vietnams role and position and helping the country create a firm stance in ASEAN and the region.



The ASEAN Chairmanship Year also opened up opportunities to expand and deepen relations with other ASEAN countries and partners, build a peaceful and stable international environment, and attract more support and resources from outside in service of the cause of nation building and safeguarding.



Looking back on 2020, the stature, mettle and wisdom of Vietnam were demonstrated clearly and comprehensively. The country left its deep imprint on the bloc, from selecting the correct theme of Cohesive & Responsive ASEAN Community, the proposal of priorities and initiatives, preparations for and organisation of conferences, and the drafting of documents, to the holding of dissemination activities.



ASEAN Secretary-General Dato Lim Jock Hoi commended Vietnams exemplary role of the Chair of ASEAN in a year full of challenges.



Despite having to deal with the impact of COVID-19 and natural disasters, he said, Vietnam still provided strong leadership in keeping the region cohesive and responsive to the challenges, placing ASEAN centrality and the interests of the regions people at the forefront of efforts.



Lao Minister of Foreign Affairs Saleusay Kommasith also spoke highly of Vietnams leadership in its capacity as the Chair of ASEAN in 2020, as well as the countrys contributions to enhancing the blocs role in regional and international forums.



In the context of the coronavirus pandemic spreading so quickly across the globe, he said, ASEAN has done a great job in disease prevention and control thanks to Vietnams leadership. He also highlighted ASEAN initiatives such as the establishment of the ASEAN COVID-19 response fund, the ASEAN regional reserve of medical supplies, and the ASEAN Centre for Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc chairs plenary session of 37th ASEAN Summit via video conference (Source: VNA)

The central role of ASEAN was maintained throughout the year. The bloc also played a more active role in promoting peace and maintaining stability in the region. The joint statement from ASEAN countries Foreign Ministers issued on the blocs 55th anniversary reaffirmed its determination to keep Southeast Asia a peaceful, secure, stable, and neutral region.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh addresses opening ceremony of 53rd ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (Source: VNA)

Ambassador Noel Servigon, head of the Permanent Mission of the Philippines to ASEAN, asserted that despite the challenges, Vietnam not only successfully convened ASEAN meetings but also kept the momentum of cooperation going with all of ASEANs dialogue and external partners, as well as through ASEAN-led mechanisms such as the East Asia Summit (EAS).Across these many interactions, Vietnam consistently underscored the primacy of ASEAN centrality, making it clear that the bloc is in the drivers seat and decides the course of the regions future, he said.Vietnam flexibly mediated differences between ASEAN member states and at the same time handled any differences harmoniously and effectively. Its solid control of the COVID-19 pandemic and maintenance of socio-economic development make regional and international friends confident in the countrys leadership and support its initiatives and plans.In the context of other multilateral forums being affected by the pandemic, ASEAN-led mechanisms such as ASEAN Plus One, ASEAN Plus Three, EAS, the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), and the ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting Plus continued to promote their role as appropriate dialogue and cooperation mechanisms.The ASEAN Secretary-General noted that amid many geostrategic uncertainties, Vietnams chairmanship also strengthened the ties of friendship and deepened trust between ASEAN member nations and with external partners through intensified cooperation.

Vietnam also helped ASEAN maintain its relationship with major countries.

The Lao top diplomat also hailed Vietnams role as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), saying it proposed a wide range of issues relating to ASEAN at the UN and in UNSC discussions, which helped the international community gain a better understanding of the blocs role.Vietnam also held a meeting on cooperation between the UN and ASEAN - the first time the issue was tabled at the UNSC.In its 25 years as an ASEAN member, Vietnam has made important contributions to the bloc. With the success of its ASEAN Chairmanship Year, it has become a firm and reliable partner, especially at a time when ASEAN faced difficulties and challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
Making his first significant move to emerge as a threat to the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in the assembly polls due in West Bengal a few months, Asaduddin Owaisi, leader of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM) on Sunday met a popular young Muslim leader, who, in recent months, has emerged as the most vocal critic of the ruling party.

On a tour of the state for a day, Owaisi drove down to Hooghly district in the morning to meet Abbasuddin Siddiqui, the young scion of the Siddiqui family which is the custodian of the famous Furfura Sharif shrine, one of the most popular places of pilgrimage in Bengal.

After a two-hour meeting, Owaisi said Siddiqui will decide how the AIMIM will contest the polls while he will stay behind the young leader. Though Siddiqui kept his cards close to his chest, saying he will announce his next move later, the news of the meeting triggered reaction among Muslim leaders and TMC ministers. They alleged that Owaisis sole intention is to split Muslim votes and help the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) which has set the target of winning more than 200 of the states 294 assembly seats.

Also read: Wont go back till laws are repealed, say farmers before 7th round of talks

Abbas Siddiqui, in recent months, has accused the TMC of not doing enough for the minority community and using it as a vote bank instead.

Significantly, other members of the Siddiqui family, especially Toha Siddiqui, the most prominent among the elders and whose support helped the CPI(M) and TMC in the past, maintained silence on Owaisis visit. But Toha Siddiqui made it clear that he will not support any move that will help the BJP. Hindus comprise 70 per cent of the states population. If they wanted to, the BJP could have come to power long ago. We will not do anything to let our Hindu brothers down, he said.

Furfura Sharif is built around the mausoleum of Pir Abu Bakr Siddiqui. It also has a mosque built in 1375. Furfura Sharif draws millions from across the country during the Urs festival and the annual fair dedicated to the Pir.

The AIMIM will stand behind Abbas Siddiqui. We will work with him and strengthen his cause. I have decided to leave all decisions to Siddiqui. I am confident that our performance will be comparable to what we achieved in Bihar. Only the minority vote is not our target. We want to fight for tribal people and other backward classes as well. If anyone can stop the BJP, it is Siddiqui, Owaisi told the media after the meeting.

Bengals Muslim population stood at 27.01 per cent during the 2011 census and is projected to have increased to around 30 per cent now.

The Muslim population is concentrated mainly in Murshidabad (66.28 per cent), Malda (51.27 per cent), North Dinajpur (49.92 per cent), South 24 Parganas (35.57 per cent), and Birbhum (37.06 per cent) districts. In Darjeeling, Purulia, and Bankura, where the BJP won Lok Sabha seats last year, Muslims account for less than 10 per cent of the population.

Most of the new branches of the AIMIM are located in Murshidabad, Malda and North Dinajpur, while Siddiquis followers are spread across southern Bengal.

Swing in Muslim votes can influence poll results in more than 100 seats, according to surveys by the BJP and election strategist Prashant Kishors I-Pac. Chief minister Mamata Banerjee roped in Kishore for the 2021 poll preparations after the BJP won 18 out of the 42 Lok Sabha seats in 2019.

Also read: Tourist politician - Uttarakhand ministers dig at Manish Sisodia

Siddiqullah Chowdhury, a minister in the TMC government and leader of the Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, the most prominent Muslim organisation in Bengal, told HT that Owaisi has no place in the states politics.

AIMIM does not belong to Bengal. These are tactics to create divisions among Muslims but it will not work. Moreover, where was Abbas Siddiqui when thousands of Muslims were killed in political skirmishes during the Left rule? I am sure the other members of the Siddiqui family will not support Abbas, said Chowdhury.

Urban development minister Firhad Hakim said, Neither Siddiqui nor AIMIM can rule Bengal. They can only help the BJP. We saw it happen in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

Talking to reporters on the sidelines of a rally, BJP state president Dilip Ghosh said, Owaisi can go to any party or contest polls anywhere. The BJP is not concerned. The TMC is worried because it treats the Muslim vote bank as its property. If the TMC really worked for the welfare of Muslims why should it be worried?

Owaisi reiterated that he or his party have nothing to do with the BJP.

AIMIM did not contest the Lok Sabha polls and yet the BJP won 18 seats. How did that happen? Mamata Banerjee cannot even manage her own party. Her MLAs and MPs are joining the BJP every day. Our aim is to stop the BJP, said Owaisi.

In the Muslim-dominated Murshidabad district, Manoj Chakraborty, the three-time Congress legislator from Berhampore said, Owaisi is an agent of the BJP. His only job is to split Muslim votes.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-02 23:03:21|Editor: huaxia

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A Palestinian policeman stands guard at a checkpoint during the lockdown to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Gaza City, on Jan. 2, 2021. A Palestinian health official said on Saturday that the first shipment of the vaccine to combat coronavirus is expected to arrive in the Gaza Strip by March. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

GAZA, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- A Palestinian health official said on Saturday that the first shipment of the vaccine to combat coronavirus is expected to arrive in the Gaza Strip by March.

Director of the European Gaza Hospital, Yousef al-Akkad, said in a press statement sent to Xinhua that "according to what the World Health Organization (WHO) informed us, the vaccine is expected to arrive in the besieged Gaza Strip maximum by March."

Regarding the measures that were taken to limit the spread of coronavirus in the coastal enclave, he said that the situation is stable after the governmental follow-up committee's measures were fully implemented.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Health Mai al-Kaila said that 25 more deaths from COVID-19 have been recorded in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, adding that 1,064 new COVID-19 cases and 1,477 recoveries were recorded.

"The recovery rate is currently 86.4 percent of the total cases recorded since the outbreak of the coronavirus in Palestine in March, 12.6 percent remain active, and 1 percent have died," al-Kaila said in a press statement.
KY GOP Set to Flex Muscles in New Session

By The Associated Press

FRANKFORT - After months of watching from the sidelines as Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear doled out pandemic relief and issued orders to combat the spread of the coronavirus, Republican lawmakers are ready to put their own imprint on policymaking in Kentucky.Republicans begin this years legislative session in an increasingly dominant position after expanding their House and Senate supermajorities in the 2020 election. Wielding the power to override any Beshear veto, Republicans will be able shape legislation to their liking, including bills dealing with COVID-19 or policies for the post-pandemic world as vaccines roll out to more people. Theyve signaled their intent to rein in some of the governors emergency powers.Rep. Jason Nemes said he and other Republicans are ready to extend a hand of friendship to work with Beshear, but added bluntly: Were going to have the power once the session begins.The General Assembly convenes its 30-day session Tuesday. Passing another state budget tops the agenda  a heavy lift after lawmakers opted to pass a one-year budget, rather than the traditional two-year spending plan, in 2020 because of uncertainties caused by the pandemic. Other virus-related issues are also expected to receive considerable attention.Those include efforts to provide protections from lawsuits for businesses that followed virus protocols. And some lawmakers intend to push to limit a governors executive powers in times of emergency, a reflection of growing GOP frustration with some of Beshears orders that restricted economic activity to try to contain the viruss spread.Another pending issue stemming from a turbulent 2020 is legislation that would ban most no-knock search warrants in the state. It stems from the death of Breonna Taylor, a Black woman killed during a police raid in March at her apartment in Louisville, which has since banned no-knock warrants locally.The looming struggle over executive branch authority garnered much of the pre-session attention. Senate Majority Floor Leader Damon Thayer recently pointed to the GOPs dominance in the election as a mandate from voters to rein in a governors emergency powers.I think Kentuckians sent a message on Election Day that they want Republicans to lead and lead with authority and to lead quickly to limit executive branch powers in the time that were in, he said.Pushing back, Beshear has credited his actions with saving lives, noting that some GOP-led states with more lax responses have been hit much harder by virus cases, hospitalizations and deaths. Neighboring Tennessee, for example, has one of the highest per-capita case rates in the nation.
An event planned against the Uttar Pradesh love jihad' law, at Jantar Mantar in Delhi on Sunday, was postponed after the organisers were denied permission by Delhi Police. The event, titled India Against Love Jihad Law', was scheduled at 12 noon wherein interfaith couples were expected to tell their stories.

Love jihad is a term coined by Hindutva groups for Hindu girls being allegedly forced to convert to Islam in the guise of marriage. Political analyst Tehseen Poonawalla, who is leading the 'India Against Love Jihad Law' initiative along with social scientist Akriti Bhatia and lawyer Mani Chander, said they will hold the event next Sunday, that is, January 10.

"A police officer told us they had 'orders from above' to not allow 'such couples' to hold an event. I want to ask what do they mean by 'such couples', all we wanted to do was celebrate love and togetherness with some music. But Delhi Police is not working as per the Constitution," Poonawalla told reporters. In a letter to Poonawalla, the city police denied the permission to hold the event citing the Delhi Disaster Management Authority's (DDMA) guidelines to control the spread of COVID-19.

A senior police officer said permission was denied for the event in view of the guidelines issued by DDMA, according to which, all social, academic, sports, cultural and other gatherings are prohibited to prevent and control the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic. Poonawalla said if the event won't be allowed next Sunday, his team would protest in front of the house of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"If they will not allow it again, we will go sit in front of the PM's house then the parliament and the Supreme Court. How long will they stop us?" he asked. The Uttar Pradesh government passed the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Ordinance, 2020 on November 28 which aims at curbing forcible or fraudulent religious conversions, including those for the sake of marriage.

Subsequently, the Madhya Pradesh government passed the Religious Freedom Bill, 2020 which provides for prison term of up to 10 years and fine of Rs 1 lakh for conversion through marriage or by any other fraudulent means.

And now, Words and Their Stories, from VOA Learning English.

To say 2020 was difficult, is probably the understatement of the year.

The coronavirus pandemic turned 2020 into a really tough year. It affected our lives in many ways and made other serious issues even more difficult to address. There was also social and political unrest in the United States and other places around the world.

All of this added up to one big, stressful year called 2020. In fact, if 2020 were a song, it probably would be filled with low, depressing notes.

In English, low notes are unpleasant things that happen during an event, any event. So, if something ends on a low note, it ends in an unpleasant way.

For example, once I took a fun vacation. But it ended on a low note. On the last day, all my money was stolen. Then my flight home was delayed. So, I had to sleep in an airport for two days!

Here is another example. A friend of mine used to be a good student. But then something changed. His high school years ended on a low note. He barely passed his classes and got into a fight with his teacher.

Thankfully, life, music, and English also have high notes!

In English, a high note is something pleasant or enjoyable.

So, to end something on a high note is to end it with something pleasant. It can also mean to end something at the best possible point -- for example, at the point when something is most successful.

Anything can be a high note, if you choose it to be.

For example, 2020 was a disaster. But for me it ended on a high note. One cold night in late December, I saw an owl in a tree near my house. I love owls but had never seen one so close before! That was a high note for me.

Here is another example. Once I attended a wedding in Siena, Italy. The event was beautiful, the food delicious. After the wedding, I traveled to Rome to visit a friends mother. She was an older woman with many great stories, and she was a great cook! That trip definitely had many high notes, but it ended on the highest note!

Hopefully, all of us were able to end 2020 on a high note.

How do we use high and low note? Well, we can end something on a high note. We can also finish something on a high note. And you can go out on high note or leave on a high note.

Keep in mind, all these examples also work for low note. But lets keep our attention on the positive!

Practice using these expressions. What was a high note from your 2020?

And thats the end of this Words and Their Stories.

For this program, lets go out on a high note.

Until next timeIm Anna Matteo.

Anna Matteo wrote this story for VOA Learning English. Bryan Lynn was the editor. The first song is the production music Blurred Horizon. The other is an aria sung by the Queen of the Night in the second act of Mozart's opera The Magic Flute.

__________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

understatement  n. a statement that makes something seem smaller, less important, etc., than it really is

stressful  adj. full of or causing stress : making you feel worried or anxious

depressing  adj. causing someone to feel sad or without hope : causing depression

barely  adv. almost not

delicious  adj. appealing to one of the bodily senses especially of taste or smell
Classes at Most Schools Resume Today

By West Kentucky Star Staff

WESTERN KENTUCKY - Here are back-to-school schedules for the new semester at western Kentucky schools:Ballard County - In person classes will be available Monday-Thursday starting January 4, with all students using virtual instruction on Fridays.Carlisle County - Classes resume January 4 with in-person instruction offered.Fulton County - Classes resume on January 4, with in-person instruction offered Monday-Thursday and all students virtual on Fridays.Fulton Independent - Classes resume January 4 with all students using NTI. Beginning January 11, schools will use an A/B hybrid rotation through January 14, and January 15 will be NTI for everyone. After a holiday on January 18, the A/B hybrid plan will be used January 19-21, and January 22 will use NTI. The week of January 25-28 will offer in-person instruction for all students with an NTI day on January 29. Future instruction will be similar to the last week of January.Graves County - Classes resume January 4 with in-person and virtual instruction offered.Hickman County - Classes resume January 4 with in-person instruction offered.Livingston County - Classes resume January 4, with in-person classes be offered beginning January 5 using an alternating A/B schedule. One group will attend in-person classes on Tuesday/Thursday, while the other group will attend on Wednesday/Friday. Monday will be virtual for everyone.Marshall County - Classes resume January 11, with instruction for elementary and middle school students available each day. High school students will offer a hybrid plan with all students virtual on Mondays. Orange group will attend Tuesday/Wednesday, and Blue group will attend on Thursday/Friday.Mayfield Independent - NTI classes for all students January 4-8. In-person classes available starting January 11.McCracken County - Virtual classes for all students January 4-8, then a hybrid model available starting January 11. All students will be virtual on Mondays, "A" group will attend on Tuesday/Thursday, and "B" group will attend on Wednesday/Friday.Murray Independent - Classes resume January 11 with in-person instruction offered.Paducah Public Schools - Virtual classes for all students January 4-8, then a hybrid model offered starting January 11. Blue group will attend on Monday/Tuesday, all virtual classes on Wednesday, and Tornado group will attend on Thursday/Friday.St. Mary - In person classes offered, classes start Monday, January 4.For additional information, see websites or social media pages for your district.
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On Sunday, Iran will mark the first anniversary of the death of General Qassem Soleimani, who was assassinated in a US drone strike

Intelligence officials have reportedly been alarmed at growing indications that Iranian forces are preparing a possible attack on American forces

Earlier this week, the head of Iran's judiciary warned US President Trump that he is 'not safe on this Earth'

On Saturday, US Foreign Minister Javad Zarif posted a warning to Trump on Twitter telling him not to provoke Tehran

The US has removed its only aircraft carrier from the Middle East region to 'de-escalate' tensions with Iran

Iran's Foreign Minister has sent out a menacing message to US President Donald Trump warning him not to take military action against Tehran amid increasing tension between the two nations.

Javad Zarif posted the warning to Twitter on Saturday, one day before Iran prepares to mark the first anniversary of the death of General Qassem Soleimani, who was assassinated in a US drone strike.

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Zarif posited that Israel - Iran's arch-enemy and the United State's closest Middle Eastern ally - may try to kill US soldiers and make it look like an Iranian attack in order to provoke Trump to take on Tehran.

'New intelligence from Iraq indicate that Israeli agent-provocateurs are plotting attacks against Americansputting an outgoing Trump in a bind with a fake casus belli. Be careful of a trap, @realDonaldTrump,' Zarif wrote.

'Any fireworks will backfire badly, particularly against your same BFFs [Israel]'.

Iran's Foreign Minister Javad Zarif (pictured) has sent out a menacing message to US President Donald Trump warning him not to take military action against Tehran amid increasing tension between the two nations

Trump is pictured

Zarif posited that Israel - Iran's arch-enemy and the United State's closest Middle Eastern ally - may try to kill US soldiers and make it look like an Iranian attack in order to provoke Trump to take on Tehran

On Sunday, Iran will mark the first anniversary of the death of General Qassem Soleimani, who was assassinated in a US drone strike

It comes as US intelligence officials have reportedly been alarmed at growing indications that Iranian forces are on high alert and a possible attack on American forces is 'imminent' to the Soleimani anniversary.

The head of Iran's judiciary, Ebrahim Raisi, appeared to threaten Trump himself, saying all those who had a role in the killing of Soleimani last year will not be able to 'escape law and justice,' even if they were an American president.

'They will witness severe revenge,' Raisi told the gathering at Tehran University, referring to Trump and US military leaders.

'What has come so far has only been glimpses.'

'Do not presume that someone, as the president of America, who appeared as a murderer or ordered a murder, may be immune from justice being carried out. Never,' Raisi said.

'Those who had a role in this assassination and crime will not be safe on Earth.'

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On Thursday, the United States reportedly removed its only aircraft carrier from the Middle East region to 'de-escalate' tensions with Iran.

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Acting defense secretary, Christopher C. Miller, ordered the redeployment of USS Nimitz away from the region in a 'de-escalatory' signal to Tehran, US officials told the New York Times.

Officials are keen to avoid sparking a crisis in the region less than three weeks before the end of Trump's presidency.

The Nimitz was operating just off the coast of Somalia and was in the midst of a 10-month deployment when the Defense Department announced that it would be returning to homeport.

The move comes just two days after the US flew strategic bombers over Iran as a show of force and a week after Trump warned its government that it would be held responsible for attacks targeting Americans in Iraq.

The head of Irans judiciary, Ebrahim Raisi, appeared to threaten Trump over the death of Soleimani

The Pentagon earlier this week decided to return home the USS Nimitz, the Naval aircraft carrier that has been operating just off the coast of Somalia during a 10-month deployment. The Nimitz is seen above in the Strait of Hormuz on September 18, 2020

'Our embassy in Baghdad got hit Sunday by several rockets. Three rockets failed to launch' Trump tweeted from aboard Air Force One on December 23.

'Guess where they were from: IRAN. Now we hear chatter of additional attacks against Americans in Iraq... Some friendly health advice to Iran: If one American is killed, I will hold Iran responsible. Think it over,' he wrote.

The decision to send the Nimitz home, announced Thursday by acting secretary of defense Miller, came one day after Air Force B-52 bombers flew nonstop from the United States to the Persian Gulf in a show of force that military officials said was intended to caution Iran against carrying out attacks against US forces or interests.

Sending the Nimitz home to the US West Coast would seem at odds with the idea that a show of force is needed to deter Iran.

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This might reflect a split within the defense establishment on whether Iran poses a heightened threat to strike in the waning days of the Trump administration.

In announcing the decision to send the Nimitz home, Miller made no mention of Iran.

Miller, who was installed as acting Pentagon chief after Trump fired Mark Esper just days after the November 3 election, reportedly overruled his top military commander in the Middle East, General Kenneth F. McKenzie, Jr.

The general wanted to extend the deployment of the Nimitz and keep it in the region as a deterrent, according to The New York Times.

But Miller and his top aides, including Ezra Cohen-Watnick, who was recently given a senior intelligence policy position within the Pentagon after Trump's post-election purge of the agency, believed that the deterrence value of keeping the Nimitz deployed in the region was limited.

American military analysts in recent days are said to have noticed that Iranian air defenses, maritime forces, and other security units were on higher alert, though it is uncertain if they were readying to strike US troops or were preparing against a possible pre-emptive American attack against them.

The decision to send the Nimitz home was made just days after the American military flew B-52 nuclear-capable bombers over the Persian Gulf region in a show of force. The image above shows a US Air Force B-52H 'Stratofortress' from Minot Air Force Base, ND, being refueled by a KC-135 'Stratotanker' on Wednesday near the Persian Gulf. The show of force was meant to deter Iran from attacking American or allied targets in the Middle East

US Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon escort is aerial refueled during Wednesday's mission. The United States flew strategic bombers over the Persian Gulf for the second time this month

An Iranian woman holds a picture depicting General Qassem Soleimani during a ceremony marking the first anniversary of his assassination by the United States last year in Iraq. US military planners are on alert for possible Iranian retaliation as the anniversary approaches

The Pentagon is reportedly divided as to whether there are credible reports that Iran or pro-Iranian militias in Iraq are intending to launch an attack on American interests in the region this weekend.

One defense official told CNN that the 'current threat level from Iran is the most concerning they have seen since Soleimani's death.'

The official cited intelligence that Iran and its allied militias in Iraq could be plotting attacks against US forces in the Middle East.

Iran is said to be moving short range ballistic missiles into Iraq, according to CNN.

But others in the Pentagon disagree, saying that the threat is being exaggerated and that there is 'not a single piece of corroborating intel' that would suggest an attack is imminent.

When asked about the view that the threats are being exaggerated, a senior military official is quoted by CNN as saying: 'The intelligence isn't perfect as you know, it never is, but we do see several planning efforts underway and if even some of them are true and they execute they could kill several Americans.'

While American defense officials remained divided, there was more saber-rattling coming out of Tehran on Friday.

General Hossein Salami, the top commander of Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, said on Friday that his country was fully prepared to respond to any US military pressure.

The move to bring home the USS Nimitz comes just two days after the US flew strategic bombers over Iran as a show of force and a week after President Trump warned its government that it would be held responsible for attacks targeting Americans in Iraq

Some friendly health advice to Iran: If one American is killed, I will hold Iran responsible. Think it over,' he wrote

Salami spoke at a ceremony at Tehran University commemorating the upcoming one-year anniversary of Soleimani's assassination.

At the time, Iran retaliated by launching a ballistic missile strike on a military base in Iraq that caused brain concussion injuries to about 100 U.S. troops. Washington and Tehran came dangerously close to war as the crisis escalated.

'Today, we have no problem, concern or apprehension toward encountering any powers. We will give our final words to our enemies on the battlefield,' Salami said, without mentioning the U.S. directly. Several top Iranian officials, along with Syrian, Palestinian and Lebanese allies and members of Soleimanis family were in attendance.

Soleimani's replacement, Brigadier General Esmail Ghaani, said at the ceremony that Iran was not afraid of confronting 'powers,' again without naming the US.

He also warned that 'freedom seekers' within the US could retaliate for the attack that killed Soleimani, telling America that 'inside your own home, there might be those who want to respond to the crime that you committed.'

In a sign of just how tense the situation in the Gulf is, Iraqi explosives experts were working to defuse a large mine discovered on an oil tanker in the Persian Gulf and evacuate its crew, authorities said Friday.

The statement came a day after two private security firms said sailors feared they had found a limpet mine on the MT Pola, a Liberian-flagged tanker in the waters off the Iraqi port of Basra.

A limpet mine is a type of naval mine that attaches to the side of a ship, usually by a diver-member of special forces. It later explodes, and can significantly damage a vessel.

Iran has denied that it intends to attack American troops. On Saturday, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif accused arch-enemy Israel of planning to using 'agent-provacateurs' to kill US service members in order to provoke Trump into responding against Tehran

The Iraqi statement said the mine had been attached to a tanker rented from Iraqs Oil Marketing Company SOMO that was refueling another vessel.

Iraq's naval forces were making 'a great effort to accomplish the mission' safely, said Iraq's Security Media Cell, which is affiliated with the countrys security forces.

It was the first official Iraqi confirmation that a mine was discovered on an Iraqi tanker transferring fuel in the Persian Gulf to another vessel.

It did not identify either vessels or provide more details.

Meanwhile, Iran has told the United Nations nuclear watchdog it plans to enrich uranium to up to 20 per cent purity, a level it achieved before its 2015 accord, at its Fordow site buried inside a mountain, the agency said on Friday.

The move is the latest of several recent announcements by Iran to the International Atomic Energy Agency that it plans to further breach the deal, which it started violating in 2019 in retaliation for Washington's withdrawal from the agreement and the reimposition of U.S. sanctions against Tehran.

This step was one of many mentioned in a law passed by Iran's parliament last month in response to the killing of the country's top nuclear scientist, which Tehran has blamed on Israel.

Such moves by Iran could complicate efforts by President-elect Joe Biden to rejoin the deal.

General Esmail Ghaani, Soleimani's successor as the new head of Quds Force, speaks during a ceremony on the occasion of first anniversary of death of the force's previous head General Qassem Soleimani in Tehran on Friday

'Iran has informed the Agency that in order to comply with a legal act recently passed by the country's parliament, the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran intends to produce low-enriched uranium (LEU) up to 20 percent at the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant,' the IAEA said in a statement.

An IAEA report to member states earlier on Friday obtained by Reuters used similar wording in describing a letter by Iran to the IAEA dated December 31.

'Iran's letter to the Agency ... did not say when this enrichment activity would take place,' the IAEA statement said.

Fordow was built inside a mountain, apparently to protect it from aerial bombardment, and the 2015 deal does not allow enrichment there.

Iran is already enriching at Fordow with first-generation IR-1 centrifuges.

Iran has breached the deal's 3.67 per cent limit on the purity to which it can enrich uranium, but it has only gone up to 4.5 per cent so far, well short of the 20 per cent it achieved before the deal and the 90 per cent that is weapons-grade.

The deal's main aim was to extend the time Iran would need to produce enough fissile material for a nuclear bomb, if it chose to, to at least a year from roughly two to three months.

It also lifted international sanctions against Tehran.

US intelligence agencies and the IAEA believe Iran had a secret, coordinated nuclear weapons program that it halted in 2003.

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Iran denies ever having had one.
I graduated from The College of Saint Rose in 2009 with a bachelor of science degree in Music Education K-12. I was privileged to be part of an exciting period of growth and expansion in the music department as The Massry Center for the Arts opened my senior year.

I was one of many student volunteers who participated in fundraising events around the Capital Region for the opening of the Massry Center. As such, I know that there is a strong foundation of community support behind the music education program. It is astonishing that the interim administration at Saint Rose is attempting to eliminate every program which meets in the beautiful Massry Center barely a decade after its grand opening.

Currently, I am the orchestra director at Patriot High School in Prince William County, Virginia. I have had great success in my decade of teaching. My students consistently receive top ratings. Administrators frequently praise my rapport with students as well as my creativity in addressing the diverse learning styles and needs of my students. My success is due in large part to the excellent preparation I received from the music education program at Saint Rose. My professors and mentors continually sought to bring out the potential in students and in turn taught us to do the same. The music department is a family, a community.

Saint Rose is unique in that it offers opportunity to students who simply need to be given a chance. New York is blessed with several nationally and internationally renowned music schools, but the opportunities are few for students who decide they want to pursue a music degree well into their high school experience, or whose families could not afford to pay for private lessons. The music education faculty at Saint Rose possess an uncanny and compassionate ability to identify and embrace those diamonds in the rough. They then spend four years shaping, revealing, and polishing their greatest potential. There is no comparable program in our region. If the proposed cuts become reality, generations of students will be robbed of the opportunity to pursue their calling and Saint Rose will be the poorer for it.

Charged with making $6 million dollars in budget cuts, the interim administration has decided to destroy the heart and soul of the college. This puts the entire institutions reputation at stake. Many current students and alumni are outraged. If these proposed cuts come to fruition, alumni contributions will undoubtedly suffer. And since ma ny of them are teachers who work with high school students, its likely they wont recommend Saint Rose to potential applicants, further damaging the schools reputation and financial stability.

Where is the transparency in this proposal? What is the detailed basis for the cuts, rather than broad statements from Interim President Marcia White about historically low or declining enrollment, or how program costs were higher than the revenue they generated? Alumni like myself have many questions. Was the music education program losing money? How much did it cost to operate and how much revenue stands to be lost if it ends? What are its yearly enrollment numbers for the past three decades? What is the plan for the Massry Center for the Arts if all the music and art programs currently housed in the building vanish?

And more: What cuts have been made to administrative staff operations and positions  including the office of the president? What plans are there to encourage stable leadership at Saint Rose, which since 2012 has seen five presidents including co-presidents and interim presidents, nine provosts and interim provosts, three of whom resigned or were relieved in the middle of the week, and five deans or interim deans of arts and humanities?

The manner in which these cuts were enacted suggests that the decision to gut the music programs is not due to low enrollment, but rather to new priorities of the administration which are contrary to the mission and values of the college. Not only do these actions appear to be disguised with misleading and inaccurate information, they are also diametrically opposed to the very essence of The College of Saint Rose.

It is urgent that White, the administration and the board of trustees reverse this decision immediately to prevent irreparable damage to the arts and humanities at The College of Saint Rose.

Katie VanDenBerghe is a 2009 graduate of The College of Saint Rose. She lives in Virginia.
GARDA David Higgins gave excellent advice to parents of children receiving smartphones, tablets and games consoles for Christmas in last weeks Leader.

He spoke of the danger of handing over a device with access to pornography, violent and gruesome video content and unlimited capabilities to communicate with other strangers.

This week the garda with almost 18 years experience expands on this area and the rise in online bullying and sexploitation.

Garda Higgins, who is based in Bruff, said sexploitation is the practice of a user posing as a friend or befriending a person and inducing them to send sexually explicit pictures of themselves with the promise of the same in return.

What happens then is the victim, trusting the other person, does this and is immediately compromised. When this takes place among a local environment it can be used as an extreme form of bullying, where the pictures are used to torment and exert pressure on the individual and in some cases can absolutely lead to suicide by the person being targeted.

However, it is also being used as a financial enterprise by an extremely technically capable network of criminals. In these cases, the same occurs but then the victim receives a message back that if they dont pay a ransom, the sexually explicit pictures of them will be shared to all of their friends and family. By this stage the person who has gained trust under false pretences will have noted friends lists from the victims social accounts and are willing and able to make good on their threats.

Anyone, including young teens, can fall victim to these crimes and often the perpetrators are outside the country, operating remotely and covering their tracks as they go. Sexploitation is just one of the horrible dangers faced by young people nowadays as our online presence grows and grows, said Garda Higgins.

Earlier this month, Minister for Justice Helen McEntee welcomed both Houses of the Oireachtas passing new legislation criminalising the distribution of intimate images without consent.

In November, thousands of images of Irish women were shared online without consent. It is understood some of the content relates to minors, and was shared by users in a number of online forums. One of the forums where the images were shared was messaging platform Discord.

Discord said it has a zero-tolerance approach to non-consensual pornography and child sexual abuse material, and we work aggressively and proactively to keep it off of our service."

Though Discord has been in the news, Garda Higgins said it is no different to any file sharing platform in that at a fundamental level they are designed for users to communicate with each other and its up to individual users to exercise responsibility with who they talk to and how.

Any messaging app where your child posts videos of themselves has the potential to do and spread as much harm as any other app with the same functions. Parents need to know that while most apps have online forums that are monitored for safe and mannered discourse, they also have the capability for users to set up their own groups within the apps and these private groups are usually not monitored, with the responsibility being held by a person or persons within the group designated as a group admin, said Garda Higgins.

Anecdotally there is more and more pressure being placed on young people to send sexually explicit images and videos.

Garda Higgins said he cant speak to what pressures are being placed on teenagers to send sexually explicit content, but he does believe a huge issue that needs to be tackled in our society is the discussion around consent.

Because of the way communication has shifted over the last few years, particularly for younger generations, a persons online persona is playing an increasing role in how they socialise and form relationships. Due to this, it is becoming more and more common for teens to begin exchanging sexual content with each other, including pictures and videos.

Until a person reaches the age of 17 years old in this country they cannot consent to a sexual act. Its that simple. Therefore sharing or distributing images of teenage girls or boys, of a sexually explicit nature, or even possession of that material, is viewed as child pornography. If you possess or share sexual images of someone and you know they are under the age of 17, then you are committing a very serious offence.

It doesnt matter that sure loads of the lads did it too or they were OK with sending the pics to me. I cannot stress this enough, if you share these types of images or videos of someone under 17 then they have not consented. They cant. And this discussion needs to happen in our homes and in our schools so kids can be educated about this. Its a life lesson that will serve them well going into adulthood, to be respectful of future partners and to make sure there is consent and respect and trust when conducting yourself both online and off, said Garda Higgins.

In relation to cyber bullying it isnt too long ago that at least when school was over you were free from the bullies but now it can be 24/7.

Instead of verbal abuse and name calling, Garda Higgins said it through apps where users can post horrific, abusive comments, usually anonymously, and without ever having to face their victim.

Some apps allow users to post anonymous comments about someone which then tend to get shared by other users. Because pretty much every teenager now has a smartphone, the bullying experience is magnified; hurtful and harmful comments directed at someone are now frequently seen by hundreds of people, instead of just the victim and a few close friends. This can take the form of messages, photoshopped pictures of the person or trolling, whereby everything a person does in an online capacity receives hateful, negative feedback on their social platforms. This is happening right now and being perpetuated by children younger than 10 years of age who are not being monitored and have free access to the full capabilities of smartphones and social apps, said Garda Higgins.

As a father of young children what age would he give them smartphones, tablets, games consoles?

I personally would prefer that pre-teen kids didnt have their own devices but Im also conscious that school work is now starting to be integrated with online platforms, where teachers can upload homework or tasks and the child uploads the solutions. Dont get me wrong, theyre a great tool and with the uncertainty of school closures over Covid I think well only see their use grow. I think for most parents its a choice of how comfortable you are with the devices yourself and how much monitoring you intend to do.

I believe its wrong and negligent to hand over a device with access to pornography, violent and gruesome video content, unlimited capabilities to communicate with other strangers and with valuable personal information such as home location and bank information to a child without being accountable for how you restrict and regulate the use of that device.

As well as the dangers Ive already spoken about, there are criminals out there waiting to exploit children whether it be through blackmail or fraud and these things are happening on a regular basis in Ireland, a lot of the time because the parents dont know who their child is in contact with.

Wise words from a garda who is at the coalface of modern technology being used as a tool for evil instead of good.
Agriculture, manufacturers and other exporters could suffer if the Australian dollar continues to push through two-year highs against the US dollar off the back of soaring commodity prices.

The Aussie rose 10 per cent against the greenback during 2020 to hit a two year-high of US77 on December 31 amid a broad weakening of the US dollar, while marking smaller gains against the pound (up 4.8 per cent), the Japanese yen (3.1 per cent), the NZ dollar (2.7 per cent) and Chinese yuan (up 1.3 per cent).

Agriculture and other export sectors could suffer if the Australian dollar continues to rise. Credit:Bloomberg

The rise against the US is expected to continue, with Westpac forecasting the Aussie to hit 83 by the end of 2021, ANZ predicting 80 and Commonwealth Bank 78.

Sarah Hunter, chief Australian economist for BIS Oxford Economics, said manufacturing, agriculture  already reeling from Chinese tariffs  and other exporters would be most exposed by the stronger dollar if overseas buyers shifted to cheaper competitors or had to accept lower sale prices.
A male is due to appear before Kilkenny District Court following a heroin seizure in Callan.

Kilkenny Drugs Unit assisted by local gardai searched a house in Callan in recent days and approximately 1,000 worth of heroin was seized.

One person was arrested and questioned and later charged to appear before Kilkenny District Court.

Gardai are appealing to the public to report any suspicions about drug dealing to them on their dedicated number (087) 7904885.
ALBANY  A city councilman is proposing Albany look at changing its flag because the Dutch flag it is based on was later used by Dutch Nazis.

Councilman Owusu Anane said the city needs to have a discussion about what the citys flag represents and if it represents Albany correctly.

Many residents have noted the inherent hypocrisy of a city that talks about equity and diversity and promoting our diversity when our flag resembles white supremacy. This is not new, he said during a Common Council caucus meeting Wednesday.

Anane wrote a resolution that would authorize Mayor Kathy Sheehan to form a commission to study the issue.

Much of the resolutions language appears to be based on an online petition to change the citys flag started by Adam Aleksic, a Harvard University student from Albany. In addition to pointing out the flags connection to the Dutch Nazi Party and other white supremacist groups, Aleksic said the flag is poorly designed, according to vexillologists, or those who study flags.

For those who havent seen Albanys flag, it includes orange, white and blue stripes. Inside the white stripe is the city's 1789 coat of arms -- a farmer and an Native American standing on either side of a shield containing wheat sheaves and a beaver chewing a tree, topped by a Dutch sailing sloop. Underneath that is a scroll containing the city motto: "Assiduity,'' which means the quality of acting with constant and careful attention.

It was created as part of the 1909 Hudson Fulton Celebration, which commemorated both Dutch explorer Henry Hudsons exploration of the Hudson River and Robert Fultons invention of steam-powered navigation.

Aleksic, in a Dec. 3 letter to the Times Union, notes that citys flag is based on the orange, white and blue striped flag of the Dutch Republic, also known as the Princes Flag, which flew from the late 16th century until 1795 when the Dutch government was overthrown.

The Princes Flag later became a symbol for the Dutch Nazi Party in the 1930s and is still flown by some far-right politicians in the Netherlands. It also served as the backdrop for the South African flag during the apartheid era and was flown by the Dutch East India Co., which was part of the slave trade.

Albany isnt the only city in the country to use the Princes Flag in its own design. New York Citys flag is similar, though the stripes runs vertically, rather than horizontally. Nassau County, the Bronx, and Jersey City, N.J., also have blue, orange and white stripes in their flags.

Ananes resolution doesnt specifically call for any single redesign. Instead, its limited to calls for a study.

Councilman Kelly Kimbrough questioned whether the resolution was needed and said the council cant authorize the mayor to form a commission.

Im not sure this is necessary, he told Anane. Changing the flag is necessary and a discussion should be had.

Its unclear whether the resolution will result in a commission being formed but Sheehan has already moved away from using the citys seal, which includes the coat of arms displayed on the city flag.

In a Dec. 22 interview with WAMC, Sheehan said the city was using a logo designed by St. Rose students for most letters and documents, except when legally required. Sheehan said she cant change the seal on her own because the design is part of the citys charter.

I do think we need to revisit the city seal. In my office and throughout the city were going to be shifting away from using the city seal, she said.

Sheehan noted other cities across the country had taken similar steps.

In June, Sheehan made a move to counter hurtful New York history by announcing her intention to move the statue of Philip Schuyler, Revolutionary War general and owner of enslaved persons, from its almost century-old perch in front of City Hall.

A spokesman for Sheehan did not immediately return a request for comment Friday on whether the mayor supported changing the citys flag.
Gurugram, Jan 3 : Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait who reached the protest site in Gurugram on Sunday to support the ongoing farmers' stir in the national capital, while addressing the people at the protest site, said that the agitation will not end till the government rolls back the new agricultural laws.

Tikait alleged that the new farm laws have been made for the benefit of capitalists. He said that till the demands of the farmers are not accepted, the farmers will stay in Delhi and keep protesting against these laws.

He said that soon Rajasthan farmers will also reach the Delhi border. The Samyukt Kisan Morcha, Gurugram should help them in all possible ways, he said.

President of Samyukt Kisan Morcha, Chaudhary Santokh Singh, assured that all possible help will be given to all the farmers who come from Rajasthan.

Bharatiya Kisan Union General Secretary, Yudhveer Singh, who was also present at the protest site, alleged that the government is misleading the farmers. He said that the government should abolish the three farm laws.

In a joint statement, Santokh Singh said that despite the bitter cold, hundreds of workers from several workers' organisations have also been sitting on dharna in support of the demands of the farmers.

He said their support to the farmers will continue till the rollback of the three farm laws.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-04 02:32:07|Editor: huaxia

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KHARTOUM, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- Sudan, Egypt and Ethiopia on Sunday agreed to suspend the tripartite talks over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) for one week.

The three countries announced the decision in a joint communique issued following a video meeting on Sunday in presence of the African Union experts and the international observers.

"The meeting adopted a proposal by Sudan to devote this week for bilateral meetings among the three countries and the team of experts and observers," according to the communique.

It noted that South Africa's Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Naledi Pandor, who chaired the meeting, demanded that the meetings should focus on determining the points of agreement and difference among the three countries, provided that the tripartite meetings are to resume on Jan. 10.

It added that the three countries reviewed during the meeting their positions regarding possibility of reaching a formula that would allow resumption of the talks in light of the positive development with the African experts presenting a memorandum of agreement for the three countries.

Sudan, Egypt and Ethiopia have been negotiating under the African Union over technical and legal issues related to the filling and operation of the GERD.

Ethiopia, which started building the GERD in 2011, expects to produce more than 6,000 megawatts of electricity from the project, while Egypt and Sudan, downstream Nile Basin countries that rely on the river for fresh water, are concerned that the dam might affect their water resources. Enditem
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Apart from at least 140 House Republicans reportedly preparing to overturn US election results, a coalition of 11 Republican senators, led by Ted Cruz, has announced its plan to reject electors from some states when Congress meets on January 6 to formally certify the Electoral College and President-elect Joe Bidens victory. In a joint statement, the senators claimed that the 2020 presidential elections featured unprecedented allegations of voter fraud and other voting irregularities.

We intend to vote on January 6 to reject the electors from disputed states as not regularly given and lawfully certified (the statutory requisite), unless and until that emergency 10-day audit is completed, the statement read.

US Vice-President Mike Pence has also welcomed the plan of the Republican senators to refuse to certify Bidens victory. The vice-presidents chief of staff Marc Short said that Pence shares the concerns of millions of Americans, adding that he has welcomed that efforts of lawmakers to use their authority to raise objections and bring forward evidence before the Congress.

Also Read | Homes of top Republican Mitch McConnell, Democrat Nancy Pelosi vandalised: Report

What may happen on January 6?

The House of Representatives and the Senate will debate for two hours over the objections, if any, raised by the lawmakers, which will be followed by a vote. However, US President Donald Trumps allies need a majority of lawmakers in both chambers voting in their favour to uphold the objections. Such attempts have virtually no chance to succeed since Democrats control the House and top Senate Republicans have already recognised Biden as the next president of the United States.

Several Republican leaders, including senate majority leader Mitch McConnell, have been warning their GOP colleagues to not disrupt the certification process. Utah Senator Mitt Romney said in a statement that the egregious ploy to reject electors dangerously threatens our Democratic Republic. Romney highlighted the fact that the Justice Department found no evidence of irregularity sufficient to overturn the election.

I could never have imagined seeing these things in the greatest democracy in the world. Has ambition so eclipsed principle? he asked rhetorically.

Earlier, Republican senator Ben Sasse had written in a Facebook post that he has been urging his colleagues to reject the dangerous ploy to overturn the election. Sasse explained that there are a bunch of ambitious politicians who think theres a quick way to tap into the presidents populist base without doing any real, long-term damage.
If the past 12 months are any guide, the economy offers no guarantees or certainties as one year gives way to the next.

But it does earn a forward-looking reboot, complete with a fresh set of aspirations and expectations once January rolls around.

Here are some of the major business events and developments that Charleston-area residents will be paying attention to now that the calendar has turned the page to 2021.

Ship shape

When the new Leatherman Terminal opens in North Charleston this year, it will be the first new container wharf built at any major U.S. seaport in more than a decade. And its completion will help give the Port of Charleston the room it will need to grow for decades to come.

"I don't think there is any question this will be significantly impactful  you don't do this kind of thing every day," said Jim Newsome, president and CEO of the S.C. State Ports Authority.

The first phase of the $1 billion terminal, named for state Sen. Hugh Leatherman of Florence, will be able to handle the equivalent of 700,000 20-foot containers each year once it opens in March.

When the second and third segments are completed at the former Navy Base along the Cooper River, it will roughly double the port's total annual capacity, to about 5 million cargo boxes.

Work on the opening phase was winding down as of last week.

Utilities are nearly 90 percent in place.

Five ship-to-shore cranes towering 169 feet tall have been delivered, with four expected to be commissioned and operational on opening day.

The last six of 25 hybrid-powered gantry cranes will arrive this month.

A road connecting the terminal to Interstate 26 will open in mid-February.

Test ships will arrive next month to make sure the terminal and its equipment are operating properly.

A state-of-the-art gate system featuring facial recognition technology will greet the first truckers to move through the container yard.

The SPA plans to move four of its biggest weekly container ship services to Leatherman from Wando Welch Terminal during the coming year, freeing up space for more growth at the older Mount Pleasant site. A rail yard that will move containers from Leatherman to inland distribution sites is in the works, as is a barge that would move containers from Wando Welch to the train hub, keeping some trucks off local roads.

While the terminal is first and foremost an economic generator, adding to the port's $63.4 billion annual impact, it's also an emotional experience for a region with its 350-year history so intertwined with the sea.

"Every employee here and every person in the maritime community at large is really proud of the fact that we have delivered this facility and we will operate it together," said Barbara Melvin, the SPA's chief operating officer.

Newsome sees the new terminal as a promise that the Charleston area will continue to provide good-paying jobs along the waterfront for generations to come.

"You can assure people that there's longevity here and they can make a good income if they want to work in this industry," he said.

The Leatherman Terminal won't be the only SPA facility in the headlines this year. The Wando Welch Terminal that's been the port's workhorse in recent years will celebrate its 40th anniversary in November.

Tourism's tough start

South Carolina hospitality officials are keeping their sense of optimism close to the vest in 2021. To put it bluntly, conditions in the industry are likely going to get worse before they get better in the new year.

State tourism director Duane Parrish predicted a "bleak" first quarter for travel as states continue to struggle with rising coronavirus cases and with widespread distribution of vaccines well out of reach. That could translate into more layoffs at hotels and permanent restaurant closings for South Carolina.

Charleston, in particular, isn't entering 2021 in a position of strength. It's still missing about a quarter of its hospitality jobs after losing more than half in the spring, compared to a 15 percent average drop statewide.

Major events that typically kick off the Holy City's busy season are either scaled back or won't be taking place at all. The Southeastern Wildlife Exposition, set for Feb. 12-14, is selling 25 percent of its typical capacity. Charleston Wine + Food, usually the biggest tourism draw in March, was canceled. Just last week, the Cooper River Bridge Run was pushed back to September from March.

But some visitor-driven segments are expected to stay strong, such as demand for short-term rentals, which saw some growth in late 2020 as people who did travel sought out lodging options with more space, privacy and proximity to beaches and other outdoor attractions.

A rebound in Charleston's destination wedding business is another expected bright spot. Many couples rescheduled their 2020 ceremonies for a year out, so sought-after Saturdays already are booked solid. That has out-of-town lovebirds opting for alternative days to tie the knot in the Holy City.

Home sales

Home sales set another new record in the Charleston region in just 11 months in 2020, despite the spring lockdown that temporarily canceled showings and kept buyers at bay.

The pace is not expected to let up in the new year, with the pandemic lurking as a potential caveat.

Rock-bottom borrowing costs for buyers are expected to help drive purchases this year, when more homes are projected to come on the market.

"Moving into 2021, we expect rates to hold steady, but the key driver in the near term will be the trajectory of the COVID-19 pandemic and the execution of the vaccine," said Sam Khater, chief economist of the home-loan financing agency Freddie Mac.

The average rate on the benchmark 30-year-fixed mortgage is projected to rise slowly from 2.7 percent to the still-low 3 percent range, according to Daryl Fairweather, chief economist for online real estate brokerage Redfin. The difference could deter buyers from bidding up prices, but the increase likely won't be enough to put much of a dent in sales, he added.

Redfin also predicted the number of U.S. homes classified as new listings will climb by more than 5 percent, adding some balance to a supply-and-demand curve that currently favors sellers over buyers, after declining 3 percent in 2020.

Yet another demand factor that bodes well for home sales is the caravan of out-of-state residents who are ditching crowded places like New York City. In South Carolina they're typically flocking to urban areas, including Charleston, Greenville and Rock Hill near Charlotte. It's a trend that's likely to continue now that workers have learned they can do their jobs remotely from almost anywhere.

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Boeing's big move

Since the fall, Boeing's plant in North Charleston has known that it will soon be the sole assembly site for the aerospace giant's 787 aircraft.

But, until more recently, it wasn't known just how soon that would happen.

Boeing confirmed just before the holidays that it was speeding up the timeline for consolidating the widebody plane program in South Carolina.

Instead of the prior "mid-2021" guesstimate, Boeing said it plans to shut down 787 assembly in Everett, Wash.  the location that, up to this point, has been splitting the work with North Charleston  in March.

Along with preparations for the consolidation, the first quarter of the new year may also bring new insight into how much Boeing South Carolina was affected by the companywide buyouts and layoffs it initiated to try to balance out huge financial losses caused by the pandemic.

Boeing's state-by-state employee counts are typically updated around the start of each calendar year. The planemaker is also expected to release a racial breakdown of its payroll for the first time in 2021 as part of a pledge to improve the representation rate of Black employees in the U.S. by 20 percent.

Power play

To sell or not to sell? That is the question for South Carolina's state-run power company.

Lawmakers in Columbia may finally make up their minds about what to do with Santee Cooper in 2021.

The General Assembly is preparing to vote on whether to keep the public utility or offload it to NextEra Energy, the largest publicly traded power company in the country.

That decision was supposed to be made last year, but like many plans in 2020, it got pushed aside by the coronavirus pandemic. So lawmakers will try again this year.

Rate debate

Another question that will dominate the electric power industry in 2021 is how Dominion Energy's rate hike request will play out after the S.C. Public Service Commission begins proceedings this month.

The Richmond, Va.-based utility giant wants to increase the monthly bills for its 753,000 power customers in the Palmetto State by 7.7 percent.

But the request  Dominion's first since it snapped up South Carolina Electric & Gas two years ago  faces a political and legal backlash. Gov. Henry McMaster even chimed in. He fired off a letter in November to the company's top executive in the state saying that the rate hike request was ill-timed with COVID-19 still spreading across the country and with the fragile economy still in recovery mode.

The seven regulators who make up the utility commission will hold hearings in early January to sort through evidence and determine whether the company can justify the size of the increase, which would bring in an additional $178 million in annual revenue.

The final decision is expected by March.

Let the Sunshine in?

Carnival Cruise Line hopes to bring its Sunshine cruise ship back to downtown Charleston on March 1 following nearly a year on a pandemic-induced hiatus, but homebound passengers itching to shove off for a Caribbean vacation might want to hold off on packing their bags.

The company has delayed its restart from Union Pier Terminal and other ports several times as the coronavirus continues to spread through the U.S. The State Ports Authority, which is Carnival's landlord in Charleston, hasn't been notified of a specific date when sailings will resume from the foot of Market Street.

"They have lots of bigger ports than us, and they need to get back in business in Miami and Port Canaveral where they have a much bigger presence," SPA chief Jim Newsome said. "We're really a niche port for them. So it will happen when they can properly manage it and satisfy the ... (Centers for Disease Control) of their protocols. A lot of the resumption of these activities is going to be vaccine-based."

Carnival halted all cruises more than nine months ago, in mid-March. The CDC lifted its ban on cruises from U.S. ports on Oct. 31, but it said ships must follow strict guidelines before returning to sea with paying passengers aboard. They include adherence to testing, quarantine and social distancing requirements as well as building the laboratory capacity to test crew members and cruisers for the virus.

Battle-tested building

A high-profile real estate development that ignited a pitched battle over building heights on the lower peninsula is ready for occupancy in 2021.

The Jasper tops out at 12 stories near Colonial Lake at the west end of Broad Street, offering panoramic views of Charleston Harbor and the Ashley and Cooper rivers from its elevated vantage points.

The Beach Co.'s newly built luxury project blends residential and commercial uses, with 219 rental dwellings, 100,000 square feet of combined office and retail space and an enclosed parking garage. The multilevel complex on four acres replaced the firm's 1950s-era 14-story Sgt. Jasper apartment building.

The developer battled the city for several years to get the project to the starting gate. Early opposition prompted the real estate firm to swap out its original low-rise proposal with what turned out to be the final design.

And when the city rezoned the property later to rein in the size and scale of the taller revised project, litigation followed, with the developer alleging the Board of Architectural Review had overstepped its authority.

The legal dispute eventually was settled with no material changes to the The Jasper layout once it was approved in 2017.

The new addition to the peninsula's skyline has at least one anchor commercial tenant in hand. Wells Fargo, which recently vacated a building at Market and Meeting streets, is taking 30,000 square feet of office space to house its local commercial banking and wealth management units. One of the lender's neighbors will be The Beach Co., which moved from its former King Street headquarters and now calls The Jasper home.
Tony Hetherington is Financial Mail on Sunday's ace investigator, fighting readers corners, revealing the truth that lies behind closed doors and winning victories for those who have been left out-of-pocket. Find out how to contact him below.

S.H. writes: I used Trainline to buy a 7 Merseyrail ticket from Ormskirk to Liverpool Central Station, but when I arrived in Liverpool, staff would not accept it as valid.

An officer issued me with a 20 penalty notice, though at the same time he told a lady who said she had forgotten her ticket that she could buy another.

When I contacted Trainline and Merseyrail, the penalty notice was cancelled. However, Trainline then refunded the 7 to me, so Merseyrail sent me a fresh penalty notice for 27, and as I did not pay, it now wants 125.

Up the junction: You could not have collected your Trainline ticket without a detour to Burscough Junction

This could be a comedy of errors, but I know you have found it hugely stressful. The heart of the problem is that Trainline sells Merseyrail tickets online, but you have to go to a station to collect them  and absurdly, not a Merseyrail station.

So although you had a Trainline printout proving you had paid the fare, you could not collect your ticket at Liverpool Central or at Ormskirk in Lancashire where your journey began.

Trainline told me that its website explains that customers using Merseyrail have to collect tickets from another station. In fact, it offers a map covered in about 1,500 overlapping blobs showing where Trainline tickets can be collected. But it would make far more sense to avoid Trainline altogether.

What you were supposed to do was catch a train from Ormskirk heading in the opposite direction and collect your ticket at Burscough Junction, where Trainline is accepted.

Then you would have had to return to Ormskirk and wait for your train to Liverpool. As a result, your 34-minute journey to Liverpool would actually have taken two hours and 22 minutes, and you would have been charged an extra 3.50 for a day return to Burscough.

Merseyrail sensibly scrapped the original penalty notice, but as Trainline and Merseyrail seem to have no relationship, Trainline refunded the 7 fare to you instead of paying it to Merseyrail.

That left Merseyrail out of pocket so it reinstated its demand to you, including a 20 penalty. You were never a fare dodger, but you were treated as just that.

Not surprisingly, you offered to pay the normal 7 fare, but not the penalty, which then escalated to 125.

I contacted Merseyrail, where staff made clear that this was not the first time they had met problems involving Trainline.

After some discussions with me, and between Merseyrail staff and their prosecutions department, common sense and perhaps the spirit of Christmas prevailed.

On December 17, you were told that if you paid the 7 fare within 14 days, there would be no penalty, but fail to pay and the next stop was court. You duly went online to pay, but your attempt hit the buffers.

You telephoned, but Merseyrail refused to take your 7, with a recorded message insisting nothing was owed. That left you unable to pay, and facing a court appearance.

I retraced your steps with the same results, so I contacted Merseyrail and suggested I would come to their offices with a Mail on Sunday photographer and hand over the 7 in cash.

Merseyrail immediately decided a 'technical issue' was to blame, and when this was corrected a few days before Christmas, I used its automatic phone payment line and found a fresh demand for 7.

Sharing your frustration, I paid it for you, rather than let the matter drag on.

It would be good to see Trainline stop offering Merseyrail tickets that it has such trouble providing, but meanwhile Merseyrail passengers would do well to completely avoid it.

Please help! My 10,750 is stuck in a Spanish bank branch

Ms F.M. writes: I sold a property in Spain but kept my Banco Popular account open to receive a Spanish tax rebate. My account held 11,821 (about 10,750), but it has since been blocked.

I have been trying since 2018 to get my money out, but the bank told my Spanish lawyer I must go in person, which is difficult as I have serious health problems.

Banco Popular was taken over by Santander, which has a thriving presence in Britain

Judging by similar complaints I have received, it is far easier to open a Spanish bank account than to close it. Your Banco Popular account in Valencia has proved to be a lucky exception though, as the bank was taken over by Santander, which has a thriving presence in Britain.

Staff at Santander told me you could go to any branch, where they would set up online access to your Banco Popular account. You could then transfer cash to any bank in Britain. And when you explained that your health issues left you virtually housebound, Santander said it would send someone to your home.

A spokesman told me: 'To protect customers from fraud, it is important we ensure that identification requirements are met before closing accounts or transferring funds. We are sorry for the time it has taken Ms M to close her account.'

Your money landed in your British bank account a week before Christmas, and Santander has confirmed to me that your Banco Popular account is now closed.

Why is Singapore Airlines refusing to refund my axed flight to Sydney? Offer: Airline will now honour the flight Ms V.K. writes: Last February, I booked a Singapore Airlines flight from Heathrow to Sydney through STA Travel in London. The flight date was October 20, but on August 11 Singapore Airlines cancelled the flight  and soon afterwards, STA Travel went into administration. However, the airline refused me a refund, saying the STA Travel administrator first had to tell them to pay. What nonsense from the airline. Your flight had already been cancelled before STA Travel ceased trading in October, and the agent went into voluntary liquidation, not administration. I contacted the airline in Singapore and an official told me: 'We regret our call centre teams provided Ms K with incorrect advice.' The proper procedure is that the airline takes over responsibility in the absence of the travel agent. You can now have a full refund, or the airline will transfer you to a flight of your choosing, plus extra 'bonus flight credits' for any date in 2021.

Lloyds' empty apology

R.B. writes: I have held a Lloyds Bank account for over 50 years. I telephoned to give notice to withdraw 11,000 at the Twickenham branch, and the woman who answered said she'd email staff there.

However, when I phoned the branch, I was told no email had arrived  and I could not have the money.

You and your wife are in your 70s, and have been pretty well confined to your home during the pandemic. Your children have looked after your needs  and you wanted to repay them and have some cash in the house for future expenses.

When you explained this, Lloyds requested ten weeks of your shopping bills and your children's bank details, after which it would transfer the money to them.

Or, you could make 22 separate cashpoint trips and withdraw 500 a time. This is despite the bank's website advising that cash withdrawals up to 2,500 are allowed with no notice.

Banks walk a tightrope in circumstances like these. All banks tell staff to try to take care of senior citizens asking for large cash sums, in case they are victims of a scam. But requesting supermarket receipts does seem excessive.

Lloyds told me: 'We have apologised for the inconvenience and, after receiving further information, a branch colleague was able to help Mr B with a cash withdrawal.'

This would be fine  except that it did not happen. You received no apology, and went of your own accord to a different Lloyds branch where staff cheerfully let you have 5,000.

The bank tells me its original apology must have gone astray, so it has repeated it and emphasised it has your best interests at heart.

If you believe you are the victim of financial wrongdoing, write to Tony Hetherington at Financial Mail, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TS or email tony.hetherington@mailonsunday.co.uk.

Because of the high volume of enquiries, personal replies cannot be given. Please send only copies of original documents, which we regret cannot be returned.
Oregon trails 40 other states for its slow pace of getting coronavirus vaccine shots in arms, federal data show, leaving the vaccine deployment lagging as the states death toll hit 1,500 Sunday.

Oregon has given 48,725 vaccine shots since the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine was approved Dec. 11. But Oregon has received 190,500 doses, meaning that about 141,000 doses are still sitting in boxes as the virus continues spreading and mutating. The state health authority said 1,700 doses were given yesterday and another 1,700 shots were recorded from earlier days.

At a pace of 3,400 shots a day, it would take until May 2024 to vaccinate all 4.2 million Oregonians.

About 75% of the doses received in Oregon have not yet been given, worse than the national average of 67%, according to data reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Saturday.

Nationwide, as of Saturday, 4.2 million shots had been administered from 13 million doses delivered.

The CDC data show Oregon trailing some states by wide margins. Nine states have given more than half of the doses theyve received. Three of them -- Connecticut, North Dakota and South Dakota -- have administered about two-thirds of the doses theyve received.

The Oregon Health Authority and Gov. Kate Brown did not respond to requests for comment Sunday about what accounts for the slow pace of a rollout theyve had months to plan.

The federal leaders behind Operation Warp Speed, the governments vaccination campaign, have said they expect the pace to accelerate in coming weeks.

 Rob Davis

rdavis@oregonian.com

503.294.7657; @robwdavis

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
MORLEY, Alta. - The windswept foothills of Alberta's Rocky Mountains are the setting for a pilot project using drones to deliver medical supplies and personal protective equipment to remote communities.

Researchers at the University of Calgary, SAIT, Alberta Health Services and Alberta Precision Laboratories have partnered with three reserves that are part of the Stoney Nakoda First Nation to test the use of drones to deliver medical supplies and COVID-19 test kits as shown in this handout image provided by the University of Calgary. The pilot project has drawn international attention, including from the World Health Organization. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-University of Calgary-Riley Brandt*MANDATORY CREDIT *

MORLEY, Alta. - The windswept foothills of Alberta's Rocky Mountains are the setting for a pilot project using drones to deliver medical supplies and personal protective equipment to remote communities.

Researchers at the University of Calgary, Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT), Alberta Health Services and Alberta Precision Laboratories partnered with the three reserves that are part of the Stoney Nakoda First Nation last summer.

A large drone, looking very much like a small helicopter and able to carry up to 45 kilograms, delivered equipment and COVID-19 test kits on its maiden voyage to the Morley reserve west of Calgary.

The project was the brainchild of Wade Hawkins, lead researcher at SAITs Centre for Innovation and Research in Unmanned Systems, and Dr. John Conly, medical director of the Cumming School of Medicine's research and innovation centre.

"We think that the sky is the limit, literally, for this type of technology, marrying drones with ... medical supply delivery," Conly said.

"We're just priming ourselves for what could be a great delivery service.

"My vision is we create a drone army that would be supplemental to the medical care that we deliver."

Hawkins said initial test flights "are going great so far."

Eden Valley, southwest of Calgary, will provide challenges due to distance and strong winds. Big Horn, in central Alberta, is even farther away and the terrain is more rugged and cell service more spotty.

"Our goal is to prove this technology locally and then we'll move that Canada-wide potentially  to northern territories with truly remote environments  and then developing countries."

Hawkins said the Alberta tests are to wrap up by next summer and the idea is drawing international attention.

"We've even had interest from the World Health Organization (WHO). They're actually a funder now and they're interested in seeing what we can do," he said.

"They're interested in some of the countries in Africa, primarily for delivery of medical supplies, but also COVID testing ... (and) delivery of mobile medical equipment."

Conly, who has been a senior technical adviser with the WHO's COVID-19 response program, said the agency sees the potential.

"They were quite intrigued about the issue for vaccine delivery. They would be able to load up and deliver vaccine to remote villages for self-inoculation."

The project is also testing smaller drones to send medical equipment, such as portable ultrasound devices, directly to patients, so a doctor could do remote examinations.

"The ultrasounds are getting tiny. I'd say less than a pound. They can actually be powered by plugging into your smartphone," said Dr. Andrew Kirkpatrick, a professor at the Cumming School of Medicine and a trauma surgeon who has worked with NASA.

"If it's immediately life-threatening, you can act on it. Time is everything in emergency medicine."

The CEO of the Stoney Nakoda said the First Nation is thrilled to be on the ground floor of testing new technology.

Ryan Robb said Morley is next to the Trans-Canada Highway, but the other reserves are more isolated. So drones could prove valuable in providing better health care.

"We could see this being used to deliver medicine. We still have many people on our reserve where I can't drive to their house unless I'm in a four-wheel drive," Robb said.

"We would like to be cutting edge, too. These aren't the same drones your kids are playing with."

Dr. Aurang Khan with Stoney Health Services said the use of drones is essential for remote communities, especially to test for COVID-19.

"Having this technology to be able to deliver personal protective equipment and swabs and testing kits to the health centre ... is really going to improve the outcome for our community members in terms of health," he said.

"We can easily summon the drone and have all the swabs loaded on to it and sent to the provincial lab at Foothills Hospital (in Calgary) and we'll get the results in a very short time."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 2, 2021

 Follow @BillGraveland on Twitter
ANN ARBOR, MI  As many University of Michigan students prepare for another remote semester due to the pandemic, one student has decided the perfect place for spring semester classes is -- Hawaii.

Bella Malatesta, a junior communications major at UM, was looking at flights a couple of weeks ago and saw how cheap they were to Hawaii, so she made the snap decision to spend the spring semester in the sun and sand.

I just booked it and figured everything else out from there, Malatesta said.

With all of her classes being conducted remotely, Malatesta didnt have to worry about being on campus this semester. The university is having fewer undergraduates on campus this semester and implementing more remote learning, as well as mandatory COVID-19 testing for undergrads who have to be on campus.

University of Michigan urges students not to return to campus for winter semester

After booking her flight, Malatesta needed to find someplace to stay. She secured a few affordable hostel options.

She also had to consider traveling during the pandemic. The policies when entering the island are strict, she said.

I have to get tested right beforehand. Everyone has to be tested before they fly, and coming to the island, you have to test negative twice, said Malatesta, who already came down with COVID-19 about a month and a half ago. So, that kind of eased my stress a little bit.

Malatesta saved money she earned working at a restaurant over the summer, but when she had to move home to Rochester Hills in November, she was also able to save money by not paying Ann Arbor rent.

Although some people might get distracted with all of the extracurricular activities to do on the islands, Malatesta says shes the kind of person who is very focused on schoolwork, regardless of whether she is on campus or at home. It helps most of her courses -- the communications major is also minoring in digital studies and creative writing -- can be done remotely.

I think it depends on the type of person. I dont think everyone would be able to do (classes) successfully at home or on a vacation or something and get all their classwork done, but I think you have to know yourself and whether or not you can balance work and play, Malatesta said. I think Im one of those people.

That doesnt mean she wont be having her fair share of fun, though. While nothing is set in stone, Malatesta wants to learn how to surf, but she also wants to play her schedule out day by day because she isnt sure how intense her courses will be. Shes taking more credits than the fall semester, but online classes have been significantly more relaxed than in-person instruction, she said.

One thing she plans to do is continue blogging. Her blog iam.becoming on Instagram has amassed more than 18,000 followers and documents some of her travels, including places like California, North Carolina and Spain. Theres nothing specific she wants to write while in Hawaii, Malatesta said, because a lot of her posts come from real-life experiences.

Malatesta departs for Hawaii on Jan. 13 and she plans to stay there until April, when her final exams are done. After that, things are up in the air, though, as she only booked a one-way ticket.

With all of the uncertainty and challenges that have been reality in 2020, I decided I have to make the most of the situation Im in, Malatesta said. Thats when I realized I have an amazing opportunity to continue school while being able to live someplace new.

READ MORE:

Mandatory weekly COVID-19 testing required for University of Michigan on-campus undergrads

Students flock to Ann Arbor apartments as University of Michigan dorms limited for winter semester

Some Ann Arbor hotels offering winter semester rates to University of Michigan students
Tourism operators, local MPs and the federal opposition are calling for a national border agreement to stop the states go-it-alone approach after the latest outbreaks in Victoria and NSW, urging the federal government not to vacate the field.

The reintroduction of hard state borders has sparked warnings that the nations tourism industry will lose billions of dollars, while many Victorians have been left stranded in NSW.

The NSW-Victoria border has been slammed shut. Credit:Jason Robins

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Friday that states and territories were ultimately responsible for any outbreaks of COVID-19 and "we must respect their jurisdictional authority".

Australian Tourism and Industry Council executive director Simon Westaway said "we dont want the federal government to give up here".
A COVID-19 vaccine could be offered to Pfizer volunteers who received a placebo during vaccine trials by March 1.

This plan by Pfizer and its partner BioNTech to offer placebo volunteers with the vaccine was put into motion months earlier than initially planned, said a report from Stat News.

Reuters said in its report that the Vaccine Transition Option will allow all Pfizer volunteers aged 16 or older to find out if they were given the placebo.

Then, these Pfizer volunteers will be given the option to receive the investigational vaccine while staying in the study, the companies said on their website from trial participants.

FDA Pushes for Placebo Participants to Remain on Group

The decision from Pfizer/BioNTech comes amid concerns between the Food and Drug Administration, the pharmaceutical company and its volunteers.

The FDA, along with its advisers, pushed hard for volunteers in placebo groups to stay in those groups in order to gather more safety and efficacy data about the vaccines.

Related Story: New COVID-19 Variant Found in Florida as U.S. Cases Top 20 Million

Officials from the FDA said the "unblinding" plan from Pfizer would make it more difficult to collect data necessary for a full vaccine approval, reported New York Post.

However, Pfizer argued that they should start considering the ethical and practical reasons that came with giving their volunteers a vaccine.

"The study doctor will follow the latest guidance from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and their local health authorities to offer the Vaccine Transition Option to participants in a prioritized manner," the companies told Reuters.

The issue has grown more serious for some vaccine trial participants.

There were protests on further delays on social media and in letters to media organizations, including Stat News.

One of the volunteers, Michael Tovar, publicly campaigned for Pfizer to offer the vaccine to placebo participats faster. He also thanked the company in a tweet.

"Thank you for listening and for changing your study protocol to allow for speedy vaccination of your placebo arm," Tovar wrote.

He said the decision to push for placebo volunteer vaccinations made the year ahead for half of Pfizer's 44,000 person trial.

Pfizer Volunteers Want Answers on Asymptomatic Infection

In a letter to researchers, participants were also asking to take additional COVID-19 tests that could help prevent asymptomatic infection.

So far, the vaccine was only proven to reduce symptomatic infection by 95%. There is currently no way to know whether people who get vaccinated can still transmit the virus to others.

Read also: Operation Warp Speed Behind Schedule: Vaccinating Americans Could Take 10 Years at Current Pace

When conducting clinical trials, one of the most reliable ways to find treatment is to conduct a double-blind placebo-controlled trial.

This means patients will be randomly assigned a placebo or the medication in question. Neither the participant nor the researchers would know what the patients received.

In most cases, patients who were given a placebo would be given the treatment once the study was complete.

However, the matter was questionable for the Covid vaccines as consent forms given to volunteers made no mention of when or if someone who was administered a placebo would get the two-dose vaccine.
3 1 of 3 Brian A. Pounds / Hearst Connecticut Media Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Danielle Robinson Calloway / For Hearst Connecticut Media Show More Show Less 3 of 3





After testing positive for COVID-19 last week, Bridgeport Diocese Bishop Frank J. Caggiano had a follow-up test taken a couple days later come back negative, according to a spokesperson.

The Diocese had shared in a Dec. 30 statement that the bishop tested positive for COVID-19 Dec. 28, but was asymptomatic. He was tested againDec. 30  a PCR one, as well as a test for antibodies, the statement said.
(Reuters) - A federal appeals court on Saturday rejected a Republican congressman's bid to allow Vice President Mike Pence to overturn President-elect Joe Biden's Nov. 3 election victory in favor of President Donald Trump.

In a brief order, a three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a federal judge's decision on Friday to toss U.S. Representative Louie Gohmert's lawsuit, which had argued that Pence had the power to invalidate Biden's win when Congress meets to certify the results on Wednesday.

Trump, a Republican, has refused to concede to Biden, claiming without evidence that his victory was due to widespread fraud. Dozens of election officials and judges around the country have dismissed Trump's allegations.

Under the U.S. system, the presidency is determined by the Electoral College, which allots electoral votes to states and the District of Columbia based on congressional representation. Biden, who won the national popular vote by more than 7 million votes, prevailed in the Electoral College 306-232.

U.S. law requires Congress to formally count the electoral vote on Jan. 6.

Gohmert, a Texas Republican and staunch Trump ally, filed the lawsuit along with Republican electors from Arizona, asserting that Pence could throw out electoral votes in his role as the presiding officer of the Senate.

But U.S. District Judge Jeremy Kernodle, a Trump appointee, ruled on Friday that the plaintiffs lacked standing to sue because they had not suffered any personal harm.

The 5th Circuit judges, all appointed by Republican presidents, including a Trump appointee, agreed. The Justice Department, representing Pence, had opposed the lawsuit.

Some Congressional Republicans have said they will object to the electoral count, though their effort appears to have no chance of altering the outcome. On Saturday, Senator Ted Cruz announced a group of 11 senators would challenge Biden's tally.

(Reporting by Joseph Ax; Editing by David Gregorio)
Chicago, IL, Jan. 03, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FOMO CORP. (OTC/ETFM) announces that its wholly owned subsidiary, Purge Virus LLC ( https://purgevirus.com ), has completed the first sale of its recently launched Purge Virus Mobile Disinfection (PV-MD) offering via a leading global e-commerce platform as a service (PaaS). Purge Virus recently chose the provider as its online enabler for PV-MD sales because of the substantial direct-to-consumer (DTC) market traction for the one million businesses that run on it in 175 countries generating billions of dollars of annualized gross merchandise volume (GMV). Purge Virus took its first online PV-MD order on December 21, 2020 and is anticipating substantial growth in 2021 as it adds more products to its catalog. Over the near-term, top global B2B e-commerce platforms that have approved PV-MD for listing are similarly expected to activate, which management believes will further boost market awareness and momentum for PV-MD.



PV-MD is one of the most cost-effective ways for facility owners and managers to improve indoor air quality (IAQ) and reduce the spread of COVID-19. The portable device that combines ultraviolet light (UVC) with photo plasma has proven disinfection capabilities for viruses while removing odors through ionization. The device simply rests on or mounts on janitorial or housekeeping carts; afterwards, the service provider plugs it in to any standard wall outlet in the room that they are cleaning and, when done, the technology travels from room to room. The device disinfects the air while rooms are cleaned making deployment simple, fast, and cost effective. PV-MD is ideal for schools, senior living properties (retirement homes, nursing homes, and assisted living communities), hotels, motels, offices, and any other facility that has staff or contract cleaning services.

Said Charlie Szoradi, CEO Purge Virus, Some of our customers have embraced in-duct and wall mounted systems to systemically disinfect the air continuously through their buildings. Others have asked about solutions that do not require the time and cost to retrofit Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems. Our PV-MD offering was born out of a meeting in December with the owner of a motel that is part of a nationwide chain looking for disinfection solutions for their 30,000 rooms. PV-MD is a cost-effective way to maximize available disinfection technology for 2021 and beyond.

Said Vik Grover, FOMO, CEO: COVID-19 has persisted and may be with us through the fall of 2021 and beyond, even with vaccines. New variants also add risks and reasons to proactively go beyond masks, testing, and social distancing. Among many of the COVID-19 challenges, K12 schools need to re-open to aid the economic recovery while nursing homes need to protect their patients. PV-MD answers the call via the ease of e-commerce purchasing from our online partner to deliver solutions to the market.

To learn more about Purge Virus Mobile Disinfection devices see: https://purgevirus.com/mobile-disinfection/ .

To order online see: https://purge-virus.myshopify.com/products/pr30-system-air-and-surface-purifier-9-6w-100-240vac-50-60hz

About FOMO CORP.

FOMO CORP. is a publicly traded company focused on business incubation and acceleration. The Company invests in and advises emerging companies aligned with a growth mandate. FOMO is developing direct investment and affiliations that afford targets access to the public markets for expansion capital as well as spin-out options to become their own stand-alone public companies.

Forward Looking Statements:

Statements in this press release about our future expectations, including without limitation, the likelihood that FOMO CORP. will be able to meet minimum sales expectations, be successful and profitable in the market, bring significant value to FOMO CORP.s stockholders, and leverage capital markets to execute its growth strategy, constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and as that term is defined in the Private Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change at any time, and our actual results could differ materially from expected results. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this statement or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by law. FOMOs business strategy described in this press release is subject to innumerable risks, most significantly, whether the Company is successful in securing adequate financing. No information in this press release should be construed in any form shape or manner as an indication of the Companys future revenues, financial condition, or stock price.

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At Chennai's ITC Grand Chola, 85 people have tested positive for COVID-19 since December 15 last year.

Of the total of 609 samples collected so far, 85 were found to be positive for the virus.

The Greater Chennai Corporation has been instructed to carry out saturation testing of all the guests at the hotel, Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan told news agency PTI.

File Photo

ITC Grand Chola, in a release, said all events at the property had been conducted in adherence to the norms mandated by the authorities. Only 50 per cent capacity of the hall was being used to ensure maximum social distancing and safety, it added.

The first case was reported after a chef tested positive for the infection on December 15.

As many as 16 and 13 cases were reported on December 31, 2020, and January 1, 2021.

Heres the timeline of people and contacts testing positive for Covid-19 at the ITC Grand Chola, Chennai. Officials said a chef tested positive on Dec 15. During new year alone, 29 more tested positive. @xpresstn @NewIndianXpress #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/UxRiwnNzJ4  Omjasvin M D (@omjasvinMD) January 2, 2021

"Of the total of 609 samples collected till now from the hotel and in and around the residences of the staff, 85 have so far been found to be positive. They all displayed mild symptoms and were sent home after treatment," Radhakrishnan said.

The hotel said all associates were regularly tested and monitored, "which is an ongoing process and part of our hygiene protocol."
Several Iranian political and military officials issued warnings on Saturday over possible hostile movements against Iran, on the first anniversary of the killing of Commander Qassem Soleimani.

"New intelligence from Iraq indicates that Israeli agent-provocateurs are plotting attacks against Americans-putting an outgoing Trump in a bind with a fake casus belli," Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif wrote on social media, as quoted by official news agency IRNA.

Iran's chief diplomat called on the United States President Donald Trump to "be careful of a trap."

Major General Hossein Salami, commander in chief of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), also issued a warning against hostile action taken against

"We have shown it in practice, and we announce that we will respond to any action taken by the enemy against us with a reciprocal, decisive and solid blow," Salami declared, semi-official news agency Tasnim reported.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Intouch.com, a Dublin-based retail software company, has secured a partnership potentially worth up to 4m with German systems installer Scheidt & Bachmann to provide its in-store marketing technology.

The Irish company's combined solution (SIQMA Target.AI) enables retailers to use relevant real-time in-store and environmental data to improve customer interactions. Its technology can improve digital in-store marketing by showcasing the right products on screens to customers at the right time.

Intouch.com's partnership with the fuel solutions division of Scheidt & Bachmann, who have installed more than 20,000 systems at fuel sites across Europe, could be worth up to 4m over the next three years. The German firm has a forecourt customer base which includes Shell, BP, and Esso. Seamus McHugh, the retail sales director at Intouch.com, said the deal with Scheidt & Bachmann was "very significant". He said the German company's clients have a minimum of 200 stores, meaning the partnership could prove lucrative. McHugh said Intouch.com had also expanded its offering during the Covid period, with the company securing work with fast-moving consumer goods brands, including Coca-Cola in Ireland, the Netherlands and the US.
New Delhi:

At least 23 people lost their lives in separate incidents of lightning strike and wall collapse triggered by squall in Bihar on Sunday, even as hot weather conditions continued in many parts of the country and heat-related toll in Odisha climbed to 12.

However, in a good news, the onset of the southwest monsoon is likely to advance due to a deep depression over the Bay of Bengal. The MeT department said that rains were likely to begin in Kerala by May 30-31, marking the onset of monsoon in the country.

In parts of the national capital, the mercury was below the 40-degree mark with some areas in the city witnessing rainfall.

The Safdarjung observatory registered a high of 36.3 degrees Celsius while areas under Palam, Lodhi Road, Ridge and Ayanagar observatories recorded maximum temperatures of 39.7 degrees Celsius, 35 degrees Celsius, 35.8 degrees Celsius and 37.9 degrees Celsius respectively.

Rainfall recorded in the city during the last 24 hours till 8:30 am was 11.9 mm.

In Bihar, at least 23 people, including eight women, were killed in separate lightning and rain-related incidents.

Eighteen persons were killed after lightning struck them across eight districts, while five persons were killed in separate incidents of wall collapse during a storm that blew at a speed of 50-70 km per hour in different panchayat areas of the West Champaran district of the state.

Of the 18 people killed in incidents of lightning strike in eight districts, five persons were killed in East Champaran, four in Jamui, one in West Champaran, two each in Munger, Bhagalpur and Madhepura and one each in Vaishali and Samastipur districts, the states Disaster Management Department Additional Secretary Anirudh Kumar said.

Meanwhile, sunstroke toll climbed to 12 in Odisha even as rains triggered by the depression over the Bay of Bengal and a norwester in some areas brought respite from scorching heat.

Two more deaths were reported in Sambalpur and Bargarh district since yesterday.

With this, four heat-related deaths have been reported from Sambalpur, while three deaths each took place in Angul and Bargarh districts and one each in Balangir and Bhadrak, the office of the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) said.

The mercury breached the 40-degree mark in only four places in the state. Angul was the hottest place, recording a maximum of 42.1 degrees Celsius while Hirakud registered a high of 40.8 degrees Celsius.

Heatwave continued unbated in Haryana and Punjab with Hisar being the hottest place in the two states, recording a maximum of 43.2 degrees Celsius.

In Punjab, Amritsar recorded a high of 39.3 degrees Celsius, while in Ludhiana and Patiala the maximum temperatures were 38.5 degrees Celsius and 37.6 degrees Celsius respectively.

Rajasthan too reeled under hot weather conditions with the mercury settling above the 43-degree mark in most parts of the state. However, maximum temperatures saw a dip by one to two degrees in comparison to yesterday.

Churu was the hottest place in the state, with a maximum of 47 degrees Celsius, followed by 45.6 degrees Celsius in Pilani and 44.6 degrees Celsius in Sriganganagar.

The mercury in Bikaner and Kota settled at 44.5 degrees Celsius and 44.4 degrees Celsius respectively.

Heatwave conditions also prevailed at a few places in Madhya Pradesh and Vidarbha region.

In Himachal Pradesh, hailstorm and rain lashed Shimla and its surrounding areas affecting normal life.

Una was hottest place in the state with a maximum temperature of 39.2 degrees Celsius, followed by Nahan at 35.5 degrees Celsius, Sundernagar at 33.7 degrees Celsius, Bhuntar 33.6 degrees Celsius and Dharamsala 32.4 degrees Celsius.

Rainfall also occurred in parts of Kerala, Lakshadweep, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, coastal Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

Visuals from Bettiah, 23 people killed in separate rain-related incidents in Bihar. (May 28) pic.twitter.com/bGwzCi4TK7  ANI (@ANI_news) May 29, 2017

Also read: Sri Lanka witnesses worst rainfall since 1970, heavy floods and landslides kill around 90 people in country

Also read: Heavy rain lashes parts of Delhi, brings relief from scorching heat



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A retired US Marine has shared the extraordinary story of how he travelled from New York to Vietnam during the Vietnam War to deliver beers to friends serving in the US Army.

John 'Chick' Donohue, now 79, set off by boat on his 8,000-mile, four-month journey in November 1967. At the time he was 26 years old and had already served four years in the US Marine Corps.

Writing in his book, The Greatest Beer Run Ever: A Crazy Adventure In a Crazy War, Donohue explains he had wanted to bring cheer to US soldiers serving in Vietnam, particularly in light of the growing strength of the anti-war movement.

Donohue tells how his journey led him to be caught in the middle of one of the Vietnam War's fiercest campaigns, the Tet Offensive, and how he was held at gunpoint by US troops suspicious of his presence in Vietnam.

The book is set to be adapted into a movie, starring Dylan O'Brien of Teen Wolf fame.

John 'Chick' Donohue, 79, recounted how he travelled 8,000 miles from New York City to Qui Nhon by boat just to deliver beer to his friends who were serving in the Vietnam War (pictured in 1967 on his trip to Vietnam)

Donohue, pictured with another soldier during his trip to Vietnam between 1967 and 1968

Retired Marine Donohue, pictured now, said the experience he had in Vietnam change how he viewed the conflict, and made him more sympathetic of anti-war protesters

Setting off for Vietnam by boat, Donohue was armed with only beer, socks and a razor, as well as documents identifying him as a US Marine.

He made the decision not to tell his mother about his destination.

'I didn't dare mention Vietnam. I had made last-minute dockside calls to her before, but this was different: for the first time, I was scared,' he writes.

'When I had been to Vietnam before as a mariner, I hadn't ventured much out of port and into the interior. This time, I would, and I didn't know what I would find.'

The journey was made all the more difficult because Donohue had only a vague idea of where the 12 friends he wanted to find were based.

Donohue, pictured, recounted his adventure in his memoirs The Greatest Beer Run Ever

He encountered high-ranking Army officers who were suspicious of him and believed he was a CIA agent sent to infiltrate local Vietnamese communities and turn them against the communists. Meanwhile troops were confused as to why he would volunteer to travel to such a notoriously dangerous war zone.

However Donohue did not escape the action completely. He recounts being caught in the middle of an overnight ambush attempt by the Viet Cong while he was with his friend Rick - one of the recipients of the beers.

'The NVA [North Vietnam Army] started firing machine guns. Our guys returned fire. I kept really low in that hootch and I was getting ready to tun across that field. The firefight went on and on,' he writes.

After the night went quiet again, Donohue shared his thoughts: 'I have to admit, I was shaken.

'Everybody was up and on alert for the rest of the night, no doubt, praying for daybreak. Finally, dawn came and Rick and his squad headed out with rifles drawn on the jungle.

'After a few minutes, they returned and picked me up. I don't know what they saw out there, but we ambled back inside the base perimeter in silence.'

Donohue (right) with his friend Ricky Duggan (left) and other soldiers after he delivered beer to them in Quang Tri Province in 1968

Two US soldiers stationed in Vietnam during the war, which lasted from 1955 to 1975 and saw an estimated 365,000 South Vietnamese civilians die

Later, moments before he was due to leave Vietnam, Donohue became caught up in the Tet Offensive.

The offensive took place in the early hours of Vietnamese New Years Day on January 30 1968. It started with a series of surprise attacks by the North Vietnamese guerilla, who tried to overtake several US outposts in South Vietnam, including the US embassy.

What happened during the 1968 Tet Offensive? The Tet Offensive is the name given to a series of Vietnamese attacks against the US starting from January 30 to September 1968 during the Vietnam War. It was seen as a major escalation of the Vietnam War and one of the largest campaigns of the conflict. The offensive was directed by the Viet Cong and the North Vietnamese People's Army of Vietnam against the South Vietnamese Army of the Republic of Vietnam, the US forces and their allies. In a string of surprise attacks, the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese forces tried to overrun several outposts in South Vietnam, including the newly fortified US Embassy. North Vietnamese leader Ho Chi Minh had hoped the attacks would lead to a popular arising in South Vietnam but it didn't happen. The US and South Vietnamese forces were stunned by the attacks, but quickly recovered and struck back. It is estimated that 14,000 civilians were killed, and 24,000 wounded during the offensive. Advertisement

The Offensive, named Tet after the Vietnam word for New Year's, lasted from January 30 to September

Donohue, who still considered a civilian was in Saigon at the time where he hoped to visit the Embassy, he had a front row seat to the attacks.

In the aftermaths of the first series of attacks, he reflected on what the Viet Cong had been trying to achieve.

'I looked at the bodies lying on the ground and wondered how could they have thought for a second that they would succeed in overtaking and holding the US embassy. And, of course, they didn't. They had to know they were going to be killed,' he writes.

'There was no way they could stay there; the next day, the whole place would be exactly as it was before. But they would be dead. It was dumb dedication, I thought.

'But if, to them, success was getting in there and sounding a wakeup call back in the States, well, they had succeeded.

'The American public was shocked that our new, fortified embassy and all of Saigon - the capital of South Vietnam - had been overrun by the North Vietnamese and the Vietcong during the Tet offensive.'

Donohue was conspicuous in the middle of the action and at one point found himself being held at gunpoint by US Marines at an Air Force base.

'Truthfully, I wasn't sure he wouldn't shoot me,' he writes. 'After all, he was a marine. His orders were to stop any civilians trying to enter the airfield. and he was taking those orders literally.

'He ordered the other marine, a private,to follow me with his M16 pointed at me all the way to the tent, as if I were a prisoner.'

In the spring of 1968, Donohue returned to New York. The journey had changed the way he saw the war - and the anti-war movement.

Donohue's friend Ricky Duggan, left, and one of his fellow soldiers during the Vietnam War. Both men could not believe Donohue had traveled all this way to deliver them beer

Donohue during his time serving in the army, before he made the trip to Vietnam in 1967

'Gradually, I began to see that the protesters, however disrespectfully, were at least trying to stop this madness,' he wrote.

'They weren't acknowledging that so many young men were doing that they truly believed was their duty, to their country, their family, their neighborhood.

'They weren't acknowledging that the soldiers were patriots, that they were heroes. We, in turn, didn't see at the time that the protesters loved our country, too.

'What they didn't like was our leadership. They were trying to stop more boys from being killed for somebody else's legacy. After what I'd witnessed on my journey, I could definitely agree with that. '

The Greatest Beer Run Ever: A Crazy Adventure in a Crazy War by John Donohue published by Monoray, is out for purchase.
India stood up Chinas disruptive use of technology and my way or no way attitude: CDS

At meet with PM, CDS says medical personnel of armed forced who retired in last 2 years being recalled

CDS compliments soldiers for innovative measures

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Jan 03: Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat on Saturday visited several air bases located in forward areas near the Line of Actual Control in Arunachal Pradesh and took stock of India''s overall security scenario in the eastern sector, official sources said.

They said Gen Rawat interacted with Army, ITBP and soldiers of the Special Frontier Force (SFF) deployed in the bases including in Dibang Valley and Lohit sector of Arunachal Pradesh.

The Chief of Defence Staff complimented the soldiers for the innovative measures adopted to maintain effective surveillance and enhanced operational readiness, they said. He said only Indian soldiers could remain vigilant under such "challenging situations" and ever willing to go well beyond the call of duty to safeguard the borders, according to the sources.

"Nothing can deter the Indian Armed Forces from remaining steadfast in their call for duty," a source quoted him as saying.

The Army and the Indian Air Force have significantly bolstered their combat readiness in all the key formations along the LAC including in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim in view of the border row with China in eastern Ladakh.

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Story first published: Sunday, January 3, 2021, 9:26 [IST]
Acoma Pueblo, in Valencia County in West Central New Mexico, is believed to have been established in the 12th century or even earlier, making it the oldest continuously inhabited community in the United States. The pueblo or village is located atop a 110-meter tall sandstone bluff, and until recently, could only be reached by a near vertical hand-cut staircase carved into the rock face. Acoma Pueblos soaring location has earned it the nickname of Sky City, and has impressed everybody who has laid eyes on it from the first European to the modern visitor.

The first European contact with Acoma was made by the Spanish conquistador and explorer Francisco Vazquez de Coronado in 1540, who described it as "one of the strongest places ever seen, because the city was built on a high rock. The ascent was so difficult that we repented climbing to the top," he wrote.

Photo credit: www.acomaskycity.org

Almost sixty years later, the pueblo was nearly destroyed when colonial governor Juan de Onate began raiding Native American pueblos in the area. Anticipating an attack on Acoma, the villagers made the first move killing a number of Onates men, including Onate's nephew. This had dire consequence for the villagers two months later. To avenge the deaths, the Spaniards burned down the village, murdered more than 600 people and imprisoned approximately 500 others. Prisoners were sentenced to either forced slavery or bodily mutilation. At the end of the massacre, Acomas population of 2,000 people was reduced to approximately 250. These survivors began the long process of rebuilding their community.

The Spanish, who had firm control over the area by then, began to impose taxes on crops, cotton, and labor on the Acoma and other villages. They also brought Catholic missionaries into the area. Between 1629 and 1640, the villagers were forced to build a church in Acoma. All of the building materials, including some 20,000 tons of earth and stone, and 30-foot beams were hauled up the steep slopes of the mesa.

Acoma Pueblo is located on top of that soaring mesa. Photo credit: Jacqueline Poggi/Flickr

These abuses of power by both religious and political authorities eventually led to the Pueblo Revolt. On August 10, 1680, some 17,000 thousand Puebloans, including 6,000 warriors rose up in vengeance against the 3,000 or so colonists. The tribes struck mission churches, killing 22 of 33 friars, and demolished and burned many of them. All the Spanish settlements in New Mexico were wiped out. Some 400 people were killed, the rest were driven out.

Over the next few centuries, Acoma continued to suffer from raids and invasions from the Apache, Comanche, and Ute tribes. On occasions, the Acoma would side with the Spanish to fight against nomadic tribes. By the 1880s, railroads brought the pueblos out of isolation. Although they did succeed in retaining their land, they couldnt prevent missionaries and schools from coming into the area, and Acomans reluctantly gave way to modern life. By the 1920, most children from the community were in boarding schools.

Today, the village has about 300 adobe buildings, but fewer than 50 permanent residents. Basic facilities such as electricity, running water, or sewage disposal are still absent at Acoma, so the remaining residents chose to live in nearby villages where such facilities are available.

Also read: 11 Oldest Continuously Inhabited Cities in the World

Aerial view of Acoma. Photo credit: Marshall Henrie/Wikimedia

Photo credit: NRCS NM/Flickr

Hand-cut stairway to Acoma. Photo credit: Richie Diesterheft/Flickr

Today, a road leads to the top of the mesa. Photo credit: Richie Diesterheft/Flickr

Photo credit: Ethan Kan/Flickr

Photo credit: NRCS NM/Flickr

The mission church of San Esteban Rey at Acoma Pueblo. Photo credit: Karla Kaulfuss/Wikimedia

Photo credit: Jacqueline Poggi/Flickr

Photo credit: Jacqueline Poggi/Flickr

Photo credit: Jacqueline Poggi/Flickr

Photo credit: Jacqueline Poggi/Flickr

Photo credit: Tony Hisgett/Flickr

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Sources: Wikipedia / Legends of America
The Centre and farm unions protesting against a set of laws aimed at opening up agricultural markets will hold their seventh round of negotiations on Monday that could shape the outcome of the long-drawn-out dialogue process. Two of the biggest demands of farmers will be on the agenda on Monday.

Mondays talks are set to take up the farmers demand to repeal the three farm laws they say will hurt their livelihoods and a law guaranteeing minimum support prices for farm produce.

The Samyukt Kisan Morcha, the platform of farm unions, has hardened its stand, saying on Saturday that thousands of farmers will drive into the Capital on their tractors to hold their own Republic Day parade if their demands are not met by January 26.

Union ministers Narendra Singh Tomar, Piyush Goyal and Som Prakash will lead the government side, while 40 leaders of farm union will represent farmers at the talks.

The widely anticipated sixth round of talks on December 30 made some headway in the standoff between the Union government and protesting farm unions, with the Centre agreeing to spare farmers of heavy fines for crop-residue burning, as provided for in an anti-pollution ordinance, and to continue the current mechanism of giving subsidised power for agricultural use.

Read more| Farmers in Rewari break barricades; police use tear gas to stop them

The two principal demands of a repeal of three new farm laws and a legal guarantee of minimum support prices were deferred until January 4.

In the December 30 talks, the government offered to form a five-member panel to examine the farm laws and had asked farm leaders to suggest alternatives to a repeal of the laws, both of which were rejected by the farmers.

The farm unions have been steadfast on their demand that the government scrap the three new agricultural laws approved by Parliament in September, and to being a new legislation guaranteeing that all farm produce be bought at federally fixed assured rates.

Farm unions have launched one of the largest strikes in decades to demand that the Centre revoke the three contentious laws.

The laws essentially change the way Indias farmers do business by creating free markets, as opposed to a network of decades-old, government marketplaces, allowing traders to stockpile essential commodities for future sales and laying down a national framework for contract farming.

Read more| Wont go back till laws are repealed, say farmers before 7th round of talks

These laws are the Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act 2020.

The success of tomorrows talks depend entirely on the repeal of these three Farm Acts, said Avik Saha, the secretary of All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC), a major platform of protesting farmers.

Saha said there had been much speculation about procedures for repeal of the Acts. AIKSCC clarifies that it can be done by an Ordinance followed by a Parliamentary repeal and the Constitution provides for the government and Parliament to make as well as repeal laws. They are neither time-consuming, nor complicated.

A government official, requesting anonymity said, the Centre would take up each and every objection and apprehension of the farmers. I dont want to speculate on anything now, he said.

Analysts say they dont expect every issue to be concluded during Mondays talks. Both demands are complicated. It is unlikely that both can be settled in one round. The government may present a formula to ensure assured prices for farmers based purely on the possibilities, said Ramesh Kavi, a former faculty member at Dharwad Agricultural University.

Read more| Free bus service for farmers who want to join protests at Ghazipur-UP border

Congress chief Sonia Gandhi on Sunday hit out at the Narendra Modi government for not heeding the demands of farmers to repeal the three laws

In this biting cold and rain, our farmers have been protesting on the borders of Delhi for 39 days now. Their plight is a concern for all the citizens and I, Gandhi said in a statement.

More than 50 farmers have lost their lives because of the governments harsh attitude towards the protests. Some have even committed suicide. Neither has their decision moved the Modi government or any of its ministers, nor have they uttered a word of consolation. I offer my tribute to those who have passed away and prayers and strength to their families.
The Shivaji Nagar police in Govandi have launched a search for a man who tried to kill his 18-year-old relative by smashing a liquor bottle on her head on New Years Eve.

According to the police the accused wanted to take revenge against the woman for lodging a molestation complaint against him in 2019. His friend, who was an accomplice in the attack, has been arrested. The two accused had also attacked the womans 16-year-old brother.

Some locals helped the injured woman and her brother reach the hospital. Their condition is stable.

According to the police, the woman and the main accused, said to be in his early 20s, live in the same neighbourhood in Shivaji Nagar.

On December 31, the main accused had a heated argument with the woman and her brother, the police said.

He was angry as the woman had lodged a criminal case against him. During the heated argument, the accused in a fit of rage hit the woman with a liquor bottle on her head. The accused and his friend also attacked her younger brother, said inspector Someshwar Khatpe of Shivaji Nagar police station.

The two also abused the siblings and threatened to kill them and fled the spot.

Shivaji Nagar police then filed a case against the two accused and launched a manhunt to nab them.

The mans friend was arrested a day after the incident from the area. A local court remanded him in police custody till Tuesday, said sub-inspector Alpesh Lavand. The two accused are booked under sections 307 (attempt to murder), 504 (abusing), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Lavand added.
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Since the acclaimed premiere of the Datograph 16 years ago, the Saxon watch brand has continuously leveraged its expertise in this domain...

Since the acclaimed premiere of the...
VINTON, Iowa (AP)  Authorities are investigating the death of an 84-year-old man in a small eastern Iowa town.

The Iowa Department of Public Safety said James Howard Bright was found dead Saturday morning inside his home in Vinton, Iowa, after the sheriffs department was called to check on him. Vinton is a town of about 5,000 people that is located about 30 miles northwest of Cedar Rapids.

Authorities did not release any details about the circumstances of Brights death, but they said it is being investigated by the Benton County Sheriffs Department, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and the Iowa State Patrol. No arrests have been announced.
Matshidiso Khalimatshi

Matshidiso Khalimatshi was one of many South African youth unable to find work in their chosen field after graduation. After weeks of sending one email application after another without response, she realised that she would have to change job-hunting tactics.

I couldnt just sit at home, so I returned to university to volunteer the skills I had and to upskill, she explains.

Despite a life-long passion for tourism, she accepted a marketing internship at the University of Johannesburg. Her updated LinkedIn profile caught the eye of Lauren Clark, Head of People at global IT consultancy Mint Group.

With Laurens encouragement, Matshidiso applied to and successfully completed the Modern Marketer Internship that is a recent addition to the Microsoft Internship Programme. She has now joined the company as a Junior Marketing Assistant.

Matshidisos story is just one example of digital skills development unlocking individual potential. Imagine this impact multiplied within South African families, across communities, and then into transformed industries. It becomes easy to see how technology can be a fundamental driver of inclusive growth and success in South Africa.

However, that success depends on how the country can contribute to a global environment that is increasingly dynamic and digitalised. Rapid advances in technology have changed where and how work is done, and the COVID-19 pandemic has only accelerated those changes.

The 2019 JCSE-IITPSA ICT Skills Survey projects the value of South Africas information and communications technology (ICT) sector at R273 billion by 2021, or 8% of GDP. The report notes that skills for conventional ICT such as software development, cloud solutions, and database management are already in critical short supply. Expertise keeping pace with emerging technologies such as robotics, big data, and artificial intelligence, is scarcer still.

The success is not just about the ICT sector. Technology allows innovation across sectors including agriculture, healthcare, education, and in public service, amongst others. The shift from an economy built on mining and manufacturing, to one that is service- and solution-orientated, is a significant one and a skilling challenge has a systematic effect on the ability of companies, industries, and communities to find talent and thrive in a digital economy.

The 2020 Harambee Mapping of Digital and ICT Roles and Demand for South Africa Survey estimates that the local ICT sector will demand around 66,000 digital and ICT jobs in the next year, of which around 66% are entry-level roles suitable for youth. How can educators as well as the public and private sector provide unemployed youth with relevant skills and job pathways to bridge them quickly and efficiently into future workforces?

We believe that we need to focus on addressing this present challenge, while also thinking about future generations in a way that ensures inclusive economic opportunity. Our approach to digital skills development is a holistic one that increases employability in individuals and builds ICT capability in SMMEs  from offering basic digital literacy in mobile learning labs, to creating reskilling opportunities for the jobs that are in demand today, to developing deep technical skills through tertiary programmes at universities, says Lillian Barnard, Managing Director of Microsoft South Africa.

Regardless of age - students in schools, youth in and out of college, or already-working IT professionals - the continued effort to upskill and reskill to enhance peoples digital capabilities and the drive for digital transformation must happen in parallel. Microsoft has set up its training ecosystem to address this challenge. Its training programmes are designed not only for students and young professionals, but for older workers specialising in skills that may soon be obsolete. Four of its programmes enable both future and current workers to realise the promise of technology:

Microsoft is equipping youth with digital skills to make them more employable through the partnerships with Tshepo 1M programme of the Gauteng Provincial Government and Microsoft Youth Skill 4 Employment Programme. Through this partnership the ThintiMillion learning platform offers free basic digital literacy training at public libraries and is also available for self-enrolment to those wanting to acquire basic skilling to increase their employability. The platform is also set to be rolled out at other youth serving organisations within Gauteng to ensure it reaches the youth through the five corridors of the province. The platform is accessed via a smartphone app and can serve more than 20 000 users simultaneously.

The Microsoft Cloud Society programme offers training and certification opportunities to people of any age working in the technology sector to help them be cloud-ready and advance their careers. Members of the Cloud Society can choose from a variety of free online learning courses and virtual workshops to train on Microsoft technologies at their own pace, in their own time. With 32 400 registrations and with multiple course completions per registrant to date, Cloud Society has proven to be an effective learning platform. Participating IT professionals credit the Cloud Society for not only helping them gain knowledge to prepare for the future of work, but also helping improve performance within their current roles.

Microsofts Global Skills Initiative rolled out locally to address unemployment and the increasing demand for people with digital skills, particularly following the COVID-19 pandemic. Microsoft partnered with Afrika Tikkun to drive the programme and assist the people who need it most to reskill and pursue an in-demand job using resources from LinkedIn, Microsoft and GitHub.

The Central University of Technology, Free State introduced Microsofts first AI University programme earlier this year to address the demand for Artificial Intelligence skills in South Africa. The programme has been designed to pass on the future-skills employers need by teaching young multi-disciplined graduates with limited or no work experience to explore, transform, model, and visualise data, as well as to create the next generation of intelligent solutions. Planned as a short, blended learning course in AI Engineering, it is open for public enrolment in 2021 and the plan is to roll this out to other universities across South Africa.

AI is at the heart of digital transformation and to unlock its full potential we need to use the technology to complement human ingenuity. Companies that see the biggest business benefit from AI combine their deployment with skilling initiatives that focus on both tech and soft skills, says Barnard.

Public-private partnerships can help unlock vital upskilling, reskilling and digital literacy initiatives that help drive the adoption of emerging technology and the capabilities to effectively use it.

We believe that through a combination of partnerships, trainings, real-world experiences and online classrooms, we can build a knowledge-based economy that leaves no person behind, and enables both future and current workers to realise the promise of technology, says Barnard.

Striving to increase South Africas technical and digital capital is about so much more than job creation. By investing in programmes like these, and in people like Matshidiso, we believe that South Africans can create new ways to address unemployment, equity, sustainability, and global competitiveness, concludes Barnard.
Seized turmeric piles up while local produce is market ready By Chrishanthi Christopher View(s): View(s):

While the country is preparing for its turmeric harvest this month bringing an end to a yearlong shortage of the spice in households kitchens in the country, the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) said that it continues to receive complaints of adulterated turmeric being sold in the market.

Consumer Affairs and Information head, Asela Bandara, said that despite the CAA acting on several complaints made with raids conducted on errant traders the adulterated products continues to be elusive.

Mr. Bandara cautioned housewives to be aware when buying the product and look for its spicy smell and dark yellow colour, synonymous to the rhizome .

Meanwhile the Department of Agriculture, said the scarcity of turmeric will end this month, and that preparations are being done to harvest and dry local turmeric.

Director General Dr. A.P. Heenkanda, said growers are being trained to dry and process turmeric. Programs on drying and processing have been broadcast on state television channels and are on YouTube as well.

He said that it will be available at slightly above the Rs 750 controlled price set in April 2020.

Meanwhile thousands of kilos of smuggled turmeric seized by Sri Lanka law enforcement are lying in storage at Customs awaiting disposal.

In November and December alone, boatloads of the golden spice have been intercepted on the coast of Puttalam and surrounding areas.

Last week, December 27, the Police found 20,000 kilograms of turmeric in a fishing trawler at the Kalametiya Fisheries Harbour at Hungama. This haul was burnt by STF personnel at midnight on December 29.

Earlier the Customs had confiscated about 15,000 kilograms of the coveted rhizome from smugglers.

Superintendent N.P. P Ratnayake, said investigations have slowed down due to the coronavirus flare-up.

Turmeric smugglers have been intercepted by the Sri Lanka Navy, the coastal police, the coast guard and the STF, since the imports ban in April.

Meanwhile, 25,450 kilograms of dried turmeric worth Rs. 19 million hidden among onions in four containers from Dubai were detected at the Colombo Port, early last month.

This is in addition to the 62 container loads of turmeric containing 30 metric tons already lying in the Colombo Port.

These had been reported in shipping documents but not declared to customs, Spokesman and Director Sunil Jayaratne said.

Despite a severe shortage of turmeric, the government refuses to release the shipments in the hope of deterring importers.

Imports were banned to encourage local cultivation and to save foreign exchange, the government had said.

Importers have been asked to return shipments.

Mr. Jayaratne, said that only a few importers have obliged, while others are unable to pay demurrage charges.

We are awaiting an order from the government on the disposal method, he said.

Customs has donated 9,950 kilograms to the Ayurvedic Department.

A ceiling set on the price of a kilogram of turmeric in April 2020 by gazette notice was revoked in September, after turmeric began selling for Rs 4,500 in the underground market.
RTHK: Anti-lockdown Czechs brew up beer-glass protest

Protesters built a chain of beer glasses containing lit candles in central Prague on Sunday to challenge restrictions adopted to combat the Covid-19 spread.

The kilometre-long chain led from the government building to the historic Old Town Square, with glasses placed two or three metres (yards) apart.

"We are here because we are really desperate and at the end of our tether, physically and mentally," protest organiser Jiri Janecek said.

The manager of the Maly Janek small brewery south of Prague complained that the government was hurt the sector with its three restaurant closures since the Covid-19 outbreak last March.

"The government misfired with its restrictions and kicked off a far more lethal pandemic of poverty, unemployment, collapsing companies," said Janecek, bemoaning paltry compensation for the business.

On the chilly, foggy Sunday afternoon, protesters lit candles and placed them in beer glasses handed out by the organisers, which they then put on the pavement.

Some carried Czech flags and the organisers put up a coffin with nails as a symbol of the looming death of their business.

"I don't like the bans, the restrictions affecting our personal freedom, you cannot go anywhere, nothing's going on. I don't like this kind of life," protester Veronika Musilova said.

Facing yet another spike in Covid-19 cases, the Czech government closed restaurants, pubs and bars before Christmas, reducing their sales to takeaway windows.

Restaurants in the country boasting the world's highest beer consumption per capita were already closed during the first wave of the epidemic in the spring and for most of this autumn.

The Czech Republic has registered over 740,000 confirmed Covid-19 cases including almost 12,000 deaths since the March outbreak.

This story has been published on: 2021-01-03. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
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Donor Recipient Curt Whalen, right, with donor Dan Hauer after the kidney transplant. Donating a kidney to a friend in need was a no-brainer, accord

Curt Whalen and Dan Hauer share a strange and wonderful connection.

Back in 2014, both men worked as biomedical technicians at Fairbanks Memorial Hospital and had been friends for more than 10 years. So Dan knew that Curt suffered from polycystic kidney disease, an inherited disorder that occurs when clusters of cysts develop in the kidneys. Over the years, the disease progressively worsened.

Donor Dan Hauer gave this little Grover figure to his wife in college. She later handed it down to their kids, who gave it back to their dad to watc

By 2014, Curt knew he needed to get on the kidney transplant list. He wasnt surprised. Both his siblings suffered the same condition and both underwent kidney transplants.

But he was surprised when Dan, who had become his boss, offered to donate one of his kidneys.

It wasnt even a thing where I had to ask for it, Curt said. He just offered.

Now hes gone and Im still here and he didnt take his kidney with him, he added with a laugh.

Dan and his family moved to Kentucky in 2018. The friends still stay in touch and Curt contacts him on the anniversary of the transplant every year. Curt still works at Fairbanks Memorial Hospital.

For Dan, offering the kidney was a no-brainer.

Donor These two good friends share the same occupation and now they share a kidney. Photo courtesy Curt Whalen.

His wife is a surgical nurse, so she was well aware of the procedure and totally supported the donation. His kids were a little nervous at first, he said, but once they learned more about it, they supported his decision.

Both men had a common friend who was on dialysis, and Dan didnt want Curt to have to go through that.

I knew at some point it would progress to the point he was going to need it and I was happy to offer it, he said. So I got tested and it ended up working out.

The result has been that nearly six years later, both men are healthy and rarely think about the surgery that changed Curts life.

I try to just live life to the fullest and take each day as its given to me, Curt said.

However, if that transplant had not happened, he said, we wouldnt be having this conversation. It definitely gave me a new lease on life.

Donor Not only do they share a kidney, but they also managed to rupture their patella tendons - in separate incidents. Photo courtesy Curt Whalen.

It also made him realize he is thankful for everything he already has.

You reach a point in life where things you thought were important things in your youth  in the grand scheme, they dont amount to much, he said.

So he embraces life every day and looks forward to his quarterly health reports. That motivates him to stay healthy.

I havent held off from doing things because of my status at all, Curt said But I also dont need to be jumping out of perfectly good airplanes.

Dan doesnt think about it much either all these years later. He remains healthy and active, he said.

It was something that had to be done at the moment. And it had to be done for someone I cared about, so I didnt think twice about doing it, he said. But I dont think back on it often. It was just something that had to be done.

He said he wishes donating kidneys was more commonplace.

It is major surgery, he said. But if youre healthy and hydrating and taking care of yourself, youre in the best position to be able to do it. And there are very few reasons to say you wont do it.

The two friends have another medical connection. In 2016, Dan ruptured his patella tendon. A year later, to the day, Curt ruptured his patella tendon. Curt says it was a year later, again to the day, that Dan then suffered the same injury to his other leg.

Donor Although Dan Hauer moved out of state, the two remain friends. They share another connection: In 2016, Dan ruptured his patella tendon. A yea

I told him, you better mark your calendar, Dan said. But he made it through last year without doing his other knee.

The two remain good friends. They text each other once in awhile and Curt always gets in touch on the anniversary of the transplant.

Were guys. So we stay in touch the way guys stay in touch, Dan laughed. Just a quick Hows it going?

Reach columnist/community editor Kris Capps at 459-7546.
(Natural News) Scientists worldwide are still testing numerous drugs that can be repurposed for treating COVID-19. But one antiparasitic drug called Ivermectin is being touted as a very promising medicine for the disease.

During a recent Senate hearing, physicians called on the government to swiftly review the expansive medical evidence on Ivermectin as an early treatment for COVID-19.

The hearing held Tuesday, Dec. 8, was the latest effort by the Republican chairman of the homeland security committee, Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, to discuss early treatment options for COVID-19 in the hopes of reducing hospitalizations and preventing deaths.

Pierre Kory, a pulmonary and critical care specialist at Aurora St. Lukes Medical Center, said that data show how Ivermectin can help prevent COVID-19 from progressing, especially in people with mild symptoms. The drug can help critically ill patients recover faster as well.

The drug is also highly safe, as evidenced by randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that have been conducted only recently.

Kory is also the president of the Frontline COVID-19 Critical Care (FLCCC) Alliance, a nonprofit group made up of critical care experts and researchers from around the world. Members of the group have been tirelessly working since March to study COVID-19.

During the hearing, Kory also implored the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to review data on Ivermectin, which the FLCCC Alliance compiled in a manuscript.

Meanwhile, Paul Marik, the founder of the group, added that the drug has been used safely by more than 3.7 billion people over the last four decades. The drug is also on the World Health Organizations (WHO) Model List of Essential Medicines.

Ivermectin as COVID-19 treatment

In August, the NIH recommended against the use of Ivermectin as a COVID-19 treatment except in a clinical trial amid a lack of studies. However, it appears that this recommendation is severely outdated.

In his witness testimony, Kory said that much of the data on the efficacy of Ivermectin in the early treatment and prevention of COVID-19 has been published since the NIH made its recommendation.

In fact, his organizations manuscript detailed results from over 20 studies and RCTs on the subject, most of which were released in November and December.

One such study, which appeared early this month in the International Journal of Infectious Diseases, found that a five-day course of ivermectin resulted in an earlier clearance of the coronavirus.

This suggests that early intervention with the drug may halt the progression of COVID-19 in those with mild symptoms. The study involved 72 hospitalized COVID-19 patients in Bangladesh.

Meanwhile, a study led by Egyptian researchers on the safety and efficacy of Ivermectin for the treatment of COVID-19 was published as a preprint in November.

The study, which involved 600 COVID-19 patients, showed that treatment with Ivermectin led to significant reductions in mortality rate among patients with mild, moderate and severe cases of the disease. Given their findings, the team concluded that the early use of Ivermectin helps in controlling COVID-19 infections.

In another study published as a preprint in November, French researchers from the Institut Pasteur showed that Ivermectin is a promising anti-COVID-19 drug candidate. The researchers tested the drug on a hamster model of the disease.

Their results showed that treating infected hamsters with Ivermectin reduced the severity of their symptoms. Ivermectin also lowered levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin-6 and 10, in the animals lung tissue. (Related: Coronavirus hijacks immune cells to create cytokine storms, says new study.)

Senate hearing implied as anti-vaccine

But despite the mounting evidence on the efficacy of Ivermectin for the treatment of COVID-19, it might be a long while before the drug is approved for that purpose.

Johnson said that mainstream publications slammed the hearing before it even began, with many implying it was anti-vaccine. The hearing was also deemed dangerous before physicians were able to present their case for Ivermectin as a promising anti-COVID-19 drug candidate.

Armand Balboni, chief executive officer of the pharmaceutical company Appili Therapeutics, Inc. said that he almost did not participate in the Senate hearing because the news implied that participants were members of anti-vaccine groups. That couldnt be further from the truth, he said.

Meanwhile, Michigan Sen. Gary Peters, who was the only Democrat present at the hearing, accused members of the homeland security committee of attacking science and promoting discredited treatments.

In his opening statement, Peters said that the hearing will be playing politics with public health, claiming that the panelists were selected for their political views.

To this, Johnson said he does not understand the concerted effort to silence the voices of experts promoting early treatment options for COVID-19.

Read the latest updates on the coronavirus pandemic at Pandemic.news.

Sources include:

TheEpochTimes.com

COVID19CriticalCare.com

MegaDoctorNews.com

COVID19TreatmentGuidelines.NIH.gov

IJIDOnline.com

ResearchSquare.com

News-Medical.net
Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola, has admitted he is contemplating staying on in management much longer than he originally anticipated...





Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola, has admitted he is contemplating staying on in management much longer than he originally anticipated.

Guardiola turns 50 this month and has previously hinted he was not planning a long career, as he has other interests in life.

But, after recently extending his contract with City to the summer of 2023, Guardiola now feels retirement is a long way off.

Experience helps you, especially the way I live my profession.

Before, I thought I was going to retire soon. Now Im thinking Im going to retire older. So, I dont know, Guardiola said ahead of their trip to Chelsea.

The Spaniard has won 29 major trophies in a fine managerial career that also includes spells in charge of Barcelona and Bayern Munich.

Guardiola is now into his fifth season at City, making it his longest tenure in management after three years at Barca and four with Bayern.
Paris, TX (75460)

Today

Partly to mostly cloudy with scattered showers and thunderstorms overnight. Low 67F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Partly to mostly cloudy with scattered showers and thunderstorms overnight. Low 67F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
Here's how material shortages are hitting home construction

"It's not just that prices are going up; it's how quickly they're going up and nothing's coming down," said CEO of the PA Builders Association.
The Howard government believed in the promise of hundreds of thousands of jobs from the emerging LNG industry in the face of official advice warning that the cheapest way to cut greenhouse emissions could be compromised by a special deal for the sector.

Cabinet documents from 2000 released by the National Archives on Friday reveal how the Howard government accepted the argument that it could promote LNG as a "greenhouse beneficial transition fuel" while trying to protect other industries which could increase Australian emissions.

A Woodside Petroleum platform on the North West Shelf. Cabinet papers from 2000 show the Howard government's battle to balance support for the industry and its greenhouse gas reduction policy. Credit:Woodside Petroleum

At the time, the environment department under then minister Robert Hill was considering the design of an emissions trading scheme as a way to reduce the nation's greenhouse footprint.

While concerns over greenhouse emissions were growing, the industry department under then minister Nick Minchin was seeking to boost the LNG industry which at the time was restricted to WA's North-West Shelf.
Donald Trump spoke to Brad Raffensperger on Saturday - EPA

Donald Trump put pressure on Georgias secretary of state to overturn Joe Bidens victory, it has been reported.

A recording of an hour-long call between Mr Trump and fellow Republican, Brad Raffensperger, was leaked to the Washington Post.

In the call Mr Trump pleaded with Mr Raffensperger to find the 11,779 votes which enabled Mr Biden to win the state.

Theres nothing wrong with saying, you know, um, that youve recalculated, Mr Trump is reported to have said.

"All I want to do is this. I just want to find 11,780 votes, which is one more than we have. Because we won the state."

Mr Trump confirmed in a tweet on Sunday that he had spoken with Mr Raffensperger a day earlier.

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Mr Raffensperger responded on Twitter: "Respectfully, President Trump: What you're saying is not true. The truth will come out."

At another point in the conversation, Mr Trump appeared to threaten Mr Raffensperger and Ryan Germany, the secretary of state's legal counsel, by suggesting both could be criminally liable if they failed to find that thousands of ballots in Fulton County had been illegally destroyed. There is no evidence to support Mr Trump's claim.

"That's a criminal offence," Mr Trump says. "And you can't let that happen."

Biden senior adviser Bob Bauer said the recording was "irrefutable proof" of Mr Trump pressuring and threatening an official in his own party to "rescind a state's lawful, certified vote count and fabricate another in its place."

"It captures the whole, disgraceful story about Donald Trump's assault on American democracy," Mr Bauer said.

Vice-president elect, Kamala Harris, described the call l as a "bold abuse of power by the president of the United States", while left-wing Democratic congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said she believed Mr Trump had committed an impeachable offence.

Story continues

"If it was up to me, there would be articles of impeachment on the floor quite quickly," she said.

Pressure on Mr Trump to depart the White House was intensified when all 10 living former Defence Secretaries, including two he appointed, joined forces in a Washington Post oped to warn him against trying to use the military to dispute the election result.

Details of the call provided further evidence of the desperate attempts by the president and his allies to win an election he comprehensively lost.

It was the latest twist in the extraordinary aftermath of Novembers presidential election.

Mr Trumps intervention triggered calls for his prosecution for putting pressure on Mr Raffensperger to tamper with the outcome of an election.

Democratic congressman, Adam Schiff, described the call as potentially criminal.

It came after US vice-president Mike Pence gave his backing to a dozen Republican senators who plan to object to the confirmation of Joe Bidens election win when it comes before Congress on Wednesday.

Mr Pence, who will preside over what is normally a routine ceremonial occasion, issued a statement over the weekend saying he shares the concerns of millions of Americans about voter fraud and irregularities in the last election.

One congressman, Louie Gohmert, the Republican congressman who asked a court to give Mr Pence the power to overturn Mr Bidens victory, has called for Mr Trumps supporters to take to the streets.

Despite Mr Pences intervention, the rebels lack the numbers on Capitol Hill to prevent Mr Bidens victory being rubber-stamped.

Democrats already hold a majority in the House and could win control of the Senate  with the casting vote of vice-president-elect, Kamala Harris  if they win this weeks run-off elections in Georgia.

The attempt to block Mr Bidens victory is a symbolic gesture which has exposed a schism in the Republican ranks between Trump loyalists and the party establishment, including senate majority leader Mitch McConnell, who believe the election result should be honoured.

Senator Josh Hawley - Susan Walsh/Ap

Pro-Trump hardliners dominate the partys ranks in the House of Representatives with 140 of 196 members supporting the challenge.

Mr Pence and several of the senators who have endorsed the move to block confirmation of Mr Bidens victory are seen as likely presidential candidates in 2024 including Ted Cruz and Josh Hawley of Missouri.

Mr Gohmerts incendiary remarks reflect the febrile atmosphere in Washington since Mr Bidens victory, with Mr Trump and his supporters continuing to claim that the election was stolen.

Basically, in effect, the ruling would be youve got to go to the streets and be as violent as Antifa and BLM, (Black Lives Matter), Mr Gohmert said on the conservative television station, Newsmax.

Lin Wood, an attorney behind several lawsuits challenging Mr Bidens victory, suggested that Mr Pence should face execution by firing squad for refusing to overturn the election result.

His comments were disowned by Jenna Ellis, Mr Trumps campaign lawyer.

Mr Cruz tried to lower the temperature when he appeared on Fox News on Sunday.

I think we need to tone down the rhetoric. This is already a volatile situation. It's like a tinder box and throwing lit matches into it."

There are already fears that a massive pro-Trump protest in Washington DC planned to coincide with the meeting of Congress to ratify the election could turn violent.

The Proud Boys, the far-right group which was told by Mr Trump to stand back and stand by in September, intends to turn up in force on Wednesday.

According to postings on the social media platform, they also plan to divide into smaller teams  suggesting that they will reprise tactics which have seen brawls erupt between the Proud Boys and left-wing counter-protesters.

Already the homes of Mr McConnell and Democratic house leader, Nancy Pelosi, have been vandalised over the refusal of Congress to pass legislation increasing coronavirus relief payments from $600 to $2,000.
A woman who lay side-by-side in intensive care with her mother as she died from Covid has warned others 'don't let this be you'.

Anabel Sharma, 49, and her mother Maria Rico, 76, lay next to each other in hospital as they both battled Covid-19 after the virus 'ravaged' her family.

The pair were pictured for a final time as they held hands while both receiving support for their breathing. Less than 24 hours later, Maria had died.

Now, in a stark warning about the dangers of the virus, mother-of-three Anabel, from Leicestershire, has urged others they could lose family members if they do not stick to the rules.

Speaking to the Mirror she said: 'I never thought Covid would hit us  but it did. The speed Covid ravaged through our family was frightening.

Anabel, 49, and her family, all fell ill from Covid towards the end of last year

Anabel Sharma and her mother Maria Rico in hospital holding hands

'If anyone is thinking about breaking the rules, Id urge them to put themselves in my shoes and think about what it might be like to watch your mum die, or be told that you might not live.'

Anabel, 49, and her family, all fell ill from Covid towards the end of last year.

Her 12-year-old son first Isaac contracted Covid following the return to school in September, according to the Mirror.

Anabel, her husband Bharat, 47, and her other sons Jacob, 22, and Noah, 10, later contracted the virus, the paper adds.

Her mother Maria was the last to test positive for Covid.

Bother Anabel and Maria taken to Leicester Royal Infirmary in mid-October and put onto oxygen beds away from each other.

But after Maria signed a Do Not Attempt Resuscitation (DNAR) order, Maria was wheeled in a bed next to Anabel.

Maria died on November 1 - 24 hours after the pair had taken a picture together showing her on a breathing machine and Anabel in an oxygen mask.

Anabel said she took off the oxygen mask in order to say goodbye to her mother.

In an emotional post on Facebook page 'Humans of Covid-19', Anabel said the ordeal had been the 'darkest period of my life'.

She said: 'By the time my mum and I were rushed to A&E, we both needed ITU but they were full.

'We only got our beds because four patients died that day, freeing up spaces.'

She described the type of treatment she received for Covid - Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) - as 'horrific and relentless'.

'I had to wear a plastic hood 24/7 for four weeks that forced oxygen into my lungs.

'It felt like sticking your head out of a car going at 30mph, it was noisy, I couldnt see, hear, and they fed me though an opening on the side of the hood,' she added.

Anabel also revealed she was unable to attend her mother's funeral due to Covid, adding: 'I watched it via live stream. I was alone, as were my family, we couldnt comfort each other, it broke my already fragile heart.'

In a warning to others about Covid, she said: 'What you read about NHS bed pressures is true, it isnt like the flu and people are dying or if they are a survivor like me, they may never be the same again.'
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Agape Sexual Assault Referral Centre, Akwa Ibom State, said it has provided medical and psychosocial care and support to 10 boys who have been victims of sexual abuse in the past three years.

Imaobong John, a counselling psychologist at the centre, told PREMIUM TIMES, Thursday, that the 10 boys are part of the 532 cases treated so far since the centre was set up in 2017.

The 11-year-old JSS1 student of the Deeper Life High School, Uyo, alleged to have been sexually abused by two senior students of the school, was taken to the centre a few days ago for medical examination, according to a statement from the Akwa Ibom State government.

Ms John said the centre, which offers free services, has helped about 30 rape victims get justice at the law court.

We sometimes provide transportations fare to victims, we can buy them clothes if we notice that they are in need of it, Ms John said.

The centre, which is an eight-bed facility within the Immanuel Hospital, Eket, was established by the Akwa Ibom State judiciary in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Women Affairs in the state, and the police, she said.

At least 20 states in Nigeria are yet to establish a sexual assault referral centre as of July 2020.
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Of all the careless and unwise decisions the Victorian government has made during its management of the pandemic, the rushed decision to close the states border with NSW is among the worst.

That is because this state government had 10 months to plan for exactly this move and, yet, when it came to action, the government and authorities botched every aspect of it. It ranks with the hotel quarantine debacle of May because tens of thousands of people were put at risk this time for no clear or logical reason.

Police stop motorists at a checkpoint in Genoa as they enter Victoria from NSW. Credit:Rachel Mounsey

The deadline to cross the border was arbitrary, unreasonably and pointlessly tight, and it set in motion an indisputably dangerous course of events. But compounding the chaos of 60,000 permitted persons trying to return en masse, were the Department of Health and Human Services' confusing, inconsistent and illogical quarantine directives.

Victorians who had travelled to Greater Sydney and the NSW Central Coast, where there had been some outbreaks of COVID-19 cases, were given less than nine hours to return on New Years Eve or risk being locked out of their home state.
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LONDON  With daily coronavirus infections surging as a result of a new virus variant, the British government faced mounting pressure Saturday from teachers unions to keep schools in England closed for at least another two weeks.

The government, which oversees schools in England, has already decided to keep all schools in London closed next week to try to stem new infections. Unions want the policy extended across the whole of England, expressing fears about the health of both teachers and children.

The U.K. on Saturday hit a daily record for new coronavirus infections  57,725  and looked set to soon overtake Italy once again to become the worst-hit country in Europe with nearly 75,000 COVID-19 deaths. The fear is that with rising infections, the number of deaths will also grow over the coming weeks.

The U.K. has recorded its five highest daily new infection numbers over the past five days  all above 50,000 and double the number of only a few weeks ago.

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After an emergency meeting on Saturday, the National Education Union, which represents over 450,000 education workers, called on Prime Minister Boris Johnsons Conservative government to move learning online for at least two weeks. It also told members they have a legal right not to have to work in an unsafe environment of accelerating coronavirus cases, hospital admissions and deaths.

We are doing our job as a union by informing our members that they have a legal right to refuse to work in unsafe conditions which are a danger to their health and to the health of their school communities, said Kevin Courtney, the unions joint general secretary.

Another union representing teachers, the NASUWT, also called for an immediate nationwide move to remote education due to virus safety concerns. Its general secretary, Patrick Roach, said theres genuine concern that schools and colleges are not able to reopen safely at this time.

The NASUWT will not hesitate to take appropriate action in order to protect members whose safety is put at risk as a result of the failure of employers or the government to ensure safe working conditions in schools and colleges, he said.

The governments own Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies warned at a Dec. 22 meeting that schools needed to stay closed to bring down virus transmission rates.

The U.K. is struggling with a sharp spike in new cases as a result of a new virus variant that officials say could be up to 70% more infectious.

The variant has been particularly prevalent in London and in surrounding areas, prompting Education Secretary Gavin Williamson to row back on plans to allow some primary schools  those for children 11 and under  in the capital to reopen as scheduled on Jan. 4.

Most other primary schools in England are still scheduled to open on Monday. High school reopenings have already been delayed for millions of students, with exam-year pupils scheduled to return on Jan. 11 and others a week later.

With many British hospitals at or near capacity, there are growing concerns over how the already stretched National Health Service will cope with an expected rise in people seeking treatment after getting infected over the holidays. Field hospitals are getting outfitted again to take in patients.

On the inoculations front, Britain began vaccinating people over 80 and health care workers on Dec. 8 with the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine. Last week, the government approved another vaccine made by Oxford University and pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca that is cheaper and easier to use.

The U.K. plans to ramp up vaccinations on Monday using 530,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine and has set a goal of vaccinating 2 million people a week as soon as possible.

The Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath in southern England was one of the first to get the newly approved vaccine on Saturday.

Dr. George Findlay, the trusts chief medical officer, said the newly approved vaccine is much easier to administer than the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, which needs to be stored at temperatures around minus 70 degrees Celsius (minus 94 Fahrenheit).

More than a million people in the U.K. have already received their first jab of the Pfizer vaccine.

In a shift from practices in the U.S., Britain plans to give people second doses of both vaccines within 12 weeks of their first shot rather than within 21 days, to accelerate immunizations across as many people as quickly as possible.

___

Follow AP coverage of the coronavirus pandemic at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic and https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-vaccine and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak

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Hyundai Motor India Ltd. has announced that the company has clocked a total sale of 66.750 units in December 2020. Out of the cumulative figures, the company sold 47,400 units in the domestic market while the export stood at 19,350 units for the international markets.

On a yearly scale, the domestic sales witnessed a jump of 24.89 per cent over the same period last year. The exports too rose by an impressive 58.84 per cent Y-o-Y. The last month of the year also marked the highest-ever single month production for the car manufacturer with 71,178 units produced only in December 2020. With the end of the calendar year, the cumulative CY sales stood at 5,22,542 units divided into 4,23,642 units of domestic sales and 98,900 units for the global market.

Commenting on the CY 2020 performance, Mr. S S Kim, MD & CEO, Hyundai Motor India Limited said, The world has witnessed multiple challenges in 2020. However, as the most innovative brand, Hyundai has emerged stronger out of this crisis, leading the way for economic revival. Right from the introduction of innovative initiatives such as Click-to-Buy and Hyundai Mobility Membership to the launch of AURA, All New CRETA, Spirited New VERNA, the New Tucson and the all-new i20 coupled with multiple powertrain options, we have redefined experiences to give customers superior products & services in every segment. This clearly reflected in our domestic sales that achieved new horizons, with Hyundai managing to increase market share for the second year in succession.

Hyundai also claimed that in 2020, the brand has emerged as one of the most preferred SUV brand in the country with the new Creta and the Venue topping the sales charts in their respective segments.

Hyundai Venue  6.92 Lakh Onwards

Hyundai | Hyundai Venue | Venue
Actor Sonam Kapoor Ahuja who is currently shooting for Shome Makhijas Blind in Glasgow on Saturday introduced her beautiful dog Elsa from the film.

The Delhi 6 actor shared three pictures of herself cuddling with the dog and also shared an adorable detail about her character from the film on Instagram.

She shared that the role she is portraying in the film - Gia - is very close to Elsa and cannot function without her.

Everyone meet Elsa my beautiful dog in #blind and she loves my character #gia and #gia cannot function without her, the Neerja actor wrote in the caption.

The 35-year-old actor had earlier on Monday kick-started shooting for the crime-thriller Blind in Glasgow.

Blind is the Bollywood remake of the 2011 released Korean film of the same name. The original film was directed by Ahn Sang-hoon.

The crime-thriller is being shot in a start-to-finish shooting schedule in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Directed by Shome Makhija, produced by Sujoy Ghosh, Avishek Ghosh, Manisha W, Pinkesh Nahar, Sachin Nahar, and Hyunwoo Thomas Kim, the movie is scheduled to release in 2021.

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Young people can stay under their parents' health insurance until the age of 31 from this year as more are expected to stay in education and live at home longer.

The federal budget extended the age limit from 25 to 31 to help ailing health funds, but experts predict it will also help more young people facing the risk of unemployment in a tougher COVID-19 economy.

The Australian Medical Association hopes the extension of private health insurance cover to 31-year-olds will help boost revenue for hospitals. Credit:Michele Mossop

Catholic Health Australia policy director James Kemp said the federal governments decision to raise the age that young people can stay on their parents' health insurance policy "could not have come at a better time".

"The last year has been incredibly tough for young Australians. Unemployment rates have rocketed amongst the under 30s and many are facing an uncertain future," he said.
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Smart gadgets are everywhere, with tech companies weaving artificial intelligence into cars, speakers, light bulbs and phones.

Their purpose, generally, is to make life more connected and a bit easier, but they are also being used in the medical realm to improve standard of care for patients.

Experts at Nottingham Trent University have partnered with Chesterfield-based manufacturer Rober Ltd to make smart mattresses for premature babies to keep them at the ideal temperature in order to prevent health complications.

Experts at Nottingham Trent University have partnered with Chesterfield-based manufacturer Rober Ltd to make smart mattresses for premature babies to keep them at the ideal temperature to prevent health complications

Developers of the new bed say it can detect tiny temperature fluctuations to medical standards and instantly warm up to prevent the baby getting any colder

Premature babies are often unable to maintain their core body temperature and must be kept toasty at all times.

If not, it can lead to health issues such as metabolic problems and difficulty breathing.

Developers of the new bed say it can detect tiny temperature fluctuations and instantly warm up to prevent the baby getting any colder.

This would work alongside the measures taken by specialist healthcare staff, the products creators say.

A prototype has been built from polyurethane and foam and is currently being tested, and the team hope to release the product 'in due course'.

There is no current timeline or price for the gadget.

A prototype has been built from polyurethane and foam and is being tested and the team hope to release the product 'in due course'. There is no current timeline or price for the gadget

Premature babies are often unable to maintain their core body temperature and must be kept toasty at all times. If not, it can lead to health complications such as metabolic problems and difficulty breathing. the new device helps track body temperature and warm babies up

Professor Peter Ford, a product design expert from the School of Art and Design at NTU, who is leading the project, said: 'It's essential that clinicians can provide reliable thermal management and doing so outside an incubator has significant advantages.

'Very young babies cannot thermoregulate as adults do, so maintaining an appropriate body temperature at such a vulnerable age is essential.

'Babies not kept at the right temperature face increased risk of developing complications, so we were keen to develop something which helps ensure that their chances of normal development are maximised.'

Michael Hutson, Managing Director of Rober Ltd, adds: 'The technology we are developing will provide vital support to some of the most fragile lives on the planet.

'By allowing neonatal babies to sleep on smart mattresses which provide the precise temperature for their needs, we will be able to minimise the risk of temperature-related complications.

'We look forward to testing the technology thoroughly with view to providing a product to the open market in due course.'
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London's NHS Nightingale hospital will have just 300 beds for treating patients, a fraction of the 4,000 available in March, when it re-opens next week, MailOnline can reveal.

The flagship hospital at the ExCeL centre will start admitting recovering emergency care patients who have tested negative for coronavirus in the coming days, but it will not have all its beds available for patients until next month.

A spokesman for NHS England did not deny they had significantly cut the number of beds, and said the number would be determined 'by the demand and availability of staff'.

The seven Nightingales were left largely unused during the first wave despite 220million of taxpayers' money being pumped into them, as hospitals struggled to spare the needed doctors and nurses to man their wards. Just 57 Covid-19 patients were admitted to London's Nightingale, Department of Health figures show.

The NHS also admitted the emergency facility would be used for non-Covid patients, despite millions being poured into equipping it with ventilators during the first wave for those suffering the worst effects of the virus.

'It will provide rehabilitation for people who are recovering after an emergency hospital stay and who are not Covid positive, freeing up other beds in hospital for Covid-19 patients,' they said.

The Nightingale in the capital's ExCeL Centre is currently 'on standby'.

The hospital was built to much fan-fare during the first wave of the pandemic, with Health Secretary Matt Hancock heralding it a 'remarkable feat in these challenging times'.

But it was left idling for months after barely a month in use, before the order to start stripping the hospital was given - as clearly shown by shocking photos from inside it last month revealing empty wards.

Frantic efforts were then launched to re-construct a 'scaled-down' version of the mothballed hospital, sources said, at further expense to the public purse.

It comes as London's hospitals are treating more Covid-19 patients than they did during the first wave of the crisis, official figures reveal.

There was an average of 5,061 patients suffering from the disease in hospital beds on April 8, but this was exceeded on December 29, when as many as 5,130 were in the capital's beds.

Britain has recorded more than 50,000 Covid-19 infections for the sixth day in a row, in an alarming sign the second wave of the pandemic is gathering speed. As many as 54,990 cases and 454 deaths from the virus have been recorded in the last 24 hours.

Boris Johnson warned this morning tougher restrictions were on the horizon for England after plunging four-fifths of the country into Tier 4 - forcing the closure of non-essential shops and gyms.

Nightingales were hailed as the solution to the Covid-19 crisis when they were opened to buffer hospitals, but they have sat idle for months. Above is London's Nightingale hospital last week after it was stripped of its beds

The emergency facility, in the capital's ExCeL Centre, is set to reopen next week but with only 300 beds, a fraction of the 4,000 it had during the first wave. It is pictured above on January 1

The Health Secretary Matt Hancock splashed more than 220million on the seven Nightingales in England. He is pictured above at the London Nightingale opening on April 3

Shocking pictures from inside the London Nightingale last week revealed eerily silent corridors and empty rooms. They included this section above revealing tables and chairs laid out but not in use

The hospitals corridors were also eerily silent, as pictured on December 29. Work quickly began to prepare the hospital to reopen amid escalating Covid-19 infections in the capital

How the NHS Nightingale hospitals were opened then put on standby NHS Nightingale Hospital London Announced: March 24

Opened: April 3 (by Prince Charles)

Closed: May 15

Current use: To reopen for patients tomorrow NHS Nightingale Hospital Birmingham Announced: March 27

Opened: April 16 (by Prince William)

Down to standby: May 5

Current use: On standby NHS Nightingale Hospital North West Announced: March 27

Opened: April 17 (by Duchess of Cornwall)

Closed: June 5

Current use: Treating non-Covid patients from late October. Hospitals must provide their own staff NHS Nightingale Hospital Yorkshire and the Humber Announced: April 3

Opened: April 21 (by Captain Tom Moore)

Radiology outpatient clinic: June 4

Current use: Diagnostic tests and appointments NHS Nightingale Hospital North East Announced: April 10

Opened: May 5 (by Matt Hancock)

Current use: On standby. It is yet to treat any patients NHS Nightingale Hospital Bristol Announced: April 3

Opened: April 27 (by Matt Hancock & Prince Edward)

Down to standby: July 6

Current use: Treating non-Covid patients from Bristol Eye Hospital and Bristol Royal Hospital for Children NHS Nightingale Hospital Exeter Announced: April 10

Opened in standby: July 8

First Covid patients: November 26

Current use: Treating Covid patients Advertisement

NHS London Nightingale was hurriedly put up in less than two weeks in March, amid fears the capital's hospitals could be overwhelmed by spiralling Covid-19 admissions.

It was opened to patients on April 3 by Prince Charles, and welcomed its first patient four days later.

Professor Richard Schilling, a consultant cardiologist, tweeted a photo to mark the event as the first team came on duty.

But within six weeks the hospital had been moved to 'standby' and ordered to close its doors.

Department of Health figures reveal only 57 patients were admitted to the emergency hospital, with the final patients being received on April 27.

By May 6, shortly before it was due to close, the Government dashboard shows only five patients remained at the facility.

The emergency facility has been left dormant for months, before hospital chiefs decided the extra capacity would again be needed in the new year.

Shocking photos reveal that in this time the Nightingale - put up at huge expense to taxpayers - had been stripped of its beds and wards while it was officially mothballed.

They revealed it was virtually deserted, with empty conference rooms stripped of vital beds and ventilators, while the corridors lay eerily silent. Outside, signs directing ambulances to wards had also been removed.

Doctors had warned when they were first constructed there were not enough medics available to staff the London Nightingale, or others in the country.

Dr Samantha Batt-Rawden, an intensive care medic and president of Doctors' Association UK, held ministers feet to the fire last week when she said they had failed to listen to warnings there were too few medics to keep the facilities open.

'As a doctor who volunteered for the Nightingale I can't tell you how much effort went into it,' she said, 'but (intensive care) staff are wafer thin on the ground'.

'We had warned of a staffing crisis in (intensive care) before the pandemic. The Government didn't listen.'

The Vice president of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine has branded the Nightingales 'useless' if there was no one to staff them.

Dr Adrian Boyle told LBC: 'The thing about the Nightingale hospitals and their limitations is that you need the staff to run it.'

'You can create a space, you can create as many beds as you like with a structure with a pillow at one end of it but if you haven't got the nursing staff and the doctors and the pharmacists and the OTs to make it work then it's useless.'

London's hospitals are already handling more patients than they were during the first wave of the pandemic, with the President of the Royal College of Physicians today warning the numbers are 'mild' compared to what is expected in the coming weeks.

Professor Andrew Goddard told BBC Breakfast: 'There's no doubt that Christmas is going to have a big impact, the new variant is also going to have a big impact.

'We know that is more infectious, more transmissible, so I think the large numbers (of admissions) that we're seeing in the South East, In London, in South Wales, is going to be reflected over the next month , two months even, over the rest of the country.'

He added: 'This new variant is definitely more infectious and is spreading across the whole of the country.

'It seems very likely that we are going to see more and more cases, wherever people work in the UK, and we ned to be prepared for that.'

It was reported that trusts in London were planning to halt non-Covid operations - including Barts Health Trust and Imperial College Trusts - to deal with an influx of patients.

A Covid-19 adviser to the British Medical Association has called on NHS bosses to keep Nightingales up and down the country open to help take the strain off NHS staff. Dr David Strain added that they should be used for the 'purpose for which it was built', treating Covid-19 patients.

'In the first wave of Covid-19 it was almost like a wartime spirit with everyone mucking in the best they can,' he said last week.

'Now the staff are tired but still doing their best. Nationally, we are having more and more staff off effectively with burn out.'

He added: 'On Monday I heard reports from a staff member in central London who had completed a 12-hour shift where it was impossible to maintain a safe distance, it was impossible to segregate patients with coronavirus from those without it. She was genuinely fearful for patients and her staff.'

Of the seven Nightingale hospitals built, only one - Exeter's - is treating Covid-19 patients. It had 21 patients on its wards as of December 30, official data suggests.

The Nightingales in Bristol, Sunderland and Harrogate are yet to treat a single patient suffering from Covid-19, official data suggests.

NHS Nightingale London hospital admissions from the Government dashboard are pictured above. It was put on 'standby' in May. NHS chiefs plan to reopen the hospital in the coming week

The number of patients in London's hospitals suffering from coronavirus is higher than during the first wave of the pandemic

Boris Johnson today warned 'tougher restrictions' are ahead for England if cases don't stop rising

It comes ahead of the roll-out of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine tomorrow, which is hoped will turbo-charge the system to two million doses a week - the number SAGE says is needed to prevent significantly more deaths.

The Prime Minister told Andrew Marr today the jabs were a way to get the UK out of the crisis, and said 'tens of millions' would be given over the next three months - although he refused to give specific figures.

He also dismissed criticism of the Government's handling of the pandemic, saying: 'What we could not have foreseen reasonably was the arrival of the variant.'

He added sharply: 'The Retrospectoscope is a magnificent instrument.'

Experts have warned the UK's exit from a crippling cycle of lockdowns depends on inoculating at least 25million vulnerable people by the spring. The gap between first and second doses has been extended to 12 weeks in a bid to reach more people faster.

But there are major concerns that tens of thousands of recently retired GPs, surgeons and nurses have been put off helping give out the jabs due to bureaucracy.

There has been mounting criticism over the 'ridiculous' amounts of red tape including requirements to get a certificate on fire safety, and training in preventing radicalisation.

Asked about the complaints, the PM added: 'I think it's absurd and I know that the Health Secretary is taking steps to get rid of that pointless bureaucracy.'
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 3) The Manila City government may implement road closures for the upcoming Feast of the Black Nazarene, or the Traslacion, as it expects many devotees to still converge on the streets to celebrate this year's event. The grand procession for 2021 was earlier canceled due to COVID-19 threat.

"I have to be honest with you, marami pa ring pupunta," Manila City Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso told CNN Philippines' Newsroom Weekend on Sunday.

"Sa loob ng simbahan wala kaming problema kasi mayroon kaming ibibigay na mga mask at face shield at susundin pa rin nila 'yung [limited] numbers na required. Ang only challenge ay 'yung labas ng simbahan."

[Translation: I have to be honest with you, a lot of people would still go there. Inside the church, we have no problem, because we can give masks and face shields, and the people will still follow the numbers required. The only challenge is outside the church.]

"We are planning to close down some roads to create more space We will try to make more space para sa mga (for the) devotees," he added.

Local officials and the Quiapo Church earlier agreed to cancel the much-awaited Traslacion, an annual religious spectacle which gathers millions of devotees, for 2021 due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Traslacion is traditionally celebrated every January 9 in Manila by parading the venerated image of the Black Nazarene from Quirino Grandstand to Quiapo Church. Filipino Catholics believe the Black Nazarene image can bring healing or lead to miracles.

READ: Faith or fanaticism? Why the Black Nazarene procession continues to draw millions of devotees
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Date of Incident: 01 JANUARY 2021

Time of Incident: 22:00

Location of Incident: Quitupe Village, Afungi Peninsula, Palma District

Proximity to Pemba  230km

At 22:00 on the evening of 01 December 2021, in the village of Quitupo inside the DUAT (close to the Airport), a brief exchange of fire between members of the Joint Task Force (JTF) and 2 x insurgents that were hiding in one of the houses, occurred. This was the result of information of the possible presence of the insurgents in one of the houses, prompting members of the Joint Task Force (JTF) to investigate.

The insurgents opened fire and was subsequently killed by JTF returning fire. No properties were destroyed.

Earlier the JTF succeeded in stabilizing the security situation around Afungi as clashes with insurgents occurred on 30 / 31 December 2020 and during 01 January 2021 in the Monjane and Mondlane villages. 40 houses were destroyed in Mondlane village and the insurgents were forced to withdraw from the area late on 31 Dec 20 due to effective counterinsurgency operations by the JTF. Several insurgents were killed in the skirmishes. Following the withdrawal of the insurgents, a note was left behind stating that Palma would be attacked on 05 January 2021, advising the population to leave the area.

Meanwhile, due to the deteriorating security situation, a decision was taken by Total to evacuate several of their employees from the LNG Project at Afungi and during the day on 01 January 2021, about 500 x Total personnel were evacuated from the Afungi LNG site to Pemba. Several local employees were also requested to remain at home in Palma until further notice. The subcontractors linked to the LNG project were handed the discretionary mandate to decide whether they want to evacuate or not.

COMMENT: The incident at Quitupo village inside the DUAT and very close to the Afungi Airport and Camp Pioneer, is of major concern and could have grave implications for the LNG Project. The presence of insurgents close to the airfield and Camp Pioneer is very worrying as it could impact on aircraft landing at the airfield. Despite this security concern, it is likely that the remaining Total employees in Afungi would be evacuated to Pemba over the weekend. The insurgents would probably take advantage of the current security situation by maintaining pressure on the Afungi Peninsula. It is also likely that the Government would reinforce the JTF and would try to pacify the Oil Companies not to completely withdraw. The insurgents are, as expected, concentrating, attacks in the Palma district, in a clear effort to prevent the GSF to commence with a planned offensive to recapture MdP.

(Recebido por email)
We streamed, we Zoomed, we ordered groceries and houseplants online, we created virtual villages while navigating laptop shortages to work and learn from home. When it comes to technology, 2020 was a year like no other.

Here are the year's tech winners and losers:

Losers

Virtual reality. As the world adjusted to a new stuck-at-home reality, the pandemic could have been virtual realitys chance to offer an escape. With the use of special headsets and accoutrements such as gloves, the technology lets people interact with a 360-degree view of a three-dimensional environment, seemingly a good fit for people stuck indoors. But people turned to easier-to-use software and games that they already had. Few rushed to spend hundreds of dollars on a clunky new headset or tried to learn the ropes of virtual reality meeting software. And no VR games broke into the mainstream.

Social media election labels. It was the year of labels on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and even TikTok. Ahead of the Nov. 3 presidential election, the companies promised to clamp down on election misinformation, including baseless accusations of fraud and candidates premature declarations of victory. And the most visible part of this was the bevy of labels applied to tweets, posts, photos, and videos.

Some or all of the content shared in this Tweet is disputed and might be misleading about an election or other civic process, read one typical label applied to a tweet by President Donald Trump.

But many experts said that although the labels made it appear that the companies were taking action, at the end of the day it proved to be pretty ineffective, as Jennifer Grygiel, a professor at Syracuse University and social media expert, put it.

Quibi. Less than a year ago, Quibi launched a splashy Super Bowl ad that posed the question, Whats a Quibi? People may still be scratching their heads. Quibi, short for quick bites, raised $1.75 billion from investors including major Hollywood players Disney, NBCUniversal, and Viacom. But the service struggled to reach viewers, as short videos abound on the internet and the coronavirus pandemic kept many people at home. It announced it was shutting down in October, just months after its April launch.

Uber and Lyft. Fresh off their initial public offerings the year before and still struggling to show they can be profitable, the ride-hailing services were clobbered by the pandemic in 2020, as people stopped taking cars and huddled down at home. In May, Uber laid off 3,700 people, or about 14% of its workforce. Lyft also announced job cuts.

But after significantly reducing costs by restructuring in the second quarter, Lyft said last month it expects to have its first profitable quarter at the end of 2021. And the companies scored a major victory in California, where voters granted them and others an exception to a law that sought to classify their drivers as employees, an expense that analysts thought would have pummeled their business in the nations most populous state.

U.S. TikTok ban. While India outlawed the popular video-sharing app, TikTok appears close to riding out Donald Trumps term without the president succeeding to ban it here. Earlier this month, a federal judge blocked a potential ban. It was the latest legal defeat for the administration in its efforts to wrest the app from its Chinese owners.

While President-elect Joe Biden has said TikTok is a concern, its not clear what his administration will do.

Winners

Nintendo Switch. Even in a year heralding splashy new consoles from Xbox and PlayStation, the Nintendo Switch was the console that could. Launched in 2017, the Switch became a fast seller this year as people searched for ways to be entertained at home. Boosting its popularity was the release of island simulation game Animal Crossing: New Horizons, which debuted March 20 and has now sold a cumulative 26 million units globally, according to Nintendo.

Zoom. All videoconferencing software from Microsoft Teams to WebEx thrived during the abrupt shift of tens of millions of people to remote working and schooling during the pandemic. But only one became a verb.

Zoom Video Communications was a relatively unheralded company before the pandemic hit, but its ease of use led to wide adoption during the pandemic. There were some growing pains, including lax security that led to Zoom bombing breaches early on. The company revamped its security and remains one of the popular platforms to host remote meetings and classes.

Ransomware purveyors. The ransomware scourge  in which criminals hold data hostage by scrambling it until victims pay up  reached epic dimensions in 2020, dovetailing terribly with the COVID-19 plague.

In the U.S., the number of attacks on health-care facilities was on track to nearly double from 50 in 2019. Attacks on state and local governments were up about 50% to more than 150. Cybersecurity firm Emsisoft estimates the cost of ransomware attacks in the U.S. alone last year at more than $9 billion between ransoms paid and downtime/recovery.

PC makers. After beginning the year with supply-chain delays, the personal computer industry found itself scrambling to keep up with surging demand for machines that became indispensable to millions of workers and students at home.

The outbreak initially stymied production because PC makers werent able to get the parts they needed from shutdown overseas factories. Those closures contributed to a steep decline in sales during the first three months of the year. But it has been boom times ever since. In July-September, PC shipments in the U.S. surged 11% from the same time in 2019  the industrys biggest quarterly sales increase in a decade, according to the research firm Gartner.

E-commerce. The biggest of the bunch, Amazon, is one of the few companies that has thrived during the coronavirus outbreak. People have ordered groceries, supplies, and other items online, helping the company bring in record revenue and profits between April and June. That came even though it had to spend $4 billion on cleaning supplies and pay workers overtime and bonuses.

But its not just Amazon. The pandemic is accelerating the move to online shopping, a trend experts expect to continue even after vaccines allow the world to resume normal activities.

The jury is out

Big Tech. Facebook, Amazon, Apple, and Google did well financially, with each companys stock price and profit up considerably since the start of the year. They gained users, rolled out new products and features, and kept on hiring even as other companies and industries faced significant cuts.

But regulators have been scrutinizing the companies, and thats unlikely to ease up in 2021. Google faces an antitrust lawsuit from the Department of Justice. And Facebook has been hit by one from the Federal Trade Commission, along with nearly every U.S. state that seeks to split it off from WhatsApp and Instagram.

More cases could follow. Congressional investigators spent months digging into the actions of Apple and Amazon in addition to Facebook and Google.
A poll worker pulls out a box of ballots in Fulton County, Ga., in this video released on Dec. 3, 2020. (Screenshot via NTD)

Trump: Georgia Secretary of State Unable to Answer Ballots Under Table Questions; Raffensperger Says Its Not True

President Donald Trump said that Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger was unable to answer questions about boxes of ballots being wheeled out from under a table after Republican poll workers were told by Fulton County officials that vote-counting was done for the night on Nov. 3.

I spoke to Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger yesterday about Fulton County and voter fraud in Georgia, Trump wrote Sunday morning on Twitter.

The president said Raffensperger was unwilling, or unable, to answer questions such as the ballots under table scam, ballot destruction, out of state voters, dead voters, and more. He has no clue!

The Epoch Times reached out to Raffenspergers office for comment after Trumps tweet.

In response about an hour later, Raffensperger responded: Respectfully, President Trump: What youre saying is not true. The truth will come out.

Respectfully, President Trump: What youre saying is not true. The truth will come out https://t.co/ViYjTSeRcC  GA Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger (@GaSecofState) January 3, 2021

What Trump was referring to was video footage obtained by Trumps team from the State Farm Center in Fulton County on the night of Nov. 3 and early morning hours of Nov. 4. The footage showed Fulton County election workers ostensibly telling poll observers and other workers that counting was done for the night.

I spoke to Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger yesterday about Fulton County and voter fraud in Georgia. He was unwilling, or unable, to answer questions such as the ballots under table scam, ballot destruction, out of state voters, dead voters, and more. He has no clue!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 3, 2021

Fulton County officials, including spokeswoman Regina Waller, at around 11 p.m. on Nov. 3 told news outlets like Yahoo News and ABC News that counting was done for the evening. However, other Fulton County officials later said that counting occurred until at least around 1:30 a.m. on Nov. 4, which Georgia GOP chairman David Shafer confirming that counting took place until that time. Later, Fulton County officials said that they did not specifically tell the poll observers to go home for the night, saying that the counting process was open to the publicand observers.

But in December, Republican poll observers Mitchell Harrison and Michelle Branton said in sworn affidavits that at approximately 10:30 p.m. on Nov. 3 inside an absentee ballot-counting room at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, a woman shouted to everyone to stop working and return the following morning at 8:30 a.m.

This lady had appeared through the night and Mitchell and I believed her to be the supervisor, Branton wrote.

Meanwhile, the footage from State Farm showed suitcase-like boxes of ballots being wheeled from under a table on the night of Nov. 3 after the poll challengers left. After those boxes were pulled out, it appeared to show vote-counting taking place.

According to Shafer in a statement in early December, Fulton County workers continued counting ballots in secret until 1 a.m. Trumps lawyers asserted that the video shows clear evidence of election fraud.

Officials with Georgias Secretary of States office have said the video footage does not show anything unusual.

Georgia election official Gabriel Sterling said in a statement that the footage shows normal ballot processing, while Fulton County cut corners and showed managerial sloppiness in handling the election and subsequent recounts.

We have launched an investigation into why the monitors from the political parties left before scanning ended. While it was their right to leave early, we want to make certain they were not misled into thinking scanning had stopped for the night when it had not, Walter Jones, a spokesman for Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, told The Epoch Times in December.

Other Allegations

Carlos Silva, a trial lawyer from Florida, who was a Republican poll challenger on Election Day, also said in an affidavit that he saw DeKalb County election officials pull out ballots with allegedly unusual features: they had a perfect black bubble filled out all for Joe Biden.

I was able to observe the perfect bubble for a few minutes before they made me move away from the table. At no time did I speak to the poll workers or obstruct them in any way. I heard them go through the stack and call out Bidens name over 500 times in a row, he said, adding that he made observations of similar ballots being pulled out in Cobb County.

Debbie Fisher, an observer in Cobb County, said last Wednesday during a Georgia legislature hearing that she was part of the voter review for the Nov. 16 hand recount, noting seemingly anomalous features with military ballots that were cast in the county.

Fisher stated that on that day, she reviewed 298 military ballots in Cobb County. And of those, somewhere between 80 and 90 percent were going in favor of Biden. Throughout the day, it made me sicker to see them all going for Biden, she said, adding, I find that statistically impossible. In that part of Cobb County, she said, traditionally, voters typically cast ballots for Republicansnot Democratsbased on her experience in prior elections.
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The COVID-19 fallout from the festive season continues to emerge, with several provinces reporting spikes in infections as more jet-setting politicians are taken to task for flouting public health warnings discouraging non-essential travel.

The COVID-19 fallout from the festive season continues to emerge, with several provinces reporting spikes in infections as more jet-setting politicians are taken to task for flouting public health warnings discouraging non-essential travel.

Ontario reported an all-time high of 3,363 new COVID-19 cases on Saturday, beating the previous single-day record of 3,328 cases set during the province's last report on Thursday.

The province also reported 2,476 diagnoses from New Year's Day, for a total of 5,839 new infections in 2021. But officials say that tally may be off after a data problem led to under-reporting in Toronto.

The province also logged 95 more deaths in the past two days, according to officials. There are 1,003 hospitalizations in Ontario, with 322 patients in intensive care units, and 220 people on ventilators.

Meanwhile, Rod Phillips' resignation from his role as Ontario's finance minister Thursday over a controversy surrounding his Caribbean vacation has set off a cascade of revelations about political officials' foreign getaways.

Two more members of Alberta's legislature have joined the growing cohort of lawmakers who have admitted to travelling abroad while their constituents were urged to stay home for the holidays.

A spokeswoman for Alberta Premier Jason Kenney said Jeremy Nixon and Tanya Fir, both representing Calgary-area ridings, took trips to the U.S. in recent weeks.

Christine Myatt said in an email Saturday that Nixon is cutting his trip to Hawaii short and will return home on the "earliest available flight."

Fir has posted an apology on Facebook on Friday after returning from a vacation to the U.S. to visit her sister.

The disclosures came as Alberta's chief medical officer of health tweeted Saturday that there were an estimated 900 new COVID-19 cases recorded in the province on New Year's Day.

Kenney said Friday he was aware of several legislature members and senior officials who had holidayed outside the country, including his own chief of staff and Municipal Affairs Minister Tracy Allard.

He issued a new directive ordering members of his United Conservative caucus to not leave Canada unless it's for government business, but said those who previously travelled wouldn't be punished.

The federal NDP wasn't quite forgiving to Manitoba member of Parliament Niki Ashton, who was stripped of her cabinet critic positions after travelling to Greece to visit her ill grandmother.

Dr. Maria Sundaram, a Toronto-based epidemiologist at the health-care research agency ICES, said while she normally doesn't endorse shaming people as a public health strategy, she believes politicians must be held to a higher standard, because their actions set an example for the public they serve.

"There are some leaders out there who are really practicing what they preach and that is really reassuring and really motivating," Sundaram said.

"Unfortunately, there are others who haven't quite adhered to the policies that they've espoused for others and that really damages trust and it really damages our ability to keep going."

Manitoba officials reported 11 deaths from COVID-19 over the past two days, and said 326 new cases of the virus have been identified since Thursday morning.

The province said the five-day test positivity rate is 10.4 per cent. There are 239 patients with active COVID-19 in Manitoba hospitals, 36 of whom are in intensive care.

Two Atlantic provinces, meanwhile, reported double-digit increases in COVID-19 cases.

Health authorities in New Brunswick said there were 10 new cases of COVID-19 in the province Saturday.

In Nova Scotia, officials said there were 13 new COVID-19 infections, with 11 confirmed on New Year's Day and two confirmed Saturday.

Five of the new cases have been linked to a private school in the Halifax area, where two cases have previously been identified.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 2, 2021.

with files by Jacob Serebrin in Montreal.
UPDATE: Cleaning crew left holding cell open, allowing attempted murder suspect to escape, Portland police say

Portland police on Saturday arrested a man accused of ramming into a police officer with a stolen pickup on Christmas Eve. But about four hours later, he escaped from a temporary holding cell in the Police Bureaus detective division and ran out of police headquarters in downtown Portland, police said.

Around 5:30 p.m. Saturday, officers discovered David Dahlen, 24, had escaped from the holding cell in the detective division, where investigators planned to question him about the Dec. 24 incident and resulting police shooting.

Dahlen is suspected of driving into Portland Police Officer Jennifer Pierce, who was hospitalized with a fractured pelvis, and was to be held on an attempted murder allegation in the earlier incident, according to the bureau.

Officer Kevin Allen, a bureau spokesman, said officers have not yet figured out how Dahlen escaped but said it was unprecedented in the bureaus recent history. An investigation will be done into how the escape occurred, Allen said.

Allen said after bureau members discovered he had escaped, they secured the building, and surveillance video showed Dahlen running north from Central Precinct. Police said he was still not in custody as of Sunday morning.

He said the holding cell is a temporary locking room in the police bureau. This was not one of the cells in the Multnomah County Detention Center, which are guarded by sheriffs deputies, he said.

Dahlen, 24, escaped from a holding cell in the Police Bureau's detective division and then ran out of the building. He has not been found.Portland Police Bureau

East Precinct officers had arrested Dahlen about 1:30 p.m. Saturday after a short foot chase in the area of Southeast 101st Avenue and Insley Street.

He was taken to the detective division for questioning in the Dec. 24 incident, where hes accused of driving a stolen pickup into an officer at a 76 gas station at the corner of Southeast Powell and Cesar Chavez Boulevards. When officers tried to box in the stolen truck, the driver rammed into Pierce, who was standing outside of her car, according to witnesses at the scene. Pierce was pinned between the truck and her patrol car, witnesses said. The pickup then backed up and drove forward, striking her again, according to the pickups owner who arrived at the scene. He said Pierce fired her gun at the truck after she was struck a second time.

The pickup peeled out of the gas station and officers located it unoccupied and abandoned in Southeast Portland an hour later, police said.

The pickup had been stolen from a Southeast Portland auto shop the prior Monday. The owner and his girlfriend were finishing up holiday shopping when a friend spotted their truck on Southeast Powell Boulevard. They alerted police and arrived at the 76 gas station when the police encounter occurred.

A witness video obtained by KOIN 6 captured the stolen pickup ramming the drivers side of a marked patrol car and pushing it forward before driving out of the gas stations lot. The drivers door of the police car was open at the time it was struck by the stolen truck.

Reporters Maxine Bernstein and Catalina Gaitan contributed to this story.

-Jayati Ramakrishnan; 503-221-4320; jramakrishnan@oregonian.com; @JRamakrishnanOR
Second stimulus check: headlines

- Trump pressures Sec of State for Georgia: "All I want to do is this, I just want to find 11,780 votes"

- Nancy Pelosi re-elected as Speaker of the House

- US covid-19 death toll surpasses 350,000

- Donald Trump calls key Georgia senate races "illegal and invalid"

- Attorney Lin Wood suggests Mike Pence 'should be arrested for treason'

- Democrats propose ban on all gender-specific words from House of Representatives rulebook

- Mitch McConnell objects to a Senate vote on the $2,000 stimulus checks for the third day running Thursday, after admitting bill has "no realistic path to quickly pass the Senate"

- Pelosi and Gingrich press McConnell to allow vote on 'clean' bill for $2,000 stimulus checks

- Trump extends freeze on skilled worker visas.

- Georgia Senator Perdue in isolation ahead of 5 January run-off.

- IRS confirm second round of stimulus check payments began in late-December

- Senate to vote on overriding Trump defense bill veto as President lashes out at "pathetic" Republican leaders.

- Georgia Senate run-off "too close to call" say pollsters, with control of upper house to be decided on 5 January.

- McConnell ties a new bill with $2,000 stimulus checks to a repeal of the social media-related Section 230 and finance for election fraud investigation

Related stories:
Actor Shahab Hosseini, best known for collaborations with Oscar-winning director Asghar Farhadi in "About Elly", "A Separation", and "The Salesman", is set to play Iranian-American physicist and inventor Ali Javan in an upcoming biopic.



According to The Hollywood Reporter, Kourosh Ahari, who most recently directed horror-thriller "The Night", is attached to write and direct the film.



Javan first proposed the concept of the gas laser in 1959 at the Bell Telephone Laboratories. A successful prototype, constructed by him in collaboration with WR Bennett, Jr and DR Herriott, was demonstrated in 1960.



Javan also contributed to the fields of quantum physics and spectroscopy. His original 1960 helium neon-laser device is currently on display at the Smithsonian Institute's National Museum of American History.



Ahari, Hosseini and producer Alex Bretow's production banner Pol Media has acquired exclusive worldwide rights to the life of Javan.



The physicist is survived by two daughters, Maia and Lila Javan, who will executive produce and consult on the project.



Hosseini has starred in Farhadi's Oscar-winning foreign-language films "A Separation" and "The Salesman", for which he won the best actor award at Cannes Film Festival in 2016.



"The Night", directed by Ahari, is the first American production to receive a license to release theatrically in Iran since the country's revolution. The film is slated to be released on January 29 in theatres and at home throughout North America from IFC Midnight. It set for a global release later in the year.



Bretow previously produced "The Night", also starring Hosseini, and "Generations".



Pol Media is currently scouting writers to pen the script alongside Ahari and taking the project to studios and distributors.

Image credit: AP

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People who have received the Covid-19 vaccine should avoid drinking alcohol because it can reduce the body's immune response to the jab, experts have warned.

Alcohol changes the make-up of the trillions of microorganisms that live in the gut which play an important role in preventing the invasion of bacteria and viruses.

This leads to the damage of immune cells in the blood, known as white blood cells, including lymphocytes, which send out antibodies to attack viruses.

Alcohol changes the make-up of the trillions of microorganisms that live in the gut which play an important role in preventing the invasion of bacteria and viruses (file image)

Emergency medicine specialist Dr Ronx Ikharia conducted an experiment where they took blood samples before and after drinking three glasses of Prosecco.

Dr Ikharia, the presenter of BBC documentary, The Truth About... Boosting Your Immune System which airs on Wednesday, found that three glasses were enough to bring down the levels of lymphocyte cells in their blood by as much as 50 per cent.

Immunologist Professor Sheena Cruickshank, at the University of Manchester, said the reduction in lymphocytes could lower the effectiveness of the body's immune response.

Therefore Professor Cruickshank has urged people to avoid alcohol around the time of their Covid-19 vaccination.

Emergency medicine specialist Dr Ronx Ikharia (pictured) conducted an experiment where they took blood samples before and after drinking three glasses of Prosecco

Professor Cruickshank said: 'You need to have your immune system working tip-top to have a good response to the vaccine, so if you're drinking the night before, or shortly afterwards, that's not going to help.'

In adults, lymphocytes make up roughly 20 to 40 percent of the total number of white blood cell and are concentrated in central lymphoid organs and tissues, such as the spleen, tonsils, and lymph nodes, where initial immune response is likely to occur.

Lymphocytes are of 'fundamental importance' in the immune system because they determine immune response to infectious microorganisms and other foreign substances, such as the SARS-CoV-2 virus, according to a team of scientists in Wuhan, China.
She is one of Australia's biggest fitness moguls, renowned for her pert derriere and gym-honed figure.

And Tammy Hembrow was definitely living the high life on Sunday when she traveled to Queensland's Hamilton Island via a private jet for a family holiday.

Enjoying the VIP treatment alongside partner Matt Poole, the 26-year-old appeared to have chartered a jet from Airly for $5,775 with her son Wolf and daughter Saskia.

Living the high life! Tammy Hembrow chartered a $5775 private jet to Hamilton Island for a relaxing holiday with her son Wolf and daughter Saskia on Sunday

The plane seats up to seven people and travels to destinations including the Gold Coast and The Whitsundays.

After boarding the jet, Tammy shared a photograph of her three-year-old daughter Saskia with her belt buckled on Instagram stories.

'We out,' she captioned the adorable image.

Matt also shared some videos from within the spacious jet, and captioned it 'vacay'.

Up, up and away! Enjoying the VIP treatment alongside partner Matt Poole, the 26-year-old appeared to have chartered a jet for the island getaway

Holiday time! After boarding the jet, Tammy shared a photograph of her three-year-old daughter Saskia on her Instagram stories

Lavish: Tammy appeared to have chartered a jet from Airly for $5,775 with partner Matt, and her son Wolf and daughter Saskia from a previous relationship

Time for a break: Upon landing, Matt shared a photo of Tammy and her two children on the tarmac and tagged 'Hamilton Island'

Upon landing, Matt shared a photo of Tammy and her two children on the tarmac.

He tagged the location 'Hamilton Island' in the post.

Tammy recently welcomed 2021 in her true style by showing off her figure in a racy tangerine outfit.

The blonde bombshell, who isn't afraid to push the boundaries when it comes to fashion, was every inch the blonde bombshell as she posed up in a crop top and daring hip-split trousers.

Travel: The plane seats up to seven people and travels to destinations including the Gold Coast and Whitsundays

Tammy completed her look with her long locks out and over her shoulders, neatly straightened, and makeup including dewy foundation and a smokey eye.

She shared a series of pictures of herself on Instagram and wrote in the caption: '2020 taught me so much. 2021 I am so ready for you.'

As she wished her followers a Happy New Year, she revealed she welcomed 2021 at home with her children and said that she 'wouldn't have had it any other way'.
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Humans dont rule the world, it turns out. COVID-19 is too small to see, as President Donald Trump pointed out. It has still killed more than 300,000 Americans in less than a year. It also ended the longest economic boom in American history and threw millions of people out of work. Millions of people who kept their jobs had to adapt to working at home  while also making sure their remote-schooling children paid attention to their on-screen teachers. COVID-19 meant people were mostly unable to go to movies, concerts or sporting events in 2020. And yet, by historical standards, it was a good year.

COVID-19 is a novel disease. No human caught it before 2019. Scientists created effective vaccines in about a year. By comparison, smallpox has been around since at least ancient Egypt in the third century B.C. The earliest evidence of inoculation dates to 10th century China. Thats more than a thousand years between smallpoxs first appearance and its first effective treatment  for a disease with a 30% fatality rate. But inoculation was rarely practiced until the 18th century, so it didnt help very many people for its first 900 years or so.
US Army Drill Sergeant Found Shot Dead in Car in Texas: Officials

A U.S. Army drill sergeant in Texas was found dead in her car on New Years Day, officials said, adding that she was shot several times.

The family of U.S. Army Drill Sergeant Jessica Mitchell told News4 that Mitchell died in the incident. The U.S. Army also confirmed it was Mitchell, who was a drill sergeant.

Why would anybody want to do this, asked her sister, Ashely Mitchell. Why why why why? Why? Why do people do such heinous acts of crime for no reason? You know, like, human life is not material it cannot be replaced.

Her father, Mayo Mitchell, told the San Antonio-based station: I told all my children, I want you to do better than what I have done. She and my children have so far and she wanted to be the best that she can be in her military career. But that was cut short.

And her mother told News4 that her family spoke with Mitchell earlier in the week.

Joint Base San Antonio said in a statement that her death is being investigated by the San Antonio Police Department and the U.S. Army.

We are devastated by the tragic loss of Drill Sergeant Jessica Mitchell. Our sincere condolences go out to her family and friends. We are focused on supporting Drill Sergeant Mitchells family as well as her soldiers during this extremely difficult time, Maj. Gen. Dennis LeMaster told News4. The unit was notified by hospital personnel that Mitchell, who was on holiday leave at the time, was the victim of multiple gunshot wounds. San Antonio Police Department and the Armys Criminal Investigation Division are investigating the situation.

Officials with the San Antonio Police Department said officers responding to a call at 2 a.m. on New Years Day on Interstate 10 in San Antonio.

They found a white Dodge Challenger with bullet holes in the side door and window, police said.

Officers opened the vehicle door and checked for a pulse on the victim (who) appeared to have been struck multiple times, police said, according to USA Today.

News4 noted that Mitchells 18-year-old brother was shot and killed in 2017. The station also reported that Mitchell leaves behind a 10-year-old son.
WASHINGTON  A growing number of Republican lawmakers are joining President Donald Trumps extraordinary effort to overturn the election, pledging to reject the results when Congress meets this week to count the Electoral College votes and certify President-elect Joe Bidens win.

Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas on Saturday announced a coalition of 11 senators who have been enlisted for Trumps effort to subvert the will of American voters.

This follows the declaration from Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri, who was the first to buck Senate leadership by saying he would join with House Republicans in objecting to the state tallies during Wednesdays joint session of Congress.

Trumps refusal to accept his defeat is tearing the party apart as Republicans are forced to make consequential choices that will set the contours of the post-Trump era. Hawley and Cruz are both among potential 2024 presidential contenders.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell had urged his party not to try to overturn what nonpartisan election officials have concluded was a free and fair vote.

The 11 senators largely acknowledged Saturday they will not succeed in preventing Biden from being inaugurated on Jan. 20 after he won the Electoral College 306-232. But their challenges, and those from House Republicans, represent the most sweeping effort to undo a presidential election outcome since the Civil War.

We do not take this action lightly, Cruz and the other senators said in a joint statement.

They vowed to vote against certain state electors on Wednesday unless Congress appoints an electoral commission to immediately conduct an audit of the election results. They are zeroing in on the states where Trump has raised unfounded claims of voter fraud. Congress is unlikely to agree to their demand.

The group, which presented no new evidence of election problems, includes Sens. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, James Lankford of Oklahoma, Steve Daines of Montana, John Kennedy of Louisiana, Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee and Mike Braun of Indiana, and Sens.-elect Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming, Roger Marshall of Kansas, Bill Hagerty of Tennessee and Tommy Tuberville of Alabama.

Trump, the first president to lose a re-election bid in almost 30 years, has attributed his defeat to widespread voter fraud, despite the consensus of nonpartisan election officials and even Trumps attorney general that there was none. Of the roughly 50 lawsuits the president and his allies have filed challenging election results, nearly all have been dismissed or dropped. Hes also lost twice at the U.S. Supreme Court.

The days ahead are expected to do little to change the outcome.

Joe Biden will be inaugurated on January 20th, and no publicity stunt will change that, said Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, the top Democrat on the panel overseeing the Electoral College count.

Klobuchar said the Republican effort to create a federal commission to supersede state certifications when the votes have already been counted, recounted, litigated, and state-certified is wrong.

It is undemocratic. It is un-American. And fortunately it will be unsuccessful. In the end, democracy will prevail, she said in a statement.

The convening of the joint session to count the Electoral College votes is usually routine. While objections have surfaced before  in 2017, several House Democrats challenged Trumps win  few have approached this level of intensity.

On the other side of the Republican divide, Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska, another possible 2024 contender, has urged his colleagues to reject this dangerous ploy, which he said threatens the nations civic norms.

Caught in the middle is Vice President Mike Pence, who faces growing pressure from Trumps allies over his ceremonial role in presiding over the session Wednesday.

Pence signaled support on Saturday for the bid to challenge the results, the New York Times reported.

Marc Short, his chief of staff, issued a statement saying that Pence shares the concerns of millions of Americans about voter fraud and irregularities in the last election.

The vice president, the statement continued, welcomes the efforts of members of the House and Senate to use the authority they have under the law to raise objections and bring forward evidence before the Congress and the American people on Jan. 6th.

Several Republicans have indicated they are under pressure from constituents back home to show they are fighting for Trump in his baseless campaign to stay in office.

Sen. John Thune, the second-ranking Republican, told reporters at the Capitol that leadership was allowing senators to vote their conscience.

Thunes remarks as the GOP whip in charge of rounding up votes show that Republican leadership is not putting its muscle behind Trumps demands but allowing senators to choose their course. He noted the gravity of questioning the election outcome.

This is an issue thats incredibly consequential, incredibly rare historically and very precedent-setting, he said. This is a big vote.

Pence will be carefully watched as he presides over what is typically a routine vote count in Congress but is now heading toward a prolonged showdown that could extend into Wednesday night, depending on how many challenges are mounted.

A judge in Texas dismissed a lawsuit from Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Tyler, and a group of Arizona electors trying to force Pence to step outside mere ceremony and shape the outcome of the vote. U.S. District Judge Jeremy Kernodle, a Trump appointee, dismissed the suit late Friday.

To ward off a dramatic unraveling, McConnell convened a conference call with Republican senators Thursday specifically to address the coming joint session and logistics of tallying the vote, according to several Republicans granted anonymity to discuss the private call.

The Republican leader pointedly called on Hawley to answer questions about his challenge to Bidens victory, according to two of the Republicans.

But there was no response because Hawley was a no-show, the Republicans said.

Hawleys office said he sent an email afterward to his colleagues explaining his views. In the email, Hawley said constituents back home are angry and disillusioned with the outcome of the election.

Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., who has acknowledged Bidens victory and defended his states elections systems as valid and accurate, spoke up on the call, objecting to those challenging Pennsylvanias results and making clear he disagrees with plans to contest the result, his office said in a statement.

McConnell had previously warned GOP senators not to participate in raising objections, saying it would be a terrible vote for colleagues. In essence, lawmakers would be forced to choose between the will of the outgoing president and that of the voters.
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Drug firm Zydus Cadila also received the go-ahead to conduct phase-3 trails for its vaccine candidate ZyCoV-D  the country's first DNA vaccine candidate against the novel coronavirus infection.

As India's coronavirus case count mounted to 1.03 crore the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) on Sunday gave approval to Oxford-AstreZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine Covishield, manufactured by the Serum Institute of India, and indigenously developed vaccine Covaxin of Bharat Biotech for restricted emergency use in the country.

The approval by the DCGI was given on the basis of recommendations submitted by a COVID-19 subject expert committee (SEC) of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO).

Drug firm Zydus Cadila also received the go-ahead to conduct Phase-3 trails for its vaccine candidate ZyCoV-D  the country's first DNA vaccine candidate against the novel coronavirus infection.

While the approval to the two vaccines was welcomed by many, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, various BJP leaders as well as World Health Organisation, Congress leaders raised questions around the approval granted to Covaxin, asking the Union health minister to explain why mandatory protocols and verification of data "had been dispensed with".

Union health minister Harsh Vardhan hit back over the criticism, claiming that no serious adverse effects were seen in Phase-2 trials of Coxavin and that Bharat Biotech's vaccine was more likely to work against newer variants like the UK variant.

The minister also clarified that the authorisation for Covaxin was different from that for Covishield as the former would be used in clinical trial mode and all recipients would be tracked and monitored and described the approval as a strategic decision for vaccine security.

Meanwhile, the Madhya Pradesh government came under criticism for ordering the closure of all COVID centres in the state, except those in Bhopal, over the low occupancy of beds.

The Odisha government announced that physical classes for final year graduate and postgraduate students in the state's universities and colleges will resume from 11 January.

DCGI approves two vaccines for restricted emergency use

"After adequate examination, CDSCO has decided to accept the recommendations of the Expert Committee and, accordingly, vaccines of M/s Serum and Bharat Biotech are being approved for restricted use in emergency situations," DCGI VG Somani told the media. This clears the way for the roll-out of at least two vaccines in India in the coming days.

"Serum and Bharat Biotech vaccines have to be administered in two doses," Somani said, adding these vaccines have to be stored at 2-8 C.

Pune-based SII's shot is a Recombinant Chimpanzee Adenovirus vector vaccine (Covishield), encoding the SARS-CoV-2 Spike (S) glycoprotein with technology transfer from AstraZeneca/Oxford University. "The firm submitted safety, immunogenicity and efficacy data generated on 23,745 participants aged 18 years or older from overseas clinical studies. The overall vaccine efficacy was found to be 70.42 percent," Somani said.

Further, SII was granted permission to conduct Phase-2/3 clinical trials on 1,600 participants within the country, he said.

On Covaxin, Somani said, "Bharat Biotech has developed a Whole Virion Inactivated coronavirus Vaccine (Covaxin) in collaboration with ICMR and NIV (Pune), from where they received the virus seed strains. This vaccine is developed on the Vero cell platform, which has a well established track record of safety and efficacy in the country and globally."

Phase 1 and Phase 2 clinical trials were conducted on approximately 800 subjects and the results have demonstrated that the vaccine is safe and provides a robust immune response, he said.

The Phase 3 efficacy trial was initiated in India on 25,800 volunteers and till date, approximately 22,500 participants have been vaccinated across the country and the vaccine has been found to be safe as per the data available till date, Somani said. "The clinical trial ongoing within the country by the firm will continue," he said.

The Department of Biotechnology confirmed that Zydus Cadila's ZyCoV-D vaccine, has been approved by the DCGI for the Phase III clinical trials. Zydus Cadila completed Phase-I/II clinical trials of this DNA vaccine candidate in more than 1,000 participants and "interim data indicated that the vaccine is safe and immunogenic when three doses were administered intradermally", the DBT said.

"Based on the recommendations of the Subject Expert Committee, which reviewed the interim data, the DCGI has accorded permission for conducting Phase-III clinical trial in 26,000 Indian participants," the DBT added.

SII had applied to the DCGI seeking nod for its vaccine on 5 December, while Bharat Biotech submitted its application on 6 December. Pfizer had also applied for regulatory approval for its vaccine on 4 December, but not much progress has been made on it after that.

The approval given to two COVID-19 vaccines is a "decisive turning point" in the spirited fight against the pandemic, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

A decisive turning point to strengthen a spirited fight! DCGI granting approval to vaccines of @SerumInstIndia and @BharatBiotech accelerates the road to a healthier and COVID-free nation. Congratulations India. Congratulations to our hardworking scientists and innovators.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 3, 2021



Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan termed it a "watershed moment" in India's battle against COVID-19 and called the vaccines a fitting tribute to the corona warriors.

The World Health Organisation too welcomed the much-anticipated approval to Covishield and Covaxin for restricted emergency use, saying it will help "intensify" and "strengthen" India's efforts to combat the coronavirus .

The Serum Institute of India, the world's largest vaccine manufacturer, has tied up with Oxford-AstraZeneca to manufacture Covishield.

"Happy new year, everyone! All the risks @SerumInstIndia took with stockpiling the vaccine, have finally paid off. COVISHIELD, India's first COVID-19 vaccine is approved, safe, effective and ready to roll-out in the coming weeks," Serum Institute of India CEO Adar Poonawalla tweeted.

The approval of Covaxin is a giant leap for innovation and novel product development in India, Krishna Ella, chairman and managing director of the Hyderabad-based pharmaceutical firm Bharat Biotech said in a statement. Ella said it was a proud moment for the nation, a great milestone in India's scientific capability, and a kickstart to the innovation ecosystem in India.

Ruling BJP leaders and Union ministers including party chief JP Nadda, Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh saluted the scientists and congratulated the prime minister for striving towards a coronavirus -free India.

Applauding the scientists for the domestically manufactured vaccines, Union home minister and senior BJP leader Amit Shah said, "Nation will always remain grateful to them for their selfless service towards mankind."

Delhi, Kerala ready for vaccine roll-out

Delhi health minister Satyendar Jain welcomed the approval given for emergency use of two COVID-19 vaccines, and asserted that the city government is all set for the vaccination roll-out as soon as any of them arrive. He said, in the first phase, about three lakh healthcare workers and nearly six lakh frontline workers, totalling about nine lakh, will get the vaccine.

Kerala health minister KK Shailaja said the state was ready to distribute the vaccine once the Centre gives the nod. "We will use the vaccine as instructed by the Central Government. We are fully prepared for the distribution of the vaccine once the Centre gives the permission. The Ice Lined Refrigerator (ILR), cold box etc are ready and the state has also finalised the places to distribute the vaccine," she told the media.

Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh said health workers, including paramedics, doctors, and police personnel will be administered a COVID-19 vaccine on priority and added the government will take steps to prevent black marketing of the vaccines. He said the people aged over 60 years and those above 60 years with the existing comorbidies will be the second priority group for vaccination in the state.

India, which has recorded 1.03 crore coronavirus cases and 1.49 lakh deaths, conducted a dry run on Saturday involving all states and union territories in preparation for a major inoculation drive.

Congress leaders raise concern

While Congress' chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala lauded scientists and researchers of Bharat Biotech for the indigenous vaccine, some party leaders like Anand Sharma, Jairam Ramesh and Shashi Tharoor raised concern over the grant of approval to it without the phase 3 trials, saying it is "premature" and can prove dangerous.

"We are baffled to understand what scientific logic has motivated the SEC (subject expert committee) to approve this vaccine posthaste... in violation of the criteria in the draft regulatory guidelines for the development of COVID-19 vaccines published by CDSCO on 21/9/20," Tharoor tweeted, referring to Covaxin.

Ramesh had earlier said that Bharat Biotech is a first-rate enterprise while adding that it is puzzling that internationally-accepted protocols relating to phase three trials are being modified for Covaxin and asked the Union Health Minister to clarify.

Bharat Biotech is a first-rate enterprise, but it is puzzling that internationally-accepted protocols relating to phase 3 trials are being modified for Covaxin. Health Minister @drharshvardhan should clarify. pic.twitter.com/5HAWZtmW9s  Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) January 3, 2021

Anand Sharma, who heads the Parliamentary panel on Home Affairs which dealt with the issue at length, said the matter of granting authorisation for vaccine use needs to be taken up carefully as no country has dispensed with the mandatory phase 3 trials and verification of data.

'Covaxin more likely to work against virus variants'

Asking the Congress and other Opposition parties not to do politics on the vaccine issue, BJP national president JP Nadda accused them of trying to cause panic among people to further their "failed politics and nefarious agendas"

Vardhan said Bharat Biotech's vaccine is more likely to work against newer variants of coronavirus , including the UK variant, and asked politicians not to "discredit" the approval protocol.

COVAXIN is more likely to work against newer variants like N501Y Variant (UK variant) & any other that may arise due to antigenic drift as it contains immunogens (epitopes) from other genes in addition to those from Spike protein

Inactivated virus from NIV also had D614G mutation pic.twitter.com/337EsOQMhG  Dr Harsh Vardhan (@drharshvardhan) January 3, 2021

Vaccines approved globally based on gene encoding spike proteins have protective efficacy of over 90%

However, COVAXIN based on whole inactivated virus has other antigenic epitopes in addition to spike protein

So,its likely to have similar protective efficacy reported for others pic.twitter.com/AOIONrxZcd  Dr Harsh Vardhan (@drharshvardhan) January 3, 2021

In a series of tweet, Vardhan said: "The data from COVAXIN Phase I and II clinical trials reveals that it not only produces neutralizing antibodies in all participants but also sensitises CD4 T lymphocytes that imparts durable immune response."

"Our experience with inactivated vaccines not having serious adverse events was also observed in Phase II done among 380 study participants in BBV152 trial in 21280 Person days follow up. No serious adverse events seen. Only 7 percent persons receiving 6 microgram dose had mild symptoms," the health minister further stated adding that were no seroconversions in those who were provided vaccines in Phase 1, 2 trials."

ICMR director general Balram Bhargava also said Covaxin is based on an inactivated whole virus, having potential to target mutated coronavirus strains including the UK variant, which was a major ground for giving it a conditional nod. He, however, said no clear data regarding the efficacy of the vaccine is available so far.

The data generated so far demonstrates a strong immune response (both antibody as well as T cell) and in-vitro viral neutralisation. The ongoing clinical trial is the largest trial on 25,800 subjects, in which already 23,000 volunteers have been enrolled including subjects with comorbid conditions, and the vaccine has demonstrated safety till date, Bhargava said.

Covaxin approval strategic decision for vaccine security

In another tweet, Vardhan said that the approval for Covaxin was a monitored approval and it was a strategic decision for vaccine security. Vardhan said that the emergency use authorisation for Covaxin is different from Covishield because its use will be in clinical trial mode. "All COVAXIN recipients to be tracked,monitored as if theyre in trial," he said.

COVAXIN approval is Monitored Approval with strict follow-up & rolling review This approval ensures India has an additional vaccine shield in its arsenal esp against potential mutant strains in a dynamic pandemic situation -

A strategic decision for our vaccine security  pic.twitter.com/TgP7BZNWHf  Dr Harsh Vardhan (@drharshvardhan) January 3, 2021

Earlier in the day, speaking to news channels, AIIMS director Dr Randeep Guleria too said that the approval for Covaxin was different that the authorisation for SII's Covishield. Covaxin had been authorised for "emergency situations" and was a "back-up" in case the country witnessed a surge in cases due to the new virus variant or in case of uncertainty of the protection provided by the other vaccine against the UK strain, Guleria had told CNBC-TV18.

Speaking to CNN-News18, Guleria said any person who develops side-effects after receiving Covaxin will be eligible for compensation. India will start procuring Covaxin if the UK virus variant situation explodes or after the trials are completed, whichever happens first. Any person receiving Covaxin will get compensation in case of side effects just the way it happens in clinical trials, he said.

The AIIMS chief also told CNBC-TV18 that the regulators must have found the vaccine to be safe based on available data. He added that the clinical trials of Covaxin will continue till more data was available and then the approval for it could be upgraded to what Serum has received.

Congress criticises move to shut Covid care centre in MP

A political row also ensued in Madhya Pradesh where Congress leader Kamal Nath questioned the rationale behind the state government's decision to shut COVID care centres across the state except in Bhopal from 1 January.

      ,                                 ?  Office Of Kamal Nath (@OfficeOfKNath) January 3, 2021

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan defended the decision, saying the pandemic is under control in the state and there is no justification to keep the COVID care centres open "just for the sake of keeping them open".

"If needed, these COVID care centres will be opened again, but there is no justification to keep them open for the sake of keeping them open," Chouhan said in a statement.

Odisha colleges varsities to re-open for final year students

Considering the improvement in COVID-19 situation in the state and the huge academic loss of students due to the pandemic situation, the Odisha government on Sunday announced that physical classes in colleges and universities in the state will resume from 11 for the students of final year undergraduate and post-graduate courses. The penultimate semester exams for the students of UG/PG courses will be held from 16 to 31 March and the final semester examinations will take place between 16 an 30 June a notification issued by the Higher Education department said.

The government also issued a guideline for the conduct of classroom teaching, prescribing measures such as mandatory use of facemasks and recording lessons for absentee students. Teachers, students and staff residing in active containment zone shall not come to their institutes and hostels will be opened from 10 January only for 2020- 21 final year UG/PG students as well as Ph.D., M.Phil. and other research scholars.

The Uttar Pradesh government said a dry run to assess the readiness of the mechanism laid out for the imminent COVID-19 immunisation drive will be undertaken in six sites from 5 January. In a statement, the government said the dry run will start at 10 am in three urban and as many rural sites with a minimum of two sessions.

Active case in India below 2.5 lakh

India's COVID-19 case count climbed to 1,03,23,965 with 18,177 new cases in a day, while 99,27,310 people have recuperated so far pushing the national recovery rate to 96.15 percent on Sunday, according to the Union Health Ministry data.

There are 2,47,220 active cases of coronavirus infection in the country, comprising 2.39 percent of the total caseload, the data showed. The death toll climbed to 1,49,435 with the novel coronavirus virus claiming 217 lives in a span of 24 hours in the country, as per the data updated at 8 am. The COVID-19 case fatality rate stood at 1.45 percent.

Kerala has reported the maximum number of single-day recoveries with 4,985 newly recovered cases. A total of 2,110 people have recovered in Maharashtra followed by 1,963 in Chhattisgarh, the ministry said.

Ten States/UTs account for 69.59 per cent of new deaths. Maharashtra saw the maximum casualties (51). West Bengal and Kerala follow with 28 and 21 daily deaths, respectively, it stated.

With inputs from agencies
Representative image: Twitter/@ANI

The Assam Class 12 Board Examinations or Assam Higher Secondary Exams will be held in the first week of March 2021 with strict COVID-19 regulations amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, News18 reported.

Exams will be conducted for the Arts, Commerce and Science streams by the Assam Higher Secondary Education Council (AHSEC), which has formed a high-level committee to discuss important aspects of the Board exams, the report said.

Dr. Dayananda Goswami, AHSEC chairman told local newspaper The Sentinel that preparations for the exams have begun and some measures have been taken to ensure a smooth process.

Follow our LIVE Updates on the coronavirus pandemic here

There were many exam centres earlier which now has been cancelled and we have put some conditions regarding selecting of new exam centres. The exam centres should have the proper facility of drinking water, boundary wall, CCTV camera, nearest post office, clinic, etc., Goswami said.

COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine  one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show

AHSEC secretary Dr. Ramesh Chandra Chutia noted that students did not have proper classes or educational facilities due to the pandemic and lockdowns, and thus the board has decided to reduce 30 percent syllabus considering the future of the students.

Check here for the latest updates on all COVID-19 vaccines

He added that educational institutes have been instructed to complete the full syllabus through online classes if possible. On exam centres, he said they will have to ensure that all laws and restrictions are followed.

Local newspapers have reported that the AHSEC has cautioned authorities when selecting exam centres. Students will be apprised of the exact details once centres have been finalised, it added.
A young couple accused of 'fleeing' quarantine at Melbourne Airport on New Year's Day could sue Victoria's Health Minister for defamation if found innocent, experts claim.

The couple, from Goulburn in NSW, have apologised for leaving the airport but said they had a green zone permit and made an innocent mistake due to the confusion caused by the rapidly changing regulations.

Victorian Health Minister Martin Foley said on Saturday that the pair would each be fined at least $19,000 for breaching Victoria's public health state of emergency.

But both Victoria Police and Victoria's Department of Health and Human Services confirmed to Daily Mail Australia that their organisations were still investigating.

Terry Elford, 26, (right) and Debbie Elford, 24, said they made an innocent error when they left Melbourne Airport on New Year's Day without quarantine, confused by rapidly changing rules

NSW Council for Civil Liberties spokesman Stephen Blanks said the pair may have an action for defamation when outed as being guilty despite ongoing investigations.

'Government ministers need to be careful to ensure not to accuse people of being guilty until all the relevant investigations have been carried out,' he told Daily Mail Australia on Sunday.

Mr Blanks said while it was possible Victoria could issue the pair on-the-spot fines, they still have the right to go to the courts and dispute the alleged offense - and that right had to be respected.

He said heavy-handed fines should be reserved for people who deliberately, flagrantly and dangerously flout the rules, not for people who are confused and make an innocent mistake.

NSW Council for Civil Liberties spokesman Stephen Blanks said government ministers should not declare people guilty before investigations finish especially when rules are changing fast

Police and the Victorian Health Minister accused the pair from New South Wales of 'absconding' from the airport in this van. The couple say they made a genuine mistake

'When these rules change day-by-day as they are at the moment, it's very onerous for people to know what they are and aren't allowed to do,' he said.

'The objective here is to generate community compliance with the orders and criminalise people with heavy fines who may well have made an innocent mistake - if they made a mistake at all.

'It doesn't create the right environment in the community to create co-operation and compliance.'

Terry and Debbie Elford arrived at Tullamarine Airport on the morning of New Year's Day on a flight from Canberra.

Police accused the pair of running from an officer who told them to go into quarantine and then fleeing the airport in a van.

The couple from Goulburn in NSW have disputed this, saying they made a genuine mistake.

They apologised on Saturday for leaving the airport and said they got coronavirus tests and contacted their local police in Goulburn, NSW, as soon as they saw the media reports.

'We had a permit, live in a green zone in NSW, were flying from Canberra airport which is allowed, and after we arrived in Tullamarine, we were stopped by DHS officers who were not able to tell us whether or not we needed to quarantine, so after about an hour or so we walked away,' Mr Elford, 26, said on Saturday.

Thousands joined a mad rush from NSW to the Victorian border ahead of new coronavirus shutdown rules at 11.59pm on January 1 (pictured, a border checkpoint in Mallacoota)

The couple said they had gone to an outdoor family barbecue in Victoria before flying back to Canberra that same afternoon as 24-year-old Debbie needed to attend an obstetrics appointment on Tuesday.

Mr Elford said the couple had told Victoria's Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) of their plans.

Victoria's border regulations changed rapidly from December 30 to January 1, with certain areas of NSW designated as red zones and others as green zones with permits issued.

The border snapped shut with any Victorians returning from NSW having to go into 14-day hotel quarantine from 11.59pm on January 1 - but that was after the pair had already arrived at Tullamarine.

COVID TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS FOR NEW SOUTH WALES: Western Australia - All NSW residents are banned from entering WA. Anyone who enters the state will be 'sent back', according to Premier Mark McGowan. In reality, all arrivals from NSW must have a special exemption and then have to quarantine for 14 days, either at home or in a hotel.

- All NSW residents are banned from entering WA. Anyone who enters the state will be 'sent back', according to Premier Mark McGowan. In reality, all arrivals from NSW must have a special exemption and then have to quarantine for 14 days, either at home or in a hotel. Victoria - Regional NSW was declared an 'orange zone' on January 11, and locals will be allowed into Victoria from 6pm with a permit. On January 18, Greater Sydney was also deemed an orange zone. People from ten Sydney LGAs, including Blacktown and Liverpool, which are deemed red zones are still banned.

- Regional NSW was declared an 'orange zone' on January 11, and locals will be allowed into Victoria from 6pm with a permit. On January 18, Greater Sydney was also deemed an orange zone. People from ten Sydney LGAs, including Blacktown and Liverpool, which are deemed red zones are still banned. Northern Territory - The state has declared greater metropolitan Sydney as a Covid-19 hotspot, and travellers will need to undergo 14 days of supervised quarantine.

- The state has declared greater metropolitan Sydney as a Covid-19 hotspot, and travellers will need to undergo 14 days of supervised quarantine. South Australia - Harder border closure to all NSW residents from midnight on New Year's Eve. Returning South Australians must quarantine for 14 days. A 100km border buffer zone, including Broken Hill and Wentworth, will be exempt.

- Harder border closure to all NSW residents from midnight on New Year's Eve. Returning South Australians must quarantine for 14 days. A 100km border buffer zone, including Broken Hill and Wentworth, will be exempt. Queensland - Queensland has shut its borders to Greater Sydney, Wollongong and the Central Coast. Locals returning to the Sunshine State from a hotspot must isolate.

- Queensland has shut its borders to Greater Sydney, Wollongong and the Central Coast. Locals returning to the Sunshine State from a hotspot must isolate. ACT - Anyone travelling to the ACT from a Covid-19 hotspot in NSW will now require an exemption. People from Sydney's Northern Beaches, Greater Sydney, the Central Coast and Wollongong will not be legally permitted to enter the ACT without a valid pass from midday on Saturday January 2.

- Anyone travelling to the ACT from a Covid-19 hotspot in NSW will now require an exemption. People from Sydney's Northern Beaches, Greater Sydney, the Central Coast and Wollongong will not be legally permitted to enter the ACT without a valid pass from midday on Saturday January 2. Tasmania - Northern Beaches residents banned. All people from Greater Sydney must also quarantine upon entry. Advertisement

Victoria's DHHS said people travelling from or through 'red zones' and 'hot zones' from NSW were not permitted to enter Victoria on January 1.

However anyone else who entered from NSW on January 1 was required to get tested and self-quarantine for 14 days.

'Victoria Police and DHHS are investigating this matter,' a DHHS spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia.

Victorian Minister for Health Martin Foley said on Saturday that the couple were facing fines of at least $19,000 each.

'I did want to make particular mention of two people who absconded from discussions with authorised officers yesterday who have now apparently returned to Goulburn in New South Wales,' Mr Foley said.

'Upon the advice of the public health team, those people have breached numerous orders of the public-health state of emergency in Victoria and they will each be fined at least $19,000 for their breaching of those arrangements.

'This is a very serious matter.'

Mr Foley said the pair 'absconded', did not have appropriate declaration material and 'would have been headed straight into compulsory hotel quarantine'.

Police said authorised officers spoke to the pair when they arrived at Tullamarine and told them they would have to quarantine in Victoria for 14 days.

'The pair then ran from the officer, fleeing the airport, and were picked up by a vehicle outside,' a Victoria Police spokesperson said.
Boris Johnson will decide whether to introduce stricter measures as he faces calls to bring in a lockdown

PM warned curbs were 'probably about to get tougher' - and said he was considering further school closures

Cabinet sources said they expected the Government's 'Covid-O' committee, which makes decisions on lockdown restrictions, would meet on Monday to decide on the next steps to take

Boris Johnson will decide today whether to introduce stricter coronavirus restrictions as he faces calls from Labour to bring in a national lockdown.

The Prime Minister warned yesterday that curbs were 'probably about to get tougher' as Government sources said more areas of England could be plunged into Tier Four in days.

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Under the strict measures, already in place across three-quarters of the country, only essential shops such as supermarkets are allowed to open and people are meant to stay at home.

Mr Johnson said he was also considering further closures of schools.

Cabinet sources said they expected the Government's 'Covid-O' committee, which makes decisions on lockdown restrictions, would meet today to decide on the next steps to take.

The Prime Minister has warned that curbs were 'probably about to get tougher' as Government sources said more areas of England could be plunged into Tier Four in days

Sir Keir Starmer demanded an immediate nationwide lockdown as he warned the 'virus is clearly out of control'. The Labour leader added: 'Let's not have the Prime Minister saying, 'I'm going to do it, but not yet'

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This map shows how the coronavirus variants have been tracked as they spread around the world

PM refuses to rule out cancelling exams Boris Johnson today refused to rule out cancelling GCSE and A-Level exams this year. Asked about the possibility, the PM said: 'We've got to be realistic, we've got to be realistic about the pace of which this new variant has spread 'We've got to be realistic about the impact that it's having on our NHS and we've got to be humble in the face of this virus.'

Last night, Sir Keir Starmer demanded an immediate nationwide lockdown as he warned the 'virus is clearly out of control'. The Labour leader added: 'Let's not have the Prime Minister saying, 'I'm going to do it, but not yet'.

'That's the problem he has made so many times. Nationwide lockdown  the Prime Minister has hinted that that's going to happen, but he's delaying again; and we can't afford that again.'

Appearing on The Andrew Marr Show on BBC One yesterday, Mr Johnson said he was 'entirely reconciled to doing what it takes to get the virus down' and warned of a 'tough period ahead'.

He said vaccinating more people would provide a way out of restrictions and that he hoped 'tens of millions' would be vaccinated in the next three months.

The Prime Minister stuck by his prediction that the situation would be better by the spring, but added: 'It may be that we need to do things in the next few weeks that will be tougher in many parts of the country. I'm fully, fully reconciled to that  and I bet the people of this country are reconciled to that because until the vaccine really comes on stream in a massive way, we're fighting this virus with the same set of tools.'

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Mr Johnson said the Government was assessing whether Tier Four restrictions were tough enough to control the spread of the virus or if further steps were needed, adding: 'We've got to keep things under constant review.'

Asked whether people could be restricted to an hour's exercise a day or a complete ban on any households mixing could be introduced, he replied: 'There are obviously a range of tougher measures that we would have to consider. I'm not going to speculate now about what they would be.

Social distancing signs displayed at Coldfall Primary School in Muswell Hill, London, on January 2 as Covid cases across the capital city have been putting rising pressure on the NHS

'Clearly, school closures  which we had to do in March  is one of those things. It's not something we necessarily want to do.'

A Government source said last night that ministers were looking at putting even more areas of England into Tier Four.

Professor Sir Mark Walport, a member of the Government's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), said it would be difficult to keep the new, faster-spreading strain of the virus under control without 'much tighter' social-distancing measures.

Speaking on The Andrew Marr Show, the former chief scientific adviser said: 'It's clear that this variant is transmitting more readily  it's transmitting more readily in younger age groups as well.

'It's important to note that it doesn't appear to cause worse disease or that it's going to be more resistant to the effects of the vaccine, but it is going to be very, very difficult to keep it under control without much tighter social-distancing measures.'

Sir Keir insisted there could be 'no more dither, no more delay', adding: 'The longer you delay the difficult decisions, the worse it is on the health front, the worse it is on the economic front.'

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Responding to his remarks, a No10 source said: 'The Prime Minister has been consistently clear that we are driven by the need to protect the NHS and save lives  unlike Labour, who have spent ten months playing party politics.

'We have moved more areas into Tier Four to bear down on the new variant and escalated other areas into Tier Three. This targeted approach is the right one.'

Surge in ward cases 'could fill 12 hospitals'

By Glen Keogh and Colin Fernandez for the Daily Mail

PM vows 'tens of millions' of jabs by March and crackdown on red tape Boris Johnson today vowed that 'tens of millions' of coronavirus vaccine doses will be given by March - as he admitted ministers must get rid of 'absurd' red tape stopping retired medics joining the effort. The PM refused to give exact figures for how many people will be vaccinated, beyond saying the government wants to be deploying two million jabs a week. But he said: 'What I can tell you is that we do hope that we will be able to do tens of millions in the course of the next three months.' The Oxford University and AstraZeneca vaccine is due to start being administered from tomorrow, with the UK's process so far among the fastest in the world. Experts have warned that the UK's exit from crippling lockdown depends on inoculating at least 25million vulnerable people by the spring. The gap between first and second doses of vaccines is being extended in a bid to reach more people. Meanwhile, there have been concerns that tens of thousands of recently retired GPs, surgeons, and nurses are being put off helping out due to the bureaucracy involved. Criticism has been mounting of 'ridiculous' demands such as a requirement to be certified in fire safety, or trained in preventing radicalisation. Asked about the complaints, Mr Johnson said: 'I think it's absurd and I know that the Health Secretary is taking steps to get rid of that pointless bureaucracy.'

The number of beds occupied by Covid patients increased by the equivalent of '12 full hospitals' in the eight days from Christmas, NHS figures show.

Between December 25 and January 2, the total number of inpatients suffering with coronavirus in England jumped from 17,701 to 23,557  up 33 per cent.

Chris Hopson, chief executive of NHS Providers, described the increase as the equivalent of '12 extra full hospitals, full of Covid patients'. The East of England, London and the South East recorded the largest percentage increases in hospital admissions for those suffering with the virus as the new, more infectious strain continues to take hold.

Mr Hopson said: 'You can imagine why people in the NHS are worried about how quickly this virus is spreading.'

Meanwhile, emergency plans are being drawn up to move critically-ill patients hundreds of miles as part of a 'pairing' scheme designed to ease pressure on regions where the NHS is struggling to cope.

Those in the East of England could be moved to hospitals in the Midlands while health trusts in the South East are preparing to send patients to the South West.

It is believed to be the first scheme of its kind in NHS history. Mr Hopson said it would involve only a small number of patients being moved from London when space in neighbouring hospitals was exhausted.

'If it gets more difficult, we will find other ways to treat people within the region but we know there are some patients that can be moved to where the pressure is slightly less, for example the South West and Midlands,' he told the Sunday Times.

On New Year's Eve, three intensive care units in London were reportedly full, with seriously-ill patients awaiting transfers to units elsewhere. North Middlesex University Hospital, Barnet Hospital and Whittington Hospital, in the north and north-west of the capital, described various issues including patients receiving oxygen in A&E, in an email leaked to Sky News.

Dr Alison Pittard, the dean of the Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine, said the NHS is trying to continue with its other services and treat patients while also dealing with the second coronavirus wave.

She told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show: 'One of the things I would like to tell the public is that if you have any concerns, whether it is about Covid or not, you must seek advice and help.' She said there are 'logistical issues' with the temporary Nightingale hospitals, some of which have been used to support diagnostic services.

Yesterday NHS bosses denied reports that cancer operations would need to be delayed to ensure there were enough beds in London.

'Don't let this be you' Covid patient, 49, tells how she watched her mother, 76, die in hospital as they BOTH battled virus in intensive care after disease 'ravaged' her family

Anabel Sharma, 49, taken to hospital with Covid along with mother Maria, 76

Pair took a photo together in hospital beds as they received breathing support

Maria died 24 hours after the picture was taken at Leicester Royal Infirmary

Anabel, a mother-of-three, has now warned others about dangers of Covid-19

By James Robinson for MailOnline

A woman who lay side-by-side in intensive care with her mother as she died from Covid has warned others 'don't let this be you'.

Anabel Sharma, 49, and her mother Maria Rico, 76, lay next to each other in hospital as they both battled Covid-19 after the virus 'ravaged' her family.

The pair were pictured for a final time as they held hands while both receiving support for their breathing. Less than 24 hours later, Maria had died.

Now, in a stark warning about the dangers of the virus, mother-of-three Anabel, from Leicestershire, has urged others they could lose family members if they do not stick to the rules.

Speaking to the Mirror: 'I never thought Covid would hit us  but it did. The speed Covid ravaged through our family was frightening.

'If anyone is thinking about breaking the rules, I'd urge them to put themselves in my shoes and think about what it might be like to watch your mum die, or be told that you might not live.'

Anabel, 49, and her family, all fell ill from Covid towards the end of last year.

Her 12-year-old son first Isaac contracted Covid following the return to school in September, according to the Mirror.

Anabel, her husband Bharat, 47, and her other sons Jacob, 22, and Noah, 10, later contracted the virus, the paper adds.

Her mother Maria was the last to test positive for Covid.

Bother Anabel and Maria taken to Leicester Royal Infirmary in mid-October and put onto oxygen beds away from each other.

But after Maria signed a Do Not Attempt Resuscitation (DNAR) order, Maria was wheeled in a bed next to Anabel.

Maria died on November 1 - 24 hours after the pair had taken a picture together showing her on a breathing machine and Anabel in an oxygen mask.

Anabel said she took off the oxygen mask in order to say goodbye to her mother.

In an emotional post on Facebook page 'Humans of Covid-19', Anabel said the ordeal had been the 'darkest period of my life'.

She said: 'By the time my mum and I were rushed to A&E, we both needed ITU but they were full.

'We only got our beds because four patients died that day, freeing up spaces.'

She described the type of treatment she received for Covid - Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) - as 'horrific and relentless'.

'I had to wear a plastic hood 24/7 for four weeks that forced oxygen into my lungs.

'It felt like sticking your head out of a car going at 30mph, it was noisy, I couldn't see, hear, and they fed me though an opening on the side of the hood,' she added.

Anabel also revealed she was unable to attend her mother's funeral due to Covid, adding: 'I watched it via live stream. I was alone, as were my family, we couldn't comfort each other, it broke my already fragile heart.'

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In a warning to others about Covid, she said: 'What you read about NHS bed pressures is true, it isn't like the flu and people are dying or if they are a survivor like me, they may never be the same again.'
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More groups have condemned the detention of the publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, and four others by police.

The activists were whisked away by police operatives at Gudu junction in Abuja during a protest tagged #CrossoverWithProtest on December 31, 2020.

The protest held in some states of the country.

Participants were seen on Twitter carrying candles and placards to show their grievances against the current government of the day.

Mr Sowore was reportedly brutalised before being forcefully dragged into one of the seven vehicles mobilised to the protest ground by police.

He has since been detained alongside others at Abattoir police station in Lokogoma, Abuja.

The police have not spoken on the arrest amidst reports he could be arraigned on Monday.

On Sunday, a rights group, Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA) in a statement, said it would renew its campaign to embarrass the federal government if Mr Sowore is not released.

The groups chairperson, Olanrewaju Suraju, said HEDA may be compelled to renew another global campaign that will embarrass the Nigerian government if he is not released or charged to a competent court of law.

Since 2019, the Nigerian government has been keeping Sowore in detention on trumped-up charges. His recent ordeal, leading to his arrest on New Years Eve is in furtherance of a plot to ensure his continuous incarceration by the Nigerian government, Mr Suraju said.

Another organisation, Youth Rights Campaign (YRC), in a statement by its coordinator, Adaramoye Michael, said Mr Sowores arrest showed heavy strong-arm tactics adopted by the Buhari regime to suppress freedom of assembly and dissent voices against the regime are a sign of a jittery regime which has lost its social base and can only keep itself in office through repression.

The group demanded an immediate and unconditional release of arrested activists.

In the same vein, members of African Action Congress (AAC) and the Coalition of Revolution (CORE) have vowed to protest at the police headquarters in Abuja.

The aim of the rally is to express their dissatisfaction over the continued detention of their members by the police.

This was communicated to the press in a statement jointly signed by Abdul Ameen and Sydney Godwin, for the groups respectively.

Weve resolved that if by Monday, Sowore and other comrades arent released, well occupy Abuja. The Nigerian populace have resolved to take back their country from mediocrity and place her in glory amongst the comity of nations and no level of intimidation can stop that. You cant stop an idea whose time has come, the activists said.
Heritage Minister Malcolm Noonan has proposed setting up a new Conservation Corps to train and pay people to remove invasive plant species, as part of efforts to tackle the climate and biodiversity emergency.

The Green Party TD also wants to encourage more people to become "citizen scientists" who plant trees and test river water quality. He has also pledged to establish a new Wildlife Crime Unit this year to help gardai investigate animal cruelty.

In an interview with the Sunday Independent, Mr Noonan painted a stark picture of the biodiversity emergency facing the country.

"We're facing effectively a mass extinction of species," he said.

"Invertebrates, fish, mammals, plant species, pretty much everything is in decline. There is very little that is not under threat.

"In Ireland we have a significant problem as well because the fate of species lies around the quality of habitats. In that regard it's around having a land use strategy that is fit for purpose, that takes on farm interests but also ensures farming and nature can work hand in hand."

A new five-year biodiversity action plan will be published by the Government in the coming months.

Mr Noonan wants people to involve themselves in initiatives like TidyTowns and also projects like planting trees and taking water quality samples from rivers.

A Conservation Corps could be established within the National Parks and Wildlife Service, where people would be trained and paid for the removal of invasive species, he said, citing a "real problem" with Himalayan balsam and rhododendron in areas like Connemara and Killarney National Park.

Mr Noonan has also proposed setting up an all-island biodiversity data agency to record species like Daubenton's bats, that feed off the river surface.

"I would have spent the guts of 14 or 15 years just as an amateur recorder, a bat detector and a torch standing by the riverbank," he said.

On plans for a new Wildlife Crime Unit, Mr Noonan said it would be based within the National Parks and Wildlife Service and will be set up this year with a core staff of five or six people.

"There's significant training involved with conservation rangers, around gathering a book of evidence, around liaising with the gardai, protecting the crime scene, all of that, so we'd have a standardised approach to investigating wildlife crime."

He said there had been a significant number of events in recent years, citing the recent shooting dead of a buzzard in Co Laois, as well as other incidents involving the poisoning of raptors, persecuting badgers, and the capturing of birds.

Mr Noonan also called for an overhaul of the greyhound racing industry, arguing that while funding cannot be shut off there needs to be a review into its viability.

He said money had compromised the sport, and added: "If it has a future it should have some grounding back in its origins and perhaps that may be its future. So perhaps I would like to see either a commission or something to investigate its future viability."

Sunday Independent
Gal Gadot may be flying high as a Hollywood icon now that shes starred in several Marvel movies, but the Wonder Woman 1984 star came very close to quitting Hollywood for good.

The Israeli actress apparently had grown so tired of the constant rejection she was getting that she was ready to throw in the towel and give up the acting. Luckily, she landed the historic role of Wonder Woman and her life changed forever.

Gal Gadot got tired of the rejection from Hollywood

Gal Gadot attends the 2020 Vanity Fair Oscar Party | Matt Winkelmeyer/VF20/WireImage

RELATED: Wonder Woman Star Gal Gadot Admits Her Imagine Video Was Not the Right Good Deed

Gadot had been in the movie business for a while before she started having doubts about her career as an actress. Shed had minor roles in films such as 2009s Fast & Furious, but wasnt seeing the success shed expected.

Before landing the audition for Wonder Woman, she was seriously considering giving up acting for good.

This profession, the rejection, ooh dude, its tough, Gadot said in a resurfaced 2017 interview with Jimmy Fallon. I had so many almosts, and another camera test  and another role, and another role  and I was like, telling my husband, Im not sure how long I can take it, dragging my family to Los Angeles, doing this  

Nobody told Gal Gadot she was auditioning for the Wonder Woman role

However, things changed for her after a routine trip to Los Angeles for a few other auditions. While there, she got a phone call from director Zach Synder, who wouldnt tell her what role she was auditioning for.

On the same tripwe were in Los AngelesI got a phone call from Zach Snyder, who wanted to audition me for this secret role, Gadot said. I was like, Ok, sure  Ill do that.

As confusing as it sounds to audition for a role with no context, its even more challenging to do it.

You have lines, you get the lines, but you have no idea what the story is about, whos the character, nothing, Gadot said.

She was ready to quit acting for good

After her audition, Gadot was even more unsure about the future of her career. Upon returning to her homeland of Israel, she had to do some soul searching.

We set, did the audition, I went back to Israel to shoot an Israeli movie, and I didnt know if I wanted to continue acting afterwards, Gadot said.

She got called back for camera tests and still had no idea what the role was

Gadots fortune changed after her agent gave her a follow up call about the role. Apparently, Synder liked her and wanted her to come back in for camera tests.

However, Gadot still had no idea what the role was.

Anyway, Im in Israel, I get a phone call, they tell me that they want to do a camera test, Gadot said. Im like, Again? Camera test again? Another almost almost? And then Im like, Ok, whatever, what am I being tested for? Whats the part? And then my agent goes, They didnt tell you? Im like, No. So no one knows 

After acing the screen tests, Gadot finally got a call while sitting on an airplane confirming she got the role. She was so excited, she started screaming on the plane, startling everyone.
He is one of the last remaining Strictly stalwarts who have graced the hit BBC One dance show since its beginning.

But I can reveal that bosses fear lively judge Bruno Tonioli won't take part in this year's series because of difficulties travelling between the UK and America due to Covid restrictions.

Bruno, who now lives in Los Angeles, is a judge on Dancing With The Stars, the American version of Strictly Come Dancing, and normally jets back and forth between California and London every week to work on both shows.

But last year's travel restrictions made that impossible and he decided to stay in the United States, where he is paid four times more than his UK salary of 250,000.

Bosses fear lively judge Bruno Tonioli won't take part in this year's series because of difficulties travelling between the UK and America due to Covid restrictions

He reportedly agreed to take just half of his BBC salary in return for appearing by video link whenever possible, but in the end that meant he was paid 125,000 for little more than five minutes screen time.

So with Covid restrictions set to be in place for some time, I hear that BBC executives are uneasy about signing him in case they end up in the same situation they did this year  and spending licence fee payers money for just a few moments of television.

Sources close to the show say that it leaves an opening for another Strictly stalwart, Anton Du Beke, who is keen to be a judge after 16 years of being one of the most loved professional dancers. He was a hit when he filled in for Motsi Mabuse when she had to fly back to Germany in November for family reasons.

One insider told me: 'This time last year Bruno had been signed up but things are so much less certain now. It is very unlikely the BBC will allow themselves to be in the same position they were this year and end up spending so much money for such little value.

'Bruno chose Dancing With The Stars over Strictly, that's no secret. If he does the same again this year, things will be tricky. There is the perfect replacement waiting in the wings  Anton.'

Sources close to the show say that it leaves an opening for another Strictly stalwart, Anton Du Beke, who is keen to be a judge after 16 years of being one of the most loved professional dancers

Harry and Meghan may think California is the answer to all their problems, but The Crown's Camilla has proved that if you're successful enough, happiness lies in the opposite direction.

Emerald Fennell, 35, who plays the Duchess of Cornwall in the Netflix series, has sold her Hollywood home for 1.1 million and returned to London on a wave of glory.

Not only has Emerald appeared in Call The Midwife and Anna Karenina, she wrote and produced a season of Killing Eve and is an Oscar contender after writing and directing the movie Promising Young Woman.

She is, one producer tells me, 'one of the hottest names on everyone's lips. She can write, act, direct and produce. There's seemingly nothing she can't do.' Including, it appears, reign over Hollywood all the way from her London home.
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Help India!

By Sharjeel Usmani, TwoCircles.net

Last year, around this time, Amir Aziz recited his poem that soon became an anthem for the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act protesters  Sab Yaad Rakha Jayega or Will Remember Everything. The poem is an important subject for me for two very particular reasons  one that it was a Muslim youth who through his rebellious poetry was challenging the state and two, because he wasnt just challenging, he was in fact warning the state. In doing so, Amir has made us realise the importance of remembrance. It is important to remember, but, why exactly? Because remembrance comes with an obligation to act on it, for a better future. This is my bit to remember the historic Shaheen Bagh.

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Shaheen Bagh is a past. Few books, numerous research papers and countless articles have already been written on it. Some tried to remember it with fondness, others with despair; some analysed it critically through a privileged lens, others romanticised it with their wokeness. I am merely trying, through this essay, to write an obituary of Shaheen Bagh, that it rightly deserves. For the sake of convenience of writing, Shaheen Bagh to me is not just the sit-in protest in Delhis most crowded Muslim ghettos, or the sit-in protests in other significantly large Muslim ghettos, suburbs and towns of India. It is neither those one day events of Azadi in Mumbais Azad Maidan or Delhis Jantar Mantar, nor those make-shift centers of resistance at Jamia Millia Islamias gate number 07 or Aligarh Muslim Universitys Bab e Syed. It is all of that, and more than that. It is the less remembered Raushan Bagh of Allahabad in Yogis Prayagraj; the post-Juma march towards District collectorate in Mau, the roadside pandal opposite to police headquarters in Madhya Pradeshs Khargone, the chaos outside Darul Uloom Nadwatul Ulamas principals office after the principal barred the students from attending the protest, the airport blockade in Keralas Kozhikode, the martyrdom of Jaleel Kudroli, Nausheen Bengre, and many others. Shaheen Bagh in my memory is also Sharjeel Imam who started it, and Nani Bilkis and her many friends who ensured it. It is also the 22-year old Muhammad Shehroz, who was killed in a police firing, and her mother, who continued to protest with the memory of her dead son, because she believed this writer and his friends whom she hadnt met before were also her children.

It is the remembrance of this Shaheen Bagh that is important  for it is not an event that can be appropriated or called-off. It was a chaotic, scattered and yet an immensly powerful act of collective resistance by the Muslim community against a power that didnt recognise them as equals. It was nothing close to a revolution as this writers excited social media friends would want you to believe but it was more than merely a protest as mainstream elite Indian media wants you to remember as. In this immediate reality, Shaheen Bagh is a movement that is very much alive.

Shaheen Baghs most remarkable achievement, as many have already noted, was placing Muslim women ahead in accessing independant, community-driven agency to lead. Never before did we see Hijab clad, educated Muslim women not just leading from the front, but also inspiring Muslim men to rally behind them. Muslims of Rajasthan found a leader in erstwhile unknown burkha-clad Heba Kulsoom who hosted this writer at the sit-in protest she was leading, and managing. Thousands of Muslim men and women  seated on the carpet on floor, would wait for Heba to arrive with her elder brother every morning for two long months. She would sit on one of the total two stages, one for women and the other for men  adjacent to each other, signal the man to switch on the mic and would officially start the days event with her sparking speech. Her brother would usually leave the protest site to open his kirana shop only to return late at night to take her sister back home. She was the authority who negotiated, on behalf of the protestors, with the police, and other district officials. She is one of the many inspiring women leaders this writer met in different cities during the course of the movement. In Keralas Kannur, a middle-aged man would walk to the writer after his speech and proudly introduce himself as Ladeedas father. Had there been no Shaheen Bagh  as a movement, the leader in Heba and countless other Muslim women wouldnt have been realised.

Amidst these realisations, the Muslim community also realised the true meaning of community. It became a diverse, yet singular bloc who empathised with each others sufferings, fought side-by-side, holding hands and having each others back. Safoora Zargars arrest became the communitys priority issue in a true sense. Muslim households would fast and Masjids would regularly hold prayers for the well being of a Muslim girl they had never met; and later for other Muslims who had been detained. This sense of belonging with the community would later play the most significant role in rehabilitating the survivors of Delhi pogrom. This whole process of building the small network of resistance in different cities, towns and lanes had created a new civil society space. During the reverse migration of labourers and wagers from megacities after the spontaneous announcement of country-wide lockdown, this network proactively participated in the relief work. Asif Iqbal Tanha, a student leader, had a pass issued from the local police station so as to get freedom to travel and deliver free ration to those who urgently needed it. A few weeks later, Asif was arrested, later charged with the draconian UAPA, and sent to Tihar jail where he is currently imprisoned. Amir Mintoee, another prominent anti-CAA activist in his city was arrested while he was distributing free food in the local government hospital.

Before this happened, when coronavirus was not an official threat in India, most sit-in protests had been successfully appropriated, becoming a festival. The over-romanticisation of these sit-in sites as revolution let the fear of impending genocide slip from the imagination of protesting masses. Thousands of people  performing dance, chanting slogans of Freedom, singing Faizs Hum Dekhenge, celebrating the victory they hadnt yet achieved forgot the real idea of these sit-in sites. The original sit-in site, as started by Sharjeel Imam, was an act of road blockade or Chakka Jam. Other sit-in sites only romanticised about sitting, and overlooked the necessary Chakka Jam part. As a result we had these numerous protest sites on locations allotted by police, with thousands of people just sitting and listening to performances. Later, coronavirus would be officially announced as a growing threat in India. The genocidal project of the Indian government to start the NPR came to a halt. With that, the movement too paused, and with it, all the other sit-in sites. With that, started the series of arbitrary arrests, and the dehumanization of Muslims, more particularly Tablighi Jamat members, as corona bombs. It seemed like India had launched a guerilla war against its Muslim citizens. Anti-CAA protestors were harassed and jailed. Their properties were sealed, businesses were fined.

The sudden halt, brought by the pandemic, gave time to heal and to introspect. The course of the movement was defined instantly, by people with more legitimacy and political currency over others. Several, including this writer, were narrowing the movement to a more specific, blunt agenda  of reviving the self respect and dignity of Muslims as an equal community in India. This was a risky idea, which threatened and disillusioned the other non Muslim allies, as it allegedly involved focusing on Muslims alone, rather than the entire canvas, India. The majority of the protestors, however, were more inclined towards making this movement, what to them was, more inclusive. This, quite naturally, created an internal drift of ideas within the movement. Two separate factions, radicals and real protestors, tried placing their idea on the movements face. The movement, nonetheless, was owned by Muslim masses who sided with the real protestors. In the process, they disowned Sharjeel Imam, thereby allowing the state to virtually hunt him, and allowing the media to create a monster out of him. In a few days, Sharjeel Imam became Indias latest enemy-number-one, his name appearing in random FIRs, irrelevant television debates and Home Ministers address in Parliament. Eventually, conversations about Sharjeels imprisonment were carefully silenced at protest sites, his speeches were forcefully forgotten amidst the glamour of the festivities.

When the festivals, celebrations, lightings of revolution ended, the roads were cleared, walls were whitewashed; slowly bringing back its owners to immediate realities  Sharjeels image remained. With him, remained the sufferings of a pogrom, and the series of arrests. The state did not differentiate between Sharjeel and those who disowned him. It somehow forced the community to introspect, allowed them time to reflect, and come with a more meaningful response to the arrests. He is a lively image of a community, learning and unlearning the language of resistance. Many have realised that Indias secularism, a never-ending quest to construct the best platform for people of diverse religious backgrounds, more particularly its two largest majorities  the Hindus and the Muslims, is far beyond irrelevance. Any attempts of saving it, at the cost of disowning and sacrificing its own people, is a futile exercise. Those who sacrificed their lives are much more than numbers in the list of dead. Those who are jailed are much more than victims of state witchhunt. All of them, dead and alive, are fighters, and they deserve to be remembered as such. The community is learning these lessons.

As for India, it has changed, if not matured, since last December. When the protests first started, it was merely an emotional outburst of a few who felt threatened and alienated. If not, it was at least treated like one by those who were supposedly extending their solidarities. In due course, it became something more. Something that was different than emotional outburst, in will and resolution. It taught the privileged how to behave like an ally. If not, it has successfully warned them how not to be an ally. For the community, Shaheen Bagh was an awakening. It gave us hope of a better tomorrow  not because it achieved what it wanted, but because its owners learned how to fight. Whatever the analysts say, Muslim community was fighting to gain the access to their dreams of a better tomorrow. They were fighting against their hopelessness of an uncertain, more dreadful tomorrow. Shaheen bagh is a materialisation of that dream, against that hopelessness, and it shall be remembered as such in history of the future.

____

Sharjeel Usmani is an activist associated with Fraternity Movement of India.
(Natural News) It may not be long before the world has to contend with armies of Terminator troops. We already know that China is developing biologically enhanced super soldiers, and now the French military has been given the go-ahead to create so-called augmented soldiers by the armed forces ministrys ethical committee.

France said it is seeking to enhance the cognitive, perceptive, psychological and physical capabilities of its troops through medical treatments to prevent stress and pain, substances to improve mental resilience if a soldier is taken prisoner, implants and prosthetics. The ministry has been researching drugs that can help troops stay awake for long periods of time and fight stress. They are also exploring surgery that can give them sharper hearing.

They are also interested in giving soldiers the ability to connect to other soldiers or weapon systems. They noted that other countries have already been working on advancements of this type, and France is taking these steps to keep up with the competition.

However, they are drawing the line somewhere, with the ethics committees report forbidding the use of modifications or implants that might affect their sense of humanity or their ability to manage the use of force. They have also banned modifications like cognitive implants that would prevent soldiers from exercising free will and any changes that might impact their reintegration into civilian life.

Although France claims that it plans to follow humanitarian laws, armed forces minister Florence Parly cautioned that not every country is willing to operate ethically, and it is important to be prepared for such realities.

Terrifying developments in the works

Military technology has advanced to frightening new heights in recent years, with sci-fi developments like invisible artificial skin, advanced brain implants and goggles that display combat information just a few of the technologies being developed.

France has reportedly been given the green light to create microchips that can enhance soldiers brain power. Hong Kong is developing technology for soldiers eyes that could give them night and infrared vision, while the U.S. Army is reportedly testing an exoskeleton that can be attached to soldiers legs to give their productivity a 27-fold boost. Red blood cells known as respirocytes are also being explored that could prevent soldiers from getting out of breath and allow them to remain underwater for several hours.

U.S. Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe expressed concerns about Chinas threat to the U.S. and its plans for military technological advancements in an opinion column for the Wall Street Journal recently, writing: U.S. intelligence shows that China has even conducted human testing on members of the Peoples Liberation Army in hope of developing soldiers with biologically enhanced capabilities.

He added: There are no ethical boundaries to Beijings pursuit of power.

Kings College London Visiting Professor in War Studies Michael Clarke said that this race is being spurred by fears of Chinas program, telling The Sun: Weve reached the point now where we could potentially manipulate peoples DNA to breed into them extra strength, endurance and other things just as we do with animals. Just as weve done with standard cattle to give them more back, we can do that now very precisely with humans.

DNA manipulation could, at least in theory, make the soldiers of the future immune to feelings and diseases. A report by the International Society for Military Ethics in Europe described bionic soldiers who can fight all the time, dubbing them homo robocopus.

The report stated: Enhanced soldiers would be reduced to bionic men, who run fast, do not need sleep, eat and drink very little, and can fight all the time.

Its a very scary idea, not only in the context of war. What happens if a group of these terminator soldiers decide to take over the world and the rest of us mere mortals cannot defend ourselves?

Sources for this article include:

StrangeSounds.org

IFLScience.com

NYPost.com
Ghaziabad: Fifteen people were killed when the roof of a shelter at a cremation ground in Uttar Pradesh's Muradnagar collapsed on Sunday, police said.

The roof collapsed when over 25 people had taken shelter at the structure while it was raining. Most of them were relatives of Ram Dhan, who was being cremated at that time.

Hours later, rescue workers were still going through the rubble to locate more victims, Ghaziabad (Rural) Superintendent of Police Iraj Raja said. Several people are admitted at hospitals.

A team of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has also been rushed to the spot.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed grief over the loss of lives in the incident.

The chief minister directed officials to give financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh to the kin of each of the deceased, a statement issued by the state government said.

The chief minister also directed the Divisional Commissioner of Meerut and ADG Meerut zone to submit a report in this connection.
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Bosses could force workers to get Covid-19 jab under Australian labour laws

They could act on 'lawful and reasonable' direction for safety of their employees

Workers who refused the jab could potentially be fired under the labour laws

Though experts warned dismissal could also be a violation of worker rights

Bosses have the power to force their workers to get the Covid-19 vaccine under Australian labour laws, legal experts argue.

Barrister Ian Neil SC said employers may be able to use their 'lawful and reasonable direction' powers to order employees to get the jab to guarantee the safety and wellbeing of their colleagues.

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'Do they have a positive obligation to require employees to be vaccinated once they become available to satisfy their obligations towards other employees?' Mr Neil said.

Bosses could have the power to force their workers to get the Covid-19 vaccine under labour laws, experts say (pictured, the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine)

The powers would also mean workers could be dismissed if they refused to get vaccinated, Sydney Morning Herald reported.

However, Mr Neil said the uniqueness of the Covid-19 pandemic meant this aspect of labour law had never before been tested in front of a court.

The first batch of a Covid-19 vaccine is expected to reach Australian shores within days, approved in a few weeks, and rolled out next month.

Health care workers and people living in aged care will be among the first to receive the vaccine.

The Federal Government stopped short of making the jab mandatory and is holding talks with unions and businesses about the rollout.

RMIT University academic Anthony Forsyth said employers might hesitate to fire a worker if they refused the jab, as it could be taken as a violation of employee rights.

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'They might argue discrimination on grounds of political or religious beliefs if dismissed by their employer for not getting vaccinated,' he said.

A Queensland childcare centre introduced in June an infectious diseases policy that required its workers to receive a flu vaccination.

A worker was dismissed for refusing the flu jab before they took their complaint to the Fair Work Commission and claimed receiving a vaccine without consent was parallel to assault.

Health care workers and people living in aged care will be among the first to receive the vaccine (pictured, Western Australia nurse at Covid-19 clinical trial in April)

Then in November, Fair Work Commissioner Ingrid Asbury ruled it was 'at least... arguable' the centre had made the decision for the benefit and protection of the children.

Vaccinations have also been made mandatory in other parts of the country, including Victoria, where health workers are required to get the jab if they come into contact with patients.

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Epidemiologist Professor Raina MacIntyre said 'placing strong incentives to vaccinate can raise vaccination levels'.

'We had record levels of influenza vaccine this year, so I think achieving 70 per cent vaccination is feasible without coercive measures,' she said.
New Delhi: The Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait on Sunday (January 3, 2021) said that the farmers' protests will not end till the Centre rolls back the new agricultural laws. Tikait's comments come a day ahead of the seventh round of talks with the Centre to end the deadlock.

Rakesh Tikait also alleged that the new farm laws have been made for the benefit of capitalists and said that soon Rajasthan farmers will also reach the Delhi border.

"The Samyukt Kisan Morcha, Gurugram should help them in all possible ways," he stated.

Other farmer leaders protesting at Delhi's Singhu border said they will celebrate the festival of Lohri on January 13 by burning copies of new farm laws.

They also said that they will observe the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on January 23 as 'Azad Hind Kisan Diwas'.

"We will celebrate the Lohri festival on January 13 by burning the copies of farm laws," said farmers' leader Manjeet Singh Rai.

Another farmers' leader Onkar Singh said, "The government should leave its stubbornness. In these conditions, the farmers, including elders, have been sitting on protest, but the government is not concerned about it."

Notably, the farmers' protests have entered day 37 on Sunday and six rounds of talks between the farmer leaders and the Centre have not given any outcome.

Earlier on December 30, 2020, Union Minister for Agriculture Narendra Singh Tomar, Union Minister for Railways, Commerce and Industry and Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Piyush Goyal and Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Som Prakash participated in the 6th round of talks with the representatives of farmers' unions at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi.

Tomar had assured the farmers' unions leaders that the government is committed to solving farmers' problems and both sides need to take steps forward to arrive at an amicable solution.

He had also assured them that the MSP and the Mandi system will continue like before and the demand of the farmers' unions for an MSP law and the difference between MSP and market rates for agricultural produce would be referred to a committee when it is constituted.

On the unions' demand for the repeal of Farm Laws, the Union Minister had said that this too can be referred to a committee which will study the constitutional validity and propriety keeping in mind the welfare of farmers.

He had also appealed to farmers' unions to end the agitation so that women, children and elders can go back home.

Farmers have camped at the borders of the national capital since November 26 against the recently enacted three farm laws namely the Farmers` Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020; the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020; and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.
We have no sympathy for the loud and foul-mouthed individuals who feel they have the unqualified right to harass and disrupt the peace and pri
ISTANBUL (AP)  Turkey is enacting precautions for international travel, requiring a negative COVID-19 test for passengers to enter the country starting Monday until March.

Health Minister Fahrettin Koca tweeted a statement Friday saying travelers would need to present a negative result from a PCR test taken in a 72-hour window to board international flights en route to Turkey. Previously, tests weren't required for travel to Turkey.

The rule would apply to all land and sea arrivals starting Wednesday. Travelers would be quarantined at their destination if they dont have test results.

Travelers arriving from the United Kingdom, Denmark and South Africa in the past 10 days would have to show a negative test result and go into mandatory quarantine for at least seven days until a second test.

Turkey has among the worst infection rates in the world, with a weekly average of more than 20,000 confirmed daily infections. The total death toll is 19,371, according to official statistics.
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Much of Australia's modern prosperity was built on waves of migrants who arrived on the shores of a vast, free southern continent to build a better life and enrich the nation.

From ocean liners crossing the seas filled with immigrants from Europe bound for Australia to the first arrivals by plane and the beginnings of a multicultural nation - incredible pictures reveal the history of Australian immigration.

The story of modern Australia, built on strong population growth, begins on August 2, 1945 with a speech by Australia's first immigration minister Arthur Calwell signalling the beginnings of a policy shift.

'If Australians have learned one lesson from the Pacific War it is surely that we cannot continue to hold our island continent for ourselves and our descendants unless we greatly increase our numbers,' Calwell declared in a speech to Parliament.

'We are about 7million people and we hold 3million square miles of this Earth surface ... much development and settlement have yet to be undertaken. Our need to undertake it is urgent and imperative if we are to survive.'

While the post-war Labor minister remained a supporter of the White Australia policy, he allowed immigration from Eastern Europe and the Baltic states, ending a preference for Britons as part of his 'populate or perish' mantra.

This change eventually led to the first modern waves of Asian immigration during the 1960s, under a Coalition government, although the White Australia policy wasn't officially abolished until 1973 by Labor.

A racially-discriminatory policy and the notion of assimilation was replaced by multiculturalism.

In the decades since Mr Calwell's speech - aimed at winning the Australian public's favour for a campaign of increased immigration - the proportion of the Australian population who were born overseas has tripled from about 10 per cent to nearly 30 per cent.

Since Australia closed its international borders in March 2020 to combat the international coronavirus pandemic, the usual steady stream of immigration abruptly reduced to a trickle.

In mid-2019 there were more than 7.5 million immigrants living in Australia - with India and China surpassing the United Kingdom in as Australia's highest migrant nations.

In July, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg revealed the government expected overseas migration to Australia to plunge by 80 per cent over the 2020-21 financial year compared to the previous year where 154,000 permanent residency visas were granted.

Here in pictures is a look at the history of Australia's immigration, which has been widely flagged as one of the most important processes for post-Covid recovery in Australia.

1940 - 1950

October 10, 1947: The Critchlow family (pictured) leaving Tilbury in Essex, England aboard the ship the 'Ormonde' to build homes for the Australian government in New South Wales

A young couple (pictured) look out over the Australian landscape at a migrant camp Bathurst on December 8, 1949

A young couple (pictured) read and listen to the radio at a migrant camp in Bathurst, regional New South Wales on December 8, 1949

A migrant ship arrives in Sydney Harbour (pictured) in 1947 packed to the brim with new arrivals seeing Australia for the first time

The first assisted passage migrant from England, Tommy Smith (pictured left), meets Prime Minister Ben Chifley (pictured centre) and Arthur Calwell (pictured right) in 1947

Arthur Calwell (pictured left) and Mrs Calwell (pictured centre) at the New Australian festival are greeted by a Lithuanian immigrant in handcrafted traditional dress in Canberra in 1949

1950 - 1960

April 20, 1955: The Igoe family from Edinburgh (pictured) waiting for their train at London's Waterloo Station, en route to a new life in Melbourne. They are among 2,600 British citizens who were given aid to emigrate to Australia in the next two days

Jubilant Dutch migrant families (pictured) on board the ocean liner the 'Sibajak' arrive in Port Melbourne, 1954

A young couple (pictured) migrating to Australia through the World Council of Churches from Yugoslavia aboard the 'Castel Felice' in 1955

From left to right - Mrs Jean Knight holds young Jeremy Roger, 2 while Mr Raymond Knight shows Richard John, the 3000th member of the Birmingham Cobbers Club to migrate to Australia, the port as they reach Melbourne on the migrant ship 'Fairsea' in 1957

A group of passengers (pictured) on board the migrant transport ship the Fairsea enjoy some socialising on their way to Australia in 1955

Dr Eva Haarmann (standing, right), of Vienna, gives an English lesson to other Australian migrants on the Italian liner 'Fairsea' en route to Australia in 1955

Two immigrants from the United Kingdom (pictured) en route to Australia aboard the Fairsea in 1955

1960 - 1970

Almost 450 migrants from Northern Spain arrived in Melbourne in February, 1962, in the Italian liner, 'Castel Felice'. This was the largest group of Spanish assisted migrants to arrive in Australia since the beginning of post war migration. Most of the migrants were family groups, which included 173 children under the age of 10. Many of the men went to work in the fruit growing area of the Murray Valley. One of the largest families to arrive was that of Mr and Mrs Juan Sanchez (pictured) boarding the train for Bonegilla Migrant Camp with their children. Left to right are Rosa Maria, 7, Maria Pilar, 8, Isabel, 10, Christina, 12, Maria Luisa, 15, Juan, 17, Fernando, 20 and in Mrs Sanchez' arms, nine month old Eduardo

The Taylor family (pictured) on the deck of the modern liner 'Fairsea' in 1960 when they arrived in Sydney. They travelled 200 miles by car and train to establish the children comfortably in the Fairbridge School at Molong before the parents returned to Sydney to stay in a British Migrants Accommodation. A miner for 14 years at Bestwood Colliery near Nottingham, Mr Taylor will work as a labourer or factory worker in Australia

The Fairsea arrives in Australia in 1963 from the United Kingdom with a passenger load of new arrivals relocating to the Australian continent (pictured)

A young family arrives in Australia (pictured) aboard the ocean liner the Fairsea bringing in migrants from the United Kingdom in 1963

1970 - 2000

A family of Indo-Chinese refugees (pictured) arrive in Melbourne in 1979 as they walk to temporary accommodation at the Melbourne Hotel

Mr Nguyen Huu Nhu (left) and wife Minh Thi (centre) and their three children meet in Australia in 1982 after six years of separation for the Vietnamese family

A young couple arrive in Australia (pictured) in 1984 from a Special Humanitarian Program inviting refugees from Sri Lanka to the country

Zhang Chun Mei (right), a Mechanical Engineer from China, arrives in Australia to a reunion with family members in 1994

2000 - 2019

Zaira Alieva (left), Michael Edwards (centre) and Amina Khugaeva (right) pose for a photograph during the City of Wanneroo citizenship ceremony, in Perth, Friday, January 26, 2018. The family emigrated from Italy five years ago and were celebrating becoming Australian citizens with a barbecue after the ceremony
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-04 06:06:24|Editor: huaxia

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TEHRAN, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- Iran on Sunday marked the one-year anniversary of the assassination of Qassem Soleimani, former commander of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), amid new waves of tensions with the United States.

U.S. President Donald Trump ordered a strike on Soleimani's convoy near the Iraqi capital of Baghdad on Jan. 3, 2020. The drone attack killed Soleimani along with an Iraqi militia commander.

In the run-up to the anniversary of Soleimani's death, Iran has dialed up the rhetoric of revenge against the United States. Over the past weeks, senior Iranian officials reiterated vows to punish perpetrators of Soleimani's assassination and expanded the list of U.S. suspects to 48 names.

"By committing a cowardly terrorist act against General Soleimani, the United States violated international law and the United Nations' Charter in clear violation of Iraq's sovereignty," the Iranian Foreign Ministry wrote in its Twitter account on Friday.

"Iran will not give up until the authorities bring this action to justice," it added.

On Friday, the incumbent Commander of the Quds Force of the IRGC, Brigadier General Esmail Qa'ani, praised his predecessor as a hero of the Islamic nations. He also warned the United States that someone "from inside your own house" will retaliate for "your crime."

On the U.S. side, tensions have also been ratcheted up over fears that Iran might strike its regional targets. Nearly one month ago, the United States sent a nuclear submarine and warships to the neighborhood of Iran's southern waters and flew its strategic B-52 bombers over the Gulf in a show "to deter Iran from attacking American or its allied targets in the Middle East."

On Thursday, Iran's Deputy Representative to the United Nations Es'haq Al-e Habib urged the UN Security Council to prevent the United States from what it called new "military adventurism" in the Gulf and the Sea of Oman. Iran stressed that it did not want conflict but would defend itself under any circumstances.

The faceoff between Iran and the United States was even further tightened as Iran told the UN's nuclear watchdog on Friday that it decided to "produce enriched uranium with 20 percent purity," which had been banned by the 2015 international nuclear agreement known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

The move follows a stream of actions taken by Tehran over the past two years to scale down its commitments pertaining to the deal after the Trump administration withdrew from the deal in May 2018.

Iranian officials have argued that the U.S. unilateral exit and its re-imposition of sanctions against Tehran have forced Iran to reduce its nuclear commitments.

As the U.S. president-elect Joe Biden will be inaugurated on Jan. 20, the Iranian side is cautiously optimistic.

With the coming of Biden to the office, negotiations over the thorny issues with Washington may begin, Sadeq Zibakalam, a professor of political science of Tehran University, told Iranian media in an interview recently.

However, Zibakalam said he did not believe that the relationship between Iran and the United States will change its main tone.

Biden has pledged to ease U.S. pressures against Tehran and to return to the Iran nuclear deal in an attempt to engage the latter in the negotiations over controversial issues around the JCPOA. Iranian officials repeatedly stressed that they will not negotiate over the JCPOA.

Zibakalam believes that "the conflictual issues concerning Iran-U.S. relations will not change."

The thorny issues in the bilateral relations, which started four decades ago after the establishment of the Islamic republic, will continue, he added. Enditem
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A lovesick Romeo roofer who was jailed for breaking Covid restrictions after crossing the Irish Sea on a jetski to see his girlfriend told how he felt like a 'c***py James Bond' after his reckless journey nearly ended in disaster.

Dale McLaughlan, 28, made the 25-mile journey from Scotland to the Isle of Man to visit his girlfriend Jessica Radcliffe, 30, last month.

The journey was the first time McLaughlan had ever set foot on a jetski - and he thought it would only take 45 minutes.

But the journey ended up being four hours long after McLaughlan - who had a negative Covid test result before leaving - lost his 100 marine GPS device in a huge wave.

McLaughlan was arrested and sentenced to four weeks in jail for breaking anti-Covid rules - but was released and sent back to Scotland before Christmas.

Dale McLaughlan, 28, (pictured) who was jailed for breaking Covid restrictions after crossing the Irish Sea on a jetski to see his girlfriend, told how he felt like a 'c***py James Bond' after his reckless journey nearly ended in disaster

McLaughlan made the 25-mile journey from Scotland to the Isle of Man to visit his girlfriend Jessica Radcliffe, 30, (pictured together) last month

The journey was the first time McLaughlan (pictured during the journey) had ever set foot on a jetski - and he thought it would only take 45 minutes

He told The Sunday Mirror: 'As soon as I hit open water I thought "Oh my God". It was like getting a kick in the teeth.'

He kept the rising sun in the east over his left shoulder to make sure he stayed on track - but was battered by 6ft waves, near-freezing rain and fog.

McLaughlan said he thought of mother-of-two Ms Radcliffe (pictured) - who he met on a night out in September - to keep him going

He said he thought of mother-of-two Ms Radcliffe - who he met on a night out in September - to keep him going.

McLaughlan - who himself has two children from a previous relationship - also listened to love ballads to pull him through, ironically including Love Is All Around by Wet Wet Wet.

He arrived in a town 15 miles away from Ms Radcliffe and made the journey to her house on foot.

McLaughlan first met Ms Radcliffe on a night out in September after he was granted permission to legally spend four weeks working on the island, which has enforced strict border rules during the pandemic.

After returning to the mainland, he tried more than once to return to the Isle of Man to see his new girlfriend, but was denied permission by the authorities.

Under the island's emergency coronavirus laws, anyone breaching the rules faces a maximum of three months behind bars or a fine of up to 10,000.

McLaughlan then carried out his plan to buy a jet ski and set off across the Irish Sea on December 11, despite the dangers and his lack of experience.

He went out with Ms Radcliffe to two bars in Douglas on the Friday night until 1.30am on the Sunday.

This map shows the 25-mile trip McLaughlan made from Scotland to the Isle of Man last month

Dale McLaughlan, pictured, was jailed for four weeks after admitting arriving unlawfully on the island to see his sweetheart Ms Radcliffe

McLoughlan had driven 75 miles through the night on single track forest roads from his home in Irvine, North Ayrshire, to reach Whithorn (above), Scotland's closest point to the Isle of Man

When a coastguard saw McLaughlan launch his jet ski from the slipway (above) he jokingly said, 'Are you going to the Isle of Man?'

When he was questioned by police in the street, he gave his address as her home and claimed he lived permanently on the island.

He was arrested at Ms Radcliffe's house on December 13. Ms Radcliffe has not been accused of any criminal offence, but had to quarantine herself for two weeks at home.

McLaughlan was handed a four-week jail sentence at Douglas Courthouse for breaching anti-Covid rules - but was released in time for Christmas and sent back to Scotland.
The development of two COVID-19 vaccines that would not have to be stored at extremely low temperatures has won $1.5 million in federal government funding for clinical trials.

Researchers at the University of Melbourne are trialling a "next generation" vaccine that still uses mRNA technology but eliminates the need to be stored at very low temperature.

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Vaccines based around mRNA (messenger ribonucleic acid) technology can be built almost as soon as the genetic sequence of a new virus is isolated and can be made quickly, cheaply and in huge quantities simply by combining chemicals in a vial.

By comparison, a flu vaccine often needs to be grown inside a chicken egg, which is expensive, difficult and gives the virus a chance to mutate before it is extracted.
(Natural News) A social worker in Mexia, TX, has been charged with 134 counts of elections fraud for *allegedly* registering 67 nursing home patients without their permission and forging their signatures on voter registration documents. Further, 16 of these victims would have been ineligible to vote due to mental incapacitation.

(Article by Brock Simmons Srepublished from TheGatewayPundit.com)

KWTX reports:

Kelly Reagan Brunner, a social worker at the Mexia State Supported Living Center, has been charged with 134 counts in an election fraud investigation involving the registration of 67 of the facilitys residents, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced in a press release late Friday afternoon.

Brunner was arrested Nov. 2 and released the later that day after posting combined bonds of $35,000, according to jail records.

Shes accused of submitting voter registration applications for the 67 residents without their signature or effective consent, while purporting to act as their agent, Paxton said in the press release.

According to indictment documents obtained by KWTX, Brunner completed, signed, and submitted voter registration applications for people either: without their consent or who were totally mentally incapacitated.

Of the 67, 16 were ineligible to vote due to their mental incapacitation, records showed.
One of controversial union boss John Setka's closest allies has quit his roles in preparation for taking on the top job in the mega-union representing 150,000 construction, forestry, maritime, mining and energy workers.

Militant Maritime Union of Australia president Christy Cain resigned from that role and as the union's West Australian state secretary at a meeting in December before his planned ascension to national secretary of the CFMMEU.

Christy Cain has been hailed by union allies as "effectively the national secretary-elect of the CFMMEU". Credit:Philip Gostelow

Mr Cain's move solidifies control of one of the nation's largest and most powerful unions  even as its mining and manufacturing divisions appear likely to split off  in a faction with a record of firebrand unionism but poor ties with large sections of the Labor Party.

In an internal report to members, obtained by The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald, the maritime union said Mr Cain chose to step down effective January 25 "to remove any further conflicts of interest that arose with [former national CFMMEU secretary] Michael O'Connor's resignation".
India's drugs regulator is likely to approve administering two doses of the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine and another locally developed one by Bharat Biotech, each four weeks apart, a Reuters report said on Sunday, quoting two sources. The Serum Institute of India, which is making the Oxford-AstraZeneca doses, had applied for a two full-dose regime about 28 days apart.

Experts at India's Central Drugs Standards Control Organisation (CDSCO) have already approved the vaccines and a final decision is expected to be announced by the agency's chief at a news conference scheduled on Sunday. Calls to CDSCO were unanswered outside regular business hours, the report said.

The process for the final approval is expected to be a formality given the urgency for a vaccine in the country with the highest number of Covid-19 infections in the world after the United States. The other vaccine, known as COVAXIN, has been developed locally by Bharat Biotech and the government-run Indian Council of Medical Research.

"Grant of permission for restricted use in emergency situation in public interest as an abundant precaution, in clinical trial mode, specially in the context of infection by mutant strains," the government cited the experts' recommendation for COVAXIN, referring to the new strain of the virus first detected in Britain. For the AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine, the approval was "subject to multiple regulatory conditionalities", it said, without giving details.

Information and Broadcasting minister Prakash Javadekar told reporters earlier that two other vaccines were waiting to be approved - Zydus Cadila's ZyCoV-D and Russia's Sputnik V that are both on trial in India. "India is perhaps the only country where four vaccines are getting ready," he said. "One was approved yesterday for emergency use, Serum's COVISHIELD." he said, referring to the fact that the AstraZeneca/Oxford shot is being made locally by the Serum Institute of India (SII).

The AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine, which was granted its first approval by Britain on Tuesday, is cheaper and easier to use than some rival shots, such as the one from Pfizer Inc - a major advantage in tackling a pandemic that has claimed more than 1.8 million lives worldwide. However, it has been plagued by uncertainty about its most effective dosage ever since data published in November showed a half dose followed by a full dose had a 90% success rate while two full shots were 62% effective.

India's regulator has also received an emergency-use application for the COVID-19 vaccine made by Pfizer with Germany's BioNTech - the first shot to secure regulatory approval in the West. India has reported more than 10.3 million COVID-19 cases and around 150,000 deaths, though its rate of infection has come down significantly from a mid-September peak. The country hopes to inoculate 300 million of its 1.35 billion people in the first six to eight months of this year.

SII, the world's biggest producer of vaccines, has already stockpiled about 50 million doses of the AstraZeneca/Oxford shot, which will be sold to the government at about Rs 250 ($3.42) per dose and Rs 1,000 on the private market.
The United States is doubling down on nuclear power and propulsion systems in the new space race with China. The Trump Administration unveiled in the middle of December a National Strategy for Space Nuclear Power and Propulsion, the so-called Space Policy Directive-6, aiming to develop and use space nuclear power and propulsion (SNPP) systems to achieve scientific, national security, and commercial objectives.

In the new space race between Western nations and China, the United States is betting on developing and demonstrating the use of new SNPP capabilities in space.

The strategy on nuclear power and propulsion sets a goal for the U.S. to develop uranium fuel processing capabilities that enable fuel production that is suitable to lunar and planetary surfaces and in-space power, nuclear electric propulsion (NEP), and nuclear thermal propulsion (NTP) applications. Another objective is to demonstrate a fission power system on the surface of the Moon that is scalable to a power range of 40 kilowatt-electric (kWe) and higher to support a sustained lunar presence and exploration of Mars.

Collaboration with the private sector is also a pillar of the nuclear power and propulsion strategy.

NASA strongly supports the nuclear space strategy, pointing out the advantages of nuclear power and propulsion in driving spacecraft.

Space nuclear systems power spacecraft for missions where alternative power sources are inadequate, such as environments that are too dark for solar power or too far away to carry sufficient quantities of chemical fuels. Space nuclear systems include radioisotope power systems and nuclear reactors used for power, heating, or propulsion, NASA said, commenting on the new national strategy.

Related: Fracking Could Save Colombia From Economic Crisis



NASA believes that nuclear thermal propulsion (NTP) is an attractive option for in-space propulsion for exploration missions to Mars and beyond. NTP offers virtually unlimited energy density and specific impulse roughly double that of the highest-performing traditional chemical systems, according to NASA.

As part of the U.S. strategy, NASAs near-term priority will be to mature and demonstrate a fission surface power system on the Moon in the late 2020s, in collaboration with the Department of Energy and industry. Such a system could provide power for sustainable lunar surface operations and test the potential for use on Mars.

Earlier in 2020, the Department of Energy said that NASA plans to build a base and a nuclear power plant on the Moon by 2026 and is inviting proposals from companies ready to take on the challenge. The plan will involve the construction of a 10-kW class fission surface power system to be used for demonstrative purposes. The plant is to be manufactured and assembled on Earth and then shipped to the Moon on a launch vehicle. This vehicle will take the plant to Moon orbit, from where a lander will take it to the surface of the satellite. The demonstration will continue for one year, and if successful, it could open the door to other missions on both the Moon and Mars.

Space nuclear power and propulsion is a fundamentally enabling technology for American deep space missions to Mars and beyond. The United States intends to remain the leader among spacefaring Nations, applying nuclear power technology safely, securely, and sustainably in space, Scott Pace, Deputy Assistant to the President and Executive Secretary of the National Space Council, said in a statement, carried by SpacePolicyOnline.com.

The U.S. should continue to enable American entrepreneurs and innovators to further bolster its commercial space industry to continue leading the space race, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross wrote in an op-ed in December.

Competition is increasing, especially between Western nations and China. Our advantage in this new space race is the U.S. commercial space industry. It is critical that we continue to enable American entrepreneurs and innovators, lest we miss the opportunity and potentially lose the race, Secretary Ross said.



By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
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Ankita Lokhande Celebrates 3 Million Followers On Instagram, Trolls Say, Half Of Your Followers Are Fans Of Sushant

Actress Ankita Lokhande has been having a hard time with trolls these past few months. The actress rang the New Year hitting a milestone of 3 million followers on Instagram once again was targeted for sharing a post about it.

On her post wishing her followers on New Year where she also said cheers to her 3 million followers, several netizens took the liberty of attributing her gain in followers from the year gone by to her ex-boyfriend Sushant Singh Rajput.

Commenting on the post users left remarks like, Half of your followers are fans of Sushant, This has happened due to Sushant, 2 million from Sushants fans please dont forget that.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ankita Lokhande (@lokhandeankita)

The Manikarnika actress was in the last year for vocalizing her support for the deceased actors family after the he died in his apartment in June. Ankita who was shocked and grief stricken after Sushants death vanished from social media for about a month and demanded justice for the actors family upon her return.

Ankitas demand for justice for Sushant was supported by millions of followers but lately she became the target for trolls for posting happy pictures from Diwali celebrations, birthday celebrations, trips and the like.

In a recent live interaction with her fans on social media she addressed the trolls and said that she does read the comments and it hurts her too. She further added that people who have a problem with her should not follow her or visit her account.
Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism.
CLEVELAND, Ohio  Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine told CNNs Jake Tapper Sunday that vaccinations are moving in the state, with more than 150,000 completed so far.

DeWine joined Tappers State of the Union show to discuss several topics, including the COVID stimulus bill and national voter fraud accusations. But DeWine spoke with urgency when it came to the COVID-19 vaccine distribution across the state.

They are lifesavers. And any time you have the vaccines sitting on a shelf and not out, we have a problem, DeWine said.

On Wednesday, the state announced that while about 529,000 vaccine doses had been received by the state, just over 71,000 had been given. DeWine said during Sundays interview that he just looked at the numbers and saw that figure was up to about 161,000 shots given. However, when the states vaccination dashboard was updated Sunday afternoon, it showed 159,706 Ohioans had received their first dose.

And while that figure may sound large when one first hears it, that number only represents less than 2 percent of Ohioans, the states dashboard says Sunday.

According to a cleveland.com analysis of data compiled by the Washington Post, Ohio has administered the seventh highest amount of vaccines in the U.S.

However, Ohio ranks 51st (the data includes Washington, D.C.) in the percentage of its prioritized population to receive a vaccine. Ohio, along with Kansas, is tied for last in the percentage of total state population to receive a vaccine.

Vaccine roll-out statewide will continue as quickly as possible, DeWine told Tapper.

We cannot control how much vaccine is coming to Ohio every week, but we have an obligation to get that vaccine out. And we have... to get it in arms just as quick as we can, he said.

DeWine also told Tapper that as of Saturday night, 61 percent of nursing home residents statewide had received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Were very happy about that. In another week, we will be at 80 [percent]. Another week after that, we should be basically done with the first round of our shots in nursing homes, DeWine said.

Keeping on the topic of nursing homes, DeWine reiterated a point he made late last week  about 60 percent of Ohio nursing home staff had declined to get an initial vaccine dose. But he also said the chance has not passed.

Were going to come back again. As we come back to give the second shot to the people who got it the first time, theyre going to get a chance again, DeWine said. I will make this plea right now to anybody who works in a nursing home. You are there working very hard... you have a risk. But, also, the people in that nursing home have a risk. And this shot does work and is, in fact, very, very safe.

You can check Ohios coronavirus vaccination dashboard here. It is updated once daily.

Read more Ohio coronavirus news on cleveland.com:

Bar in Clevelands West Bank of the Flats receives second citation for violating coronavirus health orders

Editorial: Gov. DeWine has fought COVID-19 with determination but is hobbled by an archaic system

Independence Fire Station hosts COVID-19 vaccinations for Cuyahoga County first responders
New Delhi: The World Health Organization (WHO) on Sunday (January 3, 2021) welcomed India's COVID-19 vaccine approval and said that the decision will help strengthen the fight against coronavirus.

"WHO welcomes the first emergency use authorization given to COVID-19 vaccine in the WHO South-East Asia Region. This decision taken today by India will help intensify and strengthen the fight against COVID-19 pandemic in the Region," said Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, the regional director, WHO South-East Asia Region.

She added, "The use of vaccine in prioritised populations, along with continued implementation of other public health measures and community participation will be important in reducing the impact of COVID-19."

WHO welcomes India's decision giving emergency use authorization to #COVID-19 #vaccines -

Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director,

WHO South-East Asia Region pic.twitter.com/jyQGI6Gymp  WHO South-East Asia (@WHOSEARO) January 3, 2021

Earlier in the day, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said that the Subject Expert Committee of Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) met on January 1 and January 2, 2021, and made recommendations in respect of a proposal for Restricted Emergency Approval of COVID-19 virus vaccine of Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare added that the firm also submitted the interim safety and immunogenicity data generated from this trial and the data was found comparable with the data from the overseas clinical studies and after detailed deliberations, Subject Expert Committee recommended for the grant of permission for restricted use in an emergency situation subject to certain regulatory conditions.

The clinical trial ongoing within the country by the firm will continue.

On the other hand, Bharat Biotech has developed a Whole Virion Inactivated Corona Virus Vaccine (Covaxin) in collaboration with ICMR and NIV (Pune), from where they received the virus seed strains. This vaccine is developed on Vero cell platform, which has a well-established track record of safety and efficacy in the country & globally.

The firm has generated safety and immunogenicity data in various animal species such as mice, rats, rabbits, Syrian hamster, and also conducted challenge studies on non-human primates (Rhesus macaques) and hamsters. All these data have been shared by the firm with CDSCO. Phase I and Phase II clinical trials were conducted in approx.800 subjects and the results have demonstrated that the vaccine is safe and provides a robust immune response. The Phase III efficacy trial was initiated in India in 25,800 volunteers and till date, ~22,500 participants have been vaccinated across the country and the vaccine has been found to be safe as per the data available till date.

The Subject Expert Committee (SEC) has reviewed the data on safety and immunogenicity of the vaccine and recommended for grant of permission for restricted use in an emergency situation in the public interest as an abundant precaution, in clinical trial mode, to have more options for vaccinations, especially in case of infection by mutant strains. The clinical trial ongoing within the country by the firm will continue.
In order to to recover from the financial difficulties faced during COVID-19 induced lockdown and slowdown in the economy, Karnataka government has now allowed businesses and shops to operate 24x7. It has also taken out a set a rules and regulations that have to be followed by business and shop owners.

All shops and commercial establishments which employ ten or more people in Karnataka are now allowed to operate on a 247 basis said the State government. This has gone into effect today and will continue for a period of three years under the provisions of the Karnataka Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1961. This move was made with the intention of generating more employment and increasing revenue in the state.

All employers shall not require or allow any person employed to work therein for more than eight hours in any day and forty-eight hours in any week and the period of work including overtime shall not exceed ten hours in any day, the government order said. All employees are entitled to at least one week-off, the government said.

It added that if an employee is made to work beyond eight hours in a day, they will have to be paid an overtime allowance. The wages, including overtime wages of the employees, shall be credited to their savings bank account as prescribed under the Payments of wages Act, 1963.

Also read: Covid-19 dry run in India: Heres all you need to know

The new rules have barred working of women employees beyond 8 p.m. on any day in normal circumstances. An employer can allow a woman employee to work between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. only after obtaining a written consent, subject to providing adequate protection to her dignity, honor, and safety, the notification said.

It said transport facilities should be provided for women employees who work in shifts and notice to this effect should be exhibited at the main entrance of the shop or establishment, indicating the availability of the transport.

If employees are found working on any holiday or after normal duty hours without proper indent of overtime, penal action shall be initiated against the employer/Manager as laid down in the Karnataka Shops and Establishments Act and Karnataka Shops and Commercial Establishments Rules, the notification stated.

The notification said employees should be provided with restrooms, washrooms, safety lockers, and other basic amenities.

Also read: Indias 1st Covid-19 vaccines LIVE Updates: PM Modi congratulates nation; DGCI gives nod to Covishield and Covaxin for emergency use
Bharat Biotech expects approval of Covaxin for emergency use from WHO in July- September

Moderna's single-dose COVID-19 vaccine in India likely next year; Pfizer ready with 5 crore doses for 2021

Bharat Biotech's Covaxin has potential to target new strain: ICMR chief

India

oi-Deepika S

New Delhi, Jan 02: Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) director Balram Bhargava on Sunday said that the Bharat Biotech vaccine may have some advantages over other vaccines on the new mutant strain first detected in the UK.

His observations came amid politicians from several opposition parties raising doubts over the efficacy of Covaxin, that is still in Phase 3 trials.

Bhargava also said Covaxin is based on an inactivated whole virus, having potential to target mutated coronavirus strains including the UK variant, which was a major ground for giving it a conditional nod.

He, however, said no clear data regarding the efficacy of the vaccine is available so far.

'Disgraceful: Harsh Vardhan slams Akhilesh, Tharoor over Covid-19 vaccine 'doubts

"We don't know for how long a vaccine is going to be effective, we don't know how much of the population we will have to vaccinate to break the virus transmission. What we know is that we have been able to control the pandemic in the country by following Covid appropriate behaviour," Bhargava told ANI.

"NIV scientists have successfully isolated the new virus strain and this will be tested against different vaccines. We hope potentially Bharat Biotech vaccine will have some advantages over other vaccines on this new strain,," Dr Bhargava said.

Health Minister Harsh Vardhan asserted on Sunday that Covaxin is more likely to work against newer variants of the virus, including the UK variant, and asked politicians not to "discredit well laid out science-backed protocols" followed for approving the jab.

Some Congress leaders, including Anand Sharma, Shashi Tharoor and Jairam Ramesh, on Sunday raised serious concerns over the grant of approval to Covaxin for restricted use, saying it is "premature" and can prove dangerous.

Responding to them, Vardhan said it is "disgraceful for anyone to politicise such a critical issue."

Tagging Tharoor, Ramesh and Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yavad, the health minister said in a tweet, "...don''t try to discredit well laid out science-backed protocols followed for approving #COVID19vaccines. Wake up & realise you are only discrediting yourselves!"

Vardhan said, "COVAXIN is more likely to work against newer variants like N501Y Variant (UK variant) & any other that may arise due to antigenic drift as it contains immunogens (epitopes) from other genes in addition to those from Spike protein."

Covaxin has been indigenously developed by Bharat Biotech in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

The data generated so far demonstrates a strong immune response (both antibody as well as T cell) and in-vitro viral neutralisation. The ongoing clinical trial is the largest trial on 25,800 subjects, in which already 23,000 volunteers have been enrolled including subjects with comorbid conditions, and the vaccine has demonstrated safety till date, Bhargava said.

India's drugs regulator on Sunday approved Oxford COVID-19 vaccine Covishield, manufactured by the Serum Institute, and indigenously developed Covaxin of Bharat Biotech for restricted emergency use in the country, paving the way for a massive inoculation drive.

The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) granted the approval on the basis of recommendations by a COVID-19 Subject Expert Committee (SEC) of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO).

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Story first published: Sunday, January 3, 2021, 22:40 [IST]
Ram Prasad Ki Tehrvi

Director: Seema Pahwa

Cast: Naseeruddin Shah, Supriya Pathak, Manoj Pahwa, Ninad Kamat, Vinay Pathak, Parambrata Chattopadhyay, Vikrant Massey, Konkona Sen Sharma

In a scene from Ram Prasad Ki Tehrvi (RPKT), the family members are discussing if they should keep the prayer meet of the departed soul on the first day of the year or not, because after all whod like to start the year on a sad note. But the makers clearly didnt have any such apprehensions while releasing the film on the first day of 2021, that too in theatres.

With a stellar lineup of brillant actors, RPKT is a great watch. Theres Naseeruddin Shah, Manoj Pahwa, Vinay Pathak, Supriya Pathak, Parambrata Chattopadhyay, Konkona Sen Sharma and a host of supporting actors. And making her directorial debut is actor Seema Pahwa, who has also written the story.

RPKT is a subtle satire at all those middle-class families where the death of head of the family leads to a change in dynamics between its members. Secrets are unearthed and things that were never spoken of are finally said. The story starts with Ram Prasads (Shah) death and how his entire family of four sons (Gajraj, Manoj, Pankaj, Nishant) and two daughters, along with their spouses and kids--gather at their ancestral home in Lucknow for 13 days to perform rituals. During this period, they indulge in discussions, harmless jibes, casual conversations, arguments and some epiphanies. There are revelations that their dead father has left a bank loan for them to repay, besides the dilemma about who is going to take care of their amma (Supriya Pathak) now that shes left alone after her husbands death.

While Pahwas attempt at direction is laudable, its the writing that falters at many places. Several jokes fall flat but there are instances where subtle humour makes you giggle, however short-lived that giggle maybe. RPKT is a film that youll find relatable. It gets you emotional without getting too intense.

You would also love the well etched-out characters and the way each one of them gets to shine in their given screen time. While the sons look more natural in their scenes together, the daughters-in-law enjoying their kitchen politics trigger some light-hearted laughs. The camaraderie among the four brothers is delectable as they sit on the rooftop, drinking all night and opening up like never before.

A special mention to Supriya, who, without too many dialogues, packs a strong performance with just her expressions. The beauty of the scenes is how theyve been conceptualized. For instance, each time a new guest, relative or a neighbour arrives to offer condolences, amma narrates the tragic tale of the night of her husbands death, like a broken record, saying the same words and maintaining the same flow. Even her expressions dont change.

Also read: Anil Kapoor reveals Kapil Sharma rejected his Mubarakan and 24, says if there is a role of your father or brother, tell me. Watch

The story moves at a decent pace, though, at close to two hours, it seems slightly stretched especially in the second half.

I wont call RPKT a highly entertaining film, but its a slice-of-life family drama full of warmth that you can enjoy once for its tale of comedy in tragedy.

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He was once referred to by his superior as a quiet radical and now newly promoted Inspector Lionel Mullally is looking forward to embarking on his next chapter as one of the Gardai's most distinguished and admired officers.

The affable and unassuming head of Longford's Community Policing Division is set to take up his new post in Bailieboro, Co Cavan in just over a week's time following his promotion from the rank of sergeant earlier this month.

That came after previous spells in Dublin and Monaghan before taking up a sergeant's role in Granard a decade ago.

And it was there the softly spoken garda established a reputation as an officer who not just led from the front, but brought about real, effective and lasting change.

It is said first thing in Granard the then sergeant brought in was establishing a drugs unit despite management's views that there was no problem in the county; a move which saw the initiative grow into a successful unit that was later broadened into today's divisional model.

An even bigger claim to law and order fame would arrive soon after through the inauguration of a mechanism which would ultimately become the anti-burglary blueprint for the force nationwide.

Community Text Alert, as it became known, started with the communities of Dromard and Aughnacliffe in 2011.

Within a year of a measure co-authored by Inspector Mullally and community Garda Tracey Shanley, over 3,000 households across north Longford signed up to its workings.

He has always been committed to the idea to get the public at large involved in crime prevention in their community.

Burglaries in Longford at the time were being committed by roving gangs targeting rural houses in Cavan and Westmeath, sparking public unease and the inception of Community Text Alert.

Getting public buy in is one thing, getting results to present at the end of a policing year, however, is an entirely different equation.

But, as has been the case throughout his esteemed career, the amiable father of three ensured those endeavours returned the most impressive of outcomes.

Text alert had immediate effect with burglaries and thefts being cut dramatically and what started in North Longford then became a national police response.

By 2015, Granard's loss was undeniably Longford's gain as a reshuffling of garda middle management locally saw the Dubliner charged with heading up the division's community policing unit.

Still aroused by the adage of copperfastening public engagement and being told an undisclosed location of the county was very much a no go area, the newly promoted inspector remained unfazed.

He went there and with LCRL (Longford Community Resources) established a residents group and Neighbourhood Watch.

That allowed for the community, gardai and council to work together directly and grew into what became known as the Joint Action Group and now to the national pilot area for the Government's Community Safety programme.

In Longford too he was the first member of the Gardai to speak during prayer services at a mosque and gave Irish language lessons to asylum seekers at Longford's Direct Provision centre.

In focusing on older and vulnerable people in the community the Community Policing Unit worked with Age Friendly Ireland and set up the Crime Prevention Ambassadors across the county which is now being looked at by senior management to roll out nationally.

Throw in his opening foray into the world of writing earlier this year through his 'One More Minute and Other Stories' aimed at raising funds for the Little Blue Heroes Foundation, it's not entirely surprising to see why Bailieboro's newly emboldened ranks is being looked upon with such envy from across the national garda spectrum.
His amazingly thick skin makes him the most insensitive US President ever.

by K Natwar Singh

President Donald Trump, to the relief of most Americans, but also of humankind, will vacate the White House on 20 January. What will history make of him? He will not be forgotten. He has wantonly diminished the headlights of the American Constitution, one of the greatest in the world. He hired able and competent individuals to his staff, then fired them on the phone or on Twitter. His sugared charlatanism discredited American politics. Sometime in the future a psychologist should study the furniture of his mind.

His amazingly thick skin makes him the most insensitive President ever. He is indifferent to what decent, normal people call truth, morality and ethical conduct. He has, before demitting office, pardoned well known crooks and thugs, even though he is in fact a lame duck President. To this day he continues to declare the presidential election was flawed. Actually he maintains he was the winner.

What is his vision of America and the world? Soon after assuming office he had a public swipe at NATO. Then followed his obsession with North Koreayes, North Korea of all places in the world. Nothing came of it. In brief, he does not perhaps understand the meaning of compos mentis. On the contrary, he is not in control either of his mind or his tongue.

Will he attend the swearing in ceremony of President Joe Biden on 20 January? That one should ask such a question is a left-handed tribute to his unpredictability.

President Trump had little interest in South America and none in Africa. One must however concede that he has daringly changed the foreign policies of several Arab countries and bestowed fresh respectability to that extraordinary nation, Israel.

On the whole, his interest in India is not phoney. During his visit to India last February he did not put a foot wrong. He has got on well with the Prime Minister. A well-known English daily got it spot on. It wrote in its editorial, When Donald Trump visited Indiabilateral ties were elevated to a comprehensive global strategic partnership. It mainly meant that defence imports from the U.S were galloping and that the White House acknowledged India as the most useful regional power. The ever-looming shadow of Pakistan over Indo-U.S ties had finally been overtaken by the realisation in Washington that Islamabad is important only in the context of Afghanistan but Indias external canvas is exponentially wider. However, there is a serious lacuna. The US undoubtedly recognises our security needs, but there have been no economic concessions.

How will Mr Trump act after 20 January? It is not in his nature to verbally restrain himself as past Presidents do. He will not sit still. He will make life difficult for his successor for whom he has no respect. More importantly, he will not let the Republican Party slumber. He will make it into a sharp political weapon to ensure his re-entry into the White House in 2024.

***

That Congress is suffering from several maladies is a national tragedy. The one person who can or could keep it from going to seed is, it seems, seriously unwell. For the first time, Sonia Gandhi was not present at the annual function organised at 24 Akbar Road to observe the one hundred thirty fifth anniversary of the founding of the Indian National Congress. Rahul Gandhi was also absent. He is abroad. Speculation is rife about his whereabouts. I shall give him the benefit of doubt. He has gone to Italy to be with his ailing grandmother, who is, like me, in her nineties. Had Rahul Gandhi made known the purpose of his tour, mystery would have been avoided. The Gandhis are congenitally secretive about their foreign jaunts. Why? Their party colleagues and workers are entitled to know how and where their leaders are, and how long they will be away.

Now that Sonia Gandhi is more or less non-functional and in semi-purda, she is temporary Congress president. A full time, dedicated president is needed. Apparently, Rahul Gandhi is not keen to occupy the gaddi, in spite of his mother wanting him to do so. On whose shoulders will the burden fall? No one is in sight. Hence the Gandhi Raj will continue. But sooner, rather later, like the later Mughals become a footnote in history, except for the great Jawaharlal Nehru.

***

The RSS has brought out a one thousand page (this may not be the exact figure) book on Gandhiji, depicting him as a good Hindu. I intend reading it to find out how Shri Mohan Bhagwat and his co-authors have delineated the Mahatmas personality.
As he disputed President Donald Trumps latest effort to downplay the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S., Dr. Anthony Fauci on Sunday repeated warnings that until vaccines are more widely available, only strict adherence to public health recommendations will help turn around infection and death rates.

Fauci noted that holiday travel, combined with colder temperatures driving people indoors and lackluster following of social distancing measures, has led to continual surges of the virus. While mitigations including mask-wearing, closures of businesses and offices and limitations on gatherings helped curb the spread earlier this year, many hospitals are now overwhelmed, Fauci told ABC News.

Fauci, the nations top infectious disease expert, and Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams disputed the presidents Sunday morning tweet alleging, without evidence, that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cooked up far exaggerated COVID-19 data. Fake news, the president said of the CDC, falsely accusing the agency of employing a when it doubt, call it COVID methodology. CDC guidance details that local certifiers determine the cause of death and that COVID-19 should not be reported on the death certificate if it did not cause or contribute to the death.

The deaths are real deaths, Fauci said. I mean, all you need to do is to go out into the trenches, go to the hospitals, see what the health care workers are dealing with. They are under very stressed situations in many areas of the country, the hospital beds are stretched. People are running out of beds, running out of trained personnel who are exhausted right now.

Faucis comments came the same day Johns Hopkins University reported that the U.S. had surpassed 350,000 COVID-linked deaths, a figure he said he did not initially expect. Inconsistent adhering to mitigation efforts and holiday season travel are the ingredients that unfortunately make for a situation that is really terrible, he said.

I mean, there is no running away from the numbers, he added. Its something that we absolutely have got to grasp and get our arms around and turn that, turn that infection down by very intensive adherence to the public health measures uniformly throughout the country, with no exceptions.

The number of cases and deaths of the China Virus is far exaggerated in the United States because of @CDCgovs ridiculous method of determination compared to other countries, many of whom report, purposely, very inaccurately and low. When in doubt, call it Covid. Fake News!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 3, 2021

Trump later tweeted that it was something how Dr. Fauci is revered by the LameStream Media as such a great professional ... yet he works for me and the Trump administration, and I am in no way given any credit.

Something how Dr. Fauci is revered by the LameStream Media as such a great professional, having done, they say, such an incredible job, yet he works for me and the Trump Administration, and I am in no way given any credit for my work. Gee, could this just be more Fake News?  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 3, 2021

When asked about Trumps critique of CDC data, Adams, on CNN Sunday, said that from a health perspective, I have no reason to doubt those numbers.

I think people need to be very aware that its not just about the deaths, Adams said. Its about the hospitalizations, the capacity. These cases are having an impact in an array of ways and people need to understand theres a finish line in sight, but weve got to keep running toward it.

Adams added that while vaccinations have fallen short of initial projections, they would ramp up over the next few weeks thanks to our state partners. The last 72 hours, we saw 1.5 million first shots reported. If you extrapolate that out and many are extrapolating numbers, that is 500,000 a day.

More than 20 million Americans have contracted COVID-19, according to Johns Hopkins. The U.S. accounts for roughly 24% of all global cases despite making up about 4% of the worlds population.

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Britains biggest teaching union has directed that all schools in England should remain closed for two more weeks, after the Christmas holiday due to the rising COVID-19 infections.

British media reported Saturday that the head of the National Education Union (NEU), which has more than 450,000 members in the country, called for all primary and secondary schools to be closed.

NEU was quoted by the media as saying, what is right for London is right for the rest of the country.

The unions joint general secretary Mary Bousted told the BBC on Saturday that she hoped a closure of all schools would give time for a mass-testing system to be set up.

She suggested that this should be led by public health bodies.

Her initiative came after British Education Secretary, Gavin Williamson, said on Friday night that all London primary and secondary schools would remain shut on Monday, rather than only those in some boroughs.

This development is coming against the backdrop of high levels of coronavirus infections in the British capital.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan welcomed the governments U-turn policy on Londons primary schools, two days after Mr Williamson said only those in 22 of Londons 32 boroughs would be affected by the closures.

Some London borough leaders wrote to the British government on Friday, asking for official efforts to reverse plans to reopen primary schools in some areas.

Schools in England are due to reopen on Jan. 4 when the new school term begins, but the British government has now decided to delay the school reopening till Jan. 18 amid the rising infection rates.

The British government has said the measure would be reviewed fortnightly and Williamson said he wants school closures to be as short as possible.

London and many other parts of England have already been under the highest Tier Four restrictions, which require residents in the areas to stay at home, with limited exemptions.

People are also urged to work from home when they can, and should not enter or leave those areas.

As the world is struggling to contain the pandemic, vaccination is underway in some countries with the already-authorized coronavirus vaccines.

Meanwhile, 232 candidate vaccines are still being developed worldwide with 60 of them in clinical trials in countries, including Germany, China, France, Russia, Britain and the United States, says WHO.

(Xinhua/NAN)

Astilleros Mallorca in Palma is one of three shipyards taking part in a project for nautical industry energy self-sufficiency and zero emissions. Overseen by the Soermar Technology Centre in Madrid, which has support from the Spanish interior ministry, the project is specifically a study of the use of hydrogen for generating electricity.

The technology of producing and storing hydrogen for electricity - 'Green Hydrogen' - is something that the government is keen to explore. At regional level, the Balearic government and the Mallorca Chamber of Commerce are moving ahead in making energy produced from hydrogen batteries a reality.

In the specific case of Astilleros Mallorca, the project will contribute to decision-making for shipyard facilities and to a reduction of the environmental footprint through the generation of clean energy. The Palma shipyard is therefore working along the lines set out by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The technology has benefits in terms of cutting air and water contamination as well as noise pollution. For shipyards participating in this innovative project, there is the expectation of receiving widespread recognition for being associated with renewable and alternative energy.

At present, boats, trains, buses and cars can operate using hydrogen. Airbus is planning to have planes by 2035. The rollout of hydrogen technology is initially for industry, but applications using hydrogen batteries will eventually be for all forms of transport.
A couple who found themselves living alone in a stately manor during the pandemic used the time to revitalise its historic interior.

Neil Watt, 36, moved into the top floor of the Castle Ward mansion in Co Down with his partner Kris Reid, 29, in March after being appointed collections and house manager of the National Trust property.

Mr Watt, who has a PhD in Irish country houses, was preparing to welcome thousands to the popular 18th-century visitor attraction on the banks of Strangford Lough but those plans were quickly upended by coronavirus and the resultant year of lockdowns.

Instead, Mr Watt and Mr Reid, who is himself studying for a PhD in heritage, spent most of 2020 with the huge home to themselves.

The experienced conservationists did not put the time to waste, using the unexpected closure to breathe new life into some of the mansions spectacular features.

As the months wore on, they tackled project after project  restoring parts of Castle Wards shabby chic interior back to former glories.

Expand Close Neil Watt (left), National Trust Collections and House Manager at Castle Ward, with his partner Kris Reid standing under the chandelier in Castle Wards reception hall which they cleaned during the pandemic. PA Photo. Picture date: Tuesday December 15, 2020. See PA story ULSTER CastleWard. Photo credit should read: Liam McBurney/PA Wire PA / Facebook

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Whatsapp Neil Watt (left), National Trust Collections and House Manager at Castle Ward, with his partner Kris Reid standing under the chandelier in Castle Wards reception hall which they cleaned during the pandemic. PA Photo. Picture date: Tuesday December 15, 2020. See PA story ULSTER CastleWard. Photo credit should read: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

First there was the installation of a new dehumidifying system to address a centuries-old damp problem.

Then they set about cleaning and cataloguing the houses collection of 2,000 books, most dating from the 18th century.

Castle Ward also boasts one of the finest sets of cooking pots and pans on the island of Ireland, but over the centuries it had become blackened and tarnished.

The couple took on the job of polishing the 100 pieces one by one. They did the same with many other fixtures and fittings, including all the brass door handles.

The good weather in the early summer enabled the men to clean the antique window blinds and beat down the luxury carpets and rugs.

Expand Close Neil Watt, Collections and House Manager at Castle Ward, with his partner Kris Reid. PA Photo. Picture date: Tuesday December 15, 2020. See PA story ULSTER CastleWard. Photo credit should read: Liam McBurney/PA Wire PA / Facebook

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Whatsapp Neil Watt, Collections and House Manager at Castle Ward, with his partner Kris Reid. PA Photo. Picture date: Tuesday December 15, 2020. See PA story ULSTER CastleWard. Photo credit should read: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

There was also the delicate job of cleaning the crystal Victorian chandeliers.

Mr Watt, who is originally from Tyrone, said in any other year the jobs would not have been doable.

You only have so many hours in the day and if the house is open from 11am until 5pm you cant do all this work in front of the public, because it would detract from their experience, he said.

The tasks were not all practical. Mr Watt also took time to reimagine the story of the houses contrasting architectural styles  one front Classical, the other half Gothic.

The long-standing story was this Frankenstein house of two halves was the result of a bitter row between the then Lord and Lady Bangor, with neither willing to give ground on their design preference for their new home.

This tale never sat well with Mr Watt.

Theres no way this was born out of an argument, nothing so trivial could have created this house, he said.

Expand Close Castle Ward, an 18th-century National Trust property located near the village of Strangford, in County Down, Northern Ireland. PA Photo. Picture date: Tuesday December 15, 2020. See PA story ULSTER CastleWard. Photo credit should read: Liam McBurney/PA Wire PA / Facebook

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Whatsapp Castle Ward, an 18th-century National Trust property located near the village of Strangford, in County Down, Northern Ireland. PA Photo. Picture date: Tuesday December 15, 2020. See PA story ULSTER CastleWard. Photo credit should read: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

So the house manager created a narrative to accompany tours that instead explained the contrast as a deliberate fusion of the Classical style so fashionable in the 18th century with a Gothic element to acknowledge the familys storied history.

One good thing to come out of lockdown is that weve reimagined ourselves, we are not a Frankensteins monster, we are a sublime piece of architecture, he said.

When restrictions allowed, Mr Watt and Mr Reid, who is from Co Down, were helped by National Trust colleagues and a small band of volunteers from the local area.

Castle Wards house steward, who was shielding in another property on the estate, also provided lots of organisational support remotely.

The people of Strangford are wonderful, they really are, said Mr Watt.

Theyve been so welcoming to myself and my partner. Were a gay couple who moved into a big old country house and really, without exception, even during the trials of Covid, they couldnt have been more welcoming, more wonderful.

Theres just such a lovely spirit here. There really is. I mean if you could bottle it you would sell it.

Expand Close National Trust Castle Ward Collections Assistant Emma McCullough, gently hovering dust from a rug. PA Photo. Picture date: Tuesday December 15, 2020. See PA story ULSTER CastleWard. Photo credit should read: Liam McBurney/PA Wire PA / Facebook

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Castle Ward was able to open briefly to the public in the late summer, with tight restrictions in place, but it was not long before the doors had to close again.

Mr Watt hopes all the hard work will pay off when the house can finally welcome back the public properly.

Amid all the projects, he said there has been time to stop and take in their remarkable lockdown surrounds.

If you get bored in the evening, to come down and see 18th-century landscapes of Strangford Lough, to stand under beautiful Victorian chandeliers and walk through big Marmorino marble columns and that sort of thing is really amazing, he said.

And something that we both love living here is the view, because from our sitting room window we can see the town of Portaferry across the lough.

And thats actually one reason why we havent felt lonely, because even when we were in full lockdown, we could always see the twinkling lights of Portaferry across the lough.

Download the Belfast Telegraph App Get quick and easy access to the latest Northern Ireland news, sport, business and opinion with the Belfast Telegraph App.

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Beijing:

China on Monday asked India to uphold a restrained and measured approach to resolve the boundary dispute through negotiations, days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Bhupen Hazarika bridge linking Assam with Arunachal Pradesh, claimed by Beijing as South Tibet.

Asked for its reaction to the inauguration of Indias longest bridge, the first major infrastructure project in Arunachal Pradesh, the Foreign Ministry said Chinas position on the eastern part of the China-India boundary is consistent and clear.

We hope that the Indian side on the relevant issues will take a restrained and measured attitude on the boundary issue before the final solution, and work together with the Chinese side to control disputes, safeguard regional peace and tranquillity along the border, the ministry said.

China and India should resolve the territorial dispute through negotiation and consultation, it said, without directly referring to the bridge.

Over the years, China has been ramping-up infrastructure including massive construction of rail, road and airports in Tibet, sparking concerns in India as it could enable speedier and easier movement of troops.

Also Read: Countering China's OBOR, US revives two infra projects in Asia

India in recent years has stepped up its infrastructure in border areas.

The 9.5-km long bridge inaugurated by Prime Minister Modi on May 26 is Indias longest bridge. Besides connecting Assam with Arunachal Pradesh it can facilitate movement of heavy military equipment including battle tanks to frontier areas.

While China has so far claimed Arunachal Pradesh as South Tibet, India asserts that the dispute covers Aksai Chin area which was occupied by China during the 1962 war.

The two sides have so far held 19 rounds of talks with Special Representatives to resolve the boundary dispute.

Also Read | No change in stance on Indias admission into Nuclear Suppliers Group: China

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India on Sunday formally approved the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine for emergency use. The vaccine, manufactured in India by the Serum Institute, was first approved by Britain this week. Heres all you need to know about the shot called Covishield in India.

HOW DOES THE ASTRAZENECA SHOT'S EFFICACY STACK UP TO OTHERS?

The AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine's efficacy in preventing symptomatic infections was 70.4%, according to interim data, after 30 of 5,807 people who got the two-dose vaccine developed COVID-19, compared with 101 of 5,829 people who got a placebo. That compares with the 95% efficacy of the two-shot vaccine from Pfizer/BioNTech, the other vaccine approved in Britain.

While efficacy with any dose after one dose was pegged at 52.7%, the UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) regulator also said an "exploratory analysis" of trial participants who got one full dose showed efficacy of 73% from 22 days after the first shot.

The UK regulator recommends a booster shot four to 12 weeks after the first dose, because up to 80% efficacy was reached with a three-month interval between shots, an official involved in the MHRA approval said.

"The first dose efficacy gives an indication of protection for a short period between the two doses, the second dose strengthens the immune response and is expected to provide a more durable immune response," the University of Oxford, AstraZeneca's partner, said.

Confusion over efficacy emerged after interim late-stage trial results announced in late November when AstraZeneca acknowledged that people in its clinical trial accidentally got different doses. Those who received a half dose of the vaccine, followed by a full dose, were shown to have 90% protection, the company said initially, while two full doses offered only 62% protection. Now, however, the MHRA said the half-dose regimen's results were not borne out in analysis.

"It's all much more confusing because mistakes have been made, genuinely," one European Medicines Agency (EMA) official told Reuters. "Mistakes that resulted in clinical data that was much more complex to interpret than Moderna's and Pfizer's. And on top of that the efficacy is lower."

WHAT ARE THE OTHER DIFFERENCES?

Technology, price and storage

The AstraZeneca shot is a "viral vector vaccine", where a specially engineered virus that normally causes chimpanzees to get the common cold delivers genetic instructions to human cells to make the spike protein jutting out from the new coronavirus's surface.

The Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines use a new technology which packs messenger RNA (mRNA) inside tiny fat droplets to instruct cells to make the spike protein. AstraZeneca pledged the vaccine would cost just a few dollars per dose and be sold without making a profit, whereas Pfizer's vaccine costs $18.40-$19.50 per dose.

A separate mRNA vaccine from Moderna, approved in the United States, costs up to $37. The AstraZeneca shot does not require deep freezing at minus 70 degrees like the mRNA vaccine from Pfizer and its German partner, BioNTech, and has already been produced by the millions of doses. It can be kept in a standard refrigerator for six months. It is also cheaper to make, bringing hope to developing countries largely left out of the early vaccine haul.
The attorneys for the father and son charged with murder in the death of Ahmaud Arbery (pictured) have filed a motion requesting that Arbery not be called a 'victim' in court

The attorneys for the father and son charged with murder in the death of Ahmaud Arbery have filed a motion requesting that the 25-year-old not be called a 'victim' in court.

Arbery was shot in a coastal Georgia subdivision on February 23 while out jogging. He was found by police lying face down in a pool of blood while the man who shot him paced with hands on his head.

Travis McMichael, who is accused of murder along with his father Gregory McMichael, told police there was 'nothing else he could do' after Arbery 'came running' at him, and after the father and son had given chase to the black jogger.

Despite the incident being caught on video, attorneys for the McMichaels are insisting that Arbery not be called a victim in court.

'Defendants, Travis and Greg McMichael, respectfully move that the prosecution be prohibited from the use of prejudicial terms at trial, during jury selection, or in the presence of witnesses,' the attorneys wrote in the motion filed on December 30.

'These terms include the use of the word "victim." The purpose of this motion is to prevent the prosecution from ignoring its duty to prove beyond reasonable doubt that crimes were actually committed and that McMichaels committed the crimes as charged.

'Due process requires minimal injection of error or prejudice into these proceedings. Use of terms such as "victim" allows the focus to shift to the accused rather than remain on the proof of every element of the crimes charged.'

In addition to that motion, the attorneys also filed others, asking that the number of in-life photos are limited to one and that court spectators in the trial be prohibited from wearing facemasks or t-shirts with slogans like 'Black Lives Matter'.

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Travis McMichael (right)l is accused of murder along with his father Gregory McMichael (left),

The attorneys wrote in the second motion: 'Travis and Greg McMichael move this Court to limit the number of "in life" photographs to one, limit the content of any such photograph to the decedent alone, and to require nonrelated witness to identify the person depicted in the one photograph.'

According to the attorneys, the 'probative value of proving its case in this manner, however, is tenuous and can be easily subsumed by the substantial prejudicial impact caused by the number of photographs admitted, the content of those photographs, and which witness the state uses to introduce this evidence'.

The third motion is requesting that the court controls the 'behavior of spectators so as to maintain the dignity and decorum of the courtroom and to ensure the safety of the courtroom'.

That means that the attorneys are asking for the spectators 'who have aligned themselves with the prosecution' not be allowed to wear facemasks and shirts with phrases like 'Black Lives Matter,' 'I Cant Breathe,' and 'Justice for George Floyd'.

Other examples include the slogans 'I Run With Maud' and 'Justice for Ahmaud'. The motions come just weeks after authorities released new body-cam footage in the moments after the shooting.

The attorneys are also requesting the court to order the prosecution to turn over all records relating to 'Arbery's disciplinary, criminal, and mental health records'. They also want the contents of his telephone records and social media accounts.

However, they want all recorded jail calls made by the McMichaels while they were held in the Glynn County Detention Center to be excluded from their trial.

Body camera video from Glynn County police officers who responded to the fatal shooting shows the first interactions authorities had with the McMichaels, who armed themselves and chased Arbery after spotting him running in their neighborhood.

The motions come just weeks after authorities released new body-cam footage in the moments after the shooting. The video shows the first interactions authorities had with the McMichaels (Travis McMichael pictured)

Travis McMichael can been seen cooperating with an officer taking photos of his blood-spattered arms and a bruise on his face, where he says Arbery punched him. 'I want it done right, because this doesn't look good,' Travis McMichael says

The initial video of the chase was taken by William 'Roddie' Bryan (pictured), a neighbor who joined the chase and also was later charged with murder

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution first reported on the footage, which it obtained after the video was filed with public court documents in the murder case against the McMichaels.

Travis McMichael can been seen cooperating with an officer taking photos of his blood-spattered arms and a bruise on his face, where he says Arbery punched him. The officer asks him to be patient while police collect evidence.

'I want it done right, because this doesn't look good,' Travis McMichael says. 'I mean, I just shot a man. Last thing I've ever wanted to do in my life.'

Attorneys for the McMichaels argue they were justified to pursue Arbery because they suspected he was a burglar and that Travis McMichael acted in self-defense when he blasted Arbery three times with a shotgun.

Prosecutors say Arbery was no criminal but merely out jogging and the McMichaels acted as illegal vigilantes.

More than two months passed before the McMichaels were charged in Arbery's death, after cellphone video of the shooting became public and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation took over the case from local police.

The body camera footage shows the first officer arrive soon after hearing gunshots and finds the McMichaels standing on either side of Arbery, sprawled face-down on the pavement.

'All right guys, everybody's got their weapons up, correct?' the officer asks. The men aren't holding guns.

Gregory McMichael can be seen trying to console his son, who's pacing back and forth.

'It's going to be OK,' Gregory McMichael tells him. 'You had no choice.'

One of Arbery's legs moves and his head turns slightly. A gasping sound can be heard on the recording.

The second officer to arrive puts on rubber gloves, rolls Arbery over and presses a hand to the wound in his chest.

'He's still breathing, man,' says a man's voice nearby.

'I know. I'm going to try to do something for him,' the officer replies. He stops after about two minutes and calls to tell dispatchers Arbery has died.

Gregory McMichael had recently retired from a long career as an investigator for the local district attorney.

At least two of the arriving officers recognized him and called to him by name. Those he doesn't know he tells that he's a former law officer, and that the .357 magnum handgun he grabbed before chasing Arbery was police-issued.

Gregory McMichael tells police Arbery attacked his son and 'was trying to take the shotgun away from him'.

'To be perfectly honest with you, if I could've got a shot at the guy, I'd have shot him myself,' he tells one officer.

Another officer approaches and says: 'I do know Greg. How are you doing?'

He asks her what police plan to do with his son.

'Y'all aren't putting him in cuffs are you?' Gregory McMichael says.

'No,' the officer replies. 'Why would he be in cuffs?'

The body camera footage shows the first officer arrive soon after hearing gunshots and finds the McMichaels standing on either side of Arbery, sprawled face-down on the pavement

Prosecutors have said it was Arbery who was fighting for this life when he was shot. A sheet covers Arbery's body shortly after the shooting. Travis McMichael (far right) is seen speaking with an officer

Prosecutors have said it was Arbery who was fighting for this life when he was shot. Cellphone video shows Arbery trying to run around the McMichaels' pickup truck before coming face-to-face with Travis McMichael holding a shotgun.

The video shows Arbery punching him and grappling for the gun in between gunshots. Arbery staggers and falls after the third shot hits him at point-blank range.

The video was taken by William 'Roddie' Bryan, a neighbor who joined the chase and also was later charged with murder. The body camera footage also shows Bryan's first interview with police.

Like the McMichaels, Bryan says he believes Arbery was responsible for break-ins in their neighborhood. It was later revealed that it was an open-framed house under construction that Arbery was seen entering, and an attorney for the owner later said nothing was stolen.

'He obviously was up to something,' Bryan tells an officer, while describing how he maneuvered his own truck to try to prevent Arbery from escaping.

'Should we have been chasing him?' Bryan says. 'I don't know.'

State investigators with the GBI arrested the McMichaels on murder charges the day after the agency began its own investigation in May. A judge has denied bond for all three defendants, whose attorneys are appealing the decision to keep them jailed.

The Glynn County officers dispatched to the shooting don't seem to question the McMichaels' account that they were justified to kill Arbery.

In one video, an officer standing outside the crime-scene tape asks another: 'Did he shoot him? A self-defense thing?'

'That's what it looks like,' the other officer replies.
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A lawyer representing a woman whose 11-year-old son was alleged to have been sexually abused by two senior students of Deeper Life High School, Uyo, said the woman initially misunderstood the N100 million demand to mean foreclosure of the case.

The woman, Deborah Archibong, stirred confusion, Saturday, on social media when she said via Facebook live broadcast that she did not authorise the lawyer to demand N100 million compensation from Deeper Life High School.

Someone said I demanded N100 million, I didnt demand any money. I have not told any lawyer to go and collect N100 million, Mrs Archibong said.

I am a petty trader, I deal in jewellery. All I told the lawyer is that I want justice (for my son). If justice is that way they are doing it, I dont know, the woman added.

Prompted by Mrs Archibongs denial, Facebook and Twitter users started tagging as fake any news reports on the N100 million demand.

Mrs Archibongs lawyer, David Okokon, told PREMIUM TIMES, Sunday, that his client, because of the way people misinterpreted the demand, thought the N100 million demand was for the settlement of the case.

She was activated by bombardment of pressure from fans who called her in misunderstanding that N100 million was meant to be a foreclosure of the case.

Our demand for N100 million still stands and its certainly not to foreclose the case, Mr Okokon said, explaining that the money is meant to cover the victims medical treatment.

The position of the N100 million (demand) is the position of the mother, it is the position of the father, and it is the position of the legal team, he said.

Mrs Archibong subsequently posted a statement on Facebook directing interested members of the public to talk to her lawyer, Mr Okokon, a development the lawyer said is a pointer that she was okay with the legal steps.

The lawyer said her client taking the case to Facebook was not particularly because of the molestation (of her son), but because the school management refused to take responsibility and apologise for what happened.

The police are investigating the case and have invited all the parties for a meeting in Uyo on Tuesday.
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The new Managing Director/CEO of Fidelity Bank Plc, Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, whose tenure formally commenced on January 1, 2021 has assumed office, becoming the 4th Chief Executive and first female to occupy the position since the inception of the bank in 1988.

She succeeds the erstwhile MD/CEO, Nnamdi Okonkwo who retired on December 31, 2020, after completing his contract tenure in line with the banks governance policy.

Fidelity Bank in an email at the weekend, assured customers that the bank under her leadership will consolidate on the already laid foundation and track record of performance, to execute the next growth phase.

Mrs Onyeali-Ikpe was formerly the Executive Director, Lagos and South West Directorate of the bank and has been an integral part of management in the last 6 years. She joined the bank in 2015 and spearheaded the transformation of the Directorate, leading it to profitability and sustained its impressive year-on-year growth across key performance metrics, including contributing over 28 per cent of the Banks PBT, Deposits and Loans.

She is vastly experienced and has spent over 30 years working across various banks including Standard Chartered Bank Plc, Zenith Bank Plc and Citizens International Bank/Enterprise Bank, where she held several management positions in Legal, Treasury, Investment Banking, Retail/Commercial Banking and Corporate Banking.

As an Executive Director at legacy Enterprise Bank Plc, she received formal commendation from the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), as a member of the management team that successfully turned around Enterprise Bank Plc.

She holds Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka; a Master of Laws (LLM) degree from Kings College, London; and has attended executive training programmes at notable global institutions including Harvard Business School; The Wharton School University of Pennsylvania; INSEAD School of Business; Chicago Booth School of Business; London Business School and IMD.
Residents of Nanakpur in Haryanas Sirsa district have put posters in their village, banning the entry of BJP-JJP leaders and dared them to face lathicharge if they tried to flout the ban.

In the posters, farmers have warned the BJP-JJP leaders against entering their village.

If any BJP-JJP leader enters our village, we will resort to lathicharging the same way Haryana Police did at Pipli in Kurukshetra last year during farmers protest march, the posters read.

Sirsa is the hometown of Haryana deputy chief minister Dushyant Chautala, his granduncle Ranjit Singh Chautala, power minister in the Khattar-led BJP-JJP coalition government.

Buta Singh, a resident of Nanakpur village, said they have decided to ban the entry of BJP-JJP leaders after holding a village-level panchayat to express solidarity with farmers.

When the police resorted to lathicharging our farmers and using tear gas to disperse them, none of the BJP-JJP leaders supported them. Now, we have made a decision to give them a taste of their own medicine, he added.

Ravneet Singh, another villager, said they are preparing to take part in farmers tractor parade in Delhi on January 26.

Most of these leaders celebrated their new year either at their homes or at any tourist destination, while our farmers braved the cold and chilly weather. Leaders of the ruling BJP-JJP combine have no sympathy with the farmers. Its a matter of shame for the Devi Lal clan that three MLAs from the family are supporting the government in a violation of farmers rights, he added.

Attributing stir to political parties an insult to farmers

Haryana BJP leader and former minister Sampat Singh on Sunday said the central government should withdraw the three farm laws as they were against the interest of the farmers.

Singh, who joined the BJP after quitting the Congress in 2019, appealed to the Centre to give up its obduracy and repeal the three farm laws before the meeting with the groups representing the agitating farmers on January 4.

He said, They (the laws) should be withdrawn and a new law which guarantees purchase of crops by the government at the minimum support price (MSP) should be brought in. When the government has assured that MSP would continue, then there was no reason why its applicability is not protected under a statute, adding that attributing the stir to political parties was an insult to the farming community.
CLEVELAND -- The Ohio Department of Healths interim draft COVID-19 vaccination plan makes prioritization of historically underserved communities a clear goal, as written. However, we are concerned that implementation will fall short among minority and low-income citizens.

Minority status and low income are effective predictors of the health risks posed by COVID-19. For example, nationally, adults whose annual income is less than $15,000 experience a risk of infection which is two-fold greater than those whose annual income exceeds $50,000.

Similarly, nonwhite citizens, who comprise about 40% of the population in Cuyahoga County, generally face a higher risk of infection than others, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data.

These phenomena are not attributable to innate susceptibility to infection, but rather to the realities which characterize home and employment for these citizens, realities that increase exposure to the virus.

Gautham Chitturu is a student at Case Western Reserve University studying neuroscience and health care management.

These same realities impart an increased risk of severe repercussions from infection, which helps to explain the disproportionate representation of minority populations among those who have required hospitalization, as well as those who have died from COVID-19. When combined with the historical estrangement of these citizens from organized health care, whether due to underinsurance and/or distrust, a dangerous reality is created.

We are troubled that the current draft of Ohios COVID-19 vaccination plan does not adequately address the specific needs of minority and low-income citizens.

First, given the requirements for vaccine preservation, the Ohio Department of Health correctly stipulates that storage capability will be key to designating vaccine delivery sites, but does not address the certainty that this will place minority and low-income communities at a geographic (and thus access) disadvantage.

It will be crucial that municipalities representing minority and low-income citizens are adequately funded to provide readily accessible vaccination opportunities at local community centers and workplaces. Vaccination sites should be well-publicized, including print, visual, and social media formats, and public service announcements should be made at prominent food banks and shelters.

Second, for the reasons stated above, the Ohio Department of Health should anticipate undersubscription of the vaccine by minority and low-income communities as a result of distrust engendered by generations of discrimination. Strategies to encourage trust in the vaccine, including recruitment of and messaging by community business owners and clergy, as well as by long-tenured community figures, will be crucial. Emissaries from the community should be hired to provide comprehensible educational information as well as assistance with facilitating vaccination.

Will Schartzman is a student at Case Western Reserve University studying biomedical engineering and sociology.

Furthermore, these community representatives should be given a platform to speak in official settings about the specific needs of their communities. This vision departs from the current COVID-19 vaccination plan, in which the large majority of designated community stakeholders are government-sponsored organizations.

Finally, specific efforts should be made to ensure that, regardless of insurance status or personal or family resources, there will be no financial cost or other encumbrance incurred by vaccination.

The specific language in the COVID-19 vaccination plan interim draft concerning prioritization of underserved communities is commendable. We hope that the final draft will incorporate our concerns and recommendations, so as to bring aspiration and reality into closer alignment.

Gautham Chitturu is a student at Case Western Reserve University studying neuroscience and health care management. Will Schwartzman is a student at CWRU studying biomedical engineering and sociology. Both are members of Universal Health Aid Cleveland, a student-run health advocacy organization. The authors also wish to credit Universal Health Aid members Jeanette Herrera, Etaasha Jain, Shamamah Khan, Cecilia Kim, Aubrie Mance and Claire Lee for their assistance with this op-ed.

Have something to say about this topic?

* Send a letter to the editor, which will be considered for print publication.

* Email general questions, comments or corrections on this opinion column to Elizabeth Sullivan, director of opinion, at esullivan@cleveland.com.
Hanako Abe seemed excited about what the new year might bring.

#PeaceOut2020. Physically apart, yet closer than EVER to family and friends this year, the Japanese-born San Francisco resident wrote New Years Eve on her Instagram page, accompanied by a selfie with a beaming, wide smile. Also taught me so much of perseverance, gratitude and self-love. We are resilient.

But Abe, 27, would not live to see the new year. Later that day, she was one of two people who were fatally struck and killed walking in San Francisco. Also killed was Elizabeth Platt, 60.

Authorities said the driver of the car that hit Platt and Abe, 45-year-old Troy Ramon McAlister, was intoxicated and driving a stolen gray Honda when he hit the two women on Mission Street about 4 p.m. Thursday. He fled the scene and was arrested by police who found him hiding in a nearby commercial building, authorities said.

The deaths of Platt and Abe ignited a furor directed at San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin, whom critics have accused of not holding criminals accountable. McAlister was on parole for robbery at the time of the crash, having been released in April. In the months between his release and the crash, McAlister was arrested several times, on suspicion of crimes including car theft, possession of burglary tools and violating the terms of his parole. But the District Attorneys Office did not charge him with any new crimes and instead referred the matter to state parole agents.

Just before the crash, police said, McAlister committed a burglary nearby.

The tragedy has led to finger-pointing among law enforcement agencies. Boudin said his office referred those cases to state parole agents instead of charging McAlister  but conceded Friday that it was a mistake to think parole supervision would be adequate.

A spokesperson for the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, though, said the agencys parole office followed all procedures after these incidents, including conducting investigations and making appropriate referrals for the individual.

None of the parolees arrests following his 2020 release have yet to result in the filing of criminal charges by the district attorney, the corrections spokesperson said.

Without mentioning Boudin or the District Attorneys Office by name, San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott said in a statement that we must all be held equally accountable for the decisions we make, because they can have serious implications for the safety of those we serve.

San Franciscans deserve nothing less, Scott said, and thats what theyre demanding from all of us in the criminal justice system.

Abe had worked as an analyst for commercial real estate firm JLL since 2018, according to her LinkedIn page. She graduated from the University of Central Arkansas in 2018 with a bachelors degree in computer science and previously attended Campbellsville University in Kentucky.

She volunteered frequently, including at the Arkansas Foodbank, as a referee at robotics competitions and as a judge for youth art competitions, her LinkedIn page said.

Details about Platts life were not immediately available Saturday. A man who answered the door of a Mission District residence listed under her name said she may have been a previous tenant.

McAlister declined to be interviewed at a San Francisco jail, where he is being held on charges including manslaughter, hit and run, burglary, resisting arrest and driving under the influence.

Michael Williams and Steve Rubenstein are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: michael.williams@sfchronicle.com, srubenstein@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @michaeldamianw, @SteveRubeSF
Pakistani man who kidnapped, raped 13-y-o Christian girl is released on bail

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A court in Pakistan has released on bail a Muslim man who abducted, raped and forced a 13-year-old Christian girl into an Islamic marriage, based on his argument that the girl had attained puberty.

Ali Azhar, 44, was released on bail last month as he maintained he had not violated Pakistans laws against child marriage and child rape because the Christian girl, Arzoo Raja, had attained puberty, the U.S.-based persecution watchdog International Christian Concern reported on Saturday.

If found guilty of rape, Azhar would face life in prison or a death sentence.

There are good, bad and at times even dark days for justice, Jibran Nasir, the lawyer representing Arzoos parents, was quoted as saying.

Arzoo was abducted from her family's home in Sindh provinces Karachi city by Azhar, her Muslim neighbor, on Oct. 13, 2020, as Arzoos father told police when he filed a report of the crime. Although a kidnapping victim, Arzoo was forced to live with Azhar for nearly a month. During that time, she signed two papers saying she had converted to Islam and married Azhar.

In late October, the Sindh High Court validated the marriage by citing Sharia law, even though Pakistans secular law, under the Sindh Child Marriages Restraint Act, forbids child marriage.

On Nov. 2, however, after Pakistans minister for human rights, Shireen Mazari, said her lawyer had filed an intervention in the case, the court reversed its decision validating the illegal marriage and ordered police to arrest Azhar and take Arzoo to a government-run shelter home while they investigated the case.

The court also did not dismiss Arzoos fathers statutory rape charges brought against her kidnapper, the familys attorney told Morning Star News at the time.

Arzoo said in a Nov. 9 court hearing that she did not want to return home and willingly converted to Islam and freely married Azhar.

Arzoo is reluctant to live with her parents because of the consistent brainwashing done by the accused and certain community activists for ulterior motives, Nasir previously told Morning Star News.

Her claims were almost certainly made under threat, ICCs South Asia Regional Manager, Will Stark, told The Christian Post in an interview. Girls in similar cases are often tormented, threatened or tricked into signing the papers, he said.

Once kidnappers force girls to sign conversion and marriage documents, they can legally marry under Islamic law, which Pakistan recognizes as valid. Under Islamic law, a girl can be legally married immediately after her first period. Police usually ignore cases of child marriage when Islamic law becomes involved, Stark said.

To help support Raja, Christians can sign an online petition for her release, Stark added.

The U.S. State Department has designated Pakistan as a country of particular concern for engaging in or tolerating egregious and systemic abuses of religious freedom. Pakistan has also been ranked as the fifth-worst country in the world when it comes to Christian persecution on Open Doors USAs 2020 World Watch List.
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Vice President Mike Pence in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington on Nov. 13, 2020. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)

Pence Welcomes Efforts by Lawmakers to Object to Electoral College Votes on Jan. 6

Vice President Mike Pence said he welcomes efforts by lawmakers to challenge Electoral College results in the upcoming congressional joint session on Jan. 6, when the votes are formally counted, according to a new statement.

Chief of staff to the vice president Marc Short issued the statement to reporters on Saturday saying that Pence, who will be presiding over the Jan. 6 session as president of the senate, is open to considering planned objections by Republican House members and senators to Electoral College votes cast for Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden.

Short added that the vice president also welcomes efforts by lawmakers to present evidence of election irregularities and voter fraud before Congress during that session.

Vice President Pence shares the concerns of millions of Americans about voter fraud and irregularities in the last election, Short said in the statement sent to media outlets.

This comes after a group of 11 Republican senators announced their intention to challenge the electoral college votes from contested states earlier on Saturday. The group, led by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), said the 2020 election featured unprecedented allegations of voter fraud, violations, and lax enforcement of election law, and other voting irregularities.

The allegations of fraud and irregularities in the 2020 election exceed any in our lifetimes, they said, adding that this deep distrust of U.S. democratic processes will not magically disappear and should concern us all, whether or not elected officials or journalist believe the allegations.

It poses an ongoing threat to the legitimacy of any subsequent administrations, the senators wrote in their statement while calling on Congress to appoint an electoral commission to conduct an emergency 10-day audit of the election results.

They added that they intend to object to the votes unless and until the emergency 10-day audit is completed.

The group includes Sens. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), John Kennedy (R-La.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), and Mike Braun (R-Ind.). Meanwhile, Sens.-elect Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), and Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) also plan on joining. Theyll be sworn in on Sunday, several days before the joint session.

Their announcement means 12 senators intend to object to the contested electoral votes on Jan. 6.

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) earlier this week was the first senator to announce his plans to object. Forty-five House members plan on objecting to electoral votes, according to a tally by The Epoch Times.

President Donald Trump (L) and Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden in file photographs. (Getty Images)

Objections during the joint session must be made in writing by at least one House member and one senator. If the objection for any state meets this requirement, the joint session pauses and each house withdraws to its own chamber to debate the question for a maximum of two hours. The House and the Senate then vote separately to accept or reject the objection, which requires a majority vote from both chambers.

If both candidates receive less than 270 electoral votes on Jan. 6, then a contingent election is triggered in which each states delegation in the U.S. House of Representatives casts one en bloc vote to determine the president, while the vice president is decided by a vote in the U.S. Senate.

Democrats and several Republican senators have opposed the plans to challenge the electoral college results. Republican Sens. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) issued statements on Saturday to reaffirm their support that they would back the electoral college votes that were cast for Biden.

Similarly, Senate Democrats rebuked efforts by their Republican colleagues.

Joe Biden will be inaugurated on January 20th, and no publicity stunt will change that, Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) said in a statement.

This pathetic, opportunistic stunt is an attack on our democracy. Its un-American & unconscionable. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) said in a separate statement. Votes have been counted, recounted, certified, & all challenges totally discredited. Time to govern & get things done.

The Republican senators acknowledged in their statement on Saturday that they expect Democrats and a few Republicans to vote against them but added that support for election integrity should not be a partisan issue.

A fair and credible auditconducted expeditiously and completed well before January 20would dramatically improve Americans faith in our electoral process and would significantly enhance the legitimacy of whoever becomes our next President. We owe that to the People, the Republican senators said.

This comes after many allies of President Donald Trump called on Pence to reject electoral votes from disputed states. A judge on Friday rejected a lawsuit filed by Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) and other Republicans against Pence requesting that the court grant the vice president the exclusive authority and sole discretion in determining which electoral votes to count for a given State on Jan. 6.

Zachary Stieber contributed to this report.
Kerala govt announces green rebate for eco-friendly homes amid slew of new measures

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 03: With the crucial Assembly polls just months away, the Kerala government announced a 10 point programme, includingensuring medicines, mustering and other services at the doorsteps of the elderly and physically challenged and aGreen rebate for environmentally friendly homes.

Announcing the initiatives on New Year day, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said they would be implemented in a time-bound manner. For the elderly and physically challenged, at least five government services would be made available at their doorsteps, Vijayan said.

"In Kerala, the population of elderly people is on the higher side and most of them are living alone, with their children and relatives away. They find it difficult to get various benefits or bring their problemsbefore the authorities", he said.

Mustering, life certificates, social security pensions, applications for CMDRF applications and essential life saving medicines are services which wouldbe made available in the first phase and the government will issue a notification by January 10, the chief minister said.

Kerala Local Body election results updates: LDF's victory befitting reply to UDF, BJP, says Pinarayi Vijayan

The government will give a special one time rebate on initial building tax for those constructing environmentally friendly homes by using pre-fabricated material, avoiding cutting of trees and not resorting to land fillings. The criteria and percentage of rebate would be decided after consultations with environment, finance and local self departments and the notification would be issued this month itself, he said. More counsellors would be appointed in schools to reduce increasing number of suicides by students.

Presently, 1024 counsellors on contract basisare employed in schools and their numbers would be doubled, Vijayan said. For women facing various issues, online counselling facilities would be arranged. Eminent Scholar online programmes will be arranged to help college and university students interact and exchange views with well known experts, he said.

At least 1,000 students, whose annual family income was less than Rs 2.5lakh, would get Rs one lakh scholarship for higher studies To fight corruption, an authority would be constituted where a person can provide accurate information about it. The complainant''s name would be withheld, he said. A digital media literacy programme would be launched in schools and colleges and a scheme for providing nutritional food for children and teenagers would also be kickstarted, the Chief Minister said.

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As people marked the beginning of a new year, the district attorneys office witnessed the swearing-in ceremony of District Attorney Isidro R. Chilo Alaniz for his fourth term.

Alaniz was sworn in Friday morning by 49th District Court Judge Joe Lopez. Alaniz also administered the oath of office to the assistant district attorneys, criminal investigators and support staff.

After being sworn into office, Alaniz spoke about what he looks forward to accomplishing during his new term in office.

Thirteen years ago, I was a 39 year old with a dream of serving my community in a big way, a dream in which I could make a difference in peoples lives, Alaniz said. When I was running for the election, Webb County and Zapata, it is tough when running an election as it is always a nail-biter. I was worried about the results of the election as I went into a runoff, and there were four candidates that ran for this very important office. I went to my dad and asked him about what he thought as I was really worried about the outcome of this race, and then my dad said, Tu destino esta escrito (your destiny is written).

He felt relieved when he won the race, and he considers it the best job he could ever ask for. However, he said it was the trust people put in him 13 years ago and continue to do that has allowed him to continue thriving.

I could not have been here as well without the voters of Webb County and Zapata who 13 years ago gave me an opportunity, and ever since then they continue to bring me back, Alaniz said.

Alaniz promised that the pledge he made since his first day in office to restore transparency, reduce crime in the community, improve the office and be a hands-on district attorney.

During the ceremony, Alaniz was described as someone who helped mold the office into something better by implementing important initiatives such as the Make the Right Call Campaign to deter drunk driving. He promotes several campaigns against drugs for elementary schools establishing the Webb County Better Community Foundation and even helping set the official mascot for the office.

Alaniz was acclaimed during the ceremony for his ability to unite and have better communication with local law enforcement agencies, statewide agencies and federal agencies such as the U.S. Marshalls, FBI and DEA.

Working closely with the Laredo Police Department, sheriffs, DPS and all other law enforcement agencies of Webb and Zapata, we continue to reduce crime and make our communities safe, Alaniz said. The office has been modernized, and I am proud to say that the office is almost 100% virtual/paperless.

Alaniz also praised members of his administration during their swearing-in ceremonies and mentioned how his office is too big for every member to be involved in the ceremony.

In my administration and the more than 85 employees of the DA Office, we have delivered on these promises, Alaniz said. Today, we are respected by local, state and federal agencies alike, side by side with our partners in these agencies. We have multiple agencies that have taken oaths and are currently assigned to side with our state and federal partners. At the state level, we are recognized as the leader in district attorney offices.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic and the large size of the staff prevented everyone attending, the ceremony was also presented virtually through Zoom so family and friends could watch.

During the ceremony, Alaniz was also described as an avid hunter and outdoorsman who cares deeply about his family including his three children.

Casa de Misericordia Executive Director Sister Rosemary Welsh, who led the prayer, also provided praise for Alaniz.

I have been a witness of all that Chilo has done in this community, and what he says he is going to do he does. And I believe he is very wise, Welsh said.

During her prayer, Welsh said people should pray for everything that happened in 2020, to hope for a better year and to pray for local politicians to be guided by their faith and heart to make the best decisions possible for the communities that they represent as being the moral voice for their community.

Alaniz said the future looks bright for the community and he expects to tackle many new issues like he has done in the past. He hopes to make his office a shining example for other district attorney offices across the state.

The future is bright. The future will bring more protection, programs and innovation from my office and making this the best district attorneys office in the great state of Texas, he said.

Alaniz has held onto the position of district attorney since 2009 and ran unopposed in the 2020 general election.

jorge.vela@lmtonline.com
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Pakistani Christians return home after threats of violence over Facebook post forced them to flee

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Hundreds of Christian families have returned to their homes in the Charar neighborhood of Lahore, Pakistan, after threats of violence over a Facebook post forced them to flee.

On Dec. 22, Pakistani Pastor Raja Waris published a Facebook post that some Muslims alleged was blasphemous. Its unclear what the post said, International Christian Concerns South Asia Regional Manager Will Stark told The Christian Post. Once people describe a post as blasphemous in Pakistan, people stop sharing it and take it down. If they leave it up, they will likely be targeted by violent Islamists too.

[The post] could say something as benign as Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior; He is the final prophet. Even if he said something like Jesus is God, it could be considered blasphemous, said Stark.

Christians in Pakistan usually behave very respectfully toward Islam, he said, because they fear the violence that often follows a blasphemy accusation. Blasphemy accusations are Pakistans scarlet letter, Stark added.

The whiff of him being a blasphemer is enough to be a black mark on his life for the rest of his life, said Stark.

In the days immediately after the blasphemy accusations, Islamic radicals threatened to burn the homes of Christians and demanded the beheading of Waris, said Stark. Hundreds of Christians fled, and police took Waris into custody on Dec. 28. It remains unclear whether they mean to arrest him or protect him.

About 98% of the Christians who fled their Charar homes over Christmas have returned, but Waris will probably have to flee to another place if he leaves police custody.

Weve been looking to see if there was a First Information Report as to why hes being held. We have not found one, Stark said.

Pakistani police might cave to mob pressure and charge Waris with blasphemy, Stark explained. If they do, local Muslims will interpret the arrest as official approval for attacks on local Christians. If Muslims cant kill the person accused of blasphemy, they often attack Christians in their communities.

It would probably turn up the heat again on the situation, he said. If the government or the police force says Yes, this is blasphemy, its going to give credibility to the fringe voices. Blasphemy accusations in Pakistan have a tendency to ignite very emotional outrage.

In Pakistan, Muslims consider blasphemy so horrible that in many cases, it justifies murder, said Stark. Its common in Pakistan for a murderer to be let free after he accuses his victim of blasphemy. A vindictive or jealous neighbor can destroy a rival by making a blasphemy accusation.

Popular opinion upholds blasphemy laws, Stark told CP. Research has shown that these attacks often cause an increase in terrorism, intolerance, and violence.

Since Pakistan widened its blasphemy laws in 1987, the number of accusations has increased dramatically. From 1987 to 2017, 1,534 people have been accused of blasphemy in the country. A disproportionate number of the accusations target Christians.

When we start talking about reform and repeal, at this point in time in Pakistan, there is no political will for repeal. I dont think there should be a blasphemy law, they lead to extremism and violence, Stark said. Were trying to advocate now for reform.

Christian holidays such as Easter and Christmas often bring attacks on Christians, Stark said, noting that Pakistans government has encouraged churches to strengthen security during the high holy days.

To visit church on Christmas or Easter, a Pakistani Christian must go through almost a prison-like block of checkpoints with metal detectors, passing by armed guards and security cameras, he said. Without the security, churches would risk letting in suicide bombers.
Southern Pines, NC (28387)

Today

A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible early. Mainly clear. Low 66F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible early. Mainly clear. Low 66F. Winds light and variable.
The Vietnam News Agency (VNA) has selected the Top 10 events that shaped the world in 2020.

Various activities held in Yen Bai in response to Intl Tea Day Sectors, units, and localities in Yen Bai province have carried out many activities in response to the International Tea Day (May 21).

Vietnam''s elections wrap up in success Vietnam's elections of deputies to the 15th National Assembly and all-level People's Council on May 23 wrapped up in success.

The option of trust and aspiration for happiness joining people nationwide, more than 592,000 voters from 30 ethnic groups in Yen Bai province will cast ballots on May 23 to elect deputies to the 15th National Assembly (NA) and all-level Peoples Councils for the 2021 - 2026 tenure.

Yen Bais labourers make achievements to celebrate general elections These days, the enthusiasm has seen in factories, workshops, construction sites and fields in Yen Bai province as local labourers are striving to make outstanding achievements to celebrate the elections of deputies to the 15th National Assembly (NA) and People's Councils at all levels for the 2021-2026 tenure.
Beloved children's author Sir Michael Morpurgo has refused to include The Merchant of Venice in a new book retelling some of Shakespeare's most successful plays, due to its antisemitic attitudes.

The 77-year-old War Horse author has penned a child-friendly retelling of some of Shakespeare's works, including Romeo and Juliet and King Lear, for youngsters aged between six and 16.

Tales from Shakespeare, which is set to be published next year, will not include a retelling of The Merchant of Venice, however, as the author believe it holds offensive attitudes.

The play's main antagonist is Shylock, a Jewish money lender who is vengeful and demands a pound of flesh as security for a loan. The play ends with him being ordered to convert to Christianity.

Children's author Michael Morpurgo said he chose to leave The Merchant of Venice out of his retelling of Shakespeare's plays as the antisemitic character of Shylock was 'too raw to write about for children'

Speaking about his decision to leave the play, Mr Morpurgo told The Times: 'I avoided Shylock because it worried me too much if I am honest about it ... there are assumptions right the way through about what it is to be a Jew, and how Jews are thought of, which are so important for our society that, for me, it was best not to go there.'

Mr Morpurgo, who was knighted in 2018, read through Shakespeare's works for the first time in decades as he prepared to write his own adaptations.

The Merchant of Venice was said to have been a popular play in Nazi Germany, as the characterisation of Shylock fitted with the anti-semtic propaganda of the Third Reich.

The Merchant of Venice's central antagonist is Shylock, a Jewish money lender who is vengeful and demands a pound of flesh as security for a loan. The character is ultimately forced to convert to Christianity at the end of the play, which was first performed in 1595

He added: 'I felt... do not go there, it is too raw to write about for children'.

Al Pacino, Laurence Olivier and Jonathan Pryce have all played Shylock in one production or another over the years.

In 2016, British novellist Howard Jacobson said of Shylock: 'From the moment he made his first appearance on the stage in 1595 he has confirmed, for those who already look at the world that way, every anti-Jewish prejudice.'

He said generations of actors had portrayed the character as ' the medieval stereo-type of the grasping and vindictive, hook-nosed, knife-wielding Jew whom no appeal to a common humanity could soften'.

Al Pacino took on the role of Shylock in 2004, while other actors to perform as the character include Jonathan Pryce and Laurence Olivier

Mr Jacobson added: 'Unsurprisingly, then, The Merchant Of Venice was performed in the theatres of the Third Reich repeatedly.

'In Shylock the Nazis saw the Jew they wanted to see.'
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Pune, Jan 3 : Nine years ago on this day, when a soft-spoken Pune medico, Dr. Ganesh Rakh, 46, announced 'free delivery' of all infant girls born in his Rakh's Medicare Hospital (RMH), he was promptly dismissed as the 'Mad Doc' and scorned by the medical fraternity and society alike.

As the clock entered a new decade this week, Dr. Rakh's small initiative -- launched to coincide with the birth anniversary of the legendary social reformer Savitribai Jyotirao Phule (1831-1897) -- has now blossomed into a global campaign.

Incidentally, the National Family Health Survey-5 (2019-2020) -- released in December 2020 -- underscored the "Mad Doc's" far-sighted vision and the huge concerns in officialdom, as Indians seem to blatantly reject 'Ghar-ki Laxmi' and bet on a 'Ghar-ka Chirag'.

"In 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also called for 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' to highlight the importance of the girl child... However, five years later, the situation has turned even more alarming," Dr. Rakh told IANS.

As per NFHS-5, the sex-ratio of the total population rose in 17 states and Union Territories, but dropped in five states -- Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, and Union Territories of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh, compared to NFHS-4 (2015-2016).

"Despite the overall increase in the sex-ratio in Maharashtra, there has been a shocking 11-point decline in the sex-ratio at birth. These are only tentative figures and the real data may emerge only after the Census. But it is a very serious pointer indicating peoples' fetish for a male child," rued Dr. Rakh.

Not auguring well for the state's demographic health, Dr. Rakh warns that "a falling sex-ratio at birth will be counter-productive on the socio-economic fronts in the long run with 'irreversible consequences' lest checked immediately." Besides, the data of 14 major states like Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and other UTs don't figure in the NFHS-5 report released last month.

He cited the Indian Economic Survey report (2017-2018), stating an estimated 63 million female feticides in India (pre-birth), and the Lancet Medical Journal's 2018 report, saying that 'gender bias' killed over 2.40 million girls in the 0-5 age group (post-birth) in a 10-year period, merely because they were born females.

Discussing the nine-year-old 'Beti Bachao Jan Andolan' (BBJA)'s report card, Dr. Rakh said that till date, his Pune hospital delivered 1,925 females, absolutely free of cost, an unparalleled feat anywhere.

This was irrespective of the financial status of the mother/family, whether normal (Rs 20,000), caesarian or complicated deliveries (Rs 50,000), all followed by a big celebration, plus free subsequent followups and other medical treatment for the mother-female baby.

"The costs on these 'free female deliveries' is offset from the routine OPD consultation fees or the bills of the male child births, which albeit leave thin margins for us," said Dr. Rakh with a smile.

"Soon, the BBJA grabbed the attention of the Indian medical fraternity. Today, over 3,00,000 private Indian doctors, 13,000 organisations are part of BBJA. Another 2.50 million commoners to corporates work directly or indirectly for 'Beti Bachao' in the country," he said with a tinge of pride on his unique initiative, first highlighted by IANS in 2014.

This is a sea change from the situation barely a decade ago, when families abhorred the birth of a female baby, the mother and child were humiliated by their family or community, some women were assaulted inside hospital premises for delivering a baby girl.

Many people decamped without clearing the hospital bills, newborn female babies were abandoned in the hospitals or dumped in garbage bins or gutters to become a meal for dogs and pigs, Dr. Rakh said of the horrors he experienced in his medical career.

The scene is different with many families happily accepting the 'Ghar Ki Laxmi' and even offering to pay, or 'sponsor' the delivery of some male child born to economically backward parents, et al.

The world-renowned Ajmer Sharif Dargah's Haji Syed Salman Chishty, the present 'Gaddi Nashin' (hereditary custodian) and 26th direct descendant of Hazrat Khawaja Moinudeen Hasan Chishty (1142-1236 AD) joined the BBJA in 2019.

"Islam considers the birth of a female child as 'Huzoor Ka Salaam' (Greetings of the Prophet).... Even the Hindu culture considers her as 'Goddess Laxmi', so how can there be discrimination," Chishty remarked.

BBJA soon crossed the boundaries to reach Pakistan, China, Nepal, Bangladesh, the US, the UK, Canada, Australia, Turkmenistan, Sudan, Malawi, Congo, Tanzania, Zambia, Middle-East and North Africa, and other countries with similar campaigns launched under Dr. Rakh's guidance.

In February 2019, medicos in Zambia welcomed Dr. Rakh and his team to carry out a series on 'Beti Bachao' programmes to create awareness on the issue in that country, with wide coverage in the local media.

Born to extremely poor parents, the bright boy completed his entire education on scholarships and as Dr. Rakh, is now 'repaying' his debts to society through the BBJA, with full support of his wife Trupti and their daughter Tanisha.

(Quaid Najmi can be contacted at: q.najmi@ians.in)
DMK will waive education loans if voted to power: M K Stalin

India

oi-Deepika S

Erode, Jan 03: The DMK would waive education loan taken by students for higher studies once the party comes to power after the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, which are to be held in April-May.

The DMK president and Leader of the Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Assembly M K Stalin made this statement on Sunday while addressing a gathering at V Mettupalayam village in Erode west constituency where a people''s grama sabha meeting was held.

He alleged that the present AIADMK government is corrupt and that all the Ministers found guilty of it would be taken to task.

The DMK leader further said unemployment problem has been increasing in the state and the standard of education declining. Also, he alleged that were misappropriation in granting of 100-day work for the rural people, which would be set right once the DMK forms the government in the state.

He said he would ask the Central government to make it a 150-day work and daily wages may be given. Earlier, he garlanded a portrait of freedom fighter Veera Pandiya Kattabomman on his 262nd birth anniversary at a party office.

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Story first published: Sunday, January 3, 2021, 18:01 [IST]
On Saturday, Love Island 2020's Shaughna Phillips posted a cryptic photo to Instagram with a mystery man, prompting confusion among her followers.

But a representative for the reality personality, 25, has attempted to clarify the matter to MailOnline.

On Sunday, the rep told us: 'Over the past few weeks Shaughna has met someone who she is currently dating.

Clear as mud? Shaughna Phillips' rep has confirmed that she 'is dating a man she met a few weeks ago after being single for two years' following accusations from fans that she was in a secret romance while on Love Island 2020

'Prior to this Shaughna has been single since before her appearance on Love Island - so in total has been single for 2 years until now.

'Love Island has given Shaughna many fantastic commercial opportunities which she is so very grateful for.'

Shaughna has jetted to Dubai - like most of the other Love Island stars of yesteryear - where she appears to be with the man in question.

She filmed the view from a boat on Sunday, with a man seen in the clip, potentially the mystery boyfriend in question. His face was turned away from the camera.

The confusion began when Shaughna posted the snap cosying up to the shirtless hunk, whose face was covered up with an emoji.

She captioned the snap with: 'Starting 2021 with the same people I started 2020 with, and feeling very lucky '

Deleted: On Saturday, Shaughna posted a cryptic photo to Instagram with a mystery man, prompting confusion among her followers. She has since removed the image from her page

Is this him? Shaughna is now in Dubai. She filmed the view from a boat on Sunday, with a man seen in the clip, potentially the mystery boyfriend in question. His face was turned away from the camera

She has since removed the image from her page.

Many were left wondering who the faceless man was, taking to the comments to press her on the matter.

Some were baffled, wondering how she could still be with the same mystery man a year ago if she had taken part on Love Island - a series for singletons. She also took part in Celebs Go Dating over the subsequent summer.

When she was on Love Island, Shaughna was supposedly looking for romance, famously pairing up with co-star Callum Jones only to be dumped by him after returning from Casa Amor, leading to many a vitriolic remark from viewers.

'Did I just read her confirm that she was in a relationship whilst on love Island and cgd? No hate im just shocked!' one person remarked on Saturday, under her Instagram post.

In Dubai are you? Shaughna has jetted to Dubai - like most of the other Love Island stars of yesteryear - where she appears to be with the man in question

Drama: The 25-year-old, who was on Winter Love Island last January, was supposedly looking for romance on the ITV2 dating show, famously pairing up with co-star Callum Jones only to be dumped by him after returning from Casa Amor

Huh? Yet in her most recent social media post, she is seen on a sun lounger, cosying up to a shirtless hunk, whose face was covered up with an emoji

A different person asked: 'Were you dating during Love Island? x', with another saying: 'You were on LI in 2020.....'

One person questioned: 'Boyfriend of 2 years? Weren't you on celebs go dating recently?'

While a different fan asked why Shaughna was covering her mystery man's face, to which she replied: 'Maybe the person doesn't want the attention so doesn't want their face on Instagram' followed by confused emojis.

Baffled: Many were left wondering who the faceless man was, taking to the comments to press her on the matter (Shaughna pictured on Love Island last year)

Elsewhere, Shaughna reportedly hit back at other critics as she said she appeared on Love Island to 'help her mum financially' in a now-deleted remark.

In the exchange obtained by The Sun, someone asked: 'Confused how she can have a boyfriend of two years what with Celebs Go Dating and Love Island.'

To which Shaughna is said to have replied with: 'It's television!'

Queries: Some were baffled, wondering how she could still be with the same mystery man a year ago if she had taken part on Love Island - a series for singletons. She also took part in Celebs Go Dating over the subsequent summer

Hitting back: While a different fan asked why Shaughna was covering her mystery man's face, to which she replied: 'Maybe the person doesn't want the attention so doesn't want their face on Instagram' followed by confused emojis

Another asked: 'Surely if you're in a relationship you wouldn't be going on dating programmes?'

To which Shaughna replied: 'If you had the ability to potentially change your mum's/parents' life, would you? For me, personally, being able to help my mum in anything she financially would need outweighed ANY other scenario.

'That's the relationship that means everything to me, and I would do anything to give her the life she deserves. We may not agree, but I hope you understand my decisions.'

MailOnline has approached Shaughna's representatives for comment.
Mike McDonnell understands how victims can lose their way.

He was abused by two Catholic priests, one of whom was later convicted, a dark secret that traumatized him so much he became addicted to drugs and alcohol, two of his three marriages failed, and he stole about $100,000 from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia  a crime for which he served nearly a year in jail.

But through recovery, and maintaining his Catholic faith, McDonnell, 52, has rebuilt himself as a victims advocate as he tries to help others. Hes now a local leader for the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP).

Hell take phone calls at all hours of the day and night, said Shaun Dougherty, a board member of SNAP and a fellow advocate. Hell talk victims through any problem that they have. Hell find resources for them if they need it. Hell help guide them in any way that he can.

Many of the victims McDonnell supports have suffered unemployment, divorce, the loss of a home, or addiction.

Im able to validate what they are sharing with me, McDonnell said. Theyre getting an understanding that someone else has walked the same path.

 READ MORE: Philadelphia Archdiocese clears abuse victims $95,000 debt in act of true mercy | Maria Panaritis

A flawed man

McDonnell is open about his past, admits that hes a flawed man who has made mistakes.. Veritas vos liberabit is inscribed up there, he said, pointing to an inscription on the Archdiocese of Philadelphia building. That means, The truth will set you free. Isnt that ironic?

The abuse started when McDonnell was 11, working in the rectory of St. Titus Parish. The job was offered to McDonnell and several other boys by a resident priest who McDonnell said would ask him explicit questions about sex.

Such special attention and inappropriate questions are common, said Paula Kane, a professor of contemporary Catholic studies at the University of Pittsburgh.

They would do these things that seem like a pretty straightforward process, and one that you as a parent might not suspect, Kane explained. Then the priests might begin to ask the boys explicit questions that led to sexual abuse. After the priests probing questions came the groping, McDonnell said.

Ken Gavin, a spokesperson for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, declined to comment on the details of McDonnells allegations.

McDonnell says he was abused a second time in 1980 by Francis Trauger, who was a St. Titus assistant pastor.

Trauger was laicized after an allegation of sexual abuse by a minor was substantiated in May 2005, according to Gavin. The former priest is serving an 18- to 36-month prison sentence after being charged with molesting two boys at St. Michael the Archangel Church.

Abuse, then addiction

McDonnell hid his sexual abuse, and as a 12-year-old, he started drinking, taking sips of his fathers beer.

I wanted to feel numb, he said. I wanted to take that shame, guilt, embarrassment that I was processing myself and anesthetize. Drinking, he said, made him feel complete, instant relief.

By 18, McDonnell was drinking daily. He was an alcoholic by 21.

McDonnell was married and divorced twice before he sought treatment for alcoholism.

He entered a 12-step program in 2005, where he met his third wife, Debra, who he says gave him tough love.

The fourth step in the program is to address fears and resentments. He had stopped drinking, but had to face how his abuse led to his addiction.

McDonnells sponsor recommended reporting his abusers to the archdiocese, which he agreed to in September 2006. But the criminal statute of limitations on McDonnells case had expired, leaving no legal recourse. The church, however, offered to pay for McDonnells therapy. Angry with the outcome, McDonnell sought revenge for the years of pain the church caused him.

While working for the Bucks County Council on Alcoholism, McDonnell submitted fabricated invoices using company fax machines. He collected over $100,000 in payments from the Catholic Church.

I substituted all the desire that I had to drink alcohol [with] all the desire that I had to spend money, he said.

In early 2010, McDonnell got caught. The Bucks County Council on Alcoholism was investigating missing funds. McDonnell admitted stealing $400 or $500. From there, his bank records were subpoenaed and investigators uncovered the money he had stolen from the church.

McDonnell was charged with theft by deception and illegal use of a communication device, and served 11 months in jail on a work-release program. McDonnell also relapsed and reentered a 12-step program in 2014.

McDonnell was eligible for parole and served probation. He also had to pay restitution, which the archdiocese requested the Bucks County DA to vacate.

Since 2002, the archdiocese has dedicated more than $15 million to victims support. In 2011, the archdiocese opened the Office of Investigations to ensure that abuse allegations are reported to law enforcement.

Since serving out his sentence, McDonnell has focused on helping others through victims advocacy. He also works full time as a practitioner for Access Services Incorporated, which provides support for people with special needs. Still, he says he cant remember a week since 2018 that he has not received a call from a person alleging abuse.

The Church consistently urges anyone who has been abused, no matter when the abuse occurred, to come forward and report that abuse to law enforcement, Gavin said in a statement.

McDonnell remains a devoted Catholic and attributes much of his recovery to his faith.

It was my foundation of faith that kept me and allowed me to get through those traumatic periods, he said. Those were those moments of grace that I realize now that God said, Im gonna help you get through it. It might be awhile, but Im gonna help you get through it.
(Alliance News) - Ireland's chief medical officer has warned that Ireland's Covid-19 incidence rate could be at its highest, as the county saw a record-breaking number of coronavirus cases in a day.

The Department of Health recorded 3,394 cases within the last 24 hours.

There have also been four further deaths related to Covid-19 in Ireland.

As of 2pm on Saturday, 607 Covid-19 patients were in hospital, of which 56 are in ICU. There have been 71 additional hospital admissions in the past 24 hours.

Tony Holohan, said: "The incidence of Covid-19 is as high, if not higher now than it was in March.

"Every individual needs to act as if they are infectious. Hospitalisations are rising to levels close to what we saw in the springtime. Everyone needs to stay at home other than for essential work or care.

"It is really important that vulnerable and older people do not leave their homes unless absolutely essential.

"This includes asking neighbours or family to carry out errands such as grocery shopping, limiting all contacts to only those people you live with or have to visit for essential care reasons.

"We need to rediscover the spirit of solidarity and community we saw in March and April so that we can all do our part in protecting older and vulnerable people.

"People particularly vulnerable to Covid-19 include older persons and people with pre-existing medical conditions including cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease and cancer."

Ireland's 14-day incidence rate is now at 381.6 per 100,000 people.

Earlier, Philip Nolan, chairman of the NPHET Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group, said that Ireland is in a "very significant surge".

He warned that up to 6,000 cases a day could be seen in the coming days following the backlog in the system which is likely to see an additional 9,000 cases reported.

It comes as the head of the Health Service Executive warned that Ireland has not yet seen the worst impact of the surge in Covid-19 cases on hospitals.

The high levels of coronavirus cases across the country have sparked warnings from health officials about the rising number of patients in hospital.

Paul Reid, chief executive of the HSE, urged the public to follow health guidelines.

The number of Covid-19 patients in hospital has been rising in recent weeks, with the number of coronavirus cases in ICUs more than doubling in two weeks.

More than 109,000 coronavirus tests have been carried out in the last seven days, with a positivity rate of 16%.

Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said that the number of vaccinations will be reported with the number of coronavirus cases published daily by his department.

It has also been reported that a further nine cases of the variant form of Covid-19 found in the UK have been detected in Ireland.

Cillian De Gascun, medical virologist, said that further testing of SarsCoV2 samples dating from December 23 to 29 found the additional variant cases.

He said it takes the total number of cases found to 16.

By Cate McCurry, PA

source: PA

Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
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Robert Price is a journalist for KGET-TV. His column appears here Sundays. Reach him at RobertPrice@KGET.com or via Twitter: @stubblebuzz. The opinions expressed are his own.
What started as a Midwest publicity stunt is now getting a lot more serious as the electoral college count debate ramps up and social media pundits pretend to understand constitutional law.



Check-it . . .
Jenn Gadomski keeps handy her supply of naloxone, the opioid overdose antidote used hundreds of times last year to save lives in Northeast Pennsylvania.

Gadomski, 31, of Harding, never used heroin or the even deadlier drug fentanyl, but four months into her recovery from substance abuse, she had friends who did.

Keeping some nearby could be a matter of survival.

It takes everything that they love away from them, Gadomski said of heroin.

The last 12 months will be remembered as a plague year, when the COVID-19 virus killed nearly 2 million people worldwide and more than 15,000 in Pennsylvania. In the background, another plague  substance abuse  continued its slow burn, killing nearly 4,000 Pennsylvanians in overdoses in 2020, according to preliminary overdose data available from the state Department of Health. As of Dec. 7, 67 of those deaths occurred in Lackawanna County, according to state data. Thats higher than the estimated number of overdose deaths in 2019  65  but not as high as 2018, which saw 94 overdose deaths, according to the state data. The number may increase as outstanding toxicology reports confirm other 2020 deaths as overdoses.

And, you know, we always hold our breath at Christmastime, because that could hit very hard and skew numbers, Lackawanna County District Attorney Mark Powell said.

Preliminary data on overdose deaths in other counties in 2020 included 121 in Luzerne County, 70 in Monroe County, 11 in Pike County and 13 in Wayne County, according to the Health Department. In 2019, there were 135 overdose deaths in Luzerne County, 58 in Monroe County, 14 in Pike County and 19 in Wayne County, according to the departments estimates. Pennsylvanias Overdose Information Network, which reflects information on overdose responses and naloxone disbursement, shows that most of the drug overdoses in Lackawanna County involved white men between the ages of 25 and 39. That group accounted for roughly 40% of 125 overdose responses recorded in the network in the county between March 2018 and Dec. 9; naloxone was needed in about half of those 125 encounters.

However, data entry into that system is voluntary and the health department cautioned that the information might not encompass all overdoses or naloxone use.Bruce Beauvais, a paramedic and operations manager at Pennsylvania Ambulance, said that their ambulance crews have administered naloxone 232 times this year since March. By comparison, in the same time frame in 2019, the ambulance company administered the overdose antidote 183 times.So thats a significant increase in how much naloxone were using, Beauvais said.

Two people close to Gadomski are alive today because of naloxone, she said.

In April, her cousin suffered an overdose and was left by a gas station, where authorities revived her with naloxone and treated her at a hospital. Then, in July or August, one of Gadomskis close friends overdosed on fentanyl. Gadomskis friends called her to come help because they knew she had naloxone. She arrived and administered some, soon followed by paramedics.The experience was traumatizing, she said. She entered treatment for her own substance abuse issues in September.

I needed to open my eyes ... and learn to live, she said.

Marty Henehan, an outspoken recovery advocate and cofounder of the nonprofit Forever Sammi Foundation, knows of roughly a dozen people who died in the last couple of weeks in the Scranton area from accidental overdoses.

In 2020, those suffering from an opioid addiction continued the trend of seeking out fentanyl because it brings a more intense high than heroin for less money, according to Henehan. Using fentanyl, a remarkably powerful opioid, is like playing Russian Roulette, he said.

So the hope is that we can keep it out there that treatment is available, there are still beds available, said Henehan, who is also the marketing and outreach director of the Lakeside NEPA outpatient treatment center in Scranton. People can call me any time, 24 hours a day. Id be more than happy to get them placed in the facility.

Despite the pandemic, a long-term study of opioid overdose deaths in Lackawanna County got off the ground in 2020 and researchers began to dig into data. Powells office secured a $900,000 federal grant in October 2019 to fund a three-year study of every opioid overdose death in the county. Their analysis includes interviewing family members of the deceased and reviewing their treatment records and law enforcement contacts.Powell said in an interview in December there were already general themes beginning to emerge about those who overdosed.

Theyve noticed how drug abuse first crops up during a users early adolescence, sometimes related to mental health issues or childhood trauma. Another theme theyve noticed centers on the repeated, missed opportunities where a drug abuser goes through the criminal justice system but does not get the treatment they need.

So the goal will be make an early assessment on anybody who is involved with drug activity, and try to treat the problem whether youre a first-time user or whether you have a 20-year history, Powell said. Assess and treat. And then determine the involvement that requires accountability in the criminal justice system.

As for Gadomski, she is hopeful for a better 2021, but tries not to worry too far ahead. She attends 12-step recovery meetings every day  usually through Zoom because of the pandemic  and has a support group in the Scranton area.I know as long as I keep working the program and doing the right thing, the future has endless possibilities, Gadomski said.
A New Year. A new beginning. Time to look ahead to the future. A Brexit deal was finally done on Christmas Eve.

A negotiated settlement based on zero tariffs, which I suspect is the preferred outcome for the majority of businesses on both sides of the Channel. It is certainly my preferred outcome.

Some bumpy moments might lie ahead as businesses adjust to practical and procedural changes but the important thing is that a deal was done. Its time for British businesses to look ahead to the future and seize the opportunities.

The wheels of industry: JCB chairman Lord Bamford says there has never been a better time for British companies to accelerate their efforts to grow exports  to Europe and further afield

Eight years have passed since we were promised an in/out referendum on EU membership. Much has changed since then. One thing that has not changed is what sets us apart as a trading nation.

We have always been an outward-looking nation and global trade has always been pivotal to our economic prosperity.

This New Year begins with news from the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) that the UK is once again the fifth-largest economy in the world, after the US, China, Japan and Germany.

An excellent foundation on which the UK can now build for the future, if businesses seize the available opportunities.

As an independent trading nation, there has never been a better time to accelerate efforts to grow our exports. Not just to EU countries under the terms of the deal, but also to markets further afield, such as Commonwealth nations.

According to a May 2020 report by the think-tank Civitas, the UKs fastest growing export markets are now Nigeria, India (both Commonwealth countries), Thailand and Taiwan.

Let us be more like Germany with exports

Why is it then that so few British companies export? Only 9.6 per cent of businesses in Britains non-financial economy are actively engaged in exporting. An astonishingly low percentage.

Just imagine if it were to increase to 15 per cent, or even double to 20 per cent. Given that exports account for around one-third of GDP, if many more companies could get actively involved in exporting, the benefit to the British economy would be significant.

Does this low proportion of exporting businesses in Britain today explain why the UKs balance of payments  the amount of money flowing into the country compared to the amount going out  has been consistently negative as a percentage of GDP since the early 1980s?

According to a May 2020 report by the think-tank Civitas, the UKs fastest growing export markets are now Nigeria, India (both Commonwealth countries), Thailand and Taiwan

I am not an economist, but when you compare our trade deficit in 2019 of minus 2 per cent with Germanys very healthy surplus of plus 6 per cent in 2019, you have to wonder what Germany is doing right and where the UK is going wrong.

In my view, we should look to Germany a lot more for lessons in operating an economy and running businesses. Two countries, with broadly similar populations, but with very different balance of payment figures. In simple terms, far more German products are sold overseas than imported into Germany, compared with the UK.

No less than 63 trade deals in just two years

Germany is the worlds third largest exporter  the UK is tenth. Let us be a lot more like the Germans when it comes to exporting. We really do need to be exporting a lot more.

My own company, JCB, recently marked 75 years in business. Since 1945, JCB has grown to become a global company selling to over 150 countries. This did not happen by accident  it is the result of a laser- sharp focus on exporting from the early days.

Our home market here in the UK was  and still is  very important. Trading with our closest neighbours  Ireland, France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany  is also vitally important to JCB, not least because of these markets proximity to our shores and to our factories here in the UK.

Proximity isnt everything though. Take the United States, for example, the largest economy in the world. Its also the single largest market in the world for the kind of equipment that JCB manufactures.

Last week, Liz Truss and her Turkish counterpart locked in tariff-free trading arrangements between the UK and Turkey

It may be further away from our shores, but it is a market that offers so many opportunities and it is easily accessible from British ports  in fact, hundreds of JCBs make their way across the Atlantic from Southampton every week. Even further afield, in India, in South East Asia, and as far away as Australia, there are many export possibilities for British companies.

We just need to seize more of the opportunities. I accept, of course, that many companies might need help and mentoring in order to make the leap into exporting. Chambers of Commerce and the Government export credit agency, UK Export Finance, are good places to start looking for advice and support.

The trading environment for exporters is improving all the time. Something that has been overlooked in recent weeks and months is the success of the International Trade Secretary, Liz Truss, in securing trade agreements with Canada, Singapore, Vietnam and Kenya.

Just a couple of weeks ago, the Department for International Trade signed a trade agreement with Mexico. The pace is relentless. No less than 63 trade agreements have been secured in just two years.

Last week, Liz Truss and her Turkish counterpart locked in tariff-free trading arrangements between the UK and Turkey, paving the way for a more ambitious trade agreement in the future.

This particular development will prove to be very important to the manufacturing sector. Such trade agreements open doors to British companies. They create the opportunities that the Prime Minister now wants us to seize. Doing so will grow the economy and create jobs. Its also bound to help improve our balance of payments, once such an important barometer of economic performance.

'I am enthusiastic about the opportunities that offshore wind can offer, particularly when deployed to make green hydrogen,' says Lord Bamford

After several years of debate about our future relationship with the EU, its time for British companies to look to the future and raise their game by exporting more, making Britain a true global leader in free trade.

Now that the deal is done and the transition period has ended, Ministers will hopefully have more time to focus on other priorities.

Dealing with Covid-19 is obviously top of the list, but the list is long. Delivering the national infrastructure strategy is crucial for businesses, upgrading the road and rail networks, improving connections between cities and regions and so on. Dealing with the scourge of potholes on our local roads network is also a priority for motorists.

Another priority high on the list is the Prime Ministers ten-point plan for a green industrial revolution. Boris Johnson is right to accelerate our path to net zero.

As a businessman, I am enthusiastic about the opportunities that offshore wind can offer, particularly when deployed to make green hydrogen.

Fossil fuels are the enemy in the battle against climate change. I believe hydrogen has a very significant role to play as a zero carbon fuel of the future, particularly for public transport, industry and businesses.

Protecting our natural environment is another important part of the PMs plan, which is in everyones interest as citizens of our planet Earth.

Lets hope that Ministers can now dedicate a lot more time and effort into delivering on the remaining priorities of British businesses and the British people, including the promised levelling up agenda.

Lord Bamford is Chairman of JCB and a Conservative peer.
Intelligence suggested that the IRA had resumed links with Libya just two years before the signing of Good Friday Agreement.

Under the reign of Muammar Gaddafi, the African country is reported to have supplied the Provos with a huge arsenal of weapons, including guns, ammunition and Semtex.

The links between the IRA and Libya, which is believed to have gifted the terrorists 2million to finance their campaign, were established during the Seventies.

Newly declassified secret files from the National Archives reveal fears that the deadly links between them had been re-established.

A secret April 1996 letter from then Prime Minister John Major's Principal Private Secretary John Holmes to Dominick Chilcott at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office thanked him for "additional evidence about possible Libyan links with the IRA".

It read: "This is interesting collateral for the earlier report, even if it still falls some way short of confirmation.

"If and when the renewed links are confirmed, the Prime Minister believes that we need to think about action on at least two diplomatic fronts.

"First, we would presumably need to revisit the assurances given by the Libyans to the UN Secretary General that their involvement with the IRA had ceased some time ago.

"Second, we should be ready to tell the Americans about these renewed links as part of our campaign to disabuse them of illusions about the IRA/Sinn Fein."

Mr Chilcott had been asked to keep the authorities "informed of any evidence which might point to a renewed Libyan threat to UK interests".

He wrote: "I, therefore, enclose a copy of a telegram reporting a possible resumption of Libyan links with PIRA which we have just received."

An earlier confidential document from the Foreign Office, dated November 16, 1995, said "the Libyans have replied to our latest set of questions about their links with the PIRA".

Following a redacted sentence, the note said the "five sets of answers given by the Libyans have largely met our expectations", but elsewhere in the file officials conceded there remained gaps and omissions in the information given.

It added: "To close this chapter in our relations with the Libyans, we are now arranging to tell the UN Secretary General where things now stand and to ask him to inform the Libyans.

"We shall, at the same time, remind him that the material and financial support given to PIRA added significantly to its paramilitary capabilities at a time when it was waging a terrorist campaign against British interests.

"We are making it clear that, while we recognise that Libyan co-operation on this is a positive step towards its renunciation of terrorism, it represents but one of a number of demands in the Security Council resolutions.

"The sanctions regime... must remain in force until all the demands in the resolutions are met.

"In considering our reaction to Libya's answers, we have considered our overall policy on (the) Lockerbie (attack).

"There is continuing pressure on us to soften our line and the Libyans have been assiduously putting around various 'compromise' proposals.

"The present stalemate is not satisfactory, since we should like to try the two accused and secure convictions.

"But the likelihood of Gaddafi handing them over is negligible and the status quo has the merit of at least constraining his activities."
Indonesia will start distributing the vaccine developed by China's Sinovac to all its 34 provinces this week, a month after President Joko Widodo's plan to fast-track inoculations was blocked by his own medical regulator.

The Ministry of Health will carry out the distribution in parallel with testing the vaccines made by the Chinese company, said Indonesian news outlet Kompas, citing the ministry's vaccination spokeswoman Siti Nadia Tarmizi.

A rickshaw driver waits for customers in Yogyakarta - it's expected to take 15 months to vaccinate across Indonesia. Credit:Getty Images

South-east Asia's most populous nation is aiming to commence inoculations as soon as the food and drug regulator approves the vaccine and issues an emergency use authorisation, but it will take more than a year to vaccinate a nation of more than 276 million.

Indonesia's national vaccine rollout will take around 15 months, with initial priority given to the country's 1.3 million health workers, Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said in a statement on Saturday.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's home in Louisville Kentucky was vandalized on Saturday after the Senate refused to take up a bill enhancing the amount for stimulus checks.

A report from The Louisville Courier Journal said the front of the McConnell home had spray-painted messaged on it with expletives and at least one political message.

The Highlands home was vandalized with messages such as "Where's my money" and "Mitch kills poor" on the front door and porch.

McConnell's home was vandalized after he called the move to increase stimulus checks from $600 to $2,000 a form of "socialism for rich people," said a report from Daily Caller.

So the Senate did not take up a bill to address this despite calls from President Donald Trump to go for bigger checks, reported BBC.

"The Senate is not going to be bullied into rushing out more borrowed money into the hands of Democrats' rich friends who don't need the help," McConnell said n Wednesday.

Read also: Pelosi's San Francisco Home Vandalized With Graffiti, Pig Head on New Year's Day

One of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's homes in San Francisco, California was also defaced on New Year's Day.

Messages on the graffiti of Pelosi's home also alluded to the failed push for bigger checks.

No Additional Damage on McConnell Home

Fox News-affiliated WDRB-TV said in its report that the senator's home was tagged with red and white spray paint overnight.

Louisville Metro Police Department noted that the incident took place around 5 a.m. on Saturday, but there were not additional damages on the home.

It's not clear if McConnell was home during the time of the vandalism, said a report from Daily Wire.

The authorities did not offer an immediate response to a request for comment.

McConnell Appreciates 'Democratic Process', But Not This

While the incident appeared to be a stressful one, McConnell appeared to have an idea of where the people responsible were coming from.

He pointed out that throughout his career in the Senate he fought for the First Amendment and defending peaceful protest.

Read also: Trump Reflects on 'Historic Victories' as Biden Looks Ahead in Contrasting New Year Messages

He added that he appreciated "every Kentuckian who has engaged in the democratic process whether they agree with me or not," but he also denounced the act done on his own home and said it was "different".

"Vandalism and the politics of fear have no place in our society," he said in a statement.

The senator said he and his wife have never fallen victim to the "toxic playbook" but he hoped his neighbors did not face much of an inconvenience from the "radical tantrum."

In a tweet, the Republican Party of Kentucky also posted their response on the vandalism, calling the act "reprehensible."

The GOP Kentucky also urged Democrats to join in the condemnation of vandalism such as the one shown on the McConnell home.

Senate to 'Begin Process' to Consider Bigger Payments

The $2,000 direct payments were part of President Donald Trump's demands in the controversial coronavirus relief bill.

On Tuesday, McConnell said the Senate would "begin a process" to start considering the larger direct payments, along with Trump's other demands.

He also lauded the president for signing the new stimulus bill, which he also called the "compromise bill," reported New York Times.

He said the bill was "not perfect" but it could do an enormous amount of good for struggling Kentucky and American residents across the country amid of the global pandemic.
The Indian Health Service had a problem.

Fed up with substandard care, one of the two pueblos whose federal funding helped support the health services Acoma-Canoncito-Laguna hospital in Acoma Pueblo, N.M., decided to take its share of the hospitals budget and start its own independently run clinic. But doing so left the I.H.S. short of money for the hospital.

In effect, the health service was caught between the desire of one constituency to take control of its own health care and the need of another to keep a well-established hospital operating. In the end, it slashed services at the hospital in November, closing its inpatient critical care unit, womens services and emergency room.

Of 135 full-time employees, 76 would be cut. A hospital that had been in operation since the mid-1970s and was serving 9,100 mostly poor tribal citizens would be reduced to only providing primary care on weekdays and only until 4:30 p.m., according to a document obtained by The New York Times. Urgent care services had been offered all week from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. since the closing of the emergency room, but starting Thursday, such services were available 24 hours a day.

The I.H.S. said it did not start the sequence of events that resulted in the cutbacks. But the changes nonetheless affect two tribes lacking full access to health care during the coronavirus pandemic. And critics of the service said it fit into a larger pattern of managerial and financial problems that have focused new attention on its ability to deliver adequate care to some of the nations most vulnerable populations, which they said the government had a responsibility to address.
India took over as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) from January 1 for a two-year term. Monday will be the first active day of India for the two year term. India's key focus will be on reforms, stong action on terrorism, peacekeeping amoung others. We bring you the team at the Indian mission in UN as India takes the chair at the high table at UNSC.

Ambassador TS Tirumurti, Permanent Representative of India to United Nations

India will be entering the UN security council on the first of January for the 8th time. During the next 2 year, I am confident that India will bring with it the Indian Way of doing things. And contribute to more cooperative, inclusive decision making process in the security council. I am happy to say that our team in permanent mission of India in New York is all geared up for the security council and I am confident our team will do India proud. We are grateful for the fullest support we have received from the honourable PM Modi as well as our External Affairs minister S Jaishankar and the foreign secretary Harsh Shringla who has himself served in New York earlier.

Ambassador K Nagaraj Naidu, Deputy Permanent representative

Begining first of January 2021, India will be taking its seat on the security council as an elected member, India brings legitimacy to council's deliberations and decision making. We look forward to our presidency of the UNSC in the month of August 2021. It is coincidental, while India is on the council, India will also be celebrating, 75th anniversary of Indian Independence. Please join us in this historic journey. We are all excited, we are all well prepared. Our teams are in place, both in New York and New Delhi. We look forward for a very substantive and productive 2 year term at the council.

R. Ravindra, Deputy Permanent Representative (political coordinator)

Security council is a political body and the decision of the security council are largely political in nature. Africa and west asia issue dominate the council's agenda. For India progess and prosperity of Africa, conflict free west Asia is important. While we are in the council, we will be a forcefull voice and will work constructively with other council members in finding meaningfull solutions to the problems faced by Africa and West Asia.

Pratik Mathur, counsellor

India's approch to our tenure on the security council is guided by an emphasis on building on international system that based on respect, dialogue, cooperation, peace and prosperity for all.

A. Amarnath, counsellor

In its efforts to promote responsible and inclusive solutions to the challenges to international peace and security, India will bring to the security council its strong commitment to multilateralism and fare, equitable and rules based international system

R. Madhu Sudan, Counsellor

Widespread concern that the inadequacy of the existing multilateral institutions to deliver results or meet new challenges. World order needs to be contemporary to remain credible. That is why India has called for reformed multilateralism and we will work towards this goal. This will be one our focus areas at the security council.

Mayank Singh, counsellor

Through bilateral assistance to member states and continue contributions to UN funds and programmes, India's approch to addressing the underline causes of conflict is also supporting demand driven and nationally owned projects.

Rajesh Parihar, First Secretary

Solutions for post conflict recovery, not only calls for institution and capacity building but also greater involvement of women and youth in shaping the peace and security paradigm. India will work to ensure greater youth and women participation in peace process.

Vidisha Maitra, First Secretary

The global security landscape is shifting. We have persistent traditional security challenges coexiting with new and emerging ones. What this demand is coherent, pragmatic, nimble and effective platform for collaboration. The post covid 19 world provides such an opportunity. India's presence at the security council at this time is essentially a clarion call for collaboration.

Siddharth Malik, First Secretary

As a rule abiding democracy and a positive contributor to the secruity of the global commons, India will constructively work with our partners to overcome old and new political and economic faultlines.

Mijito Vinito, First Secretary

Terrorism is an enduring and abiding critical threat to international peace and and security. India will persue concrete action at the council aimed at addressing aimed at addressing the abuse of information and communication technology by terrorist, disrupting the nexus of terrorist sponsors and trans national organised criminal entities.

Ashish Sharma, First Secretary

Today's peace and security challenges require a comprehensive integrated approach. Harmonizing national choices and international priorities. India is committed to hearing and heeding the voices of all to forge consensus and common purpose.

Thirugnana Sambandan S, First Secretary

Streamling of UN Peacekeeping operations is needed to infuse greater clarity, direction and professionalism. Use of innovative technology also offers promising opportunities for safe and effective mandate implementation in conflict situation.

Yedla Umasankar, First Secretary/Legal Adviser

India during its tenure at the council will work towards the goal of saving succeeding generation from the scouge of wars by promoting peacefull settlement of international disputes.

Gopal K Wadhwa, Second Secretary

While we are on the security council monitoring the media is important for gauging the response to our policies. We are constantly and actively engaged in this process and this works as a feedback loop for us.
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(Newser)  About 36 hours after it beganand 24 hours after the crowd beat back police trying to shut the place downa restriction-defying rave in France faded out Saturday. Local officials said that they issued 1,200 penalty notices, mostly for violations of coronavirus restrictions, and that the organizers will be "severely punished," the Washington Post reports. "Sound equipment and generators were seized," France's interior minister said. About 2,500 people had gathered for the New Year's Eve celebration in warehouses in a village in northwest France. Police had cordoned off the site Friday, intending to fine people as they left, but some managed to leave Saturday without being confronted by police. Gerald Darmanin, the interior minister, posted that actions by police "led to the end of the illegal party without violence." Two people suspected of being organizers were being held, per the AP.

story continues below

The French government is concerned that the Lieuron event will spark a surge in coronavirus cases. The rave violated the nationwide 8pm curfew and other pandemic restrictions. "This gathering shames our country and our caregivers," a local official posted online. Health officials want everyone in attendance to self-quarantine for seven days, and they set up a testing site in the area. "We must consider that all the participants in this rave party were exposed," a local health official said. The national government reportedly was so alarmed that it considered sending in the miltary to break up the rave, which had been planned to continue until Tuesday, after the crowd had repelled local police on Friday. France had planned to back off some of the restrictions, but dropped that idea as cases have risen again; more than 19,000 new coronavirus cases were reported on Friday. In some places, the curfew now will being at 6pm. (Read more France stories.)
New Delhi:

The Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE) is all set to announce MSBSHSE Class 12th Result 2017 on 30th May at the official website of the board which is mahresult.nic.in.

Apart from the official website students may also log on to other website like examresults.net to avoid the crash.

Previously media report suggested that the board will publish the result by the end of this month.

However, this time the report has come only after official confirmation.

The MSBSHSE Class 12th examinations were conducted by its nine divisional boards at Pune, Mumbai, Aurangabad, Nashik, Kolhapur, Amravati, Latur, Nagpur and Ratnagiri in Maharashtra.

The board conducted the examination on March 25, however due to teachers protest the assessment of answer sheets got delayed.

The students who are waiting eagerly to get their results may go through the following steps.

Steps to check:

-Visit the official website mahresult.nic.in

-Click on HSC results 2017

-Enter the roll number and other details

-Download your results

-Take a print out of the same for future convenience.

Moreover, the class 10th Secondary School Certificate (SSC) results are expected in June.

Also Read: West Bengal Higher Secondary results 2017 to be declared by WBCHSE on 30th May at 10 AM, check details here

About Maharashtra Board

The Maharashtra State Board of Secondary & Higher Secondary Education was Founded on January 1966. Pune, is an Autonomous Body established under the provisions of the Maharashtra Act No. 41 of 1965. The Maharashtra State Board of Secondary & Higher Secondary Education, conducts the HSC and SSC Examinations in the state of Maharashtra through its nine Divisional Boards located at Pune, Mumbai, Aurangabad, Nasik, Kolhapur, Amravati, Latur, Nagpur and Ratnagiri.

The Board conducts examination twice a year and the number of students appearing for the main examination is around 14 Lacs for HSC and 17 Lac's SSC, for the supplementary examination around 6 Lacs students are expected HSC and SSC together. There are about 21000 schools (SSC) and 7000 (HSC) Higher Sec. Schools / Jr. colleges in the entire state.

Also Read: ICSE Class 10, ISC Class 12 results 2017 declared by CISCE; check your results at cisce.org
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Chhattisgarh government is to protest against the Central notification to acquire roughly 712 hectares (ha) land in Madanpur South coal block in Hasdeo forest area, the proposed site for Lemru elephant reserve, for mining.

According to the notification, published on December 24, around 490 ha is protected forest land and 160 ha comprise revenue and other forest land.

The notification invokes the Coal Bearing Areas (Acquisition and Development) Act, according to which, the Centre can issue a notice of intention to acquire if satisfied that coal is obtainable from a tract of land.

As per the senior officials in the state, the government will not compromise on this issue and will soon write to the Union coal ministry and also talk to the concerned minister.

Chhattisgarh government will protest against the notification issued by the Central government over (its) intention of acquiring land of Madanpur south. We will protest against two things  Firstly, the central governments decision to acquire it under Coal Bearing Act and secondly, it comes under the proposed Lemru Elephant Corridor of Chhattisgarh. We are not going to compromise, said Vinod Verma , the political advisor of Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel.

Verma further said that two major rivers in the Hasdeo area Hasdeo and Mandwill die because of mining in Madanpur south.

Activists claimed that the coal block is in the core area of Hasdeo Arand forest and it made no sense to acquire Madanpur south since the ministry of coal has withdrawn Madanpur North from the commercial coal block auction in September 2020 following Chhattisgarhs objection.

The coal block has been awarded to APMDC for commercial mining. How come mineral wealth of a state can be given to PSUs of other states for commercial sale? One can even understand the allotment if the produced coal was supposed to be consumed by PSUs own power plants. Such an exercise of power by the central government through Coal Bearing Areas Acquisition and Development Act is a clear attack on the federal structure, said Sudiep Shrivastva , a lawyer and activist based in Chhattisgarh.

Shrivastava further said that the CB act only confers power to acquire land if the coal areas are to be mined and developed by the Central government and its PSUs.

In July 2020, Union minister of coal and mines Pralhad Joshi accepted the Chhattisgarh governments suggestion to replace five coal blocks out of the nine blocks put under commercial coal auctions from the state. They included Morga -2, Morga (South), Madanpur north, Shyang and Fathehpur (east).

Also Read: CM Bhupesh Baghel complains to PM Modi over paddy procurement delay

In June, the Chhattisgarh government asked the Centre not to allow auction of coal blocks which fall under Hasdeo Arand, Lemru elephant reserve and the Mand river catchment area, which are biodiversity-rich forests.

Firstly, when Madanpur north coal block was removed from the list of auctioning in July, why is the Central government acquiring land of Madanpur south, which is in the same area. Secondly, the acquisition is the violation of PESA Act 1996 and Forest Rights Recognition Act, said Alok Shukla, convener of Chhattisgarh Bachao Andolan, which works for tribal rights in Chhattisgarh.

Shukla claimed that the notification overlooks the process of diversion of forest land. The notification is not only an attack on the rights of the gram sabha but also the state government, said Shukla.

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Labor leader Anthony Albanese has opened up about his shock divorce over the holiday season and the bizarre way he met his younger new girlfriend.

Mr Albanese and former NSW deputy premier Carmel Tebbutt announced their split in early January 2019 after 19 years of marriage and 30 years together.

The 57-year-old reflected that he 'didn't see it coming' when Ms Tebbutt abruptly ended their marriage on New Year's Day 2019.

'It was a really tough period and that's the truth and I've acknowledged that. I think part of going through a difficult period and coming out the other end is acknowledging that you're going through it,' he told ABC Radio.

'I found it very tough. The relationship was 30 years old.'

Mr Albanese and former NSW deputy premier Carmel Tebbutt announced their split in early January 2019. They are pictured together in 2018

Speaking on ABC local radio this weekend, the 57-year-old admitted Ms Tebbutt, who was a NSW Labor MP for 17 years, ended their marriage on New Year's Day in 2019

Mr Albanese said the couple's only child, their son Nathan, had just completed his HSC exams and turned 18 when Ms Tebbutt dumped him.

'It's made for a difficult period. I certainly will always, always remember New Year's Eve and New Year's Day for that momentous event in my life,' he said.

Mr Albanese said he didn't see the split coming, nor did he understand where it came from.

'I needed to stop trying to understand it and just accept it and accept that it was a decision that had been made and she was moving on with her life in a different direction and I needed to do the same,' he said.

'You can tie yourself in knots trying to understand someone else's decisions and thought processes.'

In March 2019 Mr Albanese took three weeks off and visited London and Portugal - a trip he credits for helping him heal after the break up.

'You make plans in your head about what you think the future looks like and I saw the future as being me and Carmel and Nathan and our dog continuing on,' he said.

Mr Albanese has since started seeing 41-year-old Jodie Haydon, whom he introduced himself to at a dinner event in Melbourne.

The avid South Sydney Rabbitohs NRL supporter said he took to the stage and addressed the guests.

'I said there's always a random Souths supporter in the room and she yelled out 'yep, me. Go the rabbits',' he said.

Mr Albanese said he was making his way around the function introducing himself to other guests when he met Ms Haydon.

Mr Albanese met his former partner in Young Labor during the late 1980s. They were together for 30 years

'It turned out she lives in the inner west of Sydney and we had a fair bit in common,' he said.

'She suggested we might like to catch up so we caught up for a beer basically and we found that we got on pretty well.

'We caught up for a beer a few weeks later and things went from there. It's nice to have someone to spend time with.'

In June last year the couple were seen dining together at China Doll restaurant on Sydney's Woolloomoolo Wharf.

Ms Haydon, who is 16 years younger than Mr Albanese, is the manager of strategic partnerships at First State Super.

She has more than 20 years experience in the industry, according to her LinkedIn profile.

Mr Albanese joked that he and Ms Tebbutt, who departed state politics in 2015, have joint custody of their dog.

Mr Albanese revealed he has since started seeing 41-year-old Jodie Haydon, who he was introduced to at a dinner event in Melbourne. Pictured going out for dinner last June

In June last year the couple were seen dining together at China Doll restaurant on Sydney's Woolloomoolo Wharf

He also said their son Nathan, who is now 20 and at university, spends time between both their homes.

In January last year, Mr Albanese declared his relationship with Nathan to be the strongest it's ever been as they were forced to rely on each other more than ever in their two-person household in Marrickville.

The Labor Leader added his son spends time with his mother and the pair have a good relationship.

Mr Albanese met his former partner in Young Labor during the late 1980s.

Ms Tebbutt was deputy premier between 2008 and 2011 - the first woman to hold the position - under leaders Nathan Rees and Kristina Keneally.
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New Delhi, Jan 3 : Even as farmers' agitation on the Delhi borders continued for the 39th day on Sunday amid harsh cold and rain, the protesters were adamant that they would protest till the government withdrew the three new farm laws.

Harinder Singh Lakhowal, General Secretary of Bharatiya Kisan Union (Lakhowal), told IANS that despite inclement weather, farmers were not ready to leave the protest site, but rather another group of farmers from Punjab would join the protesters on Sunday.

Talking about their problems owing to rain, Harinder Singh said that water had accumulated in tents set up by farmers at protest sites, but they won't move away from roads. He said that they are arranging for more waterproof tents to tackle rain.

Meanwhile, leaders of various farmer organisations will hold their next round of talks with the Centre on Monday at Vigyan Bhavan in Delhi.

Earlier, leaders of farmer organisations had announced that they would intensify their protest if the next round of talks with the government failed to break the deadlock on their main demands or a repeal of the three farm laws and a legal guarantee on Minimum Support Price (MSP).

Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) state President Gurnam Singh Chaduni announced at a press conference in Jammu that farmer agitation across the country would be intensified on January 5 if negotiations failed to yield concrete results.

In a press conference at the Press Club in Delhi on Saturday, leaders of Sanyukt Kisan Morcha said that farmer unions would enter the national capital on January 26 with tractor-trolleys and other vehicles and celebrate 'Farmers Republic Day Parade'. Several programmes at the local and national levels have also been announced by the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha before January 26.

Farmer organisations have also announced a protest march on the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal Expressway on January 6, if talks on January 4 failed.
Saturday afternoon a Tennessee valley Coronavirus vaccine clinic wrapped up for the day.

In Fayetteville, hundreds of people showed up as Tennessee moved into the next phase of its vaccination program, vaccines.

At the Lincoln County Health Department the line to get vaccinated stretched a mile long.

And people waited hours in their cars before receiving the vaccine.

"I don't want the virus," said Dorris Decker.

Decker and her daughter waited more than three hours before Decker was able to get the vaccine.

She said they got in line early this morning.

"Since 7 o'clock," said Decker.

Everyone stayed in their car until it was their turn to get the shot.

Nurses came to the car windows to administer the vaccine.

After that people waited 30 minutes before they could leave.

Lincoln County Police and firefighters helped manage the hundreds of cars that lined the road to help make the vaccination process go smoothly.
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Tens of thousands of Iraqis chanting anti-American slogans streamed to Baghdad's central square on Sunday to mark the anniversary of the U.S. killing of top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani and Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.

The gathering coincided with increasing tensions between Iran and the United States in the last days of President Donald Trump's administration, and many in the crowd demanded revenge.

Soleimani, leader of an elite overseas unit of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, was killed on January 3, 2020, in a U.S. drone strike on his convoy at Baghdad airport, an attack that took U.S.-Iranian hostilities into uncharted waters and stoked concern about a major conflagration.

Washington had accused Soleimani of masterminding attacks by Iranian-aligned militias on U.S. forces in the region.

Demonstrators gathering at Tahrir square Sunday in response to calls by an assortment of militia groups known collectively as the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF), which are mostly backed and trained by Iran.

Protesters waved the Iraqi flag and chanted anti-American slogans such as 'America is the Great Satan'.

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Iraqis, including supporters of Hashid Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Forces), hold placards and flags as they gather to mark the one year anniversary of the killing of senior Iranian military commander General Qassem Soleimani and Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis

Qassem Soleimani (pictured in the above poster), leader of an elite overseas unit of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, was killed on January 3, 2020, in a U.S. drone strike

Tens of thousands of Iraqis chanting anti-American slogans streamed to Baghdad's central square on Sunday (Pictured: A supporter of Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, deputy commander of the Popular Mobilization Forces, holds a photo of him during a protest in Tahrir Square)

It comes amid escalating tensions between Iran and the US in Trump's final days in the White House

Washington had accused Soleimani of masterminding attacks by Iranian-aligned militias on U.S. forces in the region

Soleimani and Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis were killed in the strike

Reflecting continuing regional strains, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Saturday urged Trump not to be 'trapped' by an alleged Israeli plan to provoke a war through attacks on U.S. forces in Iraq.

Zarif said that intelligence from Iraq indicated 'Israeli agent-provocateurs' were plotting attacks against Americans.

'Be careful of a trap, @realDonaldTrump,' Zarif wrote. 'Any fireworks will backfire badly, particularly against your same BFFs [Israel]'.

An Israeli official dismissed the accusation as 'nonsense' and said it was Israel that needed to be on alert for possible Iranian strikes on the anniversary of Soleimani's death.

The head of Iran's judiciary, Ebrahim Raisi, also appeared to threaten Trump himself Saturday, saying all those who had a role in the killing of Soleimani last year will not be able to 'escape law and justice,' even if they were an American president.

Demonstrators gathering at Tahrir square in response to calls by an assortment of militia groups known collectively as the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF)

People attend a demonstration at Tahrir Square to commemorate the first anniversary of the killing of Iranian Revolutionary Guards' Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani and the vice president of the Hashd al-Shaabi group Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis

Reflecting continuing regional strains, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Saturday urged Trump not to be 'trapped' by an alleged Israeli plan to provoke a war through attacks on U.S. forces in Iraq

The U.S. military flew two nuclear-capable B-52 bombers to the Middle East in a message of deterrence to Iran last week, but the bombers have since left the region

An Iranian woman shows a photo of the late Iranian Major-General Qassem Soleimani, during a protest against his killing

'They will witness severe revenge,' Raisi told the gathering at Tehran University, referring to Trump and US military leaders.

'What has come so far has only been glimpses.'

'Do not presume that someone, as the president of America, who appeared as a murderer or ordered a murder, may be immune from justice being carried out. Never,' Raisi said.

'Those who had a role in this assassination and crime will not be safe on Earth.'

The United States blames Iran-backed militias for regular rocket attacks on U.S. facilities in Iraq, including near the U.S. embassy. No known Iran-backed groups have claimed responsibility.

The U.S. military flew two nuclear-capable B-52 bombers to the Middle East in a message of deterrence to Iran last week, but the bombers have since left the region.

Iran's Foreign Minister has sent out a menacing message to US President Donald Trump warning him not to take military action against Tehran amid increasing tension between the two nations

Zarif posited that Israel - Iran's arch-enemy and the United State's closest Middle Eastern ally - may try to kill US soldiers and make it look like an Iranian attack in order to provoke Trump to take on Tehran

On Sunday, Iran will mark the first anniversary of the death of General Qassem Soleimani, who was assassinated in a US drone strike

A supporter of Soleimani attends Sunday's protests with a face mask emblazoned with a portrait of the late general

Security forces stand guard while supporters of Popular Mobilization Forces protest, in Tahrir Square

One protester holds a sign urging the US to 'Get Out' from Iraq

Supporters of the Popular Mobilization Forces hold a posters of Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, deputy commander of the Popular Mobilization Forces, front, and General Qassem Soleimani

On Saturday evening thousands of mourners gathered on the highway that leads to Baghdad airport, where Soleimani and Muhandis were killed, in a simulated funeral procession staged in tribute to the two men.

Posters of the general and al-Muhandis adorned both sides of the road leading to the airport and the scene of the bombing was turned into a shrine-like area sealed off by red ropes.

A picture of Soleimani and al-Muhandis was placed in the middle, as mourners lit candles.

Shrapnel marks from the blast that killed the pair were still visible on the asphalt and walls in the surrounding area.

The demonstrations were held less than 24 hours after Iran announced that it was planning to enrich uranium up to 20 percent at its underground Fordo nuclear facility 'as soon as possible'.

The step will push its nuclear program a technical step away from weapons-grade levels.

The International Atomic Energy Agency released a statement confirming that Tehran had informed its inspectors of their decision, and added it 'has inspectors present in Iran on a 24.7 basis and they have regular access to Fordo.'

The IAEA said Iran did not say when it planned to boost enrichment.

On Saturday evening thousands of mourners gathered on the highway that leads to Baghdad airport, where Soleimani and Muhandis were killed, in a simulated funeral procession

Posters of the general and al-Muhandis adorned both sides of the road leading to the airport and the scene of the bombing was turned into a shrine-like area sealed off by red ropes
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday (January 3) hailed the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI)'s nod for Serum Institute's Covishield and Bharat Biotech's Covaxin for restricted use in India. The Prime Minister termed the move as a decisive turning point in the countrys fight against the virus and expressed his gratitude for all frontline workers in 'adverse circumstances'.

In a series of tweets, Prime Minister Modi congratulated Serum Institute and Bharat Biotech on getting the DCGIs approval. "A decisive turning point to strengthen a spirited fight! DCGI granting approval to vaccines of @SerumInstIndia and @BharatBiotech accelerates the road to a healthier and COVID-free nation. Congratulations India. Congratulations to our hardworking scientists and innovators. DCGI approves restricted emergency use of Serum Institute, Bharat Biotech's COVID-19 vaccines," PM Modi said.

"It would make every Indian proud that the two vaccines that have been given emergency use approval are made in India! This shows the eagerness of our scientific community to fulfill the dream of an Aatmanirbhar Bharat, at the root of which is care and compassion," PM Modi said in a another tweet.

A decisive turning point to strengthen a spirited fight! DCGI granting approval to vaccines of @SerumInstIndia and @BharatBiotech accelerates the road to a healthier and COVID-free nation. Congratulations India. Congratulations to our hardworking scientists and innovators.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 3, 2021

It would make every Indian proud that the two vaccines that have been given emergency use approval are made in India! This shows the eagerness of our scientific community to fulfil the dream of an Aatmanirbhar Bharat, at the root of which is care and compassion.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 3, 2021

We reiterate our gratitude to doctors, medical staff, scientists, police personnel, sanitation workers and all Corona warriors for the outstanding work done, that too in adverse circumstances. We will remain eternally grateful to them for saving many lives.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 3, 2021

The Serum Institute of India, the world's largest vaccine manufacturer, has tied up with Oxford-AstraZeneca to manufacture Covishield. Covaxin has been indigenously developed by Bharat Biotech in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

Covaxin has been indigenously developed by Bharat Biotech in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). Serum Institute of India's CEO Adar Poonawalla tweeted, "Happy new year, everyone! All the risks Serum Institute of India took with stockpiling the vaccine, have finally paid off. COVISHIELD, India's first COVID-19 vaccine is approved, safe, effective and ready to roll-out in the coming weeks."

The approval by the DCGI was given on the basis of recommendations submitted by a COVID-19 subject expert committee (SEC) of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO). This paves the way for the roll out of at least two vaccines in India in the coming days.
This is a simple story of Soviet espionage, an Australian aircraft carrier and what a Qantas navigator saw out of the aircraft window one sunny morning at the height of the Cold War.

Jed Hartman from Killarney Heights, now aged 91, says when interrogated by the Royal Australian Navy about the following events in April 1961 he was asked not to talk to the press.

He has two reasons to talk now. First, he has had extensive heart surgery and faces more operations in the new year. "If I die, the whole story goes with me," he says.

Former navigator Jed Hartman, aged 90, who spotted a Russian warship in Australian waters during the Cold War in 1961. Credit:Ben Rushton

Secondly, having stumbled in November across a story in the Herald about declassified ASIO secret files, he believes he now understands more fully the significance of what he saw. The report said Australian naval intelligence had warned there was "evidence of a Soviet submarine operating in South Australian waters" at the time of major missile firings at the Weapons Research Establishment in Woomera, north of Adelaide.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-02 22:53:27|Editor: huaxia

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Aerial photo taken on May 28, 2020 shows a view of the Taipu River in Wujiang District of Suzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province. (Xinhua/Li Bo)

The Yangtze River Delta is one of the country's most economically active, open and innovative regions, and produces about one-fourth of the national GDP.

BEIJING, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- China has issued a plan to build a globally influential science and technology innovation community in the Yangtze River Delta.

Efforts will be made to enhance the regional collaborative innovation capability of the Yangtze River Delta and build the region into one for original innovation and high and advanced industries, striving for turning the region into an influential science and technology innovation community in the world.

A modern and internationalized sci-tech innovation community is expected to be completed by 2025, and it is expected to become a world-leading sci-tech innovation community by 2035, the plan says.

In building the Yangtze River Delta sci-tech innovation community, full play will be given to the leading role of Shanghai as an innovation center and efforts will be made to strengthen innovative advantages of other regions in the delta area and enhance innovation cooperation, the plan says.

The plan proposes joint efforts on building high-level innovation bases and key sci-tech infrastructure clusters, as well as collaborations on basic research, applied basic research and core technologies for key fields.

The Yangtze River Delta is one of the country's most economically active, open and innovative regions, and produces about one-fourth of the national GDP. 
As I wrapped gifts for my two grandnieces, Ellie and Alba, I remembered back to my own childhood when Christmas mornings  and the nights before  were filled with joy.

The tradition at our house was that my brother and I could open one gift on Christmas eve. Somehow, it often wound up being a gift from our wonderful aunt Barbara. As I reflected, I tumbled to the idea that those gifts would be as much a surprise for my parents as us kids since they had no idea what they would be.

Our aunt, who would be there as the family gathered around the tree for this tradition, always gave wonderful gifts, generally ones that would inspire us to learn new things and they would always include a book. She was, as it happened, a librarian so there was a meaning behind it.

Flash forward to Christmas 2020. I am still a lover of reading. So, my gifts to the youngest ones in my life include books, even for the 8-month-old who has brought such joy to our little family in this year of the pandemic.

Hundreds of families all across Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin counties this year are getting gifts for their children from Toy for Joy, and their packages, like mine for my nieces, will include books.

Its not a coincidence, as The Republican, together with the Salvation Army, and with support from the Irene and George Davis Foundation believe books open doors to lifelong learning. They help build a framework for family literacy and help prepare children of all ages be ready for school.

Over the past three weeks, my job each day includes editing the lists of donations we receive for Toy for Joy. Familiar names come and go as the contributions arrive. Many continue traditions Ive seen families establish over the course of decades, whether they honor grandchildren and now great-grandchildren or they remember lost loved ones.

Whether $1 or $5, $100 or $1,000, each and every gift matters, and each receives the same bit of attention so the thoughts behind them are documented online and in print with each days list of contributions.

Read one that was published on Thursday: Donnie Fontaine $100.

As I edited that list, I paused, and I teared up. I knew immediately from whom the donation had come, and I remembered Donnie.

Donald G. Fontaine has been gone 18 years, killed on a Sunday night in July 2002 when his Harley-Davidson motorcycle collided with a truck at Plumtree and Bradley roads in Springfield. I still remember getting the late-night call from a friend on the Springfield Police Department, asking me to ensure I let Donnies best friend know as soon as possible. I, in turn, made that call, one of the most painful I would ever have to make, to my work colleague, Mark M. Murray, now retired as a photographer here at The Republican.

Donnie was 48. He had logged more than 25 years of service with the Springfield Newspapers during which his photographs of public safety personnel in action earned him awards and recognition. He was a lover of motorcycles and cars, and he had a truly kind heart.

Said a fellow photographer at his funeral, Donnie amazed his co-workers with his many interests and the lengths to which he would go to pursue them. He lived each day with the passion of a last day, but he kept learning new things, as if he would live forever.

Donnie is never forgotten by that best friend. Ever.

I did this because I know what a great father Donnie would have been. He loved kids. My kids and all of his nieces and nephews just loved him, explains Murray. And, Donnie was the biggest kid at heart. I just wanted to remind people that he is remembered.

Its donations like that which fill our pages each December, gifts, small and large. Every donation has meaning. Each one has a thought behind it. Whether given anonymously or bearing the names of the donors, the gifts Toy for Joy receives carry importance, not just to those who will benefit but also for the donors.

As I write this, I am cautiously optimistic as Toy for Joy closes in on its $150,000 goal set for Christmas eve. For the past week, weve been running about $20,000 ahead of last years pace, a good sign amid this difficult time. If successful, it will mark the first time since 2012 that Toy for Joy has met its goal. If its exceeded, well get a head start on the 2021 campaign, which will be our 99th year.

The historical record of Toy for Joy is a sizable one. Its impact touches just about every community up and down the Connecticut River Valley as Salvation Army units in Springfield, Holyoke and Greenfield offer assistance to residents of every city and town in The Republicans circulation area.

Donors can rely on the Salvation Army to require documentation from every family that demonstrates they have need for assistance, and each units records are cross-checked so there is no duplication. Thats been done this year in spite of the COVID-19 restrictions that prohibited in-person registration.

The key to Toy for Joys success is always in the hands of faithful readers of The Republican and MassLive. We are grateful to all, the literally thousands of individuals, civic and school groups, businesses and other organizations to ensure the costs of the gifts are covered. Hampden County Sheriff Nick Cocchi, along with Pride Stores and its president Robert Bolduc, have been generous community partners in helping inspire donations. We are most grateful for their support.

Unlike other toy efforts, Toy for Joy relies on pennies and nickels and dollars to help the community. No gift is too small. It truly is the thought that counts.

Cynthia G. Simison is executive editor of The Republican. She may be reached by email to csimison@repub.com.
In India, drug regulations do not have provisions for emergency use approval and the procedure for receiving one is not clearly defined

Editor's note: This explainer is being republished in light of the DCGI's approval for restricted emergency use of the COVID-19 vaccines developed by Bharat Biotech and the Serum Institute of India.

The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) on Sunday approved the COVID-19 vaccines developed by Bharat Biotech, and Serum Institute of India (SII) for restricted emergency use.

In December 2020, as many as three pharmaceutical firms had applied to the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) for emergency use authorisation for COVID-19 vaccines that they are developing.

HFW - DCGI Energency Use Authorisation- 3rd January 2021-2 by Natasha T. on Scribd

The Indian arm of US pharmaceutical giant Pfizer had on 4 December sought approval for its vaccine from the central drug regulator, after the firm secured such clearance in the UK and Bahrain. The Pune-based Serum Institute of India sought the nod for the Oxford COVID-19 vaccine, Covishield, on 6 December. Bharat Biotech has sought emergency approval for its indigeneously-developed vaccine Covaxin.

As promised, before the end of 2020, @SerumInstIndia has applied for emergency use authorisation for the first made-in-India vaccine, COVISHIELD. This will save countless lives, and I thank the Government of India and Sri @narendramodi ji for their invaluable support.  Adar Poonawalla (@adarpoonawalla) December 7, 2020

In this context, it comes important to understand what emergency use approval for a vaccine means.

What is emergency use approval?

Manufacturers of vaccines, medicines, diagnostic tests and medical devices have to obtain approval from regulatory authorities before these can be used on the general public.

These approvals depend on an assessment of the safety and effectiveness of these vaccines, medicines, etc., based on data from trials. Each phase of the trials also has to be approved by the regulators.

In India, drug regulations do not have provisions for emergency use approval and the process for receiving one is not clearly defined or consistent, an article in Hindustan Times notes. However, the unprecedented crisis in the form of the COVID-19 pandemic has led authorities to issue such approvals in recent months. The CDSCO has granted emergency or restricted emergency approvals to remdesivir and favipiravir for COVID-19 treatment in June and itolizumab in July.

However, the exact process by which such emergency use approvals are granted is not clear. An article in The Indian Express quotes Murali Neelakantan, lawyer and former global general counsel for Cipla and Glenmark Pharmaceuticals, as saying, "We still don't know the story behind these approvals  we haven't seen the clinical trial data published anywhere and we haven't seen the protocols that were followed for each drug."

The article quoted a senior government official as saying that any company seeking to launch a vaccine approved elsewhere will have to conduct local trials to show that it is safe and effective on the Indian population.

While there is no specific policy on emergency use approval in India, a look at such a policy in the United States gives us an idea of what it could entail. The US' Food and Drug Administration Commissioner can allow 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. Such approval can also be granted in situations of chemical or biological warfare.

However, the emergency use approval can only be granted if the "known and potential benefits outweigh the known and potential risks" of the vaccine. Also, such an application can only be considered if sufficient efficacy data from phase 3 trials are known.

What next?

A PTI report quoted a source as saying, DCGI has already started processing the applications. The subject expert committee (SEC) on COVID-19 at CDSCO will deliberate on the applications by Pfizer, Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech seeking emergency use authorisation for their COVID-19 vaccines on December 9.

After evaluation, the SEC will give its recommendations to the DCGI on whether emergency use approval for the vaccine candidates should be granted or not, the source said.

At an all-party meeting on 4 December, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had expressed hope that a COVID-19 vaccine may be ready in a few weeks.

With inputs from PTI
Serum Institute of India CEO Adar Poonawalla said that all the risks that the company took has finally paid off with its coronavirus vaccine Covishield being approved for emergency use. Serum had stockpiled around 40-50 million doses of its coronavirus vaccine, which Poonawalla said was a risk. "Happy new year, everyone! All the risks Serum Institute took with stockpiling the vaccine, have finally paid off. COVISHIELD, India's first COVID-19 vaccine is approved, safe, effective and ready to roll-out in the coming weeks," he said in a tweet.

In a follow-up tweet, Poonawalla thanked PM Modi, Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, ICMR, Department of Biotechnology, DCGI, Oxford University, AstraZeneca, GAVI alliance, Gates Foundation and Bill Gates for their support.

PM Modi took to social media to congratulate the two companies as well as Indians for the approval of the vaccines. "It would make every Indian proud that the two vaccines that have been given emergency use approval are made in India! This shows the eagerness of our scientific community to fulfil the dream of an Aatmanirbhar Bharat, at the root of which is care and compassion. We reiterate our gratitude to doctors, medical staff, scientists, police personnel, sanitation workers and all Corona warriors for the outstanding work done, that too in adverse circumstances. We will remain eternally grateful to them for saving many lives," he said in a series of tweets.

WHO has also welcomed the move and said the decision would help India intensify and strengthen the fight against coronavirus. "WHO welcomes the first emergency use authorisation given to COVID-19 vaccine in the WHO South-East Asia Region. This decision taken today by India will help intensify and strengthen the fight against COVID-19 pandemic in the Region. The use of vaccine in prioritised populations, along with continued implementation of other public health measures and community participation will be important in reducing the impact of COVID-19," said Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director WHO South-East Asia Region.

The DCGI, on Sunday, announced that it has approved Oxford-AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccine as well as Bharat Biotech's candidate Covaxin for emergency use. "After adequate examination, CDSCO has decided to accept the recommendations of the Expert Committee and accordingly, vaccines of M/s Serum and M/s Bharat Biotech are being approved for restricted use in emergency situation," said the DCGI. Both the vaccines would need to be stored at 2-8 degree Celsius, said the drug regulator.

Also read: Serum Institute, Bharat Biotech vaccines get emergency use approval; first COVID-19 vaccines in India

Also read: 'Congratulations India!', PM Modi lauds approval of Serum Institute, Bharat Biotech's COVID-19 vaccines
A male was shot and killed at an apartment complex in west Houston Sunday morning.

The renter of the apartment came home around 8 a.m. Sunday morning with two women he met at Cloud 9, a club in west Houston. One the women brought another man into the apartment and then there were shots fired between the two men. The renter had shot the man the women brought in.

When the Houston Police Department and Fire Department arrived at the complex on Westpark Drive, the victim was suffering from gunshot wounds. He died at the scene.

The renter gave his statement to police. It hasn't been decided if he will face any charges, and they must continue to consider all the evidence, police said.

No suspects are in custody.
The BJP government in Madhya Pradesh will bring a stringent law prescribing "rigorous punishment" for rioters and stone-pelters which will also have a provision to recover compensation from offenders who damage public as well as private assets, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said on Sunday. His statement comes in the wake of recent incidents of stone pelting on vehicle rallies taken out in western Madhya Pradesh by some right-wing organisations to raise awareness about the construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya.

Notably, a law has been in force in Uttar Pradesh, also ruled by the BJP, for recovery of damages to public and private properties from rioters and protesters. "Whoever stone-pelters are, they are enemies of the society. Their act can even cause death. It creates an atmosphere of fear and terrorstampede and chaos," Chouhan told reporters in Bhopal.

Right-wing organisations, including the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), have claimed that stones were hurled at their rallies from certain localities in Indore and Ujjain districts. However, Muslims in the Malwa region (western MP) have argued that their places of worship and houses were targeted during these rallies.

Recently, a delegation of VHP's Malwa Prant called on the CM in Indore and demanded strict action against stone-pelters, a leader has said. "(Rule of) Law will prevail in Madhya Pradesh. These kinds of criminals are not simple offenders. They won't be spared. Right now they are let off with light punishment. Now, we are bringing forth a bill which is being drawn for rigorous punishment," the chief minister said.

He said besides hurling stones, rioters often damage private properties besides public assets "by force or by torching them", which is unpardonable. "Democracy allows people to put forth their view in a peaceful manner, but it does not give permission to ignite fire, indulge in vandalism and throw stones.

"The BJP government in Madhya Pradesh has decided to take tough action with punishment against the people damaging and destroying public property and recover compensation from them. If needed the offenders' properties would be attached to recover money for compensation. Such action will also be taken against the rioters who damage private properties," Chouhan said. The chief minister further said he had given instructions for drafting a stringent bill.

"The work on the bill has begun. It will be brought out soon," he added. On Saturday, Chouhan said stern action and a law were needed against those who indulge in stone pelting.

"At times, stone pelting poses danger to life," the CM had told top bureaucrats during an online meeting. Violence was reported during rallies organized by right-wing organisations at Ujjain and in Indore district recently.

Meanwhile, Madhya Pradesh Congress vice president and advocate Sajid Ali told reporters that law should be made to check violence, but it shouldbe implemented impartially."Every rally, procession and public gatherings should be video-graphed as soon as they proceed so that any person or group that triggers violence is caught on camera and punished," he said.
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Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

A couple of years ago, when there was a controlled dam release, Richard Ellenberg started wondering what the city of Santa Fes flood plans were.

That thought stayed with him until a few months ago, so he decided to place a public records request with the city for its flood management plans for the McClure and Nichols dams.

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However, the results he got were anything but helpful. Instead, he received several redacted documents and a records request exemption citation stating that the city didnt have to turn over documents due to the threat of terrorism. The Journal submitted a similar records request and got the same response from the city.

Ellenberg lives in the Canyon Road neighborhood and is president of the homeowners association. That neighborhood would be one of the areas hardest hit if either of the dams failed. Both dams are considered high risk, meaning that, if there was a failure, there could be catastrophic damage, including loss of life.

Frankly, I would expect that the plan is probably fine. But I wanted to see it, and get myself and the (neighborhood association) a chance to make a comment if we thought it was appropriate, he said. And the city stalled with a number of requests for extension of dates, and finally answered with the response (that)  essentially redacts everything. Even the Table of Contents is redacted.

Then, last year, the Office of the State Engineer downgraded the McClure and Nichols dams quality rating to poor. Both dams were originally constructed in the early and mid-1900s, and were downgraded due to performance uncertainty regarding their outlet conduits, said Charles Thompson, Dam Safety Bureau chief with the Office of the State Engineer. The outlet conduits control the dams release of water, which is used to maintain reservoirs for the citys water supply.

Brian Snyder, Engineer Supervisor for the Water Division, said in 2017 that the city had evaluated both dams to create a roadmap of the repairs they needed. The city worked closely with the state engineer to improve the dams and anticipates their quality rating will rise in early 2022, when repairs are complete.

I think the biggest feature, I recall, we have a question about working with the engineering consultant to develop plans to rehabilitate those conduits, I believe weve seen like a 30% complete design, Thompson said. Theyre also looking at any other potential uncertainty associated with the dam, thats just as kind of being good stewards.

The two dams were repaired to improve the inlet structures in 2013 and 2015, but, at the time, city officials said they didnt know about the other issues with the dams, which werent discovered until the 2017 evaluation.

The conduits date back to the original construction, which was 1926 for the McClure Dam and 1943 for the Nichols Dam, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The conduits are about five feet in diameter and run 475 feet; the current plan is to fill in some of the conduit to reduce leakage.

The city has entered into a four-year contract with an engineering firm  at a cost of $500,000 a year  to come up with a design to fix the dams. Once construction begins, the project is estimated to cost $8 million, according to Water Division Director Jesse Roach.

Were running up against some funding constraints. So, right now, were working on an agreement with (the Office of the State Engineer) to try to see if we can access some of those funds to make sure that we deliver the product, Roach said. Were still in the initial stages right now, exploring if thats an option.

Kyle Mason, city of Santa Fe Emergency Management Director, said that, even with the repairs, the dams will still be rated high risk because of the population downstream. The dams quality ratings and the risk factors are two independent ratings.

He said that, if there was a dam failure, the city would have to start the appropriate emergency protocols to ensure citizen safety. He said there are electronic monitoring systems in place, such as detecting seismic activity, that would notify the city of any dam issues.

Mason and Snyder both said there is sensitive emergency management information in the documents that they wouldnt want to get into the wrong hands. They said the documents contain information concerning the dams control panels.

We dont want to get the message in somebodys brain that this is an easy target or that  terrorism would be an opportune idea for them, Mason said. This is one of the reasons these plans remain operational, but not for public access.

For Ellenberg, this isnt enough. He is currently challenging the record request denial with the New Mexico Attorney Generals Office and said hes even considered trying to get a judge to review the denial.

But the response in terms of an open record is outrageous, he said. The citys response to the (Attorney Generals) Office inquiry was one of the absolute worst Ive ever seen to an open records report, which was, we dont have to defend what we did. Theres an exception. We used it and theres no requirement that we defend or explain why.
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If the covid allows it, the February 14 elections should help the country recover from the 2017 trauma. A trauma that has been brewing since the reform of the Statute and whose main political actors have had a responsibility that today obliges them to be relieved in order to clean up messages, oxygenate relations between parties and open up a new stage that aims to avoid the economic and political decline that the country seems to be going through.
Industry insiders and experts said that Mr. Gallimard was the most aggressive publisher in the quest for top awards.

Beatrice Duval, the head of Le Livre de Poche, Frances biggest paperback publishing house and a former editor at Gallimard, said that Gallimards business strategy largely focused on winning prizes.

At Grasset, Mr. Nora said he began weaning his company off the business model of prizes when he took over two decades ago. Back then, Grasset used to give generous advances to authors who were jurors to secure their loyalty  a practice that eventually attracted the attention of the tax authorities, because the authors often did not bother delivering manuscripts.

Not that it necessarily bothered Grasset. You had somebody who knew that he hadnt honored a contract with you  who was morally indebted to you, a fact that increased your influence over him, Mr. Nora said.

Today, while publishers might lower an authors future advances after poor sales, they would refrain from doing so in the case of an author who sits on a jury, Mr. Nora said.

The advance wont be lowered or indexed to sales because he belongs to a jury, Mr. Nora said.

There was not enough talent in Frances small literary world to establish a jury system with new judges very year, Mr. Nora said. He suggested that changing a third of each jury every five years would be more feasible and bring in new faces.

But Ms. Duval said that, more than anything else, it was the literary establishments resistance that made it impossible to adopt juries that would change every year.
Jon Caldara is president of the Independence Institute in Denver and hosts The Devils Advocate with Jon Caldara on Colorado Public Television Channel 12.
Shaddi Abusaid, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution; (TNS)

ATLANTA  Hundreds of religious voters flocked to downtown Atlanta on Saturday to pray outside the state Capitol ahead of Tuesdays runoff elections.

The Georgia Prayer March aimed to encourage people to pray for the Georgia Senate elections and unite Americans in intense prayer, according to organizers.

The event, also called a prayer walk, was hailed as a nonpartisan event, but several speakers cast doubts on the validity of the November presidential race results while encouraging those in attendance to vote for incumbent Republican U.S. Sens. David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler this week.

Perdue and Loeffler face runoff challenges from Democrats Jon Ossoff and the Rev. Raphael Warnock to determine control of the U.S. Senate.

What happens on Tuesday will determine the fate of the republic, said evangelical pastor Jim Garlow, one of the organizers of Saturdays event.

Some in attendance criticized Ossoff and Warnock for their stances on homosexuality and abortion, as well as other fiscal and social issues. Several Republican state lawmakers were among Saturdays crowd.

We want to gather together to pray that Georgia elects and sends leaders with biblical values to the U.S. Senate, Garlow said ahead of the event. We do not tell anyone for whom to vote. That is your decision. We are nonpartisan. We do, however, pray for Georgians to vote for candidates with distinctly biblical values.

The large outdoor prayer rally included a relatively diverse crowd, but few people appeared to be wearing masks amid the ongoing pandemic while marchers stuck close together at times. Hoisting signs that read God Reign Over Government and Prayer Changes Everything, worshippers sang and marched around the state Capitol seven times, symbolic of the fall of Jericho as told in the Old Testament.

The event lasted more than three hours and was livestreamed on multiple social media platforms, amassing more than 15,000 views on Facebook alone.

A record 3 million Georgia voters cast ballots in the runoff elections before early voting ended last week, setting up a showdown that will be decided Tuesday.

State election data analyzed by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution indicate more ballots have been cast in areas that tend to favor Democrats, an issue that has GOP leaders worried after President Donald Trumps repeated claims that the November election was rigged against him.

Voter turnout lagged in rural, conservative congressional districts through Thursday, especially in northwest Georgia where Trump plans to rally supporters on Monday. But Republicans could make up ground with a strong showing on the day of the runoffs, as in the general election. Trump and Perdue each won about 60% of in-person votes cast on Nov. 3. Loeffler also benefited from Election Day voting in the 20-candidate Senate special election.

The 3 million early votes cast so far have already shattered the previous record for total turnout in a Georgia runoff set in 2008, when 2.1 million people participated in a U.S. Senate runoff between Republican Sen. Saxby Chambliss and Democrat Jim Martin.

2021 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Visit at ajc.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
New Delhi, Jan 3 : The Delhi government on Sunday announced it would run 500 to 600 Covid centres in the first phase of vaccination soon after the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) gives approval to Serum Institute of India's 'Covishield' vaccine and Bharat Biotech's 'Covaxin' for emergency use.

Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain made the announcement during a press conference while commenting on the protocol that will be followed for the rollout of the vaccine.

The minister said "500-600 Covid centres will be set up in the first phase and it will be further escalated to 1,000. Storage facilities have been made. Ultimately, 1,000 centres will be there." On the approval of the vaccine by DCGI, Jain said, "we have just been made aware that the vaccines developed by Bharat Biotech and Serum Institute of India have been given approval." "Delhi government is making all the arrangements. The protocol will be that health care and frontline workers, people over 50 years of age or with co-morbidities will be injected in the first phase of the roll-out," said Jain.

"Delhi has 3 lakh healthcare workers and 6 lakh frontline workers. The vaccine will be first rolled out to these 9 lakh people." The minister said that Delhi government is completely ready for the rollout.

He said a dry run was conducted on Saturday in three different types of centres -- government hospitals, private hospitals and government dispensaries.

Commenting on the de-escalation of Covid beds in Delhi, the minister said de-escalation was done in Delhi a few days back.

"Under this, we had reduced some 2,500 beds in Delhi government hospitals and 5,000 to 6,000 beds in private hospitals. The occupancy currently is less than 2,000. Earlier we had 18,800 beds available, but even after de-escalation, we still have 10,500 to 11,000 beds. We shall be repeating the exercise of de-escalation next week.

"We are very closely reviewing the situation, but we are treading very cautiously. We are over-cautious."

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

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This work's cluttered cover-design - a sepia picture of the IRA hero Frank Ryan above a banner proclaiming, 'IRISH REPUBLICANS GREET SPANISH REPUBLICANS - SMASH ALL IMPERIALISMS' - is unpromising. Armed Irish republicanism has an almost Haitian ability to worship with vagarious simultaneity at rival shrines, including mass-murdering sectarianism, ostentatious Communion-gobbling Catholicism, sickly Bodenstown sentimentality and socialist self-righteousness.

The cover misleads: for In Spanish Trenches is unquestionably the definitive work on the Irish of the International Brigades in Spain. This excellent study does not purport to assess O'Duffy's anti-Communist volunteers, and I dislike its generic description of these hapless and inept gossoons as "fascist". With comparable inaccuracy, their Irish opponents are sometimes known as 'the Connolly Column': this was a highly imaginative PR term coined by Peter O'Connor in the 1970s to encompass disparate units and many different experiences. There was no such thing as the Connolly Column.

What made Spain's civil war so very terrible was the involvement of various powerful external forces; the colonial Army of Africa, Italian Fascism and Nazism supported the 'Nationalists' while the Soviet Union backed the 'Republicans'. But rather than arming the Republican government, as Mussolini did the Spanish Falange, Stalin simply sold it weaponry, and at exorbitant prices. Meanwhile, the International Brigades, recruited by the 'Communist International', consisting of anti-fascist volunteers from many countries, including a large Irish contingent, gave him a foreign policy on the cheap. It is easy - and metaphorically cheap - to call them 'communist dupes'. These were mostly honourable men doing what they perhaps naively perceived to be their duty, as, in their own way, the foreign anti-communists were doing theirs.

The latter rightly detested Stalin. Had he not created the artificial famine in the Ukraine that - we now know - killed some five million people between 1931-2? Then, between 1937-8, his secret police the NKVD individually executed 681,692 alleged (imaginary, though the NKVD's number wasn't) Trotskyites in the 'peacetime' USSR - which was far more than the total death-toll for the Spanish war. This, incredibly, included yet more 'Trotskyite' victims, as NKVD agents ruthlessly purged the International Brigades defending the Republic. The latter therefore stood no chance against Franco's savage alliance of Spanish Catholics, Italian Fascists and African Muslims, a complex truth which defies the witless simplifications of the usual bishop-bashing Irish balladry about the war, complete with many angry guitar strumstrum-strums.

Irish republicans, though largely untouched by Trotskyism, succumbed to rather more parochial deviations: to Ryan's horror, some of them adamantly refused to serve alongside British volunteers.

The authors (unusually) exhibit some similar predispositions; observing that "ethnic prejudices (in the brigades) were common", they continue, (my italics): "Typically, Britons passed off friction with the Irish patronisingly as inevitable and understandable."

That ungenerous line, with those stereotyping adverbs, merits revising for the later editions that this book surely deserves, though it is a useful reminder of the venom that the war inspired. A former governess in Spain, Jane Brown, urged the Nationalists to execute the captive Ryan. "Why should he escape the punishment he merits?" she wrote from Kildare. "Is he afraid of dying?"

This work is honestly unsparing about the rape and murder by all sides, and its footnotes and appendix are utter treasure-troves. Here I stumbled across one 'Hugh O'Donnell', a Donegal-born member of the British Communist Party. Is he the same Hugh O'Donnell who, under the codename Sean O'Brien, spied on George Orwell for the NKVD? However, the authors don't say. They also (uncharacteristically) seem to have overlooked the Manchester-Irishman Henry Kelly VC MC, perhaps the only Great War Victoria Cross-winner serving with the Brigades. He also served in the Free State Army during the Irish Civil War, meaning that his enemies in Ireland in 1922 were his allies in Spain in 1938.

Similarly, in Spain Ryan fought alongside a former Black and Tan called Macartney and an ex-RIC Auxiliary named Nathan. At war's end, true to his delinquent vagaries, Ryan threw in his lot with the Nazis, dying in Germany in 1944. Meanwhile, his second-in-command in Spain, Terence Flanagan, as an officer in the Irish Army, ended up guarding former Brigade colleagues who were now IRA-internees. Three other comrades - Michael Lehane, Joseph Ryan and James Haughey - continued their personal war against Nazism in British colours, and in those colours duly perished (RIP).

Most of these people feature in the deeply-rewarding text but not, generally, in the index - which is traditionally the publisher's responsibility. Frank Ryan's name appears (perhaps a little too often?) around 750 times in the book: the index allocates just 11 page-numbers to him, and none to his various relatives who feature regularly.

The scholarship of the 25 years that the authors spent on this outstanding work irradiates every page; whereas the tragic index does not appear to have been prepared with the care it deserved. By whom? UCD?

Sunday Independent
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Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan on Sunday said the Covid-19 vaccine approval in India was a watershed moment in the country's battle against the novel coronavirus pandemic under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"Our wait for the vaccine is over with Covishield from Serum Institue of India and Covaxin from Bharat Biotech approved for emergency use in India," the Union Health Minister said.

In a series of tweets, Harsh Vardhan wrote, "It's now time to reap the benefits of the robust supply chain infrastructure we've put in place for quick and equitable distribution of the vaccine."

Its now time to reap the benefits of the robust supply chain infrastructure weve put in place for quick & equitable distribution of the vaccine



Urge all citizens to entrust the stringent protocols followed for ensuring safety, efficacy & immunogenicity of the approved vaccines  Dr Harsh Vardhan (@drharshvardhan) January 3, 2021

"Urge all citizens to entrust the stringent protocols followed for ensuring safety, efficacy and immunogenicity of the approved vaccines," tweeted Vardhan.

He further added: "These vaccines are a fitting tribute to our corona warriors! My heartfelt gratitude to all healthcare professionals and frontline workers for their exemplary efforts during these unprecedented times."

Vardhan congratulated the scientists and researchers for their untiring efforts.

India's Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has approved the Oxford vaccine, Covishield, manufactured by the Serum Institute of India, and indigenously developed Covaxin of Bharat Biotech for restricted emergency use in the country.

The two firms submitted data on their trial runs and have been granted permission for "restricted use", VG Somani of DCGI said.

The drugs regulator has granted the approval on the basis of recommendations of a Covid-19 Subject Expert Committee (SEC) of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO).

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Security guards at medi-hotels sacked or suspended over protocol breaches

South Australia Police report given to parliamentary committee is now public

Five guards were instantly dismissed while another 94 were stood down

SA health officials have since tightened protocols to avoid similar breaches

Almost 100 private security guards at South Australia's medi-hotels have been fired or stood down for a wide range of shocking protocol breaches, according to police records.

A South Australia Police report recently given to a state parliamentary coronavirus committee, which was made public on Sunday, revealed dozens of guards were stood down for shocking blunders.

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The release of the report comes weeks after an outbreak at a Adelaide medi-hotel sparked a temporary statewide lockdown.

One guard was sacked after they were suspected of being drunk as they smelt of alcohol while on duty.

A second was fired after they impersonated an Australian Defence Force officer so they could park at a medi-hotel for free.

At least 94 security guards working at South Australian medi-hotels were stood down over quarantine protocol breaches. Pictured are guests at a medi-hotel in Adelaide earlier in 2020

Another was dismissed after they uploaded a video on social media filmed at a medi-hotel while one was sacked for being disorderly.

The final sacked security guard was caught sleeping on the job while guarding a floor where guests were in government-mandated quarantine.

Australians and permanent residents arriving back into the country have been required to quarantine at hotels since March 20 when international borders shut to stop the transmission of coronavirus from overseas.

Another 22 guards were lucky to avoid the same fate and were instead suspended for nodding off while on the job.

Around 35 were stood down for not wearing the correct personal protective equipment while another 30 were busted using their mobile phones while on duty.

Hotel quarantine protocols have been tightened since almost 100 security guards were either sacked or stood down. Pictured are returned travellers arriving at a medi-hotel for quarantine

South Australia's chief public health officer Nicola Spurrier said medi-hotel protocols have been tightened since the November outbreak.

'When we previously had security guards sitting for long periods of time, up to 12 hours, you can appreciate how somebody might have nodded off,' she told reporters on Sunday.

'We have redone our security model and we have much more roving security, we've got state-of-the-art CCTV and infrared sensors as well, to help with the monitoring.'

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Opposition spokesman Chris Picton has expressed concern about the police figures in the wake of the November's outbreak and the recent emergence of UK strain of the virus of a returned traveller in hotel quarantine.

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'These are shocking breaches and highlight the risks when we are relying on subcontracted private security guards for our safety,' Mr Picton said.

'There's no doubt you aren't 'gold star' when private security guards are falling asleep on the job.'

Recently, returning travellers to Australia have tested positive for the mutant strain of coronavirus plaguing the UK and South Africa, reiterating the importance of the quarantine system for keeping the nation's outbreak relatively small.

The South Australia police report was given to a state parliamentary committee week days after a concerning outbreak in Adelaide. Pictured are guests at a medi-hotel in November

Acting Health Minister Rob Lucas acknowledged the breaches were unacceptable but believes the hotel quarantine system is now 'working relatively effectively'.

'I think the fact that we've seen this regular reporting of instances  is an example of the system working and working relatively effectively,' he said.'

'We have got now a security system which probably avoids all of those instances.'

It comes in the wake of Victoria's bungled hotel quarantine program, identified as a key source of the deadly outbreak which spiralled out of control and sparked a second wave.

Private guards were employed as part of the bungled program which sparked an independent inquiry, plunged Melbourne into lockdown for three months and causing the loss of more than 800 Victorians during the state's horror second wave.

An investigation set up to probe the blunder failed to find out who in the Victorian government gave the green light to hire private security workers, as opposed to trained army or police personnel.

Potential quarantine breaches have also been linked to the recent outbreak on Sydney's Northern Beaches, where 270,000 residents were forced into lockdown.

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Almost three weeks on, the desperate hunt to track down 'patient zero' continues with health authorities admitting they may never find the source.

South Australia's chief health officer Professor Nicola Spurrier (pictude) says hotel quarantine protocols have been ramped up in recent months so similar breaches don't reoccur

A new cluster not related to the Northern Beaches outbreak has emerged in Berala in Sydney's south-west, which grew to 13 cases on Sunday.

The source is a patient transport worker who drove a family returned from overseas to a health facility.

The worker was infected and passed the virus on to a colleague, who later visited a Berala bottle shop and further spread the virus, it is believed.

South Australia is on high alert following the outbreaks in Sydney and Melbourne and reinstated a hard border with NSW last Thursday.

The border with Victoria remains open but South Australians are advised to reconsider any plans to cross the border.

'I am very hopeful the situation in Victoria will come to an end,' Dr Spurrier said
Los Angeles: Legendary talk show host Larry King is in a hospital here with COVID-19, multiple US media outlets reported on Sunday. The 87-year-old former CNN interviewer has been at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre for over a week, the reports said.

Representatives for King have not publicly commented on his hospitalisation, and details of his current condition are unclear. Larry has fought so many health issues in the last few years and he is fighting this one hard too, hes a champ," a source told CNN.

News of Kings hospitalisation came as emergency officials in California said hospitals were treating an unprecedented number of COVID-19 patients. The US state of California has reported 2,356,724 confirmed cases and 26,550 deaths, the Los Angeles Times reported.

King, who has Type 2 diabetes, has confronted a series of medical issues over the years, including several heart attacks and quintuple bypass surgery in 1987, CNN reported. In 2017, King revealed he had been diagnosed with lung cancer and successfully underwent surgery. He also underwent a procedure in 2019 to address angina.

King became a household name after he hosted CNNs Larry King Live" for 25 years, interviewing presidential candidates, celebrities, athletes, movie stars and everyday people. He retired in 2010 after taping more than 6,000 episodes of the show.But he could not stay off the airwaves for long.

In 2012, he became the host of Larry King Now," a thrice-weekly show on Ora TV, an on-demand digital network he co-founded with Mexican telecommunications mogul Carlos Slim, according to Forbes. In a career spanning over 60 years, King has multiple accolades, including two Peabody Awards and an Emmy.

Two of his five children also died last year within weeks of each other - one from a heart attack, another from lung cancer. In 1988 he founded the Larry King Cardiac Foundation, a charity which helps to fund heart treatment for those with limited financial means or no medical insurance. In less than 11 months, COVID-19 has killed more than 349,000 people in the US. A total of 125,379 people were hospitalised with COVID-19 on Thursday, more than any other day of the pandemic, according to the Covid Tracking Project. The number of patients topped 125,000 on Friday as well, but dipped slightly on Saturday to 123,639. The US has now remained above 100,000 hospitalisations for 32 straight days.
AMHERST, Va., Jan. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Got Freedom?, a 501(c)4 nonprofit election integrity watchdog group, conducted an exclusive national briefing today at the request of state legislators from Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin to review the extensive evidence of irregularities and lawlessness in the 2020 presidential election. A similar briefing is being scheduled in Washington, D.C. at the request of Members of Congress.

The documentation discussed during the briefing  which includes more than 1,400 pages of material  is being made available for public consumption at https://got-freedom.org/evidence/ .

Nearly 300 state lawmakers and others participated in the briefing, which also featured an address by President Trump. Also on the call were Rudy Giuliani; professor of law John Eastman; Peter Navarro, Assistant to the President for Trade and Manufacturing (appearing in his personal capacity), and John Lott, Senior Advisor, U.S. Department of Justice (also appearing in his personal capacity).

"This information should serve as an important resource for state legislators as they make calls for state legislatures to meet to investigate the election and consider decertifying their state election results," said Phill Kline, who hosted the call on behalf of Got Freedom?. "The integrity of our elections is far too important to treat cavalierly, and elected officials deserve to have all relevant information at their disposal as they consider whether to accept the reported results of the 2020 elections, especially in states where the process was influenced by private interests."

The evidence discussed includes unprecedented public-private partnerships that created a two-tiered election system in the states that determined the winner of the Electoral College. Funded by over $400 million from Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, these public-private partnerships sought to boost turnout in Democratic strongholds while depressing turnout in conservative areas, violating constitutional guarantees of due process and equal protection.

The private monies paid the salaries of election workers and funded the purchase of election equipment, but came with strict conditions on the conduct of elections in jurisdictions that accepted the money. These private interventions were aided by the actions of public officials, who sought to undermine transparency, fought efforts to audit the results, threatened legislators with investigation and prosecution for questioning the reported results, and in some cases even physically prevented state lawmakers from entering the Capitol Building in order to prevent them from challenging election certification.

"The American people, along with their elected representatives at the state and federal level, deserve full access to the evidence we've uncovered," Kline said. "We're pleased to provide this information so that those who develop policy and make decisions will have all the relevant information available to them."

SOURCE Got Freedom?

Related Links

https://got-freedom.org



Damascus, Jan 3 (IANS) Israel carried out a total of 39 attacks on Syrian military sites in 2020, according to a UK-based war monitor.

The strikes killed 217 Syrian soldiers and pro-Iran fighters, Xinhua news agency quoted the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights as saying in a report on Saturday.
A suicide bombing near the Somali capital of Mogadishu killed at least five people including two Turks, the Turkish health minister said, Al Jazeera reports.

Abdiasis Abu Musab, military operation spokesman for the al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab, said the armed group was behind the attack on Saturday.

The Somalia-based group often targets the Somali capital Mogadishu with suicide bombings and other attacks, and it has exploded bombs against the Turkish military and other targets there in the past.

Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca tweeted that 14 people, including three Turks, were wounded and are being treated in a Mogadishu hospital named after Turkeys president. He did not give the nationalities of the other three people who died.

We strongly condemn this heinous attack targeting the employees of a Turkish company that undertook the Mogadishu-Afgoye road construction and contributes to the development and prosperity of Somalia, a foreign ministry statement said.

Turkish security sources said the suicide attacker used a motorcycle. They said the attack took place 15km (8 miles) away from a Turkish military base, which was not affected. The base is Turkeys largest military installation abroad.

Somali government officials did not immediately respond to Reuters request for comment. The attack occurred outside the capital, Mogadishu, according to residents in the area of the blast.
The Covid-19 death toll has crossed 400 with the deaths of 18 more people yesterday.

The death toll now stands at 408, with 96 of those occurring in the last seven days alone.

The Ministry of Health reported the deaths in its daily update yesterday evening.
A 60-year-old milkman has emerged as an unlikely hero in Uttar Pradesh after rescuing 15 children from drowning in the Ganga with even chief minister Akhilesh Yadav acknowledging the feat.

Officials said that Ramjit Yadav of Dallapati village in Mirzapur district will be felicitated by the chief minister for his brave act.

Mirzapur district magistrate Rajesh Kumar Singh told HT on Wednesday that the official function to reward felicitate and reward Yadav was likely to be held on Saturday.

Yadavs act of bravery came on Thursday when he had boarded a boat with his cans of milk, a daily routine which takes him to Mirzapur township, situated across the Ganga. Mirzapur is around 250 km east of Lucknow.

15 students had also boarded the boat on their way to school in Rampur, police said.

However, midway through the journey the boat started listing and started taking water, leaving the panicky students crying and shouting for help.

The boatman by then had lost control and the vessel capsized in no time, threatening the lives of all on board.

Police quoted the rescued students as saying that Yadav caught hold of one of them and asked the others to cling on to him as he swam across the swollen river.

Some other people on the bank saw Yadavs valiant effort and jumped into the water to pull all of them to safety.

Since then, Yadav has become not only a hero in his own village but also in all nearby villages.

Despite being of such age, Ramjit made a spirited effort to save the children, said Ajay Sonkar, a resident of the village.

Ramjit himself was, however, modest about the feat saying his swimming skills helped him prevent what could have been a tragedy.

Since my hut is located on the bank of the river I learned swimming when I was 12. It helps me keep fit and on several occasions I swam across the Ganga to reach the town, he told HT over phone.

He also felt that the district administration should pass an order restricting small boats from transporting school children.

The district administration should take adequate steps for their safe journey, he added.
Dr. Anthony Fauci said its possible that COVID-19 vaccines will become mandatory in order to travel to other countries or attend school.

Everything will be on the table for discussion, Fauci, who will be chief medical adviser to President-elect Joe Biden, told Newsweek.

The director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases stressed that its not up to me to make a decision, but added that these are all things that will be discussed [under the Biden administration].

Im not sure [the COVID-19 vaccine] going to be mandatory from a central government standpoint, like federal government mandates, Fauci said, though he added that hes sure that some individual institutions will require the shot.

Fauci said vaccine requirements in schools are possible, but they would come from mandates at the state or city level.

A citywide school system might require it in some cities but not other cities. And thats what I mean by things not being done centrally but locally, Fauci said.

In regard to travel, Fauci said the US could potentially issue COVID-19 vaccine passports  similar to the ones planned for Israel that would allow residents to travel abroad without being tested for coronavirus.
Tens of millions of Americans will be receiving the second round of stimuli checks after the $900 billion President Donald Trump signed COVID-19 relief bill on December 27.

Weeks of unemployment payment extension decreased

The stimulus bill includes a one-month extension of the eviction moratorium and a total of ten additional weeks extension of the $300 weekly unemployment payments for unemployed workers.

However, the extension for the unemployment bonus is supposed to be eleven weeks. The extension was diminished since Trump waited five days before signing the bill to release the stimulus checks. Trump urged to raise the $600 stimulus check to $2,000, but failed to be picked for a Senate vote on January 3, two days prior to the new Congress to be sworn in.

According to The Philadelphia Inquirer report, the U.S. Department of Labor will release guidance on how funds will be allocated, but states were told that beneficiaries would continue receiving payments. Nearly 12 million Americans receive the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, as per TFC. They were also at risk of going a week or more without the payment due to the bill's delayed signing to make it a law.

Read also: What's Inside Your Stimulus Check and Everything You Need to Know

What more you need to know? Here are some important details that would answer the questions in your mind regarding the weekly unemployment bonus, according to CNET via MSN:

When will the $300 unemployment payments distribution start?

The stimulus bill has an initial date of December 26 to go into effect. But the delay is expected to be a week or more based on when the Department of Labor's act to guide the states about the fund's proceedings and how long it will take the states to start processing payments.

The stimulus checks are authorized to last up to March 14, but an overflow period will last until April 5 for people who exhausted their state's benefits before the expiration.

Will the bonus be retroactive?

The stimulus bill language does not determine if the unemployment bonus is retroactive, but that would not be the case, The Washington Post reported. The report added, observers do not expect to see a federally instituted lump sum payment to keep up for the previous weeks of not receiving unemployment benefits.

What is Mixed Earner Unemployment Compensation?

The new bill states that those who earned from traditional jobs and employment as a contractor would receive either the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) or the unemployment insurance, but not a combination of both.

A person who made more money from self-employment or a contracting job could receive an extra $100 per week, with the Mixed Earner Unemployment Compensation. Let's say you earn $50,000 in 2019, which came from a contractor job ($30,000) and a part-time job at a company ($20,000). If you are laid off, the unemployment office in your state will calculate if you would receive benefits for the $3,000 through PUA or via unemployment insurance with your $20,000 earnings, but not a combination of the two.

The Mixed Earner Unemployment Compensation worth $100 will only be given to a person if the state participates. It might take some time before the states determine whether they will provide the extra $100 after the bill gets passed.

Read also: New Jersey Minimum Wage Increases to $12 per Hour, Aims to Reach $15 by 2024

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The release on Sunday by US media of a stunning audio tape in which President Donald Trump pressured Georgia's secretary of state to "find" enough votes to overturn his election defeat there to Democrat Joe Biden sent shockwaves across Washington.

The tape, a rebel push by scores of Republican lawmakers to challenge Biden's electoral win later this week, a pair of runoff elections in Georgia to decide control of the US Senate and expected pro-Trump protests in Washington are combining to set the stage for a fiery week in American politics.

Lawmakers got back to work Sunday on Capitol Hill, where Democrat Nancy Pelosi was narrowly reelected as speaker of the House of Representatives, but the real political fireworks are to come later in the week.

Following the release of the recording, Democrats and a few Republicans heaped scorn on the outgoing president, who fired off a tweetstorm of unsubstantiated claims of fraud in the November 3 election.

The taped conversation between Trump and fellow Republican Brad Raffensperger, first obtained by The Washington Post, includes vague threats by Trump that Raffensperger and another official could face "a big risk" if they failed to take moves toward overturning Biden's victory.

"There's nothing wrong with saying, you know, um, that you've recalculated" the vote tally, Trump is heard saying on the tape. "You're off by hundreds of thousands of votes."

Raffensperger is heard responding: "Well, Mr. President, the challenge that you have is, the data you have is wrong."

Biden won the long Republican-leaning state by fewer than 12,000 votes -- a narrow margin, but one that has remained unchanged through a series of recounts and audits.

"The current margin is only 11,779. Brad, I think you agree with that, right?" Trump says. "So look. All I want to do is this. I just want to find 11,780 votes."

Making Trump's call more surprising is the fact that even a hypothetical reversal in Georgia, which has 16 Electoral College votes, would not overturn victory by Biden, who won by a margin of 306 to 232.

Story continues

Ahead of the release of the audio, Trump tweeted about the call, saying that Raffensperger "was unwilling, or unable, to answer questions such as the 'ballots under table' scam, ballot destruction, out of state 'voters', dead voters, and more."

Raffensperger tweeted back, also ahead of the release of the audio, saying: "Respectfully, President Trump: What you're saying is not true. The truth will come out."

After the release, the White House declined to comment.

Democrats reacted furiously.

Vice President-elect Kamala Harris slammed it as "the voice of desperation" and a "bald-faced, bold abuse of power by the President of the United States" during a rally in Savannah, Georgia.

One moderate Republican, Congressman Adam Kinzinger, tweeted: "This is absolutely appalling. To every member of Congress considering objecting to the election results, you cannot -- in light of this -- do so with a clean conscience."

- Key elections in Georgia -

It was unclear what impact the tape's release might have on the twin runoff elections in Georgia on Tuesday, which will decide who controls the US Senate.

Both Trump and Biden are due to appear at rallies in the southern state on Monday.

Republican incumbents David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler are facing off against Democratic challengers Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock, respectively.

Victory by Ossoff and Warnock would give Democrats, and Biden, a major boost -- Senate seats would be evenly divided between the parties at 50 each, but incoming Vice President Harris would wield a tie-breaking vote. Democrats already control the House.

"This is going to be a very tough battle but it is absolutely within the realm of possibility -- in fact, the realm of likelihood -- the Democrats can win," Stacey Abrams, the charismatic former Georgia lawmaker who has emerged as a party leader, told CNN on Sunday.

- 'Time to move forward' -

News of the Trump tape came hours after the US Congress opened its new session Sunday.

Pelosi, the highest-ranking woman in the history of US politics, will serve another term as speaker of the House after her reelection.

Congress will convene in a rare joint session on Wednesday to certify Biden's election result -- but it will not be the usual dry pro forma affair.

So far, 12 Republican senators loyal to Trump have announced plans to block certification, instead demanding the formation of a special commission to do an "emergency" election audit.

With Democrats controlling the House and many Senate Republicans expected to confirm Biden's victory, the rebel effort is all but certain to fail, but it has raised tensions on Capitol Hill.

It has also underscored a sharp divide within the president's party, as Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell has asked his caucus to respect the Electoral College result.

Senator Mitt Romney, the party's 2012 presidential candidate, called the campaign an "egregious ploy" that served only to "enhance the political ambition of some."

He and a bipartisan coalition of senators on Sunday called on Congress to certify the result, saying: "The 2020 election is over... It is time to move forward."

Pro-Trump protesters not quite willing to concede are expected to rally in Washington on Wednesday.

Trump, who has urged thousands to support his cause, tweeted Sunday: "I will be there. Historic day!"

bur-st/to
The plump, black-and-white street cat lives near a night market in a neighborhood of Taiwans capital where volunteers have fed and taken care of strays for years. But Pipi and his fellow street cats got an upgrade of their dining situation recently with the Midnight Cafeteria project.

Launched in September, the cafeteria is actually 45 small wooden houses painted by Taiwanese artists and scattered across Taipei. The idea is to give the cats a place to rest while making feeding them less messy. It began in math teacher Hung Pei-lings neighborhood, where about 20 neighbors are helping stray cats in addition to their full-time jobs.

We want to push forward this philosophy that you dont have to be part of a very top-level association or something that takes up all of your time, she said. You can just be one person doing something a little bit at a time, a little bit, and taken all together, you can achieve a lot.

Hung began volunteering after a good friend rescued and raised a stray cat. For five years, she has worked with other cat lovers in the neighborhood who buy the cats food, help clean the houses and coordinate with residents who may have complaints. Hung also helps capture injured cats and cats that need spaying, takes them to get veterinary attention and then returns them to their haunts.

The wooden houses in Hungs neighborhood were hand-painted by a local artist Stefano Misesti and feature smiling felines as well as street food that is loved in Taiwan such as stinky tofu. In addition to food bowls, one houses basic medicine for the cats. Neighbors have brought small cushions as well as decorated cardboard boxes to add to the houses.

Started by Chen Chen-yi, a researcher at the Taiwan Animal Equality Association, the cat houses help ensure stray cats get fed well and local residents do not have to deal with a mess. They also raise awareness about the spaying program and the condition of stray cats.

In Taiwan there are a lot of people who feed strays, but often they leave a mess, and then the public becomes annoyed by it and they become annoyed with strays as well, he said. The cat houses were a multiteam effort. Chen applied for a grant from the Taipei city government to fund the project, and then connected with a local ward leader as well as volunteers to carry it out.

On a recent Sunday, Pipi and two of his friends were enjoying attention from Hung and another volunteer who came to feed them. After eating at the cafeteria, they settled in for a lazy morning nap.

One Good Thing is a series that highlights glimmers of joy in hard times, stories of people who find a way to make a difference, no matter how small.
James R. Ferrier

ORWIGSBURG  A Pine Grove man is headed to Schuylkill County Court after waiving his right to a preliminary hearing Dec. 22 on charges he assaulted a Census worker in September in downtown Schuylkill Haven.

Erich Hinchman, 37, of 14 E. Pottsville St., faces charges of simple assault, disorderly conduct and harassment. Magisterial District Judge James R. Ferrier bound over those charges for court after Hinchman waived his right to the hearing.

Schuylkill Haven police alleged Hinchman assaulted James K. Ream Sr. at 5:54 p.m. Sept. 12 in front of the Brok-Sel convenience store, 2 E. Main St.

Police said Hinchman grabbed Reams Census worker badge, slapped his cellphone out of his hand and pushed him in the chest.

Ream fell backward, suffering a sore and swollen knee, police said.

Hinchman is free on $2,500 unsecured bail pending further court proceedings.

Other defendants whose cases Ferrier considered, the charges against each one and the judges dispositions of the matters included the following people:

Brett T. Bitsko, 37, of 418 Biddle St., Tamaqua; driving under the influence, disregarding traffic lane and careless driving; right to preliminary hearing waived, charge of careless driving withdrawn, other charges bound over for court.

Bradley R. Focht, 42, of 1227 Deep Creek Road, Ashland; theft and receiving stolen property; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Eric M. Gormley, 38, of 208 Horace Ave., Palmyra, New Jersey; DUI, endangering the welfare of children, failure to obey traffic control devices, reckless driving, careless driving and following too closely; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Sean J. Gormley, 40, of 603 Pennsylvania Ave., Palmyra, New Jersey; possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Anthony E. Pascoe, 34, of 230 Green St., Tamaqua; possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving under suspension; right to preliminary hearing waived, charge of driving under suspension withdrawn, other charges bound over for court.

Stephen J. Weiss, 48, of 13 Knotts Road, Schuylkill Haven; DUI, stop sign violation and careless driving; charges held for court after preliminary hearing.

All defendants now will move to Schuylkill County Court, where they have the right to plead guilty to some or all of the charges or plead not guilty and demand a trial before a judge or jury.

(Staff writer Peter E. Bortner compiled this report)
The year 2020 wasnt the greatest, but The Pioneer Woman star Ree Drummond tried to find some bright spots. She posted a collage on Instagram that displayed some of her favorite memories from last year. Here are the Food Network stars top moments from 2020.

Alex Drummonds engagement to Mauricio Scott

Ree Drummond | Tyler Essary/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images

One big moment for Drummond was the engagement of her eldest daughter, Alex Drummond. Shes set to marry her college sweetheart, Mauricio Scott (they met at Texas A & M University). He proposed to Alex last fall, and Drummond announced the exciting news on her Instagram page.

Drummond says her daughter plans to marry Scott on May 1, 2021. As for the venue, the bride-to-be decided to get married on the ranch after considering hotels in Oklahoma, reports The Pioneer Woman website.

During a Q and A on The Pioneer Woman Instagram page, Alex said she was initially hesitant about the location because the ranch is in the middle of nowhere. However, she changed her mind after her father, Ladd Drummond, suggested it.

I was nervous about it at first because theres just so many logistics that I was thinking about, like, how are people going to get out here? said Alex during The Pioneer Woman Q and A. Its literally the middle of nowhere. But were going to figure it out, well just give people directions.

Ree and Ladd Drummonds wedding anniversary

Ree and Ladd Drummond | Monica Schipper/Getty Images for The Pioneer Woman Magazine

Another moment Drummond relishes from 2020 is her wedding anniversary. Last September, the couple celebrated 24 years of marriage (they were married on September 21, 1996). In an Instagram post, Drummond wished her husband a happy anniversary. She also thanked him for getting her pregnant within a week of their wedding.

Ree Drummond eldest and youngest child spending time together

Drummond gushed over her children Alex and Todd. She was happy to see them spending time together. A picture she posted on Instagram showed the siblings walking down a road. The best part of the picture (at least we think) was her basset hound, Fred, who is trailing behind them.

Spending Christmas with her family

Ree Drummond with her family | Monica Schipper/Getty Images for The Pioneer Woman Magazine

One picture that stands out in Drummonds holiday collage is of her children in matching pajamas. She often comments about how much she loves the holidays and spending time with her children. Each year, Drummond buys holiday pajamas for her family. She even has matching pajamas for the dogs.

Ree and Ladd Drummond recently announced a new addition to their family. They now have a foster son named Jamar. Drummond says she didnt speak about him earlier because there are rules about discussing a foster child on social media. She also wanted to give Jamar time to adjust.

Paige Drummond trying on Ree Drummonds wedding dress

Alexs impending nuptials prompted her and her sister, Paige, to try on their mothers wedding dress. Drummond posted a photo of Paige posing in her 1996 gown. She chose not to show Alex in the dress because she wanted Scott to be surprised when he sees his bride in a wedding gown for the first time.

Other top moments on Drummonds list include Paiges birthday and the family gathering together for Alexs engagement photos. We cant wait to see her top moments for 2021.

Follow Sheiresa Ngo on Twitter.
The Buffalo Bills 56-26 win over the Miami Dolphins in Week 17 secured the No. 2 seed in the AFC for Buffalo. The victory also led to something that had never happened in team history.

Buffalos 30-point victory over Miami secured the Bills first perfect season in AFC East history. Since the league merger, this had only happened four times before today with the New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins both pulling off this feat two times.

Following Buffalos win, Sean McDermott addressed Buffalos perfect record within the division.

Its a great accomplishment, McDermott told the media. Its all about the team and Im proud of the guys.

Heres a look at all of Buffalos wins this season in the AFC East.

Week 1: Bills 27-Jets 17

Week 2: Bills 31-Dolphins 28

Week 7: Bills 18-Jets 10

Week 8: Bills 24-Patriots 21

Week 16: Bills 38-Patriots 9

Week 17: Bills 56-Dolphins 26

Buffalos games in-division pre-bye week were pretty closely contested. The matchups post-bye, however, were both convincing victories for the Bills as they head into Wild Card weekend.

READ MORE

Bills Wild Card weekend opponent: 3 teams remain as potential opponent

Who is Antonio Williams? Bills UDFA RB scores twice in Buffalos Week 17 win

Bills blowout Dolphins; no playoff dream too big for Bills Mafia: Instant Observations

Miami Dolphins at Buffalo Bills: Live updates from Week 17

Tyler Kroft had false-positive for COVID-19 according to spouse
Around 1.60 lakh health workers in will receive a COVID-19 vaccine in the first phase, Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu said on Sunday.

Principal Secretary (Health) Hussan Lal said the data regarding 1.60 lakh healthcare workers have already been uploaded on the CoWin portal -- an online platform for monitoring the delivery of COVID-19 vaccine.

Talking to reporters, the minister said, "...the vaccine which is coming will first be given to 1.60 lakh healthcare workers in the state."



Giving details of the vaccination process, Lal said that after health workers, vaccine will be administered to around three lakh frontline workers, including policemen, paramilitary forces, sanitation workers and disaster management volunteers.

Thereafter, the Principal Secretary (Health) said, people above 50 years and those aged below 50 with co-morbid conditions will be covered under the inoculation drive.

To a question on the timeframe of the vaccination drive, Lal said it will depend upon the availability of vaccine.

He said the state has the capacity to administer 4 lakh vaccines in a day.

He further said that the state has around 4,000 trained vaccinators.

"If we get a large number of doses, then we can also use doctors, pharmacists, dental doctors and nurses as vaccinators, he said, adding that the state has enough storage capacity for COVID-19 vaccine.

A state-level vaccine store has been set up in Chandigarh, officials said.

has already conducted a dry run for vaccination in Ludhiana and Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar.

The mock drill of the distribution and administration of COVID-19 vaccine was being conducted in Patiala on Sunday.

has so far witnessed 1.67 lakh cases and 5,364 deaths.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Gunmen opened fire on a group of minority Shiite Hazara coal miners after abducting them, killing 11 in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan Province, officials said on January 3.



At least 11 miners were killed in an overnight attack, Noor Ullah, a spokesperson for local police said.



Moazzam Ali Jatoi, an official with the paramilitary Levies forces, said the attack took place near the Mach coalfield, about 48 kilometers east of the provincial capital Quetta.

Jatoi said armed men took the coal miners to nearby mountains where they opened fire on them. He said six of the miners were killed on the spot and five who were critically wounded died on the way to a hospital.



Jatoi said an initial investigation revealed the attackers identified the miners as being from a Shi'ite Hazara community and the gunmen took them away for execution, leaving others unharmed.

Police video of the bodies showed the miners were blindfolded and their hands tied behind their backs before being shot.



No group has claimed responsibility for the killings.

In a tweet, Prime Minister Imran Khan condemned "the killing of 11 innocent coal miners" as a "cowardly inhumane act of terrorism."



Members of the Shiite ethnic Hazara minority have in the past been targeted by Sunni militant groups, including the extremist Islamic State (IS), both in Afghanistan and Pakistan.



Local television footage showed security troops surrounding a desolated mountainous area diverting traffic and guiding ambulances to pick up the bodies.



Security forces were also seen spreading out in the mountains to search for the perpetrators.



The region, which borders Afghanistan and Iran, has been plagued by sectarian violence, attacks by Islamist militants, and a separatist insurgency that has produced thousands of casualties since 2004.

Based on reporting by AP, dpa, and RFE/RL's Radio Mashaal
Sports lie at the margins of our culture, different from how it is elsewhere in the world, and from how it used to be. This is one of the reasons why criminality among youth proceeds unchecked. There is no youth labour market, and the school system ruthlessly triages youth.
Actor Akshay Kumar shared a video of his participation in a Mumbai Police function on Saturday. It was for the inauguration of self-balancing vehicles, acquired by the city police.

Sharing the dias with ministers from Government of Maharashtra and police officials, Akshay wrote: At the inaugural of @MumbaiPolices self balancing vehicles of Freego to patrol our promenade at Worli and Carter Road. Happy to see the modernization of our police force, on par with global standards. HM @AnilDeshmukhNCP ji @AUThackeray @CPMumbaiPolice. The video showed personnel from Mumbai Police, riding on the above-mentioned vehicles even as Akshay and the rest were clapping from the dias.

At the inaugural of @MumbaiPolices self balancing vehicles of Freego to patrol our promenade at Worli and Carter Road. Happy to see the modernization of our police force, on par with global standards. HM @AnilDeshmukhNCP ji @AUThackeray @CPMumbaiPolice pic.twitter.com/TXX52aEXOT  Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) January 2, 2021

A 'Special 24' for promenade safety



We definitely need to keep up with the times @akshaykumar , to make sure no unnecessary and unlawful stunts are accomplished in our city! #SafetyFirst https://t.co/FEKaUg0awM  CP Mumbai Police (@CPMumbaiPolice) January 2, 2021

Commissioner of Mumbai Police, Param Bir Singh, retweeted Akshays tweet and wrote: A Special 24 for promenade safety. We definitely need to keep up with the times @akshaykumar, to make sure no unnecessary and unlawful stunts are accomplished in our city! #SafetyFirst.

Akshay has been at the forefront in supporting and providing financial help for families of soldiers who had fallen in the line of duty. In 2017, he had helped develop and launched an app and a web site called Bharat Ke Veer. Talking about it, Akshay had said: This website has been made exactly in two and a half months. About three months, this idea came in my mind, while watching a documentary film on terrorists, which showed how terror leaders financially support the families of the terrorist who carry out terror acts.

Through the pandemic too, Akshay had been among the first of Bollywood stars to contribute towards various funds to battle coronavirus. He had contributed to the PM Relief Fund and CM Relief Fund.

Akshay often plays characters from police and defence forces. In his upcoming film, Sooryavanshi, he will be seen playing a cop again. He will be seen as an ACP with Anti Terrorism Squad.

Also read: Anusha Dandekar hints Karan Kundra lied and cheated on her: I waited for an apology, which never came

Despite the pandemic, Akshay has been busy shooting for films. In August this year, he was in Scotland for a long shooting schedule of his film, Bell Bottom. At the completion of the films shoot, he had written, sharing a poster: Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much. Its teamwork and I am grateful to each and every member of the cast and crew. #BellBottomCompleted. Heres the poster. He plays a RAW agent in the film.

Since his return, he had begun working on his next, Atrangi Re and had been spotted shooting for the film at Agras Taj Mahal. Directed by Aanand L Rai, the film also stars Sara Ali Khan and Dhanush.

Follow @htshowbiz for more

ott:10
China Is Showing Its True  and Ugly  Colors Again

Showing its true colors again this week, the Chinese Communist Party sentenced its first citizen journalist to hard time  for reporting the truth about the COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan. Zhang Zhan, 
An Australian academic who renounced Islam and created an organisation helping other women who do the same has been arrested and charged with blasphemy in Tanzania.

Zara Kay was ordered to a local police station in Dar es Salaam on December 28, where she was put into custody for 32 hours.

Ms Kay, who was born in Tanzania, was allegedly questioned about why she left Islam, and was eventually charged in relation to a satirical post she allegedly made on social media about the nation's handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

She is also accused of not handing in her Tanzanian passport after she gained Australian citizenship.

Zara Kay was reportedly ordered to a local police station in Dar es Salaam on December 28, where she was put into custody for 32 hours

Back in 2018, the Monash University educated activist founded Faithless Hijabi, an organisation dedicated to supporting women as they transition away from Islam.

The foundation works closely with women who have been ostracised from family and friends or even abused for choosing to renounce their faith.

She shared a social media post on December 28 to explain that she had been accused of blasphemy, and is also believed to have been charged with using a phone SIM card that is not registered in her name.

The Coalition of Ex-Muslims have called on the Tanzanian government to release Ms Kay and drop all charges, effectively allowing her to return to Australia.

She shared a social media post on December 28 to explain that she had been accused of blasphemy

Back in 2018, the Monash University educated activist founded Faithless Hijabi, an organisation dedicated to supporting women as they transition away from Islam

'The constitution of Tanzania enshrines secularism as a state principle and recognises freedom of expression and of conscience,' a statement released this week reads.

They are also asking the Australian government to intervene and help Ms Kay come back home.

Ms Kay's Australian passport was reportedly confiscated when she was granted bail on December 29.

According to the statement, Ms Kay was initially held for 32 hours without any indication over whether she would be charged or what the charges would be.

A spokesperson from Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) said consular assistance is being provided to an Australian passport holder in Tanzania.

'The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is providing consular assistance to an Australian in Tanzania,' the statement read.

'Owing to our privacy obligations we will not provide further comment.'

The Coalition of Ex-Muslims has urged the public to contact Tanzanian embassies and urge ambassadors to assist Ms Kay.
Eyelashes encrusted with ice crystals, Nirmal Purja tries to ignore the gnawing pain in his fingers as he takes a selfie on a viciously cold slope high on K2, the world's second highest mountain.

This weekend, the former British military Special Forces soldier is continuing his bid to become the first climber to conquer the deadly 28,251ft peak during winter.

He will do so in temperatures that plummet to -80F (-62C) and where wind speeds top 100mph.

Regarded by many as the last great mountaineering challenge, it would represent the greatest triumph for the former Gurkha who became a climbing superstar in 2019 after reaching the summits of the world's 14 highest mountains in just six months.

Eyelashes encrusted with ice crystals, Nirmal Purja tries to ignore the gnawing pain in his fingers as he takes a selfie on a viciously cold slope high on K2, the world's second highest mountain

This weekend, the former British Army Special Forces soldier is continuing his bid to become the first climber to conquer the deadly 28,251ft peak during winter

The previous record was seven years and ten months.

But Purja's tactics have put him at odds with mountaineering's old guard.

Despite the fact that most climbers do use bottled oxygen at extreme altitudes  only three per cent of successful summit attempts on Mount Everest are made without it  'purists' are concerned by his use of it.

They also question his large teams of sherpas and his habit of hiring helicopters to fly him to mountain base camps.

The debate over Purja's approach has been re-ignited by the assertion of renowned German climber Ralf Dujmovits that the historic achievement of reaching K2's summit in the winter could be 'stolen' by a climber using bottled oxygen.

He will do so in temperatures that plummet to -80F (-62C) and where wind speeds top 100mph

Writing on Instagram, Dujmovits  who has climbed 13 of the 14 highest peaks without oxygen  said: 'I would find it a real pity if someone steals the first winter ascent of K2 by using supplemental oxygen.

'The general public might see this 'conquering' of K2 as a great feat, but the first winter ascent should be left to those who can do it by fair means.'

For many traditional climbers, the use of supplementary oxygen breaches the ethics of self-reliance at the heart of mountaineering.

It dramatically reduces the brutal physical and mental deterioration caused by thin air at high altitude.

The physiological effect of having a two-litre-per-minute flow of oxygen is said to be the equivalent of reducing the elevation of a mountains by a mile.

Purja used bottled oxygen during his campaign to conquer the 14 highest peaks in 2019.

Regarded by many as the last great mountaineering challenge, it would represent the greatest triumph for the former Gurkha

He has not said whether he intends to do so again on K2 but his spokeswoman last night said he had not used it so far but usually carries a supply.

Dubbed the 'savage mountain', K2 is an awesome pyramid of ice and rock straddling the China-Pakistan border in the Karakoram mountain range.

As of July 2018, 367 successful climbs had been recorded along with 86 deaths. This statistic relates to all seasons, with or without oxygen.

In winter months, K2 is bombarded by a jet stream of ferocious, sub-zero winds. Climbers also face the constant risk of ice and rock falls and avalanches.

'The Karakoram in winter is very harsh,' said Stephen Venables, one of Britain's most acclaimed mountaineers. 'K2 is terrifying in summer. In winter, it's my idea of hell.'

He became a climbing superstar in 2019 after reaching the summits of the world's 14 highest mountains in just six months.

Mr Venables, 66, who in 1988 became the first Briton to climb Mount Everest without bottled oxygen, last night said he 'heartily' agrees with Dujmovits, adding it would be a 'great shame' if Purja relied on supplementary oxygen to reach K2's summit.

'If you battle a mountain into submission and bring enough aides to bring it down to human capabilities, you slightly defeat the object of the exercise,' he said.

Romanian climber Alex Gavan, 38, who is also attempting to climb K2 this winter with Italian Tamara Lunger, declared that climbing with oxygen is 'cheating'.

Until 2019, Purja was virtually unknown in the mountaineering community. Having grown up in lowland Nepal, he joined the British Army, becoming the first Gurkha to join the elite Special Boat Service (SBS).

While with the SBS, he was teased that, despite being Nepalese, he had never climbed a major mountain.

The banter stirred his ambitions and during a trip home, he began training in the Himalayas.

In 2017, he climbed Everest and its neighbouring peaks of Lhotse and Makalu in just five days. Nobody had previously managed the feat in less than a fortnight.

Despite the fact that most climbers do use bottled oxygen at extreme altitudes  only three per cent of successful summit attempts on Mount Everest are made without it  'purists' are concerned by his use of it

Purja, who lives in Eastleigh, Hampshire, later said he would have completed it in three had he not stopped for some heavy celebratory drinking, which left him 'brutally hungover' during the final assault on Makalu.

He then set about breaking the record for climbing the 14 peaks in the world above 8,000m (26,247ft).

When the military refused him time off, he quit the SBS  although the SAS tried unsuccessfully to poach him.

Purja, five sherpas and a filmmaker were among the first to begin scaling K2 last Sunday, hauling 77lb rucksacks to Camp 1, a precarious 20,000ft high ledge.

By Wednesday, he and another climber were fixing ropes to the top of the Black Pyramid, a section of exposed rock at 23,000ft.

They paused for a selfie which, Purja suggested, may have left him with minor frostbite.

'I tried my best to capture some moments in the camera but it was almost impossible,' he said on his website. 'This selfie might have cost me a small dent in my fingers or two. However, all OK.'

Last Thursday, Purja returned to base camp to rest. With good weather, he could attempt the summit later this month.

His team joins an 'unprecedented' number of climbers who have set their sights on conquering K2 this winter.

In recent years, fewer than ten climbers have gathered at base camp in preparation for an attempt. This year, more than 70 are there.
The situation as U.S. forces leave Afghanistan looks dire for the thousands of interpreters and their families that helped our troops. Read more
A man is accused of killing his mother in a shooting Sunday at a Midtown nightclub that left three off-duty Harris County Sheriff's Office deputies wounded, according to court records.

The suspected shooter, identified as Joseph Anthony Gonzalez, 25, was later apprehended at a Sugar Land hospital, where he tried to receive medical treatment for a gunshot wound, Houston police Executive Assistant Chief Troy Finner said. Court records show the woman killed in the shooting was his mother but he has not been charged yet with her death. She was not identified.

The deputies  who were uniformed  are expected to survive. They were conscious and "in good spirits" Sunday afternoon while recovering at the Texas Medical Center, the sheriff's office said.

He faces three counts of aggravated assault against a public servant. He also was charged with being a felon in possession of a weapon.

The deputies had been working security at the Set club at 2900 Travis Street and tried breaking up the fight around 2:20 a.m. in the parking lot  about 20 minutes after the bar closed for the night, Finner said. Patrol officers dispatched to a shots fired call at the club and found four people shot  including the deputies.

By daybreak, large pools of blood and discarded plates of tacos remained in the club parking lot  as well as a lone deputy keeping watching over the crime scene.

The three deputies were identified as two men and a woman whose ages range from their 30s to 40s . One deputy required surgery while another was released Sunday night, officials said.

"All of them are fairly seasoned deputies," Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said.

The shooting capped a rough, nearly-24 hours for the sheriffs office. Off-duty sheriffs Sgt. Bruce Watson was killed Saturday afternoon in a motorcycle crash while on his way home from serving as a funeral escort in the Pearland area. The sheriff, during the news briefing, marked the day as tragic.

Feeling both grief and gratitude today, the sheriff said in a later tweet. Reminded that there is still mourning left to do, and a new calendar year doesnt change that.

HPD's Special Investigations Unit will lead the shooting investigation, while the sheriff's office and the Harris County District Attorney's Office will conduct reviews.

Mayor Sylvester Turner blasted the club in a tweet for portraying itself as a restaurant during the pandemic. He said that while the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission has allowed Set to continue operating as a dining locale, the county government would disagree about the club being a restaurant.

This is a straight up nightclub and should not have been open, Turner said.

Police were dispatched to the same club last May after four men were shot in the parking lot. All are believed to have survived. In that shooting, the fight started in the club and continued outside.

Julian Gill contributed to this report.

nicole.hensley@chron.com
An online music project developed by the Vietnamese community in Malaysia officially launched its first product  the song Hello Vietnam, expressing the hope for a bright New Year 2021.

Anna Doan, the initiator of the project (Photo: Facebook)

Anna Doan, the initiator of the project, said that the idea of the "Choir of Hope" has sprung up during the again outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia when anti-epidemic measures have affected community activities, especially live events gathering large numbers of people.

The project looks to connect the Vietnamese community in Malaysia and convey messages of optimism and hope, Anna said.

It not only honours the values of love, solidarity and optimism of the Vietnamese community in Malaysia, but also encapsulates their greetings, love, and nostalgia toward the home country, she added.

Started in December, the project has been supported by the Vietnamese Embassy in Malaysia and Vietnamese societies in the country, including the Vietnamese Business Association, the Vietnam Women's Union, and Kova Paint International Co., Ltd.

It has attracted the participation of nearly 100 people, from 4-year-old children to women over 60 years old and those who are living and working in many COVID-19 "hotspots" in Malaysia such as Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, and those from two COVID-19 quarantine zones in Vietnam./.VNA
The Bihar health department has sought police help to track down some missing returnees from the United Kingdom to test them for the new strain of coronavirus.

The decision to seek police help was taken after state health officials could not trace 45 passengers, who could not be reached on the contact numbers and addresses provided through the ministry of civil aviation (MoCA). In some cases, they had left their destinations and either returned or travelled to other locations, said health officials.

The ministry of civil aviation (MoCA) had sent a list of 226 passengers, along with their mobile numbers, who reached the state between November 21 and December 21. Of the total incoming passengers, 101 of the 181 passengers traced till December 30 had tested negative for the virus, according to Khalid Arshad, administrative officer of the State Health Society, Bihar (SHSB).

Around 97 passengers are from Patna, five from Rohtas, seven from Aurangabad, three from Buxar and one from Kaimur among others.

Of the 17 passengers, who went to Gaya, two could not be located, while one had left for Sweden, two to Jamshedpur and one to Ranchi. Ten others had tested negative and one test report was pending, said Dr KK Rai, Gayas civil surgeon.

We have intimated the Jharkhand government about the UK returnees in Jamshedpur and Ranchi. We have requested Gayas senior superintendent of police (SSP) to help us locate two others in the district who are not responding to our phone calls, said Dr Rai.

Nineteen of the 97 UK returnees to Patna are untraceable, while 25 others were reported to be out of Bihar. Samples of 19 out of the 53 collected had tested negative till Saturday, while others are pending, said officials.

Our officials found it difficult to trace some passengers who had moved from the address provided to us, prompting us to seek police help to locate them so that we can collect their swab samples for real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), a confirmatory test for Covid-19. We are writing to Patnas SSP about it, said Dr Vibha Kumari Singh, Patnas civil surgeon.

Patnas SSP Upendra Sharma, however, said he was not aware about any such list.

The list has not reached me as yet; it may be in transit. We were initially helping (the health officials) in contact tracing of Covid-19 patients. If required, we will try and help locate the UK returnees, said Sharma.
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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.  Tony Vaccaro reigns as one of the few people to have battled both COVID-19 and the beaches of Normandy.

The photographer will celebrate his 98th birthday with a virtual show at Santa Fes Monroe Gallery of Photography through Jan. 17, at monroegallery.com.

Vaccaro contracted Covid early in the pandemic  in April. He spent two days in the hospital.

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He couldnt walk from room to room, his daughter-in-law Maria said in a telephone interview from their home in Long Island City, New York. He just stopped eating and had no energy.

Vaccaro survived, despite a 103-degree fever.

I am a runner, he explained. Ive been running since I was a child.

Hes also a fighter who carried a camera from the invasion of Normandy through the reconstruction of Europe, capturing some of the most iconic images of World War II. Drafted at 21, he brought his 35mm Argus C-3 camera with him, spending the next 272 days photographing his personal witness to the carnage. He fought on the front lines, developing his photographs in combat helmets at night and hanging the negatives from tree branches.

Normandy to Berlin was just tough, he said, because you could get killed any minute. I was in the infantry and in direct contact with the Germans.

After the war, he remained in Europe, covering the rebuilding of Germany for Stars and Stripes. It was in Italy that he heard the strains of a violin coming from a narrow Venetian street.

I was in Plaza San Marco in Venice, he said. And I had an idea of going into the small streets. So I go in and there was a violinist playing, of course, for people to throw down money. When I heard this violinist, it intrigued me. I went into the tiny streets of Venice and dont you know, I had met him before in Rome.

He captured his famous portrait of an American GI kneeling to kiss a little girl by accident. He came upon residents of St. Briac, France, singing and dancing in the streets after the 1944 liberation.

There were these people holding hands and singing a song in French, Vaccaro said. Heres this GI who knows not one word of French. They put a handkerchief under the knees of the little girl. Its the symbol of a carpet for ladies.

It was the Handkerchief Dance.

When Vaccaro returned stateside, he worked as a commercial photographer for Look, Life, Harpers Bazaar, Town and Country, Newsweek and more.

His portrait of the art patron Peggy Guggenheim features a hidden joke. On assignment to do a profile, he followed her to the Guggenheim Museum in Venice. A statue by the Italian sculptor Marino Marini guards the entrance.

Theres a man on a horse and hes naked and his penis was as long as half my arm, Vaccaro said. She had this habit of whenever she had new guests, she unscrewed it.

Guggenheim expected a childrens tour group, so she unscrewed the phallus and hid it beneath her cloak. Its concealed under the garment in Vaccaros picture of Guggenheim in the gondola.

She didnt want the children to see it, he said.

Vaccaro met Georgia OKeeffe on assignment for Look magazine with art editor Charlotte Willard in Abiquiu in 1960.

The artist refused to speak to him for five days.

OKeeffe had been expecting a different photographer, one of her favorites, such as Ansel Adams, Todd Webb or Richard Avedon. Trying his best to charm her, Vaccarro cooked the artist a steak and fixed her broken washing machine, to no avail.

Georgia OKeeffe at the very beginning didnt want anything to do with me, he said. She didnt even look at me. She had just left her husband.

Suddenly, the topic turned to bullfighting. Vaccaro mentioned he had photographed the great Spanish matador Manolete.

OKeeffe pivoted to face him. She never looked at Willard again.

Vaccaro still works and goes for regular walks.

I am shooting, but not as before, he said. Before it was survival. Somehow, I have an eye for whats good before I can click it. I have seen so much that it is really an instinct.

As for Covid, he said, I have an idea that the body forgets what it doesnt like.
The Louisiana Department of Health reported 5,602 more confirmed coronavirus cases and 47 more confirmed deaths in its noon update Sunday.

In Sunday's update, the state reported its largest number of COVID-positive patients in the hospital since April 17, when the state had 1,868 COVID-positive patients.

The number of hospitalizations increased by 102 since Thursday, to 1,833. The number of patients in need of ventilators increased by two.

There are also 29,979 total "probable" coronavirus cases in Louisiana, according to the agency's dashboard.

There was no released data on Friday because of the New Year's Day holiday.

These are another few key statewide statistics as of Sunday:

Total confirmed cases: 291,079

Total "probable" cases: 29,979

Total confirmed deaths: 7,162

Currently hospitalized: 1,833

Currently on ventilators: 204

Vaccine series initiated: 45,289 (updated twice weekly)

Vaccine series completed: 0

Presumed recovered: 263,712 as of Dec. 28 (updated weekly)

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

Note: The Advocate and The Times-Picayune staff calculates daily case count and confirmed death increases based on the difference between today's total and yesterday's total of confirmed coronavirus cases and deaths. The Louisiana Department of Health releases a daily case count on its dashboard that includes probable cases as indicated by a positive antigen test. That case count can be different than the one listed here.

Here are some of the parishes with the highest three-day increase in confirmed coronavirus cases, based on the Thursday report:

Jefferson: 877

Orleans: 581

Caddo: 421

East Baton Rouge: 413

St. Tammany: 409

Ouachita: 293

Lafayette: 253

Ascension: 181

Calcasieu: 172

You can view more graphs and charts breaking down the data by clicking here.

Louisiana began reopening for Phase 1 on May 15-16 then moved to Phase 2 on June 5. Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards extended Louisiana's Phase 2 restrictions twice in August before moving the state to Phase 3 on Sept. 11. The governor then moved the state back to a modified Phase 2 near the end of November.

This is a developing story. More details and analysis to come.
Paris, TX (75460)

Today

Partly to mostly cloudy with scattered showers and thunderstorms overnight. Low 67F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Partly to mostly cloudy with scattered showers and thunderstorms overnight. Low 67F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
John Davies, 31, from St Helens, Merseyside, climbed Yorkshire Three Peaks

He is climbing 50 mountains to raise money for force's charity Veterans' Lifeline

Brother Chris, 22, died while serving with the Irish Guards in Afghanistan in 2010

An ex-serviceman has climbed the first of 50 mountains in 2021 in memory of his brother who was killed serving in Afghanistan.

John Davies, 31, from St Helens, Merseyside, is taking on the challenge in memory of his brother Chris, who died in action in 2010.

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The veteran kickstarted the endeavour on New Years Day when he trudged 25 miles up and down the tricky Yorkshire Three Peaks.

John Davies, 31, (pictured) from St Helens, Merseyside, climbed the first of 50 mountains in 2021 in memory of his brother who was killed serving in Afghanistan

The veteran (pictured left) is taking on the challenge in memory of his brother Chris (pictured right), who died in action in 2010

Over the next 12 months the veteran will conquer dozens of peaks across Britain including Scafell Pike in the Lake District and Snowdon in Wales.

He is undertaking the epic challenge to raise money for the armed force's charity Veterans' Lifeline, which helps support struggling ex-serviceman.

His brother Chris, 22, was on patrol in Helmand Province when he was ambushed by Taliban insurgents and shot at, suffering a fatal bullet wound to his chest.

Both men were serving with the Irish Guards (pictured), and John is undertaking the challenge to raise money for the armed force's charity Veterans' Lifeline

The veteran kickstarted the endeavour on New Years Day when he trudged 25 miles up and down the tricky Yorkshire Three Peaks (pictured)

John was in Helmand at the time of his brother's death and both men were serving with the Irish Guards.

He said traversing the mountains of Whernside at 2,415ft, Ingleborough at 2,372ft and Pen-y-ghent at 2,277ft was 'much harder' than he had imagined.

He added: 'It was really good but definitely much harder than I thought it would be.

'The first 20 miles were fine but then my feet started killing me an I thought, "I would love to give up now", but that was never going to happen.

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'I'm doing this for a great charity and also for my brother so there will definitely be no giving up.'

John said: 'Chris will be in my thoughts a lot while I'm climbing. They won't be sad thoughts but how he'd be laughing at me as I struggle along.

'He'd have been the first person to come and do it with me though.'

John served with the Irish Guards for a decade before retiring at the rank of Guardsman in 2018.

Chris Davies, 22, (pictured) was on patrol in Helmand Province when he was ambushed by Taliban insurgents and shot at, suffering a fatal bullet wound to his chest

He did three tours in the Middle East. It was during his second in 2010 when his brother Chris, who was undertaking his first tour, was killed.

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John, now a warehouse worker, said the idea to do a mountain challenge came to him last summer after he decided to get back into fitness training.

He added: 'I then decided to do it all in my brother's name as a bit of added motivation. I can't let him down now.'

John expects to climb a mountain almost every weekend in 2021.

John said the idea to do a mountain challenge came to him last summer and expects to climb a mountain almost every weekend in 2021

He's working his way up to doing the National Three Peaks Challenge, in which participants attempt to climb the highest mountains in England, Scotland and Wales within 24 hours.

Charity Veteran's Life was set up by one of John's old superiors in the army.

He said that after his brother was killed he 'kept sane' thanks to the support of the fellow serviceman around him.

He added: 'A lot of veterans don't have this sort of support and struggle with a wide range of problems whilst still serving and even more so once they've left.

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'Veteran's Life do amazing work.'
A pastor was shot dead with his own gun Sunday after a car chase suspect who hid from Texas police in a church overnight wrestled the weapon off him and opened fire.

The victim, who has not been named, was found dead at the Starrville Methodist Church near Winona. A second person was wounded in the shooting.

Sgt. Larry Christian of the Smith County Sheriffs office said deputies were called to the church about a reported shooting around 9:20 a.m.

It believed the suspect - who is now in custody - had been involved in a car chase the previous night, CBS reports.

The Smith County Sheriff's Office investigates a fatal shooting incident at the Starville Methodist Church in Winona, Texas, on Sunday morning. A suspect who fled has been arrested, said the sheriff's office

He fled on foot after the tire in his car blew before reportedly hiding in a bathroom stall in the church overnight to avoid capture.

Smith declined to say why authorities had been searching for the man. Authorities had been using dogs and drones to search for the man late Saturday in woods near Winona, KLTV reports.

An officer had been around the church area until 10.30pm but the suspect was not found.

The armed pastor then opened the stall door the following morning, finding the suspect with the church's red bank bag and the two are said to have become involved in an altercation.

The suspect is thought to have disarmed his victim before shooting and killing him.

He then stole the pastor's car before being caught in in Harrison County with a gunshot wound on his hand.

Smith declined to say why authorities had been searching for the man. Authorities had been using dogs and drones to search for the man late Saturday in woods near Winona. An officer had been around the church area until 10.30pm but the suspect was not found

Sgt. Christian said there were no services going on when the shooting took place. He confirmed the suspect will be charged with capital murder.

The man appears to have taken shelter in the church out of convenience and there's nothing to indicate the shooting was motivated by religious animus, the sheriff said.

'I dont think its going to be any kind of hate motivation or anything,' Christian said.

Gov. Greg Abbott sent his condolences.

'Our hearts are with the victims and the families of those killed or injured in this terrible tragedy,' he said in a statement.

Representatives of Starrville Methodist could not be immediately reached for comment.

Numerous state troopers and sheriff's deputies could be seen outside the church, which was cordoned off with yellow tape late Sunday morning.

Winona is a small town about 100 miles east of Dallas. Starrville Methodist was built in 1853, according to the Texas State Historical Association.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-04 05:16:10|Editor: huaxia

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DAMASCUS, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- Six Syrian soldiers were killed and eight others wounded on Sunday by an Islamic State (IS) attack in the desert region in central Syria, a war monitor reported.

The IS militants ambushed the bus that was carrying Syrian soldiers on the Raqqa-Salamiyeh road, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The attack was followed by intensive Russian airstrikes in the Syrian desert as the Syrian army sent reinforcements to the area, the Britain-based watchdog group added.

The attack is the latest in a string of IS ambushes carried out the in desert region.

On Dec. 30, IS militants ambushed three buses carrying soldiers in the desert in eastern Syria, killing 39 soldiers.

The IS group has lost key areas in Syria but its fighters have opted to reposition and guerrilla warfares in the sprawling desert region. Enditem
Homeowners in dangerous buildings are being hit with crippling bills because ministers have 'buried their heads in the sand' since the Grenfell disaster.

About four million people are affected, with more than a million flat-owners paying 2.2billion a year for safety measures and extra insurance.

The scandal, which has left families stuck in fire traps facing repair bills of up to 115,000, threatens to wreck the housing market as a whole, with the flats becoming unsellable.

The Daily Mail today calls on ministers to fix Britain's dangerous homes within 18 months and to spare leaseholders the crippling financial burdens.

We are demanding that repairs be completed by June 2022 and that the Government provide the necessary funding up front as soon as possible. Firms responsible for safety failures should also be made to pay their fair share.

The Mail's campaign is backed by industry bodies and more than a dozen MPs from across the political spectrum.

Homeowners in dangerous buildings are being hit with crippling bills because ministers have 'buried their heads in the sand' since the Grenfell disaster

Tory MPs Stephen McPartland and Royston Smith are leading a backbench rebellion to ensure leaseholders do not have to pay for repairs.

Legislation to overhaul building and fire safety standards is expected to return to Parliament by the end of the month. The Draft Building Safety Bill, one of two on the issue, leaves leaseholders liable for the cost of fixing historical safety defects.

Hundreds of thousands of leaseholders in unsafe flats face average bills of 40,000  and some of up to 115,000  to replace dangerous cladding, similar to that found on Grenfell Tower in west London, where an inferno killed 72 people in June 2017.

They are already paying at least 2.2 billion a year between them while they wait for work to begin, the Mail can reveal, meaning homeowners are haemorrhaging an incredible 6 million for every day that work is delayed. Some have already been made bankrupt and handed back the keys to their flats.

The figure takes into account the cost of insurance hikes, 24/7 fire patrols known as 'waking watches', safety tests and new alarm systems  all paid for by leaseholders. But the true cost is likely to be far higher as the analysis does not include the costs of collapsed sales and mortgage rate increases caused by safety fears.

Insurance bills alone have increased by 1.6 billion a year  equal to the entire current Government fund for remediation work.

The analysis, carried out by the Mail alongside the Association of Residential Managing Agents and the Building Safety Register data firm, sparked calls for Government action.

Mr McPartland, the MP for Stevenage in Hertfordshire, said: 'This is shocking evidence of leaseholders being left behind with many being forced into bankruptcy. The Government has to step in and provide a safety net.

Bronte Bailey, 25, says she cannot sleep at night for fear of a fire ripping through her eight-storey building in Southampton

'It's time [Housing Secretary] Robert Jenrick got out of his ivory tower, stopped talking and started helping. He could start by supporting the Mail's brilliant campaign.'

Labour MP and public accounts committee chairman Meg Hillier added: 'While the Government and professional bodies argue the toss about what to do, it's leaseholders who are paying the crippling day-to-day costs of the biggest consumer and fire safety failures in a generation.'

Campaign group Grenfell United said: 'We are proud to add our voices alongside thousands of leaseholders and tenants to this campaign. For over three years the Government has been burying its head in the sand about the seriousness of the cladding scandal and the thousands of unsafe homes across the country. The knowledge that another Grenfell-like fire could happen at any time keeps us awake at night. Only bold action from the Government can fix this.'

The Government says work is 'progressing well', but just 202 out of a possible 12,000 dangerous buildings have been fixed. Experts believe it could take another ten years to complete safety work at the current rate, despite MPs demanding it be completed by June 2022.

Meanwhile, 1.27 million private flats are currently unsellable due to clumsy attempts to resolve the crisis. New rules mean homeowners require a form to prove their building is free of dangerous cladding, but there are fewer than 300 qualified engineers to carry out the checks.

Leaseholders have been told they may have to wait up to ten years to get one, while low-risk buildings without cladding have also been caught up in red tape.

It means four million Britons could be directly affected by the crisis, based on average household size and including those in social housing. The number of affected properties accounts for 5 per cent of England's private homes, and experts have warned it risks strangling the housing market. The Government has set aside 1.6 billion to fund the repair work, but MPs expect total costs to amount to 15 billion.

Leaseholders effectively rent their homes from freeholders, who own the land the properties are built on. But it is leaseholders who are legally liable to pay for repairs.

A Government spokesman said work was 'complete or under way' in 84 per cent of high-rise buildings with Grenfell-style cladding, although this does not include thousands of buildings with other types of dangerous defects.

He added that its priority was removing dangerous cladding and it was 'considering a range of options to fund future remediation work'.

The Association of British Insurers said: 'Some types of cladding present a greater fire risk, which has to be reflected in the cost of insurance.'

Hopes and dreams now left in ruins: Victims face bankruptcy and losing roofs over their heads

310K FLAT NOW WORTHLESS

A pregnant mother says her family's life has been put on hold after they discovered their home was a fire trap.

Laura Bell, 32, is expecting her second child in March and had been hoping to move to a bigger property with her husband James and their one-year-old daughter.

But in October she was told their two-bed flat in Penge, south London, was covered in dangerous cladding.

Laura Bell, 32, pictured, is expecting her second child in March and had been hoping to move to a bigger property with her husband James and their one-year-old daughter

It means the family cannot sell or remortgage their property, which is now effectively worthless. They bought it for 310,000 in May 2016.

Their building, Austen Apartments, which has 36 flats, now has a fire marshal permanently stationed in the entrance hall and a new temporary alarm system will be installed this month.

Commodities trader Mrs Bell said: 'The emotional and potential financial burden is horrible. It's really scary putting your children to bed at night in a block of flats you know is a fire risk.'

The new alarm system is set to cost around 81,000 for the block  2,250 per flat  while the family may have to pay 30,000 to remove the cladding.

THE MAIL'S FIVE DEMANDS 1 The burden of paying for repairs to be lifted from leaseholders. 2 The Government to guarantee necessary funding will be available ASAP. Only the Government can provide comprehensive up-front funding  and work cannot begin in earnest until it does. Ministers can recover costs later. 3 Work to be completed by June 2022. Just 202 out of 12,000 dangerous buildings have been fixed since Grenfell. 4 Reduce the number of unsellable flats caught up in red tape. Thousands of low-risk buildings need forms to prove they are safe, but this could take up to ten years. Sensible guidance would allow homeowners to sell their properties again. 5 Ensure firms responsible for defects pay their fair share, minimising the burden on the taxpayer. Advertisement

The owners of the flats do not qualify for the Government's Building Safety Fund to cover the costs because the building is below 18 metres tall.

Mrs Bell said: 'Some residents here have indicated that even an optimistic bill of 10,000 would be ruinous.

'We did not design or build these buildings with cheap, shoddy materials. We do not own them and we were not the ones who falsely certified them as safe. We are the only party without blame here  the ones who acted in good faith, adhering to Government pressure to get on the property ladder. But we are the ones whose livelihoods are being sacrificed.'

WEDDING PLANS RUINED

An accountant has put her wedding plans on hold after she found out she faces a 43,000 bill for work on her building.

Lilli Houghton, 26, bought her flat in Magellan House, Leeds, with her boyfriend for 145,000 in July 2018. She said it was a 'huge achievement' for her to be able to buy her first property without help from her parents.

But a safety investigation later discovered flammable cladding, forcing her to pay an initial extra 960 in service charges.

She now faces a bill for almost 3,000 this month  and has been told the total cost of works for each flat could be as much as 43,000. She said: 'I've been saving since I was 18 and I was able to buy my first property two years ago.

'People are taught from a young age to save their money and get a foot on the property ladder. Now this is just a complete slap in the face. I am engaged and was looking forward to getting married, but now it seems silly spending money on a wedding knowing the costs coming my way.'

Miss Houghton also faces 'crippling' insurance bills. She had been due to marry her fiance Jon in March 2020 but the couple decided to postpone the wedding because of Covid. She said: 'It's a real shame  I'd been looking forward to a big wedding but now it doesn't seem to make sense if we've got these big bills to pay.'

Lilli Houghton, 26, pictured, bought her flat in Magellan House, Leeds, with her boyfriend for 145,000 in July 2018

HOMELESSNESS LOOMS

A teacher faces being made bankrupt and homeless after she was told she could have to pay up to 90,000 to fix serious safety issues in her flat.

Bronte Bailey, 25, says she cannot sleep at night for fear of a fire ripping through her eight-storey building in Southampton. She bought her flat at Sapphire Court for 220,000 last year and had been hoping to move out this year to start the 'next stage' of her life.

But in October a survey found the block, which has 110 flats, was wrapped in flammable cladding.

She faces having to pay up to 300 for a 24-hour fire patrol, known as a 'waking watch', until the building can be made safe. Miss Bailey also could face a bill of 90,000 to remove the cladding, while she says her insurance premium could rise by as much as 800 per cent.

Unless the Government steps in, she is currently liable for 100 per cent of the costs of correcting the problem, despite only owning 40 per cent of the flat through its shared ownership scheme.

She said she faces bankruptcy because the potential bills would eclipse her income.

She added: 'It's terrifying to live like this. I can't sleep. I keep my keys next to my bed in case anything happens and I have to rush out in the middle of the night. I am stuck in an unsafe flat and unable to sell and move on with the property ladder for the foreseeable future. It is impossible to sell my flat until the enormous remediation work has completed which I cannot afford to pay on a teacher's wage. I am now left to only declare bankruptcy and become homeless in the near future.'

'ALLO, 'ALLO! STAR'S FEARS

Actor Arthur Bostrom says the cost of fixing fire defects in his flat would wipe out a third of his retirement savings. Mr Bostrom, 65, who played Officer Crabtree in 1980s BBC comedy 'Allo 'Allo!, bought his apartment at Royal Quay in Liverpool for 260,000 last year.

But since March around 200 leaseholders at the seven-block development have been paying 32,000 a month for a 24/7 'waking watch' after it was found to have dangerous cladding.

They will also have to pay 250,000 for a new alarm system, while their buildings insurance has been hiked from 86,000 to 300,000 a year. But the biggest cost will be removing the cladding, which could run to 50,000 each.

Actor Arthur Bostrom (pictured) says the cost of fixing fire defects in his flat would wipe out a third of his retirement savings

To make matters worse, five of the seven blocks do not qualify for Government funding because they are too small.

Mr Bostrom, lives in one of the ineligible blocks. He said: 'It's ridiculous. They all have the same cladding  they are just a slightly different height.

'It's the difference between having the work done for free and paying 50,000. I am an actor, mostly in theatre, so during the pandemic I have been unable to work.

'I do have a private pension but, if forced to pay for this remediation, I would lose a third of my pension fund.

'I paid off my mortgage years ago so I wasn't expecting to have to put out for what is almost like another miniature mortgage. I am slowing down, but this means I will have to keep working.'

Mr Bostrom, 65, who played Officer Crabtree in 1980s BBC comedy 'Allo 'Allo!, bought his apartment at Royal Quay in Liverpool for 260,000 last year

Mr Bostrom said the freeholder, Liverpool City Council, rejected residents' requests for funding and said they should pursue the building company.

But the original company went out of business after completing three of the blocks, while the rest were finished by another firm. A council spokesman said: 'Although the council owns the freehold, there is a long leasehold interest in place.

'The terms place responsibility for the repair and overall condition of the blocks with the management companies. '

He stressed: 'We have offered to support an application by the management companies for a Government grant to pay for the replacement cladding.'

Staggering failures that left four million lives on hold over fire-trap flats

On December 16, Hayley Tillotson entered her bank in Leeds to return the keys to her flat. Days earlier, she had filed for bankruptcy.

Her mistake? Going to work, saving, and buying her first home in April 2019 for 101,750 with a 10,000 deposit. It took just 20 months for her to lose everything.

In July 2019, her building was found to be covered in dangerous cladding, similar to that found on the Grenfell Tower in west London.

On December 16, Hayley Tillotson entered her bank in Leeds to return the keys to her flat. Days earlier, she had filed for bankruptcy

In October, Miss Tillotson, 28, was told the block would need to be patrolled by fire wardens 24 hours a day, the cost of which often exceeded her mortgage payments. She would also be facing a 15,000 bill to replace the cladding, as well as costs to install fire breaks and replace wooden balconies.

'I've no idea what the total figure is,' she says. 'I just know it's unachievable.

'I've worked hard and didn't do anything to deserve going bankrupt. I thought I'd feel sad or angry, but I just feel broken and empty. Time and money ran out for me.'

So how on earth, three and a half years after the Grenfell tragedy, did we get here? Why have just 202 out of nearly 12,000 dangerous buildings been fixed, while more than a million flats are now unsellable?

And how has the Government allowed hard-working homeowners to go bankrupt through no fault of their own?

The answers reveal a breathtaking tale of ministerial inertia, incompetence and denial, which has put four million lives on hold.

Insiders say the Government's first mistake was its failure to grasp the scale of the scandal. In the immediate aftermath of Grenfell, it insisted that the aluminium composite material (ACM) that spread the blaze was banned and the task was to identify a few outliers. But ACM had been permitted by regulators for decades and has since been discovered on 460 buildings.

The Government tripping over its own rules has been a hallmark of its response. Dr Jonathan Evans, chief executive of cladding supplier Ash & Lacy, was part of an advisory trade group formed by the housing ministry.

He believes if officials had accepted the scale of the problem, they might have acted to remove dangerous cladding straight away, rather than waiting to see how it could be replaced.

He adds: 'That would have avoided all the waking watch [fire patrol] costs that crippled people's finances and the anxiety that people have had for three and a half years.'

The Government's second error was its refusal to accept that ACM was not the only problem. Independent fire safety consultant Stephen MacKenzie says experts were 'lobbying like crazy' for tests on other cladding systems, but officials feared a Pandora's Box.

Testing on non-ACM was first promised in September 2017, but results were not published until July 2019.

A month earlier a fire almost destroyed Samuel Garside House in Barking, east London. The building had non-ACM timber cladding and was below 60ft (18m) in height, which exposed another flaw in the Government's response. Buildings below this height have never been subject to restrictions on materials that could be used for cladding, meaning the number of affected blocks could be huge.

It took more than a year for ministers to accept that thousands of buildings with any number of defects were potentially unsafe.

But their next move was catastrophic for the property market.

Grenfell Q&A: Why can't anyone sell their flat? Why can't anyone sell their flat? Because of new rules introduced after the 2017 Grenfell fire. Banks will not lend on flats unless they have passed a test proving they are safe, but some homeowners are being told they may have to wait up to ten years to get one. The rules apply to about 1.2 million private flats, meaning at least 5 per cent of England's private homes are unsellable. About four million leaseholders could be caught out, and experts say it could paralyse the housing market. What are the rules? The EWS1 (external wall survey) form was introduced in December 2019. It was designed to standardise checks and give lenders reassurance that buildings were safe to lend on. It used to apply only to blocks taller than 60ft (18m), but last January, Government guidance was extended to include buildings of all heights with any cladding, not just the type on the Grenfell tower. Blocks with no cladding are also caught by the rules. The EWS1 form simply indicates whether the building needs work or not. If it does, banks won't lend. It means blocks with minor defects are as unsellable as those with serious fire risks. Are these homes safe? About 90 per cent of properties that have had an EWS1 survey have failed it. There are at least 839,000 leasehold flats in England with some form of cladding, according to Government estimates. Ministers believe about 11,700 buildings have combustible cladding, of which 1,700 are considered high-risk and in urgent need of repair. The Leasehold Knowledge Partnership (LKP), a charity, estimates there are 2.8 million private and social flats with potential safety issues. What are the costs? An EWS1 test can cost up to 50,000, depending on the size of the block. If it is failed, an explanation of the repairs is needed. The Government has set aside 1.6 billion to fund these, but the housing select committee says 15 billion will be needed. Campaigners estimate the average cost per leaseholder will be 40,000. Leaseholders living in dangerous buildings are already having to pay tens of thousands of pounds for fire safety patrols known as a 'waking watch' while they wait for repairs. Their insurance premiums have also rocketed by up to 800 per cent. Who will pay? As it stands, hundreds of thousands of leaseholders are liable for the costs. Some developers have promised to cover the costs in certain buildings, but it is a lottery. Many of the original developers have folded, while some argue their blocks were built within regulations and the Government has moved the goalposts. The Government says it will protect leaseholders from 'unaffordable costs', but the only definition it has provided is that this means no one should be made bankrupt. Meanwhile, the Government fund covers only buildings over 18m with dangerous cladding. That means leaseholders living in buildings under that height or with fire defects other than cladding are not covered. Even then, the cash is expected to cover only 600 blocks and will be doled out on a first-come, first-served basis. What is the solution? The Government is considering whether to allow leaseholders to pay costs over 30-year terms. But campaigners fear this would leave homeowners in negative equity while developers escape the burden. One proposal is that the Government lends funds to a special purpose vehicle to help repair buildings quickly. Have any been fixed? Flats with Grenfell-style cladding have been prioritised. The Government stumped up 600 million to pay for these repairs, and says remediation work has been completed on 202 of the 460 high-rise buildings known to have such material. The initial target for remediating these blocks was June 2020, but is now the end of 2021. Work has barely started on buildings with other types of cladding. Advertisement

In December 2018, the Government published a document with the innocuous name 'Advice Note 14', which told building owners to remove all combustible materials from sites unless testing proved they were safe. It contradicted decades of official guidance, which permitted these materials on high-rise blocks.

Banks stopped lending on flats that were previously deemed safe and the market ground to a halt.

In December 2019, industry bodies developed the 'EWS1' form, which was designed to give lenders more confidence in providing mortgages on multi-storey buildings. But the Government then updated its advice in January to include buildings below 60ft. The number of affected flats rose from 307,000 to 1.27 million, with fewer than 300 qualified engineers in the country who could complete the forms. In October, the Mail reported that an estimated 30,000 sales had already collapsed due to the issue.

The biggest sticking point has been over who pays, which is wrapped up in who is to blame.

Fire safety laws mean building owners are responsible for making buildings safe, but leasehold law means leaseholders must pay.

It means a stalemate has occurred in which leaseholders are liable to pay but can't afford to, while the Government wants building owners to pay but won't make them.

And no money means no work.

On December 4, 2017, then-housing secretary Sajid Javid called on building owners to 'do the right thing' and not pass on costs to leaseholders. But Martin Boyd, former chairman of the charity, Leasehold Knowledge Partnership (LKP), says this was 'always an utterly absurd statement'.

He adds: 'One of the first things we told them was that you're saying the building owner or developer must pay and the leaseholder mustn't pay, but the law says exactly the opposite.'

Tribunals have consistently found leaseholders liable for millions of pounds of remediation work. Nigel Glen, chief executive of the Association of Residential Managing Agents, says the task has become wearisome.

'We've had this hobby-horse for years,' he says. 'What lasts longer  a housing minister or a wine gum? We always have this huge churn of staff and politicians in the ministry. [Current housing secretary Robert] Jenrick has been almost invisible. We keep asking for a meeting to say we are the guys on the ground who are going to be charged with putting this right, and you just get nothing back.'

Previously, regulations simply said buildings 'had to adequately resist the spread of flame', but did not say how.

Guidance did allow certain combustible materials to be used on tall buildings  and while there have been cases of non-compliance, critics say it was still the Government's responsibility to stop this.

Mr Boyd says: 'Its backstop is to say, 'somewhere in the legislation it says that you've got to make a building safe'. It doesn't define what safe is. So the Government is just saying on the grounds that it now deems these buildings to be unsafe, the developers never followed the law. The developers' defence is to say, 'if we weren't compliant with the regulations, how come it was all signed off as compliant?'

Dr Evans believes ministers must step up. 'Nobody else has the pockets deep enough to fund quick and swift remediation,' he says.

'The Government refuses to accept it is a regulatory failure for which it is responsible. So the Treasury is asking why should taxpayers pay if industry has made such a mess of this?' He believes remediation work may not be completed for another ten years.

Ministers say they have also secured an agreement that buildings without cladding do not need a form to sell or remortgage their property, but industry bodies have said the changes don't work.

A Government spokesman said work was 'complete or under way' in 84 per cent of high-rise buildings with Grenfell-style cladding, rising to 99 per cent in the social sector. However, this does not include thousands of buildings with other types of dangerous defects.

He added: 'We know many people are worried - which is why our priority is to remove unsafe materials as quickly as possible. We have already provided 1.6 billion to speed up the removal of dangerous cladding, announced an extra 30 million to help end the scandal of excessive waking watch costs and we are considering a number of options on how to fund future remediation work.'

While the arguments rage on, leaseholders lose out.

Miss Tillotson is sleeping on her father's sofa with no idea of what the future holds. She points the finger of blame squarely at the Government.

'They could stop it if they wanted, but they won't and they don't,' she says. 'I've got all these sanctions and restrictions. I probably can't get loans, or a car, or have kids. I can't be a normal person because of cladding.

'Not because I'm a gambling addict or I drank all my money away. Just because of cladding. I'm not the first and I won't be the last.'

Sir Peter Bottomley: Ministers must act now to end the misery

By Sir Peter Bottomley

Hundreds of thousands of leaseholders face ruinous costs if they are forced to pay for the mistakes of others.

But why? Two prime ministers, three secretaries of state and successive housing ministers stated leaseholders should not pay to make their homes safe.

Now, Parliament must ensure the Government indemnifies leaseholders from the costs.

It will take years to allocate blame and costs. The only certainty is that the leaseholders are innocent. Faults were made by regulators, governments, component manufacturers, designers, developers, builders and sales forces.

Listen to the heartbreaking testimony by the cladding groups in the North and the Midlands. Hear the evidence by the National Leasehold Campaign.

'Buy your own home!' Buy? No. The more accurate description is lease-renter. Pay for a lease to own nothing except the possible liability to pay for the actions, decisions and sometimes the greed of others.

In law, a leaseholder is the most vulnerable type of tenant.

The social tenant is protected. The private tenant can leave liabilities behind by moving away at the end of the rental period.

After the Grenfell tragedy, many leaseholders consulted the Government-funded Lease advisory service. Some were advised to go the property tribunal for protection against the costs of replacing dangerous cladding systems.

The campaigning charity Leasehold Knowledge Partnership knew better. Feudal lease terms, as if carried forward from the time of William the Conqueror, could not protect the vulnerable leaseholder.

Nearly three years ago, I warned that instead of waiting for years for an inquiry to reach conclusions, the Government should have a round-table meeting in the open with the landlords, the builders and representatives of leaseholders.

It is time to settle on simple, effective ways to remove and replace products that still endanger residents in blocks of flats. Make funds available at once so each block is made safe. End the costs of expensive 'waking watch' fire patrols. Make homes safe and saleable.

The responsibility for paying should be apportioned later between those who caused the disaster. The only condition is that the leaseholder is recognised as not responsible.

Can we trust the Prime Minister and ministers to achieve justice? They must stick to their words.

Months ago, the National Audit Office stated that the pace of progress lagged behind the ministry's own expectations, particularly in the private residential sector. That is why it's so vital that all buildings are now made safe for residents.

No leaseholder, lease-renter, should suffer anxiety facing costs well beyond their ability to pay. For there are huge sums involved here: replacing unsafe cladding on buildings may total 15 billion, nearly ten times the funds now available.

Just 202 dangerous buildings have been fixed completely so far, but the Government's own estimates suggest there could be 11,760 in total.

Until this problem is fixed, people will continue to suffer. Meanwhile, every constituency has flats which have become a frozen part of the housing market.

Both ethically and politically, the Government must act now to fulful its promises.

Sir Peter is Father of the House of Commons and Conservative MP for Worthing West
A new company - Huntsville Compost  will pick up compost off front porches and give participants credit toward products at its organic farm store.

The new company already lists more than two-dozen Huntsville partners including Downtown Huntsville Inc., restaurants, breweries and organizations such as the Alabama Sustainable Agricultural Network.

The new company is an offshoot of Duncan Farms, a local company that already provides clean food to subscribers of its Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program. That means food grown and produced with no chemical fertilizers or pesticides.

Essentially, we pick up scraps from peoples homes to help supplement animal food (for the farm), but also compost to turn into good soil to grow good stuff here, Donovan Duncan said Tuesday.

The company offers the curbside compost anywhere within a 25-minute radius of Huntsville. It provides a bucket, fully compostable liners and offers weekly front porch pickup.

The price is $35.99 a month, Donovan said, but then we give people credit for every bucket put out with compost to use in the farm store. Youre basically trading credits for food.

Duncan said scientists think we have  its a debatable amount  in the 30-ish years left in what they call harvestable years, meaning the soil is of good enough quality to be able to pull vegetables and different types of crops from.

So, we have a crisis on our hands, Duncan said. Were running out of soil, we have more people being brought into the world every day, and theres not really a good answer for that.

This pandemic year was the first year people went to the store and couldnt get products, Duncan said. It was hard to buy meat in some areas. So, local food security is super important to us. Creating that local food system with partnerships in our community is super important to us. Its a commitment to help change the overarching problem, which is were actually running out of soil.

The new service involves front-porch pickup, and Duncan explained how that works.

We have a system for both the CSA and compost programs to text you the night before and give you a real-time tracking link and updates on when the actual swap will occur. Youve got a pretty good idea when your buckets getting picked up. We do enforce a no-contact rule (due to COVID-19), and the chances are you never see us.

If were leaving food items, we ask you to leave a cooler out, Duncan said. If youre buying food, we give you a knock on the door. Our people have been doing this for years (with the CSA).

The company is also teaming up with local restaurants, breweries and other consumers of grain and produce. An example is Jeff Irons of Irons Distillery, Duncan said. He ends up with a bunch of spent grain. We give it as feed to animals and compost the rest.

(Updated to correct the companys name, which is Huntsville Compost)
The Oregon Health Authority on Sunday announced 1,421 new positive or presumptive COVID-19 cases, along with eight more deaths, bringing the states death toll to 1,500 since the pandemic began.

A total of 117,745 people have now tested positive in Oregon.

Health officials said 3,400 doses of vaccine were recorded yesterday, including 1,700 new shots given and 1,700 documented from earlier days. To date, 48,725 Oregonians have received their first dose of coronavirus vaccine out of 190,500 doses that have been distributed, the health authority said.

Oregons vaccine deployment pace trails 40 other states, federal data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show.

Where the new cases are by county

Baker (3), Benton (9), Clackamas (202), Clatsop (6), Columbia (14), Coos (20), Crook (4), Curry (6), Deschutes (37), Douglas (3), Harney (2), Hood River (5), Jackson (115), Jefferson (65), Josephine (30), Lane (58), Lincoln (1), Linn (11), Malheur (2), Marion (221), Morrow (9), Multnomah (189), Polk (31), Tillamook (7), Umatilla (91), Union (6), Wallowa (2), Wasco (1), Washington (212) and Yamhill (59).

New COVID deaths

Oregons 1,493rd COVID-19 death is an 82-year-old man in Coos County who tested positive Dec. 21 and died Dec. 31 at his residence. He had underlying conditions.

Oregons 1,494th COVID-19 death is a 76-year-old man in Marion County who tested positive Nov. 28 and died Jan. 1 at Salem Hospital. He had underlying conditions.

Oregons 1,495th COVID-19 death is an 88-year-old woman in Marion County who tested positive Dec. 1 and died Jan. 1 at Salem Hospital.

Oregons 1,496th COVID-19 death is a 77-year-old woman in Polk County who tested positive Nov. 13 and died Dec. 12 at her residence.

Oregons 1,497th COVID-19 death is an 81-year-old man in Polk County who tested positive Nov. 30 and died Dec. 15 at his residence.

Oregons 1,498th COVID-19 death is a 79-year-old woman in Polk County who tested positive Dec. 15 and died Dec. 28 at West Valley Hospital.

Oregons 1,499th COVID-19 death is a 77-year-old woman in Union County who tested positive Dec. 10 and died Jan. 1 at Grand Ronde Hospital.

Oregons 1,500th COVID-19 death is an 88-year-old woman in Washington County who tested positive Dec. 18 and died Jan. 1; her location of death is being confirmed.

COVID-19 hospitalizations

The number of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 across Oregon is 483, 15 more than yesterday. There are 109 COVID-19 patients in intensive care unit beds, no change from yesterday.

 Rob Davis

rdavis@oregonian.com

503.294.7657; @robwdavis

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Nine months into the pandemic, even with vaccines on the way, it is evident that its impacts will be with us for years to come. The most basic aspects of our lives have been upended, including how we feed ourselves. More and more people must rely on emergency food distributions  many of whom are the same people who are still working, often in unsafe conditions, to grow, pack, process, ship, and sell our food. The weaknesses of our national industrial food system have been laid bare.

A handful of companies control every aspect of our national food system, thanks to a get big or get out approach to agricultural policy implemented by the federal government in the 1970s and a lack of will to enforce antitrust laws. According to Michigan State Universitys Philip H. Howard, At almost every key stage of the food system, four firms alone control 40% or more of the market, a level above which these companies have the power to drive up prices for consumers and reduce their rate of innovation. This includes companies that dominate the seed, farm equipment, meat processing, and retail outlet industries. As a result, small farmers face huge challenges making a living and paying fair wages, farm workers face exploitive conditions, farmland is degraded, and consumers are left with a food supply that is easily disrupted in a crisis, like a pandemic.

Theres a lot we can do to address these challenges on the state level, on behalf of the over 7,000 farms and 25,000 agricultural workers in the commonwealth. We must press our elected and appointed government officials to think big in this crisis to create a better food system for the future and to invest now in start-ups and established businesses.

The effort has begun. Based on recommendations from the Baker-Polito administrations Food Security Task Force, a $36 million COVID-19 food security infrastructure grant program was created (in addition to more funding for food banks and more access points for households using SNAP and the Healthy Incentives Program, or HIP). The response was overwhelming: over 1,300 grant proposals were submitted by farms, fisheries, public schools, corner stores, nonprofits and more. To date, the program has funded over 190 projects, representing 60% of the monies, with more grant awards to be announced.

The farm projects that received funding will strengthen regional farms ability to grow, process, deliver and store food, thereby improving food security and food access in the region. One award recipient is Reed Farm in Sunderland, which raises chickens and processes poultry raised on other area farms. As misgivings grow about the national meat supply, demand within the region for high-quality local poultry has increased. The funding will allow Reed Farm to make significant upgrades to its existing poultry facility, which will increase the poultry processing capacity available to local farms and make locally-raised poultry more available to consumers.

Another project, by Our Family Farms, will allow the dairy cooperative to purchase milk-processing equipment and refrigerated delivery trucks. With our state losing upward of 90% of dairy farms over the past 30 years, this is an important investment.

Riquezas del Campo is an immigrant-led, worker-owned cooperative farm in Hatfield that was established in 2019. Its grant will enable the installation of a wash station, potable water connection, purchase a tractor and implements and install mobile cold storage and high tunnels.

As Gov. Charlie Baker and our legislators start crafting the 2021 policies, we need to build on this program and ensure that it is not merely a single moment of wakefulness in the midst of a dark night. The investments we make in our food system should aim for long-term improvements and resilience, not merely returning us to the old normal. We cannot wait for antitrust action at the national level but rather must invest in our local farms and businesses now.

The chances for success are promising. The Food System Caucus is now the second-largest caucus in the state Legislature. And the good work of the Massachusetts Food System Collaborative has provided a framework to move forward (see its new publication, Massachusetts Local Food System: Perspectives on Resilience and Recovery).

As always, the light that pushes back the darkness comes from all of us committing to a larger good. We invite you to join us and our sister groups and legislators to build a local and state food system that has vibrant farms, just and fair working conditions for farm owners and farm workers and access to local food for all.

Philip Korman is executive director of CISA (Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture), based in Deerfield. Learn more about its work at buylocalfood.org.
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Bhubaneswar:

A cyclonic storm Mora, which lay centred over the Bay of Bengal about 610 km near the south east of Paradip on Monday, is likely to trigger rain in Odisha in the next 24 hours.

The storm Mora moved from the east central Bay of Bengal to the north-northeastward and lay centred about 610 km near the south east of Paradip this morning, the MeT office said.

The system is likely to intensify further into a severe cyclonic storm in the next 12 hours and move north-northeastward to cross Bangladesh coast around tomorrow forenoon, it said.

Under its impact, rain and thundershower may lash many districts of coastal Odisha and some areas in the interior region in the next 24 hours.

The MeT office forecast heavy rainfall at one or two places in the coastal area of the state.

An advice has been given for hoisting Distant Warning Signal Number Two (DW-II) at Paradip and Gopalpur ports in the state.

23 killed in lightning and rain-related accidents in Bihar

At least 23 people were killed in separate incidents of lightning strike and wall collapse triggered by squall in Bihar on Sunday, even as hot weather conditions continued in many parts of the country and heat-related toll in Odisha climbed to 12.

However, in a good news, the onset of the southwest monsoon is likely to advance due to a deep depression over the Bay of Bengal. The MeT department said that rains were likely to begin in Kerala by May 30-31, marking the onset of monsoon in the country.

In parts of the national capital, the mercury was below the 40-degree mark with some areas in the city witnessing rainfall.

The Safdarjung observatory registered a high of 36.3 degrees Celsius while areas under Palam, Lodhi Road, Ridge and Ayanagar observatories recorded maximum temperatures of 39.7 degrees Celsius, 35 degrees Celsius, 35.8 degrees Celsius and 37.9 degrees Celsius respectively.

Rainfall recorded in the city during the last 24 hours till 8:30 am was 11.9 mm.

In Bihar, at least 23 people, including eight women, were killed in separate lightning and rain-related incidents.

Eighteen persons were killed after lightning struck them across eight districts, while five persons were killed in separate incidents of wall collapse during a storm that blew at a speed of 50-70 km per hour in different panchayat areas of the West Champaran district of the state.

Of the 18 people killed in incidents of lightning strike in eight districts, five persons were killed in East Champaran, four in Jamui, one in West Champaran, two each in Munger, Bhagalpur and Madhepura and one each in Vaishali and Samastipur districts, the states Disaster Management Department Additional Secretary Anirudh Kumar said.

Meanwhile, sunstroke toll climbed to 12 in Odisha even as rains triggered by the depression over the Bay of Bengal and a norwester in some areas brought respite from scorching heat.

Two more deaths were reported in Sambalpur and Bargarh district since yesterday.

With this, four heat-related deaths have been reported from Sambalpur, while three deaths each took place in Angul and Bargarh districts and one each in Balangir and Bhadrak, the office of the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) said.

The mercury breached the 40-degree mark in only four places in the state. Angul was the hottest place, recording a maximum of 42.1 degrees Celsius while Hirakud registered a high of 40.8 degrees Celsius.

Heatwave continued unbated in Haryana and Punjab with Hisar being the hottest place in the two states, recording a maximum of 43.2 degrees Celsius.

In Punjab, Amritsar recorded a high of 39.3 degrees Celsius, while in Ludhiana and Patiala the maximum temperatures were 38.5 degrees Celsius and 37.6 degrees Celsius respectively.

Rajasthan too reeled under hot weather conditions with the mercury settling above the 43-degree mark in most parts of the state. However, maximum temperatures saw a dip by one to two degrees in comparison to Saturday.

Churu was the hottest place in the state, with a maximum of 47 degrees Celsius, followed by 45.6 degrees Celsius in Pilani and 44.6 degrees Celsius in Sriganganagar.

The mercury in Bikaner and Kota settled at 44.5 degrees Celsius and 44.4 degrees Celsius respectively.

Heatwave conditions also prevailed at a few places in Madhya Pradesh and Vidarbha region.

In Himachal Pradesh, hailstorm and rain lashed Shimla and its surrounding areas affecting normal life.

Una was hottest place in the state with a maximum temperature of 39.2 degrees Celsius, followed by Nahan at 35.5 degrees Celsius, Sundernagar at 33.7 degrees Celsius, Bhuntar 33.6 degrees Celsius and Dharamsala 32.4 degrees Celsius.

Rainfall also occurred in parts of Kerala, Lakshadweep, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, coastal Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

Also read: 500 cyclones witnessed by Bay of Bengal in 125 years

Also read: Cyclone Debbie hits Australian islands lifting roofs, cutting power



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What does it take to win an election in Phuket?

Phuket last month saw its first President of the Phuket Provincial Administration Organisation (PPAO, or OrBorJor) elected in six years. But voter turnout was very low, and a winner announced. Here, the chief of the Phuket office of the Election Commission of Thailand explains how.

politics

By The Phuket News

Sunday 3 January 2021, 11:00AM

Photo: Tanyaluk Sakoot

QUESTION

I am curious what is required for an election to be held as valid in Thailand.

In the recent election for the President of Phuket Provincial Administration Organisation (PPAO, or OrBorJor), Rewat Areerob won with 83,144 votes. Jirayut Songyot came second with 50,914 votes and Sorawut Palimapunt came third with 20,073 votes.

The total number of eligible voters was given as 294,141  but only 172,709 presented themselves at the 496 polling stations across the island to actually cast their votes. That was given as a voter turnout of only 58.72%.

Even then, a total of 10,690 of those who presented themselves at the polling stations did not cast a ballot. A further 5,388 votes were marked as spoiled ballots.

What is the minimum number of votes required for the election to be valid? And how many votes does a candidate need to be declared the winner?

From the numbers given, Mr Rewat has been declared the winner of the election with 83,144 votes  even though 121,432 eligible voters did not even turn up to cast a vote, and a further 10,690 who did turn up chose to not cast a vote at all.

Thats a total 132,122 people who did not vote, but we have a winner with 83,144 votes.

I am just looking to understand how this is possible.

 TC, Chalong

ANSWER

According to the election law, for any election where there is more than one candidate there is no minimum number of votes that need to be cast in order for the election to remain valid.

As there were five candidates in the recent PPAO election, there was no minimum number of votes required for the election to be valid.

However, if there is only one candidate in an election, the candidate must secure more votes than 10% of the number of eligible voters in the province and must secure more votes than the number of people who presented themselves at the polling stations but did not cast a ballot.

In the PPAO presidential election, Mr Rewat secured 83,144 votes, which is more than any of the votes that the other candidates received. Hence, he has been declared the winner.

Mr Rewats official first day in office has still yet to be confirmed as we have sent our results to the Election Commission of Thailand (ECT) main headquarters in Bangkok for confirmation.

Successful candidates usually take office within 30 days of the ECT confirming the election results.

We have received a few official complaints about the election result. Those complaints have also been passed on to the ECT in Bangkok. They will advise us whether we need to take further action investigating the complaints.

 Passakon Siripakayapon, Director, Phuket office of the Election Commission of Thailand (PEC)
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Syndicated and guest columns represent the personal views of the writers, not necessarily those of the editorial staff. The editorial department operates entirely independently of the news department and is not involved in newsroom operations.
| By January Payne

Kathleen Neuzil, MD, MPH, FIDSA, the Myron M. Levine, MD, DTPH, Professor in Vaccinology and director of the University of Maryland School of Medicines (UMSOM) Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health (CVD), has been named this years Marylander of the Year by The Baltimore Sun. In a historic and challenging year dominated by COVID-19, The Sun editors also named front-line health care and service workers as co-recipients along with Neuzil, for their essential roles in the battle against the novel coronavirus.

Neuzil, who is among the worlds foremost vaccine researchers, was recognized along with the entire team at CVD, for her unprecedented leadership and achievement in vaccine testing and treatment for COVID-19. The CVD team has devoted most of 2020 to researching and testing potential vaccine candidates and treatments that could help end the COVID-19 pandemic.

The faculty and staff of the Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health

It has been a notable year for UMSOM and its expansive COVID-19 response, involving each of its major research institutes  CVD, as well as UMSOMs Institute for Genome Science (IGS) and the Institute of Human Virology (IHV). IGS has collaborated with the University of Maryland Pathology Associates to launch a large-scale statewide COVID-19 testing program for the State of Maryland. IHV has conducted major COVID-19-related studies and basic science research on related viruses. These include innovative studies on the impact of climate on COVID-19, as well as research showing that stimulation of innate immunity by live attenuated vaccines could provide temporary protection against coronavirus.

CVD's National and International Response

At the forefront, Neuzil and the CVD teams contributions to the pandemic have been broad, and included clinical research, national and international leadership in COVID-19 response, and policy and educational leadership roles. She and others at CVD have shared their expertise broadly and generously through work with local and national media outlets, and through education programs for their peers and the public. Likewise, Neuzil and the CVD have made major contributions to the design and execution of studies on prevention and treatment of COVID-19, and on local and national policy through innovative design concepts and transmission modeling activities.

"This has been a historic year with monumental achievements for the UMSOM," said E. Albert Reece, MD, PhD, MBA, executive vice president for medical affairs, the John Z. and Akiko K. Bowers Distinguished Professor and UMSOM dean. We could not be more proud of Dr. Neuzil and the CVD team for their expertise and their laser focus on the pandemic as the nation faced these uncharted challenges. Our successes were due to a collaborative effort with so many other UMSOM faculty and laboratory researchers and other staff members. It has truly been extraordinary.

Cynthia Egan, chair of the UMSOM Board of Visitors, who initially nominated Neuzil for the award, said, On behalf of the Board of Visitors, I want to recognize Dr. Neuzil and the scientists at the UMSOM for leading the charge in vaccine development, treatment, and testing. It has been an honor to witness the extraordinary efforts that will help to get our lives back to normal and to recognize the absolute tireless leadership of Dr. Kathy Neuzil.

CVDs Legacy of Leadership

The COVID-19 vaccines are just the latest in a long series of milestones by the CVD over more than four decades. The CVD was founded in 1974 by Myron M. (Mike) Levine, MD, DTPH, the Simon and Bessie Grollman Distinguished Professor, and professor of medicine and pediatrics. Under Levines leadership, the CVD grew into one the most recognized entities for developing, testing, and implementing vaccines in the world.

For more than 40 years, the CVD has conducted a wide range of research relating to the development of vaccines for a variety of diseases, including cholera, typhoid fever, paratyphoid fever, non-typhoidal Salmonella disease, shigellosis, Escherichia coli diarrhea, malaria, and other infectious diseases, including influenza. The CVD also developed new delivery systems, as well as public health and vaccine policy around the world, including in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

Levine, who is now the UMSOM associate dean for global health, vaccinology, and infectious diseases, received worldwide attention for leading the CVDs direct involvement in the World Health Organizations (WHO) global consortium for accelerated testing of a new Ebola vaccine candidate at CVD-Mali in West Africa and CVD-Baltimore.

He is currently serving on the overall Data and Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) for the Operation Warp Speed coronavirus vaccine trials. He also serves as an expert consultant for the WHO on committees related to challenge studies.

Leading the Charge Against COVID-19

In May, Neuzil and the CVD team initiated the first study on the Pfizer vaccine  a vaccine that would later achieve the first Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) in the United States. In June, Neuzil took the reins as a co-principal investigator for the national COVID-19 Prevention Network, which was formed by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to bring together the experience and expertise of clinical research sites.

The goal was to address the pressing need for vaccines and monoclonal antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Neuzil co-led this major effort  now comprising vaccines from AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson, Moderna, and Novavax  to develop, test, and launch an effective COVID-19 vaccine.

Neuzils team has been at the forefront of nearly every major prevention and treatment initiative aimed at saving lives from COVID-19. She and her CVD colleagues were instrumental in a definitive trial of hydroxychloroquine that showed no benefit of the drug for postexposure prophylaxis.

CVD tested the vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna that have received emergency use authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. CVD senior scientist Karen Kotloff, MD, professor of pediatrics at UMSOM and division head of ped-infectious diseases and tropical medicine, is the global principal investigator for the Phase 3 clinical trial, testing the safety and effectiveness of NVX-CoV2373, developed by U.S. biotechnology company Novavax, Inc. This vaccine candidate will soon enter Phase 3 trials and will study special populations, including children.

The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines represent groundbreaking collaborations between Dr. Neuzil, her UMSOM CVD team, and scientists worldwide involved in doing the investigational work that ultimately led to the FDAs emergency authorization of both vaccine candidates, said Vice Dean for Academic Affairs James Kaper, PhD, who is also the James and Carolyn Frenkil Distinguished Deans Professor, and chair, Department of Microbiology & Immunology. As they now turn to testing the Novavax vaccine candidate, I am confident that the teams vast scientific expertise and eye toward diversity in recruitment will bode well for evaluating this additional possibility for helping to address the COVID-19 pandemic."

Pathway to Leadership

Neuzils professional background made her ideally suited for confronting COVID-19. She has conducted clinical and epidemiologic studies on vaccine-preventable diseases, yielding high-profile publications that inform policy decisions and public health actions. At the global nonprofit Program for Appropriate Technology in Health (PATH), Neuzil was instrumental in the introductions of rotavirus, HPV, and Japanese encephalitis vaccines. At CVD, she leads a large Gates Foundation-funded consortium (TyVac) to accelerate the introduction of typhoid vaccines into low-resource countries, and she has a robust influenza research program.

Neuzil's research capabilities are complemented by nearly 20 years of involvement in domestic and international policy. She currently serves as a member of the coronavirus vaccine working group for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and as the only U.S. member of the World Health Organization Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) on Immunization. She has contributed to the literature of more than 230 scientific publications on vaccines and infectious diseases, with original research articles on SARS-CoV-2 vaccines, and policy and perspective pieces on SARS-CoV-2 challenge models and innovative trial design.

Front-Line Workers Also Honored

The Sun also recognized all front-line workers  including those who work in health care, grocery stores, mail and package delivery, daycare, schools, and people who provide other essential needs  as Marylanders of the Year.

I join University of Maryland Medical System President Dr. Mohan Suntha, and University of Maryland Medical Center President and CEO Dr. Bert O'Malley, in recognizing our front-line health employees and clinicians, as well as other essential service workers, who have worked tirelessly throughout this pandemic, Reece said. They have been an inspiration and blessing to all of us, and I congratulate our front-line workers for being deservedly named 'Marylanders of the Year.'"
After nine months of feeling that life has been cut short, vaccines suddenly bring some morale to face the new year. From powerlessness to potency: baffled by an unexpected threat, governments could think of nothing better than doing what they had done all their lives: locking people up in their homes. The myth of the scientific and technological capacity of advanced societies was shaky. And fear and bewilderment took hold of the staff. And suddenly, researchers show us that at last, science is here, and against all odds they bring us vaccines in record time. The species has resources to move forward, but as much as we try to deny it, the human condition lives on the edge. The vaccine begins to clarify the horizon and eases the mood in order to face the immediate future. It is time to ask ourselves what we should do to turn this crisis into an opportunity.
Chinas first Mars exploration mission Tianwen-1 travelled more than 400 million km by Sunday morning and is expected to enter Mars orbit next month, the countrys space agency said.

So far, the Mars probe had flown in space for 163 days. It was about 130 million km from Earth and about 8.3 million km from Mars, according to the China National Space Administration (CNSA).

According to the CNSA, the probe is functioning stably and is scheduled to slow down before entering Mars orbit in more than a month and preparing itself to land on the red planet.

Since its launch on July 23, 2020, the Mars probe has captured an image showing both Earth and the Moon, as well as taking several selfies.

Tianwen-1 probe, weighing about five tonnes, consists of an orbiter, a lander and a rover. It is designed to complete orbiting, landing and roving in one mission.

After entering Mars orbit, it will spend two to three months surveying potential landing sites, using a high-resolution camera to prepare for the landing in May.

After the landing, the rover will be released to conduct scientific exploration with an expected lifespan of at least 90 Martian days (about three months on Earth), and the orbiter, with a design life of one Martian year (about 687 days on Earth), will relay communications for the rover while conducting its own scientific detection, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

Tianwen-1 means Questions to Heaven and comes from a poem written by Qu Yuan (about 340-278 BC), one of the well-known poets of ancient China.

The US, Russia, India and the EU have so far succeeded in sending missions to Mars regarded as the most complex space mission. India became the first Asian country to have successfully launched its Mars orbiter mission Mangalyaan which has entered the orbit of the red planet in 2014.

India also became the first country to have entered the Martian orbit in its first attempt.
London, Jan 3 : Hospitals across the UK are being told to prepare to face the same Covid pressures as the NHS in London and south-east England.

Senior doctor Prof Andrew Goddard said the virus's highly infectious new variant was spreading nationwide.

Case numbers were "mild" compared with where he expected them to be next week, he said, with doctors "really worried", the BBC reported.

It comes as a further 57,725 people have tested positive for Covid - a new daily high.

This is the fifth day in a row new daily cases have been over 50,000 and brings the total number of cases to 2,599,789.

Another 445 deaths, of people who had tested positive within the previous 28 days, were reported on Saturday - bringing the total number of deaths to 74,570, according to government figures.

The UK-wide total for people in hospital with Covid has already passed the spring peak.

Half of the major hospital trusts in England are said to be dealing with more Covid-19 patients than at the worst point of the first wave in April, with the NHS facing its "busiest winter ever".

Prof Goddard, of the Royal College of Physicians, told BBC Breakfast: "There's no doubt that Christmas is going to have a big impact, the new variant is also going to have a big impact, we know that is more infectious, more transmissible, so I think the large numbers that we're seeing in the South East, in London, in south Wales, is now going to be reflected over the next month, two months even, over the rest of the country." He said: "It seems very likely that we are going to see more and more cases, wherever people work in the UK, and we need to be prepared for that." Pressure has been so great on hospitals in London and south-east England that some patients have been moved out of the area.

London's weekly rate of coronavirus cases is 858 per 100,000 people, double the UK figure.

Dominic Harrison, director of public health for Blackburn and Darwen, said a decision on a new lockdown had to be decided "in the next week" - instead of waiting for the North to get to the same rates as the capital "and 'call it late' which has been our pattern of response too often".

The most recent UK-wide statistics, from December 28, showed there were 23,823 people in hospital with Covid. That was already significantly higher than the spring peak, which saw 21,683 in hospital on April 12.

Only English hospitals have released figures for the final three days of December - and these show that a further 2,302 Covid patients were occupying hospital beds on 31 December.

London's Nightingale emergency hospital is ready to admit patients, the NHS has said, while other sites currently not in use are being readied.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Farmers and their family members intending to join protest at Ghazipur border will get free bus service from Bazpur area in US Nagar district of Uttarakhands Kumaon region. The buses will ferry farmers twice a week.

Ajit Pratap Singh Randhawa, a social activist and a prominent farmer of Nawabganj Parsel village, in Bazpur, said, We have started free bus service which will run twice a week on Monday and Thursday for elderly farmers and women intending to join farmer protest at Ghazipur-UP border. Bus service will be available for those who feel uncomfortable travelling on tractor trolleys.

Bazpur has a significant population of farmers. Farmers of the area are enthusiastically participating in farmers agitation against the farm laws since the beginning of the agitation. Around 1,500 unnamed farmers have already been booked by Uttarakhand police for allegedly defying police deployment during the Delhi march held on December 25.

Now, the farmers of the area have started free bus service, especially for elderly farmers and women, indenting to join the agitation at the Ghazipur border.

Randhawa said, Farmers of the area are leaving for Delhi in tractor trolleys or their vehicles. Those farmers and women who cant travel by tractor trolleys or dont have their means of transport will be allowed to join agitation through this bus service.

Also read: Bharat Biotechs Covaxin can be used as backup, says AIIMS Director

He said, as far as the financial aspect is concerned, 60-70 gurudwara management committees exist in Bazpur. They have assured us of financial support to manage bus ferries. A ferry to Bazpur costs around Rs 14,000. Some of the financially sound farmers of the area have also assured us to pay individually for bus ferries, he said.

Randhawa said, Bus will leave with 52 passengers at 9 am and it will return the next day. If the bus doesnt find sufficient elderly farmers and women then other farmers will be given chance but they will have to register their names at the gurudwara management committee in Bazpur.
Pair say they waited an hour but officials couldn't tell them the right thing to do

Confused by rapid rule changes, they say they made an innocent mistake

Health Minister said they'd be fined $38,000 before investigation was even over

Civil Liberties says heavy tactics should only be for deliberate rule-breakers

A young couple accused of 'fleeing' quarantine at Melbourne Airport on New Year's Day could sue Victoria's Health Minister for defamation if found innocent, experts claim.

The couple, from Goulburn in NSW, have apologised for leaving the airport but said they had a green zone permit and made an innocent mistake due to the confusion caused by the rapidly changing regulations.

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Victorian Health Minister Martin Foley said on Saturday that the pair would each be fined at least $19,000 for breaching Victoria's public health state of emergency.

But both Victoria Police and Victoria's Department of Health and Human Services confirmed to Daily Mail Australia that their organisations were still investigating.

Terry Elford, 26

Debbie Elford, 24

NSW Council for Civil Liberties spokesman Stephen Blanks said the pair may have an action for defamation when outed as being guilty despite ongoing investigations.

'Government ministers need to be careful to ensure not to accuse people of being guilty until all the relevant investigations have been carried out,' he told Daily Mail Australia on Sunday.

Mr Blanks said while it was possible Victoria could issue the pair on-the-spot fines, they still have the right to go to the courts and dispute the alleged offense - and that right had to be respected.

He said heavy-handed fines should be reserved for people who deliberately, flagrantly and dangerously flout the rules, not for people who are confused and make an innocent mistake.

NSW Council for Civil Liberties spokesman Stephen Blanks said government ministers should not declare people guilty before investigations finish especially when rules are changing fast

Police and the Victorian Health Minister accused the pair from New South Wales of 'absconding' from the airport in this van. The couple say they made a genuine mistake

'When these rules change day-by-day as they are at the moment, it's very onerous for people to know what they are and aren't allowed to do,' he said.

'The objective here is to generate community compliance with the orders and criminalise people with heavy fines who may well have made an innocent mistake - if they made a mistake at all.

'It doesn't create the right environment in the community to create co-operation and compliance.'

Terry and Debbie Elford arrived at Tullamarine Airport on the morning of New Year's Day on a flight from Canberra.

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Police accused the pair of running from an officer who told them to go into quarantine and then fleeing the airport in a van.

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The couple from Goulburn in NSW have disputed this, saying they made a genuine mistake.

They apologised on Saturday for leaving the airport and said they got coronavirus tests and contacted their local police in Goulburn, NSW, as soon as they saw the media reports.

'We had a permit, live in a green zone in NSW, were flying from Canberra airport which is allowed, and after we arrived in Tullamarine, we were stopped by DHS officers who were not able to tell us whether or not we needed to quarantine, so after about an hour or so we walked away,' Mr Elford, 26, said on Saturday.

Thousands joined a mad rush from NSW to the Victorian border ahead of new coronavirus shutdown rules at 11.59pm on January 1 (pictured, a border checkpoint in Mallacoota)

The couple said they had gone to an outdoor family barbecue in Victoria before flying back to Canberra that same afternoon as 24-year-old Debbie needed to attend an obstetrics appointment on Tuesday.

Mr Elford said the couple had told Victoria's Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) of their plans.

Victoria's border regulations changed rapidly from December 30 to January 1, with certain areas of NSW designated as red zones and others as green zones with permits issued.

The border snapped shut with any Victorians returning from NSW having to go into 14-day hotel quarantine from 11.59pm on January 1 - but that was after the pair had already arrived at Tullamarine.

COVID TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS FOR NEW SOUTH WALES: Western Australia - All NSW residents are banned from entering WA. Anyone who enters the state will be 'sent back', according to Premier Mark McGowan. In reality, all arrivals from NSW must have a special exemption and then have to quarantine for 14 days, either at home or in a hotel.

- All NSW residents are banned from entering WA. Anyone who enters the state will be 'sent back', according to Premier Mark McGowan. In reality, all arrivals from NSW must have a special exemption and then have to quarantine for 14 days, either at home or in a hotel. Victoria - Regional NSW was declared an 'orange zone' on January 11, and locals will be allowed into Victoria from 6pm with a permit. On January 18, Greater Sydney was also deemed an orange zone. People from ten Sydney LGAs, including Blacktown and Liverpool, which are deemed red zones are still banned.

- Regional NSW was declared an 'orange zone' on January 11, and locals will be allowed into Victoria from 6pm with a permit. On January 18, Greater Sydney was also deemed an orange zone. People from ten Sydney LGAs, including Blacktown and Liverpool, which are deemed red zones are still banned. Northern Territory - The state has declared greater metropolitan Sydney as a Covid-19 hotspot, and travellers will need to undergo 14 days of supervised quarantine.

- The state has declared greater metropolitan Sydney as a Covid-19 hotspot, and travellers will need to undergo 14 days of supervised quarantine. South Australia - Harder border closure to all NSW residents from midnight on New Year's Eve. Returning South Australians must quarantine for 14 days. A 100km border buffer zone, including Broken Hill and Wentworth, will be exempt.

- Harder border closure to all NSW residents from midnight on New Year's Eve. Returning South Australians must quarantine for 14 days. A 100km border buffer zone, including Broken Hill and Wentworth, will be exempt. Queensland - Queensland has shut its borders to Greater Sydney, Wollongong and the Central Coast. Locals returning to the Sunshine State from a hotspot must isolate.

- Queensland has shut its borders to Greater Sydney, Wollongong and the Central Coast. Locals returning to the Sunshine State from a hotspot must isolate. ACT - Anyone travelling to the ACT from a Covid-19 hotspot in NSW will now require an exemption. People from Sydney's Northern Beaches, Greater Sydney, the Central Coast and Wollongong will not be legally permitted to enter the ACT without a valid pass from midday on Saturday January 2.

- Anyone travelling to the ACT from a Covid-19 hotspot in NSW will now require an exemption. People from Sydney's Northern Beaches, Greater Sydney, the Central Coast and Wollongong will not be legally permitted to enter the ACT without a valid pass from midday on Saturday January 2. Tasmania - Northern Beaches residents banned. All people from Greater Sydney must also quarantine upon entry.

Victoria's DHHS said people travelling from or through 'red zones' and 'hot zones' from NSW were not permitted to enter Victoria on January 1.

However anyone else who entered from NSW on January 1 was required to get tested and self-quarantine for 14 days.

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'Victoria Police and DHHS are investigating this matter,' a DHHS spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia.

Victorian Minister for Health Martin Foley said on Saturday that the couple were facing fines of at least $19,000 each.

'I did want to make particular mention of two people who absconded from discussions with authorised officers yesterday who have now apparently returned to Goulburn in New South Wales,' Mr Foley said.

'Upon the advice of the public health team, those people have breached numerous orders of the public-health state of emergency in Victoria and they will each be fined at least $19,000 for their breaching of those arrangements.

'This is a very serious matter.'

Mr Foley said the pair 'absconded', did not have appropriate declaration material and 'would have been headed straight into compulsory hotel quarantine'.

Police said authorised officers spoke to the pair when they arrived at Tullamarine and told them they would have to quarantine in Victoria for 14 days.

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'The pair then ran from the officer, fleeing the airport, and were picked up by a vehicle outside,' a Victoria Police spokesperson said.
The German startup has been slow to provide its shot in the European Union due to late approval from the blocs health regulator. Photo: Manuel Velasquez/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

BioNTech (BNTX) has warned that there would be gaps in the supply of its vaccines until others are rolled out, as it continues to work with partner Pfizer (PFE) to boost production.

The German startup, which has been at the forefront of the vaccine race, has been slow to provide its shot in the European Union (EU) due to late approval from the blocs health regulator  the European Medicines Agency  and the small size of the order placed by Brussels.

Ugur Sahin, chief executive of BioNTech told Germanys Spiegel: At the moment it doesnt look good  a hole is appearing because theres a lack of other approved vaccines and we have to fill the gap with our own vaccine.

Sahin founded BioNTech with his wife Oezlem Tuereci, who is the companys chief medical officer. She told the Spiegel: At some point it became clear that it would not be possible to deliver so quickly. By then it was already too late to place follow-on orders.

While the United States ordered some 600 million doses of the BioNTech/Pfizer shot in July last year, the EU placed an order for only half that size in November. More than 300,000 lives have been lost to the pandemic across Europe.

The UK ordered 40 million doses in total, enough to inoculate 20 million people, under a third of the total population of 67 million.

The NHS is giving top priority to vaccinating those aged 80 and above. Frontline healthcare workers, care home staff and residents will be among those first in line. A UK grandmother became the first person in the world to be given the Pfizer Covid-19 jab last month.

READ MORE: Britain gears up for rollout of Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine

Some logistical challenges around the vaccine also await the government and health services. Not only is this the most crucial vaccine rollout in recent history, the shot needs to be stored at -70C.

BioNTech has said that keeping it at -70C is only necessary for long-term storage over many months. It can be kept in the delivery thermoboxes at vaccine centres for up to 20 days and stored in a normal fridge for up to five days.

Story continues

Each vial contains five doses, diluted with saline solution, which is more than enough to vaccinate five people, the company said. They must be used within six hours of opening.

The vaccine is given as two injections 21 days apart from each other, with the second dose being a booster. Immunity starts to kick in after the first dose but reaches its full effect seven days after the second dose.

Watch: UK begins COID-19 vaccine rollout
Stating that is a challenge as far as providing round-the-clock electricity to consumers is concerned, Union minister R K Singh on Sunday said the Centre would spend "liberally" to tap the immense potential of the Union Territory in the sector to make it a power-surplus region.

However, he said a conducive atmosphere to facilitate large-scale investments and improving the work culture are imperative to bring at par with other parts of the country, after it lagged behind due to "corruption" during the previous regimes.

"It is painful that Jammu and Kashmir, despite having the best available resources in the country to generate power, is lagging behind in providing round-the-clock electricity to consumers...the previous governments are directly responsible for the present state of affairs," Singh said.

The Union minister of state for power was speaking after the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the government and the Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) for the implementation of the 850-MW Ratle HEP and 930-MW Kirthai-II HEP and the execution of the Sawalkot HEP (1,856 MW), Uri-I (Stage-II-240 MW) and Dulhasti (Stage-II-258 MW) power projects, worth Rs 34,000 crore, here.

Singh also said there is no other place in the country where barbed wire is being used to provide electricity to consumers.

"The lack of development over the past seven decades is because of the previous governments. They should be held accountable as to where the money pumped by the Centre had gone. Compared to other places in the country, Jammu and Kashmir was getting more funds, but the centrally-sponsored schemes saw very slow progress," he said.

Without naming anyone, he alleged that leaders of political parties have deceived people to fill up their coffers, build mansions in London, Rome and Paris but left Jammu and Kashmir backward.

Singh said electricity is key for the development of any region. "Without power, you cannot move ahead. Power is the fundamental requirement to improve quality of life and industrialisation...if you do not have power, you cannot achieve development and if there is no development, you would not be able to generate employment," he said.

Singh said when he took over as the power minister and came to Jammu and Kashmir in October 2017, he was surprised to see that the work on centrally-sponsored schemes like the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana had not started even after a lapse of three years.

"Various such schemes are yet to be completed. We need to improve the work culture and speed up the work on these schemes, which are meant for the benefit of people," he said.

The minister said Jammu and Kashmir has the resources and potential to achieve surplus power generation.

"There is a need to create an atmosphere where people from outside will come for investments here. The Centre will spend liberally to make Jammu and Kashmir a power-surplus region," Singh said.

He said the Union Territory is a challenge as far as providing round-the-clock power to consumers is concerned.

"We will improve the power supply to the consumers and are working in this direction. The Union Territory status to Jammu and Kashmir has sped up development in the region and we are hopeful of achieving our target," Singh said.

However, he said people will have to pay for electricity in accordance with their consumption. "There will be no free power and you will be able to switch it on only when you pay for it," he said.

The minister lauded Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha for his efforts to fast-track development projects to bring Jammu and Kashmir at par with other parts of the country and said it is the responsibility of everyone to strengthen his efforts.

"Why people from outside are not willing to come here is a question that needs an answer. We need to think over it. You have to allow them to work here and work together for the creation of such an atmosphere so that they can come and invest," he said.

Singh said the Centre will not allow funds to become an impediment in the completion of projects.

"As demanded by the LG, we have no problem in providing services to our officers and companies. Companies like the NHPC will outsource contracts to outsiders and you have to allow them to work here in a conducive atmosphere," he said.

Advising the Jammu and Kashmir Power Development Department (PDD) to improve the work culture, the minister said it is imperative to take electricity to every household.

"In the past, decisions were taken by previous governments that smelled of corruption. Many projects were given to private parties and they need to be asked for it," he said.

Referring to the MoU signed in his presence, Singh said Jammu and Kashmir will become an energy-surplus region after the completion of the projects.

"When you start selling 3,000 to 4,000 MW of power to other states, your income will increase by Rs 8,000 crore, which will pave the way for the construction of roads, hospitals and schools," he said.

Singh said the NHPC will employ local youngsters in the projects and also provide training to them.

"It is imperative that there should be a robust billing system and metre system in place," he added.

When the Narendra Modi-led government took over in 2014, the rural areas in the country used to get electricity for 18 hours and a half, which has now improved to 20 hours per day, while the urban areas are getting it for 22-23 hours and 80 per cent of the towns are getting round-the-clock power supply.

"This type of development is possible here as well, but you have to change. We will ensure 24-hour power supply to consumers in Jammu and Kashmir and till this is achieved, I will feel that my work is incomplete. This is our responsibility and we will do it," 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.)
For brick-and-mortar retailers, 2020 has been more of the same retail apocalypse, just at a faster pace.

Over the past decade weve seen stores were once mainstays in Pennsylvania -- Bon-Ton, HH Gregg and Toys R Us -- close. For a number of struggling retailers the pandemic just brought on the inevitable faster.

There are 13 retailers on our list below that have closed all of their stores or are in the process of doing so. In addition to these 13, Microsoft closed all of its stores as well.

In some cases a new company has purchased the intellectual property of the retailer, but in most of those instances the new owner has purchased the company in an effort to continue in an e-commerce-only capacity.

Heres the list:

Pier 1 Imports is closing its store in Camp Hill. (Daniel Urie, PennLive)

Pier 1 Imports

After filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in May, home goods chain Pier 1 Imports announced it would close all retail operations. The store closed 402 stores earlier in the year and 540 stores when it shuttered.

This is not the outcome we expected or hoped to achieve, CEO and CFO Robert Riesbeck told House Beautiful Magazine.

Sears Optical

All Sears Optical stores closed on Feb. 1. Luxottica, the owner of Sears Optical also owns LensCrafters and Pearle Vision.

The New York & Company store at the Destiny USA mall in Syracuse is one of 378 stores around the country that RTW Retailwinds Inc. may close after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Monday, July 13, 2020. (Rick Moriarty | rmoriarty@syracuse.com)Rick Moriarty | rmoriarty@syracuse.com

New York & Co.

New York & Companys parent company, RTW Retailwinds Inc., filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy on July 13. The clothing retailer announced that it was closing all of its stores shortly thereafter.

The Wolf Furniture store on Lindle Road will close on Monday, according to signs at the store. (Daniel Urie, PennLive)

Art Van Furniture/Levin Furniture/Wolf Furniture

AVF Holdings, the owner of Art Van Furniture, Wolf Furniture and Levin Furniture, filed for bankruptcy and announced in March it was winding down operations and beginning liquidation sales at all of its company owned stores. Art Van Elslander opened his first furniture store in Detroit in 1959. Some of the stores were later purchased out of bankruptcy.

Stein Mark on the Carlisle Pike is closing. The company had filed for bankruptcy earlier this month. (Megan Lavey-Heaton/PennLive.com)

Stein Mart

Stein Mart Inc. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in August and announced it was closing all of its store. The discount retailer combined low prices with name brands and sold apparel, home decor, accessories and shoes. Stein Mart had 281 stores in 30 states at the time it filed for bankruptcy.

The combined effects of a challenging retail environment coupled with the impact of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic have caused significant financial distress on our business, Hunt Hawkins, chief executive officer of Stein Mart said in a statement at the time. The company has determined that the best strategy to maximize value will be a liquidation of its assets pursuant to an organized going out of business sale. The company lacks sufficient liquidity to continue operating in the ordinary course of business.

A.C. Moore (Shutterstock)

A.C. Moore

A.C. Moore announced last November that it would be closing all of its 145 stores. Michaels took over 40 of those stores this year.

Wilsons Leather

The owner of Wilsons Leather, G-III Apparel Group, Ltd. announced this year it was closing all of its 110 Wilson stores. Wilsons Leather was founded in 1899.

We have completed a comprehensive review of our retail operations segment, Morris Goldfarb, G-IIIs chairman and chief executive officer said in a statement in June. With a focus on enhancing shareholder value, we have made the difficult decision to close all of the Wilsons Leather and G. H. Bass stores and have entered into agreements for the early lease termination of a significant majority of these stores. We believe that this restructuring plan will enable us to greatly reduce our retail losses and to ultimately have this segment become profitable.

The Bass Factory Outlet store in Derry Township is closing. (Daniel Urie, PennLive)

G.H. Bass

G-III Apparel Group Ltd. announced it was closing all 89 of its G.H. Bass stores.

One of Destiny USA's original businesses that opened when Carousel Mall opened in October 1990. Justice opened in Carousel as Limited Too. The store is seen in 2016. (Sarah Moses Buckshot, Syracuse.com)Sarah Moses Buckshot | syracuse.com

Justice

The Ascena Retail Group announced in November that a wind down of all Justice locations is expected to conclude by early 2021. The Ascena Retail Group filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in July. There were 826 stores at the time Ascena filed for bankruptcy. Ascena later sold the intellectual property of Justice.

The conclusion of the sale process for our Justice brand is a significant step forward in our efforts to complete our restructuring process and maximize value for all our stakeholders, Gary Muto, CEO of Ascena said in a November press release.

This Catherines store was located in Lower Paxton Township. (Daniel Urie, PennLive)

Catherines

Catherines parent company, Ascena Retail Group announced in July that it was closing all of its Catherines stores. The announcement coincided with the companys filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The clothing retailer was founded in 1960.

Portrait Innovations closed abruptly at the Shoppes at Susquehanna Marketplace in Susquehanna Township in January. Embellas has taken over the space. (Daniel Urie, PennLive)

Portrait Innovations

The company abruptly closed in January and had more than 100 locations, according to WFMZ-TV.

Modell's Sporting Goods will be the lead tenant in a new warehouse in Bordentown Township. (Michael Mancuso for NJ.com)TT Michael Mancuso | For NJ.com

Modells Sporting Goods

Modells Sporting Goods filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in March and closed all of its stores.

Over the past year, we evaluated several options to restructure our business to allow us to maintain our current operations, Modells CEO Mitchell Modell said in a press release at the time. While we achieved some success, in partnership with our landlords and vendors, it was not enough to avoid a bankruptcy filing amid an extremely challenging environment for retailers. ... This is certainly not the outcome I wanted, and it is one of the most difficult days of my life. But I believe liquidation provides the greatest recovery for our creditors.

Pet Valu

Pet Valu announced in November it was closing all of its 358 U.S. stores. Pet Valu Canada is a separate company and is not impacted by the closings.

You can follow Daniel Urie on twitter @DanielUrie2018 and you can like him on Facebook.
A Melbourne father has been placed in an induced coma after he was seriously injured in a hit-run collision on New Year's Day in the city's western suburbs.

Nick Topia, 55, was riding his motorbike to visit his daughter when he was hit by a silver SUV that was travelling north in Station Road, Deer Park, about 10.50am.

Nick Topia was seriously injured after a hit-run in Deer Park. Credit:Nine News

The driver of the car was attempting to do a U-turn when it hit Mr Topia. The car then reversed and drove north on Station Road.

Police are appealing for public help to identify the car. They believe there were two females in the vehicle.
Her arms were covered with bangles, her ears decked with shiny stones, and stones were adorning her fingers too. She could be heard approaching from a distance, because of the chhan-chhan sound of her anklets.

For more than 20 years, Suhana Begum lived alone, homeless, in central Delhis Hazrat Nizamuddin Basti. She died on the first day of this new year. She was discovered lifeless, late in the morning, on the street where she would usually sit, says Imtiaz, a kebab seller in the vicinity.

Ms Begums age was not known but she was white-haired and seemed advanced in years. She often spent her days wandering around the Basti lanes. Sometimes she would step inside Hazrat Nizamuddins dargah, the areas famous sufi shrine, and enjoy a brief nap in its sunlit marble courtyard, or silently sit in a corner there and busy herself arranging her bangles, nose ring, and necklaces.

Although she off-and-on stayed in a homeless shelter nearby, Ms Begum would most frequently sleep at night on the broad pavement in front of a car repairing workshop. Once, before the coronavirus pandemic, she talked to this reporter while seated on a mattress laid on her sleeping place. That night, she was wearing a golden yellow sari, and was ornamented in her usual fashion. She was just done with dinnerthe food stall owners in the neighbourhood gave her meals for free. Playfully waving her arm to make her bangles jingle, she said that she bought all her jewels from a shop for almost nothing. She insisted that her home was this entire Basti. Im lawaris (belonging to no one) but Im under the protection of Nizamuddin Baba, she had said, referring to the aforementioned Sufi saint.

But she wouldnt tell why she was lawaris? My father My mother their stories are over my childhood days were spent with my saheliyan (women friends). Though she did reveal that before arriving in Delhi she used to live in Jabalpur, in a Sufi shrine there.

Not appearing to be overwhelmed by her solitary life, she didnt put much premium in having a husband or a friend. When your heart aches, you have to comfort it yourself.

The last encounter with her took place a few nights ago. She was sitting in a street corner and being teased by the neighbourhoods young boys, who were calling her by a nickname they knew she despised. The day she died, those very boys were seen with tears on their faces, says Rashid Jung, who lives on that street.

A few hours after her passing, Ms Begum was buried in the nearby Panj Peeran Qabristan. Her final journey included 30 people, all of whom were from the Basti, informed the graveyards caretaker, while showing her fresh grave.
The Week

After publicly expressing "grave concerns" over Arizona's audit of the 2020 election results, Secretary of State Katie Hobbs (D) was "stripped" of her ability to "defend election lawsuits" by the state's Republican-led House Appropriations Committee, reported Arizona's ABC 15 on Tuesday. The duty was transferred "exclusively" to Attorney General Mark Brnovich (R) through the end of the 2023 fiscal year. Democrats say the move is retaliation against Hobbs' defense of Arizona voters in "lawsuits filed by the State Republican Party and others challenging Arizona's election results," per ABC 15. "It can't be just a coincidence" that Republicans are blocking a "vocal critic of the audit," writes Elvia Diaz for azcentral.com. Democratic State Rep. Randy Friese reportedly called the move "troubling," "disturbing," and "quite nefarious." Furthermore, the Appropriations Committee removed Hobb's "oversight of the Capitol Museum," ABC 15 reports, after Hobbs angered state lawmakers when she "flew a gay pride flag from the building's balcony" in 2019. Katie Hobbs has conscientiously supervised elections in Arizona. Republicans there just stripped her of some powers -- including her ability to litigate election lawsuits. They gave control of that process to the state AG, a Republican. This is how democracy gets dismantled. https://t.co/VamVgXfxgR  Tim O'Brien (@TimOBrien) May 25, 2021 In an article for azfamily.com, Hobbs labeled the entire audit "a political stunt," adding that it is "dangerous to people's safety and to the integrity of our democracy." She later tweeted a photo on Tuesday of a fruit basket sent by Stacey Abrams and Fair Fight, saying that's how "you know you're doing it right." When @staceyabrams, @gwlauren, and their crew at @fairfightaction send you a fruit basket, you know you're doing it right. pic.twitter.com/yQ11UdmXso  Katie Hobbs (@katiehobbs) May 25, 2021 Read more at azfamily.com. More stories from theweek.comBiden says he underestimated Trump's ability to spread 'the big lie'Biden needs some braggadocioKristen Clarke confirmed to lead DOJ's Civil Rights Division
Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism.
Blame Covid-19 travel restrictions or Brexit but whatever the cause, some British citizens trying to return to their homes in Spain this weekend have been barred from boarding flights.

Airlines are refusing documents that before Brexit had been valid proof of the Britons status as residents in Spain.

Their ordeal comes amid heightened travel restrictions due to a coronavirus variant that has been blamed for faster contagion in the UK and highlights the bureaucratic complexities resulting from Britains departure from the 27-nation European Union (EU).

Both Spanish and British authorities said Sunday that the green-colored certificate of EU citizenship with a foreign national identification number issued by Spain is still valid for British citizens residing in Spain under the bilateral provisions that followed the UKs withdrawal from the bloc on December 31.

But the travelers say British Airways and Iberia have been refusing to let them board for the past two days. The airlines, part of the IAG group, didnt immediately respond to requests Sunday for comment from The Associated Press.

Around 300,000 British citizens are registered as permanent residents in Spain, although before Brexit, many more had been living full or part-time in the country without officially registering.

Patricia Moody, a 69-year-old retiree who has called the southern Spanish town of Zurgena home for nearly four years, was among a group of at least nine people unable to board a Madrid-bound BA/Iberia flight from Londons Heathrow Airport on Saturday.

Moody said she and her husband, who she says needs to see his doctor back in Spain, have spent 1,900 pounds ($2,600) on getting tested for the virus, travelling to the airport and booking new tickets after they were refused boarding. Their second attempt was also futile.

Throughout all the months of negotiating Brexit, we were always assured that nothing would change for us, she said. Referring to the airlines and authorities in both countries, she added: Its horrendous and we are suffering because of their incompetence.

Following the discovery of the coronavirus variant in the UK, Spain, like many other European nations, has banned all travel from the British isles except for Spanish citizens and UK citizens with residency rights.

Spain has been rolling out a new system to register permanent foreign residents called TIE but its suffering a backlog due to the high number of requests.

Spains Ministry of Foreign Affairs told AP that under the circumstances both proofs of application for the TIE and the green certificate for EU citizens is still valid to travel for British residents under the new health restrictions in place until Jan. 19.

This should not be happening, said the UK embassy in Spain said in a Facebook post. The Spanish authorities have today re-confirmed that the green residency document will be accepted for travel to return to Spain, as stated in our travel advice.

But Sam Dakin, a 32-year-old English-language teacher based in Barcelona for the last four years, and his partner, who has been in the Spanish city for 8 years, said they needed more assurances before they could rebook flights.

The couple had been blocked from flying Saturday morning despite carrying their certificate and then were refused boarding on another flight Saturday evening that British Airways had initially said they could take.

Just because the government adviser said that we could travel, we dont know whether that will happen when we turn up at the counters, Dakin said. We just dont know where were going to get answers.
All India Drug Action Network, a public health watchdog, immediately issued a statement requesting more information about the scope of clinical trials and dosing regimens for both vaccines.

On the Bharat Biotech vaccine, called Covaxin, the group said it was baffled to understand what scientific logic has motivated the top experts to authorize a vaccine still in clinical trials.

Dr. Somani, the regulator, said the vaccine had so far been administered to 22,500 trial participants, and has been found to be safe.

Both the AstraZeneca vaccine and the Bharat Biotech vaccine require two doses, Dr. Somani said. He did not specify whether the participants in Bharat Biotechs continuing clinical trials had received both doses.

Already the effort has faced setbacks. The Serum Institute, an Indian drug maker that struck a deal to produce the Oxford vaccine even before its effectiveness had been proven, has managed to make only about one-tenth of the 400 million doses it had committed to manufacturing before the end of the year.

The government says it is ready. To get the vaccine across a country famous for its size and its sometimes unreliable roads, officials will tap into knowledge from nationwide polio vaccination and newborn immunization campaigns, and the skill and flexibility employed in Indias mammoth general elections, where ballot boxes are delivered to the furthest reaches of the country.

The Serum Institute says it is on track to increase production of the vaccine, which is known as Covishield in India. With $270 million of its own funds and $300 million from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Serum plans to ramp up manufacturing capacity to 100 million doses per month by February, said Mayank Sen, a company spokesman.
In this file photo taken on December 8, 2020 US President Donald Trump arrives for the Operation Warp Speed Vaccine Summit in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building adjacent to the White House in Washington, DC. AFP-Yonhap



A growing number of Republican lawmakers are joining President Donald Trump's extraordinary effort to overturn the election, pledging to reject the results when Congress meets next week to count the Electoral College votes and certify President-elect Joe Biden's win.



Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas on Saturday announced a coalition of 11 senators and senators-elect who have been enlisted for Trump's effort to subvert the will of American voters.



This follows the declaration from Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri, who was the first to buck Senate leadership by saying he would join with House Republicans in objecting to the state tallies during Wednesday's joint session of Congress.



Trump's refusal to accept his defeat is tearing the party apart as Republicans are forced to make consequential choices that will set the contours of the post-Trump era. Hawley and Cruz are both among potential 2024 presidential contenders.



Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell had urged his party not to try to overturn what nonpartisan election officials have concluded was a free and fair vote.



The 11 senators largely acknowledged Saturday they will not succeed in preventing Biden from being inaugurated on Jan. 20 after he won the Electoral College 306-232. But their challenges, and those from House Republicans, represent the most sweeping effort to undo a presidential election outcome since the Civil War.



''We do not take this action lightly,'' Cruz and the other senators said in a joint statement.





Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, speaks at a campaign rally for Sen. Kelly Loeffler, R-Ga., on Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021, in Cumming, Ga. AP



They vowed to vote against certain state electors on Wednesday unless Congress appoints an electoral commission to immediately conduct an audit of the election results. They are zeroing in on the states where Trump has raised unfounded claims of voter fraud. Congress is unlikely to agree to their demand.



The group, which presented no new evidence of election problems, includes Sens. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, James Lankford of Oklahoma, Steve Daines of Montana, John Kennedy of Louisiana, Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee and Mike Braun of Indiana, and Sens.-elect Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming, Roger Marshall of Kansas, Bill Hagerty of Tennessee and Tommy Tuberville of Alabama.



Biden's transition spokesman, Mike Gwin, dismissed the effort as a ''stunt'' that won't change the fact that Biden will be sworn in Jan. 20.



Trump, the first president to lose a reelection bid in almost 30 years, has attributed his defeat to widespread voter fraud, despite the consensus of nonpartisan election officials and even Trump's attorney general that there was none. Of the roughly 50 lawsuits the president and his allies have filed challenging election results, nearly all have been dismissed or dropped. He's also lost twice at the U.S. Supreme Court.



The days ahead are expected to do little to change the outcome.



Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, the top Democrat on the panel overseeing the Electoral College count. said the Republican effort to create a federal commission ''to supersede state certifications'' is wrong.



''It is undemocratic. It is un-American. And fortunately it will be unsuccessful. In the end, democracy will prevail,'' she said in a statement.





This combination of file pictures created on January 2, 2021 shows L-R, (top-bottom) US Republican Senators Josh Hawley of Missouri on January 3, 2019 in Washington, DC; Steve Daines of Montana on May 15, 2019 in Washington, DC; Senator-elect Cynthia Lummis from Wyoming on November 9, 2020, in Washington, DC; Ted Cruz of Texas October 13, 2020 in Washington, DC; Senator-elect Tommy Tuberville of Alabama on November 9, 2020 in Washington, DC; Senator-elect Roger Marshall of Kansas on November 9, 2020 in Washington, DC; Mike Braun of Indiana on October 20, 2020 in Washington, DC; Senator-elect Bill Hagerty from Tennessee on November 9, 2020, in Washington, DC; Ron Johnson of Wisconsin on December 16, 2020 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC; James Lankford of Oklahoma on January 18, 2017 in Washington, DC; Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee on September 30, 2020, in Washington, DC; John Kennedy of Louisiana on June 16, 2020 in Washington, DC. AFP



The convening of the joint session to count the Electoral College votes is usually routine. While objections have surfaced before  in 2017, several House Democrats challenged Trump's win  few have approached this level of intensity.



On the other side of the Republican divide, several senators spoke out Saturday against Cruz and Hawley's effort.



Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska said in a statement that she will vote to affirm the election and urged colleagues in both parties to join her in ''maintaining confidence'' in elections ''so that we ensure we have the continued trust of the American people.''



Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania said a ''fundamental, defining feature of a democratic republic is the right of the people to elect their own leaders.'' He said the effort by Hawley, Cruz and others ''to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in swing states like Pennsylvania directly undermines this right.''



Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah called the Cruz-led effort an ''ill-conceived endeavor'' and said Trump's call for supporters to converge on the Capitol had ''the predictable potential to lead to disruption, and worse.'' He added: ''I could never have imagined seeing these things in the greatest democracy in the world. Has ambition so eclipsed principle?''



Earlier this week, Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska, another possible 2024 contender, urged his colleagues to ''reject this dangerous ploy,'' which he said threatens the nation's civic norms.



Caught in the middle is Vice President Mike Pence, who faces growing pressure from Trump's allies over his ceremonial role in presiding over the session Wednesday. His chief of staff, Marc Short, said in a statement Saturday that Pence ''welcomes the efforts of members of the House and Senate to use the authority they have under the law to raise objections.''





Trump supporters parade along the Rose Parade route on Colorado Blvd in Pasadena, Calif., on Friday, Jan. 1, 2021. AP-Yonhap
A dozen people found hiding in the back room of a restaurant to play dominoes have been fined for breaking Tier 4 Covid-19 rules.

Body-worn camera footage taken on Tuesday shows police speaking to the owner of a restaurant on Whitechapel Road in Tower Hamlets, East London.

Met Police say the owner initially told officers there were only workers inside the building.

Police say the East London restaurant owner initially claimed only staff were inside the venue, but later admitted there were a dozen people in a back room

But footage taken from the scene shows a group of people emerging from a back room.

The owner can be heard telling police: 'A lot of these youngsters, they don't have a mask on and they're playing dominoes.'

Shortly afterwards, the group can be seen emerging from the room, before the owner ushers them back in, telling them to come out one by one.

A dozen people were found in a dark room at the back of a restaurant in Whitechapel, East London, on Tuesday

As the group began to emerge from the room, the owner urged them to only come out one by one, after telling police they were playing dominoes

Tier 4 lockdown rules allow restaurants to stay open for delivery, but the public has been advised to stay at home.

As of December 28, Tower Hamlets in East London had a seven-day infection rate of 996 per 100,000 people.

All 12 people were issued Fixed Penalty Notice's, while Scotland Yard has referred the restaurant to Tower Hamlets Council for consideration of a fine.

All 12 people were fined on Tuesday after they were found breaching Tier 4 lockdown rules

The restaurant's owner has been referred to Tower Hamlets Council for consideration of a fine. The local authority recorded a seven-day Covid-19 rate of 996 per 100,000 people on December 28

Chief Inspector Pete Shaw, from the Central East BCU said: 'The rules under Tier 4 are in place to keep all of us safe, and they do not exempt people from gathering to play games together in basements.

'The fact that these people hid from officers clearly shows they knew they were breaching the rules and have now been fined for their actions.'
TMC turncoat Suvendu Adhikari

Trinamool Congress turncoat Suvendu Adhikari, on January 2, accused West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee of sidelining other party leaders to secure the political career of nephew Abhishek Banerjee.

An India Today report quoted the BJP leader as saying: Mamata Banerjee sidelined leaders to establish Abhishek.

The Bharatiya Janata Party leader who was once a TMC heavyweight and the face of the Nandigram conflict has further said that he felt tortured during his time with the party. Adhikari added that Mamatas party has turned into a private limited company where she is the chairperson and her nephew Abhishek Banerjee is the managing director.

Will work as a disciplined soldier of BJP: Suvendu Adhikari

Notably, 15 TMC councillors led by Suvendu Adhikaris younger brother Soumendu also quit TMC to join the BJP on January 1, ahead of the West Bengal Assembly elections.

Suvendu Adhikari has said that Trinamool is set to witness more such defections to the BJP in the days to come.

He said: Thousands of booth management workers will join the BJP. I will ensure the joinings every day.
January 03, 2021

The MoA Week In Review - OT 2021-001

Last week's posts at Moon of Alabama:

Elena_MYL @Elena_MYL - 2:28 UTC  Dec 29, 2020

I search a bit about #ZhangZhan online and heres what I found. She was detained several times before, from 10 days to 65 days since 2019. She got warning for the first time in 2018.

Pic. Shes holding an umbrella says End socialism, take down CPC.

Shes a Christian zealot with a strong tendency towards martyrdom. She made hunger strike several times during the detention.

She had psychiatric assessments during the detention since she kept talking Jesus, Bible, God, etc.

Heres video from her YouTube channel. She spoke in a very slow speed. I preached gospel to her : The cross of Jesus Christ bears the sins of everyone, salvation is found in no one else, but Jesus. Actually Id prefer to preach gospel to those cops and ppl who quarantined her.

Here is an article she wrote accusing Chinese government acting like god. She used the word  (God) 62 times.

#ZhangZhan regards herself undertaking Gods mission. Somehow reminds me of Adrian Zens who fabricated Uyghur genocide claiming hes been led by God against Beijing. ...

December 30 - A Tale Of A New Year's Resolution

---

Other issues:

Covid-19:

John Burn-Murdoch @jburnmurdoch - 8:07 UTC  Dec 31, 2020

NEW chart thread:

The latest UK Covid data paints a dire picture, with London and much of the south now in a worse position than they were at the spring peak, and hospitals struggling to cope

18% of tests in London now come back positive, and rates are climbing everywhere.

...

20:04 UTC  Jan 2, 2021

We can also look at data not only on how many Covid patients are in hospital, but what share they make up of *all* available beds.

Covid patients now occupy more than half of all beds in many areas (and rising fast), including 63% in North Middlesex.

Infodemic:

Get Ready for False Side Effects - Science (Dec 4)

> Were talking about treating very, very large populations, which means that youre going to see the usual run of mortality and morbidity that you see across large samples. Specifically, if you take 10 million people and just wave your hand back and forth over their upper arms, in the next two months you would expect to see about 4,000 heart attacks. About 4,000 strokes. Over 9,000 new diagnoses of cancer. And about 14,000 of that ten million will die, out of usual all-causes mortality. No one would notice. Thats how many people die and get sick anyway. <

Israeli man reportedly dies of heart attack hours after getting COVID vaccine - NY Post (Dec 29)

Gregg Carlstrom @glcarlstrom - 9:01 UTC  Dec 30, 2020

We really need to do a better job avoiding irresponsible headlines and tweets about the vaccine (like this one). It's not enough that the article contextualizes the story, because people don't always read the article:

California nurse tests positive over a week after receiving Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine: ABC

Ruben Carbajal @rubencarbajal - 19:55 UTC  Jan 1, 2021

Man Wins Lottery After Receiving Vaccine

Man Receives Junk Mail After Receiving Vaccine

Man Audited After Receiving Vaccine

Man Finds Extra Fries in Bottom of Bag After Receiving Vaccine

Poverty alleviation - 'Costly' but successful:

Nils Gilman @nils_gilman - 13:27 UTC  Feb 6, 2019

Number of Chinese living in extreme poverty (<$1.90/day):

1980: 835m

1990: 770m

1999: 508m

2008: 170m

2015: 10m (not a typo)

Put another way: 75% of global poverty reduction since the 1970s is a result of Chinese Communist Party domestic policy success. source

EU-China deal:

History:

Use as open thread ...

Posted by b on January 3, 2021 at 15:14 UTC | Permalink

Comments

next page 
East Texas congressman Louie Gohmert suggested that violence in the streets may be the only remaining option to block Joe Biden from becoming president, after a federal judge rejected his lawsuit aiming to force Vice President Mike Pence to overturn the election.

U.S. District Judge Jeremy Kernodle, a Trump appointee from Gohmerts hometown of Tyler, threw out the lawsuit late Friday, ruling that he and other plaintiffs  including the GOP chairwoman in Arizona and that states defeated slate of Republican electors  lack standing.

Late Friday on Newsmax, Gohmert said he had sought redress in court so that you didnt have to have riots and violence in the street.

Bottom line is, the court is saying, Were not going to touch this, you have no remedy, Gohmert said. Basically, in effect, the ruling would be that youve got to go to the streets and be as violent as antifa and BLM.

Its not the first time Gohmert  a former state trial court judge who just won his ninth term in Congress  has expressed admiration for the use of violence to overturn an election.

At a Million MAGA March in November near the White House, he urged Trump supporters to consider revolution like the Egyptian uprising seven years ago and the American colonies revolt against England.

They rose up though all over Egypt, and as a result of the people rising up in the greatest numbers in history, ever anywhere, they turned the country around . If they can do that there, think of what we can do here, he told thousands of cheering supporters.

Saturday afternoon, Gohmert insisted that violence is not the answer and he was not advocating otherwise.

I have not encouraged and unequivocally do not advocate for violence, he said in a written statement that maintained he was only recognizing what lies ahead when the institutions created by a self-governing people to peacefully resolve disputes hide from their responsibility.

Congress meets on Wednesday to certify the Electoral College results. Biden defeated President Donald Trump by a decisive 306-232 margin and also topped him by 7 million votes nationwide.

By law, the vice president presides over that joint meeting but in an entirely ceremonial capacity.

Gohmert and his fellow plaintiffs wanted the court to let Pence toss out Bidens victories in a handful of states, nullifying tens of millions of ballots and replacing the will of the electorate with their own desire to give Trump a second term.

Kernodle ruled that Gohmerts lawsuit hinged on a series of hypothetical allegations far too uncertain to support standing.

Plaintiffs presuppose what the Vice President will do on January 6, which electoral votes the Vice President will count or reject from contested states, whether a Representative and a Senator will object under Section 15 of the Electoral Count Act, how each member of the House and Senate will vote on any such objections, and how each state delegation in the House would potentially vote under the 12th Amendment absent a majority electoral vote, the judge wrote in the 13-page ruling.

The judge also found that as a lone congressman, Gohmert cannot sue on the basis of alleged harm to the House as a whole, even if he could prove such harm.

Gohmert vowed to appeal to the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

The lawsuit challenges the 1887 Electoral Count Act, which sets the vice presidents role in announcing the results as purely ceremonial. Members of the House and Senate can object to the slates of electors from any state, forcing a debate, but the vice president has no say in the matter; he only announces the results.

Gohmert insisted in court that the law violates the 12th Amendment, which provides for separate Electoral College votes for president and vice president.

Legal scholars have roundly rejected his argument that vice presidents have actual authority in the process, calling it far-fetched and noting that generations of vice presidents have failed to notice any such sweeping power to choose the commander in chief.

Pence himself sided against Gohmert in court, asking Kernodle to throw out the lawsuit. A 14-page filing by the Justice Department argued that the lawsuit should be aimed at Congress, not Pence: It is the role prescribed for the Senate and the House of Representatives in the Electoral Count Act to which plaintiffs object, not any actions that Vice President Pence has taken.

Five House members from Texas have committed to objecting to the Electoral College tally on Wednesday, citing unproven claims of fraud: Gohmert and Reps. Brian Babin of Woodville, Lance Gooden of Terrell, Randy Weber of Friendswood, and newly elected Ronny Jackson of Lubbock, who will be sworn in on Sunday.

GOP House members say that 140 or more of their colleagues will object, though with Democrats firmly in the majority, they have no chance of overturning Trumps defeat.

Congress will be required to debate and vote on the results if at least one senator also objects.

Sen. Ted Cruz and 10 other GOP senators announced Saturday that they will oppose certification of President-elect Joe Bidens victory when Congress meets Wednesday to review the Electoral College outcome, demanding a 10-day delay to allow an emergency audit of results in battleground states where President Donald Trump disputes the outcome.

Even in the Senate, such objections are doomed with McConnell and the rest of the GOP leadership staunchly opposed.

2021 The Dallas Morning News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
The Covid-19 vaccine roll-out schedule for the first phase in Offaly has been revealed.

Gallen Priory in Ferbane has the honour of being the first in the county, and will receive it on Monday, January 11. It's expected all nursing homes will get it by February 28.

The following are the scheduled dates for the rolling out of the Covid-19 vaccines in Offaly Nursing Homes.

Gallen Priory Nursing Home, Ferbane - January 11, 2021

Ealga Lodge Nursing Lodge, Shinrone - January 12, 2021

Carthages Nursing Home, Mucklagh - January 18, 2021

Elmgrove House, Nursing Home, Birr - January 19, 2021

Birr Nursing Unit - January 20, 2021

Edenderry Community Nursing Unit - January 22, 2021

Riada House Community Unit - Tullamore, January 25, 2021

Eliza Lodge, Nursing Home, Banagher - January 26, 2021

Esker Ri Nursing Home, Clara - January 27, 2021

Oakdale Nursing Home, Portarlington - January 29 2021

The roll out of the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid -19 vaccine which is the first to be approved in Ireland, began yesterday Tuesday December 29, at four acute hospitals in the Republic of Ireland.

These were Beaumont and St James hospitals in Dublin and Cork and Galway university hospitals.

Annie Lynch, a 79 year-old woman from Dublin, became the first person in Ireland to be vaccinated. She got it yesterday at St Jamess Hospital in Dublin 8, alongside healthcare workers from the hospital who were also vaccinated.10,000 doses of the vaccine arrived in the country on St Stephen's Day and some of the first doses were in hospitals by lunchtime on Monday.

The HSE says those most at risk will receive the vaccine first. Initially those aged 65 years or older who live in long-term care facilities as they are a greater risk of serious illness if they get Covid-19.

Frontline healthcare workers will also be among the early recipients.

The vaccine will be offered to more priority groups as soon as possible.

In the later phases of the programme that will focus on the next priority groups, people may be vaccinated through mass vaccination clinics, GP surgeries and community pharmacies.

People will know when it is their turn to get the vaccine through advertising and there is no need to contact the HSE.

Two doses of the vaccine will be required at least 21 days apart. Afterwards people will receive an aftercare advice leaflet and a vaccine record card. Your record will show the name and batch number of the vaccine you received. The vaccinator will ask if you have any allergies or have had an allergic reaction to previous vaccines.

The HSE point out that they only use a vaccine if it meets the required standards of safety and effectiveness.

''The Covid-19 vaccines have gone through all the usual steps needed to develop a safe and effective vaccine. But the work to develop them has moved much faster than usual. This is because they have gone through all their development phases at the same time, not one after the other. This was done to make them available as soon as possible,'' state the HSE.

Meanwhile the Covid-Tracker for Tuesday December 29 showed a 14 day incidence rate of confirmed Covid cases in Tullamore of 25 or 85.7 per 100,000 population.

The figure for Edenderry was 23 or 98.6 per 100,000 population.

Birr had a figure of 7 or 27.5 per 100,000 population
Imagine what Christmas would have been like if there was no vaccine for Covid-19. The rapidly climbing numbers and the return to Level 5 restrictions would be unbearable if we didn't have the start of the vaccination campaign. We were all lifted last week by the picture of the first person in Ireland to be vaccinated, 79-year-old Annie Lynch. Her daughter said Annie is looking forward to a pint of Carlsberg.

And then we got news of another vaccine being approved. The AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine joins the Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines as being deemed safe and efficacious. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) will soon approve it, along with the Moderna vaccine. The AstraZeneca vaccine might well prove to be the key one. It costs 1.78 per shot. This is great value for money when compared with the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine which costs 12, or the Moderna vaccine which costs a whopping 18. It appears to be slightly less efficacious than the other two, coming in at 60-70pc as opposed to the 90pc+ efficacy. But that is still high enough for it to make a huge difference, and AstraZeneca has claimed another version is as efficacious. Another advantage is it can be kept in the fridge - and it will be the first to be rolled out in the developing world, which is critical if we are to beat Covid-19 globally. We might well look back and say it was this vaccine that played the biggest part in the fight against Covid-19.

The following vaccines are predicted to come next: Johnson & Johnson in March, Novavax in April, CureVac/GSK and Sanofi/GSK in May, Arcturus in June and Merck in September. Nine vaccines by September.

The US government has invested $18bn in the development of some of these vaccines. All of this is remarkable. Outstanding scientists like Melissa Moore, Sarah Gilbert and Kathrin Jansen have been at the forefront and should become household names.

We therefore find ourselves in an unusual situation. In the depths of winter it is very dark right now, not only because of the time of year but also the situation we are in, with the return to Level 5 restrictions. It's grim, and the climbing numbers are very disturbing. We are scared when we look at the situation in the North, Britain, and the USA.

Chief immunologist in the US, Tony Fauci, said last week: "There will be a whole lot of pain in the first quarter." But he was also able to reassure people, as the pain will soon start to recede. This is because of the vaccines. They are the bright light in the gloom. It's like we're at the bottom of a deep pit, but there's a ladder out of it towards the light.

Because of the vaccines we can try and predict what the next few months will look like. One prominent doctor in the US, Ashish Jha, was asked to make a prediction and he said he would hold a 4th of July party with many guests. He said that by then, the virus will still be spreading, but at a "simmer" rather than "this winter's calamitous boil". He said if it rains, all his guests can go indoors and put a mask on. He said that by July it will start to feel like we're no longer in a pandemic.

The situation will be better in Ireland because we will have managed to get the virus under control sooner than the US. We can possibly plan for parties on the June Bank Holiday weekend. Maybe that weekend we could have some kind of national celebration to recognise the work that has gone on to get us through this, and for us all to pat each other on the elbow.

Being in a much better place by then will depend on two things. Firstly, that we will have protected the vulnerable groups, which will be evident from a profound decline in numbers in hospital and also deaths and illness from Covid-19. Secondly, the vaccines will have been given to 80pc of the population. This will be a significant challenge, partly because children will need to be vaccinated, and we need more efficacy and safety data before we can do so. Israel is claiming that they will have achieved this by the end of March. The population there is 8.9 million, so can it really be beyond the bounds of possibility that we will achieve this by June? Wouldn't that be marvellous?

Dr Jha was asked his opinion in a survey of 30 epidemiologists, doctors, immunologists, sociologists, and historians. All of them were cautiously optimistic that the US was heading for a better summer. That term 'cautious optimism' was first used about the likelihood of vaccines working and being safe, and look what happened. Both boxes ticked by December. The optimism was fully justified. Perhaps 'cautious optimism' should join 'You're on mute' as a signature phrase of 2020. It will all depend on the biggest vaccination programme in history, and ensuring everyone continues to limit contacts and wear masks, as well as countering the growing cacophony of misinformation.

We will need to reassure and encourage those who are worried about being vaccinated. We will also need to keep an eye on the virus itself, watching out for changes, in case vaccines need to be tweaked, or if the virus becomes more dangerous. There is optimism that dramatic changes in the virus are unlikely, but we'd be foolish not to keep a watchful eye.

As the months go by, we will all feel safer. We'll still need to wear masks in certain situations. We'll still bump elbows when we meet. And gatherings of large crowds will take time to return, but that is likely to happen as we move into the autumn. The simple pleasures of eating in restaurants and maybe even having a few drinks in a pub will start to come back, but with some controls. International travel will return - although it will likely involve a vaccine passport, as happens already for diseases like yellow fever.

People might need a booster a year after the first vaccination. The vaccines might last longer though - this is still an unknown. Ultimately the virus might become like influenza, with the vaccine being given to the vulnerable every winter with the flu vaccine. Not a huge extra burden.

But there will be fall-out. The damage to some people's mental health will be an ongoing concern, as will those left with the symptoms of long Covid. Latest studies are indicating that as many as 53pc of people have at least one symptom that persists for one month, although there are significant numbers of people with multiple symptoms that become chronic. We must increasingly turn our attention to both groups.

Once we get to May, our country will start to heal. There might be a perfect alignment of widespread vaccination and warmer weather. Both will work together to defeat Covid-19, as we move outdoors again. All we have to do is grin and bear the next couple of months, which without doubt will be tough. But we can continue to look out for each other in these darkest of days, and imagine what the brighter days of summer will look like.

For the sake of originality, I will finish not with a quote from Seamus Heaney but instead Mundy, who in his song Mexico sings: "It will get better. And we will heal in the bright weather."

Luke O'Neill is professor of biochemistry in the School of Biochemistry and Immunology at Trinity College Dublin
The HSE is under such pressure that it may have to stop offering a Covid-19 testing to everyone in the coming weeks who has symptoms, Independent.ie has learned.

The testing and tracing system is becoming increasingly overwhelmed to the point where the automatic test for everyone who is suspected of having the lethal virus may have to be abandoned.

Instead, targeted testing of particular groups  such as older people  may have to be introduced.

It comes as 4,962 new cases of the virus were reported today.

Anyone with symptoms of the virus is still being referred for testing as of now.

In a letter to GPs, Dr Nuala OConnor of the Irish College of General Practitioners said:It is possible in the coming weeks that we may revert to targeted testing of symptomatic groups rather than testing everyone with symptoms as we did in the first phase of the pandemic.

The guidance also said that If close contacts have ongoing exposure to the person with COVID-19, such as a family member who cannot self-isolate- a child or dependant adult- then the family must stay at home for 17 days.

It also emerged that 25pc of people who test positive are not answering the first call from public health staff asking for a list of their contacts.

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Dr OConnor said: At least five attempts are made over two days. Additional efforts are also made to identify correct phone numbers for all cases. Incorrect phone numbers are a part of this problem so please try to make sure that you have the correct mobile phone number for all of your patients. I am aware most of you ring your patients who have a positive result and encourage them to start to make a list of their close contacts. 

She said that the "HSE is asking everyone in Ireland to stay at home, and to effectively act like they may develop COVID-19.

This is in response to the very high rates of positive tests seen over recent days, and the widespread increase in infections in our communities nationwide. This is a temporary measure and we will revert to testing close contacts as the third wave comes under control.

The testing capacity is for 25,000 tests per day. 40pc of tests in recent weeks were on close contacts.

Close contacts will continue to be identified in the same manner via a phone call to those who test positive by a contact tracer from the HSE. The formally identified close contacts will receive a text message from the HSE explaining to them that they will not be tested but need to stay at home/restrict their movements for the full 14 days from last contact with the person with COVID.

If close contacts have ongoing exposure to the person with COVID-19 i.e. a family member who cannot self-isolate (child or dependant adult) then the family must stay at home for 17 days. If a close contact does not know when they were last in contact with the case, then they should stay at home for 14 days from date of text.

Some close contacts may be missed and will self-identify. The advice for these is the same and we do not need to notify Public Health. If close contacts develop symptoms they are advised to self-isolate, to contact GP/Out-Of-Hours and should be referred for testing in the usual manner

She said that GPs have the discretion to refer an asymptomatic close contact for testing if they consider it is medically important e.g. living with an extremely vulnerable person

GP practice team members and any health care worker who are identified as close contacts should be tested.

Referring to travellers from UK mainland and South Africa she said they need to self-isolate for 14 days and to have a test on day five.

If they test positive their close contacts need a test on day five and should be referred for this by their GP.

Public Health teams will manage complex settings e.g. schools, congregate settings, outbreaks and this may involve testing of close contacts.

As of now patients with symptoms should continue to be referred for testing.

They will receive their results by text message as usual as well as phone call from contact tracing teams to collect details of their close contacts.

Given the current pressure on the system,it is prudent to encourage patients to let their close contacts know, if they feel comfortable to do this in advance of the formal contact from the contact tracing system.

Online Editors
A teachers' union has called for all schools in Northern Ireland to stay shut until February at the earliest.

The NASUWT has said they agree with their counterparts in England that schools are "unsafe" and should stay closed, at least until the current lockdown ends.

Union official Justin McCamphill said he was "very disappointed" with First Minister Arlene Foster's proposal that remote learning should only be for a short period.

Mr McCamphill told the Belfast Telegraph that "blended learning", as he described it, "needs to continue for as long as is necessary".

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"We are calling on the Executive to review their position in relation to primary schools and to extend blended learning for them, at least until the end of January," he said.

"Our schools are not safe. With the massively increased number of Covid infections it's inevitable that coronavirus is going to spread within schools when they reopen therefore it's important that caution is applied."

He added: "The First Minister, the Education Minister and the Executive need to be guided by the science on this.

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"We are calling for blended learning for all school children except for the vulnerable and the children of key workers, to continue for the foreseeable future."

Mrs Foster said remote learning for school children should only be for a short period.

Speaking on the Andrew Marr show on the BBC, she also expressed concern about the life chances of young people during the pandemic. Primary pupils are to be taught remotely for the week from Monday until Friday, January 8 as the spread of coronavirus surges.

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But Mr McCamphill said all schools need to be closed until February to coincide with the current lockdown.

"There are two aspects to closing schools," he said. "There's the transmission that occurs in schools but then there's the associated transmission, such as children travelling on buses and parents dropping children off.

"If we want the lockdown to be effective, and if we want to get Covid under control, we must take all the necessary steps otherwise our health system won't be able to cope."

Mr McCamphill said he was disappointed after Mrs Foster told the BBC that keeping children in school was a priority.

The DUP leader said: "We will do all that we can to keep pupils in school. We do recognise that with this new mutant version of Covid-19 there are difficulties and it transmits among younger people, and we have to take that into consideration."

However, Mr McCamphill said the DUP need to start listening to the scientific advice and acting on it.

His comments come after all four teaching unions in England said it was "unsafe" for schools to reopen and called for their closure for the next two weeks.

But Boris Johnson said parents should send primary-age children back to schools that are open this week. The Prime Minister also said he has "no doubt" that classrooms are safe and that the risk to young people was "very, very small".

Mr Johnson told the Marr Show: "Schools are safe. It is very, very important to stress that.

"I would advise all parents thinking about want to do, look at where your area is, overwhelmingly you'll be in a part of the country where primary schools tomorrow will be open."

Meanwhile, Northern Ireland nursery schools leaders have urged Mr Weir to treat them the same as their primary and secondary school counterparts.

In a letter, the North and South Belfast Nursery Schools Principals Group urged him "to hear the voices from the sector working on the ground in these unprecedented times".

They added: "We urge you to apply the same safety measures around delayed opening for primary school to all nurseries and preschools, thus enabling them to offer the same essential care for key workers and vulnerable children, to minimise contact and the spread of the virus."
The Covid-19 death toll has crossed 400 with the deaths of 18 more people yesterday.

The death toll now stands at 408, with 96 of those occurring in the last seven days alone.

The Ministry of Health reported the deaths in its daily update yesterday evening.
The usual pomp and circumstance surrounding the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and Senates Swearing-in Day at the state Capitol will be absent on Tuesday due to COVID-19 mitigation orders.

There will be no receptions to celebrate the inaugural swearing-in of the newest members. Only a limited number of guests will be allowed in the Capitol that remains closed to visitors. That, in turn, eliminates the need for televisions and chairs to be set up in the Rotunda to accommodate any overflow crowd.

Masks will be required along with temperature checks to gain entry to the chambers. Social distancing will be practiced. Neither the House nor Senate plan to have all of their members present on the chamber floor at the same time on Tuesday so votes that are cast will be done partially remotely.

Despite all those precautions, there will still be oaths of office administered in person to 202 representatives and 24 senators who were certified by the Department of State as the duly elected winners in the 2020 general election.

The ceremonies marking the event will begin at noon as the state constitution requires.

Reps.-elect Perry Stambaugh, R-Perry County, and Joe Kerwin, R-Dauphin/Schuylkill counties, will be among the 30 freshmen to take the oath of office in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and Senate on Tuesday.

Among the five senators and 25 House members to be sworn in for the first time in their respective chambers are Republican Reps.-elect Perry Stambaugh of Perry County and Joe Kerwin of Dauphin County, whose House district also includes part of Schuylkill County.

Both look forward to embarking on what Stambaugh referred to as a journey as they launch their legislative careers.

I view this as the starting line for providing service to my constituents and taking legislative steps to enhance the rural quality of life, Stambaugh said.

Its going to be an exciting day to become a member of the General Assembly, Kerwin said. 2021 is going to be an exciting and challenging year in the General Assembly but I look forward to being in the Republican majority.

Because of Gov. Tom Wolfs crowd size limits as part of his COVID-19 mitigation orders, the House is limiting freshmen members to no more than three guests and newly elected House leaders to two. Senate spokeswoman Jenn Kocher said that chamber also is keeping down the number of guests permitted to attend.

Kerwin, who was a deputy district attorney in Dauphin County, has invited members of his immediate family to be on hand to witness his swearing-in. Stambaugh declined to say who he is inviting but said he hopes to have a special event later in the year once conditions allow to thank the many friends, relatives and others who helped out with his campaign but are not permitted to attend.

Both say their predecessors  Mark Keller in Stambaughs case and Mike Tobash for Kerwin  have been helpful in their transitions and familiarized them with the issues of concern to people in their districts.

Kerwin said Tobash offered him this advice: Stay resilient. Keep your head up. Its an amazing job and just never forget you work for the people.

Both men also recognize they are launching their legislative careers at a time when the commonwealth faces a plethora of big challenges, and they stand ready to work to take them on.

Both plan to make their legislative service their full-time jobs although Kerwin intends to remain in the Army National Guard and maintain his law license as well.

When it comes to administering the oath, the Senate plans to have only those senators due to be sworn in along with a limited number of its newest members guests inside the chamber. Other senators will be watching it remotely and participating in the election of a new Senate president pro tempore, who is expected to be Sen. Jake Corman, R-Centre County.

It was unclear as of Thursday whether Sen. Jim Brewster, D-Allegheny County, would be among those to be sworn in given the pending court challenge by his Republican opponent Nicole Ziccarelli over a dispute about counting mail-in ballots missing a printed date on the outer envelope.

In the House, its 202 members, all of whom need to be sworn in, are being divided into groups of about 50. Starting at noon, the first group comprising leaders and newly elected lawmakers, with their guests on hand to watch, will take the oath of office.

Basically the hope was to try to give the freshmen and new leaders as close to a normal swearing in feeling as you only have your first swearing in once, said Mike Straub, spokesman for House Speaker Bryan Cutler, R-Lancaster County. That one will feel a little more normal and once they are done, they will exit. Their guests will exit.

Then one at a time, the next two groups will enter the chamber, be sworn in and exit. Following the administration of the oath to the fourth group, the chamber will hold its election for the House Speaker with members not in the chamber casting their votes remotely.

Cutler is anticipated to retain the position he was first elected to in June following former House Speaker Mike Turzais mid-term resignation.

On Jan. 19, the inaugural ceremonies for the statewide row officers will be held. They too will be absent the large celebratory gatherings that often accompany them due to COVID-19 concerns.

Attorney General Josh Shapiro will take the oath of office in a private ceremony that will be live-streamed, said his spokeswoman. Auditor General-elect Tim DeFoor plans to hold his inauguration outdoors at an invitation-only ceremony and reception at the King Mansion on Front Street in Harrisburg that will be within the 50-person limit for social gatherings. Plans for Treasurer-elect Stacy Garrity were still being formulated, her spokeswoman said.

* This story was updated to reflect that there will be only 202 House members taking the oath of office in the House on Swearing-in Day due to Saturdays death of Rep. Mike Reese and was updated to reflect only 24 senators will be sworn in due to an election dispute in the 45th senatorial district race that prompted a late decision by interim Senate President Pro Tempore Jake Corman, R-Centre County, to delay seating either Democratic incumbent Jim Brewster or his Republican challenger Nicole Ziccarelli.

Jan Murphy may be reached at jmurphy@pennlive.com. Follow her on Twitter at @JanMurphy.
After significant flooding in Warrnambool caused by a "once in 50 years" storm, much of central and eastern Victoria is being told to brace for heavy rain and damaging wind.

Almost 50 millimetres of rain fell in the town in about an hour, with the storm crossing the area just after 2pm on Saturday.

Across just 12 minutes, more than 30 millimetres fell on the town, flooding streets in Warrnambool's south-east and leaving homes and businesses inundated.

Severe thunderstorms are likely for much of eastern Victoria on Sunday, including places such as Wodonga, Shepparton and Warragul.
Reopening of schools in the city, which are shut till at least January 15 amid the fear of a new strain of the virus causing Covid, is likely to receive a mixed response, according to experts.

Several government and aided schools are looking forward to the reopening, citing loss of learning in online mode. Private schools, however, are considering continuing with the online mode, as parents are willing to send their children only after the vaccination. Private schools said they have a Covid-19 protocol in place in case they are allowed to physically open, but not many parents might opt for the plan.

We have all the resources for online learning and over the past few months, our students have been able to cope up with the new normal. While we do have the preparedness to reopen, we have doubts about parents sending their children to school, as there is still a lot of anxiety about the virus. We have not taken their views as it makes sense to do so only after permissions are given to reopen physically, said Rohan Bhat, chairperson, The Childrens Academy Group of Schools, which has schools in Kandivli and Malad.

Some schools said they are still exploring the possibility of calling some students only for exams and practicals.

For the higher grades  Class 9 and Class 10  we are hoping that students get a practice of writing an actual exam and would thus like to call them in case the authorities permit. Most of our parents are ready to send their children for this purpose, said Kavita Sanghvi, principal of Chatrabhuj Narsee Memorial School in Vile Parle.

The school has also prepared its campus by ensuring regular sanitisation, putting up information banners on rules with respect to social distancing on each floor. Fr Francis Swamy, principal of St Marys School (ICSE), Mazagaon, said that while the institute is planning to continue its learning modules online, it is exploring the idea of calling students for select interactions if authorities permit.

Children are cooped inside their homes for a long time now and we want them to come and interact with the teachers and with each other and do some activities together with due precautions, he added.

The scenario is different at government-run and aided schools, which are awaiting guidelines from the local authorities to start offline classes. Many schools said that while online learning was interesting in the beginning, it is slowly losing its charm as teachers are not able to gauge how much a child has understood.

As the class size is big, it becomes difficult to know if children have understood in the online mode. We are eager to start offline teaching because children, especially from Class 10, require paper-solving practice, said Jagdish Indalkar, principal of KVK School, Ghatkopar. The school has purchased sanitisation machines and has installed hand wash stations in every washroom.

The principal of a civic school in the eastern suburbs said that while the attendance is likely to be average in the initial few days, it will slowly pick up.

Parents need to get the confidence that it is safe to send their children to schools and that will only happen if we take a decision to reopen partially, she added. Arundhati Chavan, president of the PTA (parents-teachers association) United Forum said that while parents are gradually trying to make peace with the fact that offline schools would have to start, many who have the option of continuing online may still opt for it. Parents, especially from low-income families, might want to send their children to schools if the institutes take adequate measures because learning is taking a hit without offline classes. A blended learning model seems to be the way to go, she added.
Insurance fraud seems like it might be an easy thing to do. Insurance companies are often so huge, one wonders how they might not even notic...
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-04 00:01:23|Editor: huaxia

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NEW DELHI -- The death toll in the roof collapse in a crematorium in India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh rose to 21, while around 20 others were injured, reported the Press Trust of India (PTI) news agency quoting the local police.

The accident took place when the roof of a concrete structure collapsed at a crematorium in the state's Muradnagar area, near Delhi. (India-Roof collapse)

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YANGON -- Myanmar reported 729 more COVID-19 cases on Sunday, bringing the tally in the country to 126,345, according to a release from the Ministry of Health and Sports.

A total of 17 more COVID-19 deaths were reported on Sunday, bringing the death toll to 2,728 in total, the release said. (Myanmar-COVID-19)

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DHAKA -- Bangladesh reported 835 new COVID-19 cases and 27 new deaths on Sunday, making the tally at 516,019 and death toll at 7,626, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) said.

The official data showed that 10,925 samples were tested in the last 24 hours across Bangladesh. (Bangladesh-COVID-19)

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HONG KONG -- Paul Chan, financial secretary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government, said on Sunday that Hong Kong's economy is expected to resume positive growth in 2021, noting that the epidemic is the most critical variable in the speed and strength of economic recovery.

Chan said in his blog article that the economy in the first half of the year will still face major challenges brought by the COVID-19 epidemic, as some industries have been hit hard and it takes time for cross-boundary activities to resume. (Hong Kong-Economy)

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NEW DELHI -- India's COVID-19 tally rose to 10,323,965 on Sunday as 18,177 more cases were registered during the past 24 hours, said the latest data from the federal health ministry.

According to the data, the death toll mounted to 149,435 with 217 new deaths. (India-COVID-19) Enditem
The stand-off at Waikeria Prison has ended today after the prisoners surrendered.

At approximately midday today, the 16 prisoners were escorted out by Rawiri Waititi, MP for Waiariki and co-leader of the Maori Party.

The prisoner disorder event at Waikeria Prison is over, with all remaining prisoners now safely and securely detained, says Corrections Minister Kelvin Davis.

The majority of those involved in the event are members of the Mongols and Comancheros. Five of the men are deportees from Australia, with three subject to returning offender orders because of their criminal convictions.

The group has destroyed the top jail facility at Waikeria Prison, rendering it unusable.

Responsibility for laying charges in relation to the destruction of the facility is with the Police.

A world-leading new high-security prison with a first-of-its-kind mental health facility is currently being built at Waikeria Prison and will open in 2022.

The arson, violence and destruction carried out by these men were reckless criminal acts that put themselves, other prisoners, Corrections staff and emergency services in danger, says Davis.

I want to thank all those involved for bringing this incident to a close, especially the Corrections staff who responded to the initial incident and worked to secure the site and prevent the other prisoners getting injured.

I especially want to thank tangata whenua and local kaumatua who played an important role in negotiations with the group and who helped to end this situation peacefully.

Waititi says the prisoners were protesting their maltreatment in prison.

As previously expressed, I have had constant contact with the whanau involved in this protest and they were adamant that they would only surrender with me present to ensure that no injury occurred to any officers or protesters, says Waititi.

I arrived at Waikeria at 9.30am after travelling through the night at the request of the sixteen.

I want to take this opportunity to mihi to the boys, first and foremost for standing up to fight for their rights and secondly for making the right decision to surrender.

They were ready to come down. Naturally, they were tired and hungry but still very determined to see change.

They have achieved what they set out to do when they embarked on bringing attention to their maltreatment in Prison.

Corrections earlier warned the situation had become incredibly volatile.

We know that there are tensions between members of the group, they have access to weapons and they may have taken drugs from the dispensary," Corrections incident controller Jeanette Burns said in a statement.

The prisoners have continued to light fires within the facility overnight, make threats towards our staff and police and throw debris at them from the roof of the buildings, says Burns.

The burned buildings were also at risk of collapse, or the materials could be toxic.

Davis expressed thanks to all those involved in supporting Corrections.

Id also like to extend my gratitude to members of the Police, Ambulance, and Fire and Emergency services who responded alongside Corrections staff and provided them with support and assistance to deal with this situation, says Davis.

There are many legitimate avenues for prisoners to raise concerns about their conditions, including through the independent Corrections Inspectorate and the Office of the Ombudsman. These prisoners used none of those avenues and never raised any issues prior to this event.

No one should glorify the actions of these prisoners. They damaged property worth hundreds of thousands of dollars and they put their own lives and the health and safety of staff and other prisoners at risk.

There is never an excuse for resorting to violence and destruction, says Davis.

The Minister has instructed Corrections to undertake a comprehensive review into how the situation was able to evolve and escalate to the extent it did and report their findings back to him.

They will also assess the damage done to the prison, but no one is expected to return to the top jail facility, says Davis.

Throughout the incident I received regular briefings, hourly most days. It was important to leave the containment of the riot to Corrections staff who are highly trained with specialist skills in managing such events and have clear operational guidelines for how to respond.

These men wanted political attention, and unfortunately those who waded into the issue in order to generate headlines only helped to embolden them, extend the duration of the event, and increase the risk to safety, says Davis.

I made the decision not to bow to the demands of these men nor make public comment that would have simply opened up political negotiation with them and achieved nothing to bring the event to a safe resolution.

Our Government is committed to improving the situation for prisoners in New Zealand, including investing $98 million to work in partnership with whanau, hapu and iwi to reduce the rates of Maori reoffending; ditching the American-style mega prison planned by the previous National Government at Waikeria; giving mental health and addiction services for offenders a $128 million boost and launching Hokai Rangi, a new strategy designed to address the long-term challenge of Maori reoffending and imprisonment.

We have also safely reduced the prison population by 20 per cent since it peaked in March 2018, says Davis.

These initiatives represent a major change in direction for our Corrections system and this takes time, but we are making good progress on our plan.
A group of Republican senators led by veteran lawmaker Ted Cruz said Saturday they would not vote next week to certify Joe Bidens election win -- the latest last-ditch move to support Donald Trumps efforts to undermine the vote.

The initiative, which appears certain to fail, flies in the face of rulings in dozens of courts and the findings by officials in several key states, that there were no widespread voting problems.

The Republicans statement, signed by Cruz and six other current senators along with four senators-elect, asserts that allegations of fraud and irregularities in the 2020 election exceed any in our lifetimes.

The group said that when Congress convenes in a joint session on Wednesday -- for what normally would be a pro-forma certification of Bidens victory -- they will demand the creation of a special commission to conduct an emergency 10-day audit of the election results.

The statement says individual states could then convene special legislative sessions and potentially revise their vote totals.

An attempt to steal a landslide win. Cant let it happen! Trump tweeted Saturday.

Posting a list of the 11 senators, Trump added: And after they see the facts, plenty more to come...Our Country will love them for it!

They join Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri, who said earlier that he planned to raise objections on Wednesday.

A Republican member of the House of Representatives, Louie Gohmert, has also announced his plan to oppose certification, and more than 100 House Republicans reportedly will back his challenge.

Gohmert sought to further raise the stakes with a lawsuit that would have given Vice President Mike Pence -- traditionally in a ceremonial role in Wednesdays session -- the power to overturn the election result.

Pence opposed that effort, and a federal judge in Texas on Friday rejected the suit.

The Hawley and Gohmert challenges will ensure that Congress must meet to hear the complaints.

The Electoral College has spoken

The Congress sessions, sure to be contentious, will play out against a backdrop of pro-Trump rallies in Washington next week encouraged by the president himself.

As with Trumps other attempts to reverse his election defeat, the latest political maneuvering appears doomed. Democrats control the House, and many Republicans are expected to vote Wednesday for certification.

The 11 senators conceded that most Democrats and more than a few Republicans would likely oppose their initiative.

Among them is Republican Senator Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania, whose state was a battleground that helped tip Biden into the win column. Its result is expected to be among those contested on Wednesday.

A fundamental, defining feature of a democratic republic is the right of the people to elect their own leaders, Toomey said on Twitter.

The effort by Sens. Hawley, Cruz, and others to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in swing states like Pennsylvania directly undermines this right.He added: I voted for President Trump and endorsed him for re-election. But, on Wednesday, I intend to vigorously defend our form of government by opposing this effort to disenfranchise millions of voters in my state and others.

Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell has urged fellow Republicans to vote to certify and avoid a divisive political brawl, saying, The Electoral College has spoken.

Biden won in the all-important Electoral College by a vote of 306 to 232.

This is cynical, anti-democratic posturing, presidential historian Tim Naftali told CNN.

Cruz is considered a likely 2024 presidential candidate. Hawley is also said to be positioning himself for a 2024 run -- and so is Pence.
The coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic has claimed over 1.83 million lives worldwide so far, according to Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center, overwhelming health facilities around the globe. While the governments and health authorities have been working to contain the virus and slow down its transmission, they have also been struggling to put a lid on wild and baseless conspiracy theories. Several social media platforms scrambled to add labels, warnings and links to trusted news sources to bust the rumours.

Here are some of the baseless conspiracy theories around Covid-19:

Impotency

Samajwadi Party leader Ashutosh Sinha said that his party does not believe in the machinery of the government, suggesting that the vaccine may be used for population control by making people impotent. Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) VG Somani on Sunday rubbished the latest conspiracy theory surrounding Covid-19 vaccine.

The vaccines are 100 per cent safe. Some side effects like mild fever, pain and allergy are common for every vaccine. It is absolute rubbish that people may become impotent, Somani was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

5G causes Covid-19

During the initial days of the coronavirus outbreak, an incomprehensible theory about 5G - the next-generation wireless network technology - causing the health crisis made its way to social media platforms. The conspiracy theorists pointed to the installation of 5G towers in Wuhan, China, before the virus outbreak. The Federal Communications Commission of the United States had to release a statement to quell the rumour.

A worldwide online conspiracy theory has attempted to link 5G cell phone technology as being one of the causes of the coronavirus. Many cell towers outside of the US have been set on fire as a result. 5G technology does NOT cause coronavirus, the statement read.

Also Read | Disgraceful: Health minister Vardhan slams Akhilesh Yadav, Tharoor over Covid-19 vaccine doubts

Plandemic

A 26-minute video titled Plandemic was uploaded on YouTube which claimed the pandemic was a planned health crisis. In the video, a discredited medical researcher, Judy Mikovits, asserted that face masks activates your own virus and vaccines are a money-making enterprise that causes medical harm. The video also suggested that powerful elites were complicit in the virus outbreak and stand to profit from it.

The video garnered millions of views within hours before it was taken taken down by YouTube and other social media platforms for making false claims. Since then, several medical professionals have also come forward to rubbish the claim and a host of fact-check videos have been uploaded on YouTube to minimise the damage from such baseless theories.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has repeatedly said that wearing masks is a key measure to suppress virus transmission and save lives. According to the UN health agency, masks can be used for either protection of healthy persons or to prevent onward transmission. It has advised that masks should be used as part of a comprehensive approach.

Bill Gates and microchip

A Yahoo News/YouGov survey found that 28 per cent of US adults believed a conspiracy theory that suggested Bill Gates, the principal founder of Microsoft Corporation, had planned to use a potential Covid-19 vaccine to implant microchips to monitor the movement of billions of people.

During a CNN Town Hall interview, Gates called it a bad combination of pandemic and social media, adding that people are looking for a very simple explanation. In another TV interview, Gates said that the truth needs to be out there and the conspiracy theories will die down as people get the facts.

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has donated millions of dollars for Covid-19 vaccine and treatment research programmes. In February, the foundation pledged to donate $100 million to coronavirus vaccine research and treatment efforts and months later, it pledged an additional $1.6 billion to the Gavi vaccine alliance.
The newly inaugurated members of the East Baton Rouge Metro Council selected LaMont Cole, a Black Democrat and former president of the Baton Rouge NAACP, to lead the parish's governing body as mayor pro tem in a vote Saturday.

Cole won the support of 7 of his 11 colleagues  including three White Republicans  and said he looked forward to serving as a unifier, pledging to work with "dignity and respect and collegiality for all."

The mayor pro tem fills in for the mayor-president if they're out of town or become incapacitated, a relatively rare occurrence. The more substantive power of the position comes with the ability to moderate council meetings. The pro tem can unilaterally cut off a public speaker or colleague if they decide their comments are off-topic to the discussion at hand.

In the weeks leading up to Saturday's vote, new and returning council members said they hoped the next four years would be defined by unity and bipartisanship, not the partisan bickering and racial divisions that so often stymied the council in the past.

Baton Rouge's new Metro Council members say they want unity. Picking a new leader could test that. With half of the East Baton Rouge Parish Metro Council set to turn over in January, new and returning members say they're eager to start fresh

Cole echoed those sentiments before the vote Saturday and told his colleagues that he looked forward to getting to know each of them personally, so that when disagreements did arise, they could be hashed out "with a level of respect."

Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome made a similar plea for unity in her inaugural address Saturday morning, imploring council members to develop an atmosphere of openness and mutual respect, adding that "unity is essential to our success as a community."

Those aspirations were tested earlier this week when Council Member Chauna Banks took to Facebook to accuse Dwight Hudson, another contender for mayor pro tem, of being a "bonafide racist." Banks is Black and a Democrat; Hudson is White and a Republican.

On Saturday, Banks listed off several agenda items that Hudson had objected to introducing and said the common denominator was that they were each sponsored by Black council members.

"I think that if we're going to have unity, we have to have a history of people reaching across the aisle and at least being heard," Banks said.

She said that, when a council member objects to an item, they are telling a council members' constituents, "I don't want to hear what you have to say and I don't care."

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Hudson said that he's not a racist, and  after praying over the accusations lodged against him  decided he'd spend the next four years leaning into his relationship with Banks.

"All too often, when something transpires between two elected officials, like has transpired between you and I ... the temptation is to silo and block each out and trade barbs. I'm not going to do that. I'm going to press in," Hudson said.

With regard to his voting record, Hudson said, "I'm a conservative and I vote like a conservative and that's all there is to it."

The two council members hugged at the conclusion of the meeting.

Black Baton Rouge council member calls White colleague 'bonafide racist' before leadership vote A Black member of East Baton Rouge's Metro Council called a White colleague jockeying for the position of mayor pro tem a "bonafide racist" in

Council Member Rowdy Gaudet, newly sworn in to represent District 3, told his colleagues that the dust-up over the Facebook post "does not need to define the council."

"The last few years of this council brings with it a reputation. Let us, this council, refuse to be brought into that," Gaudet said. "Instead of focusing on post-traumatic stress, let's focus on post-traumatic growth."

Cole won the position on the first vote, with support from three Republicans  Jen Racca, Rowdy Gaudet, Brandon Noel  and four Democrats, including Chauna Banks, Cleve Dunn, Jr., Erika Green and Carolyn Coleman.

Cole is entering his second full term on the council and was first appointed to the seat in 2016 after his predecessor, state Rep. C. Denise Marcelle, was elected to the legislature. A longtime educator, Cole currently works as the chief academic officer at the charter school network CSAL Inc.

He is the third Black mayor pro tem in the history of East Baton Rouge Parish, following Tom Woods in the 1990s and Lorri Burgess in the 2000s.

"This is like a crown that has been placed, not on my head, but above my head," Cole said after the vote. "This will require me, in the rest of my life, in my attempt to work hard and prove myself worthy of growing tall enough to wear it."
Netajis elder brother Sarat Chandra Bose never believed his brother died in the 1945 air crash at Taihoku and told his daughter Roma, son Amiya Nath and Netajis wife Emilie Schenkl that he would reappear, as per the declassified intelligence files.

Sarat Boses daughter, 86-year-old Roma Ray, corroborated it to HT. My father never believed the air crash theory and was always sure that my uncle had spread the word about the crash to evade the Allied forces. He suspected (Colonel) Habibur Rahman (of the Indian National Army of Netaji) was lying on purpose under instruction from Netaji, she said.

In 1946, Schenkl had introduced herself in her first letter to the Bose family as Netajis widow. But a few months after her first meeting with members of Bose family, including Sarat Bose, in Vienna in late 1948, she seemed to have changed her mind. We can only hope that our feelings may become reality one day and that your brother will return. This is the only thing I am praying for, she wrote to Sarat Bose in a letter dated May 5, 1949.

Sarat Boses grandson Chandra Bose said he had learnt from his father Amiya Nath Bose that his grandfather was suspicious about Rahmans statement. Both Chandra Bose and Roma Ray told HT that the wristwatch of Netaji that Rahman handed over to Sarat Bose deepened his suspicion.

My grandfather got the watch tested at a London laboratory to find the nature of burn marks on its band (proof that the plane caught fire and Netaji suffered third degree burns). The lab ruled the burn marks were caused by acid. Sarat Bose was then convinced his brother had deliberately spread the news of his death, Chandra Bose said. An IB report, dated February 25, 1948, claims that Sarat Bose received the deputy premier of Vietnam in Calcutta and requested him to help Netajis reappearance in the East.

The Vietnamese leader assured Bose of all help in shielding Netaji from the UNs attempt to try him as war criminal should he personally appear before them. He reportedly told Bose that he would make Netaji appear in Vietnam.

IB reports reveal INA Captain Shah Nawaz Khan told a gathering in Calcutta on January 23, 1948 that his leader was alive. Khan led the three-member Netaji Inquiry Committee in 1956 and concluded Netaji had died in the air crash.

Netajis younger brother Suresh Bose, a member of the committee, however, did not agree with the report.
When Disney+ made its debut, it served up a Star Wars blockbuster, The Mandalorian. When AppleTV+ came online, it offered a big-budget original series starring Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston. Another newcomer to streaming, HBO Max, lured subscribers with a Wonder Woman sequel.

Discovery is taking a much different approach with its entry into streaming.

Almost all of the players in the business moved toward scripted series and scripted movies, David Zaslav, the chief executive of Discovery, said in an interview. They went to the big stars and the red carpet. The big shiny object.

Were not as shiny, he continued, and we dont have a lot of red carpets.

Discovery+, which goes live on Monday, is built on homier fare  cooking shows, nature shows, home improvement shows and various other unscripted programs from HGTV, the Food Network, TLC, ID, Animal Planet and the companys flagship, Discovery.

Mr. Zaslav is wagering that people are now ready to subscribe to a streaming service filled with the kind of thing you can watch with one eye while folding the laundry, paying bills or scrolling through social media. And just how much is he willing to bet that people are willing to pay for a platform that promises a more casual viewing experience?
Man's Body Found Along I-69 Identified

By West Kentucky Star Staff

MARSHALL COUNTY - Authorities have released the name of the man whose body was found in Marshall County Friday morning.The Marshall County Coroner's office said Saturday afternoon that the man has been identified as 25-year-old Andrew E. Blakely of Barlow. Next of kin have been notified, but the coroner's office did not release a cause of death.Marshall County Sheriff Eddie McGuire said the body was found along the Purchase Parkway/I-69 near the overpass of US 68 in Draffenville.
The Covid-19 death toll has crossed 400 with the deaths of 18 more people yesterday.

The death toll now stands at 408, with 96 of those occurring in the last seven days alone.

The Ministry of Health reported the deaths in its daily update yesterday evening.
New Delhi: India's drugs regulator on Sunday approved Oxford Covid-19 vaccine Covishield, manufactured by the Serum Institute, and indigenously developed Covaxin of for restricted emergency use in the country, paving the way for a massive inoculation drive. The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) granted the approval on the basis of recommendations by a Covid-19 Subject Expert Committee (SEC) of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO).



"After adequate examination, CDSCO has decided to accept the recommendations of the Expert Committee and, accordingly, vaccines of M/s Serum and are being approved for restricted use in emergency situations," DCGI V G Somani told the media here.



This clears the way for the roll-out of at least two vaccines in India in the coming days.



ALSO READ: Covishield to cost Rs 200/dose for first 100 mn doses to govt: Serum CEO

"Serum and vaccines have to be administered in two doses," Somani said, adding these vaccines have to be stored at 2-8 C.



"We will never approve anything if there is even the slightest safety concern. Vaccines are 110 per cent safe. Some side effects like mild fever, pain and allergy are common for every vaccine," Somani told reporters after the press briefing.



His assertion came after a few raised concerns over the safety of the vaccines.



The Serum Institute of India, the world's largest vaccine manufacturer, has tied up with AstraZeneca to manufacture Covishield, while Covaxin has been indigenously developed by Bharat Biotech in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).





ALSO READ: Serum, Bharat Biotech vaccines get restricted use approval from DCGI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi termed the approval a "decisive turning point" in India's fight against the novel coronavirus.



A decisive turning point to strengthen a spirited fight!



DCGI granting approval to vaccines of @SerumInstIndia and @BharatBiotech accelerates the road to a healthier and COVID-free nation.



Congratulations India.



Congratulations to our hardworking scientists and innovators.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 3, 2021

"DCGI granting approval to vaccines of @SerumInstIndia and @BharatBiotech accelerates the road to a healthier and Covid-free nation. Congratulations India. Congratulations to our hardworking scientists and innovators," he tweeted.





Prime Minister Narendra Modi | Image: Twitter

Health Minister Harsh Vardhan termed it a "watershed moment in India's battle against Covid-19".

A watershed moment in Indias famed battle against #COVID19 under the charismatic leadership of Honble PM Sh @narendramodi Ji !



Our wait for #COVID19vaccine is over with COVISHIELD from @SerumInstIndia & COVAXIN from @BharatBiotech approved for emergency use in India@PMOIndia pic.twitter.com/sqjsetqHnU  Dr Harsh Vardhan (@drharshvardhan) January 3, 2021

Union Minister for Health Harsh Vardhan | Photo: PTI

The World Health Organisation also welcomed the move, saying it will "help intensify and strengthen the fight against the pandemic in the region".

Serum Institute of India's CEO Adar Poonawalla tweeted, "COVISHIELD, India's first Covid-19 vaccine is approved, safe, effective and ready to roll-out in the coming weeks." In his media statement, Somani also said Zydus Cadila has been granted the permission to conduct Phase III clinical trial of its plasmid DNA vaccine candidate in India.



Happy new year, everyone! All the risks @SerumInstIndia took with stockpiling the vaccine, have finally paid off. COVISHIELD, India's first COVID-19 vaccine is approved, safe, effective and ready to roll-out in the coming weeks. pic.twitter.com/TcKh4bZIKK  Adar Poonawalla (@adarpoonawalla) January 3, 2021

"The firm initiated Phase-I/II clinical trials in India in more than 1,000 participants which is ongoing. The interim data suggests that the vaccine is safe and immunogenic with three doses when administered intradermally. Accordingly, firm has sought permission to conduct Phase-III clinical trial in 26,000 Indian participants, which has been recommended by the Subject Expert Committee," he added.





ALSO READ: Next step on vaccines

Department of Biotechnology secretary Renu Swarup said they partnered with Zydus Cadila to address the need for accelerated development of an indigenous vaccine for Covid-19.



"The partnership exemplifies that such research endeavours demonstrate the government's focus on creating an ecosystem that nurtures and encourages new product innovation with societal relevance," she said.



Pune-based SII's shot is a Recombinant Chimpanzee Adenovirus vector vaccine (Covishield), encoding the SARS-CoV-2 Spike (S) glycoprotein with technology transfer from AstraZeneca/Oxford University.





ALSO READ: ICMR says clinical trial data show Bharat Biotech's Covaxin is 'safe'

"The firm submitted safety, immunogenicity and efficacy data generated on 23,745 participants aged 18 years or older from overseas clinical studies. The overall vaccine efficacy was found to be 70.42 per cent," Somani said.



Further, SII was granted permission to conduct Phase-2/3 clinical trials on 1,600 participants within the country, he said.

On Covaxin, Somani said, "Bharat Biotech has developed a Whole Virion Inactivated (Covaxin) in collaboration with ICMR and NIV (Pune), from where they received the virus seed strains.



This vaccine is developed on the Vero cell platform, which has a well established track record of safety and efficacy in the country and globally." "The clinical trial ongoing within the country by the firm will continue," he said.





ALSO READ: All risks paid off, India proud: SII, Bharat Biotech on Covid vaccine nod

Dr Reddy's Laboratories is conducting phases 2 and 3 clinical trials of Russian vaccine Sputnik V, while Biological E is conducting phase 1 trial of its indigenously developed vaccine candidate.



SII had applied to the DCGI seeking nod for its vaccine on December 6, while Bharat Biotech submitted its application on December 7. Pfizer had also applied for regulatory approval for its vaccine on December 4, but not much progress has been made on it after that.



Meanwhile, the BJP hit out at the Congress after some of its leaders questioned the approval process for Covaxin, with party president J P Nadda alleging that whenever India achieves something commendable the opposition comes up with "wild theories" to "ridicule" the accomplishments.





ALSO READ: Congress leaders divided over DCGI approval to Bharat Biotech's Covaxin

Some Congress leaders, including Anand Sharma, Shashi Tharoor and Jairam Ramesh, raised serious concerns over the grant of approval to Covaxin, saying it is "premature" and can prove dangerous.



Health Minister Vardhan said Bharat Biotech's vaccine is more likely to work against newer variants of coronavirus, including the UK variant, and asked politicians not to "discredit" the approval protocol.


Paris, TX (75460)

Today

Partly to mostly cloudy with scattered showers and thunderstorms overnight. Low 67F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Partly to mostly cloudy with scattered showers and thunderstorms overnight. Low 67F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
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Global tourism lost about $935 billion in revenues due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which is more than 10 times the loss suffered in 2009 because of the global economic crisis, the tourism and aviation committee of the Egyptian Junior Businessmen Association estimated.

In its annual report on the performance of the tourism sector locally and internationally  released on Sunday  the committee noted that the number of international arrivals fell by 72 percent in the first ten months of 2020, a matter which led to the loss of 900 million international tourists between January and October of the year.

Mohamed Kaoud, the committee's head, said that the number of international arrivals is expected to have declined by 70 to 75 percent for the whole of 2020, with 1 billion fewer arrivals and a loss of some $1.1 trillion in international tourism receipts.

"This massive drop in tourism due to the pandemic could result in an economic loss of $2 trillion in the global GDP," Kaoud said.

Asia and the Pacific, the first region to suffer the impact of the pandemic, and the one with the highest level of travel restrictions to date, saw an 82 percent decrease in arrivals in the first ten months of 2020; the Middle East recorded a 73 percent decline, while Africa witnessed a 69 percent drop, according to the report.

Kaoud underscored the International Air Transport Associations data, which showed that international air demand declined by 74 percent from January to October 2020, along with the decline in international tourist arrivals during the same period.

In addition, international passenger traffic, measured in revenue passenger kilometers, fell by about 88 percent year-on-year in October, a worse performance compared to previous months amid a spike in new COVID-19 cases, which have caused $85 billion in losses in the first 10 months of 2020.

According to official data, Egypt recorded 13 million international tourist arrivals in 2019, in 2020, however, it fell sharply by approximately 69.5 percent year to date (YTD).

This drop affected the countrys tourism sectors revenues severely to fall by 67.2 percent in 2020 YTD, after achieving $13 billion in revenues in 2019.

Moreover, the UN World Tourism Organisation expected three scenarios for the sectors recovery, expecting a rebound in international tourism by the second half of 2021.

The rebound is expected to continue in 2022, as travel conditions normalise, and the pandemic becomes more contained globally. However, international tourism could still take 2.5 to 4 years to return to 2019 levels.

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Christians have been advised not to renege on their efforts to worship God in 2021 as the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continue to surge around the World.



Reverend Father Thomas Kweku Aidoo, the Parish Priest of Aboadze Saints Peter the Apostle Roman Catholic Church, who gave the advice underscored that it was only in true worship that God could save the world from the pandemic.



Let us extol God for his protection and mercies upon us even in the midst of COVID-19 despite our iniquities, he said while encouraging them to be punctual at church.



Delivering his new message on Friday New Years day, Rev. Fr. Aidoo asked Christians to emulate the exemplary character of the Lord Jesus Christ to walk in truth, decency and strictly obey the commandments of God in order to abound with his unending blessings.



He further admonished Christians to work in tandem with the tenets of God, saying that would help them give proper accounts of themselves when they are called to eternity.



Rev. Fr. Aidoo further admonished Christians to endeavour to avoid backbiting, discredit of ones character and misunderstandings in the church, adding fostering unity among themselves would surmount the growth of the church.



He reiterated that God has been so good to mankind. He has endowed us with his spiritual gifts such as wisdom, protection and this warrant that we show gratitude to him for such favours in our lives.



Rev. Fr. Aidoo asked Christians to remain committed to the work of God and ensure that the gospel reached all corners of the world.



Rev. Fr. Aidoo noted that Jesus Christ never discriminated against humanity and that Christians should draw inspiration from such virtue to show love and compassion to one another.



Christians should not arrogate unto themselves powers because of what they have accomplished in life, he added.



Rev. Fr. Aidoo called on Ghanaians to abide by the COVID-19 protocols, saying the disease was real and wreaking havoc in other parts of the world

Source: GNA









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UAEs Adnoc Distribution, a top fuel and convenience retailer, has signed an agreement to acquire 15 service stations in Saudi Arabia, bringing the companys total network to 17 across the Kingdom.



Already the only fuel retailer operating in all seven emirates in the UAE, the addition of these new stations highlights the long term smart growth strategy to also become a leading fuel operator in KSA. The company sees value creation potential coming from uplift in fuel margins and the companys integrated approach to managing fuel and non-fuel retail offerings.



The purchase consideration for this acquisition is AED36.7 million ($10 million). The acquisition is subject to certain conditions, including obtaining regulatory approvals.



Located in the eastern region, with sites dedicated to both highway commuters as well as in-community convenience, the new stations will be refurbished in line with Adnoc Distribution brand standards and offer high quality fuel and retail services to customers, including convenience stores;



Ahmed Al Shamsi, Acting CEO, Adnoc Distribution, said: Expanding our presence in Saudi Arabia is an important milestone for our company and part of our profitable growth strategy. We see this expansion as a natural progression since opening our first station in 2018 and look forward to significantly increasing our presence in the coming years. This is the first announcement of many we intend to make with Saudi being a key strategic market for us as we make Adnoc service stations a destination for all in Saudi. 



Adnoc Distribution opened its first service station in Saudi Arabia in December 2018, located on the Riyadh-Dammam highway around 40 km from the capital. It was followed shortly after by the second in the city of Hofuf within Al Ahsa Governorate.  TradeArabia News Service
The US and Iran charged each other with ratcheting up tensions in the Persian Gulf as concerns about potential conflict build days before Iran marks one year since the US assassinated its most powerful military figure and less than three weeks before President-elect Joe Biden takes office. As CNN reports, Iran appealed to the UN Security Council on Thursday to stop the US from conducting what it called heightened "military adventurism" in the Gulf and the Oman Sea, including dispatching nuclear-capable bombers to the region, declaring that it did not want conflict but would defend itself if necessary.

Meanwhile, a US official with direct knowledge of the latest intelligence told CNN Friday that some Iranian maritime forces in the Gulf ramped up their readiness levels in the last 48 hours. Earlier this week, defense officials told CNN new intelligence showed Iran has been moving short range ballistic missiles into Iraq.

The quickening military activity is matched by rhetoric. The head of Iran's elite Quds military force suggested Friday that retaliation for US crimes may come from "people from your own house." President Donald Trump, who reportedly asked for military options to deal with Iran in November, tweeted last week that he will "hold Iran responsible" should any Americans be killed.

And Israeli media amplified an Arab newspaper report that cited unnamed US sources saying Israel and Saudi Arabia are lobbying Trump to strike Iran's nuclear facilities before he leaves office.

'Genuinely concerned'

The drumbeat of veiled threats, public messaging and military posturing has quickened in the days before the January 3 anniversary of the assassination of Gen. Qasem Soleimani, a date that US officials fear Iran may mark by striking back.

Those concerns come as some analysts in Washington speculate Trump could trigger a conflict with Iran to distract from his failing, baseless attempts to overturn his election loss and to complicate his successor's plans for the region. "I'm genuinely concerned that the President could be thinking about saddling President-elect Biden with some kind of military operation on his way out the door," said Tom Nichols, an international affairs expert who teaches at the US Naval War College.

Iran's Foreign Minister Javad Zarif himself charged Thursday that Trump is creating a pretext for war.

All this is playing out as Biden prepares to enact his own policies after his January 20 inauguration. The President-elect wants to ease Trump's "maximum pressure" campaign against Tehran, resume engagement and return to the Iran nuclear deal, all steps that hawks in the Trump administration vehemently oppose -- and all reasons, some analysts say, that if Iran conducts any kind of attack, it would be carefully calibrated.

"Iran represents a real threat to US national security, particularly during this period of heightened risk due to the upcoming anniversary of the Soleimani assassination," said Sam Vinograd, a former National Security Council official and CNN analyst.

However, Vinograd added, "I do think Iran will calibrate any attack associated with this anniversary because they do not want to box themselves in ahead of Biden coming into office and ostensibly restarting nuclear negotiations that would lead to the lifting of sanctions."

US Central Command said last week that an attack on Baghdad's International Zone near the US embassy was "almost certainly conducted by an Iranian-backed rogue militia group." On Friday, Russia's ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Association announced Iran would increase its uranium enrichment to levels it achieved before the 2015 nuclear deal -- a step that will likely be seen as another provocation.

As the clock ticks down to January 3, Vinograd noted, "There is a lot of saber rattling going on."

Soleimani's successor on Friday marked the death of the former Quds Force commander's death by pledging that "those who took part in this assassination and crime will not be safe on earth. It's definite." Gen. Esmail Ghaani told the crowd gathered for a ceremony marking Soleimani's death that "what they have seen so far have been just some part of revenge, but they should wait for hard revenge. The time and place will be determined by the dear Resistance Front forces."

Calling Trump a "foolish man" under the sway of Israel and Saudi Arabia, Ghaani warned that "it's possible, even from inside your own house, there may emerge someone who will retaliate for your crime."

Nichols told CNN that tensions are climbing at a time when Trump has fired senior civilian leaders at the Pentagon, replacing them with acting officials "who really don't answer to anybody but Donald Trump."

Nichols also referred to complaints by Biden and his national security team that the Pentagon transition team is not adequately briefing them, including on US force posture overseas and what threats the US faces.

"Because there is no transparency and because we simply have no way of knowing what the President is up to, I think that should raise some concerns," Nichols said.

'Twisted intelligence'

Vinograd raised another concern, telling CNN, "Trump and members of his team have fabricated or twisted intelligence, including on Iran to suit personal or political objectives. It is no secret that striking Iran has been on President Trump's bucket list for some time and with 19 days to go, he may want to go out with a bang."

Nichols noted that "Iran is a real problem. I mean, the President may well have to do something. ... The problem here is that Donald Trump, given the way he's governed for four years, simply has not earned the benefit of the doubt on these kinds of actions."

Iran appealed to the United Nations Secretary General to help ease tensions Thursday, asking that the US be made to abide by international law and stop "destabilizing" such a "volatile region as the Persian Gulf."

The letter from Iran's ambassador to the UN cited the US dispatch of advanced weaponry to the region. The Defense Department sent nuclear-capable B52 bombers to the region on Wednesday, after earlier announcing the transit of a nuclear submarine through the Gulf.

The US also currently has multiple surface warships in the Persian Gulf capable of firing Tomahawk missiles and 40,000 to 50,000 US military personnel spread out across the region, though many are not in direct combat roles, according to the Pentagon.

The Iranian letter said that while "Iran does not seek conflict, our ability and resolute determination to protect our people, to defend our security, sovereignty, territorial integrity and vital interests as well as to respond decisively to any threat or use of force against Iran must not be underestimated."

The US official with direct knowledge of the latest intelligence said some Iranian maritime forces in the Persian Gulf have raised their readiness levels in the last 48 hours, adding that it's not clear if the moves are defensive or are signals of a pending attack against US interests.

The official said the US does not believe the Iranian maritime moves are typical of training at sea.
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Amelia Gray Hamlin recently defended her budding romance with Scott Disick.

But the daughter of Lisa Rinna and Harry Hamlin has mostly played coy about her rumored beau on social media.

She put on a cheeky display Saturday, showing off her taut bod in a black string bikini, as she hit the beach, while ringing in 2021 with a tropical getaway for New Year's.

Bikini babe: Amelia Gray Hamlin put on a cheeky display Saturday, showing off her taut bod in a black string bikini, as she hit the beach, while ringing in 2021 with a tropical getaway for New Year's

Playing coy: The daughter of Lisa Rinna and Harry Hamlin has mostly played coy about her relationship with Scott Disick on social media

The 19-year-old previously shared a steamy video to her Insta Story, dripping with water under a stone shower.

She adjusted her long wet hair, posting emojis of a shower head, a leaf and a star, referencing her outdoor pampering.

It comes after Amelia posted her first selfies of the new year to Instagram, posing in a green cropped tank top.

If she was accompanied by Scott Disick, 37, for the potentially romantic getaway, she made sure to keep any sign of him off her Insta.

Steamy display: The 19-year-old previously shared a steamy video to her Insta Story, dripping with water under a stone shower

Great outdoors: She adjusted her long wet hair, posting emojis of a shower head, a leaf and a star, referencing her outdoor pampering

New Amelia: It comes after Amelia posted her first selfies of the new year to Instagram, posing in a green cropped tank top

The model was first romantically linked to Scott in late October, following his split with girlfriend-of-three-years Sofia Richie, 22, earlier in the year.

She and the Flip It Like Disick star were recently spotted house-hunting at some multimillion-dollar properties in Los Angeles, searching for his 'next buying opportunity.'

Amelia previously took to her Insta Story before Christmas, where she appeared to call out critics of their age difference.

She wrote: 'ppl r extra weird and judgmental these days...people can embrace themselves however they feel fit for them at that moment in time. people grow. people learn to love themselves more and more.'

The DNA designer posted a selfie with Scott and her sister Delilah Belle, 22, on Thanksgiving, writing: 'Thankful 4 these ppl.'

A source previously told The Sun that her parents Harry Hamlin, 69, and Lisa Rinna, 57, are 'worried' about their daughter's new relationship, due to Scott's previous 'baggage.'

Age gap: Amelia previously took to her Insta Story before Christmas, where she appeared to call out critics of her age difference with rumored beau Scott Disick, 37

Thankful: The DNA designer posted a selfie with Scott and her sister Delilah Belle, 22, on Thanksgiving, writing: 'Thankful 4 these ppl'

Worried parents: A source previously told The Sun that her parents Harry Hamlin, 69, and Lisa Rinna, 57, are 'worried' about their daughter's new relationship, due to Scott's previous 'baggage' (pictured in May, 2019)

Summer loving: Before dating Scott, Amelia was in a relationship with Mercer Wiederhorn since the summer of 2019

The insider said: 'Lisa isn't going to acknowledge this publicly for now because she's still trying to wrap her head around it and thinks this is a phase. But when she does speak about it she'll keep her cool but really, she's worried.

'That's her youngest kid. She really does like Scott but both her and Harry don't want someone that age with so much baggage to be with their baby girl, especially given Amelia's own mental health issues.'

Before dating Scott, Amelia was in a relationship with Mercer Wiederhorn since the summer of 2019.

She described their love-at-first-sight connection on the podcast Him & Her back in August: 'I don't know if youve ever had this feeling, but when he walked in, I don't think I like, registered what he looked like.

'I was just like, him, like, that's the one. I didn't even have a conversation with him or anything, it was almost like his energy. His aura was just like affecting me. And I'm not really one to say, I don't even think I've ever said that in my whole entire life, but it really happened.'

Scott was also in an on-again, off-again relationship with Kourtney Kardashian, 41, from 2006 to 2015, and they share sons Mason Dash, 11, Reign Aston, six, and daughter Penelope Scotland, eight.
https://www.aish.com/jw/id/The-Heroes-of-Outpost-107.html

During the Yom Kippur War, 19 Israeli soldiers fought for 100 hours against overpowering Syrian forces and survived.

Amos* and eighteen of his fellow IDF soldiers were spending Yom Kippur just meters away from the Syrian border when the 1973 war broke out. They fought for 100 hours straight against an overpowering enemy and unrelenting firepower, and survived.

They are the heroes of Outpost 107. This is their story.

Outpost 107, code-named Portugal was the closest IDF outpost to Syria in 1973. It was next to Quneitra in the Golan Heights. Amos and his fellow soldiers were from Battalion 13 of the Golani brigade. Amos was a mortar man and he reported to Avraham Elimelech, the platoon commander.

The outpost consisted of a series of bunkers with observation points and gun positions. The platoons main job was to observe Syrian activities on the Syrian side of the Golan. There was a small tank company nearby to aid the men in repelling any ground attack from Syria.

The war started that day with a barrage of artillery on the IDF outpost. Most of the outposts positions were destroyed, including the large supply of drinking water. Four tanks led by Shmuel Yachin from Battalion 74 of the 188th Brigade opened fire and destroyed eight Syrian tanks that were attempting to cross the border to attack. Trucks laden with Syrian infantry raced towards the outpost. The Golani platoon destroyed them all using their heavy machine guns and mortars.

That night, the men spotted a convoy of Syrian military vehicles, carrying anti-aircraft and anti-tank guns. Their commander, Elimelech, radioed a warning to the IDF tank as Nissim Avidan manned the heavy machine gun and Amos fired an illumination round from his mortar to light up the theater. Nissim opened fire and the lead truck in the convoy exploded. The IDF tanks joined the fray and the Syrian convoy was destroyed. Later that night two of the IDF tanks drove to recover two Israeli fighters and one Syrian POW, bringing the three men back to the outpost. They had been fired upon, and one of the tanks treads was aflame. The men of the outpost stood guard over the tanks all night, protecting them from Syrian commandos armed with Sagger anti-tank missiles.

Elimelech Avraham

The next morning, October 7th, the platoon successfully repelled another Syrian infantry attack. But the tanks were now very low on ammo. The outpost was cut off and surrounded; no fresh ammo or supplies could be delivered. Some of the IDF tanks recovered unused shells from stricken Israeli tanks.

More artillery barrages rained on the outpost. Syrian soldiers got as far as the outpost gates when the Golani men succeeded in wiping them out. The Golani platoon destroyed additional Syrian tank-hunters.

On October 8th, the outpost was attacked at dawn by six Syrian tanks. Five of the tanks were destroyed and the sixth tank sneaked up so close to the eastern side of the outpost that the IDF tanks could no longer safely fire on it.

Yossi Zadok

Yossi Zadok, a Golani corporal who had arrived on Yom Kippur right before the war started, had received some training in using a bazooka a couple of years prior but hadnt been known as a good shot. There was no time to think or plan. Yossi had to act fast. He quickly jumped up with his bazooka and fired at the tank. It was a direct hit; the tank was destroyed.

At 11:00 am, 15 Syrian T-62 tanks rushed at the outpost. It was part of a brigade commanded by Rifat Assad, the brother of the Syrian dictator, Hafez al Assad. Shmuel Yachin and his tank platoon jumped into the fray, destroying 13 of them. Two managed to hide undercover, and tried to escape when darkness fell. One of them was destroyed by the IDF forces; the other managed to get away.

The men were running low on ammo but there was no way to resupply them under this onslaught.

The men were running low on ammo but there was no way to resupply them under this onslaught. That evening, the outpost was stormed by a Syrian armored personnel carrier. As it entered the perimeter, it set off a mine, killing its occupants, except for one Syrian soldier who was taken prisoner.

Portugal: Outpost 107

Then came bad news: Shmuels tank platoon was needed to reinforce Israeli forces in a ferocious tank battle taking place elsewhere in the Golan. The remaining Golani soldiers were left unprotected by tanks. Their ammo and food rations were dangerously low and there was no help in sight.

The following day, through their binoculars Amos and his fellow soldiers watched one Syrian tank rise on the hill that overlooked their position.

Another Syrian tank soon lined up next to the first one. Then another one.

Three hours went by and there were 110 tanks  nearly a full armored division  on the hill threatening their position.

The Golani platoon didnt stand a chance. The tanks roared and the ground literally shook. Zeh avood  all is lost! some of the men yelled in great despair. Dont give up! Amos said. Stay below ground! Who knows what the cruel Syrians will have in store for us if they take us alive.

Elimelech radioed the Northern Command. I need air support!

Negative, came the reply. No planes are available.

Then I need armor support! The desperation in his voice was obvious to the entire network.

Negative. All tanks are fighting southwest of your positions."

Then give me artillery support! he shouted.

None is available.

Im making sure that someone will remember us when the Syrians kill us all!

One soldier took a shell casing and etched the 19 names of the soldiers into the bunker wall. What are you doing? Amos asked.

Im making sure that someone will remember us when the Syrians kill us all! the soldier replied.

Amos, in the middle, at Outpost 107

The men noticed jeeps carrying Syrian officers following the massive tank convoy. They stopped and opened tables to study terrain maps and plan further attacks against Israel. Elimelech ordered Amos to fire his last two mortar rounds at the officers. They scattered and realized the Israeli outpost had not yet been destroyed.

The tanks moved forward to wipe the men out. Thats when Nissim, the heavy machine gunner, did something insane.

He fired his .50 caliber machine gun at the lead tank. The bullets bounced off the tank harmlessly. They could not pierce armor. No one knew what Nissim was thinking.

The lead Syrian tank swiveled its main gun at Nissims position and fired, scoring a direct hit on his gun emplacement. It exploded in a swirl of flame and smoke. Nobody could have survived a blast like that. The others could only imagine what was left of their friend.

Amos ran over to the position, shouting Nissim! Nissim!

To Amos great shock, Nissim responded, Im okay! Im okay! He appeared slightly dazed, but lived through the onslaught without a scratch.

Most of the Syrian tanks began moving westward to engage Israeli tank forces, but some of them turned south to storm the outpost. The Golani men were now facing destruction from the enemys massive firepower. They were down to almost no ammunition. All seemed lost.

Yossi still had his bazooka, with only a few rounds that could do any damage.

A bazooka is a powerful weapon. It fires single rockets that can disable a tank, but it has a serious limitation. The weapon is fired while held on the operators shoulder and it has a fiery backblast of several feet when the projectile leaves the barrel. It must therefore be fired in an open area, otherwise the backblast would engulf and incinerate the operator.

Yossi and Amos were below the surface of the ground in a maze of bunkers. There was no way to fire the bazooka without exposing Yossi as a target to the vast number of forces now threatening the outpost. How could they get off a proper shot, well-aimed, in defense of their position?

It was reckless and against orders. They did it anyway.

Yossi and Amos came up with an idea. Amos would put a helmet on top of a rifle, and gradually raise the helmet over the surface of the ground. If it drew fire from the tanks, hed quickly lower it, knowing that this spot is too hot from which to fire. Hed then move to another spot and try it again. If Amos received no fire, hed jump up with his binoculars, determine the range of the target tank, and quickly tell Yossi. Yossi would then jump up, completely exposing himself to the enemy, and take his best shot.

It was reckless.

Suicidal.

Against orders.

They did it anyway.

Amos held up the helmet. It immediately drew fire. He and Yossi moved 20 feet away and Amos tried it again. No one fired, so he quickly grabbed the binoculars and inched upwards to identify a target. Amos saw a tank and barked the range and position to Yossi, who jumped up and took a shot. Amos heard the whoosh right by him and felt the tremendous heat of the backblast passing overhead. Yossi jumped back down.

IMPACT. A direct hit! The shell penetrated the tank and some of the enemy were killed or wounded. One tank down.

Amos! Yossi cried. Move! Lets go further down and try it again!

Amos moved. They did it again. And again.

With Amos courageous range finding, Yossi destroyed four tanks in one day. The other tanks rained murderous fire at their position, furious that the meager Israeli outpost was killing their vaunted Russian-made battle tanks.

The next day, the barrage continued. Over the din of incoming shells, Yossi yelled, Amos, lets take out more tanks!

Were out of armor-piercing rounds! Nothing we have will take out a tank!

What other rounds do we have?

White phosphorus.

Yossi made a face. He and Amos knew that white phosphorus (WP) was powerless against the Syrian tanks. It was normally used to illuminate a target area, create thick smoke, or burn fuel and ammunition, but it would not inflict any damage. Why bother with it?

Amos, lets try firing them anyway. Maybe itll scare them!

Okay, Amos said. He rammed the WP shell into the tube of the weapon. Yossi was ready.

Find me a target!

Amos raised the helmet on a rifle. Nobody shot at it. He quickly inched up with his binoculars and yelled out the range and position to Yossi over the sound of the constant firing.

Yossi fearlessly jumped out and fired the bazooka. Another direct hit, but they both knew it was a joke. A huge white spray blanketed the tank with thick smoke. No penetration. No danger to the Syrian tank crew.

Amos and Yossi watched in shock as the enemy crewmen abandoned their unscathed tank.

But something amazing happened. Amos and Yossi watched in shock as the enemy crewmen abandoned their unscathed tank! Evidently they were terrified by the blast and smoke, and the knowledge that the Israelis had destroyed four tanks the day before. They poured out of the tank and fled on foot towards Syria. Another tank down.

The other tanks proceeded to leave the area, leaving the outpost alone. They were engaged by what was left of the IDF 188th and 7th Armored Divisions in some very difficult fighting.

Yossi was the only soldier injured in Outpost 107. He was seriously wounded in the chest by shrapnel shortly afterwards and was evacuated to a hospital. All other 18 men were unscathed, despite being under nonstop attack for 100 hours.

Yossi took months to recover from his wounds. For his heroism in this battle, Yossi was decorated with the Itur Hamofet, Israels third-highest award for bravery. He and Amos have remained as close as brothers for the last 45 years.

After the war, Amos felt that he could not deny the miracles he had seen. Nissims survival. Yossis one-man onslaught, with his help. Destroying the far more powerful enemies of Israel despite their minimal weaponry and scant ammunition.

This made him rethink his life and his priorities, and Amos eventually decided to deepen his Jewish commitment and go to a yeshiva.

Even today, Amos has tears in his eyes recalling when he saw Gods Hand. As one of the heroes of Outpost 107.

* This article is based on an interview with Amos who, due to his humility, only agreed to speak on condition his last name and current photo not be included.
The East Sea is a semi-closed expanse of water abutting seven countries - Vietnam, China, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, and Singapore.

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It is not only crucial for their development but also a strategic link in several international maritime routes. The sea holds several strategic benefits that are eyed by global powers.

Vietnam has a long coastline, of 3,260 km. Its sea, known as the East Sea, covers over 3,000 large and small islands and the two major archipelagos of Truong Sa (Spratly) and Hoang Sa (Paracel). The East Sea is significant for Vietnams economic development, national defence, and external relations.

It is also important for national economic development. Indeed, most of Vietnams spearhead economic sectors, including oil and gas, tourism, fisheries, transportation, and shipbuilding, are closely related to the sea. Coastal cities and provinces contribute over 60% to the countrys total GDP.

In national security and defence, the East Sea is Vietnams strategic line of defence. Offshore islands, including Truong Sa and Hoang Sa, play an important role in coastal and inland defence. They are also key to controlling sea routes.

With its many strategic benefits, the East Sea has long been a geopolitical fault line, with several unresolved disagreements and disputes.

Vietnams longstanding goal is to persistently and patiently ensure its sovereignty, territorial integrity, and legitimate benefits in the sea, while maintaining a peaceful and stable environment for development.

To realise this goal, it has been relentless in negotiating and resolving sea-related issues while bolstering cooperation with related parties and neighbouring countries in line with international law.

Several concrete achievements have been recorded. Vietnam signed an agreement in 1982 on the maritime overlapping between the two countries in the Gulf of Thailand under the status of historic internal waters.

In 1992, Vietnam signed a memorandum of understanding with Malaysia on the exploration and exploitation of petroleum in a defined area of the continental shelf involving the two countries.

Vietnam and Thailand agreed on maritime boundaries between the two countries in the Gulf of Thailand in 1997 after UNCLOS took effect in 1994 I think UNCLOS took effect in 1982.

In 2000, the Vietnam-China Fisheries Cooperation Agreement was reached. And, most notably, Vietnam along with other ASEAN countries has signed a Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (known as the DOC) with China in 2002 with a view to maintaining peace and stability, ensuring maritime and aviation freedom in the region, while always calling for relevant parties to adhere to the declarations provisions and not to further complicate the situation.

Vietnam has been proactive in negotiating a Code of Conduct (COC) in the East Sea between China and ASEAN.

Vietnam has also been exerting great effort to ensuring maritime freedom in line with international laws, protecting the sea environment, sustainably managing the sea, and fighting illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing. It has also focused on traditional and non-traditional security challenges.

As a coastal country with lawful rights in the East Sea in line with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in 1982, Vietnam supports a state-of-law mechanism to resolve disputes in the sea.

The approach is expected to maintain stability, security, safety, and maritime and aviation freedom in the East Sea, turning it into an open and peaceful sea for mutual development./.VNA
A Republican Congressional candidate has claimed his pharmacist fiance was fired after the New York Times linked to his Instagram showing the couple ringing in the new year at Mar-a-Lago.

George Santos, who unsuccessfully sought a seat for New York's 3rd District, lashed out at the newspaper on Saturday, accusing it of exposing his family to 'danger' and stripping his fiance of his 'livelihood.'

'My fiance & I had to leave our home this evening with our 4 dogs thanks to the @nytimes publishing of my Instagram showing me attending the #MarALago New Year's Eve party,' Santos said in a tweet.

He explained his fiance, a pharmacist who had worked '12h/7day shifts' for nine months during the pandemic, lost his job as a result of the article.

Failed congressional candidate for New York's 3rd District, George Santos (right) claimed his fiance (left) was fired after the New York Times linked to his Instagram showing photos of the couple celebrating NYE in Mar-a-Lago

Santos shared a tweet on Saturday claiming the couple had to leave their home after his fiance lost his job as a pharmacist over the photos

'The violence against us is real,' Santos added, although he did not elaborate as to why the couple had to leave their home.

President Trump's annual New Year's Eve bash drew criticism this year after hundreds of guests gathered at the resort despite coronavirus cases, deaths and hospitalizations soaring to record levels across the US.

A NYT report of the gala on Friday included a link to Santos's Instagram, which is public, which offered a glimpse inside the opulent Palm Beach venue where 500 guests were reported to have been invited.

Santos shared multiple photos of the ornately decorated ballroom, the dinner menu, as well as some of him and his fiance posing with Trump allies like Rudy Giuliani.

In some of photos, guests were seen huddled closely together, with no masks in sight.

Santos, of Queens, New York, had shared multiple photos from the party where he was seen rubbing shoulders with Trump allies including Rudy Giuliani

Trump's annual New Year's Eve gala at his Mar-a-Lago resort drew criticism this year after hundreds of maskless guests gathered at the ballroom amid rising coronavirus cases

Santos accused the NYT of stripping his fiance of his 'livelihood'

Santos also shared his grievances on Instagram, writing in a caption: '@Nytimes you have exposed my family to danger and have striped (sic) one of us of our livelihood! This is unAmerican.'

The New York Times is yet to respond to the Santos's accusations.

The annual NYE bash is a tradition that pre-dates Trump's time at the White House and hundreds of people typically attend.

The main ballroom can hold 700 people and there are smaller ballrooms available to add to the crowd size.

President Trump and First Lady Melania were forced to skip the event this year amid his battle with Congress over the COVID-19 relief bill.

Tickets to the event were going for $1,000 each, one person attending the gala told DailyMail.com. A person has to be a member of Mar-a-Lago or a guest of a member in order to attend.

Inside the huge function room before the revelers arrived for the glittering Palm Beach bash

Guests dined on a menu that included 'Mr. Trump's Wedge Salad,' cheese tortellini and a Wagyu beef entree

The Trumps: The president's children gathered at his Mar-a-Lago estate for his annual New Year's Eve gala on Thursday

Despite the controversy, Santos's account and photos of the party remain public.

Earlier posts from his social media accounts show the 32-year-old rubbing elbows with other members of the Trump clan at other political events.

In August, he shared a photo at 'Trumpstock', a Trump boat parade held in Montauk, Long Island, where he was seen posing alongside Kimberley Guilfoyle.

Santos, from Jackson Heights in Queens, was the first openly gay Congressional candidate in the NY GOP.

He launched a grassroots campaign in 2020 'to stop Socialism from establishing itself in our great country.'
The European Union is ready to help drug companies expand coronavirus vaccine production to clear a "bottleneck" in distribution, its top health official said Saturday.

Health commissioner Stella Kyriakides told German news agency DPA that any delay in getting approved vaccines out was down to production capacity shortage, not EU planning.

"The bottleneck at the moment is not the volume of orders but the worldwide shortage of production capacity," she said, in comments distributed by her office.

Kyriakides noted that Brussels had provided 100 million euros to German firm BioNTech, which developed a vaccine with US giant Pfizer, to help build production capacity.

And she said that the bloc was ready to do more, for Pfizer-BioNTech and other companies with candidate vaccines, as the vaccination campaign gets into gear.

"The situation will improve step by step," she promised, one week after vaccinations began at widely varying paces among EU member states.

"We have been negotiating for additional vaccine doses from BioNTech for a long time and are again ready to help expand production capacities.

"Other manufacturers with whom we have contracts are on the verge of having their vaccines approved by the EU."

The European Medicines Agency, which advises the European Commission, approved the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine on December 21.

But it is not expected to rule on a potential alternative from US company Moderna until January 6.

And it is awaiting more data on a candidate from AstraZeneca and Oxford University, which has already been approved in the UK.

But Kyriakides insisted that Europe is not falling behind in its joint procurement programme, backed by the 27 member states.

"If all vaccine candidates are approved, Europe will have more than two billion doses of vaccine available for all 450 million Europeans and their neighbours," she said.

"And that's what it's all about: Europe can get out of this crisis fastest together."
India's Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) expert panel on Saturday approved the emergency use of the Covaxin COVID-19 vaccine, developed by the Bharat Biotech company, the Indian government said

NEW DELHI (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 02nd January, 2021) India's Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) expert panel on Saturday approved the emergency use of the Covaxin COVID-19 vaccine, developed by the Bharat Biotech company, the Indian government said.

On Friday, government sources told Sputnik that the Subject Expert Committee of the Indian Health Ministry recommended the emergency use of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine. In India, the vaccine developed by AstraZeneca/Oxford University is made by local producer Serum Institute and is known as Covishield.

"The Subject Expert Committee of CDSCO ... made the following recommendations for the consideration and final decision of the Drugs Controller General of India: Grant of permission for restricted emergency use of vaccine, subject to multiple regulatory conditionalities, to M/s Serum Institute of India, Pune.

Grant of permission for restricted use in emergency situation ... to M/s Bharat Biotech International Ltd., Hyderabad," the government said in a statement.

The committee has also authorized Zydus Cadila's ZyCoV-D to begin phase 3 clinical trials.

India has the second-highest number of COVID-19 infections after the United States, with over 10.3 million cases in total and nearly 150,000 related deaths.
Mike Pence welcomes Republican senators attempt to overturn US election (Doug Mills-Pool/Getty Images)

Mike Pence says he welcomes Republican senators attempts to overturn the US election.

Ted Cruz is among 12 GOP senators who say they are preparing to challenge the results of the election in a joint session of Congress next week.

Mr Cruz is part of a group of 11 politicians who say they will not certify the election results unless there is a 10-day emergency audit of the results, in support of Donald Trump.

The outgoing president has refused to concede the election and made a string of false and debunked claims about election fraud in battleground states.

These false claims have been universally rejected by election officials and judges across the country, and Mr Trump and his backers have not provided any credible evidence to back their discredited claims.

Vice President Pence shares the concerns of millions of Americans about voter fraud and irregularities in the last election," said Mr Pences chief of staff Marc Short.

The Vice President welcomes the efforts of members of the House and Senate to use the authority they have under the law to raise objections and bring forward evidence before the Congress and the American people on 6 January.
Karntaka CM BS Yediyurappa (Image: Twitter @BSYBJP)

BJP national General Secretary in-charge of Karnataka Arun Singh on Sunday asserted that B S Yediyurappa will remain the Chief Minister and that the much awaited expansion of the state cabinet was likely soon.

He also warned leaders against making statements in public on issues relating to the party. "I have said a number of times, he (Yediyurappa) is our CM, he will remain CM. Under his leadership (we are going).. he is taking care of all sections of the society. He is one of the prominent leaders of the party here," Singh said in response to a question about leadership change.

Speaking to reporters in Shivamogga, he said, "why do you raise such hypothetical imaginary questions? I can't reply." Singh was on a visit to the state to participate in the special meeting of the state BJP and also its core committee at Shivamogga.

Ruling out leadership change, Yediyurappa too had recently asserted that he will remain in the post of CM for the remaining over two year period and complete the term, and there was no confusion regarding this within the ruling BJP.

There has been intense speculation in some quarters that BJP high command is mulling leadership change in Karnataka in the days to come considering Yediyurappa's age (77 years).

Though state BJP has out rightly rejected such speculations, it refuses to die down, with some in the party like senior MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal giving credence to it with their statements.

Reacting to a query regarding Yatnal's statements, Singh said, "Any karyakarta (worker) or any leader, small or big, has to speak within the limits. If somebody has the problem one can come and discuss one-to-one because there is internal democracy in our party, but speaking publicly is not right."

Yatnal, who is Vijayapura City MLA had in October claimed that Yediyurappa will not remain Chief Minister for long and the high command has decided that his successor will be from the north Karnataka region.

He had also recently indicated the possibility of historical changes in the state after Sankranti. Maintaining that the cabinet expansion was Chief Minister's prerogative, Singh said it will happen soon.

"It will happen soon, it is the prerogative of the Chief Minister. I can only say- it will happen soon," he said in response to a question.

Yediyurappa has been waiting for some time now to carry out the cabinet exercise, as he was asked by BJP national president J P Nadda during their meeting in New Delhi on November 18, to wait for the clearance from the central leadership. The cabinet expansion or reshuffle is expected to be a tightrope walk for the Chief Minister, considering that there are too many aspirants, from the party old guard to Congress- JD(S) rebels who are now BJP legislators.

The cabinet currently has 27 members, and seven berths are still vacant.

Responding to a question on the possibility of an alliance with JD(S) in the days to come, Singh questioned the need for it and said the party will fight and win elections on its own strength.

"We are a ruling party here, we are the number one party here. Whenever the elections happen here BJP will win with absolute majority and form the government. Why go with anyone? We will fight and win on our own strength," he said.
Adar Poonawalla, chief executive officer of the Serum Institute of India (SII), the local manufacturer of the Oxford-AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine, spoke to Rhythma Kaul about the future course of action after emergency use authorisation by Indias drugs regulator for the vaccine.

SII has already produced millions of doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine. How sure were you of the gamble paying off?

We werent very sure at the beginning in March-April but we had committed 100%, financially and technically. We had a lot riding on it, and are happy that it worked. Its not just financial; if it didnt work, then we would have lost six months doing something else, and then people would have had the vaccine that much later. So, its a great victory that the drugs controller approved it.

Do you think it took longer than expected for the approval to come?

I am very happy and grateful about the way it has gone because we didnt want to rush anyone into doing something. We wanted the drugs controller and the ministry of health to really go through all the data, examine everything, to double check what we have done, what Oxford has done that is safe and effective.

What happens after receiving regulatory approvals?

They (Indian government) have to still sign a purchase order with us, and tell us where to send the vaccine, and 7 to 10 days after that, we can deliver the vaccine. We have already offered to them in writing a very special price of 200, only for the government, for the first 100 million doses and then the price will be higher or different. In the private market, we have said its going to be a 1,000 per dose as an MRP, and we will probably sell it for 600-700. In exports also, it will be between $3-5, depending on the different countries we are signing with, but that is going to come in probably March-April because the government has said no exports right now. We cannot give it to the private market.

Does the export restriction also mean you cannot supply to the Covax facility?

I can only give it to Covax after they ease these restrictions, which I am sure they will in two months as this is not forever. This is just for a little while till the government has enough doses to take care of the most vulnerable people.

How many quality tested doses do you have ready for the government?

50 million.

How difficult does rumour-mongering make things?

Anyone has the right to question science or facts but the more we read up on what data is done; where its been tested, you talk and listen to some of the experts, then it builds the confidence over time that these vaccines are very safe and effective. Nobody is ever going to force anyone to take the vaccine.

Is it correct that you said only three vaccines in the world have proven efficacy?

Only three in the world have proven efficacy (Pfizer, Moderna and Oxofrd-AstraZeneca)... Nobody else in India, in Russia, in Europe or anywhere else has completed efficacy studies. They have all done safety and immunogenicity studies, which is what we have also done in India for other candidates; and some other companies in India, who I wont name, have also done but without any efficacy studies we dont know if any vaccine works.
Exact Fallout of Presidential Election Predicted in 2019 War-Game Paper

Paper suggests use of 1887 act, congressional impasse leading to Pelosi as acting president

News Analysis

It is Election Night 2020.This time it is all eyes on Pennsylvania, as whoever wins the Keystone State will win an Electoral College majority. Trump is ahead in the state by 20,000 votes

In the morning, new numbers show Trumps lead starting to slip, and by noon, it is below 20,000. Impatient, Trump holds an impromptu press conference and announces:

Ive won reelection. The results last night showed that I won Pennsylvania by over 20,000 votes. Those results were complete, with 100 percent of precincts reporting. As far as Im concerned, those results are now final. Im not going to let machine politicians in Philadelphia steal my reelection victory from meor from my voters!

Trump insists, by tweet and microphone, THIS THEFT WILL NOT STAND!!! WE ARE TAKING BACK OUR VICTORY.

So begins the saga over the disputed result of the 2020 presidential election.

Although familiar, the passage above isnt taken from a recent article describing the Nov. 3, 2020, presidential election. Rather, it comes from a 55-page paper, published in the winter of 2019 by the Loyola University Chicago Law Journal, called, Preparing for a Disputed Presidential Election: An Exercise in Election Risk Assessment and Management Election Risk Assessment and Management by Edward B. Foley.

Foley, a professor who heads the election law program at Ohio University and also is a lawyer and a contributor to The Washington Post, originated the Blue Shift theory, which holds that Democratic candidates often gain votes as mail-in ballots get counted following the day of the actual election. Although Foley loosely identified mail-in ballots as a cause of the Blue Shift, he also played down their impact, concluding his thesis by noting further insight on just what is causing the observable big blue shift must await more sophisticated statistical analysis.

Foleys paper, more of a Democrat war-game analysis, takes readers on a complicated electoral journey that may well prove to accurately foreshadow events through Jan. 20. In effect, Foley has provided a complicatedbut thus far surprisingly accurateelectoral roadmap to be used by Democrats.

Indeed, Foleys paper has already proved remarkably prescient (although he uses Elizabeth Warren instead of Biden), describing how election officials certify the vote by a thin margin for Trumps opponent as the election tally continues to move away from him in the days following the election.

Foley predicted that provisional ballots would be attacked as ineligible for counting, as would any absentee ballots not previously counted because, in Foleys words when one is ahead and attempting to preserve a lead, the goal is to shut down the counting process as much as possible and he also anticipated that Heavily Democratic precincts would be closely scrutinized for any voting irregularities.

He also pointed out the role that might be played by the courts, observing that Trump would certainly be in a more favorable posture if a judicial decree blocked the counting of these extra votes or even better, if a court ordered that the states governor certify a popular vote victory for his Republican slate of electors.

Foley also acknowledged the historical legacy of improper practices conducted by big-city machine politicians.

Remember what happened in Florida in 2018, specifically in Broward County: There, the local election administrator acted improperly with respect to the handling of ballots, and that became a potential basis for challenging the entire result statewide. If something similar happened in Philadelphia, one can imagine that Republicans would invoke it as grounds for discarding the results of the canvass 

Foleys Concerns Over the Role of Vice President Mike Pence

Foley notes, however, that Trump doesnt require a court victory in order to press his case to Congress. As long as he gets the state legislature to appoint his presidential electors directly, and those electors submit their purported electoral votes to the President of the Senatewho happens to be his vice president, Mike Pencehe has a fighting chance.

Foley states that it is imperative from Trumps perspective that the state legislature purport to supersede this popular vote with its own direct appointment of the states presidential electorsand for Pence to receive from Pennsylvania a second certificate of electoral votes, ones cast for Trump based on this purported legislative appointment.

The importance of Pences role in this scenario is material. Foley acknowledges that while there may be legal arguments at the state level regarding legislative authority (absent a change in current state law), those state legalities are nevertheless subsumed once these electors send their electoral votes to the President of the Senatethen the President of the Senate has these electoral votes in hand. That is enough for Congress to consider the votes and potentially accept those votes as the authoritative electoral votes.

[W]hat matters is whether or not Congress receives a submission of electoral votes from a state, not whether that submission is legally valid according to some standard that Congress might not recognize as binding.

Foley proceeds with the assumption that Pence, acting as both vice president and president of the Senate, receives two sets of electoral votes from a single stateone certified by the governor, the other from the legislature:

As January 6, 2021, approaches, the two parties take to cable news and social media to test various arguments as to why their candidate is the winner entitled to be inaugurated as president on January 20. Some Republicans take the especially aggressive position that Mike Pence, as President of the Senate, has the unilateral authority under the Twelfth Amendment to decide which certificate of electoral votes from Pennsylvania is the authoritative one entitled to be counted in Congress and that he, accordingly, will count the certificate from the electors appointed by the state legislature because the Constitution authorizes the state legislature to choose the method of appointing electors.

Foley cites language from the 12th Amendment, which states the President of the Senate shall, in the presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, open all the certificates and the votes shall then be counted. Foley also acknowledges the interpretation that Pence, as president of the Senate, could decide which certificates, and thus which electoral votes are to be counted:

Given the language of the Twelfth Amendment, whatever its ambiguity and potential policy objections, there is no other possible single authority to identify for this purpose besides the President of the Senate.

But Foley questions who is to perform the actual counting and states that theres no constitutional provision in the event of a dispute:

[T]his language contains no provision for what to do in the event of a dispute, whether with respect to the certificates to be open[ed] or with respect to the votes contained therein. It certainly says nothing about what to do if the President of the Senate has received two conflicting certificates of electoral votes from the same state.

Foley highlights the importance of Republican leadership, particularly that of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) in the decision process of Pence. Foley postulates that if there are only a handful of renegade Republicans (he specifies Mitt Romney and Lisa Murkowski) from the Senate who join with Democrats in accepting Bidens electoral votes from the contested states, Mike Pence might be tempted to assert a constitutional prerogative to supersede the provisions of the Electoral Count Act, thereby declaring the legislatively appointed electors to be the authoritative ones.

But if McConnell sides with the Democratic-led house, agreeing that the electoral votes certified by the governors are the valid ones, Foley believes that it would seem impossible as a practical matter for Pence to prevail on his constitutional claim that he is entitled to overrule this bicameral (and bipartisan) determination of which electoral votes to count.

Foley Promotes Congressional Invocation of the Electoral Count Act

Citing conflicts inherent to Pence deciding the outcome of a contest to which he is a part, along with what Foley refers to as ambiguities that exist in the text of the Twelfth Amendment, Foley offers up congressional invocation of its Necessary and Proper Clause power to enact a statute that provides for an alternative mechanism for resolving a dispute over the electoral votes from a state.

Foley suggests the Electoral Count Act of 1887 (ECA), currently known as 3 U.S. Code Section 15 is an entirely appropriate exercise of this Necessary and Proper power as a matter of constitutional authority. Not without coincidence, the ECA directly contravenes the 12th Amendment and removes Pence as a deciding factor in the election.

In addition to laying out the role of the Senate president, the 12th Amendment sets forth a procedure whereby if no presidential candidate has achieved a majority of electoral votes, a contingent election is held by the House of Representatives, with one vote per state for the new president. An absolute majority26 states currentlyis required.

The ECA, unlike the 12th Amendment, brings both congressional houses into play and shifts electoral power away from constitutionally designated state legislators and toward state governors. It also eliminates the contingent election role of the House.

The ECA has been the subject of much controversy, with a significant body of analysis arguing that the ECA is unconstitutional. Indeed, a claim of unconstitutionality lies at the heart of a lawsuit recently brought by Rep. Louie Gohmert (now dismissed for lack of standing) which contends that provisions within the ECA violate the Electors Clause and the Twelfth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

As the Gohmert suit notes, the Electoral Count Act submits disputes over the count of electoral votes to both the House of Representatives and to the Senate and it gives both the House of Representatives and the Senate the power to vote, or decide, which of two or more competing slates of electors shall be counted, and it requires the concurrence of both to count the electoral votes for one of the competing slates of electors.

Specifically, the ECA diverges from the 12th Amendment in three crucial areas, as described by lawyer Stephen B. Meister:

First, while the 12th Amendment grants no role whatsoever to the Senate, the ECA grants the Senate equal control over objections, as they must pass the Senate and the House.

Second, the ECA provides that in the absence of objections passing in both houses, the slate certified by the governor of the state controls. This is nowhere provided in the 12th Amendment.

Third, by providing for governor-certified slates to be counted even if there are dueling slates of electorsabsent objections passing in both houses of Congressthe ECA eliminates and replaces the contingent election procedure set forth in the 12th Amendment, because by virtue of counting the governor-certified slates, the dispute is resolved (though not in the manner set forth in the Constitution, i.e., the 12th Amendment), and never reaches the House (for a contingent election).

Meister also notes that the ECA violates Article II, the Electors Clause, because it gives the final say over electors to the states executive branch (its governor) while Article II grants that power exclusively, and in a non-delegable way (according to the U.S. Supreme Court), to the state legislatures.

Despite the material constitutional issues inherent in the implementation of the ECA, this is the direction to which Foley commits his scenario-paper, through congressional invocation of its Necessary and Proper Clause power.

According to Foley, the ECAs interpretative difficulties arise only if there are two or more conflicting submissions of electoral votes from the same state,which is notable as thats the precise scenario for which he recommends the use of the ECA.

Specifically, an interpretative quagmire arises if there is disagreement between the House and the Senate during the employment of the ECA. What if the Pelosi-led House votes to accept the electoral votes for [Biden], while simultaneously, the McConnell-led Senate votes to accept the electoral votes for Trump?

As one possible answer, Foley points Democrats to the section within the ECA that requires that certificates with the governors signatures must be the ones accepted:

But if the two Houses shall disagree in respect of the counting of such votes, then, and in that case, the votes of the electors whose appointment shall have been certified by the executive of the State, under the seal thereof, shall be counted.

Foley also suggests that Democrats invoke a comprehensive post-2000 law review article, The Conscientious Congressmans Guide to the Electoral Count Act of 1887, which makes the case for counting the electoral votes in the submission from the state that bears the governors signature is the correct reading of the statute.

Although he disagrees with the legal reasoning, Foley examines the counter-argument, noting that Several scholars, including one from the Congressional Research Service, assert that when multiple submission of electoral votes from the same state all claim safe harbor protection, none can be countednot even one bearing a gubernatorial certificateunless both houses of Congress agree upon which submission is entitled to this safe harbor status.

Foley notes that this interpretation is available to be championed when doing so serves a partisan purpose. It cannot be dismissed as nonexistent, however much one might wish that to be the case.

Foleys Path to Pelosi as Acting President

But Foley suggests that Democrats, as a means of defense, might invoke the final sentence of 3 U.S. Code Section 15, which states, No votes or papers from any other State shall be acted upon until the objections previously made to the votes or papers from any State shall have been finally disposed of.

In other words, by claiming the vote-counting process is now stuck at the contested states, and the vote count is incomplete, Democrats could also claim there is no president-elect. As there is also no vice president-elect, Democrats could then, surprising though it may sound, claim that Nancy Pelosi is entitled to serve as acting president for as long as the stalemate remains, by virtue of the Twentieth Amendment.

The 20th Amendment addresses the possibility that come noon of Jan. 20, no president may have yet been chosen. Should the House fail to elect a new president and concurrently, the Senate fails to elect a new vice-president by noon on Jan. 20, the 20th Amendment comes into play:

The Congress may by law provide for the case wherein neither a President-elect nor a Vice President-elect shall have qualified.

3 U.S.C.  19 provides that if there is neither a new president nor vice president, then the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall, upon his resignation as Speaker and as Representative in Congress, act as President. Presumably, this acting president would be Pelosi, assuming that shes officially reelected as Speaker on Jan. 3.

Republicans would, of course, claim that Democrats couldnt simply trigger the 20th Amendment by refusing to participate in the process of counting electoral votes and they would, according to Foley, invoke 3 U.S.C.  16, which states, Such joint meeting shall not be dissolved until the count of electoral votes shall be completed and the result declared.

The counting of votes would continue, even if the only members of the House and Senate remaining to watch are Republicans. But at the same time, Democrats would now claim that the counting of electoral votes remains incomplete and as a result, there is neither a new president nor vice president.

We have now arrived at an impasse of sorts, when Republicans claim that President Trump has been reelected, while at the same time, Democrats argue that either [Biden] has been elected or, if not, then no one has (at least not yet).

And its this impasse that appears to be the core of Foleys argument.

According to Foley, the 20th Amendment appears to assume that either a new president is clearly selected or clearly isnt. It does not, according to Foley, contemplate a dispute over presidential selection. In this case of disputed ambiguity, Foley makes the case that it devolves to Pelosi to act as president.

The Final Foley Scenario

Foley breaks events into three time primary frames: the immediate post-election period of Nov. 3 to Dec. 14, the state elector period of Dec. 14 to Jan. 6 and congressional involvement in selecting the president from Jan. 6 through Jan. 20.

Foleys scenarios from Jan. 6 onward envision congressional usage of the Electoral Count Act, invoked through Congresss Necessary and Proper Clause power. And in each scenario, the Houses of Congress reach an impasse, with the resulting outcome leading to Pelosi becoming acting President until the situation is resolved.

And here, in Foleys description of events under Section IIIJan. 6 through Jan. 20that he provides the culmination of where it appears that his scenario/wargame analysis has been heading:

At 1:00p.m. on January 6, 2021, pursuant to 3 U.S.C. 15 and the Twelfth Amendment, the Senate and House of Representatives gather in the House chamber for the counting of electoral votes of the states. Mike Pence presides in his role as President of the Senate, as specified by both the statute and the Constitution. Starting with Alabama, and continuing alphabetically, the counting proceeds smoothly until Pennsylvania. Pence announces that he is in receipt of two submissions purporting to be the states electoral votes and under 3 U.S.C. 15 he must submit both to the Senate and House for their separate consideration. The Senate then withdraws from the House chamber and, as expected, votes to accept the submission of electoral votes from the electors appointed by the states legislature, while simultaneously the House votes to accept the submission certified by the states governor. When the Senate returns to the House chamber for the resumption of the joint session, Pence announces that because neither submission has been accepted as authoritative by both houses of Congress, neither submissions electoral votes can be counted. At this there are howls of protests by Democrats in the chamber, who clamor their insistence that the electoral votes bearing the governors certificate must be counted under the express terms of 3 U.S.C. 15. After much commotion, Pence manages to gavel the proceedings to order and repeats that his understanding of 15, contrary to the views expressed by the Democrats, is that neither submission of electoral votes from Pennsylvania can be counted because of the split votes of the two congressional chambers. That is his ruling as presiding officer, and he is prepared to move on to the next state, Rhode Island. The Democrats erupt in protest again and demand an opportunity to overrule Pences patently erroneous interpretation of  15. Pence again gavels the proceeding to order and announces that there is no method under 3 U.S.C. 15, or the Twelfth Amendment, to overrule his rulings and announcements as presiding officer. The Senate and House do not act jointly as a unified combined body. Under both 3 U.S.C. 15 and the Twelfth Amendment, their joint role is solely as observers of the process. Each chamber has made its separate determination regarding Pennsylvania, and accordingly it is his rolePence assertsto announce the consequence of those separate determination. Based on his understanding of both the statute and the Constitution, and as advised by counsel, he had performed this necessary function, declaring both submissions from Pennsylvania ineligible to be counted, and now under the statute and Constitution he must move the proceedings on to the next state. Then, Nancy Pelosi rises, demanding to speak. (Under 3 U.S.C.  16, she sits immediately upon [the Senate presidents] left.). She announces that the joint meeting of two chambers is over, or at least suspended, unless and until Mike Pence is prepared to change his ruling and accept the electoral votes from Pennsylvania bearing the governors signature. Absent that, the Senators are no longer welcome in the House chamber. When Pence insists that Pelosi has no authority to suspend the proceedings in this way, Pelosi declares that she will call upon the sergeant-at-arms of the House of Representatives to forcibly remove the senators from the House chamber unless the senators leave voluntarily. In order to avoid that spectacle, and in the hope that Republicans will eventually triumph after cooler heads prevail, Pence reluctantly agrees to lead the Senators out of the House chamber. With the House now alone in its own chamber, and Speaker Pelosi presiding, the House (in a party-line vote) passes a resolution stating that the joint proceeding under the Twelfth Amendment and 3 U.S.C. 15 is hereby suspended unless and until Vice President Pence publicly announces that he is prepared to count the electoral votes from Pennsylvania as certified by the governor. Until then the House has ordered its sergeant-at-arms to bar the reappearance of Pence or any other Senator in the House chamber. Pelosi, however, does not go so far as to barRepublican members of the House from leaving the chamber, and they do. With Pelosi and the Democrats refusing to budge, Pence and the Republicans decide they need to do what they can to continue the counting of electoral votes, even if they cannot return to the House chamber. Consequently, Pence invites senators and representatives to crowd into the Senates chamber for this purpose. Only Republican senators and representatives show up, except for one designated Democratic Senator to protest the purported continuation of the proceedings as unlawful under 3 U.S.C.15 and the Twelfth Amendment. Among other objections, this Democratic senator points out that 3U.S.C.15 specifically requires that there be two tellers from each chamber to participate in the opening and counting of electoral votes from the states: said tellers, having then read the [the submission of electoral votes from the states] in the presence and hearing of the two Houses, shall make a list of the votes as they shall appear from the said certificates. Because the House of Representatives is no longer participating, as declared in its formal resolution, there no longer are two tellers from the House to perform this statutory function. Because the two House tellers must have been previously appointed by the House, according to the explicit terms of 3 U.S.C.  15, there is no authority vested in the President of the Senate or elsewhere to appoint substitute tellers from the House. In other words, this Democrat asserts, there can be no continuation of the joint proceeding under 3 U.S.C.  15 without the institutional participation of the House, and the House has resolved that institutionally it will not invite the Senate back to its chambers for the continuation of the joint proceeding unless and until the President of the Senate announces that the electoral votes bearing the certificate of Pennsylvanias governor will be counted, per the terms of 3 U.S.C.  15. Notwithstanding this objection from the Democratic senator, Pence purports to proceed with the counting of electoral votes from Rhode Island to Wyoming. At the end, Pence announces that Trump has been re-elected president with a majority of votes, 260 out of 518 electors appointed, because Pennsylvania failed to appoint electors in a manner Congress could recognize as authoritative given the procedures set forth in 3 U.S.C.  15. Later, with Pence and other Republicans at his side, including Mitch McConnell, Trump announces that he is proceeding to prepare to be inaugurated for a second term on January 20. Meanwhile, with [Biden] and other Democrats at her side, Pelosi asserts that she is prepared to be inaugurated and sworn in as acting president, taking the presidential oath of office specified in Article II, serving as such until the counting of electoral votes is completed (with Pennsylvanias votes counted as cast by the electors certified by the states governor). Pelosi makes clear her belief that [Biden] is the duly elected president, based on a proper counting of electoral votes. But she is prepared to serve as acting president, and fully expects to do so starting at noon on January 20, unless and until Pence beforehandduring the remainder of his term as vice president, which expires at noon on January 20announces his recognition of [Biden] as president-elect. Pelosi further declares that, once it is noon on January 20, with Pence no longer President of the Senate, it will fall to the president pro tempore (Senator Chuck Grassley) to declare his willingness to accept [Biden] as president-elect in order for her to end her service as acting president. As the clock ticks toward noon on January 20, all of D.C.indeed all of Americais in turmoil over what will happen. Neither Trump nor Pelosi is backing down. Both insist that at noon on January 20 they will take the presidential oath and begin to assert the powers of commander in chief. Both demand the full support and obedience of Americas armed forces upon taking the presidential oath.

Foley ends each of his scenarios asking a basic, but somewhat disturbing question. If there are two parties claiming to be president, which one do our military leaders acknowledge as the true commander-in-chief at noon on January 20th:
VALLEY FALLS, Ore-- Man is now dead after police say that he refused to obey commands to stand down after robbed a gas station.

According to a District Attorney Ted Martin, the Lake County Sheriff's Office was sent out to Silver Lake on New Year's Day, around 10 in the morning, after getting a report of an armed robbery at a gas station and convenience story.

An employee at the business reported that 37-year old Issac Matheney, had a gun in hand and threatened to kill people within the area before he took whatever contents were in the register and fleeing.

Matheney's description and vehicle ID was given to the Sheriff's office and Oregon State Police. Officers were able to locate the suspect on his way to Paisley, thanks to a tip that the officers received.

About 45 minutes later, police set up a spike trap on Highway 31 northbound to Valley Falls. The suspect was eventually forced to stop where law enforcement began to tell Matheney to stand down. However, the Matheney did not listen to officer's commands and following a brief stand off was fatally shot by officers.

Police say that the weapon used in the armed robbery was determined to be a realistic replica rifle.

Currently all officers from the Oregon State Police and the Lake County Sheriff's Office has been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation.

This is a developing story and we will provide more details when they become more available.
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Over five decades after humans were sent to the moon, the nearest celestial body to Earth, the original plan remains: to go to Mars. It is something a lot of astronauts who have gone to space thought should have already been accomplished.

In December 2019, the first African American woman in space, Mae Jemison, told university students at the Kennedy Space Center for Complex she just assumed, by the time she got to be "old enough to go into the space program, you know we'd be living on Mars," or she'd be working on the Red Planet just as a scientist.

However, according to USA TODAY, despite the fact "humankind has been unable to send anyone to another place in the universe other than the moon," there are still a lot of those who have hopes and expectations "that we will become a multi-planetary species in the near future," beginning with what she called "our red next-door neighbor."

Billionaire business owners like Elon Musk, for one, as well as aspiring young astronauts including Alyssa Carson for one, a Florida Tech sophomore studying at Florida Tech, are hoping to live on Mars one day.

The Problem

Carson explained to part of USA Today Network, Florida Today, eventually, "the sun will run out of fuel to burn," and conditions on Earth will be quite different from the regular life humans spend at present.

It is not essentially saying, "Mars is the savior here," the young astronaut continued. However, the Red Planet, she said, is that initial step to get people slightly more adapted to even thinking about breathing or residing on other planets and "being able to colonize someplace else."

Even SpaceX, Musk's aerospace firm, has the ultimate goal of allowing people to live on other planets, its website indicates. But how possible is that? Do humans really want to settle on a planet where they cannot even breathe?

According to Jim Bridenstine, the NASA administrator, there is an available technological capability to fly to Mars. The problem "is money, or lack thereof," he elaborated.

High Cost

As part of the Space Policy Directive 1, US President Donald Trump tasked NASA with sending the next man and first-ever woman to the moon by 2024 and then, eventually, head on to Mars.

However, this is not the first time a national leader has said humans are going back to the moon or are finally sending some to Mars.

Following John F. Kennedy's first declaration that a man would be put on the moon, several other presidents have attempted to follow in his footsteps.

However, unlike Kennedy, none have come near success. On Apollo 11's 20th anniversary in 1989, President George HW Bush said humans would go back to the moon, then move on to Mars. However, in the end, the cost was proven quite high.

His son, then-President George W. Bush, echoed a similar objective. Under the Constellation program, the plan was to go back to the moon by 2020 and eventually head on to Mars. However, the project was eventually terminated following a series of postponements and increasingly high costs.

Former President Barack Obama hoped to go to Mars too. Instead of recommending going back to the moon, though, he said astronauts should be sent to an asteroid by 2025 before heading for Mars. Just the same, the proposal was rejected by the Congressional Republicans, and none of the ideas materialized.

ALSO READ: Trial Device MOXIE Could Contribute to Rocket Launch Off Mars

Check out more news and information on Mars on Science Times.
Emirates has announced that it will deploy its latest flagship A380 aircraft featuring new premium economy seats and luxurious enhancements across all cabins to London Heathrow.

Starting from January 4, passengers flying between Dubai and London Heathrow can experience Emirates latest A380. Operating as EK003/004, the aircraft is scheduled to depart Dubai daily at 14:30hrs, arriving at 18:20hrs in London Heathrow. The return flight departs London at 20:20hrs and arrives in Dubai the next day at 07:20hrs. All timings local.

Emirates last week unveiled its latest A380 with brand new premium economy seats that offer a generous seat pitch of up to 40 inches, in addition to new economy class seats similar to those installed on its latest Boeing 777-300ER gamechanger aircraft, enhancements to its popular A380 First and Business Class including its signature Shower Spa and Onboard Lounge, and refreshed colours and fittings across all cabins.

Until more Premium Economy seats enter its inventory, the airline intends to offer these as spot upgrades for its valued customers on a discretionary basis. All other signature Emirates A380 First, Business and Economy cabins are available for reservation on emirates.com or via travel agents.

The airline has safely and gradually restored its network over the past months, bringing back signature experiences onboard and on the ground with comprehensive measures in place for the health and safety of its customers and employees.

Emirates currently serves London Heathrow with 5 daily flights of which 4 are operated with an A380. The airline also operates 10 flights a week to Manchester, and daily flights to both Birmingham and Glasgow.

Emirates serves 99 cities across the world, offering travellers convenient access to Dubai and onwards to popular destinations in Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. - TradeArabia News Service
Baltimore: The COVID-19 death toll in the United States has surpassed 350,000 as experts anticipate another surge in coronavirus cases and deaths stemming from holiday gatherings over Christmas and New Year's.

Data compiled by Johns Hopkins University shows the U.S. passed the threshold early Sunday morning. More than 20 million people in the country have been infected.

The U.S. has begun using two coronavirus vaccines to protect health care workers and those over 80 but the rollout of the inoculation program has been criticised as being slow and chaotic.

Multiple states have reported a record number of cases over the past few days, including North Carolina and Arizona. Mortuary owners in hard-hit Southern California say they're being inundated with bodies.

The U.S. by far has reported the most deaths from COVID-19 in the world, followed by Brazil, which has reported more than 195,000 deaths.

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.

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Steve Jobs, left, and Bill Gates. Beck Diefenbach/Reuters; Mike Cohen/Getty Images for The New York Times

Microsoft's Bill Gates and Apple's Steve Jobs never quite saw eye-to-eye.

While the two founders had periods of civility, at other times, they were at each other's throats.

Jobs insulted Gates' taste, while Gates described Jobs as "weirdly flawed as a human being."

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Bill Gates and Steve Jobs never quite got along.

Over the course of 30-plus years, the two went from cautious allies to bitter rivals to something almost approaching friends - sometimes, they were all three at the same time.

It seems unlikely that Apple would be where it is today without Microsoft, or Microsoft without Apple.

Here's the history of the love-hate relationship between Steve Jobs and Bill Gates.

Bill Gates and Steve Jobs weren't always enemies - Microsoft made software early on for the mega-popular Apple II PC, and Gates would routinely fly down to Cupertino to see what Apple was working on.

The Apple II computer. Flickr/Robert Scoble

Source: "Steve Jobs" by Walter Isaacson

In the early '80s, Jobs flew up to Washington to sell Gates on the possibility of making Microsoft software for the Apple Macintosh computer, with its revolutionary graphical user interface. Gates wasn't particularly impressed with what he saw as a limited platform - or Jobs' attitude.

Steve Jobs, chairman of the board of Apple Computer, leaning on the new Macintosh personal computer following a shareholder's meeting in Cupertino, California. AP Photo/Paul Sakuma

Source: "Steve Jobs" by Walter Isaacson

"It was kind of a weird seduction visit where Steve was saying we don't really need you and we're doing this great thing, and it's under the cover. He's in his Steve Jobs sales mode, but kind of the sales mode that also says, 'I don't need you, but I might let you be involved,'" Gates later said.

Bill Gates in New Delhi in 2008. Reuters

Source: Fortune

Still, Gates appeared alongside Jobs in a 1983 video - a "Dating Game" riff - screened for Apple employees ahead of the Macintosh's launch. In that video, Gates compliments the Mac, saying that it "really captures people's imagination."

Story continues

Source: Business Insider

Microsoft and Apple worked hand-in-hand for the first few years of the Macintosh. At one point, Gates quipped that he had more people working on the Mac than Jobs did.

Paul Sakuma/AP

Source: Yahoo

Their relationship, already kind of rocky, fell apart when Microsoft announced the first version of Windows in 1985. A furious Jobs accused Gates and Microsoft of ripping off the Macintosh. But Gates didn't care - he knew that graphical interfaces would be big, and didn't think Apple had the exclusive rights to the idea.

Bill Gates. Reuters/Jeff Christensen

Source: "Steve Jobs" by Walter Isaacson

Besides, Gates knew full well that Apple took the idea for the graphical interface from the Xerox PARC labs, a research institution they both admired.

REUTERS/Chip East

Source: "Steve Jobs" by Walter Isaacson

When Jobs accused Gates of stealing the idea, he famously answered: "Well, Steve, I think there's more than one way of looking at it. I think it's more like we both had this rich neighbor named Xerox and I broke into his house to steal the TV set and found out that you had already stolen it."

Bill Gates, right, chairman and founder of Microsoft Corp., watches a video presentation prior to giving the keynote address at the annual meeting of the Washington Software Association in Seattle, Wash., Jan. 28, 1992. Looking on is Paul Grey, president of Softchec, Inc. of Kirkland, Wash. Jim Davidson/AP

Source: "Steve Jobs" by Walter Isaacson

From there, the gloves were off between the two founders. "They just ripped us off completely, because Gates has no shame," Jobs once said. To which Gates replied: "If he believes that, he really has entered into one of his own reality distortion fields."

Kristy MacDonald/AP

Source: "Steve Jobs" by Walter Isaacson

Jobs thought that Gates was a stick in the mud, far too focused on business. "Hed be a broader guy if he had dropped acid once or gone off to an ashram when he was younger."

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Source: "Steve Jobs" by Walter Isaacson

Gates said Jobs was "fundamentally odd" and "weirdly flawed as a human being."

Kimberly White / Reuters

Source: "Steve Jobs" by Walter Isaacson

But Gates respected Jobs' knack for design: "He really never knew much about technology, but he had an amazing instinct for what works."

Alessia Pierdomenico / Reuters

Source: "Steve Jobs" by Walter Isaacson

In 1985, Steve Jobs resigned from Apple after a power shift to start his own computer company, NeXT. But even though Jobs was no longer working for Microsoft's biggest competitor, it didn't improve relations between the two.

In this April 4, 1991, file photo, Steve Jobs of NeXT Computer Inc. poses for the press with his NeXTstation color computer at the NeXT facility in Redwood City, Calif. AP Images

Source: "Steve Jobs" by Walter Isaacson

Jobs thought that if NeXT lost and Microsoft Windows won, "we are going to enter a computer Dark Ages for about 20 years," he told Playboy in 1985.

Vittorio Cassoni, from Ing. C. Olivetti & Co., speaking with Steve Jobs at the annual PC Forum in Tucson, Arizona, in 1990. Ann E. Yow-Dyson/Getty Images

Source: The Telegraph

Still, Windows was winning. By the late '80s, it became clear that Microsoft was just about unstoppable on the PC.

AP Photo

Fast-forward to 1996, when Jobs appeared in a PBS documentary called "Triumph of the Nerds" and ripped into Gates and Microsoft, saying that they made "third-rate products."

Source: PBS

Jobs went on in that same documentary: "The only problem with Microsoft is they just have no taste. They have absolutely no taste. And I don't mean that in a small way, I mean that in a big way, in the sense that they don't think of original ideas, and they don't bring much culture into their products."

Thierry Chesnot/Getty Images

Source: PBS

By the late '90s, Apple was in serious danger of going under. When then-Apple CEO Gil Amelio moved to buy NeXT in 1996 and bring Jobs back to Apple, Gates tried to talk him out of it.

AP

Source: "Steve Jobs" by Walter Isaacson

Gates said this to Amelio: "I know his technology, it's nothing but a warmed-over UNIX, and you'll never be able to make it work on your machines. Don't you understand that Steve doesn't know anything about technology? He's just a super salesman. I can't believe you're making such a stupid decision."

Bill Gates. Gus Ruelas/Reuters

Source: "Steve Jobs" by Walter Isaacson

But by 1997, Jobs was Apple's CEO. At his first Macworld keynote, he announced that he had accepted an investment from Microsoft to keep Apple afloat. Bill Gates appeared on a huge screen via satellite link. The audience booed.

AP

Source: "Steve Jobs" by Walter Isaacson

Gates clearly admired Jobs, even if they didn't always see eye-to-eye. When Apple introduced iTunes, Gates sent an internal email to Microsoft that said, "Steve Jobs' ability to focus in on a few things that count, get people who get user interface right, and market things as revolutionary are amazing things."

Mousse Mousse/Reuters

Source: "Steve Jobs" by Walter Isaacson

When Apple introduced the iPod in 2001, Gates sent another email: "I think we need some plan to prove that, even though Jobs has us a bit flat footed again, we can move quick and both match and do stuff better."

Justin Sullivan / Getty

Source: "Steve Jobs" by Walter Isaacson

But Jobs was still pretty down on Microsoft, especially after Steve Ballmer took over from Bill Gates as CEO in 2000. "They've clearly fallen from their dominance. They've become mostly irrelevant," Jobs once said. "I don't think anything will change at Microsoft as long as Ballmer is running it."

AP

Source: "Steve Jobs" by Walter Isaacson

Conversely, Gates thought much of Apple's post-iPhone success came from Jobs himself, and not from Apple's "closed" philosophy. "The integrated approach works well when Steve is at the helm. But it doesn't mean it will win many rounds in the future," Gates said.

Bill Gates in New Delhi in 2008. Getty Images/Tim Matsui

Source: "Steve Jobs" by Walter Isaacson

And Gates didn't think too much of the iPad. "[I]t's not like I sit there and feel the same way I did with iPhone where I say, 'Oh my God, Microsoft didn't aim high enough.'"

Getty Images News

Source: CBS MoneyWatch

But Jobs didn't think much of the Windows ecosystem either: "Of course, his fragmented model worked, but it didn't make really great products. It produced crappy products."

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Source: "Steve Jobs" by Walter Isaacson

Jobs didn't even have any mercy when Gates decided to quit Microsoft in 2006 to focus more on his foundation. "Bill is basically unimaginative and has never invented anything, which is why I think he's more comfortable now in philanthropy than technology," Jobs said.

Bill and Melinda Gates. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Source: "Steve Jobs" by Walter Isaacson

Still, in a weird way, the two men clearly respected each other. Appearing on stage together at the 2007 AllThingsD conference, Gates said, "Id give a lot to have Steves taste."

Source: The Wall Street Journal

And Jobs once said, "I admire him for the company he built - its impressive - and I enjoyed working with him. Hes bright and actually has a good sense of humor."

Seth Wenig / Reuters

Source: "Steve Jobs" by Walter Isaacson

After Jobs died, Gates said, "I respect Steve, we got to work together. We spurred each other on, even as competitors. None of [what he said] bothers me at all."

Chip Somodevilla / Getty

Source: Yahoo

Ultimately, both men claim quite a legacy: Jobs built Apple into what is now the world's most valuable company, while Gates is the third-richest person on Earth.

Mario Tama / Getty

Source: CNBC, Bloomberg

Read the original article on Business Insider
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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.  Each time Sebastian Velazquez returns to Santa Fe, hes able find time to finish some art projects.

The California-based muralist, known simply as VELA, is back in Santa Fe over the holidays, visiting family  and yes, working on a mural.

The mural is located at 1934 Cerrillos Road, where Beck & Bulow, a local meat company, will open its butcher shop in later this year.

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Beck & Bulow was founded on a love for the American bison, respect for the earth and honoring where food comes from. The company has since grown to provide a variety of carefully sourced meats in addition to bison including elk, wild boar, Wagyu beef, lamb, poultry, wild-caught Alaskan seafood and more. The storefront will be its first.

The mural is currently in progress and projected to be completed this month.

Velazquez says the intention of the mural reflects the mission of Beck & Bulow, which is to provide wild and ethically-sourced meat that is good for the earth, good for the animals and great for you.

Velazquez says Beck & Bulow reached out to him for the mural.

Whats special about this project is its in the neighborhood that I grew up in, he says. Its a wall that Ive always wanted to get my hands on. The building used to be Rosas Salon, Ive always wanted to rock a mural on it. I was so shocked that they are making it their new storefront.

Velazquez has been working each day on the mural.

He teamed up with the owners on the design.

Its something very different, he says. Its public art and its very traditional. Theres movement in the piece and theres so much color in the contemporary work. I wanted to tie it all in.

Velazquez decided to start on the north side of the building first.

Im kind of freezing in the shadow on the side, he says with a laugh. The north side is very cool and has cooler colors. The south wall is going to be the one that gets the most sun. It will have vibrant yellow, gold and orange.

The mural at Beck & Bulow will add to the number of Velazquezs previous work around Santa Fe.

He has painted thousands of murals across the country and a few overseas locations. His local murals can be seen at Harley-Davidson, Natural Grocers, Sage Inn, Coyote Cafe, Santa Fe School of Cooking, and more.

His vivid color schemes and imaginative visions translate to magical masterpieces.

His recent memorial murals of Los Angeles Laker, Kobe Bryant, have gained national recognition and have been featured on ESPN, Complex magazine, and The New York Times.

He gets his inspiration from meditation.

I really have to tune it in, he says. Im a visionary artist and I feel like I have to find the inspiration of life and stories. My purpose in life is to create and its very natural for me to do so.

Though hes based in Huntington Beach, California, Velazquez never turns down an opportunity to come back to Santa Fe.

New Mexico really is the Land of Enchantment. Its just a very special state, he says. Being in a big city, its hard to find nature. Were so spoiled in New Mexico and we dont partake in what it offers. Within minutes you are transported to a new world. Its special to come back.
Second term's the charm for the WA Labor party, who have kicked off the New Year by recommitting to a key 2017 election platform to rezone the Beeliar Wetlands to prevent the construction of the controversial Perth Freight Link.

Legislation to rezone 85 hectares of the wetlands from primary road reserve to parks and recreation hit an impasse in parliament's upper house last year with the state government unable to secure cross-bench support.

Transport Minister Rita Saffioti and Environment Minister Stephen Dawson have announced a recommitment to introducing laws to rezone 85 hectares of the Beeliar Wetlands from primary regional roads to parks and recreation. Credit:Peter de Kruijff

The Liberals, Nationals, Shooters and Fishers, WA Party and One Nation all railed against the proposal and Labor was unable to secure the crucial vote of Liberal Democrat Aaron Stonehouse who was the government's last hope to pass the bill.

Environment Minister Stephen Dawson said Labor was promising to reintroduce the legislation if re-elected and invest $3 million to build a new boardwalk and revegetate land cleared by the outgoing Barnett Government for its ill-fated $1.9 billion Perth Freight Link project.
A year after George Floyd's death, Pennsylvanians are still fighting for change
Conservative Voice Smith Calls for Elimination of UKGC, Remains Hopeful

Published January 3, 2021 by Lee R

During the review of the UK Gambling Act, MP Smith calls for an extreme measure.

We all know the UK is reviewing the entire Gambling Act of 2005 guidelines, but did you know the UKGC itself may be scrutiny as well?

MP Smith's Position

The UK's conservative MP Iain Smith has proposed the UK Gambling Commission be replaced outright with an independent regulatory body to oversee the UK gambling industry, which has come under fire due to concerns about player protection.

Relevant Role

The blunt move suggested by MP Smith as part of the review of the UK Gambling Act of 2005 was suggested from his position as vice-chairman of the Gambling-related harm All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG).

Eliminate UKGC?

Smith told Politics Home website that the Gambling Act review is an opportunity to review the powers of the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) as well. Smith further asserted that the Government should be rid of it (the Gambling Commission) altogether.

Boldness Required

Smith calls for the Government to seize the day with bold moves to ensure that the proper control is installed to end gambling abuses and addictions.

Using Evidence for Policy

Smith further called for the evidence which APPG has collected regarding gambling harm to be included in the governments inquiry.

Problem Gambling Prevalence

Of the 430,000 problem gamblers estimated in the UK, Smith decried these figures and estimated the true numbers to be much higher and approaching 2 million people.

Of the most vulnerable population of concern, Smith said the number of problem gamblers aged 11 to 16 has increased from 55,000 to 62,000.

Preying on the Weak

Systemically, Smith expressed concern over the skyrocketing profits in the UK's gaming industry being collected from those who are most addicted. With some 60% of the gambling profits coming from 5% of the players, those 5% are experiencing the most harm in the various unfortunate ways that addiction manifests in people's lives.

Overall Hopeful

Of the current improvements, Smith supports the Governments increase of the minimum age for participation in the National lottery to 19, calling this the beginning of a real sea change in the attitude towards gambling abuses.

Outlook

Despite the seemingly extreme suggestion, it is encouraging to hear that one of the UK's most conservative influential voices remains hopeful in this delicate and vital time of review.
He's the TV cutie whose character grows up to become lothario Simon Basset in Bridgerton.

But if, like many viewers of Netflix's racy series, you get the feeling you've seen little Oscar Coleman before, I've solved the mystery for you.

The six-year-old was in last year's British Gas advert. Star of an advert at the age of five, a role in a major TV series at six... goodness knows what Oscar will achieve by the ripe old age of seven!

Oscar Coleman was the star of last year's British Gas advert at the age of just five

Oscar, pictured with actress Adjoa Andoh, is the TV cutie whose character grows up to become lothario Simon Basset in Bridgerton

Netflix could be about to start another row with the Queen over its plans to build a massive set for the next series of Bridgerton just five miles from Windsor Castle.

The streaming giant wants to construct an entire London square on farmland between Windsor Great Park and Ascot racecourse, but will use it for only six to eight weeks a year.

Windsor residents are up in arms, with one saying it would be an 'ugly eyesore' and 'completely out of character in an area of outstanding tranquillity and natural beauty, disturbing the wildlife and fauna and flora'.

One can only imagine what Her Majesty thinks...
Strictly star Neil Jones' ex girlfriend this morning declared 'The eyes, they never lie' as she was hunted by immigration officers after her visa to stay in the UK expired.

Dancer Luisa Eusse, who is from Colombia, is being sought by Home Office staff after a visa expired.

The performer - who also models - posted a cryptic 6.24am message of what appeared to be a poker game.

Luisa cryptically added as she covered her mouth with her forearm 'The eyes, Chico. They never lie'.

She originally came into the UK to be with then partner DJ Hannah Wants, 34, whose real name is Hannah Smith.

She was allowed in through a 'spouse visa' but that became invalid after the couple split up.

Then Luisa, 24, obtained a student visa to stay in the UK - helped by former Strictly pro Neil.

But when they split in December she had been living with friends, but did not inform the Home Office where she is currently staying.

Investigation: Neil Jones' ex girlfriend Luisa Eusse is being sought by immigration officers

Luisa Eusse declared 'The eyes, chico. They never lie' after Home Office staff looked for her

It meant immigration officers visited a friend's home to try and track her down, without success.

Luisa tagged her location as London in an Instagram post two days ago.

Friends state she has a student visa - even though it is usually necessary to leave the UK to make the application.

It is not known if she got permission to switch visas without leaving the country.

Dancer Luisa Eusse, from Colombia, is under investigation, with officers contacting friends

London: The Colombian dancer, 24, tagged her location as London on Instagram two days ago

A friend told The Sun they had received an early morning visit from officers, explaining: 'Immigration wanted to know where Luisa is. They seemed to think she had been staying in a friend's house.

'They produced an official letter, revealing Luisa's full name, before searching any properties. Uniformed staff were going to a lot of time and effort to track her down, and seemed very anxious to find her.

Luisa seemed to suggest she was heading home to Colombia in an Instagram post before Christmas, sharing a photo from London City airport, remarking 'Colombia or whaaaaaaat???'.

But since then she has posted a number of photos of herself still in London.

In November it was reported that Neil helped Luisa join a college so she could stay in UK on a student visa.

Luisa shared images of herself tagged as in London two days ago and earlier this morning

It was previously claimed that the Colombian dancer came to the UK on a 'fiancee visa' when she was dating DJ Hannah Wants, 34, whose real name is Hannah Smith.

Neil was said to be 'helping her sign up for a course' after the visa is said to have expired in August after Luisa and Hannah split in July - weeks before she and Neil announced their romance, according to The Sun.

Luisa moved out of the home she shared with Neil in mid-December with insiders revealing that the relationship 'had become complicated and they are both at very different places in their lives.'

They went on to add that though the couple had been 'on and off' in the last few weeks, Neil was desperate to 'glue them back together'.

In November it was reported that Neil helped Luisa join a college so she could stay in UK

They added that Luisa is a 'free spirit' who is ready to 'live the single life'.

A source told MailOnline: 'Neil is mortified by her behaviour and has told friends he's relieved that he asked her to move out when he did.

'They never officially had a conversation about splitting, Neil's a nice guy and he just wanted to make sure she was ok since asking her to move out, as he cared for her and worried about how she would look after herself.

'But he's no fool and these latest revelations have only served to confirm that he made the right decision.'

MailOnline contacted Neil's representative for comment at the time.

Luisa and Neil first confirmed their romance back in August, and it was the dancer's first public relationship since he split from wife and Strictly co-star Katya in 2019.

Whirlwind: Luisa and Neil first confirmed their romance back in August, and it was the dancer's first public relationship since he split from wife and Strictly co-star Katya in 2019

Their relationship was marred with controversy, with Neil later revealing they were living apart following claims Luisa had been unfaithful.

The choreographer - who asked Luisa to move in with him after just two weeks of dating - admitted he initially brushed off the rumours, before the couple 'turned a corner' following a candid chat.

Neil told Hello! magazine: 'If people are not honest with me, then I can't accept them in my life. We've sat down and talked and we've both been really honest with each other and I feel we've turned a corner.

'But I can't stand here and say everything is perfect even now. Luisa is a free spirit and loves life and it's not easy to be in the public eye, but she accepts she has made mistakes that could also have an impact on my life.

Cheating claims: Their relationship was marred with controversy, with Neil later revealing they were living apart following claims Luisa had been unfaithful

'It wasn't the ideal way to form a relationship so quickly... [but] I love being with Luisa and we see a life together. Our relationship is real and she makes me happy. She puts a smile on my face every day.'

It's been said that tattooed beauty Luisa cheated with student Daniela Becerra.

Luisa is said to have invited Daniela back to Neil's flat where they became intimate, before later telling her lover she was 'married'.

After finding out Luisa wasn't single, performance art student Daniela is thought to have been shocked and wanted to leave, leaving the property at around 6am.
A royal showdown? Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are expected to travel back to the U.K. this year to attend a number of important events, but a royal expert says any meeting between the couple and Harrys brother, Prince William, and wife Duchess Kate will be uncomfortable.

Read article

I think its going to be very awkward if they do meet up, Phil Dampier, author of Royally Suited: Harry and Meghan in Their Own Words, told The Sun on Saturday, January 2. From what I am told, the rift is not a lot better at the moment  they are not talking a lot, he added.

James Whatling/MEGA

Harry, 36, and Meghan, 39, who left London and settled in California in March 2020 after they stepped down as senior members of the royal family, are speculated to be returning to the UK for events including Queen Elizabeths 95th birthday in April, Prince Philips 100th birthday in June, and the dedication of a Princess Diana statue, Harry and Williams late mother, in the summer. Harry has also said he hoped to attend the Invictus Games, which are being held in the Netherlands in May.

I think they will put on a united front for the unveiling of Dianas statue and Im sure they will put on a united front for the birthday celebrations, but behind the scenes I think theres going to be a lot of tension, Dampier said.

Read article

The royal siblings have had a turbulent relationship for a few years, reportedly since Harry told his brother of his plans to marry Meghan, which resulted in William, 38, advising him to slow things down in their whirlwind romance. Harry admitted in a TV special in October 2019 that the pair are on different paths at the moment, but I will always be there for him, and he will always be there for me.

Their bond was strained even more in January 2020 when Harry and Meghan announced their plans to step down as senior royals and split their time between the U.K. and North America.

Royal historian Robert Lacey told Elle magazine in an interview posted online on Saturday that William was so furious with his brother, that he refused to even sit down to lunch with him before the pair met with their father, Prince Charles, and the queen at her Sandringham estate to discuss the terms of the couples royal exit early last year.

MEGA

The Queen said, All right, lets have meeting next Monday at 2 oclock, where well sit around the table and hash it out with all our advisors, private secretaries, the courtiers. But before that, well have a family lunch where the family can just sit together and talk. One prince said no, Im not coming to that, Im not sitting with my brother, and the prince who said that was William, the Battle of Brothers author said.

Read article

Most people were shocked. This is not royal gossip; we saw William turning up late just in time for the 2 oclock meeting, so theres no doubt at all that was his position then, he continued. Friends suggest he was so furious with Harry that he couldnt trust himself to sit at same table [as him]. This is the depth to which the anger has gone.

The couples frosty relationship was evident at their last public event together in March 2020, where William and Kate appeared to avoid making eye contact with the pair.

Sources previously told Us Weekly that British brothers have been working on repairing their relationship in recent months, with William offering his brother a shoulder to lean on as Harry struggled to adjust to his new life in L.A. Hes concerned about his brothers well-being and safety, a source told Us of William.

The royal family also offered support to Meghan and Harry after they revealed that theyd suffered a miscarriage in July 2020, with an insider telling Us that there is great sadness around the royal family for Harry and Meghan.
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A social housing body is in talks with Kildare County Council in a bid to secure social and affordable housing in Kilcullen.

Work is due to get underway on the second phase of Riverside Manor in 2021.

The residents association is worried it is not being informed of what is happening with the 95 home development and how many dwellings will be used for social and affordable housing.

However, it is understood talks are at a very early stage between Cluid and the council, and no decisions have been made. It is believed the number of houses involved has not yet been decided.

Cluid Housing is Irelands largest Approved Housing Body (AHB), providing housing and management services to almost 21,000 residents in over 8,000 affordable homes.

Our team of over 240 highly qualified professional employees are committed to providing quality housing and services that enable people to create homes and thriving communities, said a spokesperson.

Its latest development in Kildare, The Paddocks, Morristown, Newbridge, will provide 18 new homes for local people on Kildare County Councils housing list.

The new scheme will provide six two bedroom, 10 three bedroom and two three bedroom homes, added the spokesperson.

Cluid already has a strong presence in Kildare with over 300 homes throughout the county.

The developer, who is building the homes at Riverside Manor, is not the orginal company which built the first phase.

The residents want their estate to be upgraded.

The residents said Cluid has agreed to meet the them, but only in the company of a council official.

Kildare County Council was asked to respond but no response was forthcoming prior to going to print.

Meanwhile, the Peter McVerry Trust opened a new extension to its family service in Athy last week increasing the services capacity from seven to nine families.

The opening took place on Tuesday, December 22. The trust also announced it was working on two new buy and renew homes in the county.
KATHMANDU : Alarmed that a political crisis in Nepal could endanger China's strategic interests and Belt and Road projects, a Chinese Communist Party emissary has held days of talks to try to stop the Himalayan country's ruling communist party from tearing itself apart.

The crisis erupted on Dec. 20 when Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli, decided he could no longer work with rival factions within his Nepal Communist Party (NCP), which was formed in 2018 to unite the Marxist-Leninist and main Maoist parties following their success in elections in late 2017.

With two years of his term to run, Oli dissolved parliament and called for fresh elections in a move that foreign diplomats say caught China by surprise and plunged the impoverished nation of 30 million people into uncertainty.

Seven ministers quit Oli's government, and anger over the descent into political infighting at a time when the economy is reeling from the coronavirus sparked protests at which effigies of the prime minister were burnt.

Within days, Beijing dispatched to Kathmandu Guo Yezhou, a vice-minister in the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) International Liaison Department, which manages relationships with foreign political parties of all hues, both in power and opposition.

"It is evident that China is angered by Oli's abrupt move amid a pandemic ... they are clearly concerned about the massive investments they have pledged," said a senior European diplomat.

"They are shocked as to how Oli could make a bold political move without prior consultations," said the diplomat, requesting anonymity as he is not authorised to speak to the media.

Oli has recommended an election be held in two phases in April and May, but what happens next could be in the lap of the Supreme Court, as his opponents have challenged the dissolution of parliament as unconstitutional. A hearing will resume in January.

SPEAKING TO ALL SIDES

Guo has held separate meetings with Oli, and rivals in the communist party to get their sides of the story, as well as leaders of the main opposition party and other politicians.

Commenting on the delegation's visit to Kathmandu, China's foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said China hoped "all the various parties in Nepal can put national interest and the overall situation first, and proceed from there, while properly handling internal differences and working towards political stability and the country's development."

Madhav Kumar Nepal, a former prime minister and one of the main critics of Oli within the Nepal Communist Party (NCP), was high on Guo's dance card, and Ram Karki, the NCP's deputy chief of the foreign affairs attended their meeting.

"They want to listen more than they speak. They wanted to know the reason leading to the split in the party," Karki said of the Chinese delegation.

"China always wants stability in Nepal. Since the CCP has a fraternal relationship with the NCP, they are concerned about the present situation. Certainly, they tried to know whether there is any possibility of uniting the party," Karki said.

Guo also held talks with the opposition Nepali Congress Party leader and former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba.

"Irrespective of any change in Nepal, China wants to continue its relationship with all political parties and its economic cooperation including the Trans-Himalayan Multi Dimensional Connectivity Network," Dinesh Bhattarai, a Deuba aide present at the meeting, told Reuters.

The network - involving the construction of ports, roads, railways, aviation and communications - was agreed during a visit by China's President Xi Jinping to Nepal in October 2019. And the multi-billion dollar investment in infrastructure could be a godsend for Nepal's ailing economy.

INFLUENCE ON DISPLAY

Still, some foreign diplomats in Kathmandu viewed Guo's mission as a brazen demonstration of China's growing influence over Nepal's internal affairs.

"Why would a country rush a delegation to a neighbouring nation amid a pandemic? It's rather obvious they control the internal politics of Nepal as they want to expand investments in near future," a senior Western diplomat said.

An Asian diplomat struck a similar note.

"They have been buying land and investing in large-scale infrastructure projects by keeping a tight control on the ruling party and the opposition," said the Asian diplomat.

"A lot is at stake for Beijing," he said.

Sandwiched between India and China, Nepal's tilt into China's orbit is a growing concern for India.

Oli has raised border disputes between Nepal and India at a time when India is already dealing with the worst tensions in decades along sections of its long frontier with China in the Himalayas.

"India has its own history of interference in Nepal but has taken a back seat this time, leaving China more exposed to a growing feeling of resentment among Nepalis," said Constantino Xavier, an analyst at the Centre for Social and Economic Progress, an independent think thank in New Delhi.

Feyzi Ismail, a researcher at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London, suspected China could be disappointed if it maintains backing for Oli in the hope of restoring political stability.

"Protests against Oli's authoritarianism, his clamping down on civil liberties are likely to intensify," said Ismail.

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Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-03 21:04:34|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- The following are the updates on the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

- - - -

BANGKOK -- Thailand on Sunday confirmed 315 new cases of COVID-19, mostly domestic infections, according to the Center for the COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA).

The new cases included 294 local infections while 21 others were those in quarantine upon arrival from abroad, CCSA spokesman Taweesin Visanuyothin told a daily news briefing.

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DHAKA -- Bangladesh reported 835 new COVID-19 cases and 27 new deaths on Sunday, making the tally at 516,019 and death toll at 7,626, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) said.

The official data showed that 10,925 samples were tested in the last 24 hours across Bangladesh.

The total number of recovered patients in the country stood at 460,598 including 978 new recoveries on Sunday, said the DGHS.

- - - -

MINSK -- Belarus reported 1,837 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday, taking its total to 199,962, according to the country's health ministry.

There have been 1,521 new recoveries in the past day, bringing the total number to 182,630, the ministry said.

So far, 1,451 people have died of the disease in the country, including nine over the last 24 hours, it added.

- - - -

TEHRAN -- Iran's Health Ministry reported 5,960 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday, raising the total nationwide number to 1,243,434.

The pandemic has so far claimed 55,540 lives in Iran, up by 102 in the past 24 hours, said Sima Sadat Lari, spokeswoman for the Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education, during her daily briefing.

- - - -

KUALA LUMPUR -- Malaysia reported 1,704 new COVID-19 infections, the health ministry said on Sunday, bringing the national total to 119,077.

Health Ministry Director-General Noor Hisham Abdullah said in a press statement that five of the new cases are imported and 1,699 are local transmissions. Enditem
The January sales are, for many, a nice diversion to get through the hardest, longest month of the year. However, for me, they are a minefield. The January sales awaken in me a kind of bargain-induced delirium. And this is, by no means, something I am free from the rest of the year.

During 2020, with nowhere to go, I spent much of the year hunting bargains virtually. Now I didn't have any money per se, nor any need for the things I usually buy - clothes, clothes and clothes. I legitimately have a problem. Given I only have one body, I genuinely find myself lamenting the limited opportunities to give my clothes the outings they deserve.

Pre 2020, I might have at least done one or two costume changes per day - going from desk to dinner, for example - but with zero outings, I saw my cost-per-wear sky-rocketing during the pandemic. Cost-per-wear is my purchasing justification system. I basically tell myself that every item purchased is like a small mortgage and that helps in making the guilt piss off.

Last year, the 'shop local' and 'support green' also provided me with ample excuse to spend all around me. But my real retail love is a bargain. Which is why January is such a treacherous time for me. It comes at both the worst and best time. My finances are depleted from tax season and Christmas, while my emotional reserves are non-existent after much close contact with family, aka the people with an encyclopaedic knowledge of which of your buttons to press and when.

Of course, bargains are not just for Christmas. For me, it's a year-round pursuit. I've come to realise that bargains are the cocaine of your 30s. In your 30s, you don't go on the lash, you go on DoneDeal.ie. It is lit.

I went on an insane DoneDeal bender. It was a few weeks ago and it was wild. I am still suffering from the almost hallucinatory high a cheap rug and an old pram induced in me. I was so intoxicated by the bargs that then I got together all my Tesco receipts for that oft-promised, but rarely redeemed due to forgetfulness, 16 off the next time you spend 90 in store. I went and did an epic stock-up of non-perishable items, got my 16 off, and, my god, the rush.

Carpe Barg is the new Carpe Diem. I do find sometimes, though, that the bargains can end up costing me more than the money I've saved. Sometimes this is due to outlay in time and petrol required to collect said bargains. My new old cot was secured for a tasty 30. I stayed Covid-19 compliant and made sure I was within my 5km, but got so lost and drove around for so long I'm pretty sure it negated the savings.

Also I've noticed that whenever I resist a particularly insane DoneDeal notion, I treat the money I nearly spent on something stupid as a windfall rather than a saving. For example, I was off my face on a DoneDeal session a few months ago when I found a free-standing home pole-dancing pole. What are the chances? I thought to myself, as though I had been on the hunt for just such an item for years. Actually, not only had the thought that I wanted a free-standing home pole-dancing pole never, ever crossed my mind, I also have never pole-danced in any way shape or form.

This did not stop an immediate and overpowering obsession from forming. I googled home pole-dancing videos, convinced my mother that the pole would live in her house because I had no space in mine and visited the listing daily to make sure it hadn't been snapped up yet.

Reader, I did not buy this pole. I couldn't scrounge together the 750 required to complete the transaction. Thank god. But then what happened instead was even more ludicrous. I began to erroneously treat this hypothetical 750 that I'd nearly spent as loose money; money that could be wittered away on various things rather than what it actually was - money I'd never had in the first place.

Of course, you can still suffer with the feary hangover of a session after a DoneDeal binge. This hangover seems to manifest as a creeping sense of doubt as it begins to dawn on you that you have taken on an item that may be cursed or haunted, or, at the very least, was someone else's clutter and will soon surely become your clutter. Go to the sales, if you must, but remember me, the bargain hunter haunted by her own bargains. l
The COVID-19 vaccines have been touted as the beginning of the end of the deadliest pandemic in recent U.S. history. But many residents are still wondering: Are the vaccines that were developed in record time safe?

In December, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved emergency use of COVID-19 vaccines made by Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech. Unlike many other vaccines that use a killed or weakened virus, these new COVID-19 vaccines harness a groundbreaking technology called synthetic messenger RNA  mRNA for short  that directs cells to produce proteins that trigger the immune system to create antibodies. Those antibodies fight the real virus if a person becomes infected.

We interviewed Dr. Ruth Berggren, an infectious disease specialist at UT Health San Antonio, to learn more about the vaccines safety. She served on a UT Health working group that examined the safety of the Pfizer vaccine and considered how it should be distributed among front-line health care workers.

She also received the vaccine herself in December  and has since been feeling just fine.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Lets start by talking about what we know about the safety of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines for the general population.

Anything we know is clearly limited to the sizes and the distributions of the study populations for the Pfizer and Moderna vaccine trials. With any drug and with any vaccine, there are always post-marketing findings. When you expand from populations of 30,000 to 40,000 people to 30 million to 40 million, youre going to expect that youre going to find some things that you hadnt found previously. That having been said, the safety concerns have been pretty minor.

What safety concerns have come up so far?

The biggest is the possibility of having a severe allergic reaction to one of the vaccine components and a severe allergic reaction we call anaphylaxis. Thats the allergic reaction where your throat closes up, and because of swelling back in your throat area, you cant breathe. Because the vaccine is being given in a closely-monitored medical setting, we treat people who are showing even a glimmer of an anaphylactic reaction with appropriate treatments that can include antihistamines, steroids and then even epinephrine if theres a real danger of the throat closing off.

Thats the big concern. What are people being allergic to thats causing this? The ingredients of the vaccine are publicly available in multiple places including FDA and CDC documents. Probably the most important ingredient is polyethylene glycol or PEG, which is not a weird or new compound. Polyethylene glycol is what is in the prep that people take when theyre going to go for a colonoscopy, that liquid stuff that you drink. Its been used chemically to modify drugs that we give people, such as interferon. So this is not a new thing. There are decades and decades of safety information about it, but like everything else, some people could become allergic, just like some people can become allergic to a bee sting.

Can you talk about the safety of these vaccines for people who are immunocompromised, such as people who have lupus or Type 1 diabetes?

I want to make it clear this vaccine is not harmful for people whose immune system is weakened for one reason or another. The issue is that people who are immunocompromised need to know that their response to the vaccine may not even come close to being as protective as it is for other people. If my immune system is weak and I get vaccinated, Ill probably mount some immune response, but I might not mount enough of one to fully protect me from getting infected or to fully protect me from severe disease.

We have that note of caution, and people get asked prior to being vaccinated, Are you pregnant? Are you immunocompromised?, so that they can be informed of what this vaccine could or could not do for them.

Its important for the public to know that in the Pfizer vaccine trial, people with well-controlled HIV, as well as people with controlled Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C, were included. And there was no problem in people with well-controlled HIV.

Does that also apply to folks with other chronic conditions, such as high blood pressure or diabetes?

Right. In fact, people who have diabetes or hypertension should be prioritized to get the vaccine. Why? Because people with diabetes and hypertension are the ones that are getting severely ill with COVID-19 and more likely to die. So those are the very people that we would put ahead of others to get vaccinated so we can make sure that theyre protected.

Can you talk about what we know about the safety of these vaccines for people who are pregnant or breastfeeding?

The Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine got up front with a statement recommending that pregnant women who are at risk for getting COVID-19 should not be prevented from getting the vaccine and that they should be allowed to make the decision in conjunction with their doctor. There is no evidence that the vaccine harms the fetus, but we also dont have any large-scale evidence of intentionally giving this vaccine to pregnant women to watch what happens.

It needs to be an individualized decision. If a pregnant mom is on the front lines of health care  lets say she is intubating patients who have SARS-CoV-2 infection  that is a high-risk situation. If you add on that that pregnant woman may have gestational diabetes or hypertension  some of the risk factors for a bad COVID-19 disease outcome  it would be a bad thing to prevent such a woman from getting vaccinated. She should be allowed to have access to it.

It was reported that some women got pregnant over the course of the Pfizer vaccine trial. Can you talk about what we learned through that?

There were around 23 pregnancies that happened in spite of the fact that enrollees were instructed to take precautions to not get pregnant during the Pfizer vaccine trial. In a sense, if you want to take the silver lining or a glass-half-full attitude towards this issue, at least we know that there doesnt seem to have been a problem with fertility, which has been an issue thats been raised really by the internet  not by scientists. But clearly if women unintentionally got pregnant while theyre on the Pfizer vaccine study, that would argue against there being any impact on fertility.

Moreover, there have been no adverse outcomes reported so far as the Pfizer vaccine continues to be studied. So we have an extremely limited number of pregnant women who have been vaccinated, and this is why theres not a full blown guidance for them to get it. Its simply that we lack data. However, people need to know we dont have negative data.

Can you address some of those myths youve seen circulating on the internet?

The first is that this vaccine is going to mess with my DNA and its going to change my genetic structure for the rest of my life. Heres what you need to understand about the biology of the mRNA vaccine: The mRNA is an encoded message that gets slipped into an envelope, which is made out of lipid or fatty substance. That fatty lipid envelope permits the vaccine to get onto a cell, merge with the cell membrane, and then the mRNA gets delivered into the inside of the cell in a place called the cytoplasm, if you remember from your high school biology.

Now the cytoplasm isnt just an open swimming pool. The cytoplasm is highly compartmentalized, and theres a great big separation between the cytoplasm and the nucleus. The nucleus of the cell is a highly protected area, which contains our DNA. Thats where our genetic code is, OK? The mRNA does not go into the nucleus.

What the mRNA message does, it stays in the cytoplasm and it gets directed towards the ribosomes, which are the places where proteins are made. I like to use the analogy of a 3D printer: The mRNAs has a message for your 3D printer  your ribosome  for what kind of protein the ribosome should make. That protein thats being encoded is the spike protein from the coronavirus.

What other concerns have you heard from people that youd like to address?

People were questioning whether there was a possibility that the spike protein could cause women to miscarry because of what they call homology (similarity in structure) between the spike protein and Syncytin-1, which is a protein that is involved in the development of the placenta.

A patient sent me a message through my chat saying, Were reading this, and could you tell us if this is a problem? Ive already told you why people shouldnt be concerned about it because people actually got pregnant while getting the coronavirus vaccine protocol from Pfizer.

Theres no reason to think that because little pieces of one protein resemble little pieces of another protein that the antibodies generated on the first protein are going to be specific to the second protein. Heres an analogy: It would be like saying, youre looking at two different types of shelter, and one is a log cabin in the wilderness and one is the White House. Lets say that you had had a smart weapon that was being targeted to destroy the log cabin or destroy the White House. What people need to know is that our immune system is super smart and its not so random that it would just start destroying anything that had the same function. Its going to be very specifically targeted to the exact size and shape of the danger signal.

marina.riker@express-news.net
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No one disputes that correctional deputies repeatedly punched Jacob Servin in a holding cell in San Joaquin County Jail in December 2019.

Whats in dispute is whether what happened in that holding cell was legal. An investigation into whether the deputies violated laws is ongoing, and Servin has turned to the courts to seek justice, saying in a federal complaint that he was the subject of a callous and vicious beating.

Its been more than a year since the Stockton man, arrested on suspicion of public intoxication, used social media to share photos in which he is unrecognizable because of the severe facial swelling and bruises. Video from jail cameras captured deputies booking Servin on Dec. 1, 2019, then leading him into a jail cell. Several deputies entered the cell  and what happened in the cell was off-camera. But cameras captured the deputies escorting a bloodied Servin out of the cell minutes later.

They sat me down on a chair  one behind me, holding me down  and they just took turns on me, Servin told The Chronicle. Beating me, beating me, beating me.

In between punches they called him a terrorist and racial slurs, Servin said. They pummeled his head, neck and body with blows like it was a sport, he said. It went on for about 10 minutes. He believes he may have lost consciousness more than once.

They were smiling, laughing, Servin said.

One deputy appeared to be trying to snap his neck, Servin said. He thought he was going to die.

San Joaquin County Sheriff Patrick Withrow is blunt about what happened: This was not a man that was severely beaten by multiple people. This was a guy who got punched in the face a few times because he was fighting with our officers, and thats going to happen when you fight with our officers  youre going to get punched in the body, in the face.

Withrow told The Chronicle that the trouble began at the jail when Servin began cursing and mocking deputies who were asking him standard medical questions during the booking process. Servin contends he told one deputy only to stop being disrespectful toward his friend, who also was being booked.

People who are arrested on suspicion of being intoxicated in public can typically sober up in the booking lobby, Withrow said. But for those who dont go along with the program, correctional deputies usher them to holding cells  kind of a barren cell with a toilet and a metal bench. And its concrete, Withrow said.

Inside the cell, Withrow said, Servin yanked away from deputies trying to kneel him on a bench to take off his cuffs. Withrow said that after one hand was uncuffed, Servin grabbed one of the deputies and refused to let go, trying to grab a utility knife attached to a deputys belt.

So, Withrow said. The fight was on.

Withrow said the deputies freely admit that they used distraction blows and punches to try to get this guy to stop fighting, to let go of them, to stop biting, and stop grabbing them. Distraction blows are punches, forearm strikes or whatever we can do to get the person under control, Withrow said. He denied racial slurs were used.

Sheriffs officials promptly sought charges against Servin, but San Joaquin Countys district attorney has thus far declined to file criminal charges.

The incident, meanwhile, remains under investigation by a team that includes investigators from the Stockton Police Department, San Joaquin County Sheriffs Office, and district attorneys officials.

Servin, 30, has filed a federal civil rights complaint against the Sheriffs Office in the Eastern District of California in Sacramento.

The Stockton resident was born and raised in the Central Valley city, the youngest of five siblings. For the past eight years, Servin has worked as a pipe material handler, delivering steel piping to construction sites.

Swollen and exhausted the day after his arrest, Servin said, he was lying in bed debating whether he should share photos of his battered face on social media. He knew that if he shared the photos, they would probably strike a nerve with people who have been calling for an end to police brutality. Servin said he had long watched television reports of injustices at the hands of law enforcement while growing up in Stockton, but this was the first time he was a walking testimony of injustice ... as well as a survivor.

What really put it into gear for me was that I thought long and hard about how much fun these guys were having, Servin said, referring to deputies striking him in the cell. Literally, it was a sport.

The complaint alleges a beating ... in retaliation for Mr. Servins exercise of his free speech rights, namely, politely speaking up to defend a female pretrial detainee, and said the deputies used racist slurs and racial epithets towards Mr. Servin, indicating a mistaken belief on their part that he was of Middle Eastern descent, but indicating that their violent attack was motivated at least in part by their belief about Mr. Servins race and/or national origin.

Sanjay Schmidt, Servins attorney, said: Were hoping that we can vindicate Jacobs constitutional rights through this civil rights action. If theyre not going to be criminally charged, then a finding after a trial that they violated the U.S. Constitution or his rights under state law  thats still a declaration that they committed a constitutional violation, that there was a transgression that occurred. We hope that they would be disciplined, if not fired, for violating his rights and committing a felony assault under color of law.

Lauren Hernandez is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: lauren.hernandez@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ByLHernandez
Nearly a dozen Republican senators signaled Saturday that they will challenge the electoral college results next week, a last measure of their full devotion to a defeated president that has frustrated Senate GOP leaders and exacerbated concerns about the health of American democracy.

Eleven current and soon-to-be lawmakers  almost a quarter of the incoming Senate GOP conference  plan to vote Wednesday against certifying the results from swing states that propelled President-elect Joe Biden to victory.

In the weeks since his defeat, President Donald Trump has led a baseless campaign claiming he was the victim of fraud in those states and has successfully pressured congressional allies to challenge the results. The effort was joined Saturday by Sens. Ted. Cruz, R-Texas, and John Kennedy, R-La., days after Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., became the first in the chamber to say he would object to Bidens 306-232 electoral college tally.

The faction also includes Sens. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, Mike Braun of Indiana, Steve Daines of Montana, Ron Johnson of Wisconsin and James Lankford of Oklahoma, as well as Sen.-elects Bill Hagerty of Tennessee, Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming, Roger Marshall of Kansas and Tommy Tuberville of Alabama.

Notably, the Republican senators from Georgia, David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler, opted not to sign the letter on the eve of their runoff elections Tuesday that will determine which party controls the Senate. Trump, who traditionally has demanded demonstrations of loyalty in exchange for his political patronage, is scheduled Monday to rally support for them in Dalton, Georgia.

Dozens of House Republicans are expected to lodge a similar protest, forcing hours of debate over election results that have been certified by state governments and survived repeated court challenges by Trump and his allies.

Because Democrats control the House and a majority of GOP senators is expected to join Democratic counterparts in certifying Bidens win, the challenge faces little chance of success. But it will coincide Wednesday with a planned gathering of Trump supporters in the nations capital that sets up another fraught national moment less than two weeks before Biden will be sworn in as the nations 46th president.

Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas, the lawmaker spearheading the challenge in the House, suggested in an interview Friday night that the courts sweeping rejection of pro-Trump election challenges has left supporters no remedy ... in effect, the ruling would be that you gotta go the streets and be as violent as antifa and BLM.

In a letter explaining their plan, the Republican senators  three are up for reelection next year, and Cruz and Hawley harbor presidential aspirations  refer to Congress formal role as the lone constitutional power remaining to consider and force resolution of the multiple allegations of serious voter fraud.

Such allegations, born not of evidence but Trumps deep denial, have dissolved upon scrutiny, however, and multiple recounts, audits and investigations have failed to produce evidence of fraud that would have altered the results of any states election.

Former Attorney General William Barr last month broke with Trump over the matter, telling reporters the Justice Department had uncovered no evidence of such fraud. More than 50 lawsuits filed by Trumps campaign and allies have been jettisoned from court, with judges in some cases expressing incredulity at the evidence-free accusations.

Nevertheless, the GOP senators are planning to stage a final battle, citing the dismissals and the Supreme Courts refusal to hear Trumps challenges as a reason theyre pushing to establish an electoral commission to conduct a 10-day audit. The inquiry, they said, would enable states to reconvene to change their vote, if needed.

These are matters worthy of the Congress, and entrusted to us to defend. We do not take this action lightly. We are acting not to thwart the democratic process, but rather to protect it, they write. And every one of us should act together to ensure that the election was lawfully conducted under the Constitution and to do everything we can to restore faith in our Democracy.

Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., rebuked his GOP colleagues in a sharply-worded statement.

A fundamental, defining feature of a democratic republic is the right of the people to elect their own leaders, Toomey said. The effort by Senators Hawley, Cruz, and others to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in swing states like Pennsylvania directly undermines this right.

Allegations of fraud by a losing campaign cannot justify overturning an election, the senator added, noting that his colleagues fail to acknowledge that these allegations have been adjudicated in courtrooms across America and were found to be unsupported by evidence.

The lawmakers, who are mostly questioning the validity of electoral tallies in predominantly Black urban centers, also referred to the Compromise of 1877 as precedent, noting that Congress resolved that years disputed presidential election with a commission like the one theyre seeking. The letter did not mention that the 1876 elections resolution hinged on the removal of federal troops from the South, effectively ending Reconstruction. It stripped away the newly acquired rights of Black people and ushering in the violent, segregationist Jim Crow era.

Although almost certain to fail, the protest vote offers a political opportunity for those eager to carry the mantle of Trump-ism, but its a stickier matter for senators facing reelection in 2022. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell had hoped to avoid a vote that could fracture his caucus.

But as has been the case for the past four years, Trumps need for constant demonstrations of loyalty has rarely spared Republicans from fights and unpalatable dilemmas. Trump has already attacked Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., the No. 2 Republican in the Senate, for predicting that any effort to challenge the electoral college results would go down like a shot dog, suggesting that South Dakotas governor challenge him in a primary next year.

But the actions by the Trump-aligned senators are driven by political calculus and the reality of a party that remains in Trumps grip despite his defeat, presaging a looming battle for the GOPs future.

One of McConnells closest outside advisers, GOP strategist Josh Holmes, made his disgust for the gambit clear, suggesting in a tweet that the lawmakers joining the challenge would backfire in the long run. Rarely can you predict with 100% assurance that years from now everyone who went down this road will wish they had a mulligan, Holmes wrote.

2021 Los Angeles Times. Visit at latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Queen Elizabeth made a romantic gesture to Prince Philip during her Christmas Day speech by placing a photo of the Duke of Edinburgh beside her as she addressed the nation.

Her Majesty gave her Christmas speech from Windsor Castle, where she spent the holiday with her husband, Prince Philip, for the first time since 1987.

The 2020 broadcast showed a picture of Philip next to the 94-year-old monarch. From her private collection, the photo of Philip shows him sporting a collared light blue jacket.

Queen Elizabeth during her Christmas speech from Windsor Castle in December 2020. | Photo: Instagram/theroyalfamily

Meanwhile, the Queen's speech was pre-recorded at Windsor Castle in the Green Drawing Room. As usual, it was broadcast at 3 pm on Christmas Day, according to Hello Magazine.

Her Majesty reflected on the past year and expressed her pride for the country in her speech, which was highly anticipated following a year overshadowed by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

"In the United Kingdom and around the world, people have risen magnificently to the challenges of the year," she said, "and I am so proud and moved by this quiet, indomitable spirit."

Because of the crisis, Queen Elizabeth opted to forgo her annual Christmas celebration at Sandringham Estate.

Queen Elizabeth wore a purple dress with a Queen Mother diamond and shell brooch, designed by Lord Courtauld-Thomson and made in 1919. She has worn the brooch a number of times.

As reported by People, the Queen usually has several photos of the royal family members on her desk when she gives her annual speech, but this year was different.

The 2020 broadcast included footage of Prince William, Kate Middleton, Prince Charles, and others, although they were not commemorated with photographs this year.

Additionally, the speech included several photos from Kate's "Hold Still" photography project, which invited people across the United Kingdom to submit scenes from the novel coronavirus pandemic.

In 2020, the royals faced changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Because of the crisis, Queen Elizabeth opted to forgo her annual Christmas celebration at Sandringham Estate.

A Buckingham Palace spokesperson recently stated that after considering all the fitting advice, the Queen and Philip have decided to spend Christmas quietly in Windsor.
Almost two weeks after the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) started screening passengers arriving from Europe, Middle East and South Africa for new Covid-19 variant, over 11,000 passengers have arrived of which around 50% passengers were exempted the mandatory hotel quarantine, considering they had further travel plans or resided in other states. Some were exempted owing to emergency travel, states the BMC data.

The civic body started quarantining incoming passengers from many countries from December 23, as a precautionary measure to detect a new variant of Covid-19 that was first reported in the United Kingdom (UK).

According to BMCs data, over 11,000 passengers have arrived from Europe and the Middle East between December 23 and January 1, of which over 5,500 passengers were allowed to leave Mumbai as they were from other states, had future travel plans or were given exemption due to emergency.

A BMC official said, We are regularly testing passengers on completion of the seventh day, and positive samples are sent to National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, for further investigations. However, not a single passenger is tested for the new strain of Covid-19 yet. We are going to continue testing until further guidelines on the same from the state or central government.As per BMCs protocol, every passenger has to be kept at mandatory quarantine facilities and undergo a Covid-19 test on the seventh day. Further, the passengers are hospitalised if they are tested positive. If they are tested negative, the passengers are allowed home quarantine for seven days.

Suresh Kakani, additional municipal commissioner, last week, said, We are quarantining and testing incoming passengers from Europe and the Middle East, and have not found any case of the new strain. Around 50-70% of the total incoming passengers daily, are not from Mumbai, hence there is no question of any load on the civic body. Meanwhile, starting last week, the BMC also opened up its jumbo Covid-19 centre in Byculla for those passengers who cannot afford to quarantine at hotels.
Top Trump aide Peter Navarro has falsely claimed Mike Pence has the power to delay the inauguration while Republicans scramble to overturn the Joe Biden's election win.

The White House trade advisor made the comments in an interview with Jeanine Pirro on Saturday after she questioned whether they would be able to conduct a 10-day audit of the election in contested states before Biden is sworn in on January 20.

'I would not be surprised to see a special counsel on this,' Navarro said.

'And Vice President Pence, he has the authority to give that 10-day window to do what needs to get done. And I cannot imagine, when he goes through the facts, he won't vote the right way on that.'

Scroll down for video

White House trade advisor Peter Navarro spoke to Judge Jeanine Pirro on Saturday regarding Republican's efforts to overturn Biden's win next week

Navarro falsely claimed Vice President Mike Pence, who will preside over the formal counting of the electoral votes on January 6, has the power to postpone the January 20 inauguration

Pirro, a former New York State judge, noted that the 10-day commission could be postponed, but the day of the inauguration cannot, as per the Constitution.

'Well it can be changed, actually. We can go past that date  we can go past that date if we need to,' Navarro insisted.

Pirro did not push back on Navarro's false claims which go against the 20th Amendment passed by Congress in March 1932.

The law states that the terms of the president and vice president 'shall end at noon on the 20th day of January.'

Before 1933, the president had been sworn in on March 4, typically the final day of the congressional season.

But the stretch between the November elections and the March 4 inauguration led to lengthy lame-duck sessions of Congress and became a concern during times of national crisis.

Navarro's claims came after 12 Republican senators vowed to object to the election results on January 6, when Congress will formally certify Biden's win.

Marc Short, Pence's chief of staff, later issued a statement Saturday announcing the VP backed their efforts, saying he 'shares the concerns of millions of Americans about voter fraud and irregularities in the last election.'

Vice President Mike Pence has said he will support the bid by a dozen Republican Senators to overturn Joe Biden's election win in Congress next week

A total of 12 Republican senators have vowed to object during the January 6 vote, when Congress will certify Joe Biden's win

'(Pence) welcomes the efforts of members of the House and Senate to use the authority they have under the law to raise objections and bring forward evidence before the Congress and the American people on Jan. 6th', the statement continued.

Pence gave the plot his backing just hours after Ted Cruz said he would be among the 12 GOP Senators trying to block the certification.

WHAT IS THE 20TH AMENDMENT? The 20th Amendment passed by Congress in March 1932 and ratified by the necessary states the following January, sets the inauguration date as January 20 at noon. Before 1933, the president had been sworn in on March 4, typically the final day of the congressional season. But the stretch between the November elections and the March 4 inauguration led to lengthy lame-duck sessions of Congress and became a concern during times of national crisis. Sen. George Norris, R-Neb., suggested the 20th Amendment, which called for a new Congress to begin on January 3 and for the president to be inaugurated on January 20. President Franklin Roosevelt's first inauguration, in 1933, was the last swearing-in ceremony held on March 4. President Obama's inauguration was held on January 21 in 2013, because the date landed on a Sunday. It was the seventh time the inauguration date had fallen on a Sunday. Inaugural ceremonies, however, are not traditionally held on Sundays because courts and other public institutions are closed. Advertisement

Dozens of Republicans also reportedly participated in a conference call with President Trump and Chief of Staff Mark Meadows Saturday night to discuss the plan to reject Electoral College votes.

Congressman Mo Brooks of Alabama tweeted that he and Congressman Jim Jordan of Ohio lead a call with '50+ congressmen who join & fight for America's republic.

'Our fight for honest & accurate elections gains momentum,' Brooks said.

Twelve Republicans have now said they will vote to reject the electors on January 6, after Missouri Senator Josh Hawley became the first to announce his intentions this week to challenge the result.

In a statement on Saturday with ten more GOP senators, Cruz demanded the appointment of an emergency commission to conduct a 10-day audit of the election returns in 'disputed states'.

Until such a commission is appointed, they vowed to intend to vote on January 6 to reject the electors from those states - a largely symbolic move that has little chance of preventing Biden from taking office.

The effort is considered separate from but parallel to that of Senator Hawley, who earlier this week became the first sitting member of the Senate to announce he would challenge the election result.

Cruz was joined in the statement by Senators Ron Johnson, James Lankford, Steve Daines, John Kennedy, Marsha Blackburn, Mike Braun, along with Cynthia Lummis, Tommy Tuberville, Bill Hagerty, and Roger Marshall, all of whom will be sworn in as senators on Sunday in the new Congress.

In a statement, Cruz and the other senators said they intend to vote to reject electors from swing states that have been at the center of President Donald Trump's unproven assertions of election fraud and will call for the establishment of a commission to investigate claims of fraud on an emergency basis.

'We intend to vote on January 6 to reject the electors from disputed states as not `regularly given and `lawfully certified (the statutory requisite), unless and until that emergency 10-day audit is completed,' they wrote in the statement.

U.S. Senator Ted Cruz has said he will be among a dozen Republican senators who will challenge President-elect Joe Biden's victory when Electoral College results are tallied in Congress next week

'We do not take this action lightly,' they said.

It comes in defiance of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, who has pleaded with his caucus not to attempt to block certification of the Electoral College results.

In conference calls with colleagues, McConnell has reportedly argued that any attempt to block certification of Biden would be futile, and only divide the party.

Cruz's statement pointed out that Democrats in Congress had previously raised objections to the result of a presidential election, including in 1969, 2001, 2005, and 2017.
Right now we celebrate the angelic hotness of KB whilst taking a peek at community news, pop culture and top headlines.

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Kansas City Snow Crafted

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KB Defends Cheesy Holiday

Kelly Brook forced to defend her cheese platter dinner Kelly Brook was forced to defend her choice of dinner on Monday night. The model and Heart FM presenter served up a delicious looking platter of cheeses for boyfriend Jeremy Parisi, sparking a major fan reaction.

REPUBLICAN TOUGH TALK TAKEN BACK AFTER REBUKE!!!

Rep. Louie Gohmert Backpedals On 'Be Violent' Comments After Election Lawsuit Loss Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) issued a statement Saturday backpedaling on his controversial comments indicating that street violence is the only recourse in the wake of his lawsuit loss to overturn the results of the democratic presidential election. Gohmert made the remarks about violence Friday on the far-right news channel Newsmax.

Vandals Vs. Politicos

Homes of McConnell and Pelosi are vandalized The homes of the two highest-ranking members of Congress - House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell - have been vandalized, police said, after the Senate stalled Friday on increasing stimulus checks to $2,000 for millions of Americans.

Democracy Endures

Congress set to certify Electoral College results despite GOP objections; here's why The House and Senate will meet for a joint session Wednesday to certify the Electoral College results, the last step in finalizing the presidential win for Joe Biden - but some GOP lawmakers are saying not so fast.

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Hottie Still Plays Spy Games

Pamela Anderson makes 11th-hour pardon plea for WikiLeaks' Julian Assange Pamela Anderson is making a last-ditch attempt to snare a presidential pardon for friend and WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange on the eve of a turning point in his espionage case - and she wants her fellow Americans to help.

Rock Chalk Rout

Kansas vs. Texas score, takeaways: Longhorns dominate Jayhawks in KU's worst home loss under Bill Self KU committing to the 5-out will be interesting, because Texas is going to be playing Jericho Sims. Can Sims stay in front of his defensive assignment? If not, can KU shooters actually hit on the subsequent drive-and-kick looks?

Foggy Freeze Stars Sunday

Dense, freezing Sunday morning in Kansas City Widespread dense freezing fog Sunday morning. Next full day of sunshine and warmer temperatures on Monday. Rain chances return mid-week, maybe some wintry weather too

Hozier - The Parting Glass is the song of the day and this is the OPEN THREAD for right now.
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The airport of Yemen's second city Aden re-opened Sunday, days after 26 people were killed there in deadly blasts apparently targeting the country's new government.

A plane of the national carrier Yemenia from Khartoum was the first to land Sunday as services resumed after Wednesday's explosions which occurred as cabinet minister arrived from Saudi Arabia.

No side has yet claimed the attack but Yemeni government officials were quick to blame northern-based Huthi rebels.

AFP video footage on Sunday showed the airport building cleared of the broken glass and rubble the two blasts had caused.

"The airport is back up and running and things are going very smoothly," airport spokesman Adel Hamran told AFP.

Those killed Wednesday included three International Committee for the Red Cross staffers and a minister's aide. No ministers were harmed.

AFP footage on Wednesday showed what appears to be a missile strike followed by a ball of intense flames, in part of the airport which moments before had been packed with crowds.

The Huthis seized Yemen's northern capital Sanaa in 2014, prompting a Saudi-led intervention the following year.

Tens of thousands of people, mostly civilians, have since been killed and millions displaced in what the United Nations calls the world's worst humanitarian disaster.

Yemen's new government was formed under a Riyadh-sponsored power-sharing agreement between ministers loyal to President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi and supporters of the secessionist Southern Transitional Council.

Both are technically fighting the Huthis, but the STC has sought to restore South Yemen's independence from the north after they were unified in 1990.

Secessionists and forces loyal to the central government have sporadically clashed in and around Aden.

The cabinet had arrived in Aden days after being sworn in by Hadi in Saudi Arabia.

It convened for the first time in Aden the day after the attack, holding a moment of silence for those killed in the attack.





This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text.

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Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-04 01:09:27|Editor: huaxia

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BAGHDAD, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- The Iraqi Ministry of Health reported on Sunday 741 new COVID-19 cases, the lowest since last June, bringing the total nationwide infections to 597,774.

The ministry also reported five new deaths, raising the death toll from the infectious virus to 12,834, and 1,974 more recovered cases, bringing the total recoveries to 543,720.

A total of 4,650,187 tests have been carried out across the country since the outbreak of the disease last February, with 31,600 done during the day, according to the statement.

Iraq has taken a series of measures to contain the pandemic since the first coronavirus case appeared in the country.

China has been helping Iraq fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

From March 7 to April 26 in 2020, a Chinese team of seven medical experts spent 50 days in Iraq to help contain the disease, during which they helped build a PCR lab and install an advanced CT scanner in Baghdad.

China has also sent three batches of medical aid to Iraq. Enditem
One of the most striking images at the beginning of 2020 was that of the anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), protesters reading aloud the Preamble to the Constitution. It is truly significant then that 2020, with all that happened in between, ended with farmers from across three states expressing their dissent against three agricultural laws passed earlier that year. Let us review how the Constitution fared last year with the hope that key constitutional values, which were invoked and tested in 2020, remain pivotal to the lives of the Indian citizens in 2021 and beyond.

Constitutional challenges to CAA ranged from suits filed by several states to petitions alleging infringement on the fundamental right to equality and the secular character of the Constitution. However, the most significant challenge to CAA was mounted outside the courtroom  while the streets were marked by protests against the implementation of the law, social media platforms saw genuine attempts by users to educate themselves on both CAA as well as the Constitution.

The first quarter of 2020 witnessed a political and constitutional crisis in Madhya Pradesh. This crisis attracted attention to the Tenth Schedule  the anti-defection law  of the Constitution. The events in Madhya Pradesh were just one of many instances of this law being bypassed. It also lay bare why the Tenth Schedule can often magnify the problem it was intended to solve.

What marked the beginning of the second quarter was Covid-19. After an initial response to the pandemic led by states, the Centre stepped in by invoking the provisions of the Disaster Management Act, 2005. The National Disaster Management Authority, while notifying the lockdown on March 24, emphasised the need for consistency in the application of measures across the country. This perceived need for consistency, where the constitutional framework envisages roles for the State as well as local governments to reign in an epidemic, inevitably put a dent in the federal balance. The sudden nature of the first lockdown, and the halt on vital economic activities debilitated state finances, severely shifting the balance in Indias fiscal federal architecture. The other striking image which characterised 2020 was that of migrant workers compelled to walk long distances after the lockdown. It was a failure of policymakers that the drivers of key economic activity were not assured the dignity they deserve. The Constitution and all the institutions were collectively at their lowest when certain states remained unwilling to allow entry of migrant workers, and the Supreme Court (SC) merely approved the steps taken by the Centre to redress their grievances.

Parliament, an institution increasingly characterised by political grandstanding, could not redeem itself enough in 2020. Well into the third quarter, on September 20, the three agricultural bills were passed by a voice vote in Rajya Sabha, despite protest from the Opposition. The passage of these bills gnawed away at a foundational principle of the Constitution  parliamentary form of government characterised by debate, discussion, and accountability. The agricultural laws were passed with scant deliberation, a defect which even the most cogent drafting of their substantive provisions cannot rectify. The last quarter of 2020 witnessed the promulgation of the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Religious Conversion Ordinance, 2020. Envisaging multiple declarations by individuals before and after conversions, the law is intrusive and its constitutionality dubious. Finally, there were constitutional questions that the SC did not hear (Article 370s abrogation, CAAs constitutionality), the pressing questions of access to certain resources in a near-virtual world, and some more. But there were positives.

There were assertions of federalism by some states on CAA; the Election Commission smoothly conducted its first post-Covid assembly election; and, most significantly, citizens came into their own and truly realised the import of the Constitution  for themselves and their fellow country people. Let us hope to build on this spirit this year.

Ritwika Sharma works at the Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy and leads Charkha, Vidhis Constitutional Law Centre The views expressed are personal
Tony Blair today admitted he would have backed Boris Johnson's Brexit deal in the House of Commons - comparing leaving the EU to 'shock therapy'.

The former PM was one of the strongest opponents of leaving the bloc, having campaigned for another referendum to cancel the decision.

However, in interviews with Times Radio and Sky News this morning he revealed he would have joined Labour leader Keir Starmer in voting 'tactically' for the government's trade agreement if he was still an MP.

The comments came as Mr Blair complained that cutting ties with Brussels would mean the UK is 'economically weaker and with less political influence'.

But he said it did provide 'shock therapy' and an opportunity to take 'big decisions' about the direction of the country.

Asked if he would have joined a revolt against Sir Keir over the PM's deal, Mr Blair said: 'I would have backed (Sir Keir Starmer) on this.

In interviews today, Tony Blair admitted he would have backed Boris Johnson's Brexit deal in the House of Commons

Mr Blair said he would have joined Labour leader Keir Starmer (right) in voting for the trade agreement struck by Mr Johnson (left) for 'tactical' reasons

'I mean look, it's a tactical question for the Labour Party because the problem is that it's open to your opponents to say that if you don't back the deal, then you're voting for no-deal.'

Mr Blair continued: 'There was a case for abstaining and there was a case for voting for it because the alternative's no-deal.

'What I'm really saying is as a decision that the Labour leader's got to take, I don't think it particularly matters to the Labour Party either way.

'I think what does matter is that we're still in a position where we're pointing out what the problems with this deal are.'

Mr Blair said there was 'nothing that Brexit's going to do for Britain on its own'.

'It's going to leave us economically weaker and with less political influence,' he said.

'And so the only way I make sense of Brexit is to treat it as shock therapy, that we then realise we've got to take certain big decisions as a country, we've got to set out a new agenda for the future, but that's going to be difficult to do.'

Mr Blair added: 'The truth of the matter is these so-called freedoms from European regulation that Brexit's supposed to give us, they don't really give us anything much at all.

'Because the truth is that decisions for Britain are and always have been resting with the British people and with the British government that they elect.

'But what it does mean, if we just carry on having the same old political debate post-Brexit as we had pre-Brexit, we're in a lot of trouble as a country.'

Meanwhile, Mr Johnson has hailed his success in securing a smooth departure from the EU, saying the benefits included 'substantial sums of money' coming back to the UK.

He told the BBC's Andrew Marr programme: 'For instance, they've already got substantial sums of money coming back into this country as a result of leaving the EU.

'We've got control over our borders, a points-based immigration system has already been established.

'And then when it comes to areas in parts of the country that feel that they've been left behind, one of the things that you can do for instance, to say nothing more (of) the regulatory changes you can make, one of the things you can do is have free ports.'

He added: 'You can use tax systems and subsidies in order to drive investment.'
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Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism.
A judge in London on Monday rejected an American effort to have the WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange extradited to the United States, where he faces charges of conspiring to hack government computers and violating the Espionage Act by obtaining and releasing confidential documents in 2010 and 2011.

The decision by the judge, Vanessa Baraitser, to deny the extradition request gave Mr. Assange an important legal victory at a time when recent U.S. administrations have increasingly used the Espionage Act against journalists sources.

The United States has two weeks to file an appeal, and it is expected to do so. A ruling in favor of the U.S. extradition request could have paved the way for a high-stakes trial that Mr. Assange has sought to avoid for years, and which his supporters say would pose a dangerous threat to press freedom. Mr. Assange would face up to 175 years in prison if found guilty of all charges.

Here is what you need to know about Mondays ruling.

Where could the case go now?

Judge Baraitser did not rule on whether Mr. Assange was guilty of wrongdoing, but whether the U.S. extradition request met requirements set out under a 2003 extradition treaty with Britain  namely, that the crime of which Mr. Assange was accused could also have led to trial in Britain, had he committed it there.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

Washington, Jan 3 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 4th Jan, 2021 ) :President Donald Trump pressured the Georgia secretary of state in an extraordinary phone conversation Saturday to "find" enough votes to overturn Joe Biden's victory in the Southern state, news media reported Sunday.

The secretly taped conversation with fellow Republican Brad Raffensperger, first reported by the Washington Post, includes threats that Raffensperger and another Georgia official could face "a big risk" if they failed to pursue his request.

"The people of Georgia are angry, the people in the country are angry," Trump is heard saying on the tape, parts of which were aired by CNN.

"And there's nothing wrong with saying, you know, um, that you've recalculated," the president says. "You're off by hundreds of thousands of votes." Raffensperger is heard responding: "Well, Mr. President, the challenge that you have is, the data you have is wrong." Biden won the long Republican-leaning state by fewer than 12,000 votes -- a margin unchanged after recounts and audits. None of Trump's allegations have been supported.

Even a hypothetical reversal there would not deprive Biden of victory.

Word of the recording came at an extraordinary juncture, two days before special runoff elections in Georgia that will decide control of the US Senate, and three days before Congress is to certify the results of the November 3 election.

That certification, normally routine, is now being challenged by scores of lawmakers at Trump's behest.

- 'Contempt for democracy' - Ahead of the release of the audio, Trump tweeted about the call, saying that Raffensperger "was unwilling, or unable, to answer questions such as the 'ballots under table' scam, ballot destruction, out of state 'voters', dead voters, and more.

" After the release, the White House declined to comment.

Democrats were quick to condemn the call.

"Trump's contempt for democracy is laid bare," Representative Adam Schiff said on Twitter. "Once again. On tape.

"Pressuring an election official to 'find' the votes so he can win is potentially criminal, and another flagrant abuse of power by a corrupt man who would be a despot, if we allowed him. We will not." Some political commentators compared the call to the Watergate tapes that led to the fall of President Richard Nixon.

John Dean, a White House counsel to Nixon before turning against him, told CNN that the new tape was "very damning for the president." "It's pretty ugly." Trump has waged an all-out fight against the election results. But scores of recounts and lawsuits, as well as a review by his own Justice Department, have failed to substantiate the claims.

At one point, he invited Republican election officials from Michigan to the White House in an apparent effort to pressure them over their vote certification.

He also pressed Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, a Republican, in a separate phone call.

Raffensperger and other election officials who have rejected Trump's entreaties, in Georgia and other states, have received death threats from his supporters.

It was not clear who released the tape, but under Georgia law Raffensperger could legally have taped it without Trump's consent.
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WASHINGTON/REHOBOTH BEACH, Del. (Reuters) - In Washington's months-long political slugfest over who should get aid to counter the financial damage from the COVID-19 pandemic, there was at least one clear loser: local government.

In the midst of cutbacks in workforce and emergency services and growing poverty, U.S. cities, especially the smaller ones, are hoping the next round of stimulus includes them and that President-elect Joe Biden advocates for them when he takes office on Jan. 20.

The latest coronavirus bill for $892 billion in aid - painstakingly negotiated over months and begrudgingly signed into law last week by President Donald Trump - left a bad taste in some mayors' mouths.

In Dayton, Ohio, population 140,000, Mayor Nan Whaley noted that Congress voted to restore a "three-martini lunch" corporate tax break and approved money to bail out theaters in the aid bill. "But they left the cities out. I have a real problem with that," the Democratic mayor told Reuters after Congress passed the bill.

Her city will not be able to hire a new class of police and firefighters in 2021 without emergency funding from Washington, she said.

Under Biden's guidance, a Democratic-crafted bill is likely to seek an infusion of hundreds of billions in cash to help state and local governments, compelled by the toll of the pandemic. He has called for a bipartisan effort in January.

"That action should include additional resources to communities to help keep teachers, firefighters, police officers and other first responders on the job, and more funds for testing, vaccine manufacturing and distribution and resources for schools across the country," said Biden transition spokesman TJ Ducklo.

But with the new Congress that convenes on Sunday, there could be resistance from the Senate, especially if Republicans hold control of the chamber after two runoffs in Georgia on Jan. 5.

After allowing some state and local aid in an early 2020 stimulus, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican, stood firmly against an additional tranche, calling it "massive bailouts" and an unnecessary "slush fund" for Democratic states.

Graphic: Local government employment - https://graphics.reuters.com/HEALTH-CORONAVIRUS/USA-CONGRESS/yzdpxjwdqpx/chart.png

Officials from localities too small to have qualified for federal aid delivered in March described a different landscape.

Asked about McConnell's remarks, Arlington, Texas, Mayor Jeff Williams, a Republican, said in a Dec. 22 telephone interview: "Please don't characterize all cities" that way.

Williams said his city of 400,000 imposed across-the-board job cuts in October in anticipation of an 8-10% revenue drop, largely because pandemic lockdowns translated into commercial business property values falling.

Related: Coronavirus in the United States

He said more job cuts could be on the way.

Greg Fischer, president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, said given that fire, police and other public safety workers comprise about two-thirds of many city budgets, Congress' refusal to help smaller local governments was "kind of baffling and infuriating. These are the folks citizens depend on for public safety services" during the pandemic.

Fischer is the Democratic mayor of Louisville, Kentucky, McConnell's hometown, which did receive federal aid from the March 2020 law.

The United States has reported more cases and deaths than any other country, with nearly 20 million people infected by the coronavirus and more than 340,000 deaths.

Officials in counties across the United States tell Reuters the funding crisis has limited the hiring of needed vaccine staff, delayed the creation of vaccination centers, and undermined efforts to raise public awareness.

States, meanwhile, are having to increase spending on Medicaid healthcare for the poor amid high levels of unemployment brought by the pandemic, according to the National Association of State Budget Officers' Kathryn White.

In the spring, Congress earmarked roughly $200 billion for states, local and tribal governments and school and transit systems, a figure that fell far short of what was needed to plug the budget gaps caused by the pandemic.

In an updated survey released on Dec. 23, NASBO described significant budget problems since the pandemic began in the United States. "During 2020 legislative sessions, states faced rapidly deteriorating economic conditions and revenue outlooks," the survey said.

According to the association, total balances were seen falling by $33.3 billion in fiscal 2021 compared to fiscal 2019 levels.

As coronavirus problems ripple through economies, McConnell has warned against rushing to enact more aid. "We will take a look at it, based upon conditions in the country at that time," he told Fox News on Dec. 22, referring to an anticipated Biden proposal.

Meanwhile, governors and mayors argue that a 2021 federal stimulus makes long-term sense, on top of the nearly $4 trillion in aid already provided between measures taken in the spring and the latest deal.

Williams noted that with infrastructure investments also high on Biden's 2021 agenda, "cities have to be well enough to have matching funds" in reserve in order to qualify for federally-financed projects.

(Reporting by Richard Cowan and Trevor Hunnicutt; Additional reporting by Ann Saphir and Dan Burns; Editing by Mary Milliken and Alistair Bell)
She recently reunited with her husband Aljaz Skorjanec after they lived separately for the latest series of Strictly Come Dancing due to Covid-19 safety regulations.

And Janette Manrara has revealed that she is going to start a family with the Slovenian dancer, 30, after ten years of romance.

The Strictly pro, 37, admitted she was waiting for the 'perfect time' to have a baby, but said the coronavirus crisis has made her realise there will never be an ideal time.

Family: Janette Manrara has revealed that she is going to start a family with her husband Aljaz Skorjanec after ten years of romance (pictured in April 2019)

Speaking to Hello! magazine, she explained: 'We always wanted to have a baby, but 2020 has definitely made me say to myself: "You know what, Janette, it's never going to be the perfect time but it's always going to be the right time".'

Janette, who married her longtime partner in 2017, admitted that it was a 'scary' decision to make because she relies on her body for her job as a dancer.

She continued: 'I always thought there would be a perfect month and year, but what 2020 has made me realise is that the perfect time is never going to come along.'

The TV star insisted that she and Aljaz are 'ready to be parents', gushing that her partner, who is also a Strictly professional, is a 'wonderful man'.

Family: The Strictly pro, 37, said she was waiting for the 'perfect time' to have a baby, but said the Covid-19 crisis made her realise there is never an ideal moment (pictured in August 2019)

The American dancer excitedly said: 'We're definitely ready to be parents so we will see when that moment comes - you can't plan it - we will be beside ourselves and Aljaz will be the best dad.'

The loved-up couple's news comes after Aljaz admitted that he used the Covid lockdown to 'do nothing' after he and his wife lost work during the pandemic.

He revealed he had hardly any days off in 2019, so switched off his phone at the end of the year because he was 'struggling', and later used lockdown to take a step back.

Speaking on The Power of 10 podcast with Graham Bell, he explained: 'In 2019 I had one week off and it was broken up into days. I literally had seven or eight days off in the whole year.

'I was really struggling at the end of 2019. So when our tour in 2020 got cancelled I just said, "I'm going to take this opportunity and do nothing."

Big decision: Janette, who married her longtime partner in 2017, admitted that it was a 'scary' decision to make because she relies on her body for her job as a dancer

'So I switched off my phone for a month. I really switched off mentally and physically. The only thing I would do is go for a walk just to get some air.'

The dancer added he and his other half stayed in their flat for months and learned a new dynamic of their relationship.

He said: 'Janette and I stayed in this flat for months. We have lived together for 10 years but we've always worked as well.

'So it was interesting to learn the dynamics of the two of us being at home but not doing much.'

While they spent lots of time together during the first lockdown, Aljaz and Janette were forced apart during filming the most recent series of Strictly.

Strictly: Janette made it all the way to the final with her celebrity partner HRVY, but lost out to champions Bill Bailey and his pro partner Oti Mabuse

The pair had to live separately during filming because of the show's strict coronavirus measures.

When asked at the time what they would do once reunited, Janette told The Sun: 'Oh my gosh. I don't know if I'm allowed to say this publicly, put it that way!

'Let's just say we won't mind being in a lockdown, I'll tell you that. It's been a tough year in many ways but we'll make up for it!'

Janette had been living alone since October, while Aljaz went back to their home after leaving the show alongside his partner DJ Clara Amfo.

For the first time, Janette made it all the way to the final with her celebrity partner HRVY, but lost out to champions Bill Bailey and his pro partner Oti Mabuse.
New Delhi:

The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) on Monday declared the ICSE Class 10, ISC Class 12 results 2017 on its official website, reports said. Candidates can logon to www.cisce.org to check their results. However, the official website of ICSE crashed due to heavy traffic as anxious students rushed to access their results online.



A press release on the official website had said that the ICSE Class 10, ISC Class 12 results 2017 will be available through the career portal of the Council, the website and SMS.



Private education websites like Indiaresults.com and examresults.net will also publish the ICSE Class 10, ISC Class 12 results 2017.



The announcement of results has ended the anxious wait of students who had to wait for long following the delay due to a High Court ruling on marks moderation policy.



Below are the step by step instructions to check your ICSE Class 10, ISC Class 12 results 2017:



1. Visit the official website www.cisce.org or examresults.net



2. Click on the link 'Results 2017'



3. Click on ICSE to check the ICSE result 2017, click on ISC link to access the ISC Result 2017



4. A new window will open up after you will click on the aforementioned link. Enter the correct Unique ID and captcha for either ICSE result 2017 or ISC Result 2017



5. Click submit



6. Download your ICSE Class 10 results 2017 or ISC Class 12 results 2017



7. Take a printout of your ICSE Class 10 results 2017 or ISC Class 12 results 2017 for future use



How to access your results via SMS:

ALSO READ | ICSE, ISC, CBSE reschedule examination dates ahead of Assembly polls



1. To receive your ICSE Result 2017 via SMS, send a message in the following way  ICSE 1234567 (seven digit unique id)



2. Send this message to 09248082883



3. Check your ISC results 2017 via SMS in the same manner



4. You will receive a text message in which your results will be displayed with subject-wise score

Digitally signed statement of marks and pass certificate are now available for ICSE and ISC students. This will enable them to check the results anytime, anywhere.

Also, the students now have a provision to apply for rechecking of marks. Last year, the results were announced on May 6, 2016.
With days to go until President-elect Joe Bidens inauguration, many have questioned whether President Donald Trump really believes his baseless claims of voter fraud. Some have speculated that Trump knows he lost and is just pushing the lie that the election was stolen from him as a way to fire up his base and raise money. But the Washington Post obtained extraordinary audio of a phone call between Trump and Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger that took place Saturday and shows how the president still believes conspiracy theories about the election and has no qualms about trying to pressure people to try to get his way. During the hourlong phone call Trump not only practically begged Raffensperger to act, he also issued vague threats, implying that failing to do his bidding could lead to criminal liability.

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Raffensperger and his lawyer repeatedly told Trump that the count was accurate and that Biden did, in fact, win the state by 11,779 votes. Trump was having none of it and insisted that he knew he came out on top. Well, Mr. President, the challenge that you have is, the data you have is wrong, Raffensperger said. The Post published a four-and-a-half-minute cut of the audio that is worth listening to if for no other reason than to understand what a parallel universe the president is living in. It seems Trump has surrounded himself with conspiracy theorists who feed him false information that he then repeats as true without once providing any evidence to back his assertions. Theres no way I lost Georgia, Trump repeats over and over again in the call.

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Even though Trump assures he won by hundreds of thousands of votes, at one point he makes clear he doesnt care about all that. I just want to find 11,780 votes, Trump says. Because we won the state. At another point of the call he seems to issue vague threats that Raffensperger and his lawyer, Ryan Germany, could face legal repercussions. Thats a criminal offense, he said. And you cant let that happen. Thats a big risk to you and to Ryan, your lawyer. Throughout the call he appeals to Raffensperger as a Republican, saying his refusal to do Trumps bidding could end up hurting Republicans in the state in the crucial runoff election Tuesday that will decide which party controls the Senate. You have a big election coming up and because of what youve done to the presidentyou know, the people of Georgia know that this was a scam, Trump said. Because of what youve done to the president, a lot of people arent going out to vote.

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Earlier Sunday, Trump and Raffensperger got into a public spat on Twitter. Trump wrote on Sunday that he had spoken to Raffensperger and he was unwilling, or unable, to answer questions such as the ballots under table scam, ballot destruction, out of state voters, dead voters, and more. Raffensperger publicly contradicted Trump. Respectfully, President Trump: What youre saying is not true. The truth will come out, he tweeted.

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I spoke to Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger yesterday about Fulton County and voter fraud in Georgia. He was unwilling, or unable, to answer questions such as the ballots under table scam, ballot destruction, out of state voters, dead voters, and more. He has no clue!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 3, 2021

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Update, Jan. 3, 2021, at 5:05 p.m.: After some Trump allies complained of the excerpted audio, the Washington Post released the full recording of the phone call.
Former House Speaker Paul Ryan admonished fellow Republicans Sunday in a rare statement that called planned GOP efforts to challenge President-elect Joe Biden's win 'anti-democratic and anti-conservative.'

Ryan, of Wisconsin, who left Congress in 2019, said in a lengthy statement Sunday that it 'is difficult to conceive of a more anti-democratic and anti-conservative act than a federal intervention to overturn the results of state-certified elections and disenfranchise millions of Americans.'

He also urged the lawmakers to reconsider, saying 'the fact that this effort will fail does not mean it will not do significant damage to American democracy.'

The statement from Ryan comes in response to a group of Senate Republicans, led by Josh Hawley and Ted Cruz, who say they plan to object to the election results when Congress meets on Wednesday to tally Bidens 306-232 Electoral College victory over Trump.

A bipartisan group of 10 senators - including four Republicans - also pushed back against the group's planned protests Sunday, authoring a statement urging Congress to certify the election results.

Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana and Mitt Romney of Utah all signed on to the statement, which said 'it is time to move forward.'

'The 2020 election is over. All challenges through recounts and appeals have been exhausted,' the group's letter read in part.

'At this point, further attempts to cast doubt on the legitimacy of the 2020 Presidential election are contrary to the clearly expressed will of the American people and only serve to undermine Americans' confidence in the already determined election results.'

Trump allies Sen. Lindsay Graham of South Carolina, and former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, both also spoke out Sunday, insisting attempts to stop the certification of the Electoral College 'will go nowhere'.

Former House Speaker Paul Ryan admonished fellow Republicans Sunday in a rare statement that called planned GOP efforts to challenge President-elect Joe Biden's win 'anti-democratic and anti-conservative'

A bipartisan group of 10 senators - including Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Mitt Romney of Utah - also pushed back against the group's planned protests Sunday, authoring a statement urging Congress to certify the election results

Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana were the two other Republicans to co-author the statement

Both Cruz and Hawley have been touted as future leaders of the GOP, and may be eyeing a run for the White House in 2024.

The objections will force votes in both the House and Senate, but none are expected to prevail.

Republican Senate Leader Mitch McConnell has urged Republicans not to object. And several other GOP senators have criticized the efforts, splitting the party as the new Congress begins.

Ryan was the latest to criticize the motion Sunday. The Republican, who served as House Speaker from 2015 to 2019 and has rarely weighed into events since leaving office, decried Cruz and Hawley's 'anti-democratic' efforts.

'Efforts to reject the votes of the Electoral College and sow doubt about Joe Bidens victory strike at the foundation of our republic,' Ryan wrote. 'It is difficult to conceive of a more anti-democratic and anti-conservative act than a federal intervention to overturn the results of state-certified elections and disenfranchise millions of Americans.

'The fact that this effort will fail does not mean it will not do significant damage to American democracy,' he said.

Ryan also asked fellow conservatives to think about the 'precedent that it would set' and noted the Trump campaign's failed efforts in the court to challenge election results in a number of states.

'The Trump campaign had ample opportunity to challenge election results, and those efforts failed from lack of evidence. The legal process was exhausted, and the results were decisively confirmed,' he added.

'The Department of Justice, too, found no basis for overturning the result. If states wish to reform their processes for future elections, that is their prerogative. But Joe Bidens victory is entirely legitimate.'

In a statement issued Saturday, Sen. Romney called the planned objections an 'egregious ploy to reject electors.' Romney said the effort may 'enhance the political ambition of some,' but that it 'dangerously threatens our Democratic Republic.'

Romney also said he believed the senators' 'ambition had eclipsed principle', adding the decision not to certify the Electoral College results 'has the predictable potential to lead to disruption, and worse.'

Pennsylvania Sen. Pat Toomey and Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski - who are both moderates - have sent out similar messages voicing their disapproval.

'I acknowledge that this past election, like all elections, had irregularities. But the evidence is overwhelming that Joe Biden won this election,' Toomey posted on Twitter.

Murkowski, who co-authored Sunday's letter, said in a Saturday statement: ' I will vote to affirm the 2020 presidential election. The courts and state legislatures have all honored their duty to hear legal allegations and have found nothing to warrant overturning the results.'

Nebraska Sen. Ben Sasse, meanwhile, said Sunday that the objections are 'bad for the country and bad for the party.'

The dozen rogue Republican senators who say they'll oppose the vote certification include Ted Cruz of Texas, pictured in October

Republican Sen. Lindsay Graham of South Carolina, a top Trump ally, spoke out in opposition against the group's last-ditch efforts in a statement of his own on Sunday

In a statement released on Saturday night, Romney described the move as an 'egregious ploy that 'dangerously threatens our Democratic Republic'

Pennsylvania Sen. Pat Toomey similarly sent out messages voicing his disapproval over plans by 12 Republican senators to vote against certifying the election results

Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska became the third Senator to publicly denounce her Republican colleagues

Part of a statement released by Sen. Angus King is shown above

As part of their objection, Cruz and 10 other GOP senators are demanding the appointment of an emergency commission to conduct a 10-day audit of the election returns in 'disputed states'.

Until such a commission is appointed, they declared that they intend to vote on January 6 to reject the electors from those states - a largely symbolic move that has little chance of preventing Biden from taking office.

The 11 senators will effectively be joined by Sen. Hawley, who earlier this week became the first sitting member of the Senate to announce he would challenge the election result.

Cruz was joined in his statement by Senators Ron Johnson, James Lankford, Steve Daines, John Kennedy, Marsha Blackburn, Mike Braun, along with Cynthia Lummis, Tommy Tuberville, Bill Hagerty, and Roger Marshall, all of whom will be sworn in as senators on Sunday in the new Congress.

Republican Sen. Lindsay Graham of South Carolina, a top Trump ally, spoke out in opposition against the group's last-ditch efforts in a statement of his own on Sunday.

'Proposing a commission at this late date  which has zero chance of becoming reality is not effectively fighting for President Trump,' Graham tweeted. 'It appears to be more of a political dodge than an effective remedy.'

Grahams comments were echoed by former Trump administration staffer and ex-New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie who said the group's efforts to stop the certification of the Electoral College will 'go nowhere.'

'The thing that matters the most is the reason it will go nowhere is because there's been no evidence of widespread fraud,' he said in an interview with ABC's This Week.

'And that's been determined by Republican and Democratic Governors across the country, it's been determined, most importantly, by the Republican Attorney General of the United Stated States Bill Barr who no one could say has not been a loyal fighter for the president.'

Christie continued: 'The facts are the facts. If there's evidence show us. There's been no evidence shown, and that's why Joe Biden will be confirmed next week.'

Senators (left to right) Ron Johnson, James Lankford, Steve Daines signed on with Cruz

Senators John Kennedy, Marsha Blackburn, Mike Braun also joined Cruz's faction

Also joining Cruz were incoming Senators (left to right) Cynthia Lummis, Tommy Tuberville, Bill Hagerty, and Roger Marshall, all of whom will be sworn in as senators on Sunday

Fraud did not spoil the 2020 presidential election, a fact confirmed by election officials across the country.

Regardless, Sen. Ron Johnson has insisted that the extraordinary effort by congressional Republicans to challenge Bidens presidential victory is not intended to thwart the democratic process but 'to protect it.'

In an interview with NBC's Meet the Press, the Wisconsin senator pointed to an 'unsustainable state of affairs' where he claimed that many people in the country don't accept the election as legitimate.

He contended that more transparency is needed to 'restore confidence' in results that states and the Electoral College have certified.

Johnson didn't offer any new evidence of voting problems.

He did however acknowledge that Trumps former attorney general, William Barr, found no evidence of widespread election fraud.

Multiple lawsuits filed by Trumps legal team have been repeatedly dismissed, by the Supreme Court and by Trump-appointed judges who have ruled the suits lacked evidence.

When Johnson insisted that 'tens of millions of people' believe the presidential election was 'stolen,' NBC's Chuck Todd suggested that Johnson 'look in the mirror' as to why that is.

Todd cut off Johnsons unsubstantiated assertions.

He then told Johnson: 'You don't get to make these allegations that haven't been proven true.'
Britain's newest aircraft carrier the HMS Prince of Wales spent just 87 days at sea during its first two years in service, it has been revealed.

The vessel will now be stranded in Portsmouth until May next year after flooding wrecked the vessel's vital electrical systems last month.

It has been banned from setting sail from its home port on safety grounds after thousands of gallons of sea water poured into the engine room for more than 24 hours in early December.

It came just months after the 3.1billion state-of-the-art ship, which was due to depart for the U.S. to carry out tests with the F-35 stealth jets this year, was flooded to the depth of 3ft after a water leak in the engine room in May.

Because of this the HMS Prince of Wales has spent just 87 days at sea - a third of the time of her sister ship HMS Queen Elizabeth, reports The Telegraph.

Britain's newest aircraft carrier the HMS Prince of Wales has spent just 87 days at sea during its first two years in service, it has been revealed

Minister for the Armed Forces James Heappey confirmed in a letter to Labour MP Kevan Jones that the ship was at sea for 57 days in 2019 and just 30 days last year.

This compares with HMS Queen Elizabeth, which spent 116 days at sea in 2019 and 115 days at sea in 2020.

Engineers assessed miles of cables inside the vessel after the flooding left the aircraft carrier's electrical cabinets submerged underwater last month.

The cost of repairing the Prince of Wales after the flood damage is estimated to be 3.3million.

The vessel will now be stranded in Portsmouth until May next year after flooding wrecked the vessel's vital electrical systems last month. Pictured in March

Mr Jones told the publication: 'It is a significant concern that Prince of Wales has not had the period at sea that it was projected to.

'Carrier Strike Group is central to our maritime posture, and efforts must now be made to ensure Prince of Wales is made available as soon as possible in order for joint-US operations be go ahead on schedule.'

In May, the Royal Navy launched an investigation after a pipe leaked on the 3billion HMS Prince of Wales warship and caused an ankle-high flood.

In May, the Royal Navy launched an investigation after a pipe leaked on the 3billion HMS Prince of Wales warship and caused an ankle-high flood

The leak was said to have taken place on the 65,000-ton aircraft carrier while it was at Portsmouth Naval Base.

Timeline of problems aboard HMS Prince of Wales January 2019: 100 sailors were forced to leave the ship and spend the night on HMS Queen Elizabeth, the vessel's sister ship, after the aircraft carrier suffered a power cut in Portsmouth harbour May 2019: Ship flooded to the depth of 3ft after a water leak in the engine room. A video posted on Facebook showed water gushing through the ceiling and flooding an entire room of the warship Early December 2019: Flooding wrecked the vessel's vital electrical systems. Engineers assessed miles of cables inside the vessel after the incident left the aircraft carrier's electrical cabinets submerged underwater May 2021: The vessel is expected to finally leave Portsmouth HMS Queen Elizabeth also suffered a leak last July, causing a large quantity of water to pour from a pipe and to flood through several decks. In 2017, HMS Queen Elizabeth also faced multi-million pound repairs after it was discovered that a faulty seal on a propeller shaft was letting in 200 litres of sea water an hour. Advertisement

A video later posted on Facebook showed water gushing through the ceiling and flooding an entire room of the warship.

It is understood that the pipe was isolated quickly and the water was soon mopped up by the crew on board.

The Royal Navy later said it was testing its safety systems including the deployment of life rafts and emergency chutes following the flood.

A Royal Navy spokesman said at the time: 'Following a minor issue with an internal system on HMS Prince of Wales, the ship's company were required to remove a small volume of water from the ship.

'An investigation into the cause is now under way but this will not affect the ship's programme.'

In response to the number of days the vessel has had at sea, a Royal Navy spokesman said: 'HMS Prince of Wales is at an early stage of its planned 50-year lifespan.

'The ship was always scheduled to spend much of 2020 in Portsmouth as part of planned equipment enhancements to ensure it is ready for operations.

'Further capability upgrades, trials and training are programmed for 2021 and the ship is on course to be operational as expected.'

The leak comes after more than 100 sailors were forced to leave the ship and spend the night on HMS Queen Elizabeth, the vessel's sister ship, after the aircraft carrier suffered a power cut in Portsmouth harbour last January.

HMS Queen Elizabeth, also suffered a leak in July 2019, causing a large quantity of water to pour from a pipe and to flood through several decks.

There was no damage or breach to the hull, as the water was contained in an internal compartment and then pumped out, but the vessel had to return to Portsmouth and cut its five-week sea trials short as a precautionary measure.
Ken Wang is the policy associate for the California Employment Lawyers Association, ken@cela.org. CELA advocated for many of the state law protections included in this commentary.
New Delhi, Jan 3 : Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Sunday said the drug regulator's approval of two coronavirus vaccines for emergency use was a watershed moment in the country's battle against the deadly virus.

Eleven months after the first case of deadly coronavirus was detected in India, Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) V.G. Somani on Sunday approved Serum Institute of India's 'Covishield' vaccine and Bharat Biotech's 'Covaxin' for emergency use, paving the way for its roll-out and administration to millions.

"A watershed moment in India's famed battle against COVID19 under the charismatic leadership of Hon'ble PM Narendra Modi Ji," Vardhan wrote in a series of tweets, adding that these vaccines are a fitting tribute to the corona warriors.

The Union Minister further said, "It's now time to reap the benefits of the robust supply chain infrastructure we've put in place for quick and equitable distribution of the vaccine." He also urged the citizens to entrust the stringent protocols followed for ensuring safety, efficacy and immunogenicity of the approved vaccines. He had earlier asked people not to believe in rumours against the vaccine.

K. Vijayaraghavan, the Principal Scientific Advisor (PSA) to the Union government said that the vaccination will begin soon.

"Vaccination will begin soon. This is a result of focused work by scientists, national laboratories, government agencies, regulators, health care workers, and most importantly, all our people who have waited patiently following all COVID appropriate behaviour," he said.

Adar Poonawalla, CEO, Serum Institute of India (SII) also said the Covishield, India's first Covid-19 vaccine will roll out in the coming weeks. Poonawalla said SII risks on stockpiling the vaccine have paid off.

Covishield and Covaxin vaccines have to be administered in two doses and can be stored at 2-8 degree Celsius.

This is a major relief for India which has the second highest number of infections in the world after the US. The Central government plans to vaccinate nearly 30 crore people in the first phase of drive in the next six to eight months.

The vaccine will be first offered to one crore healthcare workers, along with two crore frontline and essential workers and 27 crore elderly, mostly above the age of 50 years with co-morbidities.

On Saturday, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan had announced that one crore healthcare workers, along with two crore frontline workers will get the vaccine for free.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Hyderabad, Jan 3 : Bharat Biotech on Sunday said the approval for emergency use of its Covid-19 vaccine --Covaxin -- is a giant leap for innovation and novel product development in India.

The Hyderabad-based vaccine maker expressed its delight after Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) granted permission for emergency use of its Covid-19 vaccine.

"The approval of Covaxin for emergency use is a proud moment for the nation and a great milestone in India's scientific capability, a kickstart to the innovation ecosystem in India. While this vaccine addresses an unmet medical need during this pandemic, our goal is to provide global access to populations that need it the most," said Bharat Biotech Chairman and Managing Director Dr. Krishna Ella.

He said Covaxin has generated excellent safety data with robust immune responses to multiple viral proteins that persist.

"The development of Covaxin was truly a public private partnership between ICMR, NIV and Bharat Biotech, we sincerely thank the Director General ICMR, Dr. Balram Bhargava for his visionary leadership in this project," Dr. Ella added.

Covaxin is a highly purified and inactivated 2 dose SARS-CoV2 vaccine, manufactured in a Vero cell manufacturing platform with an excellent safety track record of more than 300 million doses.

The Phase III human clinical trials of Covaxin began mid-November, targeted to be done in 26,000 volunteers across India. This is India's first and only Phase III efficacy study for a Covid-19 vaccine, and the largest phase III efficacy trial ever conducted for any vaccine in India.

Covaxin has been evaluated in approximately 1,000 subjects in Phase I and Phase II clinical trials, with promising safety and immunogenicity results, with acceptance in international peer reviewed scientific journals.

India's indigenous Covid vaccine by Bharat Biotech has been developed in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) -- National Institute of Virology (NIV). This indigenous, inactivated vaccine is developed and manufactured in Bharat Biotech's BSL-3 (Bio-Safety Level 3) bio-containment facility, one of its kind in the world.

The product development and clinical trial data thus far has generated 5 publications, which have been submitted to international peer reviewed journals, 4 of which have been accepted and will be published soon. The publication of phase II trial data is undergoing the peer review process. "As a part of our regulatory guidelines, all data has been submitted to the DCGI and CDSCO," it said.
A male nurse in Italy has won hearts on the internet after he proposed his girlfriend with the question Will you marry me scribbled on his COVID PPE at the Ostuni hospital. In a Facebook post thats now gone viral, Brindisi Giuseppe Pungente from Torre Santa Susanna, Apulia, was seen donning his hospital gown with the marriage proposal written on it for his co-worker Carmen Pinto with the options: Yes, no". Pungentes image was shared across Facebook with the caption, Real life is made of small and simple things.

The 32-year-old nurse, who is employed in the Ostuni hospital Pneumology Department battled against coronavirus infection and had recovered recently. He was also among the first to get the vaccine jab as Italy started the mass vaccination campaign to inoculate the vulnerable frontline and healthcare workers, according to La Repubblica daily. The nurse, an exemplar of how love triumphs despite hardships, walked down the aisle at Ostuni hospital with the proposal for his beloved taking the hospital staff by surprise.

Many were moved by the Italian nurse's sweet gesture as he strolled with the proposal on PPE gown in the corridor of the respiratory wards. Several on social media insisted that the woman must say yes, as they hearted the nurses now-viral post.

In his Facebook post, Pungente wrote that as a nurse in the front line in the fight against the virus who had recovered himself from COVID-19, he had developed the idea that life was about simple joys. Such as close friends, birth family and the one of the future, together with you, Carmen Pinto, he added. Meanwhile, the woman who happened to notice his post on social media commented Yesssssss, accepting Pungentes adorable proposal online.

Read: Adobe Flash Player Plugged Out, Netizens Bid Farewell With Memes

Read: DMRC Shares 'How It Started Vs How It Ended' Meme, Netizens Can Relate

Netizens hail 'rare gesture'

Commenters poured in tons of reactions as they lauded the nurses simple yet touche proposal for his partner. The simplicity of normality! Best wishes, one wrote. We want the answer!!! Obviously on the tracksuit, another joked. Giuseppe you are a legend, the third said. Carmel i hold onto a man like this... certain gestures nowadays are rare, another said, admiring the nurses proposal.

Read: NASA Shares Rare Cloud-free View Of Elephant Island, Netizens In Awe Of Gorgeous Pic

Read: 'Mysterious' Monolith Spotted In A Park In Ahmedabad For The First Time, Netizens Baffled

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.
Amidst growing pressure over sufficient supplies of COVID-19 vaccines in the UK, pharmaceutical companies have hit back at government claims that access to enough jabs was a "limiting factor", insisting there was no issue at their end.

While AstraZeneca says it expects 2 million doses of the Oxford University vaccine to be ready each week in just over a fortnight, Pfizer BioNTech said the number of doses it has now sent to the UK is "in the millions".

The Pfizer and Oxford/AstraZeneca jabs are the two vaccines against coronavirus that are approved for rollout in the UK.

"The plan is then to build it up fairly rapidly; by the third week of January we should get to 2 million a week," an AstraZeneca source told 'The Times' newspaper.

"The deliveries to the UK are on track and progressing according to our agreed schedule," a Pfizer spokesperson said.

Meanwhile, there are growing questions on whether Britain could have had more supplies ready to go, similar to how India has created a massive vaccine stockpile in advance, according to 'The Daily Telegraph'.

Pune-based Serum Institute of India has a licensing tie-up for the Oxford vaccine. It has emerged that India has already managed to stockpile 50 million doses of the jabs.

"The rate-limiting factor at the moment, as they say, is supply not distribution," UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson told a Downing Street briefing earlier in the week.

The issues around supply are being raised as the UK is set to begin the rollout of the Oxford vaccine among the elderly and frontline workers from Monday after it received regulatory approval on Wednesday.

The government has ordered 100 million doses of the Oxford vaccine and scientific advisers have calculated that at least 2 million vaccinations a week could be needed, as well as a lockdown that includes school closures, to avoid the pressures on intensive care exceeding the peak of the first wave.

Ministers hope that their target of vaccinating 30 million vulnerable people and health workers by Easter in early April could be met ahead of schedule.

The UK's chief medical officers (CMOs) have defended the COVID-19 vaccination plan, even though a doctors' union has voiced criticism.

The UK will give both parts of the Oxford and Pfizer vaccines 12 weeks apart, having initially planned to leave 21 days between the Pfizer jabs.

The British Medical Association said cancelling patients already booked in for their second doses was "grossly unfair".

But the CMOs said getting more people vaccinated with the first jab "is much more preferable" as the "great majority" of initial protection came from the first jab.

"The second vaccine dose is likely to be very important for duration of protection, and at an appropriate dose interval may further increase vaccine efficacy," the CMOs said.

"In the short term, the additional increase of vaccine efficacy from the second dose is likely to be modest; the great majority of the initial protection from clinical disease is after the first dose of vaccine," they added.

However, some general practitioners (GPs) who had already booked in their patients for their second dose after a 21-day gap are planning to keep to the schedule.

The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine was the first jab approved in the UK, and 944,539 people have had their first dose.

Under updated government guidance, the second booster dose can now be administered any time up to 12 weeks apart for both the Pfizer and Oxford vaccines.

Experts advising the government, including the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), said the focus should be on giving at-risk people the first dose of whichever vaccine they receive.

Image Credits: AP

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
An NHS worker as he receives his first dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine in Cwmbran, Wales. (Getty Images)

coronavirus latest news

More than one million people in the UK have received a COVID-19 vaccine, Matt Hancock has revealed.

The Health Secretary said the "end is in sight" as the country reached the milestone in its race to vaccinate the population against coronavirus.

Vaccinations began almost a month ago after the UK became the first country in the world to approve the Pfizer/BioNtech jab that was developed in the US.

Hancock tweeted on Saturday: "Huge THANK YOU to everyone playing their part in the national effort to beat coronavirus.

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"Over a million people have been vaccinated already.

"With the vaccine roll-out accelerating, the end is in sight & we will get through this together."

It comes after the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine was approved for use earlier this week, meaning the UK will soon have enough vaccine doses to immunise the entire population.

The first 530,000 jabs are expected to be rolled out on Monday with the potential for 24 million people to get the jab before Easter.

Read: North of England bracing for huge COVID wave as new variant continues to spread

By the middle of January, two million doses of the Oxford vaccine are expected to be supplied weekly, a source told The Times.

A member of the Oxford/AstraZeneca team said: "The plan is to build it up fairly rapidly - by the third week of January we should get two million a week."

Second doses of either vaccine will now take place within 12 weeks rather than 21 days as initially planned.

Deputy chairman of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), Professor Anthony Harnden, defended the plans.

A member of the Welsh Ambulance Trust receives his first dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine in the waiting area for any adverse reactions in Cwmbran, Wales. (Getty)

He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Saturday that patients he had dealt with accepted the move, stating: "When it was explained to them that the vaccine offers 90% protection for one dose, and the priority was to get as many people vaccinated in the elderly and vulnerable community as possible, they understood.

"I think the country is all in this together.

"And, I think we really, really want to pull together to try and do the best strategy possible."

Story continues

Meanwhile, England's Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty warned that COVID vaccine shortages will last for months despite the newly approved Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine improving supply issues.

But both Pfizer and Oxford/AstraZenica have refuted reports of shortages.

Watch: Altmann: Price for getting vaccine wrong could be very high

Pfizer said in a statement today: "We do not have any supply issues from our side at this point with regards to what has been agreed with the UK."

Meanwhile, Dr Mary Ramsay, head of immunisations at PHE, told Sky News that mixing is not recommended and should only happen on "rare occasions".

"We do not recommend mixing the COVID-19 vaccines - if your first dose is the Pfizer vaccine you should not be given the AstraZeneca vaccine for your second dose and vice versa," she said.

"There may be extremely rare occasions where the same vaccine is not available, or where it is not known what vaccine the patient received.

"Every effort should be made to give them the same vaccine, but where this is not possible it is better to give a second dose of another vaccine than not at all."

Meanwhile, medical experts and public officials said the North of England is bracing for a devastating COVID-19 wave as the new variant continues to spread across the UK.

People queue at an NHS Covid-19 vaccination centre for the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine in London on December 30 (AFP via Getty)

The mutant coronavirus strain was first detected in the South East before Christmas and has been found to be 70% more transmissible.

It has since been driving up new infection rates, putting the NHS on the brink of being overwhelmed.

Several London hospitals like UCH and the Royal London have issued desperate pleas for more staff in the last 24 hours as COVID wards fill up rapidly.

A nurse, who works at the Whittington Hospital in north London, described the "unbearable" conditions as Covid-19 patient numbers continue to rise.

The nurse described patients being left in corridors, some spending up to three hours in ambulances because of a lack of beds and one left without oxygen when their cylinder ran out.

Read more

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The nurse said: "I'm worried about patient safety because if these little things are happening now when we're short and it's busy, it's only going to get worse.

"I don't know what else will happen - it worries me."

The number of Covid-19 patients in hospitals is at record levels in many areas of England - including London, the South West and the Midlands - with admissions rising above the levels seen during the first wave.

On Friday, NHS England said a further 420 deaths in the UK were reported and 50,668 cases were confirmed.

Watch: How does the AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine work?
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Partly to mostly cloudy with scattered showers and thunderstorms overnight. Low 67F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
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CHICO, Calif. - The coroner's office identified 58-year-old Felipe Ramirez as the man found dead on Jan. 2 in a camp near the east end of Sycamore Pool in Bidwell Park.

A report was received by law enforcement around 1:20 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021, that said a park visitor saw an unresponsive man in the camp.

Chico Fire and Police were called to the area and discovered a 58-year-old man dead at the scene.

On Saturday afternoon, the Chico Police Department notified Action News Now about the man's death, saying, "There were no obvious signs of criminality."
Ryzhik the cat, who lost all four paws and got 3D-printed titanium prosthetics in 2019, is seen at the veterinarian clinic in Novosibirsk, Russia February 2, 2020. Image credits: Reuters.
1. Yes. The public must have assurances that ethical standards are met by everyone.

2. Yes. As long as an independent board hears the grievances, its a worthwhile idea.

3. No. The concept is too broad. It should be limited to the citys elected officials.

4. No. There are plenty of stipulations in place already. An ordinance is a waste of time.

5. Unsure. Its hard to say without seeing how it would be structured and applied.

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Here YA regular kiwi contributor Kirsty shares her experience getting COVID sometime between leaving New Zealand and returning to her adopted home in the Czech Republic.

In September of this year, Id just solved the biggest puzzle of 2020 so far; how to leave New Zealand during a global pandemic. Id made it all the way back to our apartment in Brno, the Czech Republic, after seven unexpected months in New Zealand. Feeling like the struggle was finally over, I was home (away from home) and could begin again.

Breathing a deep sigh of relief that only can come after a long journey, I settled in.

I hadnt been required to quarantine on returning to Europe. After a few days of sweet reunion with my boyfriend, unpacking and plugging back into the time zone, I went back to work. Resuming teaching my old students and welcoming new students, I was happy to be back both in the language school and at corporate offices all over town.

It was good to be back! I had Whittakers for everybody and some great photos of NZ scenes like fishing with Dad in the Hauraki Gulf.

But a week later, I got a headache.

Just a nagging I-should-drink-some-water persistent droll in the back of my head. Luckily, I was in my last lesson of the day, so as soon as I got home,, I told Martin and drank six water glasses to combat the dehydration. But over the next few hours, I couldnt deny it.

I felt foggy as fog. As I turned the bedside light out,, it crossed my mind Could this be Covid?. It felt silly; I dismissed it straight away.

Still, statistically speaking, the numbers in the Czech Republic were currently rising, and rapidly. I had been in contact with loads of people since I got back. My long-haul flight was actually only 8 days ago. It had been difficult to comprehend that Id landed in a place that had Covid all around, but people were seemingly more chill than kiwis in Level 2.

Yes, masks were a thing. But they were only compulsory on public transport and recommended otherwise. Honestly, the majority of people were wearing them under their noses. Maybe I hadnt been quite cautious enough this last week. But I didnt want to be the person that seemed obsessive.

When I woke up the next morning, it was best to avoid people just in case. I told work that I shouldnt be teaching in person for now. Martin had already moved into the other room, just in case. And he was planning to cook and deliver my meals to the bedroom, just in case.

During the next few days, I felt fine, but also, I didnt.

My headache hung around like a bad smell,, and the fuzziness deepened as the days dragged on.

It felt as if I were still on that Qatar flight, with all the PPE on my face. My nose began to run a little. Eating and showering took a lot of effort. After teaching just one or two students online, my day was over.

However, I did take pleasure is being treated to room service: three meals and several drinks a day by my charming boyfriend, who really stepped up to the plate. He even invented a great wellness cocktail  tomato juice and half a squeezed lemon, stirred, drizzled with olive oil, and topped with ground pepper. Are you skeptical? Give it a try if youre feeling under the weather haha, its a game-changer.

Then around the fourth day, everything got worse.

I felt swollen and tired, my eyes felt like meteors, and I was stuffy.

Swallowing became uncomfortable, and I was starting to be irritable (sorry, Martin). In the strangest development, I had this weird thing going on in my nose, as if I could actually feel the inside of my nose. It was like having a mint and then going outside and breathing icy air: refreshing, for a second, and then icy, uncomfortable, and irritating.

A week in, my lymph glands were sensitive, and I started sneezing a lot. My eyes were watery (and not just from the romance movies on Netflix). Surprisingly, I didnt have a fever; my temperature remained around 36.5 Celcius. At this point, I was still in denial. Partly because I expected COVID to be worse and partly because I didnt want to have to take the next steps.

However, the next morning, I called the doctor after a terrible night staring at the ceiling, wondering why I really couldnt smell the fish on the plate in front of me at dinner. After a bit of (read: a lot of) effort getting through the language barrier, I was approved for a COVID19 test and booked in for it a few days later. (In the Czech Republic, you must be referred by a doctor to have a test for free; otherwise, you can pay around 1800 CZK for a private one, approx. USD 78).

It turns out that all the kiwis shown on the six oclock news getting their nose swabs have not been reacting appropriately.

What is that calm face as the swab approaches? What is that unblinking eye as the swab is pushed halfway through your skull? Where did I see anyone try to back out of it when it was happening? Me, I whimpered. It was the most uncomfortable ten seconds in recent memory, and my eyes teared up in sorrow. One News, you made it look easy.

But afterward, I was kind of proud.

Proud of myself that Id managed to navigate a foreign health system in a foreign language (albeit not comfortably) and against all odds, I had gone through the local channel instead of giving up and paying for a private one instead. The fresh air through my hyper-sensitive nose felt good. Whatever happened from here, I would soon join the world statistics! I romanticized that like I would be joining a community and returned to bed triumphantly.

The next morning I was sure it was COVID (I mean, I guess I already knew, but now I knew) when the SMS confirmation came through, and I was told to stay at home until a Health Official contacted me. Relief unexpectedly washed over me; the pure fact of having a diagnosis was actually comforting. Every day Id been waiting for it to get worse; each day could have been the day I went to the hospital. But luckily, it never happened.

Ten days later and I departed my beautiful prison-of-a-bedroom and declared recovered by a Health Official on the phone. The freedom felt strange, and still, the prospect of leaving the house for any given period of time made me a bit nervous (had I become a recluse?)

In my first week back teaching, I had headaches at the end of each day and felt completely exhausted. I had to swap hands, like, five times to rub out the whiteboard! But I slowly regained my strength, and over a month later, I can still feel the difference  slightly stronger  each day.

Who knows where I really got it from  and who cares?

Its almost impossible to tell whether it was the long haul flight (on which I felt the safest, ironically- arriving at Vienna airport and taking off all the PPE was slightly uncomfortable after getting used to it), teaching a-symptomatic people, or lingering too close with a coughing person in passing.

The main thing is, I feel absolutely grateful that I didnt get it worse, and hopefully, I am immune at least until Christmas. Covid is scary and weird, and even though I still reckon tonsillitis in a shitty student flat in Dunedin was worse, I know it affects everybody differently.

A pat on the back for kiwis

So well done, New Zealand! Keeping out this nasty virus that could so easily be sweeping its way through the population is a big deal.

If your biggest annoyance is that you cant have an overseas holiday this summer, you should thank your lucky stars and hug your loved one (and then go and wash your hands, just in case).
Legendary television host Larry King has been hospitalized for COVID-19, according to multiple reports. Sources close to Kings family confirmed the news to CNN and ABC News.

King, 87, has been hospitalized at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles for more than a week, reports CNN. Due to protocols at the hospital, Kings three sons have been unable to visit him, a source also told the network.

King has faced a number of health issues over the years. The award-winning interviewer has Type 2 diabetes. He has also suffered several heart attacks and underwent quintuple bypass surgery in 1987.

In 2017, King revealed he had been diagnosed with lung cancer and underwent surgery to treat it. In 2019, he also underwent another heart procedure to address complaints of angina. That same year, King also suffered a stroke.
Coronet Theatre

Location: 3575 Geary Boulevard at Palm Avenue (near Arguello), San Francisco, CA



Opened: November 2, 1949

First film: I Was a Male War Bride



Closed: March 17, 2005

Last Film: Million Dollar Baby

As with most movie theaters, the Coronet opened promising the latest innovations and gimmicks. Its stadium-style seating arrangement had 1,350 loge-type seats (said to provide "a maximum of comfort and vision-ease").

One feature of the Coronet was a nod to the future competition: a six by eight foot television screen in a separate room. Patrons were encouraged to watch at no extra charge.

After giving it a major face lift in 1992, United Artists (UA) admitted in the late 1990s that the theater was in financial trouble. On July 22, 2000, United Artists confirmed the sale of the struggling Coronet Theatre to the Goldman Institute on Aging. The 1,230 seat theater, bought for $8.5 million, was leased back to UA in a series of extensions while construction plans were finalized for an elder-care center. Erected on the edge of the old Odd Fellows Cemetery, the theater was close to the grave itself for five years.

Rumors that the Coronet would hold on for the new Star Wars movie in May 2005 (George Lucas has always loved the theatre) didn't pan out, and the closing day was announced on February 4, 2005.

Movie historian Jack Tillmany gives us a run-down on Coronet trivia:

"After 55 years, a lot of the Coronet's early history has been fogged, so let's set the record straight:



"The Coronet was originally to be called the Ritz, and an announcement promising its construction, along with a painting of what it would look like, could be seen on the site years in advance.

"It opened on 2 November 1949 with Cary Grant and Ann Sheridan in I Was a Male War Bride. This was a second run film, which had previously been shown at the Fox Theatre on Market Street; in those days all first run films opened downtown first, and it was to be the Coronet's policy to operate as a second run house for the next six years.

"The Coronet was operated by San Francisco Theatres Inc. which also ran the Alexandria, Coliseum, Metro, Balboa, Harding, and Vogue. The Alexandria was their flagship house, and got the pick of the pictures, even after the Coronet opened. The Alexandria went for prestige appeal, while the Coronet played to the action and adventure crowd. You might see An American in Paris or Singin' in the Rain at the Alexandria, while the Coronet would offer D.O.A., Comanche Territory, It Came from Outer Space (in 3D), or The Beast from Twenty Thousand Fathoms. This policy was actually a moveover from the Coliseum which had played this kind of product prior to the opening of the Coronet, and which was now relegated to re-runs, revivals, and odds and ends, and eventually closed circa 1952.

"The Coronet's life as we know it today, and have known it for almost fifty years, began on 1 February 1956, with the exclusive (meaning it was shown at no other theatre in the San Francisco Bay Area), first run, roadshow (meaning all seats were reserved and could be purchased in advance) engagement of Oklahoma! in 70mm Todd-AO and Stereophonic Sound. Oklahoma! ran an incredible 44 weeks, to be immediately followed by Around the World in 80 Days, which more than doubled Oklahoma!'s record and ran an astounding 96 weeks (the San Francisco long-run record). While all this was going on, the Coliseum re-opened and picked up where it had left off four years earlier with the action and adventure films which had been playing at the Coronet.

"Footnote: the former television lounge, which was located to the right of the lobby as you went in, was converted into an advanced sales ticket office for Oklahoma!

"In later years, other long run films at the Coronet were Ben Hur (1959-1961) (75 weeks), Funny Girl (1968-1969) (59 weeks), My Fair Lady (1964-1965) (50 weeks), Hawaii (1966-1967) (35 weeks), Camelot (1967-1968) (35 weeks), The Godfather (1972) (32 weeks), and Star Wars (1977) (29 weeks).

"Ben Hur opened as the Coronet's Christmas attraction 23 December 1959 and ran 75 weeks, finishing up 30 May 1961, SF's 4th longest run, surpassed only by Around the World in 80 Days (94 weeks at the Coronet 1956-1958), The Sound of Music (92 weeks at the UA 1965-1966), and This is Cinerama (83 weeks at the Orpheum 1953-1955); closest runners up are 2001 (73 weeks at the Golden Gate (1968-1969) andSURPRISE!The Gods Must Be Crazy (70 weeks at the Vogue 1984-1985).

"Song cue: '...those were the days, my friend, we thought they'd never end...'"

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CSUB Alumni Hall of Fame

This is the first in a series of 2021 CSUB Alumni Hall of Fame profiles. Five standout CSUB graduates will be inducted into the Alumni Hall of Fame in a virtual ceremony to be broadcast 7 p.m. Feb. 20 on KGET Channel 17.
San Francisco, Jan 3 : The suspected Russia-backed hackers have compromised at least 250 federal agencies and top enterprises in the US, by infiltrating into 'SolarWinds Orion' monitoring and management software.

According to a report in The New York Times, as businesses such as Amazon and Microsoft that provide cloud services dig deeper for evidence. "It now appears Russia exploited multiple layers of the supply chain to gain access to as many as 250 networks".

US Senator Mark Warner (D-Virginia) was quoted saying in the report on Saturday that the hack looked "much, much worse" than he first feared.

"The size of it keeps expanding. It's clear the United States government missed it," Warner said.

According to Microsoft, the hackers compromised 'SolarWinds' software allowing them to "impersonate any of the organisation's existing users and accounts, including highly privileged accounts." Microsoft said last week it had discovered its systems were infiltrated "beyond just the presence of malicious 'SolarWinds' code." The hackers were able to "view source code in a number of source code repositories", the tech giant added.

"We detected unusual activity with a small number of internal accounts and upon review, we discovered one account had been used to view source code in a number of source code repositories," said the company in the update late Thursday.

The account did not have permissions to modify any code or engineering systems and "our investigation further confirmed no changes were made. These accounts were investigated and remediated", Microsoft added.

The initial estimates were that Russian hackers compromised 18,000 government and private networks.

According to the report, some of the compromised 'SolarWinds' software were engineered in Eastern Europe, and "American investigators are now examining whether the incursion originated there where Russian intelligence operatives are deeply rooted".

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has also warned that US federal agencies must update the hacked 'Solarwinds Orion' software or take all its apps offline.

The CISA said all US government agencies that still run 'SolarWinds Orion' platforms must update to the latest 2020.2.1HF2 version.

"Agencies that can't update till that deadline have to take all Orion systems offline," the guidance read.

At least 24 big companies, including tech giants like Intel, Cisco, VMware and Nvidia, have reportedly suffered the 'SolarWinds' hack.

The suspected Russian hackers installed a malware in the Orion software sold by the IT management company 'SolarWinds', and accessed sensitive data belonging to several US government agencies and businesses.
Four years ago, Denise Evans had an idea for the storefront located next to the chiropractors office shes owned in Bordentown for almost 28 years.

Properly Fueled was a vision that I had to bring high quality food to my community and a place where we could come together as a community, Evans told NJ Advance Media Saturday.

Properly Fueled is located on Crosswicks Street near the intersection of Farnsworth Avenue.Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Since then, the restaurant had become a healthy hangout, both for locals and people passing through the Burlington County town favored for its quaint downtown.

A quick look at the menu reveals items such as the Hipster Bowl featuring quinoa, pickled carrot ribbons, microgreens. Perhaps for breakfast Chai-spiced Overnight Oats would work for you. The menu is sprinkled with items like cage-free eggs, organic tofu and home-made hummus.

The selection of magazine-worthy sweet treats, most vegetarian and vegan, could entice one to have dessert first.

On Saturday, Alyssa Sweeney, of Tabernacle met up her friend, Sheila Couch, of New Hope, Pennsylvania. Couch said the central location worked for them. It allowed me to reconnect with a dear friend at a healthy place.

Sheila Couch, right, of New Hope, PA and Alyssa Sweeney, of Tabernacle, sit outside Properly Fueled, Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

But due in large part to the COVID-19 pandemic, Evans healthful dream is over. Sunday will be the eaterys last day of operation.

It was an extremely difficult decision for me to make and its still pretty raw and emotional, Evans says. It was a multitude of things that came together at once but COVID-19 hasnt really made it easy to run a small business  let alone two small businesses.

Vegan & Gluten Free Cupcakes at Properly Fueled.Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Regulations associated with social distancing have crippled many New Jersey restaurants as they struggle to adapt and survive.

We dont have the sales that we had and we have a pretty large team because we make everything from scratch if it comes in from the farm or it needs to be washed or peeled or chopped we dont buy anything that is packaged, Evans says.

A tall vertical chalkboard by the register lists a network of local farms and vendors, from Lambertville to Columbus to Medford.

Stacy Cintron rings up a customer at Properly Fueled.Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Bailee Pierson gets a sweet treat for a customer.Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Indoor dining at Properly Fueled.Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Time will tell if Properly Fueled is gone forever.

We had a good run, a great run. I would entertain passing the baton to someone else and possibly selling our brand.

Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust.

Michael Mancuso may be reached at mmancuso@njadvancemedia.com
A massive fire broke out at a warehouse on the Lebanese-Syria border on Sunday, injuring seven people and causing loud explosions, the Lebanese Red Cross and army said.

The facility in the border area of al-Qasr, where the line between the two countries is highly permeable, was used to store fuel and gas canisters.

AFP news agency reported that the blast happened in the Lebanese Hermel governorate in the eastern Bekaa valley.

The Lebanese Red Cross said the wounded had been taken to hospital and Lebanon's LBC reported that Civil Defense personnel put out the fire.

The Lebanese army said the explosions had occurred away from one of its checkpoints and that none of its members were injured.

It was not immediately clear what caused the fire and explosions, however smuggling of fuel and diesel is rampant between Lebanon and Syria.

A massive fire broke out at a warehouse on the Lebanese-Syria border on Sunday, injuring seven people and causing loud explosions, the Lebanese Red Cross and army said. The facility in the border area of al-Qasr, where the line between the two countries is highly permeable, was used to store fuel and gas canisters

It was not immediately clear what caused the fire and explosions, however smuggling of fuel and diesel is rampant between Lebanon and Syria and has increased in recent months as the two countries' already weak economies struggle with the fallout from the coronavirus

AFP news agency reported that the blast happened in the Lebanese Hermel governorate in the eastern Bekaa valley

Many suspect the warehouse was used to store contraband, and LBC TV said the warehouse was used by smugglers, according to the Associated Press.

Both countries are enduring crippling economic conditions that have seen smuggling increase in recent months.

In its statement, the Lebanese army said the warehouse was owned by a Lebanese family, but did not say whether it was used for smuggling fuel.

The explosion came at a time of increased tension in the Middle East on the one-year anniversary of the US killing of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani, who was a major ally of the Lebanese group Hezbollah, in Iraq.

Sunday's fire started while Israeli jets were flying low over Lebanon and as the head of Hezbollah Hassan Nasrallah was delivering a speech to commemorate Soleimani's death.

The explosion came at a time of increased tension in the Middle East on the one-year anniversary of the US killing of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani (depicted left), who was a major ally of the Lebanese group Hezbollah, in Iraq. Pictured: An event in the Iraqi capital Baghdad marks the assassination of Soleimani along with Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis (depicted right), who also died in the attack last January

Sunday's fire started while Israeli jets were flying low over Lebanon and as the head of Hezbollah Hassan Nasrallah (pictured) was delivering a speech to commemorate Soleimani's death

The presence of the Israeli jets added to confusion over the source of the explosion.

Israeli jets regularly violate Lebanese airspace and have often struck targets in Syria from Lebanese territory.

The explosion is just the latest to hit Lebanon since an enormous blast at a port in the capital, Beirut, last August.

The blast devastated the city, killing more than 200 people, injuring thousands and destroying homes and businesses amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

It was found that 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate had been stored in a warehouse at the port and that officials had been warned of the dangers of storing such a large amount of unstable material in the area prior to the explosion.

The devastation caused added to public anger at the Lebanese government which had already spawned huge protests in late 2019 which forced then-prime minister Saad Hariri to step down.

His replacement Hassan Diab resigned shortly after the port explosion and in late 2020 Hariri was asked to form a government.

Diab and three other high-ranking former officials have been charged with negligence over the blast.

A month after the explosion, a huge fire broke out at a warehouse storing aid in the Beirut port.

The enormous explosion at Beirut's port last August was captured in social media footage after a smaller initial eruption caught the attention of residents [File photo]

The explosion site is seen through the blown-out window of a building in this August 5 photo [File photo]
FLINT, MI  As Halloween neared, Messiah Williams was looking forward to trick-or-treating in his new Baby Yoda costume. Little more than a week before he could do so, the 3-year-old boy was shot and killed when police say several men opened fire on his familys Flint home.

Months on and with the new year dawning, Messiahs family is hoping the state will adopt a new law in the slain boys name that will make it mandatory for anyone who shoots into a populated area and kills a child to be imprisoned for life without parole.

With Messiahs Law, itll basically be a childs law that if you shoot into a house, a car, or a crowd and a child dies, youll get natural life without parole, said Messiahs father, Henry Williams. That does not exist at this point.

Currently in Michigan, first-degree murder and placing explosives with personal injury resulting are the only convictions that come with a mandatory sentence of life without the possibility of parole. Those convicted of lesser offenses since October 1992 that result in life sentences are eligible for parole hearings after serving 15 years.

Messiah was fatally shot about 11:30 p.m. Oct. 22 at his home in the 1600 block of Oklahoma Avenue. Flint police have said three suspects shot from outside the home, with at least one of their bullets striking Messiah in his head. Messiah was in the living room when he was struck.

Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton has said police believe four suspects conspired to shoot the house but intended to shoot an adult inside the home, not Messiah. Henry Williams has said he believes the shooters were targeting a live-in babysitter.

The proposed law would have the following three tiers:

 Tier I: Firing into a car, building, or crowd with children results in a 10-year minimum sentence.

 Tier II: Injuring a child while shooting into a car, building, or crowd results in a 20-year minimum sentence.

 Tier III: Killing a child while shooting into a car, building, or crowd results in term of life without parole.

Williams said he supports the life-without-parole clause because its not fair for parents or anybody to have to keep fighting to keep their childs killer locked up.

Williams said his family is working with state Rep. Cynthia Neeley, D-Flint, on the proposed law.

As a legislator and a mother, to lose a 3-year-old in a drive-by shooting is senseless, Neeley said. As a community, I think this is something we need to really look at and do what we can to deter bad criminals from doing these shootings. We have laws on the books, but I want to toughen the penalties for shooting into a house or a vehicle a minor is inside of.

Neeley said she plans to introduce the bill to the Michigan House of Representatives around mid-January. In the meantime, she is working on getting co-sponsors and writing a draft.

Were in the early process now, making sure the language is going to work, Neeley said. We want to put something on the floor thats going to work and not be pushed aside. We want to make sure the language is correct so we can get it through.

Pointing to the need for more stringent penalties, both Neeley and Williams referenced the killing of another Flint child since Messiahs death, that of 10-month-old Romelo Jones Jr. Romelo and his 45-year-old grandmother Belinda Hart were fatally shot while sleeping in their home in the 600 block of East Pulaski Avenue during a drive-by shooting on Dec. 26.

This is something that we really need to change, Neeley said. Too many of our children are losing their lives to senseless violence like this. As a legislator and as a mother, this is one way I can help, so Im going to do that.

Williams encouraged residents throughout Michigan to voice their support for the proposal.

What were asking people to do is contact their state senators, representatives, and anybody in positions of power to let them know they want Messiahs Law passed, Williams said. If nothing has been submitted, there will be petitions, we will march, whatever we have to do. There will be peaceful protests. This should have been passed 50, 60 years ago. Its insane that its not.

He added, however, that he hopes if Messiahs Law is adopted it never has to be used.

We want it to be more of a deterrent law, he said. If it stops one person from getting in the car to go shoot up somebodys house, I consider that a success.

Prosecutors have charged four people with crimes in connection with Messiahs killing. Desean Montez Davis, 25, was arraigned Dec. 12 in Genesee County District Court on single counts of charges of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and conspiracy to discharge a firearm in or at a building causing death.

Three additional suspects  two 20-year-old men and a 21-year-old man  have been charged with conspiracy to commit murder, first-degree murder, conspiracy to discharge a firearm in or at a building causing death, five counts of felony firearm, two counts of malicious destruction of a building $1,000 or more but less than $20,000, malicious destruction of personal property $1,000 or more but less than $20,000 and carrying a counseled weapon.

Two of the suspects have been arrested in Atlanta, Georgia. One suspect is still at large and believed to still be in the Atlanta area, Leyton said. Their names are not being released as they have not yet been arraigned.

Williams said his family  comprising Messiahs mother Jessica Bader and three surviving sons ages 10, 8, and 5  is coping as best they can since Messiahs death.

Halloween was really hard, he said. Seeing all the kids his age, that was probably the hardest. Every kid you look at reminds you of your kid.

He said Christmas was difficult as well, as he and Bader had purchased Messiahs presents before he died.

We had his presents in a box and we let the kids go through it and each chose one, he said. The older boys are really cherishing them. The oldest hasnt even opened it out of its package.

Williams also said he is grateful and touched by the outpouring of support the family has garnered from the community. Strangers have recognized him as Messiahs father and gone out of their way to offer condolences and prayers, he said.

The family has not stayed at the house where Messiah was killed since the shooting. They have moved to Flushing and Henry Williams said hes hoping to have their old house on Oklahoma Avenue torn down.

I dont think its fair to anyone to live in a house where a kid was killed in, he said.

Drive-by shootings have been happening for far too long, added Flint Police Chief Terence Green, who supports the proposed legislation.

Theres a segment of society out there  they glorify shooting into occupied homes and cars, Green said. This has been going on for years. One is too many but weve had several babies killed in drive-by shootings  innocent women and children shot and killed in drive-by shootings. This has been going on for too long.

The majority of the time, the people who theyre trying to shoot they arent even the ones killed  its innocent people, Green said.

Read more:

Baby, grandmother killed in Flint drive-by identified as police investigate possible link to other homicides

Its got to stop, Flint community calls for end to gun violence after 4 killed over holiday weekend

Four suspects charged in shooting death of Flint 3-year-old

Slain Flint 3-year-old was excited to be Baby Yoda for Halloween, grieving dad says
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Mary Evelyn Deramo, 96, passed away Dec. 29, 2020.

She was born in Minersville, a daughter of the late Silvia and Arthur Angelo.

After graduating high school, Mary accepted work as a clerk typist for the War Department in Washington, D.C. and then was transferred to the Pentagon in Arlington, Va. She later returned to Minersville, where she was employed with the Aluminum Co. of America (ALCOA). There, she married Alfred A. Deramo, who was a Second Lieutenant in the Air Force Reserve, and at that time was employed as a stenographer at Trans World Airlines (TWA), New Castle Air Base, Del. They moved to Wilmington, Del., where they raised their family.

Mary worked for Brandywine School District as a food service worker and retired after 20 years of service. She was a member of St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church, Wilmington, Del., for 63 years and recently became a member of Ave Maria Catholic Church, Florida. In the last few years of her life, she lived in the warm comfort of her son and daughter-in-laws home in Florida.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Alfred; sister, Sabina; brother, Arthur.

A funeral Mass arranged by her son, Al and his wife, JoAnne, was celebrated at 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 2, at Ave Maria Catholic Church, Ave Maria, Fla. A burial ceremony at Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery has been arranged by Marys daughter, Cheryl and her husband, Don. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Marys memory to St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital. For online condolences, to share memories or light a candle, please visit www.muller-thompson.com.
Jenn Gadomski keeps handy her supply of naloxone, the opioid overdose antidote used hundreds of times last year to save lives in Northeast Pennsylvania.

Gadomski, 31, of Harding, never used heroin or the even deadlier drug fentanyl, but four months into her recovery from substance abuse, she had friends who did.

Keeping some nearby could be a matter of survival.

It takes everything that they love away from them, Gadomski said of heroin.

The last 12 months will be remembered as a plague year, when the COVID-19 virus killed nearly 2 million people worldwide and more than 15,000 in Pennsylvania.

In the background, another plague  substance abuse  continued its slow burn, killing nearly 4,000 Pennsylvanians in overdoses in 2020, according to preliminary overdose data available from the state Department of Health.

As of Dec. 7, 67 of those deaths occurred in Lackawanna County, according to state data.

Thats higher than the estimated number of overdose deaths in 2019  65  but not as high as 2018, which saw 94 overdose deaths, according to the state data. The number may increase as outstanding toxicology reports confirm other 2020 deaths as overdoses.

And, you know, we always hold our breath at Christmastime, because that could hit very hard and skew numbers, Lackawanna County District Attorney Mark Powell said.

Preliminary data on overdose deaths in other counties in 2020 included 121 in Luzerne County, 70 in Monroe County, 11 in Pike County and 13 in Wayne County, according to the Health Department. In 2019, there were 135 overdose deaths in Luzerne County, 58 in Monroe County, 14 in Pike County and 19 in Wayne County, according to the departments estimates.

Pennsylvanias Overdose Information Network, which reflects information on overdose responses and naloxone disbursement, shows that most of the drug overdoses in Lackawanna County involved white men between the ages of 25 and 39. That group accounted for roughly 40% of 125 overdose responses recorded in the network in the county between March 2018 and Dec. 9; naloxone was needed in about half of those 125 encounters.

However, data entry into that system is voluntary and the health department cautioned that the information might not encompass all overdoses or naloxone use.

Bruce Beauvais, a paramedic and operations manager at Pennsylvania Ambulance, said that their ambulance crews have administered naloxone 232 times this year since March.

By comparison, in the same time frame in 2019, the ambulance company administered the overdose antidote 183 times.

So thats a significant increase in how much naloxone were using, Beauvais said.

Two people close to Gadomski are alive today because of naloxone, she said.

In April, her cousin suffered an overdose and was left by a gas station, where authorities revived her with naloxone and treated her at a hospital. Then, in July or August, one of Gadomskis close friends overdosed on fentanyl. Gadomskis friends called her to come help because they knew she had naloxone. She arrived and administered some, soon followed by paramedics.

The experience was traumatizing, she said. She entered treatment for her own substance abuse issues in September.

I needed to open my eyes ... and learn to live, she said.

Marty Henehan, an outspoken recovery advocate and cofounder of the nonprofit Forever Sammi Foundation, knows of roughly a dozen people who died in the last couple of weeks in the Scranton area from accidental overdoses.

In 2020, those suffering from an opioid addiction continued the trend of seeking out fentanyl because it brings a more intense high than heroin for less money, according to Henehan. Using fentanyl, a remarkably powerful opioid, is like playing Russian Roulette, he said.

So the hope is that we can keep it out there that treatment is available, there are still beds available, said Henehan, who is also the marketing and outreach director of the Lakeside NEPA outpatient treatment center in Scranton. People can call me any time, 24 hours a day. Id be more than happy to get them placed in the facility.

Despite the pandemic, a long-term study of opioid overdose deaths in Lackawanna County got off the ground in 2020 and researchers began to dig into data.

Powells office secured a $900,000 federal grant in October 2019 to fund a three-year study of every opioid overdose death in the county. Their analysis includes interviewing family members of the deceased and reviewing their treatment records and law enforcement contacts.Powell said in an interview in December there were already general themes beginning to emerge about those who overdosed.

Theyve noticed how drug abuse first crops up during a users early adolescence, sometimes related to mental health issues or childhood trauma. Another theme theyve noticed centers on the repeated, missed opportunities where a drug abuser goes through the criminal justice system but does not get the treatment they need.

So the goal will be make an early assessment on anybody who is involved with drug activity, and try to treat the problem whether youre a first-time user or whether you have a 20-year history, Powell said. Assess and treat. And then determine the involvement that requires accountability in the criminal justice system.

As for Gadomski, she is hopeful for a better 2021, but tries not to worry too far ahead. She attends 12-step recovery meetings every day  usually through Zoom because of the pandemic  and has a support group in the Scranton area.

I know as long as I keep working the program and doing the right thing, the future has endless possibilities, Gadomski said.
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Two top US health officials on Sunday disputed a claim by President Donald Trump that federal data on Covid-19 cases and deaths in the United States is overblown, and both expressed optimism that the pace of vaccinations is picking up.

The deaths are real deaths, Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said on ABC News This Week, adding that jam-packed hospitals and stressed-out healthcare workers are not fake. Thats real.

Fauci and US Surgeon General Jerome Adams, who appeared on CNNs State of the Union, defended the accuracy of coronavirus data published by the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) after Trump attacked the agencys tabulation methods.

The number of cases and deaths of the China Virus is far exaggerated in the United States because of the @CDCgovs ridiculous method of determination compared to other countries, many of whom report, purposely, very inaccurately and low, Trump wrote on Twitter.

Trump, a Republican who leaves office on January 20 after losing a bid for a second term to Democrat Joe Biden, has frequently has downplayed the severity of the pandemic. He has also scorned and ignored federal recommendations for containing the spread.

More than 20 million people have been infected in the United States and nearly 347,000 have died  or one out of every 950 US residents - since the virus first emerged in China in late 2019, according to the CDC.

From a public health perspective, I have no reason to doubt those numbers and I think people need to be very aware that its not just about the deaths, Adams said. Its about the hospitalizations, the capacity.

Fauci and Adams expressed optimism that the pace of vaccinating Americans against the virus is accelerating after a slow start. More than 4.2 million people have been inoculated since December 14 with one of two vaccines, far short of the Trump administrations goal of 20 million by the end of 2020.

We wanted to get to 20 million, but some glimmer of hope is that in the last 72 hours, theyve gotten 1.2 million doses into peoples arms, which is an average of about 500,000 a day, Fauci said. We are not where we want to be. Theres no doubt about that. But I think we can get there.

He said he believed that the number of daily vaccinations could be expanded to 1 million and called for a real partnership between the federal and state governments.
Germany is likely to extend a national lockdown beyond January 10 to curb coronavirus infection rates that are still running high and putting huge strains on hospitals and health workers, politicians said at the weekend.

Chancellor Angela Merkel and regional leaders are expected to agree to extend the restrictions when they convene on Tuesday. It is not yet clear how long the extension would last.

The numbers are still too high, so we will have to prolong the restrictions, Health Minister Jens Spahn told RTL television in an interview on Saturday evening.

Infection rates had to be sustainably reduced, Spahn said, adding: That is better than loosening too early and then, perhaps in as little as a few weeks, facing new and difficult questions.

Germany imposed tougher social restrictions before Christmas, including closing restaurants and most shops. Even so, infections continued to rise and the death toll has hit more than 1,000 on some days.

Seven-day infection rates are currently at 140 per 100,000 people - well over the target of 50 that politicians have agreed would be safe enough to ease the curbs.

With a new, more infectious coronavirus variant circulating, some politicians and health leaders are calling for the restrictions to be lifted only when the seven-day rate falls to 25.

We will only see next week in the hospitals how strongly Christmas contributed to the spread of Covid-19 - the New Year effect will come only later, Uwe Janssens, head of a group representing intensive-care doctors, told the Rheinische Post.

Officials from Germanys 16 states agreed on a conference call on Saturday to extend restrictions, the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung reported.

But there was disagreement over how much longer to keep the measures in force. Some harder hit states called for a three-week extension, and for schools to be kept closed, while others favoured a two-week extension.

The Robert Koch Institute, the agency coordinating Germanys pandemic response, reported 10,315 new confirmed cases on Sunday and 312 fatalities, bringing the total death toll to 34,272.
The first cases of the new mutant strain of COVID-19 to be confirmed in the United States were found in a tiny nursing home in a remote Colorado town, it has emerged.

Colorado's governor, Jared Polis, confirmed on December 29 that the new virus had been identified in his state, in Elbert County. He did not specify where.

On Saturday it was revealed that the first confirmed infection was of a National Guard member in his 20s, who had been assigned to work at the Good Samaritan Society nursing home in Simla, to help with their outbreak.

All 26 residents of the nursing home and 20 of its 24 regular employees have tested positive for the coronavirus in recent weeks, and four residents have died.

A researcher in protective clothing leaves the Good Samaritan Society nursing home

The nursing home, in Simla, Colorado, is the site of the first confirmed case of mutant COVID

All 26 residents of the nursing home and 20 of its 24 regular employees have tested positive for the coronavirus in recent weeks. Four residents have died

A second member of the National Guard has now tested positive for the new variant.

It was not clear whether the two National Guard soldiers were infected at the nursing home or had picked up the virus before they came to Simla.

They arrived on December 23, after most of the cases at the facility had occurred, said Dr Rachel Herlihy, Colorado's state epidemiologist.

Their positive tests were confirmed on December 24.

'The Good Samaritan Society  Simla learned that an allied health worker at our location tested positive for COVID-19,' said Randy Fitzgerald, Good Samaritan Society regional vice president, in a statement.

'State officials confirmed this individual has the new variant strain of COVID-19. The health, safety and well-being of our residents, staff and the community we serve remains our top priority.'

Simla, 80 miles outside of Denver, was spared in the early days of the pandemic

Investigators are carrying out a deep-clean of the Simla nursing home and testing all residents

The nursing home will begin vaccinating residents and staff next week.

'In nursing homes across the nation, we've seen the tragic impact of COVID-19,' he continued.

'The vaccine is a huge milestone in the fight against this virus and will help keep our residents and staff safe.'

Simla, a ranching community of 600 people, 80 miles south of Denver, has since then been inundated with news reporters, in a shock to the sleepy town's usual ways.

Initially the pandemic seemed to pass them by, residents told The New York Times.

Carla Tracy, owner of a local craft shop, said: 'My gosh, this itty-bitty town most people can't even find on a map.

'And we thought we wouldn't have much trouble with the virus. Then it hit us. Just goes to show you it's everywhere.'

Don Bailey, a retired biology teacher, who now runs black Angus cattle on a ranch outside town, agreed.

'When the virus first started in the spring, it was calving season and we were too busy to pay it much attention,' he said.

'We were out checking the herd five or six times a day, and you don't have to wear a mask when you are out with the cows.'

News crews have flocked to Simla - a small community of 600 unused to being in the spotlight

The pandemic hit the community in late fall, and now almost everyone knows someone who is affected.

The virus is affecting people along political lines: Donald Trump won 74 per cent of the vote in November in the county, and many still refuse to wear face masks, the paper reported.

Jared Polis, the governor of Colorado, revealed the news of the mutant virus' arrival in a December 28 tweet, writing: 'Today we discovered Colorado's first case of the COVID-19 variant B.1.1.7, the same variant discovered in the UK. The health and safety of Coloradans is our top priority and we will monitor this case, as well as all COVID-19 indicators, very closely.'

An attached statement said the Colorado State Laboratory confirmed the case and notified the Center for Disease Control (CDC).

The strain, B.1.1.7, is thought to be 70 per cent more infectious.

It is not believed that B.1.1.7 leads to more severe cases, and higher mortality rates have not been reported.

'At this time, there is no evidence that this variant causes more severe illness or increased risk of death,' the CDC stated on their website.

The data suggests that the variant may have already been present in the US at undetectable levels in recent months, since perhaps as long ago as October.

'It wouldn't be at all surprising if at least some of the cases were B117,' said Eric Topol, head of Scripps Research Translational Institute in La Jolla, California.

Topol's team on Wednesday confirmed that at least one coronavirus infection in California was caused by the mutant strain.

'It has probably been here for a while at low levels - but you don't see it until you look for it.'

Governor Jared Polis released this statement saying the person infected is a man in his 20s who had not been traveling

Colorado's governor made the announcement on Twitter on December 28

The fact the National Guard member had not traveled told officials he caught the strain from someone else in the US.

He will remain in isolation until he is cleared by health officials.

The statement added: 'The individual has no close contacts identified so far, but public health officials are working to identify other potential cases and contacts through thorough contact tracing interviews.'

Polis said: 'There is a lot we don't know about this new COVID-19 variant, but scientists in the United Kingdom are warning the world that it is significantly more contagious.

Polis tweeted: 'Today we discovered Colorado's first case of the COVID-19 variant B.1.1.7'

'The health and safety of Coloradans is our top priority and we will closely monitor the case, as well as all COVID-19 indicators very closely.

'We are working to prevent spread and contain the virus at all levels.'

The news comes after millions of people traveled across the US to see loved-ones during the holidays.

The new variant of the coronavirus was first identified in September and has been spreading rapidly in Britain, with huge swathes of England being placed under its strictest COVID-19 restrictions.

Britain's Chief Science Adviser, Patrick Vallance, said the strain first appeared in a virus isolated on September 20.

The mutation B.1.1.7 is also more of a concern for children.

It reportedly accounts for 60 per cent of recent infections in London.

The news comes after millions of people traveled across the US to see loved-ones during the holidays

The US coronavirus toll in January could far surpass that of December, Anthony Fauci warned

It has sown chaos in Britain, prompting a wave of travel bans that are disrupting trade with Europe and threatening to further isolate the island country.

It has also been detected in France, Spain, Denmark, Italy, Sweden, Iceland, Singapore, Australia and Japan, among other countries.

Japan has barred entry to any foreign nationals. This will be in effect until the end of January.

Polis urged people to continue to wear masks, stand six feet apart when gathering with others and only interact with members of their immediate household.

Officials so far believe that coronavirus vaccines will work against the new strain.

Dr Anthony Fauci on Thursday told the Today show it is 'inevitable' the new COVID-19 strain will spread across the US.

'We predicted it would be, when you have so much of it in the UK, which then spread to other countries in Europe and Canada, it was inevitable that it would be here,' he said.

'You'll be hearing reports from other states and more cases in the state that is already reported. Unfortunately, that's just the reality of the way these viruses spread'.

But he added: 'The good news is that it does not appear to be more virulent, namely, making people more sick and leading to more death.'

California became the second state on Wednesday to report finding the new strain of the virus after Colorado on Tuesday.

The CDC explains that the new COVID-19 variant has a mutation in the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the spike protein at position 501, where amino acid asparagine (N) has been replaced with tyrosine (Y).

Coronaviruses mutate regularly, acquiring about one new mutation in its genome every two weeks.

Researchers have watched SARS-CoV-2 evolve in real time more closely than any other virus in history.

So far, it has accumulated mutations at a rate of about one to two changes per month. That means many of the genomes sequenced today differ at about 20 points from the earliest genomes sequenced in China in January, but many variants with fewer changes are also circulating.

Many mutations are described as being 'silent' because they do not change the structure of the proteins they encode, and produce a three-letter codon that translates to the same amino acid. These mutations are known as 'synonymous'.

Other mutations may change the codon in a way that leads to an amino acid change. and these are known as 'non-synonymous' mutations, but this amino acid substitution does not impact the protein's function.

B.1.1.7 has 14 non-synonymous mutations, six synonymous, and three deletions, the CDC says.

B.1.1.7's 17 mutations all at once have never been seen before.

'There's now a frantic push to try and characterize some of these mutations in the lab,' said Andrew Rambaut, a molecular evolutionary biologist at the University of Edinburgh.
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The K-9 filmed being punched by its handler has been removed from the officer's home and "placed in the care of a third party," the Vacaville Police Department said.

Last week, Vacaville police launched an investigation into one of their own after video surfaced on Facebook of an officer punching his K-9 partner during a training exercise.

A short clip posted on Facebook last Monday shows an officer with the dog pinned between his legs near a warehouse on Vaca Valley Parkway. At one point, he reaches back and strikes the dog. According to witness Robert Palomino, the officer punched the dog repeatedly before he caught the incident on camera.

"I heard a dog crying, when I looked, the officer was punching the dog over and over and got shocked about it," Palomino wrote. "... Im sure he saw me, he stopped beating the dog when he saw me and went behind those trailers in the video."

The department said the dog has "been removed from the care of his handler" and was examined by a vet. According to police the dog showed "no sign of distress or injury."

The Vacaville Police Department is now investigating the incident, which it says occurred during training. They are not identifying the officer or dog involved.

"We understand how disturbing the video appears to many who view it and the range of emotions it creates. What the video doesnt show is the moments prior, when the canine became aggressive towards his handler," the department said in a statement. "We want to assure the public this incident is being evaluated in its entirety and will be investigated appropriately."

A third party trainer will be brought in "during the evaluation process of the incident" and the dog will be in the care of a third party during the investigation.

The San Francisco SPCA issued a statement Friday condemning the video, calling it "animal abuse."

"The San Francisco SPCA, being a leader in dog behavior and training, would like the public to know that physically threatening or harming an animal is never acceptable, regardless of the animal's behavior," the organization said.
Longtime Alabama pastor, wife die 2 weeks apart from COVID-19

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A graveside service was held for an Alabama pastor who served his congregation for more than 40 years before he died from COVID-19, and his wife, who had succumbed to the novel coronavirus two weeks earlier.

The Coosada Church of Christ posted a video of the service that was held Saturday at Elizabeth Baptist Church in Mathews, Alabama, where John Thomas, who was the pastor of the church for 41 years, and his wife, Joann, had been laid to rest.

Pastor Thomas died on Dec. 26, a fortnight after his wife, Joann, died, WSFA12 News reported. They were married for 52 years.

We are extremely saddened and regret to have to inform you that  Brother John Thomas Senior passed away to join the Lord, the church had earlier said on Facebook. He was a great soldier for God and we are grateful for all he contributed to this world. These times have been overwhelmingly difficult for us all and we thank you for your prayers. Please allow us some time to grieve as we deal with preparations for his home going service.

Joann tested positive after Thanksgiving, followed by Pastor Thomas a few days later.

Joann had a fall and the family thought it was due to an asthma attack. They took her to the hospital where she tested positive for COVID-19. She died on Dec. 10, when her husbands condition was also getting worse.

He was in good spirit, their son, Jerald Thomas, was quoted as saying. He was worried about my mother and all he had was I think a stomach ache and by Tuesday he was throwing up and by the end of that week he wasnt breathing that good, so it was quick, it was a very quick transition.

He added, however, There is a time to be born and a time to die; theres a time to be pulled up and a time to be planted, so I knew then that we were ready before he knew us, so he taught us that.

On Dec. 26, another Alabama pastor, Michael Mike Stancil of Fulton Bridge Baptist Church in Hamilton, also died of COVID-19.

This church is nearly 110 years old. Never in its history have we lost a pastor while still in the pulpit, Gary Mixon, chairman of the churchs deacon board, said in his remarks in a YouTube video. Never has this church faced a pandemic like were facing now. The only way that well get through this is with Gods help. We as the body of believers must fall on our knees in prayer and lift the family up.

In Indiana, a pastor, his sister, and his elderly mother all died from the new coronavirus over the course of a week.

Pastor Jim Applegate, 54, who led Westview Christian Church in Campbellsburg for 21 years, died from the virus on Dec. 20, WKYC reported. Some 12 hours later on Dec. 21, his 83-year-old mother, Patricia Applegate, died from the virus. His older sister, Mary Jane Applegate, 59, died from the virus on Christmas Eve.

The number of cumulative confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the United States is more than 20.4 million with over 350,000 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins Universitys Coronavirus Resource Center.
Investigations editor

Larry Parnass, investigations editor, joined The Eagle in 2016 from the Daily Hampshire Gazette, where he was editor in chief. His freelance work has appeared in the Washington Post, Boston Globe, Hartford Courant and CommonWealth Magazine.
India could roll out the worlds largest vaccination drive against the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) in about 10 days after the national drug controller approved two vaccines for restricted emergency use in India on Sunday, officials with knowledge of the development said.

Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) VG Somani on Sunday announced that he had approved both the Oxford University-AstraZeneca Plc. vaccine being manufactured in India by the Serum Institute of India (SII), and Bharat Biotech International Limiteds locally developed vaccine candidate.

He said that he had accepted recommendations made by the subject expert committee (SEC) of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) on Friday and Saturday to grant restricted emergency approval to both the vaccines.

A top official with knowledge of the matter said the vaccination drive could begin as early as in 10 days. It will take about a minimum of 10 days from now for the vaccine to be rolled out, the official said on condition of anonymity.

Soon after the approval was announced, Prime Minister Narendra Modi put out three tweets congratulating the country, scientists and innovators.

Read more| AstraZeneca-Oxford Covid-19 vaccine: Whats been said about dosage, efficacy

A decisive turning point to strengthen a spirited fight! DCGI granting approval to vaccines of @SerumInstIndia and @BharatBiotech accelerates the road to a healthier and Covid-free nation. Congratulations India. Congratulations to our hardworking scientists and innovators, his first tweet said.

The Subject Expert Committee consists of domain experts from the fields of pulmonology, immunology, microbiology, pharmacology, paediatrics, internal medicine and so on .

On SIIs Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, Somani said: After detailed deliberations Subject Expert Committee has recommended for the grant of permission for restricted use in emergency situation subject to certain regulatory conditions. The clinical trial ongoing within the country by the firm will continue.

Pune-based SII, which is manufacturing the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine and testing it in India, presented a recombinant chimpanzee adenovirus vector vaccine (Covishield) encoding the Sars-CoV-2 Spike (S) glycoprotein with technology transfer from AstraZeneca/Oxford University.

The firm submitted safety, immunogenicity and efficacy data generated on 23,745 participants aged 18 years or older from overseas clinical studies.

The overall vaccine efficacy was found to be 70.42%. Further, M/s Serum was granted permission to conduct Phase-II/III clinical trial on 1,600 participants within the country. The firm also submitted the interim safety and immunogenicity data generated from this trial and the data was found comparable with the data from the overseas clinical studies, Somani said.

Bharat Biotech has developed a whole virion inactivated coronavirus vaccine (Covaxin) in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and National Institute of Virology (Pune), from where it received the virus seed strains. The vaccine is developed on a vero cell platform, which has a well established track record of safety and efficacy in the country and globally.

The firm has generated safety and immunogenicity data in various animal species such as mice, rats, rabbits, Syrian hamster, and also conducted challenge studies on non-human primates (Rhesus macaques) and hamsters.

Read more| Amplifying reach, fake science biggest challenges to vaccination

The company had shared the data with CDSCO, and also put out phase 1 and 2 trial results for publication in December.

Phase 1 and Phase 2 clinical trials were conducted in approximately 800 subjects, and the results have demonstrated that the vaccine is safe and provides a robust immune response. The Phase 3 efficacy trial was initiated in India in 25,800 volunteers and to date, 22,500 participants have been vaccinated across the country and the vaccine has been found to be safe as per the data available currently, according to the drugs controller.

The Subject Expert Committee has reviewed the data on safety and immunogenicity of the vaccine and recommended for grant of permission for restricted use in emergency situation in public interest as an abundant precaution, in clinical trial mode, to have more options for vaccinations, especially in case of infection by mutant strains. The clinical trial ongoing within the country by the firm will continue, said Somani.

Both the vaccines have to be intramuscularly administered in two doses.

On the sidelines of a media briefing, Somani said that people of India must rest assured that all safety concerns have been met before the vaccines were approved.

Even if there is smallest of doubt regarding safety of the vaccine, it wont be approved. Of course, the ones approved are safe; I would say 110%. There are some side-effects but those are minor ones that are commonly seen in vaccines such as pain at the injection site, slight temperature, minor allergies, etc. Dont believe in rumours as all scientific processes have been strictly adhered to, he added.

Clinical trial mode condition means that the company will closely monitor and take full responsibility for any side-effects to any participants.

While there has been criticism from a large section of experts about the way approvals were given without adequate efficacy data, some experts say there is a provision for such approvals in the Indian regulatory system during emergency situations such as a pandemic.

There is a provision in the Drugs and Cosmetics Act for grant of approval even without the efficacy data but the terminology used is somewhat different from emergency use authorisation. The approval can be granted on the basis of phase 1 and 2 clinical trials safety and immunogenicity data. The data gradually has to be updated. I dont see the fuss created around it by people, many of whom arent even domain experts, said a senior public health expert, who requested anonymity.
The death has occurred of Anne Kennedy (nee Fleming), Clonlusk, Doon.

Peacefully at University Hospital Limerick, wife of the late John. Sadly missed by her loving sons Jimmy, Michael and David, daughters Mary and Helen, sister Josie, son-in-law, daughters-in-law, brothers-in-law, sister-in-law, grandchildren, nephews, nieces, relatives and friends.

Rest in peace

Arriving in St. Patricks Church, Doon Tuesday, 5th January, for Requiem Mass at 2 oc followed by burial in the local cemetery. Please adhere to Government Guidelines re Covid-19. Requiem Mass will be streamed live at https://doonparish.ie/webcam/

Please see link on rip.ie for online condolence book.

The death has occurred of John Coughlan, Upper Sunville, Ardpatrick.

Peacefully died at home surrounded by his loving family. Sadly missed by his wife Margo, Sons, Richard, Sean, Tom, Maurice, Daughters, Elaine, Mary, Claire and Marita, Siblings Fr Tom, Eily, Sister Patricia and Richard, son in law, daughters in law, partners, brother in law, sister in law, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.

Rest in Peace

Given the current exceptional circumstances and to protect the welfare of everyone who knew him, a private funeral, with immediate family only, will take place at 12 noon on Tuesday in St Patricks Church, Ardpatrick, and will be streamed on the webcam at (link to follow) Burial will follow to Ardpatrick Cemetery.

Those who would have liked to attend his funeral, but who cannot due to the current restrictions may leave a personal message for the family on the condolence page on rip.ie or send condolences in the traditional manner. The family thank you for your cooperation, understanding and support during this sensitive time.

Donations in lieu to Milford Care Centre.

The death has occurred of Maura Collins (nee Crowe), Kilscannell House, Ardagh and formerly of Towerhill, Cappamore.

Peacefully, at home, surrounded by her family. Predeceased by her brothers John and Rev Fr. Richard (Dick). Beloved wife of Sean. Deeply regretted by her husband, sons Richard and Denis, sister Kathleen Halpin (Knocklong), grandchildren Leeanne, Brandon, Kieran, Sarah, Grace, Padraig, nephews, nieces, daughters-in-law Michelle and Theresa, extended family neighbours and friends.

May She Rest in Peace

In line with government guidelines, a family Requiem Mass will take place in Ardagh Church on Tuesday at 11.30am, followed by burial in Kilscannell Cemetery. Mass will be audible in the car park from the safety of your car and online via the parish Facebook link (https://m.facebook.com/Ardagh-Carrigkerry-Parish-100456194998744/). Mass cards and messages of Sympathy can be sent to Magner's Funeral Home, Rathkeale, Co. Limerick.
By William Schwartz | Published on 2021/01/02

The Korea Institute of Enterprise Reputation recently released its evaluation for which celebrities have the most brand influence on social media. Fifty performers in currently airing dramas were selected for inclusion, and big data trends across various social media platforms were analyzed from December 2nd to January 2nd to arrive at the result. Kim So-yeon of "The Penthouse" was number one, while Cha Eun-woo of "True Beauty" was number two and Lee Ji-ah of "The Penthouse" was number three.

145,584,428 pieces of data were analyzed to reach this result. This compares with 119,147,284 pieces of data in the November report, an increase of about 22.19%. The positivity rate for the observed references was 70.55%, with other references being neutral or negative. Keywords frequently associated with Kim So-yeon included passion and acting talent, with emphasis also being placed on her winning various awards, or her potential to do so. "The Penthouse" will air its final episode on January 5th.

Written by William Schwartz
Bargain hunters looking for a deal in the January sales might well be searching in the wrong place.

While High Street stores and online retailers slash prices on their winter lines, savvy bargain hunters are snapping up other cheap deals elsewhere.

Unloved presents and old shop display items are being flogged for discount prices on some UK auction sites - which specialise in selling shop returns.

While many returns will end up back on the shelves, some big chain stores are unwilling to go to the effort of restocking returned goods.

These items are instead sold to 'recommerce' websites - where savvy savers can pick up a deal at bargain basement prices.

On one site, John Pye, which specialises in returns, second hand items and ex-display goods, an iPhone11 Pro - which normally has an RRP of 899 - is currently up for auction with the bid at 450.

On another site, iBidder, unused display perfumes worth 80 are currently available to bid on for 2.

One of the deals is for an iPhone 11 pro 64GB: Current bid: 392 /RRP: 889 from website, John Pye

Bargain hunters can bid for an Oculus Quest VR Headset: Current bid: 90/ RRP: 299, from John Pye

Aspiring baristas can bid for a Delonghi Coffee Maker: Current bid:51/RRP: 209 on John Pye

Need a new laptop? A Lenvo Thinkpad P1 Laptop currently has a bid of: 485/RRP: 2249 on John Pye

If you are happy with an unused display version of a perfume, Dolce and Gabbana Light Blue Eau de Toilette: Current bid: 2/RRP: 80 is on iBidder

Want some new running shoes? Adidas Tresc Running Shoes: Current bid:30/RRP: 110 on iBidder

How does the process work?

Some of the top deals on popular households items currently on sale iPhone 11 pro 64GB: Current bid: 392 /RRP: 889 - John Pye Oculus Quest VR Headset: Current bid: 90/ RRP: 299 - John Pye Delonghi Ecom311 Icona Micalit Manuel Espresso Maker Current bid:51/RRP: 209 (on sale for 109) - John Pye Lenvo Thinkpad P1 Laptop: Current bid: 485/RRP: 2249 - John Pye Dolce and Gabbana Light Blue Eau de Toilette: Current bid: 2/RRP: 80 - iBidder Adidas Tresc Running Shoes: Current bid:30/RRP: 110 - iBidder Note: These are current bids as of 1pm on January 3. There are also added charges/buyer commissions that may increase the total cost. Advertisement

Customers will often return items that they do not want or need to the retailer, whether those items were purchased online at sites like Amazon or in High Street stores.

But retailers sometimes do not restock the returned items for resale themselves because the cost of doing so exceeds the value of those items.

So the retailer instead decides to cut its losses and divert the returned items to third-party recommerce firms in the UK like iBidder and John Pye auctioneers.

The contractors then try to turn a profit by either selling the products to consumers online or selling them in bulk to wholesale buyers.

On some websites - particularly in the trade market - lots of items are packaged into large lots and sold off as a collection of items.

If that doesnt work, the stores often recycle them. Otherwise, the items would be discarded in a landfill, thus causing environmental problems.

In recent years, e-commerce firms like Amazon have made it easier for consumers to return unwanted items.

The strategy behind this thinking is that customers who have an easy time returning items will be more likely to shop again with the same retailer thanks to the pleasant experience they had in getting their money back.

The recommerce market has created a cottage industry of third-party sellers who find functional, in-demand items at bargain-basement prices and then re-sell them on sites like Amazon and eBay.

There are two main reasons why a retailer cannot resell a returned item, even if it is still brand new and unused.

The first is shipping and handling costs, as well as reshipping and labour costs involved in sending it to its new buyer.

The second reason that retail companies don't always put returned items back onto the shelves is that the longer an item stays out of circulation the less value it traditionally has. Pictured: Sales in Dublin this January

The second reason that retail companies don't always put returned items back onto the shelves is that the longer an item stays out of circulation the less value it traditionally has.

As for buyers, as always, keep consumer smart, because you are not always guaranteed a discount deal.

Due to the nature of auctions, prices can on occasion rocket towards average RRP prices, and on some websites there are added fees and buyer commissions to factor in as well, along with delivery charges.
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Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

A fire that burned an abandoned building Sunday afternoon caused damage to a neighboring nonprofit organization.

Street Safe New Mexico Executive Director Christine Barber said the organizations building near Central and Virginia sustained water and smoke damage when a fire broke out at a neighboring building. She said the front door was also damaged when firefighters broke in to make sure no one was inside.

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Albuquerque Fire Rescue spokesman Dave La Cour said firefighters were called to the building at 12:42 p.m. and had the blaze under control within minutes. No one was in the abandoned building or in the Street Safe building at the time of the fire.

Central was closed in both directions between Wyoming and Utah.

The abandoned building, which was previously a restaurant, was being demolished.

Barber said the building, which shares a wall and roof with Street Safe, had been vacant before Street Safe moved in 2018 and has been a nuisance, due to mice and other problems.

Asked whether Street Safe was damaged in the fire, Barber said, Yes, because the abandoned building next door needs to curse us with one more problem.

Barber said she didnt immediately know the extent of the damage but commended AFR for stopping the fire from spreading to the Street Safe building.

Street Safe New Mexico helps women who have been the victims of sex trafficking and homelessness.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Journal staff writer Pilar Martinez contributed to this report.
Gatwick's shareholders have given the green light to a runway expansion that would add around 90 extra flights per day, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.

In recent weeks, the airport's billionaire investors  French giant VINCI Airports and infrastructure fund GIP  have committed to funding the next stage of a scheme to upgrade Gatwick's 'standby' northern runway, currently used as a taxiway and emergency runway, for routine use.

It would be used alongside Gatwick's existing runway as a so-called 'runway-lite', operating short-haul take-offs by the end of the decade.

Extra runway: It would be used alongside Gatwick's existing runway as a so-called 'runway-lite'

Gatwick will now develop the planning application for the project, including environmental surveys, and hopes to launch a public consultation in the summer.

It is understood that if the plan gets the go-ahead, its shareholders would invest hundreds of millions of pounds.

Until the pandemic, Gatwick was the busiest single-runway airport in the world. But its biggest airline customers  BA, easyJet, Norwegian and Virgin Atlantic  have suspended or scaled back flights.

Gatwick expects passenger demand to recover to pre-crisis levels from 2023 and said the northern runway expansion would add 2 billion to the economy and create thousands of jobs.

The scheme is also environmentally sustainable, in line with Gatwick's commitment to reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

A spokesman said: 'Progressing our plans now could help us secure the long-term prosperity and jobs in the region for years to come.'
Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Egypt has approved the use of a COVID-19 vaccine developed by Chinese pharma giant Sinopharm with its rollout to start later in January, the health minister said.

"The Egyptian pharmaceutical authority approved on Saturday the Chinese Sinopharm vaccine," Hala Zayed said late Saturday, on the local MBC Masr channel.

The first batch of the vaccine was delivered in December, with further doses expected this month.

"The second shipment of this vaccine is due to arrive in the second or third week of January, and as soon as it arrives, we will start vaccinations," the minister said.

Each batch of the vaccine consists of 50,000 doses, and the ministry has announced that the first group to receive it will be medical workers.

Zayed said Egypt plans to purchase 40 million doses of the Sinopharm jab.

Egypt, the Arab world's most populous country with around 100 million inhabitants, has recorded more than 140,000 cases of the COVID-19 disease, including 7,800 deaths.

After a brief lull, the number of infections rose dramatically in late 2020, from around 100 new cases confirmed per day in October, to some 1,400 daily cases currently.

Sinopharm announced on Wednesday that one of its vaccines, to be distributed in China, was 79 percent effective.

The jabs efficacity is lower than that of vaccines developed by Pfizer-BioNTech and Modernaboth over 90 percent effective.

A jab developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University has proved 70 percent effective with one dose, and 100 percent effective with two.

Egypt will also receive the AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine in the third or fourth week of January, according to Zayed, who added that a contract "was being finalised".

Negotiations with Pfizer "are underway" as well, she added.

Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

 2021 AFP
India has given emergency approval to the Oxford University and AstraZeneca vaccine as well as a jab developed in the country to stem the coronavirus pandemic.

Drugs Controller General doctor Venugopal G Somani said that both vaccines will be administered in two dosages.

The countrys initial immunisation plan aims to vaccinate 300 million people  health care workers, front-line staff including police and those considered vulnerable due to their age or other diseases  by August 2021.

The Serum Institute of India, the worlds largest vaccine manufacturing company, has been contracted by AstraZeneca to make a billion doses for developing nations, including India.

The Oxford University/AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine will be distributed in the UK from Monday (Gareth Fuller/PA)

On Friday, Britain became the first to approve the shot.

The other vaccine known as COVAXIN is developed by Bharat Biotech in collaboration with government agencies and is based on an inactivated form of the coronavirus.

The company has completed only two of three trial phases and the third, which tests for efficacy, began testing in mid-November.

Early clinical studies showed that the vaccine does not have any serious side effects and produces antibodies for Covid-19.

India, with nearly 1.4 billion people, is the second-worst affected by the coronavirus after the US, with over 10.3 million confirmed cases and 149,435 deaths, though its rate of infection has come down significantly from a mid-September peak.

An application for a vaccine made by Pfizer is still being reviewed.
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The U.S. ramped up COVID-19 vaccinations in the past few days after a slower-than-expected start, bringing the number of shots dispensed to about 4 million, government health officials said Sunday.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nations top infectious-disease expert, also said on ABCs This Week that President-elect Joe Bidens pledge to administer 100 million shots of the vaccine within his first 100 days in office is achievable.

And he rejected President Donald Trumps false claim on Twitter that coronavirus deaths and cases in the U.S. have been greatly exaggerated.

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All you need to do  is go into the trenches, go into the hospitals, go into the intensive care units and see what is happening. Those are real numbers, real people and real deaths, Fauci said on NBCs Meet the Press.

The U.S. death toll has climbed past 350,000, the most of any country, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University, while more than 20 million people nationwide have been infected. States have reported record numbers of cases over the past few days, and funeral homes in Southern California are being inundated with bodies.

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said the pandemic is getting worse in his city as the virus spreads rapidly within households and people let their guard down with news of a vaccines arrival. This is a virus that preys off of our weakness, preys off of our exhaustion, he said on CBS Face the Nation.

Experts believe that the real numbers of U.S. deaths and infections are much higher and that many cases were overlooked, in part because of insufficient testing.

Fauci said he has seen some little glimmer of hope after 1.5 million doses were administered in the previous 72 hours, or an average of about 500,000 per day, a marked increase in vaccinations. He said that brings the total to about 4 million.

He acknowledged the U.S. fell short of its goal of having 20 million doses shipped and distributed by the end of December.

There have been a couple of glitches. Thats understandable, Fauci said. We are not where we want to be, theres no doubt about that.

But he expressed optimism that the momentum will pick up by mid-January and that ultimately the U.S. will be vaccinating 1 million people a day. Bidens goal of vaccinating 100 million people in the first 100 days is a realistic goal, Fauci said.

Dr. Moncef Slaoui, the chief science adviser to Operation Warp Speed, the governments vaccine development and distribution effort, told CBS that 17.5 million doses have been shipped. About 13 million of those have been distributed to clinics, hospitals and other places where they will be administered, according to Fauci.

The 20 million-dose goal hasnt been reached in part because local health departments and medical facilities had to stay focused on testing to handle a surge in cases, U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams said. And the holiday season meant health workers were taking time off, he said.

I dont want anyone to think Im being Pollyannish here. Theres what we delivered, and we hope that those will be translated into vaccinations. That has not occurred to the way that we would like, Adams said on CNNs State of the Union.

On Sunday morning, Trump falsely tweeted that the outbreak has been far exaggerated because of the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions ridiculous methodology. He complained, too, that Fauci has been credited by the news media with doing an incredible job when Fauci works for me and the Trump Administration, and I am in no way given any credit for my work.

Fauci and others are warning that an additional surge is likely because of holiday gatherings and the cold weather keeping people indoors.

It could and likely will get worse in the next couple of weeks, or at least maintain this very terribly high level of infections and deaths that were seeing, Fauci said.

Arizona on Sunday reported a one-day record of more than 17,200 new cases, eclipsing the previous mark of about 12,000 set in early December. Health officials said the jump appears to reflect infections from Christmas gatherings but was also probably inflated by a reporting lag over New Years weekend.

North Carolina and Texas reported record numbers of people in the hospital with COVID-19  nearly 3,600 and over 12,500, respectively..

Overseas, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said more onerous lockdown restrictions in England are likely as a variant of the coronavirus has pushed infection rates to their highest levels on record. More than 50,000 new infections have been reported daily over the past six days.

Scientists have said the variant is up to 70% more contagious. While Fauci said the U.S. needs to do its own study, he noted that British researchers believe that the mutated version is no deadlier or more likely to make people sicker and that vaccines are effective against it.

But Scott Gottlieb, a former U.S. Food and Drug Administration commissioner who serves on the board of vaccine maker Pfizer, said on Face the Nation that the variant really creates more urgency around trying to get this vaccine out more quickly and get more people vaccinated.

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Associated Press writers worldwide contributed to this report.
Prized for their popular noodle bowls and generous portions, a duo of side-by-side restaurants on Kearny Street have permanently closed their doors.

Ramen Underground and Udon Underground  both opened by chef and owner Ken Matsumura in 2011 and 2018, respectively  shuttered at the end of November, joining a dismal slate of countless other restaurant closures in the city and across the nation. They served as a frequent respite for the FiDi lunchtime crowd and were known for their quick service and cozy, no-frills atmosphere. The closures were first reported by The Chronicle.

Matsumura could not be reached for comment. But a statement from Ramen Underground on Facebook cited a waning clientele due to COVID-19 as the reason for the closures, which they attempted to combat in part by selling their bento boxes for takeout online.

We would like to say thank you for all customers with us, the statement continued. Really sad to say bye (to) all of you.

Matsumura previously worked for the bustling Union Square ramen joint Katana Ya before deciding to pursue his own restaurant venture. Ramen Underground was named a Readers Choice Winner by the San Francisco Examiner in 2018.

Breaks my heart to know that youve put your heart and soul into this business for so long and now its closing, one customer wrote in response to the statement. Im really sorry to hear that all of this is happening,

In 2012, shortly after Ramen Underground opened to the public, San Francisco resident Victor Wong told the Wall Street Journal he ate there at least every other week. Yet, like many fans of the restaurant, he was puzzled by its name, which didnt seem to reflect its burgeoning popularity. They do one thing and they do it well, he said.

The dual closure follows a pattern of downtown restaurant losses after their target clientele  tourists, convention crowds and people working in the area  abruptly disappeared this March.

M.Y. China, a restaurant owned by celebrity chef Martin Yan, also closed at the end of November following 10 years of operation at Westfield San Francisco Centre. Yan told SFGATE his restaurants location on the fourth floor of the mall made its survival particularly challenging.

Nobody is going to go up there, he said. Most takeout restaurants can only survive and do takeout on the ground level. Theres no sense to open because there's no revenue."

Yet, like Yan, the staff at Ramen Underground and Udon Underground also feel optimistic that they will be able to reopen again someday:



Hope we can see you in the future when we return, they wrote.

SFGATE Food + Drink Reporter Susana Guerrero contributed to this report.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-12-31 21:36:42|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) -- China's central bank said on Thursday that this year's target that the country's financial institutions save enterprises 1.5 trillion yuan (about 229.9 billion U.S. dollars) was achieved.

The People's Bank of China (PBOC) said that in 2020 it deferred payments of principals and interests for loans worth more than 6 trillion yuan. It granted inclusive loans worth more than 3 trillion yuan for small and micro companies, benefitting more than 30 million business entities.

Yi Gang, governor of the PBOC, said the central bank employed multiple tools to reduce the real economy's financing costs amid the COVID-19 epidemic. He cited an increase of the re-lending and re-discount quota by 1 trillion yuan and two new monetary policy instrument introductions to channel funds into the real economy.

In 2021, the first year of China's 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) period, the central bank will provide practical financial support for China's new development paradigm, Yi said.

China unveiled moves earlier this year to pursue a new development paradigm of a "dual circulation," which allows the domestic and overseas markets to reinforce each other, with the domestic market as the mainstay. Enditem
BENGALURU : When news of a highly-infectious virus spreading like a medieval plague across the city of Wuhan surfaced in January 2020, there was reason to believe that the Chinese economic juggernaut would be stopped in its tracks. Almost a year on, however, consider the headlines about Chinas economy, nearly all of which point to the worlds heavy dependence on China.

Such high volumes of Chinese exports were shipped to the West ahead of Christmas that the world suffered a shortage of shipping containers because China sends out three times as much in sea cargo as it imports. A Reuters story in December noted that the cost of chartering a 40-foot container from China to the US East Coast scaled a record $4,928 this week, up 85% since June 1".

Exports from China increased by 21% in November and the country is the only large economy in the world on track to register positive growth in 2020 of about 2% and likely 8% in 2021.

Meanwhile, despite astonishing claims by the Narendra Modi government that India could supplant or meaningfully supplement Chinas role as the worlds factory, there is little evidence of this. Indias exports in November declined by 9%. I had earlier argued on these pages that Chinas dense and integrated supply chains and huge share of global exports made such a shift next to impossible.

In fact, Chinas global trade surplus for the first 11 months of 2020 was $460 billion, up by a fifth. The surplus is more than Indias total annual merchandise exports. If proof were needed that China has conclusively won the trade war with the US, posting a record trade surplus of $75 billion in November in bilateral trade between the two giants settled that.

Round one has gone to China and it is a knockout," said Arvind Subramanian, former chief economic adviser and author of Eclipse: Living In The Shadow Of Chinas Economic Dominance, published about a decade ago.

Coupled with Chinas ever more muscular geopolitical stance in Asia and beyond, this clear economic lead taken by China in 2020 must be viewed seriously. Wishful Chindia" economic convergence narratives spouted by Indian businessmen and ministers alike at Davos-styled events must be abandoned in favour of methodical deregulation and the building up of our industrial and military capabilities.

Instead of being timid and resisting trade groupings such as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, India must seek to join themnotably in the event of a remodelled Trans Pacific trade grouping that the Biden administration is likely to push for with wider participationso that Indias manufacturers are embedded in global supply chains.

Subramanian predicts that 2020 will only have boosted Beijings confidence. Referring to Chinas massive stimulus that propped up global demand after the collapse of Lehman Brothers led to the global financial crisis more than a decade ago and now Chinas resilience in the face of covid-19, he said: In the broader context of the rivalry with the US, (Beijing would argue) They messed up on the GFC and now again on covid we have come out of it quickly and have rescued the world".

Muscle flexing

This picture of a gigantic yet somehow nimble Gulliver with an increasing stranglehold on global trade is a disturbing one because 2020 was also the year when Beijing appeared routinely aggressive in its dealings with the world, from constant incursions into Taiwans airspace to brazen de facto annexations along the Line of Actual Control with India.

In Hong Kong, its increasingly direct control over one of the worlds premier financial capitals violated the terms of the transfer of sovereignty agreement signed with the UK decades ago that promised an autonomous local government and an independent UK-style judiciary. Global investment banks and the world at large can only stand by and watch. In early December, Hong Kongs most powerful media tycoon was denied bail on the charge of illegal use of business premises.

Attempts to stand up to Beijing have been met with disproportionate reprisals. Australias criticism of Chinas behaviour in Hong Kong and its demand for an international enquiry into Chinas initial handling of the outbreak of the virus as well as Canberras decision to disallow Huawei from being considered for 5G procurement is a case in point.

In November, lengthy customs inspections weaponized as non-tariff barriers led to $3million worth of Australian rock lobsters dying as shipments waited to be offloaded at Shanghais port. In contravention of the recently inked RCEP, China massively hiked duties on Australian imports ranging from wine to iron.

Ironically, China has used the challenges of the year and the ongoing trade war initiated by the Trump administration to emerge even stronger. In the past several months, President Xi Jinping has repeatedly spoken of Chinas dual circulation" policy that aims to cut its dependence on overseas markets and technology.

What sounded as if it was yet another impenetrable example of Communist double-speak has turned out to be a pragmatic response to the Trump administrations attempts to deny China access to high technology imports.

Beijing has energetically confronted the realities of the trade war and bolted on its Made in China 2025 targets announced five years ago. In essence, Beijing wants to accelerate that timetable and put it on a (Cold) war footing. As the New York Times explained in late November, China wants to become less dependent on the world for its own needs, while making the world as dependent as possible on China."

Other observers warn that dual circulation" could be a preparation for more hostilities. Speaking of the belligerence of China on many fronts, ranging from the fake photo of an Australian soldier slitting the throat of a child in Afghanistan tweeted by a Chinese foreign ministry official in December to its border battle with India, James Kynge, author of China Shakes the World, said, If you ask me what dual circulation is, its to insulate China. (The attitude is) We must not suffer if we attack Taiwan."

He warns that the risks of armed conflict in the next few years over Taiwan, which Beijing regards as part of China, are rising dramatically. If I were an investor, I would take the political risk very seriously," said Kynge.

When Taiwans President Tsai Ing-wen won a thumping 57% of the vote to win re-election in January 2020, her first press conference was bold and direct. She declared that China should take back its oft-repeated threat to reclaim Taiwan by force. Taiwan is showing the world how much we cherish our free democratic way of life," said President Tsai.

Instead, Beijing has used 2020 to mount incursions into an air buffer zone between the two countries, with spy planes and freight planes intruding into Taiwans air space with Taipeis defence ministry website documenting the violations almost daily.

Its grey zone warfare, It is what the Russians do in the Baltic," said Kathrin Hille, Greater China correspondent for the Financial Times in Taipei and a former correspondent for the paper in Moscow and Beijing. When I was in Moscow, I would have said China is not as aggressive as Russia is. Clearly, that does not apply anymore." Hille believes Beijings aim is to undermine morale in Taiwan, not to provoke outright war, which would draw the US into the conflict.

The risks

Beijing viewed 2020, which paradoxically undermined its reputation in the world while underlining its indispensability to global prosperity, very differently from how western capitals saw it. Survey after survey show an increase in distrust of China overseas; questions about the governments role in initially suppressing news of the spread of the virus were raised worldwide.

Beijing denied this and was applauded by the World Health Organization for sharing the genetic sequence of the virus very quickly in January 2020. But, the war of words on both sides may have led to a hardening in positions taken by Beijing since then. The risk for China and the world is that over-confidence in Beijing as well as worries that the West is seeking to curb its rise might tip over into conflict. China looks invulnerable in its hegemony over many export markets such as mobile phones, but its massive build-up of debt and the over-dependence of its domestic economy on the property sector leave it exposed to external shocks.

The Institute of International Finance released estimates in November showing that while global debt levels had climbed dramatically because of government responses to the pandemic, Chinas debt-to-GDP ratio is set to reach 365%, a worryingly high level for what remains a middle-income economy.

Within that picture, there are other fault-lines. Its largest property developer, China Evergrande, has almost $125 billion in debt, twice as much as the next largest global property developer. Local governments across China remain as dependent on land sales to bolster their over-ambitious infrastructure spending as in the past decade.

In response, Chinas able financial czars, Guo Shuqing and Liu He, are methodically seeking to impose discipline on state-owned enterprises, the private sector and local governments. This was likely a factor in reining in Jack Mas Ant Financial recently by preventing it going ahead with a giant initial public offering. This balancing act of now curbing an addiction to easy credit can cause accidents: in November, the default of a government coal company on a $152-million bond repayment rattled markets.

Chinas enduring problem remains that its economy has not been rebalanced towards consumer demand adequately, which leaves it overly dependent on property markets and infrastructure building. Household consumption remains at about 38% of GDP, well below levels in the US or India.

As Prime Minister Li Keqiang observed in May, China may have an annual per capita income in excess of $4,000 but 600 million people live on about $140 per month. Even so, Chinas domestic market has been a huge draw for multinationals and that remains true today.

Jonathan Woetzel, a senior partner in McKinseys Shanghai office, has argued that the view of China as predominantly a factory for the West is out of date. The Chinese economy is likely to be sustained by the Chinese consumer. I would not expect that much change in 2021 either as long as covid-19 remains under control," said Wotezel. Most of the volatility will come from the domestic financial economy to the extent there are unseen risks."

Despite the risks from its domestic financial industry, China has momentum behind it while the US recovers from the calamitous drift of the Trump administration and seeks to contain bitter battles between Republicans and Democrats that will hobble the new Biden administration. Chinese leaders believe that America and the West have been weakened by the rise of populism," said Peter Martin, author of the forthcoming book, Chinas Civilian Army: The Making Of Wolf Warrior Diplomacy. They see an opportunity to assert their interests more forcefully."

Tellingly, at the end of a pivotal year that began with predictions that the world would seek to reduce its economic dependence on China and even isolate it, the European Union rushed through a wide-ranging investment pact with China, in large part to get it done before a Biden administration could push for an alliance of Western democracies to be firmer with China.

Meanwhile, an economics consultancy predicted that China would displace the US as the worlds largest economy in dollar terms in 2028, five years sooner than it had predicted just a year ago. But one does not need to look so far ahead to see a seemingly omnipotent China arrayed against a motley assortment of alternately dysfunctional majoritarian or weak liberal democracies, mostly incapable of cohesive cross-border policies.

In trade and arguably even geopolitics, 2020 heralded a new unipolar world around the colossus that is China.

Rahul Jacob was the Financial Timess south China correspondent (2010-13).

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Angola, IN (46703)

Today

Cloudy with rain developing after midnight. Low 64F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch..

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Cloudy with rain developing after midnight. Low 64F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch.
After more than half a year of rioting, with his city a smoking ruin, and businesses boarded up and fleeing, Portland's socialist mayor, Ted Wheeler, has finally admitted his appease-Antifa policies were a loser.

Following yet another riot on New Year's day, he called for a state and federal bailout.

According to Breitbart News:

My good-faith efforts at de-escalation have been met with ongoing violence and even scorn from radical Antifa and anarchists, Wheeler said in a New Years Day press conference. In response, it will be necessary to use additional tools and to push the limits of the tools we already have to bring the criminal destruction and violence to an end. Its time to push back harder against those who are set on destroying our community and to take more risks in fighting lawlessness, the Portland mayor continued.

Which is pathetic. He didn't even wait for President Trump to leave office, which was his main stated reason for allowing his city to burn. Every effort by President Trump to help save his city until now was met with insults and taunts.

Back in July, he was saying this:

During a video news conference Friday, Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler twice called the federal police in his city President Trumps personal army and said that he is joining a chorus of Oregons elected officials in sending a clear message to Washington: Take your troops out of Portland. This is part of a coordinated strategy out of Trumps White House to use federal troops to bolster his sagging polling data, and it is an absolute abuse of federal law enforcement officials, Wheeler said. As we were starting to see things de-escalate, their actions last Saturday and every night since have actually ratcheted up the tension on our streets.

He actually rebuffed President Trump several times, despite being chased out of his own apartment by Antifa last fall, among a huge many other things that laid his city low and made it a city so reviled most locals in riot-hit places were saying "at least we aren't Portland."

It was so bad reasonable people were beginning to wonder if Wheeler was actually in hock to Antifa. How could anyone be so indifferent, or so naive that Antifa was a force to be reasoned with? Antifa even apparently ran an actual candidate against him in the last mayoral election, a challenge he barely survived. Antifa, as it turns out, is very organized, much like socialist Caracas. I wrote about that here. But Wheeler couldn't stop loving himself some Antifa.

According to Breitbart:

Antifa-related violence ran rampant in Portland through much of 2020 as prosecutors in the city dismissed charges against 90 percent of the protesters arrested in September alone, Breitbarts Ildefonso Ortiz reported. During the first week of October, only 19 of the 213 people arrested in September had pending charges. Between May and September, prosecutors dismissed more than 70 percent of charges. In one case, charges of attempted murder, attempted assault, arson, possession of a destructive device, and rioting were dismissed against a man who allegedly threw a Molotov cocktail at police officers. In December, Antifa built an autonomous zone around a foreclosed house to stop law enforcement from executing an eviction order. At one point, the mayor issued what now appears to be a toothless edict, saying, There will be no autonomous zone in Portland, Breitbarts Joel Pollak reported When police arrived to execute the eviction order, Antifa anarchists became violent and chased the police away. The mayor pledged last week that the police were authorized to use all lawful means to end the occupation of the foreclosed house and surrounding streets. That did not happen. After a week-long occupation of the three-block autonomous zone, Wheeler caved and actually apologized to Antifa. The mayor and his chief of police apologized for statements they made earlier that week where they referred to the encampments as an autonomous zone and for threatening to use a lawful means to end the occupation.

Seriously, he apologized to Antifa and it only made the monsters bolder.
More than 30 countries have reported cases of the highly transmissible British COVID-19 strain, raising fears of increased global spread of the virus, even as countries begin to unroll vaccination programs in the new year.

New Zealand on Sunday was the latest nation to find the variant onshore - six cases of the mutant strain were detected among 19 new coronavirus cases in hotel quarantine.

Turkey has now barred people arriving from Britain. Credit:AP

Travellers heading to New Zealand from Britain or the United States will, from January 15, need a negative test result for COVID-19 before entering the country.

New Zealand's COVID-19 Response Minister, Chris Hipkins, said work was already underway to extend the requirement to other long haul flights to New Zealand.
KURNOOL: A priest on Saturday alleged that the Marlabandaiah Anjaneya Swamy temple near Sajjala Guddam village in Kosigi mandal had been vandalised and an idol desecrated. Hours later, he denied that such a thing had happened, albeit a bit too late as by then opposition activists had staged protests claiming that the government was not safeguarding temples.

The priest Sriramulu in a video released in the morning alleged that when he opened the temple doors at 9 am to perform Abhisekham, he noticed that the leg of the idol of Sita Rama on the temple arch had been broken, He said the grill of the temple had been cut open and the temple car was smashed and an attempt had been made to break the lock of the shed.

The incident happened on Friday and I don't know who has done this, the priest said.

The video caused tension in the backdrop of a series of incidents of temple vandalism. However, Sriramulu released another video in the afternoon claiming that the idol had been damaged when lighting was being fixed during the recent rathotsavam. The temple car had not sustained any damage. The idol of the temple is safe, he said. The hundi had been lost in the past. He appealed to people not to believe any rumours, he claimed.

The top brass of the police swung into action. Kurnool Range DIG P. Venkatram Reddy told the media that the news of vandalism of the temple located in agricultural fields near Sajjla Guddam village was false. Police officials and the temple priest examined the premises and certified that there was no vandalism.

The DIG reminded how swiftly the police had acted in Kurnool when incidents of hundi theft and vandalism of idols had occurred, and had arrested several persons.

You all know this. It is not right to spread false news and throw people into confusion, he told the media and said it was not good to politicise every issue.

Meanwhile, BJP and TD activists protested in front of the collectorate and other places. Raising slogans against Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy at the Kurnool collectorate, BJP state vice-president K. Harish Babu said that there was no protection for temples even though more than 40 had been attacked during the YSRC government regime. He wondered why the Chief Minister was silent on this issue.

Similarly, addressing a protest organised by TD activists at Visweswaraiah circle in the city, Kurnool unit president Somisetty Venkateswarlu demanded the immediate sacking of Endowment minister Vellampalli Srinivas. He said that Jagan Mohan Reddy should act in a secular manner and respect the religious sentiments of Hindus.
For tens of thousands in the Philadelphia area, and millions nationwide, gyms and fitness studios are an integral part of daily life. People use gyms and fitness studios to blow off steam through lifting weights, recover from injury through physical therapy, or relax and recharge through yoga and meditation. These facilities, for many, create community.

Were hoping this week to do do again  without excessive roadblocks.

We have nearly reached the eleventh month of the COVID-19 pandemic, a crisis that has flipped life upside down. When coronavirus hit Philadelphia, gyms and fitness studios were among the many non-essential businesses forced to shut their doors. At first that lasted two weeks. Then two weeks turned into four, and eventually became more than four months. Many of us voluntarily shut our doors before city and statewide mandates were put into place.

 READ MORE: Local gyms will need help to survive shutdown during the COVID-19 pandemic | Jenice Armstrong

When we reopened this past summer, it was with a long list of health and safety measures in place to protect ourselves and our members. We developed best practices to ensure minimal transmission. Masks were mandated, capacity limits reduced, machines spaced further apart, and guests required to register in advance for gym access and classes. Many of us made significant financial investments in our facilities to ensure that the risk of COVID spread was as close to zero as possible. Those who still felt uncomfortable with the risk could continue to take advantage of virtual classes many of us offered online. Of course, there were bad actors who eschewed health guidelines, but those were in the minority.

Then came Nov. 20. Amid rising case counts, officials decided to shutter gyms and fitness studios once more, delivering a second gut punch to myself and my hardworking colleagues. Though we did our absolute best to adhere to all guidelines, we were still forced to close again. Data submitted voluntarily by local gym and studio owners from July 21 (our reopening date) to November 20 showed only 36 known cases out of 408,493 gym visits  .0088%.

Over the last nine-plus months, gym owners and other small business owners who wanted to reopen were accused of denying the realities of coronavirus. In reality its the opposite. We do not want to fight against city and health officials. We recognize the seriousness of this virus. Many of us have lost loved ones, have family who are essential workers, and have witnessed firsthand the devastation this virus has caused. We also know we need to open to make money and stay in business. It feels like an impossible situation.

We anticipate that on Jan. 4, we will be allowed to open our doors again and welcome our members into a safe environment. But, there are still some kinks to be worked out to ensure we will be able to offer continuous services. A lack of clarity and communication has left us in the dark on important matters. At the Philadelphia Fitness Coalition, we are looking for answers from city officials on the following:

What happens after Jan. 4?

What needs to happen for us to stay open?

How can gyms prove that they are compliant with regulations? What happens to gyms that arent complying?

How can gyms get much-needed financial support, and access to free COVID-19 testing on a regular basis?

The list above is not exhaustive, but its a start. We want to be part of the solution. We have ideas that will not only help gyms, but other small business owners, like using our built-in client tracking systems to help with contract tracing.

 READ MORE: Philly should allow gyms to stay open during COVID shutdown | Expert Opinion

Many independent gym and studio owners are not much different than an owner of a family restaurant or shop. We cannot afford to build large outdoor spaces to offer our services. The price of HEPA filters is cost-prohibitive for many studio owners. We are not working with large corporate budgets. We have had to be creative in developing cost-effective solutions to keep Philadelphians safe, and we want to work hand-in-hand with the city to implement those ideas on a larger scale across multiple industries.

 ASK US: Do you have a question about the coronavirus and how it affects your health, work and life? Ask our reporters.

Without solutions, many gyms, fitness studios, and other small businesses will be forced to close permanently. We are ready to work with the city to develop common sense solutions that will allow us to survive COVID-19 and prepare for crises that may arise in the future.

Shoshana Katz is the founder of BPM Fitness and co-chairs the Philadelphia Fitness Coalition.
Nearly 13 million people in England live in an area with no vaccination centre, making it a postcode lottery for those seeking the life-saving jab.

Analysis found nearly one in four people live in a constituency with no hospital, GP practice or appropriate community building for giving coronavirus vaccines.

At present, only around 300,000 vaccinations a week are being given, but this number needs to be boosted to around two million if life is to return to normal after Easter, experts have said.

On Monday, the first doses of the newly-approved Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine will be given to patients.

Nearly 13 million people in England live in an area with no vaccination centre, making it a postcode lottery for those seeking the life-saving jab

But there are growing fears there are not enough staff or facilities at the NHS's disposal for the jabs to be delivered.

According to analysis by the Sunday Times, many places either do not have any sites ready or have only one to accommodate thousands of people.

Large towns such as Bedford, Newark and Braintree, which have a combined population of 330,000, do not have any sites ready at all.

In Nottingham, which has around 335,000 people, only the main hospital, the Queen's Medical Centre, is currently administering vaccines.

Around eight million people are said to face a round trip of more than ten miles to get to a site, meaning elderly people - who are among the most vulnerable - without their own transport could struggle to get to appointments.

For around 1.7million people, the journey to a vaccination centre is 20 miles.

At present, many care home residents, over-80s and NHS stuff who are regularly exposed to covid patients cannot get a jab.

On Saturday, Britain recorded more than 50,000 Covid-19 cases for the fifth day in a row, highlighting the need for a speedy mass vaccination programme.

Analysis found nearly one in four people live in a constituency with no hospital, GP practice or appropriate community building for giving coronavirus vaccines

Another 57,725 had positive test results in the last 24 hours, meaning 2,599,789 have had the disease in the UK since the pandemic began.

The country also saw an additional 445 deaths, taking the total official count to 74,570 - but 90,000 people in total have died with Covid-19 written on their death certificate.

However, despite the current lack of available vaccination sites, hundreds are set to launch this week. NHS England said more than 700 are already in operation.

The New Oxford jab will be will be administered at a small number of hospitals for the first few days for surveillance purposes, before the bulk of supplies are sent to hundreds of GP-led services to be rolled out, according to NHS England.

Hundreds of new vaccination sites - at both hospitals and GP-led services - are due to launch this week, joining the more than 700 already in operation, NHS England added.

Second doses of either vaccine will now take place within 12 weeks rather than the 21 days that was initially planned with the Pfizer/BioNTech jab, following a change in guidance which aims to accelerate immunisation.

NHS chief executive Sir Simon Stevens said: 'The delivery of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine marks another first for the NHS, and a major milestone in humanity's battle against coronavirus.'

The Oxford/AstraZeneca jab is easier to transport and store than the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, which needs cold storage of around minus 70C.

One of the first hospitals to take delivery of the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab on Saturday morning was the Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath, part of Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust.

Dr George Findlay, chief medical officer and deputy chief executive at the trust, said the vaccination programme gives NHS staff 'more confidence' coming into work.

'We started vaccinating on our other hospital site a few weeks ago, it's been seen as a really positive step, something that gives staff more confidence to come to work,' he said.

'You only have to look at the statistics over the last 10 months about how many staff have suffered illness, or sadly lost their lives.

For around 1.7million people, the journey to a vaccination centre is 20 miles. Pictured: Assistant Technical Officer Lukasz Najdrowski unpacks doses of the Oxford University/AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine as they arrive at the Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath, West Sussex

'This gives staff the confidence to come to work to be able to look after patients.'

Among the hospitals that will begin delivering the vaccine from Monday are Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust and Royal Free Hospital London NHS Foundation Trust.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson hailed the jab as a 'a triumph of British science', adding: 'From tomorrow, the NHS will start using the Oxford vaccine to give protection against Covid 19.

'We know there are challenges still ahead of us over the coming weeks and months, but I'm confident this is the year we will defeat coronavirus and start building back better.'

Meanwhile, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: 'The vaccine is our way out and this huge achievement brings us a step closer to the normality we've all been working hard to reclaim.

'From tomorrow, the British public will begin to receive a second highly effective vaccine, starting with the most vulnerable and frontline care home and NHS staff, another significant milestone in the expansion of the vaccination programme.

'This will be a historic day, and cause for celebration, but it's vital everyone continues to follow the rules and remember hands, face, space, to keep ourselves and others safe.'

New jab policy will save MANY lives: Jonathan Van Tam says waiting 12 weeks rather than original three is the best way to save most vulnerable from dying of Covid as first boxes of Oxford vaccine arrive

By Jonathan Van-Tam, Deputy Chief Medical Officer for the Mail on Sunday

Last week, the UK became the first country in the world to authorise the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine and this week we'll be the first to start using it to inoculate people against Covid-19  having already given more than a million people an initial first dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine.

Deploying this second vaccine is another huge achievement for science and public health in the global effort to tackle Covid-19.

The hard work of the researchers and scientists, and the selflessness of volunteers throughout months of rigorous clinical trials, will soon begin to save lives.

The independent Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has advised that at this stage of the pandemic, the priority should be to deliver first vaccine doses to as many people on the Phase 1 priority list in the shortest possible timeframe  and myself and the UK's four Chief Medical Officers agree with that recommendation.

It means across the UK, the NHS will now prioritise giving the first dose of the vaccine to those in the most high-risk groups, with a second dose due to be administered within 12 weeks of the first.

Last week, the UK became the first country in the world to authorise the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine and this week we'll be the first to start using it to inoculate people against Covid-19  having already given more than a million people an initial first dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, writes deputy chief medical officer JONATHAN VAN-TAM

The flexibility to extend the time period between the two doses was a critical decision, made by the regulator  and one which allows us to save more lives, based on the latest advice from the independent experts of the JCVI.

Their analysis shows the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine is 89 per cent effective against preventing Covid-19 in the period from 15 to 21 days after the first dose.

Science experts know that if you have protection as high as 89 per cent on Day 21, it is not really possible that this would have declined by much after just 84 days, or 12 weeks. If a vaccine is that good, antibody levels simply don't drop away that fast.

The evidence clearly shows vaccinated individuals get almost complete protection after the first dose.

Simply put, every time we vaccinate someone a second time, we are not vaccinating someone else for the first time.

It means we are missing an opportunity to greatly reduce the chances of the most vulnerable people getting severely ill from Covid-19.

If a family has two elderly grandparents and there are two vaccines available, it is better to give both 89 per cent protection than to give one 95 per cent protection with two quick doses, and the other grandparent no protection at all.

The virus is unfortunately spreading fast, and this is a race against time. My mum, as well as you or your older loved ones, may be affected by this decision, but it is still the right thing to do for the nation as a whole.

The UK has taken action to secure as many vaccine doses as possible with early access to 357 million doses of seven of the most promising vaccines so far. We have 530,000 quality-checked doses of the Oxford/AstraZeneca available in the UK from tomorrow, with more available this month and tens of millions by the end of March.

Deploying this second vaccine is another huge achievement for science and public health in the global effort to tackle Covid-19. Pictured: Assistant Technical Officer Lukasz Najdrowski unpacks doses of the Oxford University/AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine as they arrive at the Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath, West Sussex

The hard work of the researchers and scientists, and the selflessness of volunteers throughout months of rigorous clinical trials, will soon begin to save lives. Pictured: A vial of doses of the Oxford University/AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine is checked

The independent Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has advised that at this stage of the pandemic, the priority should be to deliver first vaccine doses to as many people on the Phase 1 priority list in the shortest possible timeframe  and myself and the UK's four Chief Medical Officers agree with that recommendation. Pictured: Key workers queue for the vaccine

But we know there is global pressure on the supply of all of these vaccines.

So by prioritising the first dose, we can give more people a high level of protection sooner, without compromising their immunity in the longer term.

This is the way we save the most lives and avoid the most hospital admissions  it is as simple as that.

This is especially vital at the moment, given the high levels of infection we are seeing in the midst of the most difficult time of year for our NHS.

Across the UK, the NHS will now prioritise giving the first dose of the vaccine to those in the most high-risk groups, with a second dose due to be administered within 12 weeks of the first. Pictured: Staff at a vaccination centre in Wickford, Essex

Those working on wards in the last week will know how serious this is, and how it is right we prioritise giving protection to as many people who need it as possible.

I understand this decision may cause some inconvenience and worry for those who had their second doses booked in but I can assure all Mail on Sunday readers that we have not taken it lightly.

We have to do the best we can, with what we have now, to protect the largest number of vulnerable people in the shortest possible time.

The decision we have taken will literally double the number of people who are protected over the next few crucial months.
Internet connectivity, additional staff flagged during COVID-19 vaccine dry run

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Jan 03: Some of the issues flagged during the dry run of the COVID-19 vaccine drive were additional staff, better internet connectivity and more time to manage adverse events.

In the national capital, where the dry run was held at three sites, Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain said that free coronavirus vaccine will be provided to the people in the city. Interacting with reporters during a visit to a facility in Daryaganj, he said the system "seems flawless" as of now.

The dry run involved 286 session sites spread across 125 districts. India has reported 1.03 crore COVID-19 cases so far and the exercise was held on a day an expert panel of the central drug authority recommended granting permission for restricted emergency use of the indigenously developed COVID-19 vaccine, Covaxin, with certain conditions, after giving similar direction for the Oxford vaccine Covishield.

"The states and UTs have expressed complete satisfaction on the successful conduct of the dry run which included the operational process and its linkages with the Co-WIN Software," the Union Health Ministry said in a statement.

More than 75 lakh beneficiaries have been registered on Co-WIN software which has been developed by the health ministry for real time information of vaccine stocks, their storage temperature and individualized tracking of beneficiaries for COVID-19 vaccine, according to the statement.

Besides state capitals, some states also included districts that are situated in difficult terrain or have poor logistical support in the exercise, officials said.

Maharashtra, Kerala and Gujarat conducted the mock drill in four districts each, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu in five districts each while Rajasthan carried out the dry-run in seven districts.

The first dry run was conducted in Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Gujarat and Punjab on December 28-29 with at least 125 intended beneficiaries at five sites in a maximum of two districts each.

Specific teams were formed for various tasks conducted on Saturday''s rehersal by the district administrations and activities like uploading of dummy beneficiary data, session site creation, vaccine allocation, communicating vaccination details to beneficiaries and vaccinators, and beneficiary mobilisation, etc were carried out.

"I appeal to the people not to be misguided by rumours regarding safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccine. We will not compromise on any protocol before approving a vaccine," Vardhan said underlining that vaccine hesitancy was an issue even when the country started polio immunisation drive, but "we must remember its success".

The health minister has been credited with doing pioneering work in the successful mass pulse polio immunisation programme.

"It is as a result of our steadfastness and dedication, that India was declared polio-free in 2014. Our rich learning from the earlier immunisation drives including the Polio vaccination campaign is being used to guide our present countrywide COVID19 vaccination campaign," he was quoted as saying in a statement.

Guidelines for the nationwide dry run were updated based on the feedback from the insightful pilot dry run held on Monday and Tuesday in four states, Vardhan said.

On Saturday, the dry run was conducted at identified health centres in Nagpur, Jalna, Pune and Nandurbar districts of Maharashtra.

In Kerala, at least 25 health workers each in four districts- Thiruvananthapuram, Idukki, Wayanad and Palakkad - took part in the drill.

"The Centre has informed us that the state will receive the adequate stock of vaccine within two-three days," state Health Minister K K Shailaja said at Peroorkkada where the trial run was being held at the government district hospital.

"The state has completed all preparations," she said.

Delhi health minister Jain said 1,000 vaccine centres will be set up across the city. When asked if the vaccine will be free of cost, he said, "Yes, and in Delhi the treatment and medicines are given for free."

The Delhi government is fully prepared to receive, store and administer COVID-19 vaccine to 51 lakh priority category persons in the city in the first phase of vaccination, Jain said.

In West Bengal, the dry run was held at Urban Primary Health Centres in Duttabad and Madhyagram and Amdanga Rural Hospital in North 24 Parganas district.

A senior official in Assam said the dry run will continue regularly in the state till actual vaccination takes place.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said the COVID-19 vaccine will be available in the state close to the 'Makar Sankranti' festival which will be celebrated on January 14.

He said that a dry run of the vaccine was held at some places in the state on Saturday.

"We initiated the campaign against COVID-19 in March 2020 under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and at the beginning of this year we could say firmly that the dry run of the vaccine will be held on January 5 across the state and the vaccine will be available near around Makar Sankranti," he said at an event.

The exercise was held at Kalaburagi, Shivamogga, Mysuru, Belagavi, and Bengaluru districts of Karnataka.

Tamil Nadu Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan said overall, the processes worked successfully.

The dry run was held at three centres each in the districts of Chennai, Tiruvallur, Nilgiris and Tirunelveli, and five in Coimbatore.]

"An initial learning was that the room earmarked for vaccination should be more spacious," the secretary told reporters, adding officials from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and United Nations Children''s Fund (UNICEF) also witnessed the drive.

Each district conducted the dry run at three sites or more which included a public health facility (District Hospital/Medical College), private health facility, and rural or urban outreach sites, the Union Health Ministry said.

"This dry run was aimed at testing the laid out mechanisms for COVID-19 vaccination roll-out in the health system and to assess operational feasibility of using Co-WIN application in the field environment for planning, implementation and reporting at the block, district and state level," the statement.

The preparation to handle any Adverse Events Following Immunization (AEFI) at all session sites and functionality of the Call Centers was also tested.

The dry run was supervised by the district collectors and ended with debriefing meetings at district and the state level to discuss the issues and challenges encountered during the day.

The health ministry said it was in constant touch with the states throughout the day to seek feedback on their experience.

It said the cold chain infrastructure is sufficient to ensure last mile delivery of COVID-19 vaccine in a temperature controlled environment across the country. Sufficient supplies of syringes and other logistics have also been ensured to begin COVID-19 vaccination drive.

Around 1,14,100 vaccinators have been trained on the process to be followed at the vaccination sites which includes beneficiary verification, vaccination, cold chain and logistics management, Bio-Medical Waste management, AEFI management and uploading the information on Co-WIN software, the statement said.

The Co-WIN software assist the programme managers across all levels through automated session allocation for pre-registered beneficiaries, their verification and a digital certificate will be generated upon successful completion of the vaccine schedule.

The number of fresh COVID-19 cases was recorded below 20,000 in India on Saturday, taking the country''s caseload to 1,03,05,788, while the number of people who have recuperated from the disease crossed 99 lakh, according to the health ministry.

The death toll due to the disease climbed to 1,49,218 in the country with 224 new fatalities, the ministry''s data updated at 8 AM showed.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Sunday, January 3, 2021, 8:28 [IST]
Residents in Hawaii were left baffled this week after spotting what they believe could have been a UFO falling into the ocean, prompting some to call the police.

Several witnesses from different locations across Oahu reported seeing a large glowing, blue mass flying over the night sky around 8.30pm Tuesday, Hawaii News Now reported.

Videos of the strange sighting shared on social media showed what appeared to be a glowing blue object moving across the sky.

One local woman, identified as Moriah, was outside her home when she saw the UFO passing over the nearby Princess Kahanu Estates.

'I look up and then I was like oh s***!' she told the news station. 'I started calling my husband and them because they were all in the garage.

Several witnesses from different locations across Oahu reported seeing a large glowing, blue mass flying over the night sky around 8.30pm Tuesday

'I was like, 'hey, come look up there. See if you see what I see.' They all said yeah.'

According to Moriah, the object appeared to be larger than a telephone pole and was moving 'so fast', but did not make any sound.

Intrigued, the couple then followed the UFO in their car for about three miles before stopping on Farrington Highway where they saw it fall into the ocean, prompting them to call the police.

When officers arrived, they saw yet another unidentified white light that appeared to be traveling in the same direction as the blue object, Moriah said. It then disappeared after passing over a mountain.

Police reported the incident to the Federal Aviation Administration, but the agency has since said they never received any 'reports of overdue or missing aircraft.'

A police spokesperson also said they did not have any information on the strange occurrence and the strange sighting remains a mystery.

It comes as a Harvard professor has reignited conspiracy theories about extraterrestrial life and potential alien civilizations that could one day make contact with humans on Earth.

Avi Loeb, the chair of Harvard University's Astronomy Department, has shared theories about a cigar-shaped space rock believed to be the first object from interstellar space

Discovered in October 2017 by a telescope in Hawaii millions of miles away, the asteroid is called 'Oumuamua' Hawaiian for messenger, or scout

Avi Loeb, the chair of Harvard University's Astronomy Department, has shared theories about a cigar-shaped space rock believed to be the first object from interstellar space.





Discovered in October 2017 by a telescope in Hawaii millions of miles away, the asteroid is called 'Oumuamua' - Hawaiian for messenger from afar arriving first, or scout.

The red-tinged rock is estimated to be possibly 1,300 feet (400 meters) long and zooming away from the Earth and sun at more than 16 miles (26 kilometers) per second.

At the time of the discovery, Loeb received huge backlash from scientists after claiming the object was actually a discarded piece of technology from aliens.

He and a team of researchers at Harvard later published a research paper based on the theory that a quirk of the rock's acceleration was a result of alien propulsion.

But four years on, Loeb is standing by his theory which he discusses in his new book, Extraterrestrial: The First Sign of Intelligent Life Beyond Earth, that will be released on January 26.

'Some people do not want to discuss the possibility that there are other civilizations out there,' he told the New York Post.

'They believe we are special and unique. I think it's a prejudice that should be abandoned.'

Loeb believes Oumuamua is more than just a rock and that the current theory could be a narrow-minded view of something potentially much greater.

'What would happen if a caveman saw a cellphone? He's seen rocks all his life, and he would have thought it was just a shiny rock,' he explained.

'The only way to look for [alien civilizations] is to look for their trash, like investigative journalists who look through celebrities' trash.
Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism.
12:36 | Arequipa (Arequipa region), Jan. 3.









According to Autocolca Manager Winder Anconeira, 18,313 visitors were foreigners, while 31,345 were national tourists and 11,455 students.





Anconeira noted that the pandemic has affected tourism in Colca Valley by approximately 79%, since 287,407 tourists (173,938 foreigners, 59,320 national tourists, and 54,149 students) reached the area in 2019.





Colca Valley reopened to tourists on October 15 after being closed for seven months to the satisfaction of the sector made up of tour guides, travel agencies, restaurants, hotels, artisans, among others.







Routes

Autocolca reported that the routes belonging to the "Colca Valley, Salinas, Aguada Blanca, and Valley of the Volcanoes Circuit" are operational in order to continue boosting the economic reactivation this year.

In this regard, it recommended that visits be paid during the day, rather than in the afternoon or at night, due to the occurrence of heavy rainfall and snowfall during this season.

Another outstanding route is the one on the left side of the Canyon, or conventional route, where you can visit the villages of Chivay, Yanque, Achoma, Maca, Cabanaconde, and Tapay, which include attractions such as La Calera Hot Springs, Pinchollo Geyser, Condor Cross, the museum housing the Mummy Juanita or Lady of Ampato, Achachiwua Viewpoint, Sangalle Oasis, Huaruro Waterfall, and tourist viewpoints.





On the right side, tourists can visit the districts of Coporaque, Ichupampa, Lari, Madrigal, including attractions such as the Sallihua Hot Springs, the Archaeological Complex of Uyo Uyo, and the Chimpa Fortress.





(END) RMC/LZD/RMB

Colca Valley, located in Arequipa region, received 61,113 tourists throughout 2020, a lower figure than the one reported a year before due to the COVID-19 pandemic hitting the country, the Autonomous Authority of Colca (Autocolca) has reported.Published: 1/3/2021
A 65-year-old woman from Pakistan, who had been living here for over three decades, was presiding as interim head of a village panchayat since last year until authorities found out that she did not have Indian citizenship.

The woman, Bano Begum, resigned as interim panchayat chief in December after an investigation into a complaint against her by a villager, District Panchayati Raj Officer (DPRO) Alok Priyadarshi said.

Officials said though her long-term visa was found to be valid, she had managed to get Ration and Aadhaar cards by providing false information.

She had been elected the interim head of Gudau village in Jalesar tehsil of Etah in January 2020 following the death of incumbent Shahnaz Begum.

"There were complaints that Bano Begum was living illegally. She had managed to get a ration card, voter ID and an Aadhaar card. She got elected as a member of the village panchayat (in 2015), and in January 2020, she was elected as the interim village head.

"The complaints were probed by SDM Jalesar SP Gupta and DPRO Alok Priyadarshi, and were found to be true," District Magistrate of Etah Sukhlal Bharti said.

The DM said that Bano Begum had married Ashrat Ali almost 35 years ago but had not taken Indian citizenship.

She got her name registered illegally in the voter list in 1995, and then also got a ration card made in her name, officials said.

After getting an Aadhaar card, she got elected as a member of the village panchayat in 2015.

"On the complaints of Kuvaida Khan of the same village, it came to light that Bano Begum is living in the village under a long-term visa. She is not a citizen of India, and without being a citizen of India, one cannot contest any election," Priyadarshi said.

He said the panchayat secretary who was appointed on the recommendation of the interim village pradhan has also been removed.

Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Jalesar SP Verma said that Bano Begum was the interim village head for six months.

"The documents used in making the ration card and voter ID card are being examined. Her name has been removed from the voter list of the village panchayat. Her name is not on the voter list for Assembly and Lok Sabha polls," the SDM said.

Verma also said that so far no case has been registered, and officials of the police and district administration are investigating all possible angles in the matter.
Nguyen Thi Thanh Ha feels fortunate that she was led by many teachers on her journey of self-growth. And the first teacher was her mother.

The lecturer and scientist, who became the youngest associate professor in 2020, has evoked the memories about her mother many times.

Nguyen Thi Thanh Ha

Ten years ago, on the day to defend her thesis for a masters degree, Ha received the news that her mother was ill. She decided that she would return to the home village to see her mother after the thesis defense ended.

Just minutes before the defense, she received a call from a friend who asked about her mother. Feeling insecure, she called her father and heard from him that her mother had died.

Discontinuing the defense, she caught a bus home. But she could not see her mother for the last time, because when she arrived, the mother had been placed in a coffin.

This was a tormenting moment for her. This explains why she has always chosen to live and work in Vietnam, though she has had many job opportunities overseas.

I am afraid that when my relatives face difficulties, I wont be able to be next to them if I live in a foreign country, she explained.

She successfully defended her thesis one week later with the maximum score given by the members of the scientific council.

Ha, 34, is a lecturer at the School of Engineering of Physics under the Hanoi University of Science and Technology.

Ha said she is grateful to her mother, who was a secondary school teacher of literature. The mother was very strict in teaching her children.

Ha was a student of her mother and attended literature lessons given by her mother.

My mother never gave privileges to me, though I was her daughter. She would give low marks if I did not make adequate efforts, she recalled.

I could not go out in the evening. If I went to birthday parties, I had to come back before 9 pm, she said.

The strict education made Ha become orderly and disciplined. These virtues were extremely useful for her in becoming a scientist.

"Only later did I see that this was essential for the path of doing scientific research," she said.

Her research mostly simulates properties of materials on the basis of atomic structures. The subjects of study are oxide and multi-component oxide materials. These types of materials have many applications in high-tech fields such as refractory bricks, bio-materials, and nuclear waste treatment.

In 2004, Ha passed the entrance exam to the Physics Education Faculty of the Hanoi University of Education, a member school of the Hanoi National University.

Four years later, she obtained a bachelors degree and continued studying for a masters degree and has been working at the School of Engineering of Physics.

In the first year of working as a lecturer, Ha had students who were two years older than herself.

I always tell myself that I am not teaching, but sharing knowledge I have. The students at the University of Science and Technology are very clever and I need to both teach and learn to improve myself, she said.

Besides her lecture hours, Ha spends time on scientific research. The young lecturer has published 28 articles, including 16 articles in ISI journals.

Her research mostly simulates properties of materials on the basis of atomic structures. The subjects of study are oxide and multi-component oxide materials. These types of materials have many applications in high-tech fields such as refractory bricks, bio-materials, and nuclear waste treatment.

Her research works have been published in the European physical Journal, Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids, Materials Chemistry and Physics and others.

Everything has been going smoothly. I luckily meet with good teachers and colleagues who give advice. And I have my family, which always gives support, she said.

There is no research project done by just one person. My studies are always the result of the entire team, she said.

When receiving the good news that she had been granted the title of associate professor, Ha thought about her mother.

I am grateful to the teachers I have met in my life, including my mother, my first special teacher, she said.

Le Ha

Young scientist receives 2020 Golden Globe Award Doan Le Hoang Tan, 33, deputy director of the Centre for Innovative Materials and Architectures under the Vietnam National University HCM City, was recently honoured as one of the 10 outstanding young scientists,
(Natural News) Late last week, Sec. of State Mike Pompeo issued two announcements about how the United States is planning to take action against communist China and socialist Venezuela in response to election fraud.

One of the statements, entitled U.S. Imposes New Sanctions on Peoples Republic of China Actors Linked to Malign Activities, explains that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) both at home and abroad harms U.S. interests and undermines the sovereignty of our allies and partners.

The United States will use all countermeasures available, including actions to prevent Peoples Republic of China (PRC) companies and institutions from exploiting U.S. goods and technologies for malign purposes, the announcement goes on to reveal. Todays actions mark yet another sign of our resolve.

Such actions include the Department of Commerce adding 59 PRC entities to its export-control Entity List. Four of these, we are told, provide DNA-testing materials or high-technology surveillance equipment to the PRC government.

We urge the Chinese Communist Party to respect the human rights of the people of China, including Tibetan Buddhists, Christians, Falun Gong members, Uyghur Muslims, and members of other ethnic and religious minority groups, the statement goes on to read.

Nineteen entities that have been identified as systematically coordinating and committing more than a dozen instances of theft or trade secrets from U.S. corporations to advance the PRC defense industrial complex are also being added to the Department of Commerces Entity List.

These same 19 entities have been identified as engaging in activities that undermine U.S. efforts to counter illicit trafficking in nuclear and other radioactive materials; or using U.S. exports to support the PLA and PRC defense industrial base, whose ultimate goal is to surpass the capabilities of other countries they view as competitors, particularly the United States.

Iran, Russia and China all interfered in 2020 election, says DNI Ratcliffe

In his second announcement, entitled The United States Takes Actions Against Supporters of the Illegitimate Maduro Regimes Fraudulent Elections, Pompeo revealed that the U.S. has placed sanctions on Ex-Cle Soluciones Biometricas C.A. (Ex-Cle C.A.) for their support of the illegitimate Maduro regimes fraudulent December 6 legislative elections.

The Treasury Department is also imposing sanctions against Guillermo Carlos San Agustin and Marcos Javier Machado Requena, both of whom acted for or on behalf of the aforementioned company.

San Augustin is a dual Argentine and Italian national who works as co-director, administrator, major shareholder, and ultimate beneficial owner of Ex-Cle C.A. Machado, a Venezuelan national, is also a co-director as well as the president and minority shareholder of Ex-Cle C.A.

This company currently holds multi-million dollar contracts with the Maduro regime, which the current U.S. government considers to be illegitimate due to the fact that Ex-Cle C.A. was involved in efforts to undermine and rig elections in Venezuela, undermining democracy and suppressing the voices of the Venezuelan people.

Ex-Cle C.A. also helped the Maduro regime purchase thousands of voting machines from China, routing payments for these machines through the Russian financial system.

They shipped the voting machines through Iran using rogue airlines Mahan Air and Conviasa, both previously targeted by the Treasury Departments Office of Foreign Assets Control, a press release explains.

Just a few days prior to Pompeos announcements, Director of National Intelligence (DNI) John Ratcliffe made his own announcement that there was foreign election interference by China, #Iran, and Russia in November of this year [2020].

Ratcliffe, as you may have also seen, dropped a bombshell about the perceived election results, suggesting that Joe Biden may not end up being inaugurated after all is said and done, come January.

For more of the latest news about election fraud, be sure to check out Trump.news.

Sources for this article include:

Infowars.com

NaturalNews.com
Source: Reuters

OPEC and its allies, led by Russia, stand ready to adjust their plans for a gradual increase in oil output by 2 million barrels per day in the next months depending on market conditions, OPEC Secretary General Mohammad Barkindo said on Sunday.

Barkindo was speaking at a meeting of experts of OPEC and allies, a group known as OPEC+, according to remarks published by OPEC. OPEC+ will meet on Monday to decide output policies for February.

In December, OPEC+ decided to increase production by 0.5 million bpd from January as part of the 2 million bpd rise but some members have questioned the need for a further increase from February due to spreading coronavirus infections.

OPEC+ was forced to cut production by a record amount in 2020 as global lockdown measures against the virus hammered demand for fuels.

OPEC+ first cut output by 9.7 million bpd, then eased cuts to 7.7 million and ultimately to 7.2 million from January.

Barkindo said OPEC now expected global oil demand to rise to 95.9 million bpd in 2021, or by 5.9 million bpd from 2020, as the global economy is forecast to grow by 4.4%.

Even though development of coronavirus vaccines have injected optimism into the global economy and oil markets, the rise in oil demand would still fail to bring consumption to pre-pandemic levels of around 100 million bpd.

OPEC's latest December forecast was lower than the previous forecast of a 6.25 million bpd rise in 2021 because of the lingering impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
Education Minister Peter Weir said schools in Northern Ireland will deliver remote learning in the first week of the new term amid spiralling Covid infections (Liam McBurney/PA)

The chair of Stormonts Education Committee has said the Education Minister has failed thousands of primary school children as they prepare to sit the first transfer test on Saturday.

The first of three AQE exams papers will be sat by around 8,000 P7 pupils on Saturday, despite calls for the tests to be postponed or cancelled as schools move to remote learning as the number of Covid cases in the community continues to soar.

Read More

Pupils hoping to attend grammar schools in Northern Ireland will sit two further AQE papers on January 16 and January 23, while transfer tests run by the Post Primary Transfer Consortium (PPTC) are due to take place on January 30.

Alliance MLA Chris Lyttle said that Peter Weir had failed to take control of post primary transfer this year despite consistent calls for contingency planning throughout the pandemic.

Mr Lyttle said the Minister, the Association of Quality Education (AQE), the PPTC and selective schools have deemed the mass testing of children during a public health pandemic, despite unequal learning opportunity, as the fairest and necessary approach but have not provided an alternative contingency plan.

The approach, it appears, was to hope there would be no disruption to mass testing of children during the winter months of a public health pandemic, he said.

The Minister has, however, been required for public health reasons to partially close schools until January 11 with the first transfer test scheduled to take place in post primary schools on January 9.

There is legitimate concern as to how, in this exceptional situation, it is safe or legal to sit this test and yet understandably many pupils and parents also just want to be done with it.

Mr Lyttle has called on the Minister to make an urgent statement on what the regulations are for pupils sitting the transfer test.

A definitive statement from the Education Minister, AQE, PPTC and host schools to confirm how mass indoor testing can take place within legal compliance of the current regulations is urgently needed, he said

There is also confusion as to whether P7 pupils can return to school next week. I am going to be clear because I think the current health situation demands clarity. It is my understanding that the Department of Education has not permitted schools to return P7 pupils to school next week other than for vulnerable and key worker children supervised learning.

It is clearly unacceptable for pupils, parents and teachers to be put in this position and those responsible need to provide urgent clarity on these serious matters.

Speaking to the BBC on Sunday morning, First Minister Arlene Foster said it remained important that Stormont Ministers do all we can to keep students in schools in January.

Read More

Education Minister Peter Weir announced on New Year's Eve that most pupils would not return to school in the first week of the month as planned, and instead return after a week of remote learning.

For some post-primary pupils (Years 8-11), online learning will be in place for the entire month of January.

Young people have missed out far too much on education during Covid, the DUP leader said.

However, we do recognise with this new mutant version of Covid-19 that there are difficulties, that it transmits among younger people, therefore we have to take that into consideration, she said.

It is important we get our young people into schools again but we have to have remote learning for a short period of time - and I hope it is a short period of time.

Download the Belfast Telegraph App Get quick and easy access to the latest Northern Ireland news, sport, business and opinion with the Belfast Telegraph App.

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NSW police stop vehicles at the Hume Highway checkpoint at the Victorian border in Albury, Australia on November 22, 2020. (Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images)

Travel Disrupted as States Tighten Border Restrictions

Holiday travel plans across the country continue to be thwarted as states and territories tighten their borders to prevent coronavirus seeping in from New South Wales and Victoria.

The Australian Capital Territory has shut out non-residents who have been in NSWs northern beaches, greater Sydney, Wollongong and parts of the central coast unless they have an exemption. Those found entering without permission could be fined up to $8,000.

ACT residents who have been in one of the NSW hotspots can still return home but need to notify the territorys health department of their plans via an online form and then quarantine for 14 days.

Tasmania has barred anyone directly linked to the latest Victorian virus cases, listing exposure sites where confirmed cases are known to have been.

The locations rated high risk include a Thai restaurant in Melbournes southeastern suburb of Black Rock, which is linked to multiple positive cases.

The move followed Tasmanias declaration of greater Sydney and the Wollongong area as medium-risk zones, requiring travellers to quarantine for 14 days on arrival, while those from Sydneys northern beaches are barred from entering.

Victoria reported three new cases of community transmission on Sunday, down from Saturdays 10 fresh cases. In total, there have been 21 locally-acquired Victorian cases over recent days, all genomically linked to the NSW outbreak.

Victorias border is now closed to all travellers from NSW.

Testing sites in Melbourne and surrounds have seen long queues and hours-long wait times as thousands returning from NSW rushed to get tested.

Victorian frontline workers who carried the state through its second wave in 2020 were called out of holiday breaks to boost the states testing capacity.

Victoria had gone 60 days without community transmission when the first few NSW-linked cases were reported on Wednesday.

NSW recorded seven new community cases on Saturday and Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced face masks would be mandatory for many indoor settings.

She had previously opposed the idea but said the change of heart balanced the health risk and security of citizens while allowing businesses to operate.

The Australian Medical Association commended the decision after calling for mandatory mask-wearing since the start of the northern beaches outbreak.

Western Australia reimposed a hard border with NSW on Dec. 19 and then with Victoria on Thursday. The state recorded three new cases in overseas travellers on Saturday.

Airline staff walk past empty baggage carousels at the Sydney Domestic Airport Terminal arrivals area in Sydney, Australia on Aug. 7, 2020. (Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images)

The Northern Territory has revised its public health orders and barred entry for all greater Sydney residents.

The NT recorded seven new positive cases on Saturday among Australians who came in on repatriation flightsone from London and six from Chennai, India.

South Australia has re-established its hard border with NSW, along with a 100-kilometre buffer for border communities. SA authorities are communicating with travellers about Victorian exposure sites via text message.

Queenslands border is closed to anyone who has been in the COVID-declared hotspots of greater Sydney and surrounding areas in the past 14 days.

The state has not yet imposed border restrictions on Victorians but Chief Health Officer Jeanette Young said on Saturday she was very concerned at how the situation was escalating.

Queensland confirmed one new overseas-acquired case of COVID-19 on Saturday and maintained its streak of no community transmission.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Friday he respected the decisions of state and territory leaders to shut their borders but understood why people had been left frustrated.

By Andi Yu


Nithiin who recently got married was really looking forward to his new film. His new Telugu film Check has been the talk of the town for some time and now we see that the actor has shared the first look of the film and left netizens intrigued.



Nithiin recently got married to his fiance Shalini Kandukuri at Hyderabad. The marriage was a private affair and the reception saw some of the big names of the South industry attending it.

The actor took to his social media and tweeted the link to his film saying, The wait is finally over. Here's the 1st glimpse of #Check ! So excited! Hope you all like it. Check also stars Rakul Preet, Priya Varrier, Chandra Sekhar Yeleti. The first glimpse shows us Nithiin as a prisoner whos playing chess in his mind and as the teaser unfolds we see Nithiins character being accused of being a terrorist. And Rakul Preets character vouching for him and claiming hes innocent. Later we see Nithiin kicking and fighting in the prison. Well, this teaser surely gets us intrigued and surely we want to see more of it.
Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers a New Year speech Thursday evening in Beijing to ring in 2021. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

Xi Jinping, chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), has signed an order to release revised regulations on military equipment.

Focusing on war preparedness and combat capabilities, the regulations define the basic tasks, contents and management mechanisms for military equipment work under the new situation and system.

Comprised of 100 stipulations under 14 chapters, the document adheres to the general principle of "the CMC exercising overall leadership, theater commands responsible for military operations and the services focusing on developing capabilities."

It took effect on Jan. 1, 2021.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 3)  For Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa, the public even owes the members of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) a sense of gratitude for treating themselves as "guinea pigs" when they received unauthorized COVID-19 vaccines in the country.

In an interview over DZMM TeleRadyo on Saturday, Dela Rosa said that the members of the military deserve credit for risking their lives and trying out a vaccine that has not yet proven its safety and efficacy to regulatory bodies.

"Hindi pa nga na-establish kung talagang epektibo iyang bakuna na iyan dahil hindi pa approved sa FDA (Food and Drug Administration) pero sila ay nagpabakuna na eh 'di nagpapasalamat tayo sa kanila at ginawa nila ang sarili nilang guinea pigs diyan sa eksperimento na iyan," Dela Rosa said.

[Translation: We have not yet established whether that vaccine is indeed effective because it has not yet been approved by the FDA but they opted to get inoculated so we thank them because they treated themselves as guinea pigs in an experiment.]

He added: "Kung maganda ang resulta eh 'di thank you, pero kung pangit, kawawa naman sila at sinugal nila ang buhay nila para diyan sa bakuna na iyan."

[Translation: If the results turn out fine, then thank you, but if not, then they are pitiful because they risked their lives for that vaccine.]

Dela Rosa, a COVID-19 survivor, noted that at the end of the day, there is no "standard" on the personal decision of people to get vaccinated, especially when lives are at stake. But he noted that the PSG will not allow themselves not to do anything to protect the life of President Rodrigo Duterte as the top leader of the country.

"Hindi matatanggap ng PSG iyan hanggang mamatay sila, hindi nila matatanggap sa konsensya nila na nagka-COVID at namatay ang Presidente dahil sa kanila...intindihin natin sila," the senator added.

[Translation: The PSG cannot accept it until their death, their conscience won't be able to handle that the President caught COVID and died because of them...let us just understand them.]

The FDA has not yet authorized any COVID-19 vaccine for rollout in the Philippines. But last week, the Armed Forces of the Philippines bared that close-in security and official escorts of Duterte first got doses to "protect" him from COVID-19.

READ: AFP: PSG members got vaccinated first to 'protect' Duterte from COVID-19

Up until now, there is no information on how the vaccine was given to the troops, but earlier reports claimed that no less than the President may have authorized them to avail of it as he heads the "chain of command."

READ: Army chief says troop vaccination authorized by Duterte

It was Duterte who first announced in a Cabinet meeting that some Filipinos, including soldiers, received doses from China's Sinopharm, which was not even listed among the country's official vaccine candidates. Initial reports also claimed that this is the same unauthorized vaccine that the PSG availed of.

Uniformed personnel are supposed to be fifth in line among other groups prioritized for vaccination, following health workers, senior citizens, indigent senior citizens, and the rest of the indigent population.

Malacanang earlier defended that the military did not break the law because the donated vaccines merely served as "tokens," and were not illegally paid for using public funds. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana then admitted that these were "smuggled" but the move was "justified" since the military only did it to effectively carry out their duties.

READ: Roque justifies PSG receiving donated unregistered vaccines: 'It's just a token, not much value'

FDA Director General Eric Domingo previously reiterated the agency's warning against the use of unauthorized vaccines, saying their safety, quality, and efficacy are not guaranteed.

The FDA and Bureau of Customs are conducting separate probes into the PSG vaccination. The National Bureau of Investigation's Special Action Unit has also been assigned to look into the use of unregistered COVID-19 vaccines in the country, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra bared Saturday.

READ: NBI now looking into use of unregistered COVID-19 vaccines
New Delhi:

A Manipur trial court on Monday awarded 5 years jail term to Ajay Meetai, the son of present Chief Minister N Biren Singh, in a 2011 road rage case. On May 11, the Supreme Court had sought responses from the Centre and the Manipur government on a plea by parents of a youth who was killed in a road rage case in 2011 by Meetai.

The parents alleged that they fear for their safety. A vacation bench comprising Justices L Nageswara Rao and Navin Sinha had asked the union home secretary and the chief secretary of Manipur to respond by May 29 on the plea by Irom Chitra Devi, mother of Irom Roger.

Meetai has been awarded five years jail term for firing at Roger in a road rage incident on March 20, 2011.

Irom Roger had allegedly not allowed Ajay Meetai, who was in his SUV, to overtake. The incident irked Meetai, leading him to fire at Roger who later died.

The plea, filed through advocate Utsav Bains, alleged that the parents of the Irom Roger were fearing for their safety in the state ruled by BJP through Biren Singh.

Moreover, no lawyer was willing to appear on their behalf in the high court which is hearing the appeal against conviction.

(With inputs from PTI)

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Of all the careless and unwise decisions the Victorian government has made during its management of the pandemic, the rushed decision to close the states border with NSW is among the worst.

That is because this state government had 10 months to plan for exactly this move and, yet, when it came to action, the government and authorities botched every aspect of it. It ranks with the hotel quarantine debacle of May because tens of thousands of people were put at risk this time for no clear or logical reason.

Police stop motorists at a checkpoint in Genoa as they enter Victoria from NSW. Credit:Rachel Mounsey

The deadline to cross the border was arbitrary, unreasonably and pointlessly tight, and it set in motion an indisputably dangerous course of events. But compounding the chaos of 60,000 permitted persons trying to return en masse, were the Department of Health and Human Services' confusing, inconsistent and illogical quarantine directives.

Victorians who had travelled to Greater Sydney and the NSW Central Coast, where there had been some outbreaks of COVID-19 cases, were given less than nine hours to return on New Years Eve or risk being locked out of their home state.
Jan. 4

6:21 a.m. | The suspect has been identified as 21-year-old Mytrez Deunte Woolen of Marshall, Texas. He is accused of shooting Pastor Mark Allen McWilliams, 62, with McWilliams' gun.

Jan. 3

7:00 p.m. | The male suspect stole the pastor's vehicle and fled east before being arrested by deputies in nearby Harrison County, Smith said. He said the man was hospitalized Sunday afternoon with gunshot wounds to his hand, but that it's unclear when he was shot.

2:30 p.m. | A pastor at the church was killed after pulling a gun on a suspect who had been hiding out in the church, a local sheriff said. No church services were happening at the time.

12:30 p.m. | A Sunday shooting in Starrville, Texas has left one dead and injured others, according to Larry Christian with the Smith County Sheriffs Office. Governor Abbott offered condolences to victim's families and loved ones in a statement. No further details on the shooting have been released by Smith County law enforcement.
On December 30, Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) became the first senator to make a commitment to dispute the Electoral College results. During a subsequent Senate conference call, Mitch McConnell explicitly called out Hawley without realizing that Hawley hadnt bothered to show up for the call. McConnell must be really upset today because, on Saturday, eleven more GOP senators announced that they, too, will be objecting to the Electoral College votes:

America is a Republic whose leaders are chosen in democratic elections. Those elections, in turn, must comply with the Constitution and with federal and state law, the group wrote in a joint statement. When the voters fairly decide an election, pursuant to the rule of law, the losing candidate should acknowledge and respect the legitimacy of that election. And, if the voters choose to elect a new office-holder, our Nation should have a peaceful transfer of power. The election of 2020, like the election of 2016, was hard fought and, in many swing states, narrowly decided. The 2020 election, however, featured unprecedented allegations of voter fraud, violations, and lax enforcement of election law, and other voting irregularities. The allegations of fraud and irregularities in the 2020 election exceed any in our lifetime, the group added, noting courts, including the Supreme Court, have repeatedly declined to hear evidence of alleged fraud.

The senators called for Congress to appoint a commission to conduct a broad, emergency 10-day audit of the returns in the disputed states. At that point, the states could reconvene and reconsider their Electoral College votes.

The senators brave enough to make this stand include both current and incoming senators. The current senators  all Republicans -- are Ted Cruz (Tex.), Ron Johnson (Wis.), James Lankford (Okl.), Steve Daines (Mont.), John Kennedy (La.), Marsha Blackburn (Tenn.), and Mike Braun (Ind.). The senators-elect (again, all Republicans) are Cynthia Lummis (Wyo.), Roger Marshall (Kan.), Bill Hagerty (Ten.), and Tommy Tuberville (Ala.).

The senators are joining a growing wave of Republican members of the House who have announced that they will object to the Electoral College votes. According to Breitbart, at least 140 House Republicans are expected to object to the Electoral College Vote.

Do not underestimate how important this groundswell is. As I noted after Sen. Hawley made his stand, the Mike Pence route is not the only option for remedying the massive voter fraud. If the Senate makes a stand and refuses to certify the contested votes for Biden, that means neither candidate has sufficient Electoral College votes to win the White House.

In that case, the Twelfth Amendment comes into play. It states in relevant part as follows (emphasis added):

[I]f no person have such majority [of Electoral College votes], then from the persons having the highest numbers not exceeding three on the list of those voted for as President, the House of Representatives shall choose immediately, by ballot, the President. But in choosing the President, the votes shall be taken by states, the representation from each state having one vote; a quorum for this purpose shall consist of a member or members from two-thirds of the states, and a majority of all the states shall be necessary to a choice.

In the incoming House, 27 states have House members with a Republican majority. Only 20 states have House members with a Democrat majority, and three states are tied. Given the enormous pressure Trumps 74 million (at least) voters are putting on their Representatives from 2,497 counties across America, thats a clear victory for Trump.

And dont let Democrats scare you with their cries of sedition and treason. They were singing a different song in January 2005 when Babs Boxer (D. Crazy-fornia) objected to Bushs win in Ohio:

Perhaps Amy Klobuchar should ask her Dem colleagues why they participated in a "coup attempt" in 2005 https://t.co/0cx4wiedpG  Michael Tracey (@mtracey) December 30, 2020

The challenge to certification of Ohio 2004 results for Bush was based on allegations of "irregularities" and "fraud" (inferred from purported exit poll discrepancies), claimed violations state/federal law, and much more. John Conyers produce a report outlining these theories pic.twitter.com/lirwFpdpsc  Michael Tracey (@mtracey) December 31, 2020

And then this from Jan 2017 will also be ignored, with the main difference being that House Dems couldn't find a Senator to sign onto their plan. Barbara Lee literally screamed about Russia before being cut off by Biden, who presided over the joint sessionhttps://t.co/7ZvAx1Fcsz  Michael Tracey (@mtracey) December 31, 2020

Whats happening now is something that the Founders contemplated might happen and they included provisions in the Constitution for just this eventuality. The Democrats liked the idea when they thought it might work to their advantage. Its not becoming for them suddenly to turn their backs on a constitutional path they once heartily espoused.
A venue operator in Sydney's west has been fined $5,000 for hosting a 700-person wedding reception.

Police Minister David Elliott said Paradiso Receptions in Fairfield was at double its COVID-safe capacity on Saturday night.

Weddings have been strictly regulated events amid the Covid-19 pandemic with just 350 guests permitted in NSW. They are completely banned in the Northern Beaches.

Fears have been raised about a possible outbreak as Fairfield is only about 10km from Berala where a Covid cluster has been growing.

'It has infuriated me. It's not the way that I wanted to spend my Monday morning, I can assure you,' Mr Elliot told 2GB.

'It's only going to take one person to do the wrong thing, and then we have another Avalon on our hands.'

Police Minister David Elliott said Paradiso Receptions (pictured) in Fairfield was at double its COVID-safe capacity on Saturday night

New South Wales Health ramped up its investigation of a Covid cluster in Berala in Sydney's west linked to a BWS store - with cases now popping up across Greater Sydney

NSW Health ramped up its investigation of the Covid cluster, which has been linked to a BWS store after two infected staff members worked nine busy shifts over the Christmas period.

As of Sunday, there were 13 cases linked to the cluster, but authorities are concerned thousands more could have been exposed to the virus at the busy shop.

NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro said the Berala cluster was concerning as transmission happened despite people spending very short periods of time inside the bottle shop.

He said he would not rule out a local lockdown, similar to what was seen in the Northern Beaches.

'We will always consider what we can do in relation to a lockdown and further restrictions, especially where there is a hot spot,' he told the Today Show.

Weddings have been strictly regulated events amid the Covid-19 pandemic with just 350 guests permitted in NSW. They are completely banned in the Northern Beaches (Pictured: Paradiso Receptions)

From Monday, Sydneysiders can be fined $200 for refusing to wear protective face masks in public

Berala BWS: Exposure times Anyone who visited BWS at Berala Shopping Centre at certain times from December 22 through to New Year's Eve is considered a close contact and should get tested and self-isolate for 14 days, regardless of the test result: Tuesday 22 December 2020 between 12:41pm to 9:15pm Wednesday 23 December 2020 between 12:45pm to 9:15pm Thursday 24 December 2020 between 12:45pm to 9:30pm Saturday 26 December 2020 between 9:55am to 7:30pm Sunday 27 December 2020 between 12:45pm to 8:15pm Monday 28 December 2020 between 8:30am to 7:45pm Tuesday 29 December 2020 between 1:45pm to 9:15pm Wednesday 30 December 2020 between 12:45am to 9:15pm Thursday 31 December 2020 between 8:30am to 5pm Advertisement

'One of the things we said when we were lifting restrictions was that if we had to respond, it would be fast and it would be hard and local, just like we have done for the peninsular.

'There is no reason we couldn't do that for Berala, Cumberland LGA area.'

There were 22,275 tests reported to 8pm last night, compared with the previous day's total of 18,923 - but health bosses wanted more than 30,000 tests per day to be sure the virus isn't spreading undetected.

Mr Barilaro said testing results were still too low and urged residents to come forward.

'My plea today for those in western Sydney, please come out in numbers.'

There were seven cases reported on Monday, all were in hotel quarantine. However, two locally acquired cases were detected overnight, linked to the BWS Berala cluster in Sydney's west.

Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said there are more than 2,000 people who may have visited the Berala store over the Christmas period.

Contact tracers are relying on CCTV and Rewards cards data to track close contacts.

People who attended BWS or Woolworths in the Berala shopping centre on Sunday 20 December between 12.30pm and 2pm are being urged to get tested immediately and self-isolate until a negative result is received.

But there are concerns that people who were exposed to the virus in that period could have already spread Covid throughout the community, potentially exposing tens of thousands of people along the way.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian (pictured) announced the tough new rules for Sydney, Wollongong, the Central Coast and Blue Mountains as New South Wales recorded seven new Covid-19 infections on Saturday

Anybody who visited the Berala BWS (pictured) between December 22 and December 31 must self isolate for 14 days and seek a Covid test, even if they only briefly visited

There were eight more locally-acquired cases in NSW announced on Sunday, including five linked to the alcohol store, two linked to the historic Avalon cluster and one in Wollongong.

The Fairfield wedding comes after a couple's wedding in the CBD sparked fears of a Covid catastrophe as the bride and some guests had fled the Northern Beaches for the celebration.

The ceremony was held in late December, shortly after the Northern Beaches was placed under lockdown to prevent the virus from spreading across the city.

Bride Diana Falasca, 28, was joined by at least 20 guests also from the Northern Beaches, believed to be from her side of the wedding.

Pictured: Diana Falasca, 28, and her new husband Mark Bonifacio at their wedding celebrations

Police handed out fines for wedding guests who made the trip south in breach of the public health order.

Weddings have been strictly regulated events amid the Covid-19 pandemic and are completely banned in the Northern Beaches.

In Greater Sydney, the Central Coast and Wollongong weddings must have one person per 4sqm while the rest of NSW is two square metres.

Currently at wedding parties, a maximum of 20 people are permitted on the dancefloor and must be the same group of 20 for the whole event.
Since its initial detection in the United Kingdom last month, a mutant coronavirus named B.1.1.7 has spread to as many as 30 nations. Experts have warned that the SARS-CoV-2 variant is highly transmissible raising fears that its global spread is inevitable. It has spread as far as the US in the west to Vietnam in the east, which reported an infected case on January 2.

According to the health authorities in Vietnam, which became the latest addition to the list, the infection was reported in a woman who had returned from Britain. In the aftermath, the country has banned nearly all international air travel but is providing repatriation flights for citizens stranded in the UK. In the Middle East, Turkey, on January 1, reported 15 cases of the COVID-19 variant despite banning flight from the UK in December.

Earlier, Dutch Health Minister Hugo de Jonge said that new variant identified in the UK was found in two cases in the Amsterdam area. Apart from the Netherlands, the UK variant of the virus has been detected in other nations including France and Italy. Australia and China have also reported cases.

Britains mutant virus has also been detected across the Atlantic. Canada, on December 26, has reported two cases in Ontario with Health Canada warning of rapid spread across the nation. Meanwhile, one person in the American state of Colorado and another in Florida were also found to be infected by the mutant strain.

India successfully isolates the mutant virus

Meanwhile, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) on January 2, announced that its Pune-based lab - National Institute of virology (NIV) has successfully isolated and cultured the UK strain of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) from the UK arrivals. Stating that India was the first to isolate the strain of UK variant of COVID-19, ICMR said that vero cell lines were used by the ICMR scientists to culture the UK-variant of the virus. As of date, 29 people have tested positive for the new COVID-19 UK strain.

Read: US Detects First Known Case Of UK's Coronavirus Variant In Colorado

Read: Saudi Arabia To Lift Entry Ban Related To New Coronavirus Variant On Sunday

About the new virus strain

The new variant of the novel coronavirus has been flagged for spreading rapidly across the UK. Even though it is a well-known fact that viruses mutate all the time and some of them even die out, it is a very rare occasion when the new strains trigger dramatic changes. However, with over 1,000 cases of the variant discovered in the UK, scientists are puzzled to determine if the variant, reportedly named as VUI-202012/01 falls into which category or if it represents an increased health risk especially when some nations began administering the COVID-19 vaccines among people.

Read: ICMR Isolates Strain Of UK-variant COVID-19; Says 'India First Country To Do So'

Read: 20 Mutant COVID Strain Infections Detected In India; Bar On UK Flights Likely To Continue

Image: NIH
The Cape Verdean government is getting more mired in the diplomatic brawl between the United States of America and the Venezuelan government, over claim that it has refused to give proper medical care to Alex Saab, a dealmaker to the Nicholas Maduro government, which it arrested last June, in spite of an order by the ECOWAS Court.

Mr Saab, a Columbian national and close associate to the Maduro-led government in Caracas, was arrested on June 12, 2020 by authorities in the tiny West African country when the private jet he was flying in stopped over to refuel.

The businessman is wanted by the U.S. government for allegedly laundering hundreds of millions of dollars. The government of Donald Trump is exerting pressure on Cape Verde to extradite Mr Saab to the U.S. to face trial.

Saabs health condition

Representatives of Mr Saab said he has cancer and is in need of proper medical care, which they claim the Cape Verdean government has denied him so far.

In a case led by the Nigerian human right lawyer, Femi Falana, the ECOWAS Court in Abuja, on December 2, 2020 ordered the government in Praia to allow Mr Saab get the required medical attention to treat his ailment.

However, a month after the court order, Mr Saabs lawyer and doctor told PREMIUM TIMES that the Cape Verdean authorities are yet to comply.

According to PREMIUM TIMES findings, there is no part of the Cape Verdean prison laws that exempts prisoners access to personal medical care when necessary.

Mr Saabs doctor, Karol Sikora, a cancer specialist and Chief Medical Officer of Rutherford Health in the United Kingdom, said he was disappointed at the Cape Verdean authorities.

I spent three days (December 20 to 23) in Cape Verde and unfortunately, the lawyer, Dr Pinto, could not get hold of permission from both the local and national prison authorities to see him.

Even though they knew I was coming, I was given a visa for that specific purpose by the Cape Verde consulate in London and obviously on the passengers manifest, so there was no secrecy about my visit. I was really disappointed not to meet Saab, he said, questioning the disturbing state of Africa prison services.

Mr Sikora, who shared Mr Saabs medical history with this newspaper, highlighted how the denial of a regular dosage of his prescription could endanger his life based on the symptoms he exhibits while in detention.

I spent a lot of time with Mr Saabs lawyer discussing the symptoms and problems he had and there is no doubt that understanding the biology of this disease is that he is not getting medical care. They have not done any diagnostics test, no blood taken for any analysis.

The danger of this is that if he does not receive medical care, he will develop fast invasive cancer of the stomach, he explained.

Similarly, Jose-Manuel Pinto, who leads Mr Saabs legal team lead in Cape Verde, in a separate interview with this newspaper, said he was the only person with direct contact with Mr Saab since his detention in June.

He said Mr Saab has lost over 26 kilogrammes since he was detained and he complains about pain in the bones, cold, insomnia and as you know he is a cancer patient. He cant eat the prison food, he has been eating outside.

He (Sikora) came to Cape Verde to see him, we made a request to the Prison Director and the National Director of Prison but we did not receive any answers from the authorities. So the doctor could not see him.

He has lost a lot of weight, about 26 kilo. He has become so pale and (has) issues with his vision, he concluded.

Diplomatic controversy

Mr Saabs role in the Venezuelan government has been a matter of diplomatic controversy involving the Interpol), Cape Verde, Venezuela and the US government.

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After he was arrested on June 12, the Nicolas Maduro-led administration in Caracas announced that Mr Saab was its special envoy on a humanitarian mission to get food and medical supplies, adding that his arrest violated international law prohibiting the arrest of diplomats.

This fact, in violation of international law and norms, clearly corresponds with the actions of aggression and siege against the Venezuelan people, undertaken by the government of the United States with the aim of abruptly affecting and interrupting efforts on behalf of the Bolivarian government, aimed at guaranteeing the right to food, health and other basic rights of the Venezuelan people, the government said in a statement on June 13.

Baltasar Garzon, a former Spanish judge and one of the attorneys on the case, in his statement to PREMIUM TIMES in November, accused both Interpol and Cape Verde of doing the bidding of the U.S., rather than following due process.

Cape Verdes willful violation of its own laws, and customary international law, will also tarnish the ECOWAS regions commitment to upholding the highest standards of human rights and legal protections.

Interpol has serious questions to answer about its repeated willingness to bend to political pressure from big countries like the United States. Interpol has a serious reputation problem and this is just making it worse. Its impossible to trust what should be an independent international cooperation framework when it can be abused and twisted so easily, he said.

In July 2020, Venezuela formally demanded Mr Saabs release from detention, adding that he be treated with justice.

Our only demand is that the affirmation of the Honorable President Jorge Carlos Fonseca be fulfilled. This implies that our compatriot be treated with justice and humanity, as he assured us in his letter of June 15, and in accordance with the immunities and privileges that accredit him as the Special Envoy of the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, says Venezuelan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jorge Arreaza, in a letter to Cape Verdean counterpart, Luis Tavares,

However, the U.S., which is putting pressure on the government in Praia to extradite Mr Saab, is not buying this argument.

In July, the U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, offered to support Cape Verde in its development efforts and maritime security.

Mr Pompeo said the two countries have a relationship of more than 200 years.

The timing of the message has been interpreted in international circles as a veiled threat of the consequences that may befall the tiny island nation if it refuses to dance to the tune of the U.S.

Complex but not first

In reaction to the ECOWAS judgement, the Cape Verdean President, Jorge Fonseca, admitted to the complexity of Mr Saabs case, but said it had not in anyway affected his countrys relation with Venezuela.

Not long ago, the current Venezuelan ambassador presented credentials letters to the president of Cape Verde, he was quoted by VOA Portuguese as telling journalists on December 15.

He added that extradition of foreigners is not new to his administration but he has to ensure that judicial processes on extradition are respected.
Kendallville, IN (46755)

Today

Cloudy skies with periods of rain late. Low 64F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch..

Tonight

Cloudy skies with periods of rain late. Low 64F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch.
BeijingChina looks to 2021 with optimism and ready to build on its successes. Having overtaken the the covid-19 epidemic and with the economy growing, the distribution of its vaccines in countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America may be the definitive step towards achieving the new role it hopes to play as a world leader.
Saudi Arabia on Sunday announced the reopening of borders and the resumption of international flights after a two-week suspension aimed to stem the spread of a new Covid-19 strain.

The government ordered the lifting of "precautionary measures related to the spread of a new variant of coronavirus", the Ministry of the Interior said, according to the official Saudi Press Agency.

Saudi Arabia has recorded more than 363,000 cases, including over 6,200 deaths -- the highest among the Gulf Arab states -- but has also reported a high recovery rate.

Riyadh suspended international flights and access through land crossings and ports on December 21.

Other Gulf countries, Oman and Kuwait, who had taken similar measures, have also lifted them in recent days.

But travellers returning from Britain, South Africa or "any country where the new variant of the coronavirus is spreading" are subject to more restrictions, the statement added.

Foreigners coming from those countries must spend 14 days in another country before entering Saudi Arabia, and show a negative test.

Saudi nationals returning from those countries will be able to enter directly -- but must then spend two weeks in quarantine on arrival, and be subject to tests.

Last month Saudi Arabia was one of the first Gulf countries to launch a massive vaccination campaign using the Pfizer-BioNTech jab.

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.

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[January 03, 2021] From Working 2 Jobs Daily To Being An Entrepreneur With 2 Mercedes Benz: Janay White CEO of J White Enterprises

Jacksonville, FL, Jan. 03, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Janay White, Mother of 2 & CEO of 8 Companies at 33: J White Enterprises Janay White, the CEO of 8 companies, one being J White Enterprises, is a mother of two and an example of financial independence. Janays mission is to help people attain financial freedom and create generational wealth. Being a former employee, working two jobs a day for a living, Janay is no stranger to financial lack, also given that she was not one of the fortunate ones to be born with the proverbial silver spoon. Janay highlights one of the surreal moments in her career as-- Walking into a Mercedes dealership and buying a car was something I didnt think I would ever be able to do when I worked 2 jobs! Entrepreneurship has allowed me to not only do just that but do it TWICE! Janay White is the CEO of

 J White Enterprises

 Luigi's Concrete and More LLC

 J WHITE Construction INC

 J WHITE Marketing INC

 J White Holdings INC

 JW Enterprises Unlimited LLC

 J White Auto Sales

 J White Tax Corp

In addition, she runs a small rental car company where she rents out her business vehicles to single mothers. Janay was a social worker and fraud investigator at the Florida Department of Children and Families from 2010-2020! She was also a Revenue Auditor in the accounting and finance department at UPS from 2011-2020! Janay White has proven to be an extremely hard-working, dedicated, and exraordinary woman! - J White Enterprises





Janay sat in bad credit for 7 years after receiving her first loan of $500 from Vystar Credit Union when she was 18 years old. She began rebuilding her credit at the age of 25, teaching herself to boost her scores. With the success of her credit boost, she seemed to have found the formula to not succumb to debt. Janay wishes to pass her knowledge on credit to anyone and everyone out there to nurture a generation of wise wealth. Janay White is determined to use her credit testimony and knowledge to prevent others in her community from following the same path and lead them to a world of good credit in these ever changing times.



Janay White conducts seminars, classes and even one-on-one counseling sessions to pass her knowledge of credit to others. She calls her seminars, The Credit Repair University where she focuses mainly on her mission to preach what she is practicing, ie, financial independence especially while being a woman.

For example, J White Enterprises provides services for credit monitoring sites to help check everyones credit scores that gives a detailed report of what affects the credit score, etc. This is just one company out of the 8 that Janay runs.

Janay is passionate and addicted to credit and she has created the best recipe for a perfect business in credit, learning from the dark sides of credit she herself has been in. This passion and knowledge acquired with a lot of struggle, fuels her to educate others on wealth creation. Janay is found busy hosting seminars, providing mentorship courses and one-on-one sessions to teach people exactly what she does. She believes that with the right information, dedication and willpower, anyone can achieve financial independence and contribute to creating a generation of wealth. About J White Enterprises

J White Enterprises contains Janay Whites companies of which she is the CEO with vast knowledge and years of experience. Janay has tried and tested her way into credit success and she is all into passing on the knowledge by way of her seminars and sessions.



Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/JwhiteEnterprises/

Media Details

Company: J White Enterprises

Phone: 904-834-5116

Email: Info@jwhite-enterprises.com

Website: https://jwhite-enterprises.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JWhiteEnterprises/

Attachment Janay White



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REDDING, Calif. - A Redding man suffered a stab wound on Saturday and was taken to a hospital for treatment. Meanwhile, the Redding Police Department is investigating the incident and would like help from citizens in solving this crime.

Saturday at approximately 5:12 p.m. police responded to the 1200 block of Oregon Street, where they located the man who had been stabbed, who has been identified as 36-year-old Samuel Owen.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Redding Police Department with information at (530) 225-4200.
For all its dazzling innovation, technology rests on humble foundations. A string of little known ores and metals make up the insides of smartphones, solar panels and rechargeable batteries. If the world wants to move faster and cleaner, it needs an ample supply of so-called rare earth minerals just as much as slick software and bright ideas.

The substances are everywhere and close to the surface. So far, most of the recoverable deposits are in a province in China, which refines and sells the output. That reality is provoking worries that the supply could be cut off or exorbitantly priced at the whim of Beijing. The push for green tech could stall and the wider economy would suffer as well.

Policymakers here are moving on the problem. But there will need to be research and investment before the U.S. can come up with its own pipeline. Buried in this months omnibus stimulus bill is a measure aimed at speeding the path to independence. The idea pushed by Rep. Eric Swalwell, an East Bay Democrat, directs the Department of Energy to map out plans for the domestic development of the minerals such as lithium, titanium and other niche metals. A similar plan is taking shape in the Senate.

The ingredients are indispensable, more so as technology advances. If electric car fleets are to grow, there will need to be more batteries composed of rare earth minerals. Medical equipment, space guidance systems and the speck-sized brains inside smartphones all need the substances. The Pentagon relies on the materials for precision-guided weapons, armored vehicles and night vision goggles.

Rare earth materials are a collection of some 17 substances with names right out of a chemistry spelling bee. An iPhone needs neodymium for the magnets used in smartphone speakers. Cerium is used to buff phone surfaces during manufacturing and europium is required to generate colors on screens. More familiar names include lithium, graphite and cobalt.

The push for a home country supply has generated resistance. Republicans opposed Swalwells plan in the past, saying it intruded on private industry with unwanted regulation. Also, some Democrats were concerned about environmental damage that might occur if rare earth mining went too far. Better to recycle older electronics for the materials than dig up a new supply, the objections went. New leadership at the federal energy agency under the Biden administration will need to reconcile these objections.

But the strategic side of the issue is undeniable. Some 80% of rare earth minerals comes from China, making for a choke point. In the heyday of globalization when nations felt free to rely on the world market, there was less reason to fret about a single source supply. This countrys worsening relations with Beijing have changed the picture.

I dont consider China an ally country, Swalwell said.

Theres a good chance this country could make up for lost time. The value of the minerals was first established during World War II as part of the Manhattan Project. Inactive mines exist, dotted around the country including California. China took the lead as costs rose here, a financial advantage that gave that nation the market. It also lined up mining rights elsewhere around the globe to give it a tight grip, much like Middle East oil countries once had on petroleum supplies.

Now that the need has exploded, its time to find other sources. Europe, Canada and Australia are developing and investing in rare earth sources. But this nation still needs to come up with its own supply. Thats where federal research can help. The market is already moving on its own, though extra encouragement is needed.

It is a greater vulnerability, I believe, than we once had when it came to our need for oil and resources to power ourselves, said Sen. Lisa Murkowski, an Alaska Republican who heads the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

The economy, national security and technologys future all hinge on reliable access to these vital minerals. Washington should make sure that a steady supply is assured.

This commentary is from The Chronicles editorial board. We invite you to express your views in a letter to the editor. Please submit your letter via our online form: SFChronicle.com/letters.
A few years ago I wrote a column about how Houstonians would be living in Charlottesville if Sam Houston had gotten his way. As the story goes, the hero of San Jacinto graciously told Charlotte Allen at a dinner party one night that she, and not her more famous brothers, was the reason the settlement on Buffalo Bayou even existed. The town should be called Charlottesville, he maintained.

Allen, astute businesswoman that she was, told ol Sam that he was the one everybody knew; his name would put the city on the map.

Charlotte Allen comes to mind because of last weeks column about Bettina, the short-lived commune in the Hill Country named for German writer, composer and early-day feminist Bettina von Arnim. As writer/rancher Jim Kearney of Weimar reminded me, Bettina is one of the few Texas towns or cities named after a woman.

Kearneys observation prompted me to explore what we have. So far, Ive found fewer than 30 towns, out of close to 4,000. Im probably overlooking some, but not many.

Three hours east of El Paso is a little town allegedly named for a character in Dostoevskys The Brothers Karamazov. The wife of the chief engineer for Southern Pacific was reading the novel and was taken with a servant in the Karamazov household. When the railroad reached a watering spot that needed a name, she suggested the servant, a woman named Marfa. (The late Lonn Taylor, author of Marfa for the Perplexed, believed its more likely that the town was named after a popular character in a Jules Verne novel, Michael Strogoff, Courier of the Czar.)

East of Marfa on U.S. Highway 90 is another town named for a woman who had nothing to do with the town itself. Langtry, home to the curmudgeonly Judge Roy Bean (the Law West of the Pecos), bears the name of English actress Lillie Langtry, with whom Bean was smitten, although he never met her. She paid a brief visit to Langtry in 1904, but the old judge had by then passed on to a higher court.

An hour or so northeast of Langtry is Iraan, a combination name in honor of Ira and Ann Yates. On Oct. 28, 1926, the ranching couple became instant millionaires when four oil gushers burst from beneath the parched and rocky ground of their spread.

Heading eastward toward Abilene, we come to Bronte, a settlement that sprang up on a branch of the Chisholm Trail in 1887. Its named for the English writer Charlotte Bronte and is near Tennyson, named for the English poet Alfred, Lord Tennyson.

Turning north into the Panhandle  this trip is going to take a few days, you understand  we get to another amalgamation, Floydada. The Pumpkin Capital of Texas is named, perhaps, for Floyd and Ada Price, parents of Caroline Price, who with her husband, James, donated land for the town in 1890.

Northeast of Floydada is Estelline, county seat of Hall County. Established in 1892, its named for Estelle de Shields, daughter of an early settler. Be careful in the tiny town, population 145. According to Wikipedia, Estelline has had a reputation for being one of the most notorious speed traps in Texas.

Heading southeast out of Estelline, slowly, we get to The Pump Jack Capital of Texas, Electra, a few miles west of Wichita Falls. The town is named for the late Electra Waggoner, a sculptor and heiress to the famed Waggoner Ranch. Although the family sold the ranch not long ago, it remains one of the largest in the world. Electra Waggoner also bequeathed her name to the Buick Electra.

East of Wichita Falls is Henrietta. No one knows who Henrietta was.

Now, were headed southward. Near Waxahachie is A Pearl in the Heart of North Texas. Maypearl, population about 900, is the amalgamated name of two daughters of a railroad construction engineer. (The railroad also named two nearby towns, Penelope and Venus, for local girls.)

Continuing down Interstate 35, we get to Buda, until a few years ago a village south of Austin, now a booming bedroom community. Pronounced BEW-da, the name is likely a corruption of the Spanish word, viuda, or widow. The name may refer to a pair of widows who cooked at the popular Carrington Hotel in the 1880s, when the town was known as Du Pre.

Below San Antonio, we come to Charlotte, named for the daughter of Dr. Charles Simmons, a town founder. Two other Atascosa County towns are named for his daughters, Christine and Imogene.

Continued southward through the Brush Country, we get to Alice. The ranching community west of Corpus Christi was first called Bandana, then Kleberg and finally Alice, after Alice Gertrudis King Kleberg, daughter of King Ranch founder Richard King.

Southward into the Rio Grande Valley, we come to Donna, named for Donna Hooks Fletcher, daughter of an early Valley rancher and postmistress for the town that bears her name.

East of Donna is Mercedes, first called Diaz, in honor of Porfirio Diaz, then president of Mexico. It was renamed Mercedes Diaz and then Mercedes in honor of the presidents wife, although neither of his two wives was named Mercedes.

Headed northward out of the Valley, we pass Victoria  named for Gen. Guadalupe Victoria, first president of independent Mexico  and come to Inez. The little town was named in 1892 for a daughter of Italian Count Joseph Telfener, president of the New York, Texas and Mexican Railway between Rosenberg and Victoria. Another daughter bequeathed her name to the Jackson County seat, Edna. Nearby Louise is named for the counts sister-in-law.

Also in Jackson County is Lolita, named in 1909 for the granddaughter of Charles Keller Reese, a San Jacinto veteran. Nearly a half-century after the towns naming, Russian-born novelist Vladimir Nabokov published Lolita, a critically acclaimed novel about a grown mans romantic obsession with a teenage girl. Baptist deacon R.T. Walker may or may not have read the best-seller, but he was outraged about the title, insisting it besmirched his hometown. He circulated a petition asking the U.S. Postal Service to change the name. Sixty years later, its still Lolita.

Also in Jackson County is Francitas, named by a small colony of French families in the late 1890s. Francitas the person is a mystery.

Since were near the coast, we might as well meander over to Olivia, on a peninsula east of Port Lavaca. Olivia was established in 1892 by a Swedish Lutheran colony led by C.J.E. Haterious of Galesburg, Ill. He named the settlement after his wife.

A long drive eastward gets us to Evadale, northeast of Beaumont. The town was called Fords Bluff until 1893, when Houston timber magnate John Henry Kirby renamed it for Eva Dale, a teacher at Southeast Texas Male and Female College in Jasper.

Headed back west on Interstate 10, at Schulenburg we drop down to Hallettsville, county seat of Lavaca. The small town halfway between Houston and San Antonio is named for an early settler, Margaret Leatherbury Hallett.

I intended to close the column with Hallett, but theres too much to say about this remarkable woman, so look for her next week. Margaret Hallett symbolizes all we dont know, and should, about the women who built Texas, even if no one named a town after them.

djholley10@gmail.com

Twitter: holleynews
NEW YORK, Jan. 3, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Boston Scientific Corporation ("Boston Scientific" or the "Company") (NYSE: BSX) and certain of its officers. The class action, filed in United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, and docketed under 20-cv-05894, is on behalf of a class consisting of all persons other than Defendants who purchased or otherwise, acquired Boston Scientific securities between April 24, 2019 and November 16, 2020, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), seeking to recover damages caused by Defendants' violations of the federal securities laws and to pursue remedies under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder, against the Company and certain of its top officials.

If you are a shareholder who purchased Boston Scientific securities during the Class Period, you have until February 2, 2021, to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com. To discuss this action, contact Robert S. Willoughby at [email protected] or 888.476.6529 (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 7980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased.

[Click here for information about joining the class action]

Boston Scientific develops, manufactures, and markets medical devices for use in various interventional medical specialties worldwide. The Company's products include, among others, the LOTUS Edge Aortic Valve System, which is a Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement ("TAVR") product. Boston Scientific announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's ("FDA") approval for the LOTUS Edge Aortic Valve System in April 2019.

The complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements regarding the Company's business, operational, and compliance policies. Specifically, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) the LOTUS Edge Aortic Valve System's product delivery system was dysfunctional and threatened the continued viability of the entire product line; (ii) as a result, the Company had materially overstated the continued commercial viability and profitability of the LOTUS Edge Aortic Valve System; and (iii) as a result, the Company's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.

On November 17, 2020, Boston Scientific announced a global recall of all unused inventory of the LOTUS Edge Aortic Valve System, citing "complexities associated with the product delivery system." Boston Scientific further announced that "[g]iven the additional time and investment required to develop and reintroduce an enhanced delivery system, the company has chosen to retire the entire LOTUS product platform immediately."

On this news, Boston Scientific's stock price fell $3.00 per share, or 7.89%, to close at $35.03 per share on November 17, 2020.

The Pomerantz Firm, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Paris is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, the Pomerantz Firm pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 80 years later, the Pomerantz Firm continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomerantzlaw.com.

CONTACT:

Robert S. Willoughby

Pomerantz LLP

[email protected]

888-476-6529 ext. 7980

SOURCE Pomerantz LLP

Related Links

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Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

Its a haunting picture  a ghostly man wandering on the remains of his devastated farm in Harding County, New Mexico; the landscape and his figure seemingly consumed by dust.

The conditions captured in the 1935 photograph depict what thousands of farmers, ranchers and residents endured across large swaths of the United States during the Dust Bowl, when years of drought and over-farming led to massive dust storms that destroyed towns and ended lives.

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Two hours south of that location, in present day Curry County, Spencer Pipkin has been looking at the thousands of bare acres in the area, which leaves him concerned.

Like nearly every part of New Mexico, Curry County has gone through a devastating drought in the past year that has dried out the soil, and made it difficult for farmers and ranchers to survive. Pipkin, a third-generation farmer in the region, said a windy spring could see an influx of dust in the region.

We could be back in the Dust Bowl situation this spring very easily, he said. Theres lots of bare ground out here.

As a dry land farmer, Pipkin relies on rainfall for the hay crops he sells to local dairy farms. This year, he got only 40% of his average crop yield due to below-average rainfall.

Other farms across the state saw below-average yields and ranchers have been forced to sell off large numbers of their herd after the drought decimated their rangelands, leaving just small clumps of grass and dirt behind.

While its still unknown just how dusty the spring will actually be, many scientists agree that New Mexico has become increasingly more dusty in recent years and the state could see an increase in dust storms in the near future.

A study published in the Geophysical Research Letter in October found the number of dust storms in the Great Plains region has increased over the past two decades, due in part to more frequent droughts and agricultural expansion.

The study didnt include data on New Mexico, but University of Utah Associate Professor Gannet Hallar, who led the team that conducted the study, told the Journal their maps show the southeast corner of the state is seeing similar increases in dust, and especially extreme events such as dust storms.

When you look at extreme events, that trend increases closer to exactly 10% a year, Hallar said.

Thomas Gill, a professor at the University of Texas at El Paso who specializes in dust storms in the Southwest, said dust is becoming an increasingly common issue in New Mexico, due mostly to droughts that last longer and longer.

As drought increases and persists  dust storms become more frequent, Gill said. Certainly, the intensity of dust storms is increasing rapidly.

More dust in the air can lead to problems for farmers and other residents in a given area. The blowing of topsoil can exacerbate crop issues, making it difficult for cropland and rangeland to recover the next year.

Dust can also cause severe health issues. Conditions such as Valley Fever, in which fungi from the dirt enters the body through the lungs, can be debilitating for some people and presents similarly to COVID-19.

Dust storms over major highways also increase the risk of deadly accidents. The Lordsburg Playa, a dried lake in the states southwest corner, often blows dust onto Interstate 10 that leads to accidents, including one in 2017 that killed six people.

And the drought, combined with warmer temperatures brought on by climate change, could worsen dust conditions in coming months. State Climatologist Dave DuBois said the current drought shows no sign of easing up, especially with dry wintery conditions in the Southwest.

Theres a good chance of increased dust storms and nobodys really noticing, DuBois said. But theyre out there.

A traumatic event

The spring of 1935 was brutal for the residents of northeast New Mexico, particularly in a small farming town called Mills, two hours west of the Dust Bowls geographic center in Oklahoma.

Residents saw their way of life upended by a series of blackened dust storms that pummeled buildings and made venturing outside a constant hazard.

They had weeks and weeks of dust storms, just day after day, said Geoffrey Cunfer, a professor at the University of Saskatchewan who has written about the Dust Bowl in New Mexico. New Mexico was really in the heart of the Dust Bowl in the 1930s.

The federal government sent Dorothea Lange, who took some of the periods most famous photographs, to New Mexico to document what was happening. Her photographs show how Mills and other areas had become buried in dirt and how little some residents had left to hang on to.

Some began leaving Mills for good. The bank closed soon after. In a few years, much of the northeast part of the state began losing large numbers of people.

Today, Mills remains largely as a ghost town, its existence noted only by a road sign and post office.

This was really a traumatic event and kind of a turning point, Cunfer said. Those farmers basically just gave up and left.

Most people impacted by the Dust Bowl stayed, among them the relatives of Rachel Armstrong, whose family has farmed in Curry County since 1906. Her family remembered hanging up blankets to keep out the dust and large piles of dirt sitting in the attic, she said.

But New Mexico has often been left out of the wider Dust Bowl discussion, according to University of New Mexico Professor Jason Smith, partially because of such works as John Steinbecks The Grapes of Wrath that depict it as a place where people traveled through to escape dust, not where it happened.

Its a bit of a reorientation to think of New Mexico as a part of the region hit by the Dust Bowl, he said, adding that the state has often been forgotten in the cultural legacy of the 1930s.

To help the land recover, the federal government bought back thousands of barren acres from farmers and converted them into national grasslands. Farming practices such as cover crops were implemented to help keep the dust down.

On the economic side, Union County Schools Superintendent Raymond Huff used the Works Progress Administration to employ 60% of local residents to construct new school buildings, even creating furniture and dishes from scratch.

Smith said the Dust Bowls lasting impacts on the region can be seen in the big business model the agricultural industry is in, where small farmers find it increasingly difficult to make ends meet each year.

Farming is an incredibly risky and expensive undertaking, he said.

The importance of soil health

Many of those interviewed said its unlikely New Mexico would see a return to the destruction of the 1930s, given advances in agricultural practices. But soil management has become an increasingly talked about subject in the world of farming as climate change continues to impact water levels and ground conditions.

And some are quick to point out that the effects of poor soil management and dust go beyond farms and the towns that surround them.

I think the masses and myself  did not realize the importance of soil health, said Kim Barmann, a rancher based in Cimarron. I think its becoming, not more mainstream, but starting to.

Barmann said that when soil health fails and crops struggle to produce, it plays a large role in small farming towns becoming ghost towns, an unfortunate reality of rural Americas shrinking presence.

But with the expectation of more dust in the spring, many are hoping cover crops of the previous year will sustain their land until more moisture arrives.

Steve Kaddas, who works with the National Resources Conservation Service in New Mexico, said dust storms are not abnormal in an arid landscape, but that theyre increasing as drought deepens.

He noted that an extended drought makes it more difficult to grow vital cover crops that keep the dirt down and prevent topsoil from blowing away, a potentially devastating reality for farmers and ranchers across the state, and a health risk for others.

For farmers such as Pipkin, whose family has farmed during some of New Mexicos worst conditions, that creates more risk in an already tenuous business.

Its one of those situations, its hard to explain to people until you go through it, he said of the drought. Its sad to say, but thats how you learn farming.
Sports lie at the margins of our culture, different from how it is elsewhere in the world, and from how it used to be. This is one of the reasons why criminality among youth proceeds unchecked. There is no youth labour market, and the school system ruthlessly triages youth.
Alejandro Kirks bat has drawn a lot of attention over his three pro seasons, including a 2020 MLB debut that saw the Blue Jays catcher post a .983 OPS over his first 25 plate appearances as a big leaguer. As one might expect, rival teams have taken notice of Kirk, with TSNs Scott Mitchell reporting that the Pirates and Indians have both tried to acquire the catcher within the last 14 months.

Cleveland wanted Kirk in a potential Corey Kluber trade with the Jays last offseason, prior to the deal that saw Kluber sent to Texas for Delino DeShields Jr., Emmanuel Clase and the Rangers agreeing to absorb all of Klubers $17.5MM salary for the 2020 season. The Pirates interest was more recent, as Mitchell notes that the Bucs tried to pry him away from Toronto just this past summer.

The Blue Jays and Pirates were known to be in discussions over such pitchers as Trevor Williams, Chad Kuhl, and Joe Musgrove prior to the trade deadline, with a trade for Musgrove reportedly falling through at the veritable last minute. Since Pittsburgh GM Ben Cherington came to the job after working in Torontos front office, it isnt surprising that the rebuilding Pirates and the aggressive Blue Jays are often mentioned as potential trade partners. Musgrove is still a hot commodity on the trade market, and with the Jays still looking to add pitching, a deal could certainly still come together between the two sides before the offseason is through.

Likewise, the past Cleveland ties of Jays president Mark Shapiro and GM Ross Atkins have seemingly put the Blue Jays in mind when discussing any potential Indians trade chip. To name one prominent example, Toronto has had interest in Francisco Lindor for well over a year, and Lindor still looms as a potential acquisition given the widespread expectation that the Tribe will deal the shortstop prior to Opening Day.

Whether Kirk could be part of a future deal to Cleveland or Pittsburgh remains in question, however. Mitchell believes the Jays will hang onto Kirk to see if he could be a reliable regular in 2021, both catching and as a DH against left-handed pitching. Danny Jansen is Torontos incumbent starter behind the plate, with Reese McGuire and prospects Gabriel Moreno and Riley Adams also on hand to give the Blue Jays quite a bit of major and minor league depth at the position  as Mitchell writes, one of the catchers will be traded this year, it just wont be Kirk. Of course, should the Jays make the big splash to sign free agent target J.T. Realmuto, it would seem likely that multiple catchers (perhaps including Kirk) would be shopped.
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Bird With Unusual Half-Moon Crest Is the Must-See Species in Tropical Rainforests

The male Guianan cock-of-the-rock's distinctive look is hard to mistake for any other species

With its striking half-moon crest in bright golden-orange, the male Guianan cock-of-the-rock is an eye-catching bird in its native tropical rainforests.

The birds orange brilliant-colored crest is lined with a brown band and remains bristled at all times.

Apart from its iconic crest, male Guianan cock-of-the-rocks also sport luxurious fluted tail feathers and black and white wing barstheir distinctive look is hard to mistake for any other species.

Native to the lowland rainforests of Guyana, Suriname, Colombia, Venezuela, and northern Brazil, the Guianan cock-of-the-rock earned its name from its habit of building nests from mud, clay, and plant matter on cliffs or rocky crevices.

The Guianan cock-of-the-rock, scientific name Rupicola rupicola, is entirely frugivorous, meaning it subsists mainly on fruits with the occasional exception made for insects, frogs, and small reptiles, according to Dallas World Aquarium.

The vibrant-colored male birds grow up to 30 centimeters in size. Females, by comparison, are a dull brown color.

The bright-orange males put their half-moon crests to good use in vibrant combat or dancing displays, hosted by communal leks comprising as many as 50 birds, notes the Dallas World Aquarium.

Males inhabiting the center of the lek display dominance and are more attractive to potential female partners.

The species is polygamous. Females raise their chicks on their own. According to the Dallas World Aquarium, Guianan cock-of-the-rocks clutch typically contains two eggs; the incubation period lasts for 27 to 28 days.

Female Guianan cock-of-the-rock. (Charlotte Bleijenberg/Shutterstock)

These handsome birds live, on average, four-and-a-half years in the wild.

While the bird is predated by harpy eagles and bald eagles, among other South American birds of prey, it is listed as of least concern on the IUCN Red List.

Here are some of the selected photos of this stunning bird, enjoy.

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Locals are outraged by a photo of koala being attacked by a dog with no collar or leash in a park at a popular wildlife spot.

The large dog, said to be owned by a tourist, was standing over the helpless marsupial with the animal locked in its jaws in Raymond Island, about 300km east of Melbourne, Victoria.

Rescuers were unable to check if the koala was badly injured as it retreated to the safety of a towering gum tree by the time they arrived at the scene.

A picture of an unrestrained dog attacking a koala has been taken by a resident of Raymond Island, about 300km east of Melbourne, Victoria

On a post uploaded to Facebook, said it was believed the koala was not injured seriously as eyewitness have told that the dog was 'simply curious'.

But this cannot be confirmed.

'Unfortunately, if it's been bitten it could be in trouble because they get infections from dog bites,' koala rescuer Catherine Winzer told Yahoo News Australia.

Ms Winzer was unable to get to koala due to the difficult positioning of the tree as it hung over water.

'The tree is massive, all we can do is wait and see what happens and if it comes to ground, we'll try to nab it then and check it out.'

The koala has since disappeared from the gum tree but according to the Facebook post, locals are keeping an eye out.

'As we're on the island we can keep a look out for any koala along that stretch of road, also I'm sure members of the public will let us know if it's seen on the ground,' it read.

The image, taken at the popular Victorian tourist spot, sparked outrage among locals with many saying the photographer should have helped the koala rather than take a picture.

'I can't believe whoever it was stood there and took a photo instead of helping the koala,' on wrote.

The Koala retreated to a nearby gum tree for safety and rescuers were unable to reach it to see how badly it was injured

'Why would they stand there and take a photo instead of chasing the dog away?', questioned another.

But witnesses said that the she did in fact help, trying to get the dog to release the koala after she took that picture.

The dogs owner was told to put the dog on a leash.

Wildlife advocates said it was crucial that they have photographic evidence of these incidents as it has become a growing concern on the island.

They hope that pictures like these will educate tourists to keep a better eye on their dog and save koalas from this terrible fate.

As the tourist destination grows in popularity, wildlife advocates have become frustrated at the lack of initiative from local and state governments.

Raymond Island (pictured) is growing in popularity but there is only one sign telling visitors to leash their dogs

In the past week alone, two koalas were attacked by dogs, according to Shelley Robinson from a not-for-profit rescue group, Koalas of Raymond Island.

'Raymond Island has definitely been discovered by tourists, and that's brought along all sorts of problems,' Ms Robinson said.

She said that they is just one 'easily missable' sign at the entry to the island that warns people to leash their dogs and there was a lack of enforcement of this, especially during this holiday season.

'There are no rangers to be in contact with at the moment,' Ms Robinson said.

Ms Robinson offered some guidelines for both locals and tourists to follow.

'Be aware when the koala is coming down moving from tree to tree, that's not the time to let your dogs out to roam around,' she said.

'The time a koala's likely to move is during the morning and night, so don't have your dog out there in the yard.

'The majority of the residents are conscious of that, at the moment tourists aren't and they need to be.'
The creator of a TV drama about the life of Russian empress Catherine the Great has included a disclaimer to warn audiences that some scenes are imagined  and warned of the dangers of not being honest with the public.

Australian dramatist Tony McNamara said of his new series The Great: Were dramatists, not historians.

The Channel 4 drama, starring Nicholas Hoult and Elle Fanning, carries a disclaimer at the start to inform viewers that it is an occasionally true story.

McNamara, who is best known for co-writing Oscar-nominated film The Favourite, told The Times: We dont always tell Catherines story in the right chronology, but we tell it in the right spirit. And Ive told the audience its not completely true. Ive come clean.

The Channel 4 drama, starring Nicholas Hoult and Elle Fanning, carries a disclaimer at the start to inform viewers that it is an occasionally true story

He said The Great contained a history that is sort of true and facts I thought were useful, adding: Im also aware of how history is written and chosen. Were not that slavish to it because we think it doesnt tell the story well enough.

His comments come after a chorus of politicians and Royal experts told The Mail on Sunday that streaming giant Netflix should include a disclaimer before episodes of The Crown.

Critics say some of the scenes in the fourth series  particularly those examining the marriage of Prince Charles and Princess Diana  either never happened or are distortions of the truth.

The Great, which begins tonight, details the marriage between Catherine, who ruled Russia between 1762 and 1796, and her second cousin, Peter III

The Crowns creator Peter Morgan has resisted the calls, saying: You sometimes have to forsake accuracy, but you must never forsake truth.

But McNamara said The Crown ran into trouble when viewers could remember the individuals depicted.

They had a period where everything they did was seen as truth and now theyve hit a period where people have lived it, he said. The ownership people around the world had on that story  they cant win.

The Great, which begins tonight, details the marriage between Catherine, who ruled Russia between 1762 and 1796, and her second cousin, Peter III, whom she overthrew in a coup detat.

McNamara said he invented some sections to suit his dramatic purposes. I had a particular story to write about men in power and the original Peter didnt help me tell that story, he said. He was a much weaker character, and childlike in a different way.

I created Peter to be a good antagonist to Catherine and to let me talk about men who inherit power and dont know quite what to do with it. I was interested in how she responded to the fact that she had married the wrong man. Now she has to decide whether to kill him.

Sarah Vine: Page 29
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The BJP on Sunday hit out at the Congress after some of its leaders questioned the approval process for Bharat Biotech's Covid-19 vaccine , with party president J P Nadda alleging that whenever India achieves something commendable the opposition party comes up with "wild theories" to "ridicule" the accomplishments.

Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri also took a swipe at the opposition leaders, saying they are on a quest for permanent political marginalisation.

His dig, however, drew a sharp retort from Congress leader Jairam Ramesh who compared him with Nazi propagandists.

Nadda accused the Congress and other opposition parties of trying to cause panic among people to further their "failed politics and nefarious agendas".

"Congress and the Opposition is not proud of anything Indian. They should introspect about how their lies on the Covid-19 vaccine will be used by vested interest groups for their own agendas," the BJP chief said in a series of tweets.

Some Congress leaders, including Anand Sharma, Shashi Tharoor and Jairam Ramesh, on Sunday, raised serious concerns over the grant of approval to Bharat Biotech's Covid-19 vaccine for restricted use, saying it is "premature" and can prove dangerous.

Nadda said, "Time and again we have seen whenever India achieves something commendable - that will further public good - the Congress comes up with wild theories to oppose and ridicule the accomplishments. The more they oppose, the more they are exposed. Latest example is the Covid vaccines."

He said people have been rejecting such politics and will keep doing so in the future.

"Congress and other Opposition leaders are trying to cause panic in the minds of the people. I urge them to do politics on other issues, they should avoid playing with peoples precious lives and hard-earned livelihoods," Nadda said.

While the entire nation is happy about the development of vaccines, the opposition led by the Congress is filled with anger, ridicule and disdain, he alleged.

In a tweet, Puri said, "Our in-house cynics M/s Jairam, Tharoor & Akhilesh are behaving true to form. They first questioned the valour of our soldiers & are now unhappy that the two vaccines to get DCGI nod are made in India. Clearly, they are on a quest for permanent political marginalization."

Jairam Ramesh retorted, "So says the in-house Goebbels-cum-Albert Speer."

Both Goebbels and Speer were close allies of German dictator Hitler.

Tharoor, a Congress MP and former union minister, also countered Puri, saying he had never questioned the valour of our soldiers.

"I would be happy and proud if more Indian vaccines are approved  but only after a full 3-phase trial confirms they are safe & effective. Short-circuiting the process is unprecedented, inadvisable & risks lives.

"We are baffled to understand what scientific logic has motivated the SEC (subject expert committee) to approve this vaccine posthaste... in violation of the criteria in the draft regulatory guidelines for the development of Covid-19 vaccines published by CDSCO on 21/9/20," he tweeted, referring to Bharat Biotech's Covaxin.

Ramesh had earlier said that Bharat Biotech is a first-rate enterprise while adding that it is puzzling that internationally-accepted protocols relating to phase three trials are being modified for Covaxin.

He asked Health Minister Harsh Vardhan to clarify.

Echoing this, Tharoor said Covaxin has not yet had Phase three trials.

"Approval was premature and could be dangerous. @drharshvardhan should please clarify. Its use should be avoided till full trials are over. India can start with the AstraZeneca vaccine in the meantime," he said.

India's drugs regulator on Sunday approved Oxford Covid-19 vaccine Covishield, manufactured by the Serum Institute, and indigenously developed Covaxin of Bharat Biotech for restricted emergency use in the country, paving the way for a massive inoculation drive.

The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) granted the approval on the basis of recommendations by a Covid-19 Subject Expert Committee (SEC) of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO).

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.

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Posted Sunday, January 3, 2021 9:35 am

Clark County Judge James Ladley couldn't seem to believe what he was hearing. Before him was John Letellier, a 47-year-old Navy veteran accused of what a former federal prosecutor would later call a "chippy robbery" of a Subway store, netting $107 and a $5 gift card.

Chippy or no, a conviction would send Letellier to prison for life under Washington's three-strikes law  and he wanted to plead guilty.

If he went to trial, the judge told Letellier, he might be acquitted or found guilty of a lesser crime or ...

Letellier, who committed the robbery while waiting for an opening at a Veterans Affairs addiction treatment center, cut him off. "The higher the expectation the greater the fall."

The judge pressed on. "Some people would conclude that life without parole is more onerous or worse than the death penalty. If I sentence you to life without parole, this file that I'm holding will get old, it will get dusty, it will get moldy, and you will still be sitting there."

Go away and think about it, he told Letellier. Eighteen days later, Letellier came back. He pleaded guilty, though he said he believed three strikes to be unconstitutional.

That was 1999. And sit in prison Letellier did, even after the Legislature in 2019 dropped second-degree robbery  the charge Letellier pleaded guilty to  from the list of strikeable offenses. Life in prison is too severe a punishment for the crime, which generally involves no weapon or physical injury, lawmakers decided, but they didn't make the change retroactive.

Yet, Letellier got out. He was released after 21 years in July 2020. He died of pancreatic cancer three weeks later, at 68.

He might never have been released but for a new willingness to question the tough-on-crime ethos of past decades. Among those asking questions: prosecutors, the very people who have enforced that ethos but are now dealing with a legacy that some believe violate what Snohomish County Prosecutor Adam Cornell calls "an evolving standard of decency," not to mention calls for racial equity.

The state Supreme Court is scheduled this week to discuss whether it will delve into this evolving standard, by accepting or declining to review a case that could potentially free dozens of three-strikes prisoners.

Following the law enforcement killing of George Floyd, policing has grabbed the lion's share of attention when it comes to reforming criminal justice. Yet, statistics reveal stark racial disparities in who goes to prison, and for how long.

In Washington, there is probably no greater example than the three-strikes law approved by voters in 1993  the nation's first and an embodiment of the tough-on-crime era, designed to ensure "persistent offenders" would never be free to commit more crimes. Judges are required to hand down life sentences to repeat offenders of a wide array of crimes, from murder and rape to robbery and assault, and every year, more men and women are sentenced under the law.

While a majority of three-strikes prisoners are white, as was Letellier, Black people, representing about 4% of the state's population, account for 38% of 289 current three-strikes prisoners sentenced in Washington (including eight transferred to other states), according to the most comprehensive data released to date by the Department of Corrections (DOC), provided to The Seattle Times in December. An additional six of 16 people who died in prison while serving three-strikes sentences were Black.

Camara Banfield, chief criminal deputy of the Clark County Prosecutor's office, which petitioned a judge on Letellier's behalf, said her office now thinks carefully before it prosecutes a case that will trigger the three-strikes law. "People are really considering ... what is the harm that great that you actually should take someone's liberty away for the rest of their life?"

It's a matter of debate, as evident from what happened after the Legislature removed second-degree robbery from the strike list but didn't make the change retroactive. Legislators followed up with another law, which took effect last June, that allows prosecutors to seek resentencing when an original sentence "no longer advances the interests of justice."

Yet, prosecutors around the state don't agree on whether the resentencing law can or should apply to three-strikes cases  leading Rep. Roger Goodman, a Kirkland Democrat who chairs the House Public Safety Committee, to say he worries about "justice by geography."

Yakima County Prosecutor Joe Brusic opposes using the new law to get three-strikers out of prison. "They put themselves there. No one else," he said.

To renege on life sentences lessens accountability to victims and would be deeply unpopular with the voters who elected him, Brusic continued. "I guarantee you, people in Yakima County are not going to have a favorable response if we start resentencing persistent offenders."

Elected officials until recently have tended toward the same judgment about the state as a whole, which has been slower than many others to revisit three strikes. At least 29 states eased mandatory penalties by 2014, according to a Vera Institute of Justice report.

John Carlson, the conservative talk-radio host who co-sponsored the 1993 three-strikes initiative, is watching to see if Washington's Legislature goes further. One bill in the coming session, sponsored by Sen. Manka Dhingra, a Redmond Democrat, would give those with a second-degree robbery strike priority before an expanded state Clemency & Pardons Board, and another bill taking up retroactivity is expected.

Neither changing standards nor racial disproportionality has lessened Carlson's belief in three strikes, which he said punishes conduct not color. While he has occasionally supported releasing prisoners based on their behavior behind bars, including Letellier, he said he will run an even tougher three-strikes initiative should legislators weaken the existing law.

"It's already been drafted."

Evolution of the law

Ever since three strikes was enacted, people have argued about whether those it targets deserve their fate. And yet, it has been surprisingly hard to track what crimes they committed. The state stopped reporting the records of three-strikes prisoners after 2008 and only recently resumed.

But a Seattle Times analysis of DOC data for the 289 current three-strikes prisoners shows more than half, 155 people, received a life sentence after assault, burglary, robbery or drug-related convictions triggered the third and final strike.

Some previously committed more severe crimes. About half of current three-strikes prisoners have murder, manslaughter or sex crimes on their record.

For 56, almost one in five, their records consist entirely of lesser crimes, including assault, burglary, robbery or drug-related offenses.

As the Legislature considered dropping second-degree robbery from the strike list, the Washington Association of Sheriffs & and Police Chiefs objected, saying many three-strikes prisoners had originally been charged with more serious crimes and pleaded to lesser offenses.

Some had used a weapon, or threatened to, the association wrote in a letter to legislators. On a list of examples was Letellier.

When the tall, slender man with reddish brown hair walked into the Subway, intoxicated, he motioned to his jacket pocket and said he had a gun, according to police records. He was pretending, he told an officer.

A victim doesn't know that, said Brusic, the Yakima County prosecutor, and the trauma can be lasting.

Legislators, in a deal with the Washington Association of Prosecuting Attorneys, agreed to nix retroactivity, leaving 64 people with a second-degree robbery strike in prison.

In stepped Dhingra, who is a King County prosecutor as well as legislator. She successively pitched the bill to let prosecutors sift through cases and choose ones they believe appropriate for resentencing.

"That was absolutely the intent, to address the robbery two convictions," Dhingra said, though the bill was meant to apply to cases beyond three-strikes, too. "At that time, we weren't clear on how it would play out and what hurdles there would be."

The biggest, contend Cornell and some fellow prosecutors, is the law itself.

Cornell sympathizes with its intent, saying society has moved toward a greater focus on rehabilitation and mercy. Yet, he said Dhingra's bill didn't give explicit authority to undo mandatory sentences like three strikes. So he believes prosecutors and judges are bound by the law in effect when a crime was committed.

King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg knows otherwise because he helped a three-strikes prisoner get resentenced  before Dhingra's bill took effect.

Long arguing justice needs to look backward as well as forward, Satterberg has for reviewed three-strikes cases with an eye toward supporting clemency. The board and Gov. Jay Inslee have been receptive in recent years, likely in part due to compelling petitions prepared by the Clemency Project's top lawyers, said Tip Wonhoff, the governor's deputy general counsel. By Wonhoff's count, Inslee has granted clemency to 36 three-strikes prisoners.

But clemency is a slow process, Satterberg said, and granting it a political risk. Going before a judge is more direct, and that's what he did in 2019 on behalf of a man who struck out in 1999 on second-degree robbery convictions after robbing two banks by passing notes to tellers.

Satterberg sidestepped the mandatory sentencing issue by persuading a judge to vacate the convictions and allow the man to plead guilty retrospectively to theft, which is not a strike.

The Clark County Prosecutor's Office essentially followed this creative approach when approached by Letellier's lawyer, former U.S. Attorney for Western Washington Mike McKay. Now in private practice, he had been asked to take on the case by the Seattle Clemency Project, which matches long-serving prisoners with top-flight lawyers.

"The removal of robbery in the second degree from the three-strikes law presents a dramatically different legal landscape than the one that existed when Mr. Letellier was sentenced in 1999," read a joint motion, asking that he be allowed to swap out his plea.

"If Mr. Letellier was facing the same charge today ... he would likely be sentenced in the range of 43 to 57 months in prison."

That range would take into account three previous robberies. In one, he hit a man with a wine bottle after a night of drinking and tied him to a bed with sheets and neckties.

Letellier had once been a quiet, smart kid who knew everything about sports, said his brother Jim Letellier, a retired electrician in Gig Harbor. But drugs were his undoing, and after roughly two years in the Navy, he was often homeless.

"I thought he'd be better off in jail," Jim Letellier recalled thinking after his brother's last arrest, though he called the life sentence "grossly unfair."

Jennifer Smith, a lawyer who co-founded the Seattle Clemency Project in 2016, said she thought: "We're going to go into prisons and meet people who have life sentences who are just, you know, totally depressed and have given up."

"That's not what we've seen." Many people "find something in themselves and say, 'Even if I'm here for life, I'm going to make something of my life.' "

Letellier, in prison, became active in Alcoholics Anonymous. He joined a group called the Redemption Project and was asked to serve as a facilitator for a restorative justice program. He took up drawing cartoons, hundreds of them, lightly making fun of inmates and guards.

In the end, he got so sick McKay didn't think Letellier could make it to court for resentencing. The lawyer called the Clark County prosecutor's office, which agreed to bypass a hearing and simply dismiss the robbery charge. Lettellier was in a hospice room overlooking downtown Spokane by 5 p.m. that day, McKay said.

Open to consideration

The limitations some prosecutors see in the resentencing law do not necessarily mean they are unwilling to review cases.

In August, Cornell told the state Supreme Court he would not fight a petition for release made by Lawrence Fillion, who struck out on a second-degree robbery conviction that involved stealing beer and cigarettes. Fillion argued that his life sentence, in light of the removal of the crime as a strike, constitutes cruel and unusual punishment and violates the constitutional right to equal protection.

Cornell said he agrees, and the concession means there's no opposition. If the court agrees to accept the case, scheduled to be discussed Thursday, and sees the issue the same way, it could effectively free all prisoners with a second-degree robbery strike.

Cornell and other prosecutors are also following Satterberg's lead by supporting three-strikes clemency petitions.

Pierce County Prosecutor Mary Robnett said she began a review of 89 cases after taking office in 2019, finding 23 with second-degree robbery strikes. "It concerned me," she said.

Some also had committed more serious crimes, including murder; Robnett is not interested in advocating for their release. With several others, she is.

At a Sept. 10 hearing of the Clemency & Pardons Board, which makes recommendations to the governor, prosecutors from Robnett's office spoke in support of Marcus Price and Kenneth Donald.

Both were sentenced in the early years of three strikes, and had recently gotten the attention of the Seattle Clemency Project. Their cases before that had been largely forgotten and both spent decades in prison without a visit from anyone.

"This was my burden to carry," the 52-year-old Price said in a phone interview from prison, explaining why he didn't ask his three daughters to come.

Price described his younger self as "very immature and very stupid." At 17, he and an AWOL soldier robbed a video store at gunpoint. It later counted as a strike even though three strikes wasn't enacted until nine years later and he was a juvenile when he committed the crime. A lawsuit brought by another three-strikes prisoner, before the state appeals court, challenges the constitutionality of such juvenile strikes.

In his 20s, Price was convicted of robbing and attempting to rob a deli and grocery.

He said he was numb when he was received a life sentence in 1995, but "had to figure out a way to make myself a person I could live with." He took classes offered though a community college, became a dedicated welder and devoted himself to Islam.

Price and his supporters  including Assistant Chief Criminal Deputy Brooke Burbank of Robnett's office, who called Price's rehabilitation "extraordinary" and cited his young age when committing his first strike  outlined much of this to the board. It voted unanimously to recommend clemency.

It voted the same for Donald, a Vietnam veteran who committed a string of robberies while addicted to cocaine. Now 70 and diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, he has spent more than two decades in prison working diligently, the board noted, including as a janitor, fabric cutter and sewing machine operator.

Advocates for incarcerated individuals have been encouraging Inslee to act on clemency recommendations while COVID-19 spreads rapidly through prisons. The governor commuted Donald's sentence in December but has yet to decide about Price, who got the virus and has since recovered.

After release

Wonhoff, of the governor's office, said he knows of three former three-strikes prisoners granted clemency by Washington governors who have been charged with new crimes. That's a much lower recidivism rate than for the general prison population.

But one of those crimes cast a particularly dark shadow: a drug-related murder allegedly committed by Stonney Rivers after being granted clemency by Gov. Christine Gregoire. Rivers is in jail awaiting trial, scheduled to begin Jan. 11.

Other released three-strikes prisoners appear to be building new, law-abiding lives. They work for a lumber yard, a warehouse, a car dealership, local government.

In 2014, Orlando Ames  who struck out on an assault conviction after an argument on a bus and would have served roughly two years if not for three strikes  was granted clemency by Inslee. He'd served 25 years.

He said he was ready, having spent much of his time in prison in classes. He now supports others leaving prison as the re-entry director for the Freedom Project. He's married to a kindergarten teacher he met after his release.

"I'm very happy," he said, delighting even in the ability to get in his car and turn on music.

From time to time, Ames also appears before the Clemency & Pardons Board, testifying on behalf of others seeking freedom.

"I'm not a unicorn. There are many like me," he said. "I'd love to see others come home."

___

(c)2021 The Seattle Times

Visit The Seattle Times at www.seattletimes.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
The social media posts, allegedly written by a former teacher in the Northside Independent School District, started with a demand for money he claimed he was owed.

Over the course of 48 hours, the profanity-laced posts became progressively more alarming. At one point, police later wrote in court records, Dalton Austin Brown posted three photos showing a total of seven handguns and four semi-automatic rifles.

I hope you sleep good buddy, Brown, 28, allegedly wrote on Facebook, addressing the post to NISD Superintendent Brian Woods. Time (sic) running out.

Within hours, a detective with the San Antonio Police Department  using information gathered by a police officer with Northside  filed a warrant for Browns arrest. It was signed by a judge and Brown was arrested later that day.

The quick and coordinated response was part of a new initiative, called the Triweekly Threat Assessment Group, that involves officials from more than 10 local, state and national law enforcement agencies who meet three times a week to evaluate possible attacks in Bexar County.

This is not traditional policing, said Sgt. Tina Baron with the San Antonio police, one of the agencies involved. Is something arrestable or not? Thats traditional policing. Our approach is different, in that were preventative in nature.

The concept might seem commonplace  but thats not necessarily true.

Billy Calzada /Staff photographer

While partnerships among law enforcement agencies have existed for decades, there wasnt a formal process in place  at least in Bexar County  for police officers across jurisdictions to quickly and efficiently share information and evaluate possible threats.

About a year ago, that began to change.

Related: Former NISD teacher accused of making threats against superintendent

In October 2019, a group of local, state and national law enforcement agencies at the Southwest Texas Fusion Center, an intelligence-gathering hub, started meeting to identify and assess possible public safety threats.

The approach was based on a model developed, in part, by the FBI to prevent mass attacks, such as school shootings. It since has been expanded to identify and address other forms of targeted violence, including stalking and terrorism.

The team in San Antonio is the first of its kind in Texas, officials say.

In May, the city of San Antonio, which manages the Fusion Center, received a $750,000 grant from the Justice Department to pay for new equipment, additional training for team members and increased overtime to re-review older cases.

Now, the group meets three times a week  albeit virtually these days  to identify possible acts of violence and determine the likelihood of an attack. From January to October, the group has reviewed about 350 cases, Baron said.

The FBI doesnt have the resources to handle every threat in this city, said Christopher Combs, special agent in charge of the FBIs San Antonio Division. Thats why this initiative is so important. It really is a community effort.

In some situations, the suspect was not arrested but redirected to other community resources, such as the Center for Health Care Services, the countys largest provider of mental health and substance abuse services. A representative from the center regularly attends the meetings.

A lot of this is about helping people, Combs said. Its not just about arresting people.

FBI framework

Billy Calzada /Staff photographer

Combs, who previously helped oversee the FBIs response to emergencies nationwide, said threat assessments have been used for decades, starting with the U.S. Secret Service.

But it wasnt until 2013, Combs said, that the idea really began to gain traction. A year earlier, 20 students and six school employees were shot and killed at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn.

Sam Ukeiley, a special agent in the FBIs Behavioral Analysis Unit, which researches and analyzes the behavior of perpetrators, said many individuals signal what they plan to do.

For example, a 2018 FBI study evaluating 63 mass shooters between 2000 and 2013 found the killers displayed several concerning behaviors before attacking.

Those include: suicidal statements or behaviors; recent acquisition of weapons and tactical gear; drastic changes in appearance, such as a shaved head; intense fascination with previous acts of mass violence; and preparation of a farewell statement or manifesto.

Ukeiley emphasized no single behavior can forecast what an individual would do. A multitude of factors and conditions must be evaluated.

On ExpressNews.com: School shooting survivors, families share lessons with education leaders

Combs said many of those warning signs were noticeable prior to previous acts of mass violence, including the Virginia Tech massacre in 2007 that left 32 people dead.

Two years earlier, the shooter, Seung Hui Cho, was briefly held at a psychiatric hospital after a roommate feared he was suicidal.

After his release, a judge determined Cho was a danger to himself and ordered him to undergo outpatient treatment.

But after 2005, Cho had no known contact with any mental health services. Virginia Tech counselors later said they didnt know Cho had been ordered to undergo outpatient treatment.

Had all the parties sat around a table and discussed this mans behavior, they might have realized that he posed a big threat, Combs said. They would have realized, Oh my god, this guy is on the edge.

Ukeily said its important to note that perpetrators of mass violence typically dont snap. They have a grievance and they take time to consider, plan and prepare their attack, he said.

A shooter doesnt snap one day and kill 20 people, Combs said. So often, after an act of mass violence, people say, Oh, Im not surprised.

Billy Calzada /Staff photographer

Thats why its so important for folks to come forward if they witness unusual behaviors like these. I think almost every active shooter situation in the United States could have been prevented had someone said something earlier.

S.A. takes action

Ukeiley said local officials recognized the need for a threat assessment team in early 2018 after 26 people were killed and 20 others were wounded the previous November at a church in Sutherland Springs.

Less than a month after the shooting, the Air Force Inspector General found the service had failed to report Devin Kelleys criminal convictions on domestic violence charges to the FBI, as required by federal law.

Kelley also had a documented history of other behavioral problems in the Air Force. He was given a bad-conduct discharge after serving time in military prison on the domestic violence conviction.

From there, the timing to create a threat assessment team in San Antonio fell into place, officials said.

In 2019, the Legislature passed a bill that required each school district to establish a multidisciplinary threat assessment team to identify and evaluate possible acts of violence on campuses. SAPD began working with several local school districts on implementing such teams.

Around the same time, SAPDs Mental Health Unit  which previously was a part of the Bike Patrol Unit  moved to the Southwest Texas Fusion Center.

We were all under the same roof, said Baron, a supervisor at the intelligence hub. We were going with a lot of meetings together. We noticed that there were a lot of people who both of our teams were dealing with.

On ExpressNews.com: Gov. Abbott wants to identify mass shooters before they strike. Researchers are skeptical.

At that point, officials at the Fusion Center reached out and asked about the FBIs threat assessment model.

While the Fusion Center had been doing threat assessments to some degree  representatives from multiple agencies are stationed there to gather intelligence and manage real-time security threats  the group decided they wanted to create a formal framework using best practices.

Together, they established up a key group of members, including local, state and national law enforcement officials, representatives from mental health facilities and school administrators.

They also set up a way for local police officers to refer cases to the group for review and a rating system to determine the severity of threats.

Quickly, officials said, the benefits became apparent.

Billy Calzada /Staff photographer

The magic happens when were all in the room and were all checking our separate databases, said Randy Reyes, an arson investigator with the San Antonio Fire Department and a member of the FBIs Joint Terrorism Task Force. It really opens doors.

Success stories

Officials said its hard to quantify the groups success, as its impossible to gauge if an attack would have happened had the group not intervened.

And while criminal justice experts say increased vigilance by police about warning signs certainly can prevent violence, they warn that its hard to say definitively whether threat assessments work, in part because mass shootings statistically are rare, making it difficult to draw conclusions about them.

Still, officials believe the group has done important work  ultimately preventing some acts of targeted violence.

Reyes and Baron said the collaboration particularly helped in instances where a prson repeatedly was in and out of the criminal justice system.

We had one individual that two different agencies were having trouble with who was referred to the group, Baron said. We ended up with five agencies who had dealt with this one person.  Had we not sat in the same room and talked about it, we wouldnt have known.

Another advantage of the new team, members said, is that its easier to keep track of suspects who otherwise might get lost in the labyrinth of the criminal justice system.

Jerry Lara /Staff photographer

Sgt. Mike Davis, an investigator with the Bexar County district attorneys office, said the groups thrice weekly meetings help him identify cases that need to take priority.

The district attorneys office handles on average 60,000 cases annually, Davis said. One of the priorities for this administration is to prioritize violent cases and prevent violence. Thats why this group is so critical.

Davis said he passes along key information from the meetings to prosecutors who cant attend regularly.

From there, he offers suggestions to prevent violence  such as prohibiting a suspect from having a gun  or get help by connecting the person, if appropriate, to mental health services.

Alternatively, a judge can require a suspect to take medication as prescribed.

Its hard to know how many times we have helped a person or prevented an attack, Davis said. But we know this group is actively intervening in acts of violence. Thats our role, to safeguard the community.

eeaton@express-news.net
Paris, TX (75460)

Today

Partly to mostly cloudy with scattered showers and thunderstorms overnight. Low 67F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Partly to mostly cloudy with scattered showers and thunderstorms overnight. Low 67F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
Around 100 people were killed by "terrorists" attacking two villages in western Niger, the local mayor said Sunday, the latest in a string of civilian massacres that have rocked the jihadist-plagued Tillaberi region.

The attacks on the villages of Tchoma Bangou and Zaroumadareye on Saturday were waged by "terrorists who came riding about a hundred motorcycles," said Almou Hassane, the mayor of the Tondikiwindi commune that administers both villages.

"There were up to 70 dead in Tchoma Bangou and 30 dead in Zaroumadareye," he told AFP, adding he had just returned from the scene of the attacks.

The two villages are 120 kilometres (75 miles) north of the capital Niamey.

"There have also been 75 wounded, some of whom have been evacuated to Niamey and to Ouallam for treatment," Hassane said.

To carry out simultaneous attacks on the two villages, which lie seven kilometres (four miles) apart, the attackers split into two columns, the mayor added.

News first emerged of the raids on Saturday, but it was not yet clear how many casualties there were.

The two villages are in the vast and unstable Tillaberi region, which is located in the "tri-border" area, where the porous borders of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso converge. The area has for years been targeted by jihadist assaults.

Four thousand people across the three nations died in 2019 from jihadist violence and ethnic bloodshed stirred by Islamists, according to the UN.

Seven Nigerien soldiers were killed in an ambush in Tillaberi on December 21.

Travel by motorbike has been banned in Tillaberi since January in a bid to prevent incursions by highly mobile jihadists riding on two wheels.

A landlocked state located in the heart of the Sahel, Niger is also being hammered by jihadists from Nigeria, the cradle of a decade-old insurgency launched by Boko Haram.

Last month 34 villagers were massacred in the southeastern region of Diffa, on the Nigerian border, the day before municipal and regional elections that had been repeatedly delayed because of poor security.

The latest attacks came on the same day election officials announced that ruling party candidate and former minister Mohamed Bazoum won the first round of Niger's presidential vote, which was held last weekend. A runoff vote is scheduled for February 20.
Kelley Cornishs marriage to the Rev. Dr. Douglas Slaughter is her Hallmark moment.

Cornish, a diversity, equity and inclusion expert and inspirational speaker who has worked in banking, government and health care, and Slaughter, the senior pastor at Aikens Second Baptist Church, married three years ago. Cornish had known Slaughter all of her adult life, but it took family  and maybe a little divine intervention  to bring them together just like in a Hallmark Channel movie.

In November 2015, my great-aunt, Esther Bussey, who had been a member of the church for years  a true Mother of the church  became ill, and he called me to share his concern about her needing a family member to help her as her health declined, Cornish said.

That phone call started Cornishs journey back and forth from Philadelphia, where she lived and worked, to Aiken every four to six weeks to assist during her great-aunts last years.

During each visit, I would connect with Pastor Slaughter for any updates that I may have missed about her that she decided not to share with me  she called him her son. An amazing woman, she was my rock, Cornish said. The conversations evolved with the pastor with the help of my matchmaker of a great-aunt  unknowing to me  and by October 2016, Pastor Slaughter and I were engaged and married in June 2017. As they say, the rest is history!

Being a pastors wife is a perfect fit for Cornish. Shes been involved with the church all of her life and now leads the womens ministry, called Women of Purpose, and is the Lead Bible Teacher for the Womens Bible Study at Second Baptist Church.

Watching God's word change and move in the lives of women is nothing short of a miracle, Cornish said. I've seen so many lives edified and changed as women get together and enrich each other's lives.

Although COVID-19 might have limited church services, the pandemic has allowed Cornish to expand her ministry at Second Baptist, which soon will move from Hampton Avenue into a new facility to serve the Aiken community on York Street.

We used to meet at the church, but then when we had to go to Zoom, I could invite people from anywhere in the world, Cornish said. Our study averages from 30 up to 60 women on any given meeting day and includes women from the local Aiken area; Atlanta; Washington, D.C.; Florida; and Philadelphia, and we look to continue to grow. Its allowed me to open up and really share the gospel with women, and anyone can join.

A new study via Zoom, Redeemed: Grace to Live Every Day Better Than Before, by Angela Thomas-Pharr, will start Jan. 9, 2021. The group meets from 10 a.m. to noon every other Saturday, and its open to everyone across the globe, Cornish said.

The church also helped Cornish develop her passion for diversity, equity, inclusion and social justice and is where the seeds of her lifes work as a diversity expert were planted.

The Black church was where a lot of our community problems were addressed and solved, Cornish said. They would have meetings on Saturdays. They would organize around feeding the needy. They would organize around a problem that had to be solved, and we had a lot of people involved with the NAACP. So those grassroots efforts stayed with me.

Born in Augusta, Cornish moved to New Jersey with her family when she was 2 but returned to Aiken, where her mothers family had roots, for middle school, attending with Aiken Mayor Rick Osbon and graduating from Aiken High School.

Cornish was a cheerleader with Osbons wife, Angie, at USC Aiken, where she majored in business administration with a focus in marketing and a minor in management.

When Im out speaking around the globe and people ask where I went to school, I say the University of South Carolina Aiken - Aiken. I have to get that in there. Im very proud of that, Cornish said.

Cornish received a job offer before graduating and worked for a while with Tim Simmons at Security Federal Bank. She then went to work for the Minority Development Business Center through the U.S. Department of Commerce in Augusta.

Our job was to help small and minority-owned businesses become integrated into the mainstream, Cornish said. Those centers still exist today."

Cornish eventually went back into banking as an investment officer, working in Florida for a while, and earned a Masters degree, but because there was no degree in diversity at the time, she created her own.

So I got a Masters in human resources management and wrote my thesis in diversity. It was a new word. It was a new thing, Cornish said.

With her degree and at the urging of her brother, who told her she needed to be in a big city, Cornish applied for and accepted a job as the first director of diversity for the Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia.

Back in banking today and more than 30 years after starting in the industry, Cornish, a senior vice president for a global financial institution, leads a team of diversity, equity and inclusion consultants from London to California.

Im still doing it. Its growing. I love it, Cornish said of her career in diversity. Its a good time to be in the work. Its evolving. Its a little new because the conversation is new to some people, but I think the conversation now is in the right hands with the right people who have the power to influence change.

The question is what side of history will you be on: the ones who make the difference to change or the ones who stay the same? Its a defining moment. To do this work, its not just hard work  its heart work.

In addition to her corporate work with diversity, Cornish speaks internationally on the subject.

I speak a lot about diversity, equity and inclusion: how to move it forward, the history of it. A huge part of that is about being an African-American woman in todays world in America, in corporate America and in society and what that means, she said. I also speak on being a single mom for 10 years and raising two African-American boys.

Cornish is an author, too. Her book, Its Work! How Will You Show Up?, with co-author Myron Rolle, explains the principles and protocols of professional excellence and excellence in ones personal life, according to her website at www.kelleycornish.com.

After Cornish and Slaughter wed, she transferred to Greenville, and the couple commuted during the first years of their marriage. But they are together in Aiken now, settling into a new house with Cornish using her interest and skills at interior design to make it a home.

Cornish also is settling into community work.

Over the summer, Cornish got involved with the Umoja Village, a grass-roots community group started by Donna Moore Wesby after the murder of George Floyd in late May.

Umoja, which means unity in Swahili, looks at the quality of life and issues that need to be addressed by Aikens African-American community.

People just came together in the moment, very high-profile people of color here in Aiken, and said now is our time to put some expectations out there on how things have got to be different, Cornish said.

The groups members met with the Aiken County sheriff, the City of Aikens director of Public Safety, Aikens mayor and USCAs chancellor.

We looked at education. We looked at criminal justice. We looked at colleges and universities  everything you can think of, Cornish said.

The groups work continues.

It is so rewarding. Its meaningful work in your backyard. Im very passionate about it, Cornish said. My overall desire as I come back home is to leave Aiken even better than what it is now. My desire is that now  in the place that I call home  I can provide some influence and resources and bring a voice to continue to help make Aiken better, so my kids, although they may not live here, they will want to come here because theyll know that thats a place where my mom wanted to make a difference, did make a difference, and will know it is better than the way she left it.

Cornish also is working to make the public more aware of the role African-Americans played in the founding of Aiken County.

I learned over the summer from my husband that the efforts that led to the birth and founding of Aiken County included three African-American men  Prince R. Rivers, Charles D. Hayne and Samuel J. Lee, she said. Their plaque is displayed at the Aiken County Historical Museum, and their names are also documented on a plaque outside of the Aiken County Judicial Center.

I'm not sure why this was and is not taught in our local schools and highlighted daily in the county; however, I have a personal desire to bring this to life moving forward to show the power and influence that existed in the Black African American community and anchors us today."

Between them, Cornish and her husband have five amazing kids, ranging from age 19 to 34. Like their parents, they all have successful, meaningful careers. One is an epidemiologist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta; one is an engineer; one is a business analyst for American Express; and one is an actress. The youngest is in college studying to be a teacher.

Theyve done well, Cornish said. We live vicariously through them. They keep us young, and they keep us on point.

To recognize her passion for diversity, equity, inclusion and social efforts throughout her life and career, the National Congress of Black Women (NCBW) presented Cornish the 2019 Sojourner Truth Award at the Annual Congressional Black Caucus in Washington, D.C., which sets a new direction for the Black African American community each year, she said.

I'm proud for two reasons, Cornish said. First, this award is named after a legendary Black African American woman who lived and served in the 19th century as an abolitionist and women's rights activist. Secondly, one of the co-founders of the NCBW was Dr. Shirley Chisolm, another Black African American woman whose dedication and commitment as a politician, author and teacher led to her being the first Black African American woman elected to Congress, and she served seven terms from 1969 to 1983.

When I looked at the description of the award, I thought this is amazing. It made me reflect on who I am, the people who came before me, and the shoulders that I stand on.
The presidential election is over and President-elect Joe Biden won this election. President Trump claims fraud, and all kinds of crooked returns. He has had lawsuits filed, and almost all of them thrown out. The Supreme Court even threw one out. They were a Republican majority. Even Republicans in Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Illinois, North Carolina, South Carolina have not found any fraud or crooked work. The Electoral College cast votes, Biden 306, Trump 232. It is all over, my fellow Americans. The people have spoken; we have a new president on Jan. 20  Joe Biden  and a new vice president  Kamala Harris. Majority leader in the Senate, Sen. Mitch McConnell, has finally accepted Joe Biden. Donald Trump and Rudy Giuliani won't ever accept Joe Biden at all. The Republicans had 126 in the House try to overturn the election, most of all, destroy our democracy. Our democracy works no matter who wins elections.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-03 22:37:17|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- SF Airlines, China's leading air cargo carrier, welcomed its 62nd all-cargo freighter which landed at Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport Saturday morning, announced the cargo airline.

The B757-200 freighter is the newest member of SF Airlines' fleet, representing the 35th wide-body freighter of the carrier. The new aircraft will soon be put into operation, said SF Airlines.

The expanded fleet will enhance the airline's air logistics capacity and fleet structure.

SF Airlines, the aviation branch of China's delivery giant SF Express, is the country's largest air cargo carrier. It operates a global air cargo service network connecting more than 70 destinations at home and abroad. Enditem
When Marian Finucane died in her sleep last January at the age of 69, the Irish nation was in shock. They had lost a broadcasting legend. No longer would they hear that deep, warm voice opening her weekend radio show with: "Hello there, and a very good morning to you."

She had just returned from India with her husband John Clarke. They had travelled there for a five-day wedding. Before the trip, Marian had a procedure on her heart and the results weren't good. She had arrhythmia - an irregular heartbeat.

"She wasn't in the greatest of health but she was determined to go to that wedding," says her friend and former RTE colleague, producer Hilary Orpen. "She had bought the most gorgeous clothes for it. I got emails from her when she was in India. She said that it was absolutely splendid, and the people were lovely but she was so tired. I miss her every day."

In the early 1970s, Hilary and Marian had worked together in RTE on the groundbreaking radio show Women Today, which Marian presented.

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"We became very close friends, right up to the end. I think she trusted me, and it was the same for me. You could tell her anything and it wouldn't go beyond," Hilary adds. "After her Saturday programme, she'd usually come up to me and we'd have lunch and a long chat. She was always good fun. She was a very thoughtful interviewer and a very warm human being. She really liked people."

In 1995, they travelled together to China to make a TV programme about an International Women's Conference in Beijing. A few days prior to the conference, they visited a remote part of Guilin Province known for its cormorant fishermen.

"On a boat with hundreds of Chinese passengers, we watched the fishermen and cormorants at work. Marian thought it was perfect: peace and tranquillity, and above all, anonymity. No sooner had she expressed this thought than a cry went up from the back of the boat. 'There's Marian Finucane!' A small group of Irish people were on board and had spotted Marian. They rushed forward and surrounded her.

"This was the last thing she had hoped for but she sat with the Irish group for the rest of the trip, chatting and answering questions, one of the favourites being 'What is Gay Byrne really like?'

"Even in remotest China, Marian could not be anonymous."

For 45 years, Marian Finucane was a public figure. She broadcast on television and radio - The Women's Programme, Liveline and Crimeline, to name but a few. Irish people opened up to her and felt like they knew her.

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But former RTE producer and close friend Clare Duignan points out, "If you go through the archives, there is actually very little on her. She was very private."

Marian was born in Dublin, the daughter of a teacher and a garda. Her father died when she was 12 and her mother was left to rear five children, of whom Marian was the youngest. She went to Scoil Chaitriona, a Gaelscoil, then on Eccles Street, and she credited the progressive intellectual Dominican nuns there with encouraging her to question everything. Instead of expecting the girls to get married and have babies, they told them that they could be anything they wanted to be.

Her mother thought that she was too young to go to college at 16 and needed a little taming, so she was sent from home in Glasnevin to St Louis boarding school in Monaghan. These nuns didn't impress her as much. Once when she had sneaked into the locked library to read a book, she was confronted by a nun who said, "Marian Finucane, your mother has paid good money for you to get an education here, not to be reading books."

She went to Bolton Street to study architecture, and worked for Arthur Gibney and Partners, one of the leading firms of the day, for a short period. Then, in her early 20s, she got a job as a continuity announcer in RTE with the hope of becoming a journalist. That was where commentator and former RTE producer Eoghan Harris spotted her talent.

"I loved her voice and thought her sharpness and attractive looks would make her an ideal TV presenter," he says. "She was thrilled when I asked her to co-present, with Tom McGurk, a weekly television book and media programme called Paperchase. She was a hit from the start."

But the show was dropped. "After one season the show was dropped on the eve of summer in one of those irrational RTE shuffles," says Harris. "I thought she had a natural radio voice and I advised her to get a slot on a radio show, and she did. She never looked back. Her subsequent radio success was no surprise to me as she had a unique radio voice - deep, warm and mellow with a seductive throatiness that reminded me of Barbara Stanwyck. It was a voice that came richly out of the radio and reverberated round a room, assuming a natural authority and compelling respect."

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Marian married Larry Granville, a fellow architect, at the age of 24 but it didn't last. "We got on brilliantly but we weren't a good marriage, simple as that," she once said. Then she met John Clarke, a sheep farmer, and that was it. He was the love of her life. It was a meeting of minds and they enjoyed their country life in Co Westmeath. She once told the former editor of The Sunday Independent, Anne Harris, that she wanted to be a farmer.

In Kate O'Callaghan and Patrick Farrelly's superb documentary Marian, broadcast tomorrow night, John talks about their life together, her career and how she "always made the colours seem brighter".

John had been married before and had three children, and went on to have two more with Marian - Sinead and Jack. Sadly, Sinead developed leukaemia and died in 1990 aged eight. The heartache of this remained with Marian for the rest of her life.

All during her daughter's illness, Marian continued to broadcast Liveline.

"She'd leave Liveline and go to Harcourt Street Hospital to be with Sinead," says Hilary. "I remember asking her if she felt that she could continue working. She said, 'It's my lifeline. It keeps me sane. If I think about Sinead all the time, I wouldn't be able to function.' It wasn't the show must go on but Marian must go on. It helped her."

Sinead died in the family home and Marian and John were grateful for the help the hospice gave them. Consequently, Marian went on to raise huge funds for the Irish Hospice Foundation, especially the children's hospice home-care programme.

Years later, after a trip to South Africa, she and John set up a charity to fund an orphanage there and to help children with Aids.

The writer Nuala O'Faolain was Sinead's godmother. "She was her closest friend and the person who kept her sane," says Clare Duignan. "In the aftermath of Sinead's death, Nuala would drive down from Dublin and they would walk and walk and walk."

Years later in 2018, when Nuala was dying, she did a harrowingly honest interview with Marian about facing death. Once she knew she was going to die, Nuala admitted, all the goodness had gone out of life. To do that interview, Marian said that they needed to have a table between them, as they were too close emotionally.

"Marian was a really good friend," says Clare. "If you said, 'can you give me 20,000 and drive me to Timbuktu?' She'd say, 'Grand, I'll be out in 10 minutes.' When she died, I was devastated."

They had known each other since 1978 when Marian was the presenter of a radio show that was a brainchild of Clare's - Women Today.

"We were young and trendy and we were going to change the world. She was very smart and sassy and very well informed," says Clare. "Marian used to host a Christmas lunch for all the gang of work colleagues from Women Today and the subsequent Women's Programme.

"She and John lived in a fantastic crumbling house in Mullingar called Reynalla and they were great hosts. Some of the happiest memories of my life were the parties in her house. Nuala and Nell [McCafferty, her partner and a journalist] used to sing a duet. When we ran out of things to sing, we always ended up singing hymns. We were all convent-educated girls."

"I remember hearing her reports in the late '70s," adds RTE producer Marian Richardson. "She was a trailblazer."

Marian Finucane won the Prix Italia broadcasting award for Abortion : The Lonely Crisis, a radio documentary in 1979, in which she accompanied an Irish woman to England where she had an abortion.

"She was a great listener and also very careful with other people's feelings," says Marian Richardson. "She was fearless and empathetic at the same time. That was a glorious and lethal combination in a broadcaster. When I was doing Playback, I always tuned in for the big interview on Saturday mornings. You never knew what was going to happen. It would all be going along very relaxed and then you'd hear her - 'Really?' questioning and suddenly you knew, wow, she's going in for the kill now. She had a very forensic mind and a fierce intelligence and she was a stunning broadcaster.

"Most presenters would go to the studio 20 minutes before their show, to settle themselves. I found it fascinating that she would sweep in at the last minute."

"Marian swept in at a minute past 11 and the show started at two minutes past 11," remembers Clare Duignan. "It was very unnerving for the guests and her team but it was very good for interviews. It caught people on the hop and they'd blurt things out, slightly rattled."

Many of her interviews became the stuff of legend. Politician Joe Jacob's bumbling reasoning for the use of iodine tablets in a nuclear disaster; Anglo-Irish bank head Sean Fitzpatrick's brazen lack of apology for the financial damage that was done; and her relentless prodding of Sinn Fein's Gerry Adams, a notoriously cagey interviewee, was a masterclass. She compared his large family with Jean McConville's and at every turn, challenged him with hard facts and atrocities.

But not everything was work. Former RTE radio producer Doireann Ni Bhriain has happy memories of meeting Marian in a bar at the Merriman Summer School in Co Clare. Marian loved the Irish language, the music and the culture. She was a great set dancer and she would sing The Boys of Barr na Sraide.

"She loved travel and adored being in strange places," says Doireann. "Other people would be going off to sit on a beach somewhere, and she and John would go to Syria or India. They would read about a country for six months before they set off. She had an intense curiosity about life, and she certainly lived life to the full.

"It was right that she became a figure in Irish life. She was an exceptional woman."

Marian is on RTE One, tomorrow at 9.35pm





Outside the RTE studio... five things about Marian

1 She was passionate about farming and agriculture and once said that she wanted to be a farmer. She and John had a farm and they even bred racehorses. Until her final days, she lived in Kilteel, Co Kildare. Country living suited her and she got on well with country people. When they lived in Reynalla House in Mullingar, they had a very good coarse fishing lake on their land and they took guests in the house. A lot of North of England fishermen would come to stay. John was a fantastic cook and was keen to cook elaborate dishes but the guests just wanted plain meals - chip butties or sausage and eggs.

2 In the early 1980s, she edited Status - an Irish news magazine for women by women. It closed after 10 issues as they didn't get the advertising revenue needed. When she asked former Sunday Independent editor Anne Harris if she would write something for it, Anne suggested an article about the conflict between fashion and feminism and how there shouldn't be a contradiction between the two. Marian turned it down and said that fashion had nothing with feminism. A few years later, Anne and Anne O'Donnell (of The Rape Crisis Centre) joined Marian on The Women's Programme on TV to talk of their love of fashion and how feminists didn't have to wear boiler-suits.

3 She adored fashion and had a very good eye for what suited her - well-cut clothes with no frills or patterns. She believed in buying one or two good-quality items and getting a lot of wear out of them. She loved hats and wore a wonderfully dramatic black one on her wedding day in 2015. She was a big fan of Irish designers - Ib Jorgensen and Thomas Wolfangel - and she loved shopping for clothes in Paris and Rome with her sister Dorothy. Tall and statuesque, she had great posture thanks to her garda father who told her that she should always walk tall.

4 She always referred to the Catholic Church as "the Roman Catholic Church". It was a clever distancing tactic. She once asked Mother Teresa why a man couldn't be the centre of the family.

5 She was an avid reader. The first met time she met future husband John, they had a heated debate about Ernest Hemingway's novels. Happiness for her was being at home reading a book. She was curious about everything. When she and John travelled, they always brought a suitcase full of books.
The Pune International Film Festival (PIFF) has been postponed to a later date, said organisers on Saturday.

As the 51st edition of International Film Festival of India (IFFI) will kick-start in Goa from January 16 to 24 so PIFF has been postponed.

IFFI, the official film festival of India, was scheduled to be held in Goa from November 20-28 last year.

Dr Jabbar Patel, director, PIFF, said, Due to the Covid-19 pandemic schedules of most of the film festivals have been postponed. We will soon be calling for a government council meeting and the dates will be decided.

Earlier, the organisers of PIFF had announced on their web page and through social media to hold the 19th edition of PIFF between January 14 to 21.

We had planned to organise the festival from January 14, but now with IFFI schedule, we will have to look at different dates. We are in the process of getting the films for competition and a good number of Marathi films have arrived at our offices as an entry for the prestigious Marathi film competition during PIFF, said Aditi Akkalkotkar, deputy director- coordination and communication, PIFF.

The week-long film festival that brings international cinema to the city, is usually held during the second week to January every year.

Like IFFI, which the Information and Broadcasting Ministry has announced is to be held as a hybrid festival with screenings of films taking place virtually and some physically, PIFF too intends to hold it similarly.

It has become the norm for international film festivals to be held in such a hybrid way and we are ready for this platform too, said Patel.
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GARDAI found cannabis plants growing in a polytunnel and a small quantity of cannabis in a fridge when they called to a house in Doon in relation to separate matters, Kilmallock Court heard.

Paul Mitchell, aged 47, of Lackanagoneeny, Doon pleaded guilty to cultivation of the plants and to possession of drugs under the provisions of the Misuse of Drugs Act..

Inspector Pat Brennan said on May 31, 2019, gardai from the crime office at Bruff garda station called to Mr Mitchells address as they wished to speak with another individual who was present at the house at the time.

They observed plants being grown in a polytunnel. The defendant fully consented to a search. Gardai recovered three mature cannabis plants and a quantity of cannabis in the fridge. He took sole responsibility. He said the cannabis was for his personal use, said Insp Brennan.

The court heard that the three cannabis plants were valued at 2,400 and the cannabis in the fridge was worth around 80.

Leanne Purcell, solicitor for Mr Mitchell, said her client co-operated fully with gardai and allowed the search of his home.

He grew them for his own personal use. His marriage broke up, he lost a business and he did resort to using cannabis to avoid what was going on.

He was surprised at their value, she said.

Ms Purcell urged the court to consider not recording a formal conviction given the impact it would have on her clients work prospects.

He has got a new contract with an international company. He has taken up cross fit exercising so it is not possible to smoke. He is not using cannabis. A conviction would have a hugely detrimental impact as he has to travel abroad for his job. He has no previous convictions, she submitted.

Noting the application, Judge Marian OLeary indicated she will strike out the two charges if the defendant meets a number of criteria.

Mr Mitchell must attend a drug awareness programme and complete four hours of voluntary work per week for 20 weeks.

He must also make a 1,500 contribution to the court poor box.
U.S Sen. Pat Toomey (R-PA) issued a statement on Saturday rebuking the attempts of other U.S. Senators efforts to overturn certified votes from the 2020 Presidential Election.

Toomey, who voted for President Donald J. Trump, said he will not align with members of his party who are trying to invalidate President-Elect Joe Bidens victory.

The following statement was issued:

A fundamental, defining feature of a democratic republic is the right of the people to elect their own leaders. The effort by Senators Hawley, Cruz, and others to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in swing states like Pennsylvania directly undermines this right.

The senators justify their intent by observing that there have been many allegations of fraud. But allegations of fraud by a losing campaign cannot justify overturning an election. They fail to acknowledge that these allegations have been adjudicated in courtrooms across America and were found to be unsupported by evidence. President Trumps own Attorney General, Bill Barr, stated we have not seen fraud on a scale that could have effected a different outcome in the election.

I acknowledge that this past election, like all elections, had irregularities. But the evidence is overwhelming that Joe Biden won this election. His narrow victory in Pennsylvania is easily explained by the decline in suburban support for President Trump and the presidents slightly smaller victory margins in most rural counties.

I voted for President Trump and endorsed him for re-election. But, on Wednesday, I intend to vigorously defend our form of government by opposing this effort to disenfranchise millions of voters in my state and others.

Read more from PennLive

Texas judge dismisses suit aimed at overturning election

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Country vows to deliver on diverse demands in democracy



By Kang Kyung-wha



"The blue-white U.N. flags could be sighted almost everywhere  the festive mood is being revived" So reported the Sept. 18, 1991, edition of The Korea Times on the scenery in downtown Seoul the day before.





Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha / Courtesy of Ministry of Foreign Affairs
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In a massive development, the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) on Sunday approved Serum Insititute's 'Covishield' for emergency use, along with Bharat Biotech's 'Covaxin'. Addressing a presser, the DCGI VG Somani said that the Subject Expert Committee of Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) met on January 1 and 2 and made recommendations in respect of proposal for Restricted Emergency Approval of COVID-19 virus vaccine of Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech as well as Phase III clinical trial of Cadila Healthcare Ltd. The nod by India comes days after United Kingdom's approval to Oxford-AstraZeneca's Coronavirus Vaccine which is being manufactured and marketed in India by Serum Institute under the name Covishield.

What DCGI said about Covishield:

About SII's Covishield, the official said, "M/s Serum Institute of India, Pune has presented a Recombinant Chimpanzee Adenovirus vector vaccine (Covishield) encoding the SARS-CoV-2 Spike (S) glycoprotein with technology transfer from AstraZeneca/Oxford University. The firm submitted safety, immunogenicity and efficacy data generated on 23,745 participants aged  18 years or older from overseas clinical studies. The overall vaccine efficacy was found to be 70.42%. Further, M/s Serum was granted permission to conduct Phase-II/III clinical trial on 1600 participants within the country. The firm also submitted the interim safety and immunogenicity data generated from this trial and the data was found comparable with the data from the overseas clinical studies. After detailed deliberations, Subject Expert Committee has recommended for the grant of permission for restricted use in emergency situation subject to certain regulatory conditions. The clinical trial ongoing within the country by the firm will continue." READ FULL STATEMENT HERE.

READ | Akhilesh Yadav says 'Won't take BJP's vaccine' as pan-India 'dry run' commences

Here's everything you need to know about the Oxford-AstraZeneca-Serum Institute vaccine 'Covishield

Efficacy: The Oxford-AstraZeneca-SII Covishield vaccine's efficacy in preventing symptomatic infections was 70.4 per cent as 30 of 5,807 people who got the two-dose vaccine developed COVID-19, compared with 101 of 5,829 people who got a placebo, in the clinical trials.

For participants who received two full doses at least one month apart, vaccine efficacy was 62%, and in those who received a low dose followed by a full dose, efficacy was 90%.

Cost: Serum Institute of India CEO Adar Poonawalla has said earlier that for the Government of India, the price of the vaccine will be about USD 3 per dose, so USD 6 [Rs 440] per person, but for the private market it will cost around Rs 700-800.

Storage: The vaccine could be kept at normal refrigerator temperatures, between 2 and 8 degrees celsius. In comparison, the Moderna vaccine needs to be stored at -20 degree Celsius and the Pfizer/BioNTech product must be kept at -70 degree Celsius.

Technology: The vaccine entails a version of a virus that usually infects chimpanzees and has been modified with a portion of the COVID-19 called the "spike protein" to fire the immune system. Once it enters the human cells, the vaccine would help stimulate the production of antibodies that recognize the virus.

Safety: According to The Lancet, a medical publication, Oxford's COVID-19 vaccine is safe and efficacious against symptomatic coronavirus disease. The safety was monitored for a median of 3.4 months in all 23,745 participants from the UK, Brazil and South Africa. Out of 23,745 participants, 168 experienced a total of 175 severe adverse events over the period, but 172 events were unrelated to the COVID-19 or control vaccines.

Doses: The world's biggest producer of vaccines (Serum Institute of India), has already stockpiled about 50 million doses, enough for 25 million people.

Approval in UK: On December 30, The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine was authorized for emergency use in the United Kingdom (UK). It has been given the go-ahead by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). It is the second vaccine to be approved in the UK after the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was given the go-ahead in December. UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced on Wednesday that the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine will be rolled from January 4 across Britain.

READ | Bharat Biotech's Covaxin Gets SEC's Nod, DCGI Decision On Vaccine Likely Tomorrow: Sources

READ | Congress Seeks Centre's Clarification On SEC Recommending Bharat Biotech's Covaxin
Hong Kong: HKs legal service benefits the nation

Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng

The year of 2021 marks the start of the 14th Five-Year Plan for National Economic & Social Development (14th Five-Year Plan). The 14th Five-Year Plan not only provides the blueprint for the nations social and economic developments from 2021 to 2025, but also sets the path for Hong Kongs development. The Department of Justice (DoJ) would fully utilise Hong Kongs unique advantages in legal and dispute resolution service to support and complement the development of our country.

As you all know, the Greater Bay Area (GBA) development is one of the major policy initiatives of the Central Peoples Government. The Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, which was published in February 2019, sets the directions guiding the development. It explicitly supports Hong Kong to establish itself as the centre for international legal and dispute resolution services in the Asia-Pacific region, recognising the distinctive advantages of Hong Kongs legal system under the one country, two systems principle.

The development of the bay area has brought many benefits to Hong Kong and opened up vast opportunities for various sectors, including legal and dispute resolution service which is well placed to seize such opportunities. The DoJ has been liaising with the relevant Mainland authorities, striving to implement more liberalisation measures and new initiatives in the bay area to the benefit of our legal and dispute resolution service sector.

We welcome two recent major breakthroughs which would facilitate the promotion of our services in the bay area:

(1) GBA Legal Professional Examination

One of the breakthroughs is the implementation of the GBA Legal Professional Exam, which adjusts the threshold for Hong Kong legal practitioners to practise Mainland law in the bay area.

Hong Kong solicitors and barristers with accumulated practice experience of five years or above are now eligible to apply for the GBA Legal Professional Examination. Upon passing the examination and obtaining a lawyers practice certificate (Greater Bay Area), legal professionals may provide legal services in the nine Mainland municipalities of the bay area on specified civil and commercial matters (including litigation and non-litigation matters) to which the Mainland laws apply, enjoying the same privileges and subject to the same obligations as Mainland lawyers. Application for the first examination was opened from November 16 to 26, 2020. The first examination would be held on January 30, 2021.

(2) Supplemental Arrangement Concerning Mutual Enforcement of Arbitral Awards between the Mainland & the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region

The other recent major breakthrough is the signing of the Supplemental Arrangement Concerning Mutual Enforcement of Arbitral Awards between the Mainland & the Hong Kong SAR (Supplemental Arrangement) on November 27, 2020. The Arrangement Concerning Mutual Enforcement of Arbitral Awards between the Mainland & the Hong Kong SAR (Arrangement), which was signed on June 21, 1999, and took effect since February 1, 2000, has been in force for more than 20 years. Co-operation between the Mainland and the Hong Kong SAR under the Arrangement has delivered fruitful results. The Arrangement provides a simple and effective mechanism on reciprocal enforcement of arbitral awards and fosters legal and judicial co-operation in civil and commercial matters.

The amendments to the Arrangement, made through the Supplemental Arrangement, include the removal of current restriction of the Arrangement to allow parties to make simultaneous application to both the courts of the Mainland and the Hong Kong SAR for enforcement of an arbitral award, which was made in accordance with the spirit of the New York Convention. Other amendments are: adding an express provision to clarify that a party may apply for preservation measures before or after the court's acceptance of an application to enforce an arbitral award for greater certainty; removing the list of Mainland arbitral institutions to align with the definition of the scope of arbitral awards with the prevalent international approach of "seat of arbitration" under the New York Convention; and expressly including the term "recognition" when referring to enforcement of arbitral awards in the Arrangement for greater certainty.

Coupled with the Arrangement Concerning Mutual Assistance in Court-ordered Interim Measures in Aid of Arbitral Proceedings by the Courts of the Mainland & of the Hong Kong SAR which became effective in October 2019, as well as the GBA Legal Professional Examination, the Supplemental Arrangement would be conducive to the continued development of Hong Kong's legal and dispute resolution services in the bay area.

In addition to the above measures, the DoJ has always been exploring the possibility of allowing wholly owned Hong Kong enterprises (WOKEs) set up in the Mainland to agree to choose Hong Kong laws to be the applicable law when entering into civil and commercial contracts, and choose Hong Kong as the seat of arbitration. In fact, we are glad to see some recent progress in this area in Qianhai (remarks). It is our hope that this initiative would be extended to cover Shenzhen and subsequently the whole bay area. One country, two systems and three jurisdictions are the unique characteristics of the bay area. If the law of the three jurisdictions could be applied in the bay area, it would undoubtedly attract more investment from Hong Kong and overseas into the nine Mainland municipalities in the bay area, thereby opening up vast business opportunities.

On the premise of one country, two systems and the principle of reciprocity and mutual benefits, Hong Kong should continue to consolidate and enhance its role and positioning in the 14th Five-Year Plan in order to contribute to the long-term development of Hong Kong, the bay area as well as the whole country. To this end, the DoJ is fully committed to capitalising on our strengths in the area of legal and dispute resolution services so as to integrate into the development of our country, as well as contribute to the prosperity of our country.

The situation of the outbreak remains severe. The measures by the Government to prevent the importation of cases and the spread of the virus in the community have gradually yielded results. However, the number of daily confirmed cases still fluctuates. I sincerely urge every one of us to remain vigilant by staying at home to fight the pandemic, thereby allowing our city to resume its normal operation and return to a healthy environment and the path of development soon.

Remarks: On August 26, 2020, some Qianhai Regulations were passed allowing WOKEs established in Qianhai to choose Hong Kong law, to be the applicable law of their contracts, even in the absence of foreign-related elements. Companies set up in Qianhai by Macau, Taiwan or foreign investors also enjoy such entitlement under the provision.

Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng wrote this article and posted it on her blog on January 3.

This story has been published on: 2021-01-03. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.




Consider all this to be an analytic opinion.

1. The roll out of the Republican insurgent operation for objection to the Electoral College vote on the 6th is indicative of where the party is going.

Mitch McConnell and the party apparatchiks in congress may think that they will be able to do business with Biden/Harris and their handlers but the the 74 million citizens who voted against the Democrats do not agree.

In this context the 5 January runoffs in Georgia are largely irrelevant. The Republicans and those who vote with them will be in Opposition no matter who runs the US Senate.

The objecting members of congress know that they cannot succeed in obtaining supporting majorities in both houses of congress in support of their objections. When pressed they said this on the Sunday morning TeeVee newsies today. No. What they are doing is establishing a baseline of political opposition to the results of the 2020 election. Along this baseline they will insist that Biden/Harris are not legitimately elected and are in fact usurpers against whom any means of resistance is justified. This closely mirrors Democrat propaganda and tactics throughout the Trump presidency.

People who think that resistance by the Smellies (Deplorables) to Democrat/Marxist rule will disappear as a result of Trump's defeat are deceiving themselves. It will not. In this move we see consolidation of Smelly resistance.

2. When the 6 January rebellion in the congress fails, Trump will be faced by a personal need to maintain himself as party (and Smelly) leader. One possible course of action would be to start a war against a country so demonized by the media and his own administration that the most recent verbal threats by that country can be said to be a causus belli. The most obvious target would be Iran, closely followed in order of probability by Syria.

The president/CinC has broad and legal effective powers to wage war against an imminent national threat on a short term basis as opposed to limitations on those powers under the War Powers Act. He/she has the ability to wage war for 30 days before congress can effectively stop a war.

Under the Goldwater-Nichols Act of 1986, the military chain of command runs from POTUS to SECDEF to the Combatant Commanders. Under the same law, the JCS (including the Chairman) and the whole Joint Staff in the Pentagon are merely advisers and planners operating in support of POTUS and SECDEF. Trump now has the SECDEF he wants and nothing stands between him and the ability to legally launch an air and naval war in the ME. The small US forces in Iraq and Syria would be greatly endangered by such a move, but ... In the context of possible action against Iran, the withdrawal of the Nimitz battle group from the Gulf should not be seen as necessarily being a signal of declining US-Iranian tensions. Perhaps the withdrawal has been long scheduled but elbow room in the Arabian Sea would be needed in a shooting war.

Biden/Harris would be left to deal with the situation. Trump might face civil or criminal action in the aftermath, but a long, drawn out legal battle with all the opportunity this would present for publicity might suit him well.

Would the Combatant Commanders refuse legal orders to attack? I doubt that would happen. pl

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goldwater%E2%80%93Nichols_Act
Egypt has approved the emergency use of the Chinese Sinopharm vaccine on Saturday, as the country looks to boost its supply of coronavirus vaccines amid a spike in daily infections in the overpopulous country.

In exclusive statements to MBC Masrs El-Hekaya programme, Health Minister Hala Zayed said that the ministry received the approval of the Egyptian Drug Authority (EDA) for the emergency use of the Chinese vaccine.

The first batch of vaccines, which Egypt received last month, was tested by the EDA to ensure its safety for use, Zayed said.

She added that the next batch of the Chinese vaccine will arrive in the coming days.

Zayed revealed that AstraZeneca/Oxford has submitted a request for the use of its vaccine in Egypt through the countrys vaccine maker Vacsera, with negotiations over the vaccine nearly finalised.

The first batch of their vaccine should be received in the third or fourth week of January.

Egypt is also negotiating for the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, she said, adding that Egypt has also separately contracted with the vaccine alliance, GAVI, to secure 40 million doses of one of the coronavirus vaccines for 20 million citizens.

The first batch of the GAVI vaccine will arrive sometime in the first quarter of 2021, she added, while the other batches will be supplied later throughout the year.

Last month, Egypts Finance Minister Mohamed Maait said the ministry signed contracts to purchase 20 million doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine and 30 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

No further details were provided on the deals at the time.

Zayed said that work is underway to determine when the vaccination campaign would begin in selected affiliated centers nationwide, adding that priority would be given to medical front-liners, patients suffering from chronic diseases, and the elderly.

She expected the campaign to begin within the second and third week of January.

Zayed said it was important to secure vaccines for those who fall under the priority criteria for vaccinations, adding that the states Tahya Masr fund will bear the cost of all vaccines.

However, she said that those able to pay for the vaccine can bear its cost separately without the states support, with details on the mechanism for payment to be revealed later.

Egypt entered the second wave of the pandemic in the last week of December, recording double the number of infections daily.

The country has so far registered 140,878 cases of COVID-19 since mid-February, including 7,741 fatalities.

Egypt has warned of a spike in COVID-19 cases since November, as the general public has been showing a relaxed enforcement of the preventive measures since a drop in confirmed cases has been recorded in the past months.

Officials said they will exercise zero tolerance against people who fail to adhere to preventive measures against the pandemic.

Short link:


Armie Hammer looked thrilled to reunite with his two children on Saturday, after adhering to a strict 14-day government-mandated quarantine in the Cayman Islands.

The 34-year-old actor shared the exciting news with a snap of himself smiling with his arms in the air as he soaked in some long-awaited family time at the beach.

'Free at last!' he captioned an Instagram post of himself in a floral button-down and navy striped shorts, surrounded by at least nine loved ones on the stark white sand.

Armie Hammer looked thrilled to reunite with his two children on Saturday, after adhering to a strict 14-day government-mandated quarantine in the Cayman Islands

The star, whose daughter Harper, six, and four-year-old son Ford were not pictured, explained he was no longer posting images of his little ones 'for their safety and for their well-being.'

Hammer's estranged wife Elizabeth Chambers, who has been staying with their two kids on the island throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, was also noticeably absent from the photograph.

Hours before the reunion, the star shared footage of himself receiving a coronavirus test with a long nasal swab, which he captioned: 'Last one of these for a while!!'

Back with his family: Hours before the reunion, the star shared footage of himself receiving a coronavirus test with a long nasal swab, which he captioned: 'Last one of these for a while!!'

Earlier this week, he also posted a photo holding a drink on the beach as he looked forward to seeing his children again.

'Good things on the horizon,' he captioned the beachside picture. '5 days of quarantine left.'

Travelers to the Cayman Islands are required to quarantine 14 days upon arrival and may experience airport closures, travel prohibitions, stay at home orders, business closures during their visit.

Beachside quarantine: Earlier this week, he posted a photo holding a drink on the beach as he looked forward to seeing his children in five days

In mid-December, Hammer first teased his family reunion with a snap in a Miami departures lounge while waiting on a Cayman Airways flight to Grand Cayman.

The Social Network star didn't caption the photo, but the date on the flight details screen showed Friday December 18.

In November, he missed out on Thanksgiving with Chambers and their two children in the Cayman Islands, where they have been isolating since the pandemic began earlier this year.

Jetting off: Armie Hammer shared this photo last month showing that he was headed to the Cayman Islands to be reunited with his estranged wife Elizabeth Chambers and their two kids

A source recently told People that the father-of-two 'was supposed to fly to the Cayman Islands, quarantine and then spend Thanksgiving with the kids and his family, flying back to LA all together in mid December.'

According to the insider, Armie 'never willingly abandoned his plan to go to the Cayman Islands, he was unable to travel there after repeated attempts. When air travel reopened, he applied for a visa that has not been approved.'

Armie announced he and Elizabeth, 38, were separating in July after 10 years of marriage.

Separation: Armie (seen here last month) filed for joint custody in October, requesting that Elizabeth return to the United States in order to arrange a custody schedule but it was ruled that the kids should stay in the Cayman Islands where they are going to school

Since their split, the actor was recently spotted out with model Paige Lorenze, in LA.

Armie returned to Los Angeles over the summer and has been trying to get his family to follow him, with no success.

He filed for joint custody in October, requesting that Elizabeth return to the United States in order to arrange a custody schedule.

Hammer, 34, announced he and wife Elizabeth Chambers, 38, were separating in July after 10 years of marriage and two children together

Although he requested that the children should return to Los Angeles, Elizabeth's lawyers reportedly said that the actor should visit his children at their current location, noting that the children were enrolled in an in-person school in the Caribbean.

The two were said to have attended couples therapy and quarantined together during the beginning of the pandemic with their children.

Since splitting from Elizabeth, Armie has been seen out on a date with with Josh Lucas' ex-wife Jessica Ciencin Henriquez. He was also photographed looking cozy with Rumer Willis and enjoyed a date with app developer Courtney Vucekovich.

Miles away: Chambers is in the Cayman Islands with their daughter Harper, six and son Ford, three where they have been isolating since the pandemic began earlier this year
The has directed the (DU) to provide a timeline for declaration of results, issuance of mark sheets and holding convocation on an annual basis for students.

The high court said DU shall file a comprehensive affidavit providing the timeline and procedure regarding these issues so that students are not inconvenienced every semester and are not forced to approach the court for obtaining their transcripts, mark sheets and degree certificates, as was done in this matter.

"This court is of the opinion that in order to ensure that there is a comprehensive, streamlined procedure for declaration of results, issuance of transcripts, mark sheets and degree certificates, etc. DU ought to have a prescribed timeline ," Justice M Prathiba Singh said.

The high court said the earlier affidavit filed by the university was not satisfactory as no specific timelines have been given for the issuance of digital degree certificates and for transmission of data to Digilocker and the affidavit was "quite cryptic".

The court was hearing a batch of petitions by doctors, former DU students, seeking direction for issuance of degree certificates on an urgent basis to enable them to pursue higher

It asked the university to provide a timeline for declaration of results after conclusion of the last exam in a particular semester for under-graduate and post-graduate courses, for issuance of mark sheets/ transcripts or making them available online after the results.

The high court further asked it to provide the timeline for issuance of digital transcripts for such students who may require the same for further or for employment and for transmission of data relating to mark sheets/ transcripts to Digilocker after the same has been announced by DU.

"Timeline for issuance of provisional degree certificates or advance degree certificates after declaration of results, timeline for holding the convocation on an annual basis, timeline for issuance of actual degrees both in digital form and paper degrees and for transmission of the digital degrees/ paper degrees to Digilocker, it said.

The high court asked the university to file the affidavit within six weeks and listed the matter for further hearing on February 17.

Earlier, the high court had directed the DU to issue within seven working days digital degree certificates to students who have already graduated and urgently require the document for taking admission in a foreign university or for employment.

It had passed the order on a bunch of petitions, putting in place a proper procedure for issuance of degree certificates through an online mechanism to ensure that delay in printing of degree certificates does not become an impediment to students who need it and to dispense with the need for physical presence of students at the university during the COVID-19 pandemic.

(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.)
TORONTO - Five things to watch for in the Canadian business world in the coming week:

TORONTO - Five things to watch for in the Canadian business world in the coming week:

December auto salesDesRosiers Automotive Consultants Inc. is scheduled to release its December auto sales data for Canada on Tuesday. The company previously reported that sales of cars and trucks fell in November 10.4 per cent from the same time the previous year as COVID-19 restrictions returned.

Vancouver home salesThe Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver is set to release December home sales data on Tuesday. The Board previously reported that just over 3,000 homes changed hands across the region in November, down about 17 per cent from October but up nearly 23 per cent over last November's sales.

Toronto home salesThe Toronto Regional Real Estate Board is set to release its data on December home resales on Wednesday. The Board recently reported that November home sales in the Greater Toronto Area were up 24.3 per cent compared with last year, as demand for single-family homes continued to surge ahead of condos.

Dorel shareholder voteDorel Industries shareholders are scheduled to vote on a proposal to take the company private on Friday. A group led by an affiliate of Cerberus Capital Management LP has offered to buy Dorel for $14.50 per share in cash, except for shares owned by members of the Schwartz family, including Dorel's chief executive officer.

December jobs numbersStatistics Canada will release its Labour Force Survey for December on Friday. The agency previously reported that the economy added about 62,000 jobs in November, down from 84,000 in October. The unemployment rate as of November sat at 8.5 per cent, down from the 8.9 per cent recorded in October.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 3, 2021.
Months after a bloodless coup unseated the Malian government, the nation's transitional President Bah N'Daw pledged to hold "unquestionably clean" elections to complete the political transition in his New Year's message on Friday, January 1.

"The essence of the transition lies in the preparation and holding of unquestionably clean elections with an accepted and congratulated winner ..." said N'Daw. He added that it is important that the elections "should be held on time, prepared in a transparent and inclusive manner, and methodically organised" even as it remains a challenge.

Read: Former Mali Prime Minister Boubou Cisse Charged For Alleged Coup Against Current Govt

'Long process'

In his New Year's message, N'Daw reaffirmed the transitional government's commitment to laying the foundations for good governance through a fight against impunity and corruption, which he said is "a long process" going beyond the duration of the political transition in Mali.

President Bah N'Daw and Vice President Assimi Goita were sworn in to lead the political transition in Mali in September after the military overthrew then-President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita in August. The two were sworn in by the Supreme Court of Mali on September 25.

Read: Mali Opposition Leader Dies After Contracting Virus

Former Mali PM charged

Meanwhile, former Malian Prime Minister Boubou Cisse has been charged by the state prosecutor's office for allegedly planning a coup against the interim government, according to Bloomberg. Cisse, who himself was ousted in the coup last year, was charged on Thursday, along with five others for allegedly participating in crimes, including an attempt to destabilise the current government. According to the report, Cisse had earlier dismissed the allegations of planning a coup against the government.

According to the report, Cisse couldn't be detained, but five others, including his half-brother Aguibou Tall, were taken into custody on Friday. The lawyers of those charged with crimes to destabilise the government said that none of their clients have any ties with members of the military. Although the term "attempted coup" was not used by the prosecutor's office in its statement, the lawyers used it while issuing a statement on behalf of their clients.

Read: Mali Extremist Rebels Attack UN Peacekeeping Force; One Killed, Several Injured

Read: Mali Suspensions Lifted By African Union Following Transitional Government Formation
Since day-start on Sunday, no ceasefire violations have been recorded.

On January 2, Russia-controlled forces three times opened fire on Ukrainian defense positions in eastern Ukraine's Donbas warzone.

That's according to a morning update by the Joint Forces Operation Headquarters.

Near the settlement of Pisky, the enemy engaged Ukrainian troops with grenade launchers of various types and a large-caliber machine gun.

Read alsoUkraine finalizes prisoner swap listClose to Pavlopil, non-aimed shots from small arms were reported, and near Lebedynske  enemy employed a large-caliber machine gun.

"All violations of the ceasefire regime were reported to the OSCE representatives through the Ukrainian side to the JCCC [Joint Ceasefire Control and Coordination Center]," the report reads.

The past day brought no casualties among Ukrainian soldiers.

Since day-start on Sunday, no ceasefire violations have been recorded.

Reporting by UNIAN
STARKVILLE, Miss. (AP)  Freshman Dontaie Allen scored a career-high 23 points with seven 3-pointers and Kentucky ended its six-game skid beating Mississippi State 78-73 in double overtime Saturday night.

Allen finished 7-for-11 shooting from beyond the arc and 8-for-14 overall.

Olivier Sarr's 3 to start the second overtime gave the Wildcats the lead for good.

Iverson Molinar missed a contested 3 at the buzzer to send it to a second overtime. The Wildcats missed three shots on their final possession to force the first extra session.

Kentucky coach John Calipari was ejected after being issued consecutive technical fouls with 9:04 left in regulation and the Wildcats down 52-46 following Molinar's jump shot. Allen sank 5 of his 3s following Calipari's ejection.

Allen entered the contest having scored just a pair of baskets in 20 minutes of action prior to Saturday.

It was Kentucky's (2-6, 1-0 Southeastern Conference) first win since its season opener the day before Thanksgiving.

D.J. Stewart Jr. led the Bulldogs (6-4, 1-1) with 19 points.

FOR THE RECORD

Kentucky is now 10-2 in SEC openers under Calipari and 9-3 under Calipari in the first SEC road game of the year. The Wildcats now are 68-19 all-time in SEC openers.

Kentucky is 15-0 vs. the Bulldogs under Calipari, and Calipari is 16-0 in his career vs. Mississippi State.

UP NEXT

Kentucky: Faces Vanderbilt in Lexington on Tuesday.

Mississippi St: Hosts No. 12-ranked Missouri on Tuesday.

___

For more AP college basketball coverage: https://apnews.com/Collegebasketball and http://twitter.com/AP_Top25
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Adventurers and Slavers The Atlantic slave trade resulted in the enforced scattering of millions of Africans to the Caribbean, the Americas and elsewhere - including Britain. A significant early English figure was John Hawkins. His father, William Hawkins, made the first English expeditions to West Africa in the1530s. William Hawkins was an adventurous trader who set out to explore the Guinea coast. His voyages were made in search of commercial materials such as dyewoods. Exploration and trade were the most significant reasons for people to move around the world during the 15th and early 16th centuries. The French, Spanish, Portuguese and Dutch sent their merchant seamen to Asia, Africa and the Americas, where trade developed rapidly. The English, anxious not to miss out on this bounty, became experts in shipping, finance and insurance and thus major players in overseas commerce.

the common people' (119k)

Document | Transcript 'The King of this Country is adored ofthe common people' (119k)

From 1553, a group of London merchants began a series of ventures to develop English overseas trade. Two years later these adventurers returned carrying ivory, gold, Malaguetta pepper and, significantly, five Africans from Shama, in modern Ghana. These Africans were brought to England to learn English, and returned to Africa as interpreters for visiting English traders. Queen Elizabeth I assisted the early merchant adventurers in 1561 by supplying ships and provisions. When they returned to English ports they brought not only valuable cargoes of commodities, but also more Africans, some of whom had probably become sailors on these merchant ships. Queen Elizabeth soon realised the economic value of this overseas trade. She granted a patent to eight merchants from London and Exeter to trade exclusively with Senegambia, between the Senegal and Gambia rivers, for a 10-year period. European traders thus initially met Africans at a time long before colonial rule, when African societies possessed freedom of action and political power. As commercial trade and enslavement developed over the next 250 years, millions of Africans were transported from one continent to another. Some of those uprooted by the slave trade were also to end up in Britain - many as servants and labourers.

into Hawkins' Third Voyage

Document | Transcript Commission of Inquiryinto Hawkins' Third Voyage In 1562, John Hawkins set out on a voyage that would mark the beginning of the English slave trade. Documents reveal that he left Plymouth with the purpose of capturing Africans along the Guinea Coast. The travel writer Richard Hakluyt (c.1552-1616) says that Hawkins 'got into his possession partly by the sworde and partly by other meanes to the number of 300 negroes'. In Sierra Leone, he took a ship laden with ivory, wax and 500 Africans. Hawkins, commanding the ship Salomon, then made the voyage from the Guinea coast to the West Indies. He arrived at the port of Monte Christi, in what is now the Dominican Republic, where they 'did deposit 125 slaves at 100 ducats each' (about 25-30 in present-day terms). The Africans were offered for sale to estate owners in the Americas, who required a constant supply of cheap labour for their sugar and tobacco plantations.

Triangular Trade

Document | Transcript Pioneer of theTriangular Trade News of the slave merchants' success spread and they soon attracted wealthy, powerful backers, and additional support from Queen Elizabeth. In 1564 the queen sponsored Hawkins by lending him her very own 700-ton vessel, Jesus of Lubeck. Now John Hawkins, freeman of the city of Plymouth, left Plymouth specifically for the purpose of capturing Africans on the West African coast. Hawkins, in his own words, as noted by Hakluyt, 'profited by the sale of slaves' - so much so that he included a bound slave wearing a necklace and earrings on the crest of his coat of arms. His final voyage turned out to be a disaster for Hawkins, as he lost his ships and men to the Spanish. This event precipitated hostilities between England and Spain.

Document | Transcript John Hawkins' Coat of Arms

These early voyages proved to be early, tentative steps towards what was to become a highly organised trade in humans - and a major source of income for British merchants for some 300 years to come. References and Further Reading Churchill, W., History of the English Speaking Peoples, vol. 4, London, 1956-8



File, N. and Power, C., Black Settlers in Britain 1555-1958, London, 1981 Fryer, P., Staying Power: The History of Black People in Britain, London, 1984 Williamson, J. A., Sir John Hawkins: The Time and the Man, Oxford, 1927

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BEIJING (Reuters) - Different efficacy results for a Chinese COVID-19 vaccine released separately in China and in United Arab Emirates are both real and valid, an executive at China National Biotec Group (CNBG) told state media.

China approved its first COVID-19 vaccine for general public use on Thursday, a shot developed by an affiliate to state-backed Sinopharm, after the developer said the vaccine showed 79.34% efficacy based on an interim analysis of late-stage clinical trials.

That rate is lower than the 86% rate for the same vaccine reported by the United Arab Emirates on Dec. 9.

Countries have certain differences in their standards and procedures in diagnosing patients, and the final results of COVID-19 case identification were different, Yang Xiaoming, chairman at Sinopharm unit's CNBG, told Global Times, a tabloid published by the People's Daily, the official newspaper of China's ruling Communist Party.

"Therefore, there were differences between the comprehensive multi-country data we reviewed and the protection rate data previously evaluated by the UAE and Bahrain," Global Times quoted Yang as saying in a report published on Thursday.

"But these two results are both real and valid," Yang said, without offering further details for the data.

CNBG did not participate in the analysis or review of clinical trial data released by regulators in countries where its vaccine was being trialed, Yang said.

The vaccine, developed by CNBG's unit Beijing Biological Products Institute, along with another candidate from a Wuhan-based unit of CNBG, are being tested in Phase III clinical trials outside China.

Trials for CNBG's candidates have recruited over 60,000 participants aged between 18-60, Yang said.

(Reporting by Roxanne Liu and Ryan Woo; Editing by Kim Coghill)
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-03 19:59:25|Editor: huaxia

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Aerial photo taken on Nov. 3, 2020 shows the container dock of Yangshan Port in Shanghai, east China. (Xinhua/Wang Xiang)

Globally, China's position in the global industrial chain will likely rise as "the first to pass the global stress test of the COVID-19 pandemic," Reuters quoted Xing Ziqiang, chief economist with Morgan Stanley China as saying.



BEIJING, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- China's foreign trade, with its "dark horse" performance in 2020 amid a pandemic-induced global recession, is expected to further stabilize in 2021, Reuters said in a recent analysis.

Quoting several economic experts, the British news outlet wrote in its Chinese online edition that China's foreign trade is expected to sustain due to an early recovery from COVID-19.

China's foreign trade has shouldered the responsibility of filling the gaps in global industrial chains, Reuters said, acknowledging the Asian economy's key position in the global economic recovery.

The country's foreign trade of goods totaled 29.04 trillion yuan (about 4.45 trillion U.S. dollars) in the first 11 months in 2020, up 1.8 percent year on year in yuan terms, accelerating from an increase of 1.1-percent in the first 10 months, according to data from China's General Administration of Customs.

A China-Europe freight train carrying medical supplies bound for Madrid of Spain departs from the city of Yiwu, east China's Zhejiang Province, June 5, 2020. (Photo by Lyu Bin/Xinhua)

The outlook for China's overall foreign trade is cautiously optimistic, provided that the epidemic remains under control in 2021, Bai Ming, deputy director of the international market research institute under China's Ministry of Commerce told Reuters.

Globally, China's position in the global industrial chain will likely rise as "the first to pass the global stress test of the COVID-19 pandemic," Reuters quoted Xing Ziqiang, chief economist with Morgan Stanley China as saying.

China's export momentum will be underpinned by a mild expansion of aggregate demand worldwide due in part to stimulus fiscal and monetary policies as well as the internal self-recovery of the world economy, Wu Ge, chief economist of Changjiang Securities told Reuters.

The economist projected China's exports to grow in the first half of 2021 and an overall better foreign trade performance in 2021 compared to last year. 
Heavenly Ascension: The Assumption of the Virgin

Reaching Within: What traditional art offers the heart

Around 1475, Italian Renaissance artist Francesco Botticini created a large painting titled The Assumption of the Virgin. The theme of the Virgin Mary ascending to heaven was common in Renaissance art.

In the lower third of the painting, we see the 12 apostles of Jesus. They stand next to an open casket on a hill that overlooks Florence, Italy. The casket contains not a body, but instead liliesthe flowers often associated with Marys purity.

Dressed in red and kneeling in devotion to the left of the apostles is the poet and apothecary Matteo Palmieri. He is the patron who commissioned the painting for his funerary chapel. Kneeling to the right of the apostles is his wife, Niccolosa. During the Renaissance, patrons often had their likenesses depicted in divine scenes to show their own devotion and piety.

Above the earthly scene, Botticini has depicted the heavens opening up, where, at the top, sits Jesus. He holds a book that has the Greek symbols for Alpha and Omega. Mary kneels at his feet to receive his blessing.

In the heavens, Botticini also includes the three orders of angels proposed by the Christian theologian and Neoplatonic philosopher Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite of the late fifth or early sixth century.

The 9 Levels and 3 Orders of Angels

Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite wrote the treatise On the Heavenly Hierarchy. He suggests that every good thing comes down from God. While we humans struggle to know God directly, we can be led to know God indirectly through the appropriate symbols that make his mysteries intelligible to us.

These symbols can be shared with us by way of angels. There are three orders of angels with three levels in each. The angels pass down those good things from God, with each group of angels below interpreting the message of the group above. One purpose of the hierarchy is to have humans assimilate, as much as possible, with God.

The first order of angels, that is, the highest order, contains the following types of angels: Seraphim, Cherubim, and Thrones. The second order contains Authorities, Lordships, and Powers. And the third order, which is the order closest to humans, contains Angels, Archangels, and Principalities.

Lets return to Botticinis painting to see how he depicted these angels. He divided them into three registers that correspond to the three orders. Lets start at the bottom register and ascend.

In the bottom register, he depicts Angels, Archangels, and Principalities. Principalities, shown with blue robes and black and red wings, are leaders of divine example. In white robes and with pink wings, Archangels are also leaders of the divine but communicate divine messages from above to the Angels.

Lordships, Powers, and Authorities in a detail of The Assumption of the Virgin, circa 14751476, by Francesco Botticini.

Angels, depicted in pink robes and having orange and black wings, are the ones shown closest to the earth and are at the very bottom of the hierarchy. They are considered the heavenly beings who deliver Gods messages to the world.

The Lordships, Powers, and Authorities are in the middle register. Depicted in white robes and with pink wings edged in black, the Lordships possess freedom in God, a freedom bound in goodness that is without subservience to anything that is not God.

Lordships, Powers, and Authorities in a detail of The Assumption of the Virgin, circa 14751476, by Francesco Botticini. (PD-US)

Powers have blue robes and blue wings edged in red; they are courageous and unflinching for God. In black robes and with red wings edged in blue, Authorities give direction and provide order according to divine law.

The Seraphim, Cherubim, and Thrones are the highest order and closest to God. Seraphim are depicted as babies heads with red wings. They constantly move around God and, in their attempt to assimilate with God, elevate those things subordinate to them. They, without interruption, dance around and sing praises to God.

Seraphim, Cherubim, and Thrones in a detail of The Assumption of the Virgin, circa 14751476, by Francesco Botticini.

Cherubim are depicted as babies heads with blue wings. They possess knowledge, wisdom, and the ability to contemplate the vision of God. Thrones are depicted as legless infants with blue wings. They are firm in God and are receptive to all that God gives.

Heavenly Ascension

What might this image mean for us today? What type of wisdom might we extract from this work of art?

The angels at the bottom are the ones who communicate Gods message to the world. They wear clothes and are depicted as human beings, but with wings. They are devoted to God, but their relationship to the world keeps them from a higher rank. Is it the case that the nature of our relationship to the world can distract us from ascending to heaven?

The angels at the top are shown as having a babys head with wings. They have no bodies and spend all of their time contemplating the vision of God and dancing and singing the praises of God.

Does the fact that these angels have a babys head suggest the lack of influence the world has over them? Can we ascend in heaven if we suspend the desires of our bodies and spend more time singing the praises of and contemplating the vision of the divine?

Maybe the lilies in the casket are not only symbolic of Marys purity but also indicative of the purity that results from the death of bodily desire, a death that results in heavenly ascension.

Either way, several things stand out to me about the orders of angels. One thing is that all three ranks are necessary. Each rank and each angel fulfills a duty, and the ones above give willingly to the ones below. This is a hierarchy based on loving, contemplating, and sharing understandings of the divine.

Secondly, differences are maintained even in heaven. There isnt one type of angel doing one type of thing, but there are multiple angels, each with different characteristics and different interpretations of divine wisdom.

Maybe this is one way that we often fail to accomplish divine will on earth. In heaven, it seems that different beings with different defining qualities and different understandings of the divine share their understandings to gain a deeper connection with the divine.

On earth, we often use our understandings of the divine as our own personal possessions to club others over the head with when they think differently than we do. We assume our own understanding is absolutely correct, and we push away and condemn people who think differently.

Are we open to the type of growth that requires us to share, not force, divine understandings so that we too may ascend?

Art has an incredible ability to point to what cant be seen so that we may ask What does this mean for me and for everyone who sees it? How has it influenced the past and how might it influence the future? What does it suggest about the human experience? These are some of the questions I explore in my series Reaching Within: What Traditional Art Offers the Heart.

Eric Bess is a practicing representational artist and is a doctoral candidate at the Institute for Doctoral Studies in the Visual Arts (IDSVA).
It was meant to be a Happy New Year  and what could be better? UK was the first to begin the vaccination programme with Pfizer and it seemed amazingly well organised, while the rest of Europe was still struggling to get their act and shots together. Added to that was the cherry with which the Prime Minister Boris Johnson had won the election: he delivered Brexit (almost) at the stroke of the midnight hour.

But 2020 had one last blow to deliver. Partly responsible was the super-super spreader mutation of Covid-19, some of it homegrown, and some of it arriving from South Africa. This is what happens when the UK is home to different nationalities and ethnicities: the only drawback is that during a pandemic you cannot isolate one from the other. Suddenly the government found itself in a mess all over again. And now, far from being well-stocked  it seems we dont have enough vaccines to go around. And then someone had the bright idea of only giving one shot of the Pfizer vaccine when the recommended dose for protection is really two shots. This kind of experimentation at this stage has made doctors who had committed a second dose to their patients feel uncomfortable. And they have decided that at least for the elderly they will go ahead and give the second dose.

The idea that they can give Pfizer now and another vaccine, perhaps the Oxford vaccine is another idea being floated. But much of this last-minute course correction is creating insecurity. Undoubtedly these issues are going to hit the rest of the world as well, as there are simply not enough shots to go around. In this, how the UK solves the problem will be closely observed.

Meanwhile, the Indian government probably has a unique problem on its hands. They have invited Boris Johnson as chief guest for Republic Day  from a country where till recently flights were banned. Now the ban has been lifted, with flights re-starting. India will run the risk of this new strain coming into the country, of course. But the optics will have been served: how can only Boris be invited (even if virtually) when the rest of the country is not allowed in? Luckily, if he comes physically, he has already had his Covid-19  but the rest of the entourage? Perhaps in these unprecedented times  and with Atamnirbhar Bharat, a suitable Indian could be found?

But at least the UK could exit from Europe, even if getting out of the pandemic still poses a problem. On a historic December 30, Parliament was recalled for the day. (Of course, given social distancing, most MPs and Lords can usually stay at home and participate on Zoom.) It was a long complicated Bill but after four-and-a-half years of bickering and three Prime Ministers, Parliament approved the Bill by 11 pm. Then the Queen, as Head of State, signed it near midnight and the UK had legally approved of Brexit.

Suddenly the mood lifted, even though on New Years Eve, no one could go out to celebrate in London due to the Tier 4 lockdown. But there were bright lights and firecrackers on Tower Bridge and along the river. Big Ben, wrapped in repair scaffolding and normally invisible and silent, sounded the bongs for the New Year. The UK finally officially left the EU at midnight. You could not have a chosen a more iconic date for such a historic occasion.

And then, there is always the Queen to put things in perspective. Her stoicism was appreciated as she did her Christmas broadcast. She had spent Christmas like everyone else without any visits from her extended family of children and grandchildren. Only the Duke of Edinburgh was with her  setting an example of obeying the rules. But to spread joy, the Queens New Years Honours list was published. It is a bumper list this time around. Covid-19 has brought out into prominence all those who serve in NHS, education, social care, community service. These are fields where people of Indian origin have always been active. There are as many as 89 Indian names on the list. A prominent name was Lord Daljit Singh Rana who was honoured for his contribution to business in Northern Ireland. There was also an honour for Sanjay Kara who helps in the Swami Narayan Temple in Neasden, Charan Deep Singh for the Sikh Food Bank, Malini Nebhrajani who works in the Department of Health and Social Services (law section) got the high honour of Order of Bath. Bhaven Pathak got an award for services to British Hinduism. It shows how diversity is being taken seriously. But also how much UK has become home for the Indian diaspora.
Posted Sunday, January 3, 2021 9:37 am

Washington state's clogged transportation network caught a break in 2020, when COVID-19 slashed driving by 15% and erased 60% of transit ridership, giving public officials a year to punt on solutions.

Now that a new year has arrived, state legislators will feel new urgency to tackle gridlock, underfunded roads and bridges and the question of whether to pass a massive mobility plan.

Steve Hobbs, D-Lake Stevens, who chairs the Senate Transportation Committee, says he'll take a hiatus from National Guard deployment so he can make a third attempt at brokering a multibillion dollar Forward Washington plan. Without a statewide package, Hobbs will lose another year in his quest to replace the jammed Highway 2 westbound trestle, which connects his constituents to Everett.

Gov. Jay Inslee, burned by voters' and lawmakers' rejection of carbon pricing, will try again to jump-start his climate agenda by proposing $318 million for ferry electrification along with low-carbon fuel standards, $20 million for pedestrian, bike and school-zone improvements and $3.25 million to plan future high-speed rail.

"To meet our greenhouse-gas reduction targets, we must aggressively diversify our transportation infrastructure," Inslee said. "Electrifying our vehicles, vessels and buses is one of the most effective ways to reduce carbon pollution."

The state is far behind its target of reducing carbon emissions 25% by 2035.

On the minority side, Rep. Andrew Barkis, R-Olympia, supports minimal or zero new taxes in 2021 while citizens are still hurting from COVID-related business restrictions. Lawmakers should limit their ambitions to maintenance and projects already approved, he said.

Expect a tug of war over whether carbon taxes should be funneled to transit as opposed to plain gasoline taxes which the state constitution's 18th Amendment reserves for roads.

As these visions compete, drama in the virtual Capitol will be compounded by less transparency, as public testimony and committee hearings move online, said Barkis.

Hobbs joked in a phone interview that, "I would rather do my military duty, because at least I know who my enemy is. Do I really want to go there [Olympia] and get the crap beat out of me? Anything you do will be judged."

Sen. Curtis King, R-Yakima, forecasts a tough path to agreement, because at least three or four versions will be proposed. Lawmakers must reach a bipartisan, 60% agreement to sell bonds to finance projects.

Sen. Rebecca Saldana, D-Seattle, drafted a 12-year, $14.3 billion Evergreen Plan heavy on carbon fees, plus a tax on luxury aircraft and yachts. She would fund maintenance at $1.9 billion, which is far above other proposals but avoids lane additions  except for counting Hobbs' favored Highway 2 as "deferred preservation."

"In the Puget Sound region, managing traffic requires making sure we're not just adding stuff to our system, and pushing traffic down to the next exit," she said.

She called for "environmental justice" in neighborhoods like those around the Duwamish River, divided by historical freeway projects. Aircraft, fossil-fueled ships and freight trucks course through there even during the epidemic. That will continue, she said, so cleaner fuels are a must.

Forward Washington

Hobbs said he's rewriting the package he proposed in 2019 for $16.6 billion and 10 years.

The biggest project, nominated for $3.175 billion in his original list, is the I-5 Columbia River Crossing. Oregon and Washington last year resumed planning after a 2014 political collapse. The states would replace freeway drawbridges built in 1917 and 1958.

Hobbs said he's inclined to add $75 million toward repair of the cracked West Seattle high-rise bridge. He sees that of statewide value for port trade and regional travel. It also encourages Seattle lawmakers to back a statewide plan.

"This is a democracy. It's about trying to get more votes," said Hobbs.

That's far beyond the $19 million grant the Seattle Department of Transportation suggested in talks with other lawmakers.

"I really appreciate Sen. Hobbs expressing an interest in the West Seattle Bridge," said Heather Marx, Seattle mobility director, when told about the higher target. Sen. Joe Nguyen, D-West Seattle, called bridge funding part of "a grand bargain of proposals" being circulated.

Forward Washington's second-costliest road project is Highway 2, at $1.5 billion in the initial plan. Traffic has tripled since 1980, and a new westbound trestle may add a bus-carpool lane or rely partly on tolls.

Other big-ticket items include $1.7 billion toward ferries, terminals and vessel electrification; $1 billion to highway preservation; a toll-funded $470 million to widen an I-405 bottleneck through Bothell; and a $300 million widening of Highway 3 at Gorst on the Kitsap Peninsula.

Mullet factor

This past fall's 57-vote victory by Sen. Mark Mullet, D-Issaquah, over progressive challenger Ingrid Anderson, adds horsepower to Forward Washington.

"I 100% feel congestion relief has got to be the No. 1 priority in a transportation bill," Mullet told the pro-driving Eastside Transportation Association.

His district was already nominated for $285 million to widen Highway 18 along Tiger Mountain where four lanes narrow to two. People have died in head-on wrecks.

But Mullett now proposes another Eastside project  interchange expansion where I-90 meets I-405 in Bellevue, especially coming from Issaquah toward Lake Washington. It's common for 60-mph traffic to pass exiting 20-mph traffic when approaching the junction.

"You basically back up all the way to Bellevue College, trying to make that turn," he said in an interview.

Lawmakers should focus transportation dollars in cities that will welcome rapid business growth, he argues, namely Bellevue as contrasted with Seattle.

Hobbs replied he was willing to add a I-90/I-405 project to Forward Washington.

He declined to release a draft list until he can fact-check details of certain projects with the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT).

The search for money

Previous versions would cost equivalent to 15 cents per gallon, through either direct gas tax or the effect of carbon taxes passed from refineries to consumers.

Other options exist, such as a pay-by-mile user fee, but that takes years to establish, said retired Rep. Judy Clibborn, D-Mercer Island, who worked on a study group to consider 10 to 13 concepts.

Mullet, who drives an electric Tesla, predicts the public and lawmakers may have an appetite for an 8- to 10-cents-a-gallon gas tax. He said a similar-sized carbon fee is also needed to help the state fight global warming. Hobbs said he'd support a carbon tax if at least half flows back to the transportation budget.

But groups such as the pro-transit Transportation Choices Coalition will seek money to help bus agencies weather COVID-related sales-tax and fare losses, along with equity programs to aid communities who are subject to pollution. They'll need full transit access again soon, coalition lobbyist Bryce Yadon said.

"If we wait a week or month too long, we're going to have big impacts in terms of people being able to get to work, or a doctor's appointment," Yadon said.

One idea making the rounds is to push salmon-stream restoration  pegged at $3.5 billion to replace damaging road culverts  out of Forward Washington into the general fund.

That way, the transportation budget would have more slack to fund more bond debt and projects.

That begs the question of whether the Legislature should make fish compete against education, law enforcement, public health and other state services. If money or credit runs low, maybe culverts can be funded by a yearly fee of $50 on each parcel of land in the state, Mullet mentioned.

A loss of toll-lane traffic in 2020 brings another dilemma. Though reduced income won't tarnish the state's credit, it could hinder an effort by suburban cities and legislators to build projects in the I-405 and linked Highway 167 corridors.

Now that thousands have practiced working from home, it's unclear when travel demand might revert to pre-COVID days. Does Washington still need greater capacity?

Sen. King, of Yakima, said he's open to a big package  and is even writing a version himself. But he's reluctant to raise fuel costs immediately.

"How do you put more taxation on people who are struggling just to survive in 2020? We have people who have been living on unemployment insurance and doing what they can to scrape through and feed their families," he said.

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